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Player Messi - The greatest player ever?

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Is your argument that he's not so great because some of the world's best players don't try hard enough against him?

Ive not argued that he´s not a great player.

But players that look great on the continent, (Hazard, Willian, Oscar etc) sometimes hit a brick wall when they come to league where no one spends the whole match worrying if they are going to be a twitter hate figure if they injure you in a challenge.
 
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Im arguing that the juries out for me. Some people can think whatever they like about him and thats fine.

Fair enough. What would seal it for you?
I'd imagine playing in a different league would show he can do it out of his comfort zone. But then the only clubs that could afford him are probably city, Chelsea and United at a stretch and I don't want him playing for any of them!
 
I'm not sure I follow your point here. Is your argument that he's not so great because some of the world's best players don't try hard enough against him? Every time? If you watch enough barca you'll see that plenty of teams try to kick him and either can't get near enough to do it, or he rides the challenge and carries on. Look at that nutmeg he did on Milner the other night just as he was sliding in with a full blooded challenge. Just flicked it through his legs like he wasn't even there. There's no need to be cynical. Just enjoy watching a genius play the game.

Anyway. Personally I don't like trying to classify one player as 'the best.'
All I know is that when I watch Messi play, more often than not its like watching a magician rather than a sportsman.
The guy has unbelievable natural talent. Ronaldo is also a physical phenomenon and is 'better' at certain things. But messi isn't nearly as much as a physical specimen but still manages to be incredible.
He's also one of the few barca players that tries to stay on his feet despite getting fouled all the time.

Best player I have seen and I remember Zidane and some of Maradonna. I look at the best as more than his great scoring record it's his passing, dribbling and decision making which is World Class, he is World Class in pretty much every area and he can dominate a game from midfield which Ronaldo either can't or doesn't so much, so it's his all round game that always impress me, as much a team player as a brilliant footballer.

I suppose if you were to ask me who would I take at their very best it would be between Maradonna and Messi and Messi is more stable as a person so you would have him at his best for longer. That's how I would judge the best anyway.
 
what I do like about Messi, is that he cops a lot of fouls and just gets on with the game, great role model for any young player, Ronaldo is also supremely talented but his constant whinging to refs and cheating sets a bad example
 
It's a complete myth that Messi doesn't get kicked on and/or tackled. He's just very good at dodging tackles and making it look easy. Sammy does have a point about players freezing in front of him but to me that's just a testament to how bloody good the lad is. He's had like 32 goals and 16 assists in La Liga this year and he would've had more had Neymar not forgotten how to score.

He's bossing the Champions League again too. He's just unreal to me. His standards are just so high that most write off his 2013 and 2014 completely despite him scoring a goal a game and being among the best in the WC (even though he ran out of gas from the QF and on).
 
Messi has the amazing ability to make players miss him without touching the ball and just shift his body weight. In my opinion he is the best player of all time BUT Maradona and Pele were playing before I was born.
 
Ive not argued that he´s not a great player.

But players that look great on the continent, (Hazard, Willian, Oscar etc) sometimes hit a brick wall when they come to league where no one spends the whole match worrying if they are going to be a twitter hate figure if they injure you in a challenge.

You argue that Hazard hasnt been good at Chelsea ? and btw Oscar never played on the continent ...

On subject, he's obviously a very gifted player and amongst the best ever and i dont think that there is an objective way to determine who is the ultimate best player ever. Him, zlatan and Ronaldo are the top three players in the world i guess atm.

If i compare Messi to Zidane i actually prefer Zidane but thats just because of what i prefer in the skillset of a player.
 
He would totally own the league, Silva is even tinier i think and he does pretty well and Hazard too (even if he is more of a physical presence)

Yeah but thats what I mean....players like Silva, Aguero and Hazard, as good as they are, are still not playing in the same ball park as Messi does in La Liga, and I doubt highly he would be too playing that well, that regularly in the PL..
 
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