I don't really understand how he managed to put such a good performance when his partners in attack were so shit. Midfield did a good job though.
Lionel Messi - Performances
- Thread starter Rado_N
- Start date
Someone always comes along and becomes the next generational player. It could be Mbappé or Dembélé. We'll just have to wait and see. I'm still not ruling out Martial yet either.
Disinterested eh? Continues to carry this Barca team this season.
Neymar is already here.
That shot of Messi holding his shirt up to the Real fans will be iconic
He's 25, though. Living in the same era as the other two has sort of hindered his reputation somewhat. I think he is very close to those two. If he's dedicated and doesn't lose sight of his ultimate goal like most Brazilians do, he can cement his name among the greats.
He needs to score more goals. He is an assist machine, but it's a very much a goal driven stats matrix now because of Messi and Ronaldo. A World Cup win with this impressive Brazil side could do the trick.
None of them 3 will even get close.
Mbappé can emulate Henry and Ronaldo de Lima at the very least. His next career move will have a big impact on that.
Mbappé is interesting, but I really don't see anyone on the horizon getting close to this guy. We're incredibly lucky to have watched his entire career play out.
Cheeky bid?
I don't think there is a next Messi among the current crop of young players, Messi was 17 when he started playing an already looked incredible at the time. It will be hard for his son should he chose to become a footballer, I imagine trying to live up to the Messi name won't be easy.
Wenger nearly signed him.
Can you imagine Rashford scoring a winner at Anfield/Etihad and doing that celebration?
Any photo of that shirt moment available?
This celebration needs to be included in FIFA 18! Brilliant performance and great celebration
I don't get the people who watch a CL game or two and say he's past it. He's been carrying Barca for a lot of this season and is comfortably the top scorer around. He's been brilliant and should be POTY irrespective of what his team wins.
This player reminds me the reason why I love football. Lovefootball .....
I prefered his celebration against us at Wembley.
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And not one fan flipping the bird or calling him a wanker. Obviously more sophisticated fans in La Liga.
Please don't
His probably best two performances this year have been against top teams, Atletico and Real Madrid.
Ah, good photo that.
He has been asked to play in a different position compared to the past. He is basically Barca's playmaker. Don't think he likes it.
Henry said it best:
Messi has pushed Ronaldo to be better. Ronaldo has pushed Messi to be better. Neither can rest on their laurels.
I hate this constant fanboy led wars. I never watched Pele but I've seen Messi. I'll never see Gerd Muller but I've seen the probably the greatest finisher ever in Ronaldo. (Maybe not tonight)
It's these goose bump inducing moments that make us sit through Cambridge United vs Manchester United in a dour FA cup tie under Louis Van Gaal. It's moments like tonight when football is just worth it.
Messi has pushed Ronaldo to be better. Ronaldo has pushed Messi to be better. Neither can rest on their laurels.
I hate this constant fanboy led wars. I never watched Pele but I've seen Messi. I'll never see Gerd Muller but I've seen the probably the greatest finisher ever in Ronaldo. (Maybe not tonight)
It's these goose bump inducing moments that make us sit through Cambridge United vs Manchester United in a dour FA cup tie under Louis Van Gaal. It's moments like tonight when football is just worth it.
You are seriously underrating them with your "at the very least". We know feck all, all it takes is one bad injury
Was he showing his shirt to his fans?
Of course, injury permitting.
Even without serious injuries, Benzema was also highly rated too at a young age and was performing in the CL too. He never reached the heights his potential hinted at for club and country. Too many variables.
Messi had won his first Ballon D'or when he was 22! Has been in top 3 since he was 20! Doubt Mbappe will be in BdO top 3 from 2018!!!
Ronaldo was much better at the same age, not sure what Mbappe did to deserve such comparison. In fact, Ronaldo was quite possibly the best youngster in history.
Because he joined a project with a bigger superstar than him, and had to help elevate him instead of having a team built around himself.
That's why I mentioned the next career move as being a significant variable.
Benzema is underrated if anything. Almost 300 career goals, 5th highest Champions League goalscorer in history, and a 2 time Champions League winner.
Mbappé will have scored more than twice as many senior goals by the age of 19. Benzema had 11, Mbappé is already on 23 goals.
He was indeed. But he had his early 20's taken from him, so Mbappé can catch up later in his career if things work out.
Aye, it's either Ronaldo or Pelé.
Showing so much more personality this season, warming to him much more due to that.
Underrated but when he was becoming a big player for Lyon, many thought he'd reach Ballon d'Or levels at his peak. He never has but he's still had a great career so far. I'm really always skeptical about predictions regarding young players, no matter how promising they are, they often turn out to be wrong.
Mbappé turned 18 about 4 months ago. In 4 years time, he could be closing in on 80-100 career goals. We just don't know what the future will bring.
sorry, all I see is an invisible washing line
Everytime you sit down to watch him he comes up with these special moments, time after time. Year upon year.