Zidane carried France on his back.
This is just plain wrong.
I don't want to go off on my Zidane rant again, because I honestly don't see him as any greater than Del Piero, Nedved or Rivaldo.. but in '98 he did not carry France. Before two headers in the final his world cup was far more likely to be remembered for a ridiculous sending off (oh the irony). France weren't dragged to the final by Zidane - he was a non-entity up until that point. France got there by having one of
the great defences.
As far as Zidane and Messi go I don't think it's even close myself. Messi is just as elegent (probably more so) and far more effective.
I've always said the real Ronaldo is far and away the best player I've ever seen, but I think Messi is on the verge of surpassing him, if he hasn't already. It's not just the volume of goals or assists, it's the way he plays. It's so perfect, it's almost like a computer game. Those rare moments the ball is close to being out of his control he just turns on this incredible pace and gets there first, before using that similarly incredible balance to draw the foul or beat the marker.
That first touch for his second goal tonight... You couldn't have made that more perfect if you were controlling him on Fifa.