Nowhere near the same. Boateng made an absolute hash of that too btw. Rubbish defending on both parts.
Lionel Messi - Performances
- Thread starter Rado_N
- Start date
Messi for Barcelona is levels above Messi for Argentina. 21 year old Messi for Barcelona was playing better than prime Messi for Argentina. It really is a massive benefit to have played with some of the same players for your entire career.
Wandering how well he'll do in another team is a bit like wondering how well Pele would have fared in Europe. We never get to see him consistently out of his comfort zone. We see it with Argentina but those are international games and not only are they different on their own but everyone else isn't playing with their normal team mates either so the football is always going to be worse.
He's phenomenal however when a team is properly built around him. As soon as he's off the pitch Suarez goes down a level and teams can afford to pay more attention to Neymar and Iniesta.
Your last point doesn't make sense. Can't just take away their scoring numbers and rate them. Ronaldo changed his game to optimize his goal scoring and he sacrificed his creative game for it which he had with us. I feel like one of the difference between Iniesta and Messi are goals. Messi is basically perfect. The exact things that he lacks Ronaldo happens to have. Iniesta meanwhile could be Barcelona's 2nd best player ever and he's played next to Messi almost his whole life.
The pace in modern football surely has picked up a bit since the late 80s/ early 90s but not by such a degree as it did between this time and the 60s/70s. So that's the main reason I would still include Maradona in the modern era of football.
I agree with your post in principle, but I have not seen Messi play much better than in this year's Copa América (bar the final). Sometimes it seems people have made up their minds about Messi's national team performances once and for all, and aren't able to alter that view anymore.
It's a general view, I didn't watch the Copa this year.
I guess the explanation for this surprising fact is that Messi missed CL games mostly v relatively weak opposition, i.e., in the group stages. According to the stats, Barca score significantly more goals with Messi in the team but... win less games.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/ch...pions-league-win-percentage-is-higher-without
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/ch...pions-league-win-percentage-is-higher-without
After 3 weeks out, made a 40 minute cameo last night and scored after his 3rd touch. But even in that short time he reminded viewers just how special a player he is. I cannot wait to see him live again on Wednesday against Pep
Messi has more assists and goals than anyone this year. Is there any chance he can win the ballon dor?
Any idea what their relationship is actually like these days? It's not going to be a Fergie-Ronaldo like embrace is it?
How will Pep himself be received by fans and his former players?
I certainly hope so but most likely not as they will give it to Ronaldo who won the Champions League and European Cup, notably the latter considering the votes are primarily decided by the coaches and captains of the national teams.
He's the best player in the world easily but Ballon D'or has a reputation of being voted in terms of success, mainly the CL.
Make's it more interesting if Ronaldo wins it though. 5 and 4 Ballon D'ors each in the past 9 years is just crazy.
That pass from Neymar was beautiful too.
Iniesta is a great player but is he really on the same level as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario, Cruijff and others?
Multiple CL's, a WC, 2 Euros, MOTM performances throughout those campaigns. Iniesta is a top-tier player.
Watch the players play.sorry-my-spacebar-stoppedworking-thisisnt-mywholepost.
In my opinion yes. Cruyff won 1 La Liga title in 8 seasons there. Iniesta has been a key figure in one of the most successful team in football history over a 10 year span with 7 league titles and 4 CL titles. Ronaldo and Romario are but a footnote in Barca's recent history. He's certainly up there with Cruyff who's perhaps more remembered for what he did after his playing career with them. To me Iniesta is almost a flawless player.
Absolutely!
Only Leo & Pep know the true state of their relationship but I've only heard and seen signs of love & respect for one another, nothing less. The last time Pep came to Camp Nou, Messi did this:
So, I expect Messi to be motivated to play against City but more so because of Pep. Of course, I also expect Guardiola to be just as motivated. Last time these two sides faced off in CL, Messi gave a masterclass performance that elicited youthful glee from Pep himself. I also expect City looking forward to the challenge of giving a better account of themselves. Thrilled I will be in attendance
How will fans react? I expect most will cheer him on, helps that the board isn't actively trying to poison the air ahead of the encounters
That first goal vs Bayern is always a joy to watch. To do that against one of the best CBs in the world and then have the confidence to finish like that against the best GK in the world.
Brilliant.
Brilliant.
He contributed far more to the club's success than most of the players on the list. Ability wise he's not that far off either.
Real quality in the second half, but he was atrocious in the first half. Also, he may be the best player in the world, but my god is he a lazy one. However, three goals, an assist and a penalty (awful miss by Neymar). How much more can you possibly ask for an attacker? He was the main difference today, and that is what being world class is about. Has he lost a bit of acceleration though?
Didnt think he was atrocious at all in the first half. Scored a goal, created a chance for rakitic and suarez which they should have scored.
He was awful in the first half. Had numerous misplaced passes and didn't look bothered at all. He scored a goal, but we all know from watching Rooney that numbers is not the be all of football. He improved a lot in the second, but he conserves his energy well, for sure.
He's 29 so a few injuries through his career and aging of course he's going to lose acceleration. He can still dribble with the ball glued to his feet so I don't see him being less effective.
You also need to factor in he's returning from an injury he's not going to hit the ground running right now.
Today was a performance I expect from another certain player, not really contributed minus the goals. The one notable addition was the dribble for the penalty but apart from that a very average day.
He has lost his great acceleration obviously but he still is so much smarter than most players so he knows when to use it perfectly and it works well. What he did for the pen is the best example of using it at the right moment.
Rooney doesn't even have numbers anymore
Rooney doesn't even have numbers anymore
One shouldn't lose much at 29, but injuries contribute. Agree with the rest of your post. The penalty was great from him. And his finishing is top class.
I always think he has been overplayed by club and country throughout his career
The amount of times he seems to be rushed back from injury can't be good for him
He could well decline dramatically in his early 30's so its best to enjoy him while he lasts
If Johan Cruyff was Pythagoras in football boots, then this guy must be Einstein. 3 goals, 1 assist, 1 penalty. And he wasn't even trying that hard
That's 6 goals, 1 assist and 1 penalty won in his 2 CL games this season.
@FCBarca would be more appropriate. Do things the right way.
Aye. 37th of his career. What a beast!
Haha those guys would ******* all over the Ronaldo thread if he done what Messi done tonight. Wasn't even a great performance by Messi he was just super effective without being too involved in the match.
He's lost that acceleration that made him impossible to deal with in 1vs1 situations and open spaces, but his sheer brilliance more than makes up for it.
His passing has gotten better and he's gotten better with his right foot.
A footballing genius. His finishing has been better this season too.
His passing has gotten better and he's gotten better with his right foot.
A footballing genius. His finishing has been better this season too.
You had me confused there for a second.
He is so masterfully efficient. Should've had 5 points today, and that was more or less the only 5 times he found himself in a promising attacking position.
A lot of players are able to score that 2-0 goal, but he just does it every time.
A lot of players are able to score that 2-0 goal, but he just does it every time.
GOAT no question.
His right foots always been good. Only player I've seen chip the keeper with both feet in one game ( v Leverkusen )
I don't think it's always been good. There was a noticeable improvement in that season of 2011-2012 where he did chip the Leverkusen keeper twice.
Before that, it was hit and miss IMO.
Has scored 16 goals in 15 games against English opposition. Lucky for him the likes of Stoke and Watford aren't in the CL.