People exaggerate Messi's playmaking ability. When he is super deep on the field, he's hardly pulling the strings like a Silva and making everyone better. He has that long ball to the fullback and the "last" pass but to say he's Iniesta mixed with Henry isn't true.
Lionel Messi - Performances
- Thread starter Rado_N
- Start date
I think the Ronldo vs Messi argument will stretch on forever, and remain as boring as it was on the first day the topic came up.
I know they both have the same amount of Balon D'Ors, but Ronaldo will forever be in Messi's shadow IMO. Ronaldo is a sensational player, no doubt, but he has always been a notch below Messi.
I know they both have the same amount of Balon D'Ors, but Ronaldo will forever be in Messi's shadow IMO. Ronaldo is a sensational player, no doubt, but he has always been a notch below Messi.
Messi is not the sort of player who moves ateam theough the phases. He isnt an organizer. He basically hangs around in the final third and waits for the ball in order to create or score. Zizou used to move the team forward. He used to make the team play which is quite different. Messi drops deep into midfield on occasion in order to try to make a great pass, zizou basically played in midfield, and only moved into attack when moves had started.
Its the distinction between the socrates' and zicos, the rivelino's and pele's, the cruyff's and the rivera's or the Charlton's and the bests.
As I said in the last page, football really seems simple when you can see Messi playing like today 
It's amazing that he's had such a fantastic season and it's not even his best or even in the top 3 seasons he's had arguably.
Simply incredible.
Barcelona need to take advantage of his brilliance and get the right players in the summer to bolster the team.
Simply incredible.
Barcelona need to take advantage of his brilliance and get the right players in the summer to bolster the team.
He's a fecking god.
I don't even understand how someone can be a football fan if they can't appreciate Messi.
I don't even understand how someone can be a football fan if they can't appreciate Messi.
Words don't do him justice.
Simply the best.
Zidane wasn't that much of an organiser either. He was hardly Roy Keane controlling the entire midfield. He was not a midfielder as much as Scholes or Pirlo or Xavi were. But he was much more a midfielder than Messi is. So he's somewhere in between. Messi doesn't just 'hang around in the final third'. If that wasn't the case he wouldn't drop deep and orchestrate as much as he does ironically intended to "move the team forward".
Like I said, it's about degrees and we largely agree. Except I think you're exaggerating how much a final third player Messi. He influences the team in many more facets than your analysis makes out. And that post wasn't to be taken that literally. It meant that he's a playmaker (like zidane) and a goalscorer (like Henry). Does that mean that he's exactly like them in those aspects? Obviously not. But unlike them, and any player I've ever seen, he's brilliant at both.
30th trophy as a club player
Last night's goal was like a tap in for him. We really are spoilt.
Brilliant performance vs Alaves.
Best in the world by a large distance
So wonderful to watch
No doubt in my mind that he is the best player in the world. Its a shame he wont be rewarded with his 6th ballon dor because his team didnt win the champions league.
that bleach job didn't help his chances.
this.
Doesn't Messi have a slightly better goals to game ratio over the course of their careers?
Be interesting to see that ratio comparison since 09/10.
Keep the comparisons in the Messi vs Ronaldo thread please as I don't want to reply here since it's off topic
From what I can judge, there's not much in it in that regard. I think Ronaldo has 265 games and 285 goals includong that season, Messi something like 273/295. That's league only.
Sorry, Peyroteo, you're quite right.
Happy birthday to the best player I've ever seen.
Imagine, if Sir Alex had him. He would win CL every 2nd year.
I'm expecting big things from him next season. Valverde and Sampaoli need to get their tactics right.
He is actually 30 now...
If we can build a team that is even close to Real Madrid or even Bayern Munich from top to bottom, I would back us to win the CL without a second thought. Having Messi on your team is almost cheating.
Just don't know if they have the money to fix their issues in midfield and transitions though. Verrati is imperative but will barca spend a world record fee? On top of that a marcelo-lite fullback who locks the entire flank down is in short supply. Imo, another dribbling playmaker- dembele- should be second only to verratti in priority. Messi in big matches has 3 people on his ass, leaving a numeric underload for neymar to exploit. Now imagine if they had another world class dribbler with that space...
I don't know where this idea that we are a poor club comes from.
Our annual turnover is comparable to Real and United.
a truly massive wage bill. United and Madrid's wage bill accounts for around 50% of their revenue. Barcelona's for more than 70%
That's not something which cannot be fixed.
Bring in Verratti and Semedo, and sell Gomes and Turan.
How would that fix your enormous wage bill? If anything Veratti would increase it.
Also get rid of Mascherano. I don't want to, but his salary is not justified by his performances on the pitch these days.
Interesting season coming up for Messi now. Regardless of who they bring in, they will not find a better replacement for Neymar who for me is the best LW in the world particularly in a team with Messi pulling the strings.
How do we see him faring this season? For me he's still the most talented player in the world, but how motivated is he? He's now in his 30s, has done literally everything possible to do in his club career and it wouldn't surprise me to see him take it easy this season and focus all his efforts on what is surely his last chance at a World Cup.
How do we see him faring this season? For me he's still the most talented player in the world, but how motivated is he? He's now in his 30s, has done literally everything possible to do in his club career and it wouldn't surprise me to see him take it easy this season and focus all his efforts on what is surely his last chance at a World Cup.
Potentially the biggest year of his life coming up - last chance for a World Cup.
First they need to qualify and isn't Messi suspended for a couple of games? I haven't checked up the SA qualifying groups in a while, so I could be outdated.
They certainly have a good enough coach this time around though.
They certainly have a good enough coach this time around though.