[QUOTE=“caoimhaoin, post: 1155062, member: 273”]This is just fucking ridiculous.
Messi is the greatest player ever, by some distance as well. It’s not even a discussion any more.[/QUOTE]
In fairness, there is plenty of room for discussion as to who is the greatest ever between Pele, Maradona, Puskas, Best, Messi etc…
However, there is no room for discussion about Messi being in the pantheon of the all-time greats. Anyone who questions that is a fucking idiot who needs a good kick in the hole.
The World Cup is the biggest prize in world football. Messi plays in a star studded team and completely flopped in 3 World Cups. He was shooting the lights out in the group stage last summer but when it came to the knockout stage he could only contribute 1 assist in 450 minutes of football.
He’s a long way behind Ronaldo9 in both ability and bottle. Ronaldo9 dragged a fairly ordinary Brazil side to a World Cup after spending nearly two years out with a career threatening knee injury. Messi shouldn’t be in the equation only he does something tangible. The Messi who plays for Argentina is a pale shadow of the guy for Barcelona.
Messi cost them nothing.
Meant Suarez.
[QUOTE=“Nembo Kid, post: 1155074, member: 2514”]The World Cup is the biggest prize in world football. Messi plays in a star studded team and completely flopped in 3 World Cups. He was shooting the lights out in the group stage last summer but when it came to the knockout stage he could only contribute 1 assist in 450 minutes of football.
He’s a long way behind Ronaldo9 in both ability and bottle. Ronaldo9 dragged a fairly ordinary Brazil side to a World Cup after spending nearly two years out with a career threatening knee injury. Messi shouldn’t be in the equation only he does something tangible. The Messi who plays for Argentina is a pale shadow of the guy for Barcelona.[/QUOTE]
You’re one of these lads that doesn’t watch the match but just looks up the goals and assists afterwards
You’re talking so much shite that you are confusing yourself. Juventus are a fucking cancer on soccer, it’s laughable seeing an alleged Roma fan supporting them.
Diego Maradona had the purest ability to beat a man in the history of football. He never relied on pace to do it. His goals against England and Belgium are the two greatest goals of all-time. Football sorcery.
Messi is undoubtedly in the top three of all time but his ability to beat a man is not quite as pure as Maradona. That’s still a mile better than Cristy, who can’t beat a man at all.
No.
I understand football better than anyone here.
[QUOTE=“Nembo Kid, post: 1155074, member: 2514”]The World Cup is the biggest prize in world football. Messi plays in a star studded team and completely flopped in 3 World Cups. He was shooting the lights out in the group stage last summer but when it came to the knockout stage he could only contribute 1 assist in 450 minutes of football.
He’s a long way behind Ronaldo9 in both ability and bottle. Ronaldo9 dragged a fairly ordinary Brazil side to a World Cup after spending nearly two years out with a career threatening knee injury. Messi shouldn’t be in the equation only he does something tangible. The Messi who plays for Argentina is a pale shadow of the guy for Barcelona.[/QUOTE]
Messi was chosen as player of the tournament in last year’s World Cup. Difficult to square that with ‘completely flopping’?
Messi was brought to the 2006 World Cup as an 18 year old before he was even a first team regular at Barcelona. For the most part, he only saw a few minutes off the bench in that tournament. When Ronaldo went to the 1994 World Cup at more or less the same age, he didn’t see any action. Diego Maradona was left out of the Argentina squad at a comparable age in 1978. It should also be pointed out that Ronaldo had Rivaldo and Ronaldinho for company in 2002.
[QUOTE=“Nembo Kid, post: 1155074, member: 2514”]The World Cup is the biggest prize in world football. Messi plays in a star studded team and completely flopped in 3 World Cups. He was shooting the lights out in the group stage last summer but when it came to the knockout stage he could only contribute 1 assist in 450 minutes of football.
He’s a long way behind Ronaldo9 in both ability and bottle. Ronaldo9 dragged a fairly ordinary Brazil side to a World Cup after spending nearly two years out with a career threatening knee injury. Messi shouldn’t be in the equation only he does something tangible. The Messi who plays for Argentina is a pale shadow of the guy for Barcelona.[/QUOTE]
Argentina are quite average. Plenty journeymen on that team.
That’s bullshit and you know it. They had players playing for the top clubs in Europe, probably had the highest combined average wage at the World Cup.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1155108, member: 377”]Messi was chosen as player of the tournament in last year’s World Cup. Difficult to square that with ‘completely flopping’?
Messi was brought to the 2006 World Cup as an 18 year old before he was even a first team regular at Barcelona. For the most part, he only saw a few minutes off the bench in that tournament. When Ronaldo went to the 1994 World Cup at more or less the same age, he didn’t see any action. Diego Maradona was left out of the Argentina squad at a comparable age in 1978. It should also be pointed out that Ronaldo had Rivaldo and Ronaldinho for company in 2002.[/QUOTE]
Explain to me how a player who shoots the lights out for his club, breaks all sorts of scoring records, playing in a star studded side can only manage one paltry assist in 450 minutes of knockout football in the World Cup. The FIFA awards are a joke, it was clear to knowledgeable people that James Rodriguez was the best player in the World Cup.
Messi had the expectations of a nation on him last summer in a star studded team. He shat himself in the knockout stage, it was the lesser likes such as Di Maria and Mascherano who were dragging Argentina on. They were the guys who showed the leadership.
It’s not long ago since Nico Burdisso called him out about his cowardice at the last Copa America.
If Messi is to be considered a great he has to win a World Cup with Argentina. He has probably two left in him.
Right now he’s not fit to lace R9’s boots and that is a fact.
[QUOTE=“Nembo Kid, post: 1155478, member: 2514”]Explain to me how a player who shoots the lights out for his club, breaks all sorts of scoring records, playing in a star studded side can only manage one paltry assist in 450 minutes of knockout football in the World Cup. The FIFA awards are a joke, it was clear to knowledgeable people that James Rodriguez was the best player in the World Cup.
[/QUOTE]
Do these knowledgeable people you are referring to include yourself?
:rolleyes:
Applying the criteria you are referring to, could you give us a steer on James Rodriguez body of work in the knockout stages? There was that fine goal against Uruguay in the last 16, i’ll give you that - albeit a Uruguay side that were effectively already on the plane home after the Suarez banning. Rodriguez was anonymous against Brazil in the quarter final and was presumably warming his arse back home in Colombia during the semi finals and final.
He wasn’t anonymous against Brazil. He was effectively kicked off the pitch in a disgraceful refereeing performance which was widely condemned at the time.
Rodriguez had an assist of sorts in the Brazil game as well, conceding the foul that led to David Luiz free kick goal.
Rodriguez showed real leadership for Colombia in the 2014 World Cup, the type of leadership Messi has never shown when it matters for Argentina.
He’s spent most of his time diving since.