Is Lionel Messi the greatest player ever?

He's playing in a time when football is becoming a non-contact sport. Best, Pele, Maradonna played in harder times with less referee protection and lumpy pitches. He's one of the greats but not the greatest. Perhaps he could try playing over here for a while?

Originally Posted by n48

He's playing in a time when football is becoming a non-contact sport. Best, Pele, Maradonna played in harder times with less referee protection and lumpy pitches. He's one of the greats but not the greatest. Perhaps he could try playing over here for a while?

why the £#%&! would he want to play over here
he's going to leave the greatest club side possibly ever and stop winning european cups for fun just to prove himself against the likes of stoke and £#%&!ing blackburn

Originally Posted by irk

As if international football is superior to European club football in the first place.

I think that's part of the point. Argentina are a lot worse than Barca, so Messi would be proving something if he maintained something close to his performance level in much more difficult circumstances, as Maradona did in '86. At club level, it'll be interesting to see how Messi does when Barca's current cycle finishes.

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

Fair enough. Messi is obviously more talented, but you do wonder if he'd be anywhere near as good outside Barca. I doubt we'll ever find out.

It's not that complicated. Messi isn't as good for Argentina.

Xavi is the key to getting the most out of Messi imho

Calling Saffers to the thread.

Little £#%&!ing roidy @#%&!.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

Calling Saffers to the thread.

Didnt even need to bump it did I mate?

Sorry to be smug about it, but I usually call these things right.

Felt a bit bad for Messi tonight, he's one of the few non-@#%&!s in the game today and by far the best player in the world. Just a shame sensationalists spoil his greatness by declaring him the best ever when that is an outrageous statement.

Has so much to prove despite all the ridiculous goal records, number of goals does not equal legend. He could have half the number of his current goals in his career and id rate him in the same spot.

Nice that Barca once again fail to retain the CL though. Sacchi's Magio Milan standing loud and proud.

Still the best IMO. One bad game and he is suddenly shit

£#%&!ing shame he never plays like he did tonight against us, eh??

Originally Posted by Ghetts

Still the best IMO. One bad game and he is suddenly shit

He's already won 3 European Cups hasnt he. Not even 25 yet .

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

He's been doing it for a while. He did the same when they played Napoli and Benfica. He's £#%&!ing irritating, tbh.

Come on Lads, he's not working for MUTV ffs.

I understand the old "uuorrrrrggggghhh unbelieeeeevabuuull" was a bit over the top but maybe he thinks he has to over do that sort of thing to win the supporters of other teams over and convince them he's not biased?

Either way i think he's great.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Come on Lads, he's not working for MUTV ffs.

I understand the old "uuorrrrrggggghhh unbelieeeeevabuuull" was a bit over the top but maybe he thinks he has to over do that sort of thing to win the supporters of other teams over and convince them he's not biased?

Either way i think he's great.

That's almost certainly why he does it, but it's still embarrassing. Townsend does the same on ITV when Chelsea play. It's piss poor.

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

That's almost certainly why he does it, but it's still embarrassing. Townsend does the same on ITV when Chelsea play. It's piss poor.

I think he just wants English clubs to do well in Europe. He'll be friendly with quite a few of the Chelsea team and they were only title rivals anyway, and even that for only the last few years of his career.

No.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Come on Lads, he's not working for MUTV ffs.

I understand the old "uuorrrrrggggghhh unbelieeeeevabuuull" was a bit over the top but maybe he thinks he has to over do that sort of thing to win the supporters of other teams over and convince them he's not biased?

Either way i think he's great.

Best pundit around. That Monday night thing about diving was excellent, plus he has the added 'big club' insight and has played fairly recently. But he does have a tendancy to over-compensate for his Unitedness!