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What in the actual fuck is happening? Really pleased, not sure how good he is, but get in.

Did you not say that Zidane and Ronaldo at their peak (whether that be in one match, one month, one season or whatever) were comparable to Messi? And in Zidane's case arguably better? I find that honestly ridiculous, tbf. I'd say Ronaldo before he f***ed his knee is the only one anywhere near Messi at his peak. It's really not ridiculous, I'm clearly not the only one who has that opinion. I'm definitely not debating whether he's the best I've seen, I've clearly said that multiple of times and I find it difficult to argue against. But to put that link ias an argument is ridiculous, I've seen the same for Pele. Even if many didn't see Messi play these are some quotes which explains Pele's ability: "I told myself before the game, 'he's made of skin and bones just like everyone else'. But I was wrong.” Tarcisio Burgnich, the Italy defender who marked Pele in the Mexico 1970 Final “The greatest player in history was Di Stefano. I refuse to classify Pele as a player. He was above that.” Ferenc Puskas “Pele was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic.” Johan Cruyff "Pele is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years. All the others - Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini - rank beneath him. There's no one to compare with Pele." Franz Beckenbauer "The best player ever? Pele. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both great players with specific qualities, but Pele was better." Alfredo di Stefano "The best of all was Pele, who is a mixture of Di Stefano, Maradona, Cruyff and Leo Messi." Cesar Luis Menotti

FWIW KI, I meant his peak in a performance and not over a season or so. Should've made that clearer, I still believe that those two players could change games same way as Messi in inferior teams. I certainly believe Messi to be the best player I've seen though, just because of his ability to maintain a standard for so so many years.

In that case I agree.

Zidane was far more consistent though, because while he wasn't consistent week in week out, he always performed in important matches and that's what really matters. Who cares if he didn't have a great game in the 33rd La Liga round against Levante or whatever when he took responsibility for his team when they actually needed it the most.

I agree, but he was no Lionel Messi at his best, not by a long chalk. Not even Ronaldo at his best was. There I'll have to disagree completely with you. Both at their peak were as good as Messi in my opinion if not better. Difference is Messi has been able to maintain the same level for so many games in a row, so many years in a row it's become something we haven't seen from a player in this generation and that's what makes him the best of his generation in my opinion.

You're ignoring again Zidane's poor moments and he had them. Also the Messi played with better players doesn't quite wash with me. Zidane played with Figo, Carlos, Raul, Ronaldo, Hierro etc etc the fact that team couldn't make the most of their talents is no ones fault but their own. And yes Zidane was a better 10 so what? So was Riquelme and arguably Ozil is a better 10 than Messi is its all irrelevant. I completely agree with Incognito, Zidane at his best was one of the best players ever there's no doubt about that. But his career as a whole was nowhere near as consistent as some of the players mentioned and consistency matters. If it didn't Ronaldinho would be in this discussion. TBF Ronaldinho has won everything as a player and is a big reason to why Barcelona is the team they have become, but you can't compare a two year peak to what Zidane had. Zidane was a great footballer for many many years.

Despite always playing at his absolute best against us, I just loved and admired the guy.

I don't really think Messi v Zidane is that much of a discussion tbh. Messi is in the bracket above IMO, but telling me that Iniesta has been more key for club and country than Zidane is absolutely ridiculous.

No. Just no. So how did Zidane only manage 1 league title and 1 CL in his 5 years at Madrid during the galacticos era? Both have won their country World Cups and Iniesta has more Euro Championships. If that's your argument, going by statistics then I really don't have an answer for you.

No. Just no.

Hit with as much skill as a Fred special

Dat free-kick though

According to newspaper El Mercurio Pellegrini rejected an approach from CBF to manage the Brazilian national side. Think it's bullshit per usual and I think in national team football the manager should be from the country he's going to manage (at least in my team, don't care what others do).

You're more of an England fan than a Germany fan, aren't you? Yeah, sure. Was supporting Germany in the final but I didn't go crazy or anything. Still, great scenes all over the country and nice to see Löw proving his critics wrong. Are you German though? Doesn't make any sense really, if you're German why would you support England? Yes I am. Well, no I suppose it doesn't really make sense tbf. Thing is, I don't care as much about international football as I do about club football. (Attending games etc..) - I just love watching the games. At the World Cup (or EURO) I started supporting England a bit which obviosuly came through supporting Newcastle more than 10 years back. But as I said, it's not a "hardcore super fan" thing or something.

...who having maintained that Brazil would support Argentina in the end because South Americans stick together, promptly celebrated them losing the final. Didn't I say that Argentina would be the only team no one would support? I was actually cheering for Argentina until we were beaten tbf.

Except I'm a Brazilian citizen. It was a genuine question, I don't know if maybe on of his parents is English or his connection to England. Always thought he was pure German which makes it interesting, especially now that they've won the WC

You're more of an England fan than a Germany fan, aren't you? Yeah, sure. Was supporting Germany in the final but I didn't go crazy or anything. Still, great scenes all over the country and nice to see Löw proving his critics wrong. Are you German though? Doesn't make any sense really, if you're German why would you support England?

Fuck off. They're not even in the god damn CL.

Dynamo Moscow. Fuck is Bielsa/Marseille doing?

Ya just looked up some quotes of his, he is a genius really in terms of football. Beckenbauer is mental though How exactly is Beckenbauer mental man?

Is Beckenbauer and Cruyff informed enough to make that decision? Because none of them think of Messi ahead of Maradona or Pele.

I never saw Pele live but ive seen enough of him on film and listened to countless men whose knowledge I respect to make a decent enough judgment. The first time I saw Maradona he was 18 and tearing apart a fair Scottish side at Hampden. I've seen him many times and indeed saw him play at Wembley in 87. Fair enough on Maradona so, if you saw both him and Messi play and think Maradona was better then fair enough. On Pele, what was his club career like? I know he scored loads of goals but were Santos winning a lot at the time or what was their situation? Santos under Pele was the best club in the world in the early 60's.