Can there really be someone better than Messi in modern football?

[Dr. Funkenstein]

That's a bit of a false notion though, Messi is a better player technically than Ronaldo (9) Ronaldinho and Zidane, levels above, and Maradona its arguable he is better than him too.

No, he isn't. Much better than Zidane of course, but Ronaldinho and Maradona did things with the ball Messi isn't even trying. It's the quickness of his feet that they can't match.

 

[Successful]

I thought the same about Ronaldinho.

It's quite a tough one to match Messi though. It's also about using the ability to help your team. There are players out there who can match some of the dribbling and that stuff, but then there's the smartness as well. Very very rare player but there will be more amazing players to come. Just think about Zidane - he was amazing but in a different way.

 

[TheNewEra]

No, he isn't. Much better than Zidane of course, but Ronaldinho and Maradona did things with the ball Messi isn't even trying. It's the quickness of his feet that they can't match.

Yup which equates to a technically better player because what he does is more effective, the only thing that Zidane had over Messi is leadership yet Messi is still vice-captain of Barcelona plus being on the team you can just give him the ball and he can change games.

I don't think Messi can't do what Maradona did, it's just he doesn't need to do it. Ronaldinho was more about entertainment but his wasn't really necessary but it was fun to watch.

You're forgetting about consistency at the top level too. Ronaldinho had a few years at the top then fell to a show pony with some great moments each season.

The Brazilian Side that won the WC was infinitely better than the current Argentina side too it was much more balanced.

People forget that as great as "Winning the world cup" is, Messi has already eclipsed Maradona in consistency (Goals Assists Trophies).

Maradona, George Best and Cruyff are the three technically close to Messi but its hard to really separate them (generational gap).

I think you can use the World Cup argument a lot, but that means Neuer is a better player in his position than Messi if you think that way "Well he's won a world cup and hes in the FIFA XI every year".

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Well that's the thing - for me the greatest ever players are missed due to entertainment.

I really won't miss messi much when he retires. After all a player like him can always find consistency in statistics because he is a forward. The same way very few defenders and midfielders are regarded as great.

That's why I settle for entertainment. If zidane made a comeback tonight - I'd watch that stuff without a doubt. I didn't even bother watching el classics because no one makes me feel like I will witness something new.

 

[RedFish]

For me, the question is - can there be anyone better than Zidane in modern football? - I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Zidane was fantastic. The guy looked like he was smoking a cigar while playing and had octopus eyes around his head.

He could take out 4 players with one touch and still have the ball by his side.

Think if he didn't headbutt that Italian guy and win the world cup again - he would have been even more highly rated.

 

[TheNewEra]

For me, the question is - can there be anyone better than Zidane in modern football? - I'm not holding my breath.

Iniesta has done more with his career and has had a higher top-level throughout his career if that helps, Zidane just looked more "artistic" on the ball.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Well that's the thing - for me the greatest ever players are missed due to entertainment.

I really won't miss messi much when he retires. After all a player like him can always find consistency in statistics because he is a forward. The same way very few defenders and midfielders are regarded as great.

That's why I settle for entertainment. If zidane made a comeback tonight - I'd watch that stuff without a doubt. I didn't even bother watching el classics because no one makes me feel like I will witness something new.

I'm curious to know what Zidane did consistently that was "new". He was a lovely footballer and had oodles of elegance. If I was to make a comparison the obvious one would be Iniesta, with less work rate and greater individual moments. But Messi comes up with far more jaw-dropping moments, and week in week out too. He's a better passer, a better dribbler and a better goalscorer.

Had you said Ronaldhinio it would have made more sense to me. If trickery equals entertainment then he was definitely your man as such players are always trying to do something unique even if it can often be merely for spectators.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Iniesta has done more with his career and has had a higher top-level throughout his career if that helps, Zidane just looked more "artistic" on the ball.

I love Iniesta more than I do messi ( don't ask me why) but he benefited from possession football too. Neymar and messi for all their brilliance would play say 70% of what they do at Barcelona here at United. Again that's not blaming them - that's rating Barcelona's tactics higher than ours. They have the ability to play to their 'A' game.

Zidane for me was playing before tactics were so important and was possession football implied in one man. He kept the ball and kept the ball ticking and benefited every team he played for.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

I'm curious to know what Zidane did consistently that was "new". He was a lovely footballer and had oodles of elegance. If I was to make a comparison the obvious one would be Iniesta, with less work rate and greater individual moments. But Messi comes up with far more jaw-dropping moments, and week in week out too. He's a better passer, a better dribbler and a better goalscorer.

Had you said Ronaldhinio it would have made more sense to me. If trickery equals entertainment then he was definitely your man as such players are always trying to do something unique even if it can often be merely for spectators.

I did mention Ronaldinho before bud - I was just backing up zidane.

 

[RedFish]

Of course, it's in the eye of the beholder territory, but anyone who has to ask why Zidane is rated by some as the greatest player that ever lived, clearly doesn't see what is obvious to some. Well, there is no right or wrong...........

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I did mention Ronaldinho before bud - I was just backing up zidane.

I'm just saying Zidane wasnt really one for doing new things. He was a bit like Messi and Iniesta in that sense. They usually did things in the most simplest, most effortless fashion. Whereas Ronaldhinio and Neymar are in the other category of players that enjoy the on looking eye balls and play to the audience.

 

[VorZakone]

Messi still has one last shot at the WC in 2018 but he'll be 31 then. 2014 was his best chance though.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

I'm just saying Zidane wasnt really one for doing new things. He was a bit like Messi and Iniesta in that sense. They usually did things in the most simplest, most effortless fashion. Whereas Ronaldhinio and Neymar are in the other category of players that enjoy the on looking eye balls and play to the audience.

Zidane made people look incapable. For me iniesta looked intelligent.

 

[VorZakone]

Zidane made people look incapable. For me iniesta looked intelligent.

Messi too.

 

[RedFish]

Messi gets an A+ for effort and an A+ for achievement
Zidane gets an B for effort and an A++ for achievement

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Messi too.

By doing the same thing and not much new aka dribble.

Anyway, it's really dependant on what you watch the sport for. I watch it for entertainment and as such my favourite players maybe less consistent but can hardly be copied in their technique.

 

[TheNewEra]

Messi gets an A+ for effort and an A+ for achievement
Zidane gets an B for effort and an A++ for achievement

4 Champions League, 7 Leagues, 5 Ballon d'Ors and, arguably most talented player ever, best club player of all time isn't achievement?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Zidane made people look incapable. For me iniesta looked intelligent.

It's hardly as though Zidane was skinning 4 defenders in a row five times a game. He was actually very very similar to Iniesta in terms of ability and performance levels IMO. I'd rank him onlt a tad higher due to greater individual moments.

Messi gets an A+ for effort and an A+ for achievement
Zidane gets an B for effort and an A++ for achievement

How did Zidane achieve more? Messi played for a better club side and Zidane a better international side but that aside, Messi's performance levels and general ability is quite comfortably a clear cut above.

Also is the B for effort a bit like Hazard where he could have been better if he wanted to?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

By doing the same thing and not much new aka dribble.

Anyway, it's really dependant on what you watch the sport for. I watch it for entertainment and as such my favourite players maybe less consistent but can hardly be copied in their technique.

Messi is the best passer in football.

This is why I asked you - what different and new things did Zidane do?

 

[RedFish]

4 Champions League, 7 Leagues, 5 Ballon d'Ors and, arguably most talented player ever, best club player of all time isn't achievement?

I posted half in jest lol. Clearly both achieved hugely . It's just that I remember Zidane affecting the outcome of the finals more (CL finals and WC's).

I'll just add, that it's really a matter of taste. I'd get up in the middle of the night to watch Zidane play, whereas I'd be happy to just catch highlights of Messi. Whatever floats your boat....

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Messi is the best passer in football.

This is why I asked you - what different and new things did Zidane do?

If he is then there should be no reason for Argentina not winning a world Cup with him at CM.


Does he have eyes in the back if his head? Messi can beat any player in front of him - absolutely smashes them but zidane looks like he plays Kung Fu with the football.

I couldn't care less if he passed less, scored less - there's youth at Barcelona who play and called the next messi. There won't be a next zidane.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

If he is then there should be no reason for Argentina not winning a world Cup with him at CM.


Does he have eyes in the back if his head? Messi can beat any player in front of him - absolutely smashes them but zidane looks like he plays Kung Fu with the football.

I couldn't care less if he passed less, scored less - there's youth at Barcelona who play and called the next messi. There won't be a next zidane.

In that case Sweden should win the WC because of Zlatan, or Portugal because of Ronaldo. Not really how a team sport works. The team also needs players to score goals. Having the best passer sat in the middle doesn't guarantee trophies.

Eyes at the back of his head? Not literally but his vision and passing is second to none.

You couldn't care less about reality, facts or even Iniesta being very similar to Zidane, however Zidane did "new things" and was the only one of a kind ever. Just cos.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Infact it wouldn't even surprise me if Neymar became better than messi. What does Neymar lack? Maybe passing but that's not really hard to work on.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

In that case Sweden should win the WC because of Zlatan, or Portugal because of Ronaldo. Not really how a team sport works.

Eyes at the back of his head? Not literally but his vision and passing is second to none.

You couldn't care less about reality, facts or even Iniesta being very similar to Zidane, however Zidane did "new things" and was the only one of a kind ever. Just cos.

Though Argentina are not Sweden and Argentina were in a world Cup final where messi should have risen to the occasion.

Even Portugal had a chance against Greece. These chances have to be taken and influenced - they aren't Wales - they have predominantly quality players but what they lack is team work something messi gets in abundance at Barcelona. You take that out and you see the fantastic but less influential messi you might see at Argentina or infact any other club.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Though Argentina are not Sweden and Argentina were in a world Cup final where messi should have risen to the occasion.

Even Portugal had a chance against Greece. These chances have to be taken and influenced - they aren't Wales - they have predominantly quality players but what they lack is team work something messi gets in abundance at Barcelona. You take that out and you see the fantastic but less influential messi you might see at Argentina or infact any other club.

Team work is essential for any player to have a big impact. Take it out and any player - be with Zidane or Cryuff would instantly be a lesser and less influential footballer.

Chances might have to be taken but they can't always be taken as is human nature. You can't always succeed.

Zidane was brilliant footballer but you're seriously overrating his uniqueness as well as his ability to do innovative things, and also wrongly typecasting Messi as this one trick dribbling poney. His passing is phenomenal.

 

[TheNewEra]

I posted half in jest lol. Clearly both achieved hugely . It's just that I remember Zidane affecting the outcome of the finals more (CL finals and WC's).

I'll just add, that it's really a matter of taste. I'd get up in the middle of the night to watch Zidane play, whereas I'd be happy to just catch highlights of Messi. Whatever floats your boat....

Messi absolutely Destroyed Manchester United in 2009, he ran riot over Juventus last year and was pivotal in that performance, the same in 2010-11.

He decided the game against Bayern, against Milan, against City, the list on. He was the chief creator of chances in the WC for Argentina, the only player who actually had a go in the WC final with only Mascherano putting in an equal performance.

He also won the player of the Tournament in the WC which was deserved although people are still bitter about that.

The world cup he literally passes to Di Maria, Higuain, Lavezzi in the world cup and doesn't receive the ball back because they don't function as a team, the France team ('98) was a better team than Argentinas (2014), the Germany (2014) team was a better team than Argentina in 2014.

It's a team sport, if your players aren't passing back to you there's not much you can do, I think Messi had one chance in that WC final. It's different for Zidané he's a midfielder if he doesn't score but creates some nice passes it's like "well he played well today".

To put 1986 in perspective Maradona finished with 5 goals in the 1986 world cup, 4 coming in 2 different games (Quarters and Semis) Maradona didn't score in the group stages, or the final. Yes it's touted as the best performance at a world cup tournament and rightly so... but he didn't win every game other team mates stepped up in key moments.

Messi finished the 2014 World Cup with 4 goals, he scored his goals in the Group stages, not knock out stages, yet he created key chances throughout the tournament squandered (he won the golden ball which was fully deserved too showing he was the best player at the tournament).

Zidane scored 2 goals in the 1998 world cup final (hardly a better player or more influential).

So the notion of winning a world cup it's a team game, other players didn't "step up" in those games, where-as in the Final in 1986 other players "stepped up" Maradona didn't score that day, likewise other players "stepped up" in 1998 too no player wins a tournament single-handedly it's a team sport.

People immortalise and rationalise past performances, you win you're great, you lose well you obviously you can't be considered great because the team around you didn't play well.

If he is then there should be no reason for Argentina not winning a world Cup with him at CM.


Does he have eyes in the back if his head? Messi can beat any player in front of him - absolutely smashes them but zidane looks like he plays Kung Fu with the football.

I couldn't care less if he passed less, scored less - there's youth at Barcelona who play and called the next messi. There won't be a next zidane.

There won't be a new Messi, because someone is called that doesn't mean they are. You can't create a clone of a person, by the way every promising player out of France is called the next Zidane or Vieira.

Pogba was called the new Zidane.

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

Yup which equates to a technically better player because what he does is more effective, the only thing that Zidane had over Messi is leadership yet Messi is still vice-captain of Barcelona plus being on the team you can just give him the ball and he can change games.

Zidane does not belong in the comparison.

I don't think Messi can't do what Maradona did, it's just he doesn't need to do it. Ronaldinho was more about entertainment but his wasn't really necessary but it was fun to watch.

You're forgetting about consistency at the top level too. Ronaldinho had a few years at the top then fell to a show pony with some great moments each season.

I'm not forgetting that. But in those two good years he showed more skills than Messi.

The Brazilian Side that won the WC was infinitely better than the current Argentina side too it was much more balanced.

People forget that as great as "Winning the world cup" is, Messi has already eclipsed Maradona in consistency (Goals Assists Trophies).

Yes, but that's not what it's about.

Maradona, George Best and Cruyff are the three technically close to Messi but its hard to really separate them (generational gap).

I think you can use the World Cup argument a lot, but that means Neuer is a better player in his position than Messi if you think that way "Well he's won a world cup and hes in the FIFA XI every year".

I don't use that argument. I am using the argument that Messi is a specialist, and an allround superior player who is a leader can make all his teammates play better and take a (unbalanced) team, club or country to a significantly higher level. If Messi was a player like that, he might have lead Argentina to two WC's up, but he isn't and he didn't. Messi is more the kind of player that adds his own specialty, which can be immense but hasn't been so far for Argentina.

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

It's a team sport, if your players aren't passing back to you there's not much you can do, I think Messi had one chance in that WC final. It's different for Zidané he's a midfielder if he doesn't score but creates some nice passes it's like "well he played well today".

To put 1986 in perspective Maradona finished with 5 goals in the 1986 world cup, 4 coming in 2 different games (Quarters and Semis) Maradona didn't score in the group stages, or the final. Yes it's touted as the best performance at a world cup tournament and rightly so... but he didn't win every game other team mates stepped up in key moments.

Messi finished the 2014 World Cup with 4 goals, he scored his goals in the Group stages, not knock out stages, yet he created key chances throughout the tournament squandered (he won the golden ball which was fully deserved too showing he was the best player at the tournament).

Zidane scored 2 goals in the 1998 world cup final (hardly a better player or more influential).

So the notion of winning a world cup it's a team game, other players didn't "step up" in those games, where-as in the Final in 1986 other players "stepped up" Maradona didn't score that day, likewise other players "stepped up" in 1998 too no player wins a tournament single-handedly it's a team sport.

You start by saying it's a team sport and you end with goal stats. Maradona created the goals in the 86 final, he was a number 10, not a finisher. He was the captain, the leader and the playmaker, besides creator of chances and scorer of important goals. Messi isn't that kind of player.

 

[Natener]

We all know Maradona was a great player, that bottom video though, I think in the modern game that would have been harder to score look at the defenders all of them try to slide tackle him, the back four is exposed too from the off. In a defence in Europe now they'd stay on their feet and try and make him run wide, yes Maradona would still probably score against that opposition but it was amateur defending in that video.

It's somewhat a misconception that 20th century football had amateur defending because players were diving in with slide tackles all over the place etc. You have to understand the aggression in the game back then, often players couldn't care less if they broke your leg with a tackle. In fact, sometimes that's exactly what they were trying to do. It is true modern football has more reading in the game. Defenders standing off trying to read the attacker's movement but it works both ways. The attacker also gets more time to change the momentum of their runs, something players like Maradona and those before him rarely got. There was a lot less room for hesitation, defenders had to be prepared to throw their body on the line whenever a player came at them and likewise it was make or break for attackers in almost every tackle.

Defending in modern football is a different ballgame in terms of coordination within the entire defence against the entire offence of the other team, but it is very simplistic to suggest it was any easier to score the goals Maradona did.

 

[TheNewEra]

You start by saying it's a team sport and you end with goal stats. Maradona created the goals in the 86 final, he was a number 10, not a finisher. He was the captain, the leader and the playmaker, besides creator of chances and scorer of important goals. Messi isn't that kind of player.

Goals decide games that is why goal stats are touted around in any statistics in football, as I put above Maradona in 1986 had the best performance in a world cup final in history and that's not a question (even looking to players like Cruyff), but the point is Messi created a lot of chances in the 2014 World Cup.

The point of showing goals scored between them is other players stepped up in the Finals for other teams so it's strange to disqualify some players but not others based on that, the only player to score in a World Cup Final is Zidané but even then to overthrow Brazil in 1998 was a TEAM performance not individual.

The only player to actually do something is Maradona in '86, but even then without those players around him finishing chances in the group stages and final they wouldn't have won, Argentina in 2014 players like Palacio, Higuain, Lavezzi didn't step up and yes Messi had a good chance in the box in that final too.

I just think people are very dismissive of players in this generation when there's a lot more emphasis on club football now, more-so than international.

There's no real difference between Pelé Maradona Messi if you compare trophies, one has won more for club, others have won international honours.

 

[Gio]

The use of stats to revise how good players performed in certain tournaments is a bit lazy. The fact Maradona had 5 goals and 5 assists in Argentina's 13 goals of Mexico '86 should be considered as merely an interesting footnote amid the more powerful story of how he devastatingly dominant he was in almost every game despite playing on some of the worst pitches seen at that level since the 1950s.

 

[VorZakone]

Infact it wouldn't even surprise me if Neymar became better than messi. What does Neymar lack? Maybe passing but that's not really hard to work on.

Are you kidding me? Messi at 24 had already played a key role in 2 CL-finals against Man Utd (2009 and 2011). Messi at 24 had put 4 past Arsenal, solo'd the shit out of Real Madrid in an away game for a CL semi-final. Messi at 24 was already deciding matches on his own week in week out for Barca. Messi at 24 had a 73-goal season, an all-time record for most goals in a season. For Neymar to become better than Messi, his development for the next coming years would need to be out of this world.

Christ...

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

Are you kidding me? Messi at 24 had already played a key role in 2 CL-finals against Man Utd (2009 and 2011). Messi at 24 had put 4 past Arsenal, solo'd the shit out of Real Madrid in an away game for a CL semi-final. Messi at 24 was already deciding matches on his own week in week out for Barca. Messi at 24 had a 73-goal season, an all-time record for most goals in a season. For Neymar to become better than Messi, his development for the next coming years would need to be out of this world.

Christ...

I overexageratted sorry! Messi scored a disgusting amount of goals per games. Take it back x

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

Goals decide games that is why goal stats are touted around in any statistics in football,

Yes, and the relevant statistic is called 'the result'. Personal goal statistics are just touted around because they are the simplest of statistics and easiest accessible. But they tend to tell a lot more about the role of an individual player in the team than about class.

as I put above Maradona in 1986 had the best performance in a world cup final in history and that's not a question (even looking to players like Cruyff), but the point is Messi created a lot of chances in the 2014 World Cup.

The point of showing goals scored between them is other players stepped up in the Finals for other teams so it's strange to disqualify some players but not others based on that, the only player to score in a World Cup Final is Zidané but even then to overthrow Brazil in 1998 was a TEAM performance not individual.

The only player to actually do something is Maradona in '86, but even then without those players around him finishing chances in the group stages and final they wouldn't have won, Argentina in 2014 players like Palacio, Higuain, Lavezzi didn't step up and yes Messi had a good chance in the box in that final too.

I just think people are very dismissive of players in this generation when there's a lot more emphasis on club football now, more-so than international.

There's no real difference between Pelé Maradona Messi if you compare trophies, one has won more for club, others have won international honours.

Not scoring doesn't mean a player didn't step up, and scoring doesn't mean a player was good. The fact that chances Maradona created were scored doesn't mean he didn't create any chances that were missed. Zidane is of course a much more limited player than Messi, but Zidane did tie the France team together, he was the leader and the playmaker. That makes or at least helps other players step up, Messi isn't a player like that.

Infact it wouldn't even surprise me if Neymar became better than messi. What does Neymar lack? Maybe passing but that's not really hard to work on.

Coordination, touch, insanely quick feet to start with. Neymar is an excellent player, but excellent like there have been hundreds before. I noticed that there has been comparisons for a long time now, but any time I watch him, they make no sense whatsoever. It's just Brazilians and Nike doing what they do best: nagging how good a Brazilian is.

 

[Balu]

Not scoring doesn't mean a player didn't step up, and scoring doesn't mean a player was good. The fact that chances Maradona created were scored doesn't mean he didn't create any chances that were missed. Zidane is of course a much more limited player than Messi, but Zidane did tie the France team together, he was the leader and the playmaker. That makes or at least helps other players step up, Messi isn't a player like that.

I don't think that's true for the '98 World Cup winning team. It's certainly true for the 2006 side of course, but in 98, when he actually won the World Cup, he was somewhere between underwhelming and really awful up to the final. Mostly bad performances, a stupid red card that meant he missed the first knockout round and his teammates had to bail him out time and again. Obviously he ran the show in the final and was absolutely terrific, but he clearly benefited from Ronaldo's mysterious injury and the problems it caused for Brazil, the visible confusion in that Brazil side. Zidane only showed true leadership from his late 20's onwards in my opinion, not that much before. Plenty of time for Messi to do the same, who is only 28.

 

[LouisDanGaal]

There definitely can be someone better, even if messi came ten years later he would probably be seen as better than he will be as he would be unrivalled as best player in the world for ten years, whereas whenever Messi has had slightly below par seasons Ronaldo takes over. You could have a player with his brain and technique and added athleticism and you would have a better player, not saying it is likely at all and there certainly isn't any young player in the world, including neymar who will get to his levels. His reputation will also slightly suffer due to a less impressive international career than others.

 

[TheNewEra]

Yes, and the relevant statistic is called 'the result'. Personal goal statistics are just touted around because they are the simplest of statistics and easiest accessible. But they tend to tell a lot more about the role of an individual player in the team than about class.


Not scoring doesn't mean a player didn't step up, and scoring doesn't mean a player was good. The fact that chances Maradona created were scored doesn't mean he didn't create any chances that were missed. Zidane is of course a much more limited player than Messi, but Zidane did tie the France team together, he was the leader and the playmaker. That makes or at least helps other players step up, Messi isn't a player like that.

I agree with this point entirely it's why I think its rather unfair the world cup argument because the 2014 world cup chances were missed, so I think with Messi he is a GOAT with Maradona and Pelé.

I think Maradona for Argentina best tournament ever for a player at a world cup, It's difficult because in modern football does someone need a world cup? it's hard to say Maldini missed out on a World Cup too but I have no difficulty saying he's one of the best defenders ever.

I think there will be a better player than Messi some day, but I do think Messi is certainly top 2 at this stage in GOAT list and his trophy cabinet is still expanding... the World Cup is always the reason against this and I don't see it mattering at this stage.

Your last point regarding Messi doesn't influence others around him, I disagree completely at Barcelona when he steps up the team does. Last year when he stepped up Pique Alves Neymar Suarez all stepped up too.

I think his emergence to the Barcelona squad has elevated it to be the best a club team has been, and pundits also don't hold back on saying "what will Barcelona be without Messi" he's that good.

I don't think the World Cup is the fact he doesn't elevate others performances, I just think they were never in their heads thinking they were going to win against Germany. if that was Aguero and Di Maria fit in that game it would have been arguably different and sometimes lets face it, you need a bit of luck on the day.

 

[RedFish]

Certain players just light up the game for me. Whilst Messi is undeniably awesome, I enjoy watching Suarez more....That last season he played for 'pool for instance...Incredible. Maybe it is just stylistical I find certain players more aesthetically pleasing when imagining how 'beautiful' the game can be....?

 

[Adebesi]

Sorry to bump this old thread but I stumbled across it and thought it was an interesting topic.

In answer to the OP, I think there is always room for improvement. Messi is clearly absolutely awesome, but he isnt perfect. One day someone will come along who will be better. Someone with equal skill but more power or some other improvement. Its the nature of sport, someone sets the bar higher than anyone ever thought possible and then a new generation come through aspiring to that level and eventually someone breaches it. Its hard to imagine but it will happen eventually. It might take a while though. Conceivably, by the time it happens this current period will not be called "modern" football anymore, it might be called "Early 21st Century" football. But actually I think itll happen sooner than that.