Topic: Lionel Messi

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

He's always been a great free kick taker but he's now upped it a notch. 25 meters out, it's like awarding him a penalty.

He's better at free kicks than penalties,tbf.

[rowan_d]

Genuinely can't fathom how anyone can think he's not the best player of his era at very least

His game goes so far beyond the goals

[Clayton Bigsby]

Agree. I hope Argentina win World Cup so that this can be put to bed.

We are nearing the stage where you should not be allowed an opinion that disputes that Messi is the greatest of his era.

[oojason]

100th Champions League goal tonight - in 123 CL games.

(according to Opta - https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/974032556680196096)

[SMASHerano]

Faster than Ronaldo to 100 goals in the CL. So he's also beating him at the only thing he's good at.

[Clayton Bigsby]

Faster than Ronaldo to 100 goals in the CL. So he's also beating him at the only thing he's good at.

Not gonna turn this into another Messi v Ronaldo debate but context does need to be applied with these figures. Ronaldo got 4 in first 32 champions league games at start of his career when he was low end product show pony

Since 2007-2008 he has 114 goals in 119 appearances, top scored the last 5 seasons, outtscored Messi 40-16 in games from 1/4 final onwards, highest and second highest single season goal tally in CL history and he has the hardware for his efforts (4 titles each).

Messi is the GOAT for me but he still bends the knee to Ronaldo in the CL.

[owens_2k]

Ronaldo got 4 in first 32 champions league games at start of his career when he was low end product show pony

So what? Why should this be used to discredit Messi's achievement of reaching 100 goals in fewer games?

Since 2007-2008 he has 114 goals in 119 appearances, top scored the last 5 seasons, outtscored Messi 40-16 in games from 1/4 final onwards

Right, so in order to back-up your case your excluding games prior to 2007 and games before 1/4 finals. Seems like your comparison is weighted towards one rather than the other.

[SMASHerano]

Not gonna turn this into another Messi v Ronaldo debate but context does need to be applied with these figures. Ronaldo got 4 in first 32 champions league games at start of his career when he was low end product show pony

Since 2007-2008 he has 114 goals in 119 appearances, top scored the last 5 seasons, outtscored Messi 40-16 in games from 1/4 final onwards, highest and second highest single season goal tally in CL history and he has the hardware for his efforts (4 titles each).

Messi is the GOAT for me but he still bends the knee to Ronaldo in the CL.

Interested to know how many Messi has scored in his first 32 games?

Unfortunately, Ronaldo didn't start playing in the CL since 2007/2008 so we can not disregard his record in the games he played before that period.

Lionel Messi took 14 fewer apps, 1758 fewer minutes and 266 fewer shots to score his 100th Champions League goal than Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet he bends the knee for him?

[Clayton Bigsby]

Messi got there in fewer games. This is an induspitable fact.

I'm just saying that Ronaldo used to be a 4 goal a season player and so that will effect his earlier stats. Messi has always been a good goalscorer before transforming into an otherworldly won. The 32 games I refer to were the amount he played in his first 4 seasons at Man Utd.

I noted the 1/4 final and later goals for the same reason that people note Lukaku's lack of goals against the top 6.

I shouldn't have used such evocative language but I've been quoted so no point amending. Ronaldo is currently king in CL, but Messi is the GOAT

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

Interested to know how many Messi has scored in his first 32 games?

Unfortunately, Ronaldo didn't start playing in the CL since 2007/2008 so we can not disregard his record in the games he played before that period.

Lionel Messi took 14 fewer apps, 1758 fewer minutes and 266 fewer shots to score his 100th Champions League goal than Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet he bends the knee for him?

man, you said messi was beating him in "the only thing he's good at" 

[Coolie High]

Not gonna turn this into another Messi v Ronaldo debate but context does need to be applied with these figures. Ronaldo got 4 in first 32 champions league games at start of his career when he was low end product show pony

Since 2007-2008 he has 114 goals in 119 appearances, top scored the last 5 seasons, outtscored Messi 40-16 in games from 1/4 final onwards, highest and second highest single season goal tally in CL history and he has the hardware for his efforts (4 titles each).

Messi is the GOAT for me but he still bends the knee to Ronaldo in the CL.

They've won the same amount of CLs? Messi has a far bigger impact on his teams runs than Ronaldo who is just there to finish goals.

In the season they beat Atletico for example it was often Modric and Di Maria who had starring performances particularly in the final where Ronaldo was completely shut out. Messi scores the goals but he also has the big moments, the all round performances that stick in ones head for a lifetime, and it's why he is the greatest he does everything and everything better than everyone else. He is the creator, he is the lynchpin, the player who offers penetration, the player who playmakes, and who finished the chances, the words read out like something of a footballing deity.

[RedForeverTT]

It is hard not to turn this into a Messi vs Ronaldo debate.

If Barca and Madrid were to trade Messi and Ronaldo to each other. Which set of fans do you think would be the happier ones. I rest my case.

[Jimmy Conway]

Bang average :-)

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

He's the best player in history of football. Although he plays for a club that i strongly dislike, therefore i can't always enjoy his magic, but yeah, he's better than Maradona,Pele,both Ronaldos etc, and i don't think we'll see someone like him in the next 50 years at least.

[Xabi Gerrard]

They've won the same amount of CLs? Messi has a far bigger impact on his teams runs than Ronaldo who is just there to finish goals.

If you want to be even handed when discussing the pair of them you have to acknowledge that Messi was only tangibly involved in 3 Barcelona CL triumphs. He made a few group appearances in 2006. There were at least 11 Barca players who contributed more to the 2006 victory than Messi.

For all Ronaldo's faults, he was involved heavily in all 4 of his CL victories.

(Not saying Ronaldo's a better player, he's not)

[pinky]

There is also an interesting stat not many people know about that says Ronaldo has scored 40 goals in decisive stages of CL (counting from quarters onwards), as opposed to Messi's 16.

[conman]

Messi is the GOAT for me but he still bends the knee to Ronaldo in the CL.

He doesn't move like a goat or eat like a goat or talk like a goat

[Danny Boy]

Ally McCoist made a good joke this morning saying of his 100 CL goals, only 4 were with his head...if only he could head 

[Thats So Dimitar]

Ally McCoist made a good joke this morning saying of his 100 CL goals, only 4 were with his head...if only he could head 

One of those headed goals was the nail in the coffin in the final though. A moment I will never forget, sat next to my Man U supporting friend, trying to appear sympathetic while keeping a grin off my face.

[wige]

He's a level above everyone to me, either still playing, who played at the same time, or who came before.

No-one has ever been able to score, assist, pass, dribble, read the game, play in multiple positions to the level that Messi can. It's indisputable for me. Like, if you even start trying to say that anyone's better I'm switching off from the argument. It's clear as day to my eyes.

[Yiannis]

Have a sneaky feeling Messi has scored tens of goals like his second one (which is a really good goal cause while he took just two touches he also took 3 Chelsea players out of that play)  aka through the keeper's legs but really not much their fault.

I would mention the first too but it's more of Courtois fault.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

It is hard not to turn this into a Messi vs Ronaldo debate.

If Barca and Madrid were to trade Messi and Ronaldo to each other. Which set of fans do you think would be the happier ones. I rest my case.

Not really that hard. In fact, I struggle to see how it can be considered a debate at all.

[Samie]

He's a level above everyone to me, either still playing, who played at the same time, or who came before.

No-one has ever been able to score, assist, pass, dribble, read the game, play in multiple positions to the level that Messi can. It's indisputable for me. Like, if you even start trying to say that anyone's better I'm switching off from the argument. It's clear as day to my eyes.

What RONALDINHO could do with a ball peak Messi wouldn't even try. 

[Corkboy]

What RONALDINHO could do with a ball peak Messi wouldn't even try. 

You do know those ads were fake, right?

[Samie]

You do know those ads were fake, right?

 

Nothing fake about it Corky.

[Charlie Adams fried egg]

It's the sheer consistency for me which goes back over 10 years.
Since 08-09 his lowest number of games is 46 in 13/14.
His lowest goals season was 08/09 with a mere 38.
Since then he's had a 73, a 60, 3 in the 50's and 3 in the 40's in terms of goals scored.
In 4 of the 10 seasons he's scored at a rate of more than 1 a game.

It's phenomenal in the true sense rather than the Bobby Brownshoes sense.

He's shite at pens though 

[puroresu_kid]

What RONALDINHO could do with a ball peak Messi wouldn't even try.

There was a quote from Ronaldhinho that went along the lines of "Best player in the world?  I'm not even the best player at Barcelona"

[Samie]

There was a quote from Ronaldhinho that went along the lines of "Best player in the world?  I'm not even the best player at Barcelona"

A nice, humble man. Unlike others.

He played the game like how we ALL wish we could play and attempted to play in the parks.

[Xabi Gerrard]

I preferred watching Dinho. As someone once put it, "Messi does what every other player does except he does it better. Ronaldinho does what no other footballer even thinks about doing".

No getting away from the fact that Messi's better though.

[Corkboy]

My favourite Ronaldinho moment was this...

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/BI2ALsvjWNU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/BI2ALsvjWNU</a>

Not typical, but bang, fuck you, John Terry.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

My favourite Ronaldinho moment was this...

Seems so strange seeing Victor Valdes with hair

[Xabi Gerrard]

My favourite Ronaldinho moment was this...

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/BI2ALsvjWNU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/BI2ALsvjWNU</a>

Not typical, but bang, fuck you, John Terry.

Great shout, that often gets lost behind his other fantastic Chelsea goal. One of the many things that separated him from other flair players - he was built like a brick shithouse. 14 stone of England's Brave JT flying into him and bouncing straight back off.

[sinnermichael]

Lionel Messi's second vs Chelsea last night took him one ahead of Stoke for goals in the 2010s (445 vs 444).

[El Ninos Black Eye]

Just got ticket for me and my lad to watch Italy v Argentina at the Etihad next Friday. Only reason I’m going is to watch this little magician and be able to sit back, relax and enjoy watching him in the flesh. As if we get Barca in the Champs League I won’t be able to enjoy his talents, as I won’t want him to get the ball

[rob1966]

Best he could manage was hitting the post when we beat them 4-0 in that friendly.

[rushyman]

Never scored against us, has he? Shite.

Would you mind deleting this until after the draw ? 😂

[FCukBarca Haw-Haw]

There was a quote from Ronaldhinho that went along the lines of "Best player in the world?  I'm not even the best player at Barcelona"

And he was saying this before most people knew who Messi was.  I can still remember a cameo of him at 16 and laughing, thinking he already looked a player with the potential to be better than Ronnie when he was already peak Ronaldinho.  He was an absolute beast when he arrived, just kept getting those hamstring injuries else those mind boggling stats would be much more scary

[LFC when it suits]

It is hard not to turn this into a Messi vs Ronaldo debate.

If Barca and Madrid were to trade Messi and Ronaldo to each other. Which set of fans do you think would be the happier ones. I rest my case.

You say this, but Ronaldo has actually proven he can carry another team to the highest level of club football while Messi hasn't. Both incredible players and considering the difference in natural ability, it shouldn't even be close but it is.

[Clayton Bigsby]

And he was saying this before most people knew who Messi was.  I can still remember a cameo of him at 16 and laughing, thinking he already looked a player with the potential to be better than Ronnie when he was already peak Ronaldinho.  He was an absolute beast when he arrived, just kept getting those hamstring injuries else those mind boggling stats would be much more scary

It was Henry Winter of all people that alerted me to Messi. He said Man utd should go for dinho again because they have a guy called Messi so they may be willing to sale. This was when dinho was imperious. I figured this Messi must be something..

[rowan_d]

You say this, but Ronaldo has actually proven he can carry another team to the highest level of club football while Messi hasn't. Both incredible players and considering the difference in natural ability, it shouldn't even be close but it is.

Think that underrates that 2008 Man Utd team a lot.