Speaks more about Messi than Isco. Creates more, yet scores more as well. Total player.
Lionel Messi - Performances
- Thread starter Rado_N
- Start date
Totally agree. In fact up until September the Ballon d'Or was pretty much his that year, until Ronaldo went crazy in October and November.
Isn't it when they pushed back the voting for Ronaldo to win it ?
Hope he plays a vital role in a Barca win Saturday, to be decisive in 3 cl finals in 8 would compensate for the WC talk imo.
That was an embarrassing year for that award, it was almost like a political campaign to get everyone to vote for one player.
Yes it is.
Alfio Basile, argentinian Coach
"I'm the only one who's coached both Messi and Maradona. No one has ever coached both of them. I've got the world record there. Two world-wide stars. But I always say Messi is a real extraterrestrial, cause at the speed he goes with the ball glued to his feet I haven't seen nor will ever see someone like that. He does every play as if he was watching it from the stands. As soon I saw him with the young team, I thought 'this is a serious thing, this guy will be the best player in the world'. Because it's incredible. If you watch him in a practice, by your side, he does things wich are incredible to be done for a human being!"
Alfio Basile, argentinian Coach
"I'm the only one who's coached both Messi and Maradona. No one has ever coached both of them. I've got the world record there. Two world-wide stars. But I always say Messi is a real extraterrestrial, cause at the speed he goes with the ball glued to his feet I haven't seen nor will ever see someone like that. He does every play as if he was watching it from the stands. As soon I saw him with the young team, I thought 'this is a serious thing, this guy will be the best player in the world'. Because it's incredible. If you watch him in a practice, by your side, he does things wich are incredible to be done for a human being!"
That guy looks like he'd farq you right up if you disagreed too.
But seriously, that's very interesting reading.
Don't know if this was posted before but it's worth to watch.
"I've never seen something like that in a 16 years old kid. At the end of the match I went to tell Rikjaard that they already had three foreign players, to get a loan on him. He told me they were already working on that and he would be playing for them in a couple months. I asked Juventus to sing him, but he wasn't available as Barcelona didn't want to sell him. During half time most of our players were talking about how good and fast he was" - Fabio Capello.
The Messi chants started as far back as 2005.
edit: Viera was a petty cnut back then too.
edit: Viera was a petty cnut back then too.
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Vieira
Come on mate you're French, at least spell the name of the legendary French midfielder correctly But yes Vieira was always a bit of a cnut, our special cnut
The strengthshttp://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lionel-messis-majestic-season/
Some very detailed analysis by the guy who also gave us this article - http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lionel-messi-is-impossible/
Some very detailed analysis by the guy who also gave us this article - http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lionel-messi-is-impossible/
It was that playoff tie against Sweden.
Animated sketch of the Bilbao goal.
muy bueno!
Vieira
But yes Vieira was always a bit of a cnut, our special cnut
He was no legend for us that's for sure.
25 man of the match awards out of 37 is ridiculous.
I think it's a fair assessment from Basile. You have to remember, and I think look at, and even appreciate the progression of sports. The progression of anything for that matter. Messi almost certainly wouldn't exist as the player he is without Maradona. It's a progression or construction. If you look at great players from the 50's, if you told me that you could teleport them 70 years into the future and they would be great players now, I'd laugh in your face. The same is true 70 years from now. That doesn't mean that Messi is better than Maradona was, I personally think he is, but its a close discussion still.
The point is, past players are trail blazers. They are developing the game, pushing it forward. They can only compete at the level of competition that exists in the time they exist in. Evolution happens in sports, the training gets better, the players get stronger, faster, more highly tuned. The understanding of tactics, the tactical direction of a given era. These things all change and strictly speaking they tend to reflect a general trend of improvement.
Messi is as much a product of this as anyone else is. Messi is the best right now, and I would argue the best of all time, but that also takes into account the place from which Messi started. He started at a more advanced position in the evolution of football and footballers thanks to guys like Maradona. Without Maradona pushing that envelope in the 80's, Messi isn't who he is today. Without the game progressing thanks to the influence of guys like Pele, Best <insert Titan here> Messi isn't where he is today.
Unless you are a true trail blazer, you always, ALWAYS stand on the shoulders of those who came before you, and Messi is no different in that regard.
The point is, past players are trail blazers. They are developing the game, pushing it forward. They can only compete at the level of competition that exists in the time they exist in. Evolution happens in sports, the training gets better, the players get stronger, faster, more highly tuned. The understanding of tactics, the tactical direction of a given era. These things all change and strictly speaking they tend to reflect a general trend of improvement.
Messi is as much a product of this as anyone else is. Messi is the best right now, and I would argue the best of all time, but that also takes into account the place from which Messi started. He started at a more advanced position in the evolution of football and footballers thanks to guys like Maradona. Without Maradona pushing that envelope in the 80's, Messi isn't who he is today. Without the game progressing thanks to the influence of guys like Pele, Best <insert Titan here> Messi isn't where he is today.
Unless you are a true trail blazer, you always, ALWAYS stand on the shoulders of those who came before you, and Messi is no different in that regard.
Just. Wow.
While what you say is fine, that every generation helps improve the sport and take it forward, or in a sense it's time and science that does that as much as anything, who are these players referred to in the bolder bit? Every football stands on the shoulder of someone, their family, their loved ones, their team mates, their clubs/countries, the game itself etc. I don't think there's anyone who fits the " true trailblazer" definition of yours in any sport, anywhere. There are sportsman who play a sport.
amazing
That video is great, proper speed, angles and framerate to enjoy his footwork.
On the other and, I am starting to get pretty pissed off at how good he is. And I've always been a fan. Turning into a bitter, envious geezer.
On the other and, I am starting to get pretty pissed off at how good he is. And I've always been a fan. Turning into a bitter, envious geezer.
This is a good read. Contains an interesting theory about his apparent recent improvement.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soc...-world-s-best-1.2238827#.VXK_qxrPTDI.facebook
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soc...-world-s-best-1.2238827#.VXK_qxrPTDI.facebook
Whether you believe it or not, in Argentina he is one of the most discussed players, along with Aguero.
At least in Portugal you support Cristiano.
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Messi stahp.
They do show the same dribble a bunch of times throughout the video but that's outrageous. Like watching an adult taking the piss against 5 year olds (basically me, with my kids) when he's actually up against the best players around. Ridiculous.
He's pretty far from universally liked around here.
Sometimes it's crazy how quickly he gets his foot on the ball to push it away from the defender who already lunged his foot. He's permanently on a sort of "last ditch dribble"... Really taking the piss.
excellent article
That fivethirtyeight piece is why I think Messi is comfortably the greatest sportsman alive and probably most talented human. Is there anyone else in any field who stands so far ahead of their peers?
Also have to admire how Ronaldo has managed to get even this close to Messi.
Also have to admire how Ronaldo has managed to get even this close to Messi.
Reminded me of that Landon Donovan quote about Messi. "He plays like I'd play against 15 year olds".
Isn't his goals record partly because Barca's team is set up in order to put Messi one-on-one with either the goal keeper or the last defender? His international scoring record is nowhere near as good, although still very good (around 1 in 2) on a par with Klose for example, who also has a World Cup to his name.
(Pele's record is better than both of course)
(Pele's record is better than both of course)
^ Yeah
A large proportion, if not most, of his goals are not one-on-one goals.
interesting about the junk food and fizzy pop. now he cleaned his diet like Ronaldo and elevated above him
He's the best player of all time.
It gives me goosebumps watching his highlight reels, it's like watching one of those biology videos that shows a single sperm beating all the others to the egg...
Like, he's tapping into something primal and pure - such a simple desire, like an instinct, "I'm going to take the ball, and I will move where I need to and I will score a goal, because that's what nature dictated".
This, 'little', unremarkable looking, unassuming man just frantically weaving through crowds of trained athletes far bigger than him, but somehow he's stronger, faster, smarter and just reduces them to comical chaos. All their planning and training and preparation undone by this simple, pure instinct.
It's like a metaphor for nature's superiority over human plans and project.
It's humbling and yet inspiring. It really gets to me when I watch a good Messi compilation.
Man, why can't he play for United!? Ha.
It gives me goosebumps watching his highlight reels, it's like watching one of those biology videos that shows a single sperm beating all the others to the egg...
Like, he's tapping into something primal and pure - such a simple desire, like an instinct, "I'm going to take the ball, and I will move where I need to and I will score a goal, because that's what nature dictated".
This, 'little', unremarkable looking, unassuming man just frantically weaving through crowds of trained athletes far bigger than him, but somehow he's stronger, faster, smarter and just reduces them to comical chaos. All their planning and training and preparation undone by this simple, pure instinct.
It's like a metaphor for nature's superiority over human plans and project.
It's humbling and yet inspiring. It really gets to me when I watch a good Messi compilation.
Man, why can't he play for United!? Ha.
That's probably the strangest analogy I've ever come across in my life, even Ray Hudson wouldn't think of that one