Busquets is nowhere near his best. Modric was better 4 years back. Iniesta and Xavi declined and I don't believe were at an incredible level at 35. Things change. Footballers decline. Some age better than others of course.
Lionel Messi | PSG Watch
- Thread starter Samid
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He might walk for 98% of the match, but it is worth it from a neutrals perspective just to see snippets of the best footballer ever once again.
I mean, few of the named players are capable of such performances but Fred and Eriksen? Come on. Some of them are capable of the defense splitting passes, some of them are capable of the dribblings but none of all of that in combination. And that's in a game in which Messi's finishing was a bit off. I don't think it was an exceptional game by Messi's standards by the way. But it is unreal what's taken for granted when it comes to him. There would be almost exlcusively praise l if it had been one of the players you mentioned. But that's the way it is.
There's no doubt about their decline, my point was as you said some age better than others, the players that don't rely as much on the physical aspect of the game age better than those that don't and that's my point.
Modric was better 4 years ago but he's still better than most midfielders today that are in their physical prime, so is Busquets and why is that ?
Again as I mentioned, there were passes Messi completed yesterday that Ronaldo could only dream of doing in his prime.
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It is just so strange, that the best / one of the very best scorers in the history of the game is about average at taking pens. It must be a mental thing.
Surely people aren’t this stupid, or this desperate to paint Messi in a good light?
One pic is doctored from the Mexico match, the other from last night.
I mean fecking hell, as if players can just give away their award and a teammate will be like “nice one, let me get a picture of this”.
What the holy feck people, think.
I genuinely fell for that, bit stupid of me.
You’re not alone in fairness.
I mean who cares really. I'm not vetting all the nonsense posted here.bloody ell, you pair too?
It seems to have gotten under your skin though?
I think people lose their minds over these pair, and you didn’t need to vet that post to realise you can’t just give away a man of the match award and the new player just goes and gets officially photographed with your award.
Messi is still great at his age he's just lost acceleration and pace, but his finishing, passing and dribbling is still there.
His speed has been dropping for about 7 years now, after the 2014 world cup was the period I started to see that aspect of his game decline.
Messi could still play a CAM role and boss it for 3-4 years.
35 and still a world class playmaker. And im enjoying every second of it.
Yes I'm sure. Maybe you can post a video of you doing a victory lap having uncovered this mystery?
I mean for sure it's a bit over the top to wax lyrical about a "decent" performance (by his peak standards, good by anyone elses) from one of the greatest players in history as he winds down his career.
I'm sure that people feel the same way about seeing Paul McCartney live over the past decade (or any other legend of the stage etc) when its likely he's not got the pipes/same energy he had a couple of decades ago but they appreciate the fact that they have the opportunity to see him perform at a (relatively)high standard before he retires.
Maybe Messi isn't hitting all the notes that he did 10 years ago but he's got a back catalog of hits that ensure that you enjoy the show.
If someone spent their time in the theoretical Paul McCartney thread constantly banging on about how he's not as good as everyone thinks he is live and his last good live performance was in 2007 I would say they were altogether stranger than the people enjoying the show though.
But that's just me.
I'm sure that people feel the same way about seeing Paul McCartney live over the past decade (or any other legend of the stage etc) when its likely he's not got the pipes/same energy he had a couple of decades ago but they appreciate the fact that they have the opportunity to see him perform at a (relatively)high standard before he retires.
Maybe Messi isn't hitting all the notes that he did 10 years ago but he's got a back catalog of hits that ensure that you enjoy the show.
If someone spent their time in the theoretical Paul McCartney thread constantly banging on about how he's not as good as everyone thinks he is live and his last good live performance was in 2007 I would say they were altogether stranger than the people enjoying the show though.
But that's just me.
I don’t easily give high praise. The max I give a player here is usually an 8. Messi should be judged to a higher standard, he set the bar himself. I would be surprised if he would call this a landmark performance himself. Especially considering Poland played like cowards…
But aren't you just doing what you accused everyone else of?
Judging Messi to a different standard because his name is Messi?
Had scored the penalty and Álvarez scored the pass Messi gave to him and it would've been a 10/10 game. It was an 8/10 game i say.
How can you dock a performance of one player due to the action of another?
He is better than what I have seen yesterday, why is this so damn controversial? He did not have a world classgame imo. If you or anyone else disagree then I am fine with it. In my opinion he had a fairly decent game nothing more or less.
I don't really find it controversial.
Just a little illogical to say that people are upgrading a good game to a great game because he's Messi while you are downgrading his performance because he's Messi that's all.
It's less about Messi's performance and more about you feeling people are overrating his performance vs Poland due to prior performance while you underrate his performance vs Poland due to prior performance.
Oh I see what you mean now. I don’t think I underrate his performance, it was a reaction to how I felt others have overrated his performance yesterday. If Eriksen had played that game like that I don’t think I would praise it to no end either. At least I think not, I can’t be 100% sure!
Yeah he went on some dribbling runs that we havnt seen for a while and looked a lot more dynamic and lively than usual but his end production was missing.
Some player all the same.
unplayable. no words.
Undisputed.
The best ever for me, remarkable.
I really want Argentina to win the WC for him, but I don't think they're strong enough as a squad.
I really want Argentina to win the WC for him, but I don't think they're strong enough as a squad.
He's still the best player in the world on nights like that. A little sad it's hard for him to maintain this workrate every game the way he used to but lets appreciate him for his last world cup and hope he'll have the same energy against the netherlands. Such a special player.
If you aren't loving this you have no heart.
If Mbappe play like this tomorrow, it will be his best performance ever.
Even this 60% of the player he once was is the best footballer on the planet.
Even this 60% of the player he once was is the best footballer on the planet.
Going to miss him when he retires, nothing close to him
He’s really looking the part; his best ever World Cup thus far.
So, he had a decent game against really por team and suddenly his fanboys are comparing this performance to Zidane's vs Brazil? Jesus, football will be a better place when his and CR's fanboys stop watching football.
I get a bit emotional watching him when he plays like that. It’s hard to imagine ever seeing someone as good as him again in my lifetime.
Looking like Zidane in 2006. He'll headbutt someone soon 
Cue: “but it’s Australia”
“but the keeper was rubbish”
“but the weather suited him more”
“but growth hormones”
etc etc
“but the keeper was rubbish”
“but the weather suited him more”
“but growth hormones”
etc etc
I dont think Argentina can win it, but Messi can be proud of himself so far in this wc. He looked a lot more often like his younger self today.
Worth staying up till infernal times for, still.
Ridiculous player, hope Argentina pull it together so we can see the GOAT lift the cup.