Whose career would you rather have had? Messi or Zidane

CosmoKramer said:
Messi for me. I know, I'm biased since I'm a Barcelona fan, but I have watched his career since the beginnings and at 19-20 he was already one of the best players in the world with performances such as a hat-trick against Real Madrid, the goal that imitates Maradona's the most against Getafe and numerous instances of embarrassing world class players and legends like Roberto Carlos, Cannavaro, Robben etc. The guy was a one man army as a freaking teenager. Ronaldinho in his pomp admitted that he is not even the best player at Barcelona, Messi is. Sure, you could argue that he was modest and propped a youngin', but not a year later and Messi was already better than Ronaldinho without question, so it wasn't that far from the truth. I can just imagine barely having the legal drinking age and completely demolishing world class players left, right and center. I am beyond happy when I manage to dribble one player in my 5 a side Sunday kickabout with my mates, nevermind going full throttle through world class defenders from the half way line over and over again. :lol:

And the guy has continued to do this year in, year out for the next 10-15 years. There is almost nothing Messi can't do with a ball at his feet so for me it's an easy choice. At the end of the day football is a team sport so winning titles depends on so many more factors, that one sole player can control so much. That's not even mentioning Messi'ss cabinet of trophies is nothing to sneeze at.

Disclaimer, I'm not patriotic so maybe it weighs a bit against what it means to win a trophy for my country. I couldn't care less if my country wins a World Cup or gets trashed 5-0 against Andorra. It's all the same to me, so maybe I can't appreciate the value people put on WC. This also applies to individual sports. There are many instances when I root for the opponents of my countryman. If I don't like the sportsmans of my country then they could be GOATS of their respective sports and I wouldn't give a feck.
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Tell me if I'm wrong but it reads like you judge it from the outside more than picking a career for yourself. Surely you would care if you were part of a national team trashed by 5-0 by Andorra?
 
JPRouve said:
Well in that context I'm not an hypocrite since I didn't call you out for picking fight, I simply don't understand how you can pick fights regarding a question that is personal, there is no good or bad answer. If it was a matter of fact or something that wasn't personal, I wouldn't be amazed by your response.
Also the poster said that Zidane has been far superior in two aspects of his career, at international level and as a manager which isn't really up for debate since Messi won nothing at international level and hasn't managed yet.
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Stephene Guivarc'h won a World Cup. Does that make his international career "far superior" to Messi?

Messi has 68 goals in 136 games for his country, has reached a World Cup final (which was lost after extra time) and two Copa America finals. He is the all time top scorer for his country.

People are talking like it's been a disaster. To most player's it would be seen as a fantastic international career. His career has been much better than Zidane's. Frankly, Zidane's club record in terms is embarrassing next to Messi's. Messi's international career isn't as good as Zidane's, but Zidane's is not "far superior." Did Henry have a better career than Messi? Henry had a better club career than Zidane, and won the same at international level. In my opinion Henry was a better player than Zidane, to be honest. Zidane is immortalised for scoring two headers from corners against Brazil. Fair play to him, but to be comparing him to Messi/ or his career is ridiculous.

I don't care what people say. To finish your career with 5 world player of the year awards, 4 Champion's Leagues, tons of national titles and cups as well of hundreds of goals and various records whilst finishing your career considered as the greatest ever to play your sport far outweighs what Zidane did.
 
Jimmy_Bond said:
Stephene Guivarc'h won a World Cup. Does that make his international career "far superior" to Messi?

Messi has 68 goals in 136 games for his country, has reached a World Cup final (which was lost after extra time) and two Copa America finals. He is the all time top scorer for his country.

People are talking like it's been a disaster. To most player's it would be seen as a fantastic international career. His career has been much better than Zidane's. Frankly, Zidane's club record in terms is embarrassing next to Messi's. Messi's international career isn't as good as Zidane's, but Zidane's is not "far superior." Did Henry have a better career than Messi? Henry had a better club career than Zidane, and won the same at international level. In my opinion Henry was a better player than Zidane, to be honest. Zidane is immortalised for scoring two headers from corners against Brazil. Fair play to him, but to be comparing him to Messi/ or his career is ridiculous.

I don't care what people say. To finish your career with 5 world player of the year awards, 4 Champion's Leagues, tons of national titles and cups as well of hundreds of goals and various records whilst finishing your career considered as the greatest ever to play your sport far outweighs what Zidane did.
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You may want to read the OP one more time, you are not answering the question and failing to understand that any answer that you give is subjective, it depends on what you would like for yourself. Some people will value winning for their country more than others, some will value the journey more than others, some will value being the best more than others. It's totally subjective, the comparison isn't between Zidane and Messi but what type of career you'd rather have.
 
JPRouve said:
You may want to read the OP one more time, you are not answering the question and failing to understand that any answer that you give is subjective, it depends on what you would like for yourself. Some people will value winning for their country more than others, some will value the journey more than others, some will value being the best more than others. It's totally subjective, the comparison isn't between Zidane and Messi but what type of career you'd rather have.
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You really are a condescending little man.

Alan Shearer could had a better career than both because he says values being the all time top scorer for his home town club than winning the World Cup with his country.

However, onlookers can still analyse as to why this isn't the case from a subjective point of view. Which is what we're doing in this thread, something you seemingly "fail to understand." Most people are commenting on who they think had the better career, not which career they would rather have personally.
 
Zidane, it's not really a contest. Winning La Liga more is fine and all, but it's the same thing. Beating the mighty AC Milan with Bordeaux, winning Serie A, Liga, winning a WC, then a Euro while being considered the best player in the world in the latter. Coming out of retirement to drag the French NT to a final no one expected at the beginning and, above all, to get to headbutt Materazzi in a final.

Makes no sense why anyone would pick Messi's career over that. Messi is the better player, Zidane's had a more complete career.
 
Jimmy_Bond said:
You really are a condescending little man.

Alan Shearer could had a better career than both because he says values being the all time top scorer for his home town club than winning the World Cup with his country.

However, onlookers can still analyse as to why this isn't the case from a subjective point of view. Which is what we're doing in this thread, something you seemingly "fail to understand." Most people are commenting on who they think had the better career, not which career they would rather have personally.
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You just have to look at the question the OP asked and the answer that he gave in the first page. Also there is a reason why people talked about what would make them happier or more satisfied.
 
Messi.

He's on a different level level to anybody I've evereseen. Like an alien football player. I'd want to reach that level of freakish and true genius.
 
JPRouve said:
Tell me if I'm wrong but it reads like you judge it from the outside more than picking a career for yourself. Surely you would care if you were part of a national team trashed by 5-0 by Andorra?
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Well, not really. Have I done everything possible on my part in that match? If I did then I would have no regrets. Like I said, in a team made up of 11 players, one single player can have so much impact at the end of the day. Same if I'm the brink of winning a trophy and in the end i come up short. I mostly care about the individual player in this comparison and Messi being the superior talent in almost everything makes it an easy choice for me. Not that Zidane's talents are not to be appreciated, but Messi is out of this world even compared to Zidane, that much we can agree on I hope.

Edit: @JPRouve I don't have any more replies left for the day but to add to your Seedorf pick, I would have liked to be Ronaldinho. I don't think there was a moment in his career on the pitch where he didn't enjoy himself. The guy was pure joy personified. His peak was short lived but he achieved everything in that time and it was glorious.
 
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Vato said:
:lol: You just can't pass the opportunity to rub that one in their face, can you?

Poor guys, imagine if Atleti did that to us and handed Barca the league? I would stop watching football for at least 4 seasons.
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Hence why i can't pass the opportunity :lol:
 
CosmoKramer said:
Well, not really. Have I done everything possible on my part in that match? If I did then I would have no regrets. Like I said, in a team made up of 11 players, one single player can have so much impact at the end of the day. Same if I'm the brink of winning a trophy and in the end i come up short. I mostly care about the individual player in this comparison and Messi being the superior talent in almost everything makes it an easy choice for me. Not that Zidane's talents are not to be appreciated, but Messi is out of this world even compared to Zidane, that much we can agree on I hope.
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Oh, I totally agree with you about Messi being the best. The reason I wouldn't pick his career is because I don't think that I could be at the same time arguably the best player of all time and not Maradona's equal in Argentina. With Zidane my issue is that I would be disappointed by the "lack" of success at club level. Like I said earlier I would pick Seedorf because, he won with his boyhood club and everywhere he played and then finished his career having fun with Botafogo, his international career is disappointing but the rest seems fun.
 
Messi of course

Messi has identified himself as probably the greatest player ever to walk the planet due to his career, he played in the best club side I've ever seen and he has broken record after record... he's not finished yet either
 
Sayros said:
Zidane, it's not really a contest. Winning La Liga more is fine and all, but it's the same thing. Beating the mighty AC Milan with Bordeaux, winning Serie A, Liga, winning a WC, then a Euro while being considered the best player in the world in the latter. Coming out of retirement to drag the French NT to a final no one expected at the beginning and, above all, to get to headbutt Materazzi in a final.

Makes no sense why anyone would pick Messi's career over that. Messi is the better player, Zidane's had a more complete career.
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I just think winning league consistently can sound easy but it's not unless it's a one horse race. Barca were not dominating the league until Messi broke through.
 
Shamana said:
Don't you also think that Messi might say that to endear himself to Argentinians? If he said anything else. He would be crufifed. But anyway, I get that the world cup is the ultimate prize and the highest high, but I just don't believe winning it once trumphs several league titles or CL's. It's all very subjective. If winning a WC just trumphs everything else then Özil has had a better career than most midfield legends. I just don't buy it.

Messi has been incredibly instrumental in many of his titles as well.
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It's not like it's either or. Zidane has all the trophies Messi has too, just less of them. The question really is what is better, 4 CLs or 1 CL and a World Cup? I know what I'd prefer.
 
11101 said:
It's not like it's either or. Zidane has all the trophies Messi has too, just less of them. The question really is what is better, 4 CLs or 1 CL and a World Cup? I know what I'd prefer.
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Personally I would take 4 CL'S.
 
Zidane will always be remembered as the coolest motherfecker ever though.
 
Zidane's, he won everything, and nothing tops winning a WC in your home country.

Messi is probably the GOAT, but not winning a WC or even a Copa is going to be one his biggest regrets, I bet he would trade a few of his ballon d'Or or CL wins for one
 
Messi is on a different planet quality wise than zidane ever was, so I’d prefer his.
His club career far exceeds Zidane’s and club football is far more interesting to me than International football.
 
Messi.

Zidane only has the World Cup on his side, which is an overrated tournament that a celebrated player will get to play only 3-4 times in their life. And in no way can that overshadow what an incredible career Lionel Messi has had and continues to have.

Would he liked to have won it? Sure. But I think the impact of him not winning it, on his legacy, is wildly over-exaggerated.
 
The Siege said:
Messi.

Zidane only has the World Cup on his side, which is an overrated tournament that a celebrated player will get to play only 3-4 times in their life. And in no way can that overshadow what an incredible career Lionel Messi has had and continues to have.

Would he liked to have won it? Sure. But I think the impact of him not winning it, on his legacy, is wildly over-exaggerated.
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It's a rite of passage, and without that world cup or even a copa america, he can't be the GOAT for a lot of people. I think his legacy takes a hit because of his international career. You can't highlight one aspect of football like club football and ignore the failures he's had on the international side.
 
Thaumaste said:
I think I'd take Zidane. The World Cup is the greatest trophy in the sport, and at the end of the day, a football career is short so you need to think about the lasting effects of it.

Sure, Messi will be considered the better player, but he will only be a hero to Barcelona fans.

Zidane is a hero to his entire nation in a way that Messi will never be, and he also has legendary status at 2 of the greatest clubs in the world.
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Not true. He is a hero to almost everyone who loves football.
 
Beagle said:
Not true. He is a hero to almost everyone who loves football.
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He's admired and respected by them, sure. But, for me at least, that really isn't the same thing.

It's like the difference between how I feel about Thierry Henry, who I objectively admire and respect as a footballer, and about Eric Cantona, who I idolise as a hero. It's not about football ability; it's about emotional connection.
 
Good question My gut reaction was Messi but playing in Serie A and La Liga, winning the WC, Euros and scoring that CL goal, I'm leaning towards Zizou. No offense to Spain's top two but I find it a bit boring the back and forth and Messi's career revolves around it.

I also like the midfield scoring position. I can strike a good volley and cover well.

Edit: I'm over 6ft as well :)
 
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Glad this sparked a good debate. I think many of the replies voting Messi misunderstood the the question, this was in no way a comparison of ability.

Personally I think Messi is going to regret never winning the WC or CA more than Zidane will regret not winning more CLs or La Ligas.

I’d choose a WC on home territory and being a hero to a nation over the current GOAT/ top three GOATS. Zidane will always be the man who won the WC for a nation, whereas someone will likely come along someday and surpass Messi et al I’m terms of individual ability.
 
Sayros said:
Zidane, it's not really a contest. Winning La Liga more is fine and all, but it's the same thing. Beating the mighty AC Milan with Bordeaux, winning Serie A, Liga, winning a WC, then a Euro while being considered the best player in the world in the latter. Coming out of retirement to drag the French NT to a final no one expected at the beginning and, above all, to get to headbutt Materazzi in a final.

Makes no sense why anyone would pick Messi's career over that. Messi is the better player, Zidane's had a more complete career.
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This.
 
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