Is Messi the Greatest Ever?

[Emil Nissen]

good arguments, and there is no doubt that messi is the best right now, but the question is if he is the best EVER

[redsforlife]

I agree that Messi must be the best player in the world. Passing, shooting, quick feet and of course epic ball control... except for his heading ability, he's surely the most efficient player i've ever seen. BUT here's a different story. I find it a bit boring to watch Messi (especially when you watch videos of all his goals), don't know exactly why, but it has something to do with the fact that everything works for him. If he begins his game with Barca, you just know those fluent plays and goals will come. I don't jump out of the sofa when he makes his next goal.
With them other players, and now a huge Madrid fan is speaking, it's a different thing. C. Ronaldo can have such a bad day that you start to pity him, but then out of nowhere he does some amazing thing that makes me think 'hell yeah, right back at ya.' And this is what i like about watching a game of football in general. Ronaldo El Fenomeno did moves in a high-level football game that I had never seen before and for Zidane, well he is a living legend. I don't think we will see someone with more grace than him on a pitch in the next decade at least. He had an effect on the team that made them all calm down and play in a way pfff, i only have a french word for it 'hautain', like we are in charge now. His great personality still makes me look up to him today and he did a way better job in interviews than Messi too if this counts for anything. Definitely check out youtube user 'beplasse' his uploads

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Messi comparisons.

Ronaldo is a superior athlete. He's bigger, stronger, and faster. He has more tricks and individual creativity. He's a better all around finisher with his ability to score from distance with both feet, close range, and he is great in the air. Ronaldo is also the superior free kick taker. Positionally, Ronaldo is really  a winger that comes inside in attack. As the Mourinho video pointed out, he has much more defensive responsibility.

Messi is probably a little bit quicker and has better control while dribbling. He is also a better passer as the majority of his game is looking to do quick combinations with teammates. Messi is probably the better close range finisher as well. The majority of his goals are inside the penalty box, and he places it past the goal keeper. Positionally, he plays 2nd striker type. He is also typically deployed more central with creative license to roam. He is great at pressuring as a team with his Barcelona teammates, but he mainly just pressures in the attacking half. For Argentina, he plays more like a number 10 role, but  it's not really his thing. He has still be successful, but he's not that type of player.

In the end, the past few years Barca has been the better team overall. I have to say Barca definitely helps Messi out more than Real helps out Ronaldo. Most people like to just say, he's the best in the world, but I'm just not that type. Messi was the deserved winner of the Ballon d'Or this year, but other years it should have been closer. Also, this year isn't over. We will have to see what both of them do in the rest of the season.

[Adi]

Here's where you are missing the point, Jason.

Yes, Ronaldo is more athletic, but who cares?! That's all rubbish.  Messi is extremely strong, and not just for someone of his size. He's strong as a bull compared to even the most athletic attacking players (e.g. Ronaldo).  Ronaldo is athletic and physically gifted but he's NOT stronger on the ball than Messi.  That's a fact.  It's not all about your physical build.  It's more about your center of gravity, your balance, etc.  Messi has much more of this than a physically gifted Ronaldo.  Messi bounces of defenders, gets kicked, but nobody can take him down.  The ball is always no more than 6 inches off his foot, even when sprinting at full pace.

Best ever.  I'm saying it now, and he'll get better, and soon enough he'll undoubtedly be the best ever in his sport... just like Jordan is for the NBA... screw Lebron... he's no Jordan.  There are tons of intangibles that Lebron will never get to like Jordan did.

[redsforlife]

Messi is strong on the ball, but if you think he's stronger than Ronaldo on the ball, you're kidding yourself. Ronaldo is clearly stronger at holding off players. Messi arguably has better balance, and this is what helps him on his slalom like runs past defenders.

Saying he's outright the best is silly. Just like it is silly to say that about Lebron now. By the way, Chamberlain was better than Jordan. Just look at the stats. Jordan was never as effective as Wilt Chamberlain. Jordan is the best guard to ever play in the NBA, but Chamberlain was the best player for me. There are other guys arguably as good or better than him as well. Football is no different. I cannot say Messi is the best, because it's too hard to tell. I'd pick Pele 100xs over Messi.

[Adi]

You see Ronaldo diving around?  How often does he really keep his balance and strength on the ball?  Very rarely... certainly far less than Messi.  He might beat Messi in the weight-room, but when you add the mental aspect of the game, Messi is far stronger and more balanced on the pitch. 

[Azwoh]

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Messi comparisons.

Ronaldo is a superior athlete. He's bigger, stronger, and faster. He has more tricks and individual creativity. He's a better all around finisher with his ability to score from distance with both feet, close range, and he is great in the air. Ronaldo is also the superior free kick taker. Positionally, Ronaldo is really  a winger that comes inside in attack. As the Mourinho video pointed out, he has much more defensive responsibility.

Messi is probably a little bit quicker and has better control while dribbling. He is also a better passer as the majority of his game is looking to do quick combinations with teammates. Messi is probably the better close range finisher as well. The majority of his goals are inside the penalty box, and he places it past the goal keeper. Positionally, he plays 2nd striker type. He is also typically deployed more central with creative license to roam. He is great at pressuring as a team with his Barcelona teammates, but he mainly just pressures in the attacking half. For Argentina, he plays more like a number 10 role, but  it's not really his thing. He has still be successful, but he's not that type of player.

In the end, the past few years Barca has been the better team overall. I have to say Barca definitely helps Messi out more than Real helps out Ronaldo. Most people like to just say, he's the best in the world, but I'm just not that type. Messi was the deserved winner of the Ballon d'Or this year, but other years it should have been closer. Also, this year isn't over. We will have to see what both of them do in the rest of the season.

I totally agree with this, i mean like every word of it . But I fear Real's season will be done if they screw up in the champions league, too bad for Ronaldo.

[rueiws]

Messi in my heart is great, he is a genius!

[amoro]

SUPERA EN TODO A DI STÉFANO, CRUYFF Y MARADONA A SU EDAD

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Messi bounces of defenders, gets kicked, but nobody can take him down.  The ball is always no more than 6 inches off his foot, even when sprinting at full pace.

Messi rarely (not never) gets seriously injured. He's never tired. He has, essentially, superhuman bursts of speed and the ability to get kicked and hit repeatedly without losing his balance or the ball. This is something that we all can see.

Now, i'm not a scientist, but i'm pretty sure that these are the benefits of an HGH treatment. Don't get into a bundle just yet - i'm aware that he had/has a condition in which is growth was extremely deficient. I am also aware that it was administered professionally and within the realm and scope of his condition. But the benefits of HGH don't just go away. The body doesn't say "alright, i'm 5'7 now, everything can go back to normal." HGH has insane benefits that permeate the body: lean muscle mass and fatigue recovery, increases bone mineralization and calcium retention, anaerobic burst capacity, etc. These benefits don't just leave the body. I also understand that his condition is a life long condition.


All of that being said, I do think Messi is extremely good. However, I think it's very relevant and valid to take these points into consideration. We all see what Messi does on the field and we sit back and act surprised, jaw dropped, as if there couldn't be a possible reason why he is able to just steamroll teams and defenders all while getting pushed and kicked. It wouldn't hurt to think about how his past medically legal and acceptable treatments can still be benefiting him today.

His vision and "football IQ" can't be questioned here. He is clearly a brilliant player. But, as already pointed out, how much of it has to do with Xavi and Iniesta? He seems very much so a product of their enabling ability. The Argentina argument isn't as strong as it used to be, but it has to be said his performances for his national team have been average to good at best - hardly great or amazing. Definitely not trophy winning. He may well be Barcelona's all time leading scorer, or considered their "best player ever," but i will never forget the absolute magic that Ronaldinho created. That was a different breed of player. Although it only lasted 2-3 years, it was the type of skill that, in my honest opinion, has never been replicated by Messi. But, we all have our own opinions right?

As far as the Ronaldo debate goes, there are so many ways to tackle it. Firstly, I would hope that we can agree that Messi should not have 4 Ballon d'or awards. At the very most he should have 3, and that's being extremely nice. How the hell was Sneijder not even shortlisted in 2010 after Inter won a historic treble, and also leading his team to the WC final? No way Messi deserved that. What did he do, bounce off enough defenders to win?

Ronaldo should have easily gotten one as well. Breaking Barcelona's stranglehold on La Liga while being the top scorer, not to mention countless records being broken including the first player to score 40 goals in La Liga and the first to win the European Golden Shoe in 2 different leagues. Correct me if i'm wrong, but didn't Messi win this award in a year in which he hadn't been able to help his team win a single major trophy? As Mourinho pointed out in that video posted early, does it really make any sense that Messi has 4? He should have 2. Ronaldo should have 2. Wesley should have for sure gotten it in 2010.


These are all opinions of mine. All of the Ballon d'or nonsense aside, you've got to look at this more objectively. Messi cannot be the greatest player for so many reasons.  He is surely a great, great player. And when you combine a great, greate player with, what is essentially, one of the greatest teams ever in Spain, of course titles are going to be won. Of course goal scoring records are going to happen. I don't see Ronaldo feeding off of World Cup and Euro winning players to achieve his records. (Yes, there are Spanish nationals on Real Madrid. Ramos, Casillas, and Arbeloa certainly don't provide Ronaldo the type of service Leo is getting. Alonso barely gets a run in with Spain. Madrid are a great team, though, and i can't take that away.)

Ronaldo is more versatile on the field. Ronaldo is very important for defensive setups. Messi is not. Ronaldo is a powerful header of the ball, defensively and offensively. Messi is not. Ronaldo, in England and Spain, has scored mind blowing freekicks. Messi is just learning these. Ronaldo has an incredible penalty conversion rate (last time i checked anyway). Messi is only approaching this. No way in hell do i think Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest player ever. But he gives Messi much more than a run for his money at being the best player on the planet, and he doesn't get any credit for it. Why? Because he says stupid shit during interviews? Because he's an asshole on the field? You mentioned Jordan at some point in this thread - the biggest asshole of all time in basketball, arguably (only comparing the attitudes here, don't freak.)

So take a step back and analyze your claims of best ever. As far as who I think is the best ever? I don't know. I never watched the other two alleged players play, so it's kind of hard to just come out making these claims. I do know that he hasn't helped his country reach World Cup glory and will most likely live in the shadows of Maradona's Argentine legend no matter what Maradona himself says.

These are Messi's trophies with Argentina:

2008 Olympic Gold Medal
2005 U20 World Cup


Greatest player ever means he should be surpassing the achievements of the other greatest ever, not lacking in them.

[Emil Nissen]

seriously quality post! agreed to all of it 

[samuelrey]

messi is the best no doubt, doesn't need to win the world cup, but if he does it will proof hes the best.

[dinis]

Yes. Messi is the best player, but today.