Messi, THE Greatest.........

Messis goal toight makes him the all time record CL goalscorer.

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9587921/messi-struck-by-bottle

Edited by Shedite - 30 Nov 2014 at 11:17pm

His 3rd hatrick in 4 games.

Agreed.

Messi and Ronaldo are head and shoulders above everyone else.

PhillyK

Siralex wrote: Ronaldo nails a hat-trick, Messi follows suit 24-hours later. f**king hell! These two are off the charts. I'm not sure a lot of people appreciate that in modern football it is so much more difficult to be this consistent in comparison to times gone by....It was easier for Maradona, Pele etc to be oustanding as the opposition weren't as much a match for players with much more natural ability But with the modern game and with players who don't have great natural ability still being world class due to fitness, tactical understanding, discipline etc, it is hard for stand out players to be consistent. Also, cameras catch EVERY game which is why it is hard to come across as ALWAYS great...see Rooney as a great example. Not always consistent, but has a superb highlights reel - probably better than most who have ever played the game. Pele and Maradonaa....well we only really saw their highlights reels, didn't we? It's easier to be consistent if we are just seeing highlights reels. Which makes it just jaw-dropping that Ronaldo and Messi produce consistenly in the modern game. The two best to ever play the sport as far as I'm concerned. And aren't we lucky that we can witness them both playing at their peak. Amazing!

Not sure I agree with the rationale. Impossible to compare players of different generations. So many variables. There is a valid arguement that the game is actually in decline. European players are imo anyway.

eire77 wrote: Siralex wrote: Ronaldo nails a hat-trick, Messi follows suit 24-hours later. f**king hell! These two are off the charts. I'm not sure a lot of people appreciate that in modern football it is so much more difficult to be this consistent in comparison to times gone by....It was easier for Maradona, Pele etc to be oustanding as the opposition weren't as much a match for players with much more natural ability But with the modern game and with players who don't have great natural ability still being world class due to fitness, tactical understanding, discipline etc, it is hard for stand out players to be consistent. Also, cameras catch EVERY game which is why it is hard to come across as ALWAYS great...see Rooney as a great example. Not always consistent, but has a superb highlights reel - probably better than most who have ever played the game. Pele and Maradonaa....well we only really saw their highlights reels, didn't we? It's easier to be consistent if we are just seeing highlights reels. Which makes it just jaw-dropping that Ronaldo and Messi produce consistenly in the modern game. The two best to ever play the sport as far as I'm concerned. And aren't we lucky that we can witness them both playing at their peak. Amazing! Not sure I agree with the rationale. Impossible to compare players of different generations. So many variables. There is a valid arguement that the game is actually in decline. European players are imo anyway.

Ballix.

Players like Maradona, Pele, Garrincha, Cruijff etc were kicked up and down the pitch every week.

You had to kill someone to get sent off back then.

I would like to see how Messi would cope with being marked by someone like Gentile back in the day.

You cant compare eras full stop.

Siralex wrote: eire77 wrote: Siralex wrote: Ronaldo nails a hat-trick, Messi follows suit 24-hours later. f**king hell! These two are off the charts. I'm not sure a lot of people appreciate that in modern football it is so much more difficult to be this consistent in comparison to times gone by....It was easier for Maradona, Pele etc to be oustanding as the opposition weren't as much a match for players with much more natural ability But with the modern game and with players who don't have great natural ability still being world class due to fitness, tactical understanding, discipline etc, it is hard for stand out players to be consistent. Also, cameras catch EVERY game which is why it is hard to come across as ALWAYS great...see Rooney as a great example. Not always consistent, but has a superb highlights reel - probably better than most who have ever played the game. Pele and Maradonaa....well we only really saw their highlights reels, didn't we? It's easier to be consistent if we are just seeing highlights reels. Which makes it just jaw-dropping that Ronaldo and Messi produce consistenly in the modern game. The two best to ever play the sport as far as I'm concerned. And aren't we lucky that we can witness them both playing at their peak. Amazing!   Not sure I agree with the rationale. Impossible to compare players of different generations. So many variables. There is a valid arguement that the game is actually in decline. European players are imo anyway. Ah now hold on....Fair enough players past and present can't be compared, simply because the players of today are athletes and have discipline, unlike those in the past Clearly today's players are streets ahead of those of yesteryear, so that's why they can't be compared. What would Maradona be like with today's science in the game helping him, if he was as fit as, say, Ronaldo etc etc....so yes I agree with you; it's impossible to compare. But where on earth are you getting that the game is in decline. I've never once heard that argument. Where is the valid argument for that; I'd love to hear it. I've never even heard it debated.

The arguement in a nutshell is that the game (in Europe at least) is in decline due to youth / young adults not playing the game as much as previous generations. All football is now organised. Gone are the days of 30 kids on a street with a ball. When was the last time a 9/10 year old called to a 12 year olds door and asked was he coming out then upon negative response asked if his ball would come out?!

With less players playing less often the time required to master the sport (any sport) generally accepted as 10,000 hours is not being reached until people reach middle age!

Despite what sky sports tell you the game is now as much about physical strength and prowess (note your comments about athletes) as it is about skill. Team organisation and shape are the words used nowadays as much as individual technical brilliance.

Oh and go to any youth training pitch (remembering that this is where 90% of football is played) and see them play two touch football - as this stops players running with the ball. I'm can't be sure but I doubt Messi or Maradona played too many games of two touch.

Yes Messi and Ronaldo are great players. But so were the others mentioned in this thread. While Messi and Ronaldo have to deal with athletes and teams setup to nullify creativity so too did Pele, Best and Cryuff have to deal with bumpy pitches, a heavier ball and some of the most cynical players (read, butchers) to grace the game.

All said, there are many, many great players but to insinuate the game is at its peak I would disagree whole heartily. The game, imho, despite the millions which goes directly to the top of the pyramid, is on a downward slope with Individual sports and games consoles the direct beneficiaries.