Overrated.
Some people just love finding things to be offended about.
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NO chance!
i bet at some point in his career, we have all marvelled at something he has done during a match,
(theres probably 1000’s of examples)
he is a special talent on the pitch
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Crying is the best moment
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Fantastic player, in my opinion top 3. Was surrounded by top players and a competent manager for this tournament.
But fuck me, the whole narrative around this world cup and Messi was ridiculous. Commentary was practically creaming themselves every time he touched the ball which was embarrassing to listen.
The Messi wank-fest has now ended and we can all refocus on club football again.
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Ironically wins it when he is well past his best. Thought Mac Allister was as good as he was in the match. His shootout penno was filthy, though.
Time to change the thread title from wanker to greatest
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the second Argentinian Goal in the WCF is one of the great world cup goals…and his contribution to it cannot be overstated.
his touch then flick turned the moment…as the Aussie analysis pointed out as well…his first touch was perfect…a first time pass and the defender just has to track the wide player…its the split second of having the ball at his feet…and then the release that makes the moment and the space
it was a wankfest…but if your gonna get it out and have a tug over football, that goals not a bad place to start.
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Not interested in Messi the man but Messi the footballer is fantastic. Magnificent individually but plays for the team. Holds on to the ball, knows when to release it and I thought was the puppet master in this show. Was excellent at finding space and playing through the lines. That 2nd goal was filthy.
Anyone who says otherwise is because they don’t like Messi thr man.
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It’s my thread and I won’t be changing the title, as I don’t believe he is the greatest.
In my opinion, he is only the third best player from Argentina, let alone the greatest from anywhere ever.
Interested to know who you feel is 2nd?
I’m guessing you’re of the ame opinion that Maradona was better than Messi?
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It was a sublime goal.
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Not for me.
Though it’s fitting the best player of his generation won the big one.
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Di Stefano.
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Pele, Maradona and Messi are alone at the top.
Puskas would fit above di Stefano IMO alongside the likes of Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Zidane.
That’s your opinion.
Mine differs.
Fixed for accuracy 
In my book, Cruyff is on par with Messi. Not in terms of numbers of trophies won obviously, but in terms of quality? Absolutely. There is also an argument to be had for Zidane.
Messi has established himself as the best player of his generation, just like the two above-mentioned. That is already enormous. All the talk about ‘best ever’ is just that: talk.
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Sure, how’s this: Lionel Messi, Greatest Wanker.
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This is my view…
For me, Messi’s Argentina didn’t have to win this for him to make the missing step or something. It’s yesterday’s news that he’s right up there and totally valid if he’s a lot of people’s GOAT, has been for a while now. This only improves his story, but doesn’t change it much in my view.
However, I’m still totally fine if it’s Maradona, Pele or maybe someone else for some other people.
We can compare, but there doesn’t have to be any final conclusion, because it’s impossible at the end of the day. Doesn’t mean that people should stop discussing, comparing and exchanging views. Regardless if they’re more subjective or objective.
You get different views. A lot of people say it’s between Messi and Maradona. Some don’t get Pele’s career serious enough (I think unfairly). My first coach always said Pele, without doubting. Some of my family members used to say Beckenbauer.
Maradona’s career is how it is, realistically we can objectivelly agree that for the love he gets, there are things missing from it. Numbers wise, facts wise, etc. But for me, like I said, totally valid if he’s someone’s greatest ever. Maybe he’s more human with his mistakes and character, makes a lot of people lean towards him.
I take it that these players were the height of their sport at the time. So the ceilings, ways, possibilities and difficulties were different. It’s why we can’t only look at numbers, though it’s clear that they’re very important and that to a level, you can’t do without them either.
Balague said something years ago that for him, Messi is no doubt the greatest player ever, but Cristiano Ronaldo is for him the greatest goalscorer ever (even if he might be surpassed by Messi in terms of numbers, but he meant overall, the most “complete”). That seems a fair distinction, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
I don’t have a single problem with Messi. His character is like it is, introvert, plays it safe, etc. We can only judge how much a leader he is by I don’t know, looking at his ways on the pitch. You get different kind of leaders also. The greatest or most successful in any branch will always be under the biggest microscope. Something needs to be found. It’s alright, nobody’s a saint, starting with us.
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