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Football's greatest - where does Lionel Messi rank?


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Guest firetotheworks

Looking at his stats, goal scoring-wise, he could realistically become the all time La Liga and Champions League top scorer within a season and a bit. It would be just ridiculous to do that before the age of 27, but it's entirely possible.

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As far as Balon D'or goes i should mention something....

 

- until 1995, you had to be of European nationality and play in a European league to qualify

- from 1995 to 2007, you had to play in a European league only

- Only since 2007 is it a world player award

 

So if these rules were in effect in the 50s and before then the likes of Pele would have won many as would many others.

 

Which is why Maradona, Zico etc etc and the likes never won it, doesn't take anything away from Messi but i doubt 4 in a row would be a record if these rules were in place in Pele's day.

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I think the WC win in 86 was in some part a testament to Maradona's freakish dominance... Argentina weren't a bad side but they weren't great either and it was Maradona who made the difference time and time again. Similarly, Baggio managing to pop up every time his knackered, uninspired Italy teammates needed him in 94 could've been interpreted as in some way an individual victory. Those two are as close to 'carrying' a team to victory as you'll get.

 

In Maradona's case you have to look at his achievement at Napoli too. He clearly was a player who could lift a team by sheer individual dominance, and not just over the course of a summer tournament.

 

http://www.jogodearea.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/garrincha-brasil.jpg

 

The little bird disagrees.

 

Aye, people talk about Maradona but Garrincha won it on his own in an equally perfect fashion.

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  • 2 weeks later...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2259495/Lionel-Messi-sends-signed-shirt-Gerd-Muller-breaking-record.html

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/09/article-2259495-16D37879000005DC-432_634x403.jpg

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2264392/Gerd-Muller-receives-Lionel-Messis-signed-Barcelona-shirt.html

 

Gerd Muller woke up this morning to a very special delivery at his home in Munich. The former Germany and Bayern striker received a signed No 10 shirt from a man he dubbed ‘the best player in world’.

 

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi shattered Muller’s long-standing record for the number of goals in a calendar year when he notched up an incredible 91 in 2012.

 

Muller had held the record since 1972, when the man affectionately known as ‘Der Bomber’ fired in 85 goals while at Bayern.

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/18/article-2264392-170291DD000005DC-28_634x356.jpg

 

But the ever-graceful Messi’s first thought upon breaking the record was for the man he had surpassed.

 

The 25-year-old sent his beaten adversary a signed Barcelona shirt with the message: ‘For Gerd Muller, with my respect and admiration. A hug. Leo.’ scrawled into the yellow No 10 on the back of the jersey.

 

Muller was delighted with the gift Messi has shipped to him, and said he was ‘happy and proud’ to be the recipient of such a gesture from 'the best player in the world'.

 

The Bayern reserve team coach, who was a truly fearsome striker for club and country during his playing days, watched Messi’s unparalleled goalscoring run last year earn him another record earlier this month: a fourth Ballon d’Or crown.

 

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell believes that Muller’s goalscoring record was a driving force for the Argentina captain in his bid to score as many goals as possible.

 

He said that Muller’s prolific performance 40 years ago was ‘a great motivating factor and stimulus for Leo.’

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Guest firetotheworks

He's starting to remind me of Grandma from Futurama. He seems so sweet and adorable and then you get him playing football and he destroys your life.

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Guest firetotheworks

BBI_ZHbCUAEPUBB.jpg:large

 

Didn't know they were that close in terms of total goals scored.

 

Wow. 138 more games = 7 more goals. It's crazy though, because without Messi, Ronaldo's stat is staggering on its own. Messi's is just fucking preposterous.

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BBI_ZHbCUAEPUBB.jpg:large

 

Didn't know they were that close in terms of total goals scored.

 

Wow. 138 more games = 7 more goals. It's crazy though, because without Messi, Ronaldo's stat is staggering on its own. Messi's is just fucking preposterous.

 

Which is exactly why I think it is so impressive. Ronaldo is a phenomenal athlete with an insane goalscoring record. And yet Messi is in a different league, both in terms of ability and the stats.

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2008/09: 5193 minutes played, 43 goals scored or a goal every 120 minutes.

2009/10: 5391 minutes played, 48 goals scored or a goal every 112  minutes.

2010/11: 5562 minutes played, 57 goals scored or a goal every 97.6  minutes.

2011/12: 6035 minutes played, 82 goals scored or a goal every 73.6 minutes.

2012/13: 3292 minutes played, 49 goals scored or a goal every 67.2 minutes.

 

When does this statistic stop improving?

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Regarding the World Cup, I'm sure he'll be incredibly up for it in Brazil.

 

He's unlucky though. His previous WC:s hasn't really given him a chance. In 2006 they weren't that good, and in 2010 they had a nutcase for manager who had no idea what he was doing.

 

He needs a stable coach that plays to the strengths of that squad. They have good enough players to win it. Problem is dropping certain offensive players. Can't have Messi, Agüero and Tevez on the pitch at the same time etc.

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Regarding the World Cup, I'm sure he'll be incredibly up for it in Brazil.

 

He's unlucky though. His previous WC:s hasn't really given him a chance. In 2006 they weren't that good, and in 2010 they had a nutcase for manager who had no idea what he was doing.

 

He needs a stable coach that plays to the strengths of that squad. They have good enough players to win it. Problem is dropping certain offensive players. Can't have Messi, Agüero and Tevez on the pitch at the same time etc.

 

Sabella seems to be improving them; at least they seem to have a coherent plan and Messi is finally coming up with the goods. Wish there was Copa América this summer (somehow I thought there was, they have fudged with that tournament so much that I don't know when it comes up anymore).

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