Topic: Lionel Messi

[Gerry Attrick]

8 goals for the season already. Definitely on the decline, no question about it.

It's absolutely mind boggling that some wouldn't mind him at Man City. Would be nigh on impossible to win the league if he went there.

[Not that Gareth]

8 goals for the season already. Definitely on the decline, no question about it.

In his pomp he would've been in double digits already. Give it a few years and he will be just your average world class top 10 player 

[Purple Red]

It's absolutely mind boggling that some wouldn't mind him at Man City. Would be nigh on impossible to win the league if he went there.

Fucking nutcases. Messi has carried every iteration of those incredible Barça squads which says it all. Made it look so easy against last year's finalists tonight.

[IanZG]

8 goals for the season already. Definitely on the decline, no question about it.

The amazing thing about him is that this IS him on the decline.

[Xxavi]

Best player i've ever seen hands down

Unbelievable talent, makes it all look so easy

Would love to hear him talk about his thought process in certain match situations as he takes up some very different options to most players

But would he be a star if he were to go to England?

[deFacto please, you bastards]

The amount of shite that get's spouted about him is baffling. I've had heated arguements with people who claim that he's only achieved what he has because Xavi and Iniesta.

The stupidity never ceases to amaze.

[BigAl24]

Feel privileged to watch him. Absolutely fucking incredible last night.

[asim173]

The amount of shite that get's spouted about him is baffling. I've had heated arguements with people who claim that he's only achieved what he has because Xavi and Iniesta.

The stupidity never ceases to amaze.

It's only when he's retired people will really appreciate what he does. Too many people caught up in the Messi v Ronaldo debate - honestly doesn't matter because they're both one of a kind.
That said, Messi's performance last night was unbelievable, and like BigAl said, it's a privilege.

[El Lobo]

Has anyone made any sarcastic comments about him 'being on the decline' yet?

[Chakan]

Has anyone made any sarcastic comments about him 'being on the decline' yet?

Yup many, myself included.

Wait...

Were you being sarcastic?

[El Lobo]

Yup many, myself included.

Wait...

Were you being sarcastic?

 

[BigAl24]

Has anyone made any sarcastic comments about him 'being on the decline' yet?

Personally think he is on the decline! And that's what is absolutely terrifying about him. Compared to say 2011/12, I'd say at this point in time he's 80% of that player and yet in my opinion he's still head and shoulders above every other footballer on the planet.

[El Lobo]

Personally think he is on the decline! And that's what is absolutely terrifying about him. Compared to say 2011/12, I'd say at this point in time he's 80% of that player and yet in my opinion he's still head and shoulders above every other footballer on the planet.

Aye technically he probably is, still daft to even write that sentence though because like you say he's still easily the best player on the planet and the greatest ever.

[SandyShore]

Can he make a late push for the "ballon d'or"? Still think Ronaldo will win it even if Messi has 30 league goals by december , because Madrid won everything . Team awards actually have a big factor for some reason in who gets the award between these 2 , even though it is a indiviual award.

[BigAl24]

Aye technically he probably is, still daft to even write that sentence though because like you say he's still easily the best player on the planet and the greatest ever.

Completely agree with all of that.

[Xxavi]

Can he make a late push for the "ballon d'or"? Still think Ronaldo will win it even if Messi has 30 league goals by december , because Madrid won everything . Team awards actually have a big factor for some reason in who gets the award between these 2 , even though it is a indiviual award.

Ronaldo once won through complaining and crying and asking FIFA to extend voting. I seem to remember that he didn't win much that year.

Some people seem to think Messi had a poor season because Barca didn't win major trophies. By his standards, sure, but over the course of 2017, he's been better than Ronaldo. Ronaldo himself had a fairly mediocre season coming alive at (crucial) latter stage of the season (in CL). Otherwise, Messi scored more, created more etc. Still though, his chances look slim since Madrid won back to back CL titles, and Ronaldo scored in the final game.

[Xabi Gerrard]

Can he make a late push for the "ballon d'or"? Still think Ronaldo will win it even if Messi has 30 league goals by december , because Madrid won everything . Team awards actually have a big factor for some reason in who gets the award between these 2 , even though it is a indiviual award.

There was no major international tournament this summer and Madrid won the league and CL with Ronaldo scoring 5 goals in the QF, 3 goals in the SF and 2 goals in the final. If anyone other than Ronaldo wins it this year it'll be an absolute farce.

[Xxavi]

Re Messi's (and Ronaldo's, too) decline, this is something undeniable. Even in the game vs Juve, he lost the ball several times that made me think that "in his best years, no way he loses the ball there." He is still great though, and is still the difference maker. Neymar, for all the praise he gets, wasn't able to outshine the current Messi. Though he lost some pace, acceleration, agility etc., he is still more reliable than most in tight spaces. He does the basics right, he is best at the basics.

Suarez is the one that has been surprisingly poor so far. No control, no dribbling, just nothing is going for him.

[mallin9]

Re Messi's (and Ronaldo's, too) decline, this is something undeniable. Even in the game vs Juve, he lost the ball several times that made me think that "in his best years, no way he loses the ball there." He is still great though, and is still the difference maker. Neymar, for all the praise he gets, wasn't able to outshine the current Messi. Though he lost some pace, acceleration, agility etc., he is still more reliable than most in tight spaces. He does the basics right, he is best at the basics.

Suarez is the one that has been surprisingly poor so far. No control, no dribbling, just nothing is going for him.

Yea that flick for Messi's first was pure crap from Luis

[Phil M]

Suarez is the one that has been surprisingly poor so far. No control, no dribbling, just nothing is going for him.

Sure about that?

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/TNzttC31tsE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/TNzttC31tsE</a>

[SandyShore]

Agreed, Suarez has been poor. I do worry for him as i don't think he will age well into his 30's like a Messi or Ronaldo.

[newrosswaterford]

Agreed, Suarez has been poor. I do worry for him as i don't think he will age well into his 30's like a Messi or Ronaldo.

Suarez will be grand. Playing in a good pressing side will suit him no end.

[oojason]

Never ceases to amaze me how underrated Greaves is in his own country. 'Best English player ever' conversations usually revolve around Charlton, Moore & Gazza. Greaves was probably better than the lot of them.

Messi overtook Greaves after banging in 4 goals tonight vs Eibar (Messi now on 358 goals scored in a single league).

Good point on how Greaves in underrated (or even ignored) when it comes to goalscorers and great forwards etc. Wonder if it was his laid-back media persona that people who didn't see him play think he was 'just' a decent ex-pro or something?

(obviously playing in a time where there weren't many cameras at games in that time doesn't help much)


Barcelona vs Eibar highlights (Barca won 6-1) - https://www.reddit.com/r/footballhighlights/comments/716akf/barcelona_vs_eibar_la_liga_19sep2017/

[elsewhere]

Greatest of all time

[oojason]

Greatest of all time

9 goals in 5 league games so far for him too - plus Barcelona seem a little more fluid in the attack so far this season (though early days etc)

[Clayton Bigsby]

What is there left to do in Barcelona for him.Think he should try somewhere else

[puroresu_kid]

What is there left to do in Barcelona for him.Think he should try somewhere else

Win trophies and be idolized while living in the great city. Sounds bliss.

The challenge is to get his team back on top in Spain and in Europe.

[JLStretton]

only the 4 in the last match

[oojason]

2 more goals earlier today vs Las Palmas makes it 11 goals in the 6 league games Messi has played so far (Barcelona have played 7 league games in total - winning all 7)

He's just 5 goals behind Muller in the 'All-time Top Scorer in Europe's Top 5 Leagues' thingymajig. Muller scored 365 league goals for Bayern.

[Gerry Attrick]

He's scored more goals than 13 teams in La Liga so far this season, including Sevilla who are 2nd.

[dalarr]

He's scored more goals than 13 teams in La Liga so far this season, including Sevilla who are 2nd.

Meh. Still in decline.

[Samie]

Will he stick around to batter the farmers and plumbers of the Catalan League?

[_00_deathscar]

Will he stick around to batter the farmers and plumbers of the Catalan League?

I thought he's already doing that in the Spanish League anyway?

[Broad Spectrum]

Still not done it in an actual World Cup so he can’t be the best, who gives a shit about qualifiers...

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Nothing special is he

[oojason]

Messi's 3 goals vs Ecuador in the WC Qualifiers to help ensure Argentina qualified for the World Cup...

on 13 mins - https://imgtc.com/w/SXgqgu3
on 20 mins - https://streamable.com/z8g7r
on 63 mins - https://streamable.com/cfkyd

Magisterial

http://www.flashscores.co.uk/football/south-america/world-cup/



'Messi & Suarez share record for goals in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers':-  (21 goals)

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/argentina/story/3226171/messi-breaks-record-for-most-goals-in-conmebol-world-cup-qualifiers


He has 61 goals in 122 international games now - 77 goals in 145 appearances if including his U20 & U23 Argentina appearances and goals.

[Iska]

Beautiful set of goals, talk about stepping up.  Even the way he doesn't have to break stride to pick the ball out the net after the first.

Here's hoping he takes the rest of the season easy so he's actually fit for this one.

[Xabi Gerrard]

Phenomenol by Messi, best I've ever seen from him for the Albiceleste given the context and performance.

Put in a few massive performances like that in the WC knockouts next summer, like the other greats managed to do, and he'll pretty much be universally recognised as the GOAT.

[J_Kopite]

The best

[Vinay]

But we all thought he cannot do it on a mid-week night in a strange, inclement place! At nearly 3,000 m above sea level too!

Love the guy. Unique talent and heart.