Football's greatest - where does Lionel Messi rank?

[Jaqen]

2+ years he's got on ronaldo as well, though ronaldos physical attributes might certainly sustain him at the top level as long as messi really

 

Ronaldo looks like he's lost a fair bit of pace already watching him this season.

[mrmojorisin75]

2+ years he's got on ronaldo as well, though ronaldos physical attributes might certainly sustain him at the top level as long as messi really

 

Ronaldo looks like he's lost a fair bit of pace already watching him this season.

 

still not had any periods out close to those of messi though has he?  i'd imagine he might switch more central as he slows down

[Village Idiot]

I get the feeling that Messi seems more comfortable in slotting behind Neymar and Suárez and feeding them. I suspect we won't see those ridiculous goal returns from him anymore - which I guess it's good for the team, since we were stupidly dependent on him for that in years past.

 

Suárez is our top goalscorer this season so far, with a comfortable margin.

[The College Dropout]

Suarez makes such a difference.

 

As much as I love James, and the James love is strong from me. Had Real signed Suarez instead things would've been so different.

[Mole_Toonfan]

So good that he's won the Ballon D'or for the 5th time and no one's surprised. The greatest there's ever been and looking back I think 14/15 was his best season so far.

 

France Football made a list of who'd have won the Balon D'Or if it wasn't only for European players up until couple year back. Pele would've had 7. Pele still #1. 

 

Although to be serious I want to disagree with 14/15 being his best season so far, he was magical (and says it all when he's magical and imo it's not his best season), but Barcelona were nowhere near playing as well as they were before Suarez got comfortable in the team. Suarez gets very little credit in comparison to Messi and Neymar.

 

I think it was, it won't show up in the numbers but his overall decision making took a huge leap IMO.

 

The criticism I always had of him as a playmaker is that sometimes he would try to dribble out of situations too much and shoot when he should pass.

 

He's matured vastly as an overall player even if he's not going on those runs as often as he used to.

[mrmojorisin75]

Suarez makes such a difference.

 

As much as I love James, and the James love is strong from me. Had Real signed Suarez instead things would've been so different.

 

when that signing was going through i was honestly wondering what the fuck they thought they were doing, especially for the money and after that world cup, but he was literally the perfect signing for that team and messi/neymar

 

his all round appreciation of what's going on around him is immense, i never got that at liverpool as he seemed to be basically scoring goals on his own a lot of the time but in a team with more quality he's thrived

[Flip]

Suarez makes such a difference.

 

As much as I love James, and the James love is strong from me. Had Real signed Suarez instead things would've been so different.

 

when that signing was going through i was honestly wondering what the f*** they thought they were doing, especially for the money and after that world cup, but he was literally the perfect signing for that team and messi/neymar

 

his all round appreciation of what's going on around him is immense, i never got that at liverpool as he seemed to be basically scoring goals on his own a lot of the time but in a team with more quality he's thrived

 

I'd imagine that was your hatred for Suarez. Suarez was the best player in the PL at the time so don't see why he wouldn't thrive with even more quality. He was criminally underrated in England because of his antics, people would sometimes judge his footballing abilities based on the stupid things he did. (not saying you did that or had any hatred towards him, but COULD be a reason to why you didn't think he was worth that kind of money)

 

So good that he's won the Ballon D'or for the 5th time and no one's surprised. The greatest there's ever been and looking back I think 14/15 was his best season so far.

 

France Football made a list of who'd have won the Balon D'Or if it wasn't only for European players up until couple year back. Pele would've had 7. Pele still #1. 

 

Although to be serious I want to disagree with 14/15 being his best season so far, he was magical (and says it all when he's magical and imo it's not his best season), but Barcelona were nowhere near playing as well as they were before Suarez got comfortable in the team. Suarez gets very little credit in comparison to Messi and Neymar.

 

I think it was, it won't show up in the numbers but his overall decision making took a huge leap IMO.

 

The criticism I always had of him as a playmaker is that sometimes he would try to dribble out of situations too much and shoot when he should pass.

 

He's matured vastly as an overall player even if he's not going on those runs as often as he used to.

 

I don't know, he's improved massively in his general play, but in my opinion he wasn't good enough in the beginning of the season 14/15. It wasn't until mid-January those three together started to take the piss out of everyone. He had loads of troubles earlier in the season when playing centrally.

 

I probably wouldn't argue that his spring was the best he's produced, but he wasn't that good for the whole season as his early autumn performances or right after summer were below Messi standards. I remember him scoring quite a few towards the end of 2014 but his general play didn't really excel until he was moved to the left wing again.

[The College Dropout]

Suarez was a bit of a ball-hog at Liverpool until Sturridge joined. He's taken the knee to Messi and the rest of the team when needed and has thrived.

[mrmojorisin75]

Suarez makes such a difference.

 

As much as I love James, and the James love is strong from me. Had Real signed Suarez instead things would've been so different.

 

when that signing was going through i was honestly wondering what the f*** they thought they were doing, especially for the money and after that world cup, but he was literally the perfect signing for that team and messi/neymar

 

his all round appreciation of what's going on around him is immense, i never got that at liverpool as he seemed to be basically scoring goals on his own a lot of the time but in a team with more quality he's thrived

 

I'd imagine that was your hatred for Suarez.

 

i don't think that's fair as i didn't hate him really, i suppose what i meant was they already had the best player in the world and ludicrously prolific goalscorer in messi plus young world class prospect in neymar and their defence and midfield really looked like it needed a shitload of work so they go and buy suarez for 80m or whatever it was

 

it didn't seem the right priority in that sense but instead of shoring things up they decided to go for an unstoppable attack and it worked out beautifully

[The College Dropout]

I don't think the other 8 are as good as the other 8 at Real or Bayern. Nor the total squad depth. Not that it matters much with that front 3.

[Guest firetotheworks]

I wouldn't say Suarez was underrated at all when he was in the Premier League like. Most people thought he was a cunt, but I don't think there was anyone who didn't think he was an incredible footballer.

[Flip]

Suarez makes such a difference.

 

As much as I love James, and the James love is strong from me. Had Real signed Suarez instead things would've been so different.

 

when that signing was going through i was honestly wondering what the f*** they thought they were doing, especially for the money and after that world cup, but he was literally the perfect signing for that team and messi/neymar

 

his all round appreciation of what's going on around him is immense, i never got that at liverpool as he seemed to be basically scoring goals on his own a lot of the time but in a team with more quality he's thrived

 

I'd imagine that was your hatred for Suarez.

 

i don't think that's fair as i didn't hate him really, i suppose what i meant was they already had the best player in the world and ludicrously prolific goalscorer in messi plus young world class prospect in neymar and their defence and midfield really looked like it needed a shitload of work so they go and buy suarez for 80m or whatever it was

 

it didn't seem the right priority in that sense but instead of shoring things up they decided to go for an unstoppable attack and it worked out beautifully

 

Yeah that's why I added that last sentence. But htey did shore up at the back, they brought in two new goalkeepers, one which held a clean sheet in his opening 8 or so league games. They added Rakitic as well to that midfield which was lacking legs.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I don't think the other 8 are as good as the other 8 at Real or Bayern. Nor the total squad depth. Not that it matters much with that front 3.

 

Dunno I think they are tbh, even if they aren't they are a lot more balanced and have specific roles instead of just ramming in as much talent as possible.

 

 

[Flip]

I wouldn't say Suarez was underrated at all when he was in the Premier League like. Most people thought he was a c***, but I don't think there was anyone who didn't think he was an incredible footballer.

 

Fair enough, just get the feeling loads of people in here didn't consider him the best player in the league and many didn't think he was THAT good. Maybe it was just a few and not the general opinion.

[Fugazi]

Just think how long it'll be til someone else wins 5 balon d'ors, plus the fact Messi will probably win another 1 or 2 before he retires.

[Flip]

I don't think the other 8 are as good as the other 8 at Real or Bayern. Nor the total squad depth. Not that it matters much with that front 3.

 

Dunno I think they are tbh, even if they aren't they are a lot more balanced and have specific roles instead of just ramming in as much talent as possible.

 

 

 

Squad depth maybe not, but I mean their starting XI is insane in every position as well.

[Guest firetotheworks]

I wouldn't say Suarez was underrated at all when he was in the Premier League like. Most people thought he was a c***, but I don't think there was anyone who didn't think he was an incredible footballer.

 

Fair enough, just get the feeling loads of people in here didn't consider him the best player in the league and many didn't think he was THAT good. Maybe it was just a few and not the general opinion.

 

The year Liverpool nearly won the league I think there were a few (including me) saying that it was the best premier league season from a player that I'd seen alongside Shearer 94/95 and Ronaldo 08/09 (or whatever year it was)

[Flip]

Just think how long it'll be til someone else wins 5 balon d'ors, plus the fact Messi will probably win another 1 or 2 before he retires.

 

I mean there probably is someone who might, but I doubt that person would have to compete with someone like Cristiano. I mean without Cristiano he would've had 8 by now most probably.

[Flip]

I wouldn't say Suarez was underrated at all when he was in the Premier League like. Most people thought he was a c***, but I don't think there was anyone who didn't think he was an incredible footballer.

 

Fair enough, just get the feeling loads of people in here didn't consider him the best player in the league and many didn't think he was THAT good. Maybe it was just a few and not the general opinion.

 

The year Liverpool nearly won the league I think there were a few (including me) saying that it was the best premier league season from a player that I'd seen alongside Shearer 94/95 and Ronaldo 08/09 (or whatever year it was)

 

[The College Dropout]

I don't think the other 8 are as good as the other 8 at Real or Bayern. Nor the total squad depth. Not that it matters much with that front 3.

 

Dunno I think they are tbh, even if they aren't they are a lot more balanced and have specific roles instead of just ramming in as much talent as possible.

 

 

 

Nah. In a lot of big games last season the other teams had good spells of outplaying them only to be stung by one of the front 3 or have one of them take control of the game. Thinking Bayern, Juve & second El Clasico.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I don't think the other 8 are as good as the other 8 at Real or Bayern. Nor the total squad depth. Not that it matters much with that front 3.

 

Dunno I think they are tbh, even if they aren't they are a lot more balanced and have specific roles instead of just ramming in as much talent as possible.

 

 

 

Squad depth maybe not, but I mean their starting XI is insane in every position as well.

 

Aye people forget that sometimes. Alves is still the best in his position, Pique was last season, Busquets is the best in his position and Iniesta when it matters the most is still better than his peers.

[The College Dropout]

Just think how long it'll be til someone else wins 5 balon d'ors, plus the fact Messi will probably win another 1 or 2 before he retires.

 

I mean there probably is someone who might, but I doubt that person would have to compete with someone like Cristiano. I mean without Cristiano he would've had 8 by now most probably.

 

Aye - in any other generation both players are closing in on 10.

[The College Dropout]

Not for me. The game for one is easier to play with those 3 up top and even then. Pique best CB? Not even the best Spanish CB. None of his partners are top class in their own right at that position.

 

I'd take a number of midfield 3 before Barca's.

[Flip]

Not for me. The game for one is easier to play with those 3 up top and even then. Pique best CB? Not even the best Spanish CB. None of his partners are top class in their own right at that position.

 

I'd take a number of midfield 3 before Barca's.

 

That second paragraph man? Come on, who would you pick ahead of Busquets, Iniesta and Rakitic?

[Mole_Toonfan]

Not even best Spanish CB Man was rock solid last season.

 

Anyway you are looking at as an individual game, not a team game and Barca as a team are a lot better than anyone you want to name.