He is arguably the most complete attacking player I have ever seen.
Lionel Messi - Performances
- Thread starter Rado_N
- Start date
Only if you argue it with yourself
Would love to see him win the world cup this summer. Can't see it happening though, unfortunately. Argentina always look a mess when i watch them. Just seems like there's no cohesion there.
Do you think Messi's peak was from 2009 to 2012 or from 2014 until this year ? It basically depends on if you prefer dribbling or playmaking even though both things can be linked with each other.
In the first phase he produced some stunning goals and dribbles and it is generally considered his peak years because of the individual awards in a row.
But arguably, from 2014 until now he has matured his footballing brain even more and became the best playmaker ever, his ability to make a great pass, find space where there apparently is none is really special, his through balls are as good as his long balls and the way everyone looks for him and all the build ups have been going through him in the last four years is amazing.
In short, I can't make up my mind, are we seeing Messi in his peak, possibly with his best ever years still to come, or from 2009 to 2012 he was on a level of form which his performances these past years can't reach even though they have been stunning in their own way ?
In the first phase he produced some stunning goals and dribbles and it is generally considered his peak years because of the individual awards in a row.
But arguably, from 2014 until now he has matured his footballing brain even more and became the best playmaker ever, his ability to make a great pass, find space where there apparently is none is really special, his through balls are as good as his long balls and the way everyone looks for him and all the build ups have been going through him in the last four years is amazing.
In short, I can't make up my mind, are we seeing Messi in his peak, possibly with his best ever years still to come, or from 2009 to 2012 he was on a level of form which his performances these past years can't reach even though they have been stunning in their own way ?
The great thing about Messi today is playmaking and scoring 45 goals a season, but his playmaking alone is overrated. It hasn‘t lifted his team beyond the CL quarters the last three years and how can you say he is the best playmaker ever? Can he control the tempo like Xavi did? Or did he dominate the world cup like Diego? He is very good at playmaking, but I am not even sure he is better than Modric in that aspect.
Early Messi for sure. He wasn't a bad passer, but his dribbling was otherworldly, and his goal output was unmatched.
It's not playmaking like Xavi or Kroos. It's that even if he picks the ball in the middle he can put a teammate in front of goal with a milimetric pass that no other player can do.
I meant to say the best playmaker ever of his own playmaking. Compared to himself... sorry, english is not my first language, sometimes it gets a little bit misunderstood
Yeah... I can see why the majority thinks that way. I was looking at some Argentina old matches and even with Riquelme and Aimar they were as bad as nowadays, back in 2007-09 specially with Maradona as coach, Messi used to be so unfairly criticized over the failure of the team back then... he actually produced some very good performances but took the blame nonetheless. You can tell he was a truly great player by the fact he basically always did with Argentina the same as with Barcelona, individually speaking. Played the same way.
Been the best footballer in the world this season. But he will need the WC to win the Balon Dor. Barcelona have to invest in their midfield instead of obsessing about forwards in order to not waste his qualities in the CL.
scored a hatrick and assisted the 4th for Argentina against Haiti, still 15 mins to play.
If he carried Argentina for the the semi's and scored 4-5 gols in the WC i think Ballon D'or will be his.
If he carried Argentina for the the semi's and scored 4-5 gols in the WC i think Ballon D'or will be his.
Just scored another hat trick and got a assist for Argentina.
Would’ve had at least 100 international goals if he played in the UEFA qualifying zone.
Haiti are probably worse than San Marino tbh.
No, they are miles better than San Marino. Look at their results in WC 2018 qualifying and you will see that it’s a ridiculous comparison.
Haiti is not part of Conmebol qualifying zone. In general Messi will face Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia.. The less competitives in the region are Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru(who defeated Scotland 2-0 today).
Messi=Argentina and Argentina=Messi. They are fecked when he retires.
Yeah I thought they were some minnows in their own region but actually their results in Concacaf thrid round were respectable:
Costa Rica 1-0 Haiti
Haiti 0-1 Jamaica
Haiti 0-0 Panama
Panama 1-0 Haiti
Haiti 0-1 Costa Rica
Jamaica 0-2 Haiti
Northern Ireland would've still been a better test though.
https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futb...28187/messi-barcelona-decision-argentina.html
¿El mejor gol que hayas metido?
El de la final de la Champions al Manchester, de cabeza.
Messi says that is his best goal
¿El mejor gol que hayas metido?
El de la final de la Champions al Manchester, de cabeza.
Messi says that is his best goal
I personally think his best goal was that free-kick he scored against Atletico at the Calderon when Barca wore that black strip. It was like Ronaldinho's against England, but Messi meant to put it exactly where it went, which was ridiculous.
He's a poor penalty taker.
@IFC 1905 messi letting his teammates down?
Yep
Doesn’t really have a penalty style. Mixes it up every time and never looks confident
Don't want to make that terrible comparison, but that other guy looked hyped and ready to go.
Messi just looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Not putting any money on this, but Argentina for me night be heading home after 3 -5 games.
Messi just looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Not putting any money on this, but Argentina for me night be heading home after 3 -5 games.
It's shocking that such a good striker of the ball and such a good finisher generally is so consistently poor at taking penalties. His ability should mean he's tucking it away right into the side netting or top corner every time. He misses far too often for a player of his calibre.
Had a shocker this half.
Shame about the penalty, he is basically the only one playing today, even though he is not having special game. They should play him far higher than they do.
He's not even been the best player on the pitch..
Over to you Neymar!
Over to you Neymar!
Nobody in the team is on the same wavelength as him. Very bad penalty actually from him.
I just don't understand why a team with so much talent, all stand and watch and expect Messi to do it all. The team spirit, and team work seems non existent. It's either Messi or fail.
He should really be putting those penalties away, no excuses, if not let someone else take them, how is aguero at pens?
But overall Argentina looked poor, devoid of any ideas, though Aguero finally showed what he can do. They also need to stop depending on Messi so much.
But overall Argentina looked poor, devoid of any ideas, though Aguero finally showed what he can do. They also need to stop depending on Messi so much.
which talent, though? Di Maria and Masch are semi-retired and Biglia is Biglia. no other players can really dribble or do anything with the ball. all Messi and Aguero today.
Like many have said, he needs to play further forward. It won't upset the balance of the team, because whoever is marking him from midfield will still be in close proximity to him at all times, all it would really do is open up space for one of the argentina midfielders to move into. would enable him to conserve even more energy.
There's only one Ronaldo I guess
Are you really questioning the talent in the Argentine national team?
Doesn't move enough. The only players in Russia who move less than Messi are the keepers.
Don't get this argument. Messi is part of the team that is not able to gel together, he is part of the problem in that sense. I almost believe they should once give a Messi-less team a shot. It sounds insane but even with Messi replaced by Dyabala, the team is great on paper.
As it is Messi sort of gets to play his peak role in this team - false 9 - who has the freedom to drop deep to midfield and make runs to the box as he wants. He gets to hog the ball, dribbling past players like only he can. After that the the argument seems to be that you don't have a Barca set up to support him. Well if that is the excuse then the notion that Messi can't succeed outside Barca set up may be true at all. Not fair to blame Argies for not having Xaviniesta.
People think Messi was the only Argie player who tried anything this match. For starters it was Aguero who created a goal out of nothing. Then we hear Dybala can't play since he would get in Messi's way so basically Messi wants to dominate the ball. If that is the case, then he has to accept the burden of being the main creator. That's the role Maradona played and never shied away from.
The other choice is that Messi can play as a pure forward and let Dybala run the attacking midfield area but I don't think that is what he wants.
It's questionable to be honest.
Other than their big name non-performing front line, they don't really have much in either defense or midfield .
Otamendi aside, non of their defense or midfield are guaranteed starters in any of the Europe's top sides.
I fully believe Argentina will be a better team once Messi buggers off.