The little genius has had yet another monumental season in the Barcelona colours and continues to mesmerize fans across the globe with an amazing vision of the game coupled with brilliant skills, dedication and desire.
He has brought unprecedented success to the Catalans and has effectively delivered in all competitions at the highest level against the most difficult opponents.
The world continues to sing praises of his brilliance and as a player, he is now in a league of his own. However, there are two sets of arguments, at least at this point in his career, that keep him from being hailed as one of the finest ever to have graced the sport.
Firstly, his performances for national team Argentina, and secondly, whether he can pitch in with similar results for a sustained period without the presence of Barcelona teammates Xavi and Iniesta, masters at orchestrating the game.
Barcelona is a very well-lubricated unit that has evolved as a team over the years, and have added a whole new dimension to the beautiful game with their immaculate approach.
Purists have run out of superlatives to describe the Barcelona style of football. Apart from Xavi and Iniesta in midfield, Pedro and Villa complement each other along with Messi in attack.
Therefore, with so much quality around him, he has the licence to play with a lot more freedom and space as he knows others in the team pull the strings in midfield.
Results clearly indicate that he enjoys his football at Barcelona whereas with Argentina, it is a totally different story.
The Argentina side play a different brand of football and do not possess the quality of Barcelona. Here, Messi’s role is altered; neither does he have a Xavi or an Iniesta to depend on for service, nor does he enjoy the freedom to break through the opposition with his trademark incisive runs.
Messi is a shining diamond in the world of football but to grade him amongst the best might be a tad premature.
In sport, success is gauged by the number of titles won. In Messi’s case, what is missing is a major triumph in national colours – that would settle the score.
But again, we are in the middle of a different era, and it might not be fair to compare Messi with Maradona or Pele.
Had it been possible to reverse time, it would have been interesting to see if the two masters would be able to survive the game today that has become so physical and competitive.
Let us not forget the brilliance of the original Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Zidane, legends in their own right, having won everything a footballer can dream of. These guys have amazed the world with their skills, vision and performances.
So, what does Leo Messi have to do? Well, he has age on his side, and if he can continue to back that up with his supreme talent and dedication without losing focus, he can go a step further and win major trophies in national colours.
It is just a matter of time – he has just had a fine outing against Costa Rica in the Copa America, and that augurs well for millions of his fans all over the world. Including yours truly.
KW
Guest
You said "Messi is a thousand times more effective" than Maradona... That's bullshit... Like Pele, Messi depended a lot more on support from other players than Maradona did ... You said if you were a coach, you would choose Messi ... Howabout when a freekick is awarded? The more rediculous thing is, you are comparing Messi at his peak with Maradona's overall performance ... That's unfair... Would u put a 30 yr old Messi in the 1990 Argentinian WC team? You wouldn't know, would you? Whatabout when Messi was 18 and below? was he as stunning as Maradona was at the same age? ... Do you know what the Scottish team players thought of Maradona when he played his second international match at age 18? He was already recognised as destining to be the greatest ever .. Do a little google and see the testimonies of several of those players ... I can't wait to see Messi getting older and see if he could still dribble ... Mind you, Maradona was still able to dribble and protect the ball brilliantly at 34 yrs old in the 94 WC
Pramod
Guest
Messi is talent personified. Its only a matter of time before he gets on the mark in the International scene and steer Argentina to World Cup glory and stake his claim to being the All Time Greatest !!
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Interesting comment---how would Rooney fair in Barcelona, or Ronaldo, no matter who plays up front for Barcelona they still are the best team going around and that is because they have Xavi and Iniesta controlling the play. Let's not forget these players are more than capable of scoring goals as well, as we have seen in the UCL.
dasilva
Guest
The question is what is Xavi and Iniesta are like without Messi Yes they are good enough to win the world cup but at club level, I believe Messi is a different between a loss or a draw despite dominating possession to loads of goal. Messi runs off the ball and with the ball is incredible and there isn't a better player in the world that takes advantages of the passes that Xavi and iniesta make Could Barcalona win the Champions league last season without Messi or would Real Madrid and Manchester United have successfully parked the bus and score on the counter without messi
Karmikel Funk
Roar Rookie
Messi won't be considered one of the greats till he performs for Argentina. Pele was scoring goals in WC finals at 17 and kept doing so till he was nearly 40. Messi has performance anxiety when he plays for his country. Maybe because he was brought up in Spain by Barcelona and spent little time in his own country. Maybe if he was in the Spanish national team like, he would have no problems being a superstar and owning a WC winners medal too.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Fuss----I would agree with the Argentina's fans right now. I commented earlier before that Xavi and Iniesta make Messi look like a world beater. These two players are the best at present in the world imo---not a thickness of a hair between them. The tiki-taka football they play is breathtakingly beautiful to watch, (we saw how they tore Man U apart) and when you see how much Messi relies on these two player, you begin to understand why he at Barcelona is viewed as the best player in the world with all the adulation, however, we now know why after today, he is not the best player in the world, Xavi and Iniesta are, take your pick of either one of them.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
If any football fan is near a TV set I strongly urge you to tune in to SBSOne. 2nd half of the Copa America 1/4 final ARG v URU about to commence - LIVE on FTA Tv with possibly the 2 biggest rivals in Sth American football. So far, Argentina are controlling the game; yet URU scored first and ARG equalised after brilliant dribbling and an exquisite visionary cross by Leo, which Higuaín put away. Both sides have had a goal disallowed and now URU are down to 10 men after Pérez got his 2nd yellow. So 1-1 and should be a beauty for the 2nd half.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Seems if you asked many fans in Argentina right now ... they'd give you a resounding answer of: NO HE IS NOT! Funny, no matter how good a player is for some fans, he's never good enough! Check out this reaction to Leo from some Argentineans, who are not happy with his Copa America performances .. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1064969/Messi-shrugs-off-insults I think Messi is a fantastic player, but there have been many fantastic players ... I have no need to compare - I've enjoyed watching all of them and, I'm sure I'll enjoy watching the fantastic players that play in the future.
daryl
Guest
those 1000 goals were a fluke. righto mate
LM10
Guest
Mine doesn't have any George anywhere.... Cruyyf and Maradona are the 2 best of all time.
LM10
Guest
Those 1000 goals were a fluke, most were counted from friendlies and goals against defenses in the Brazilian league. Pele is far overrated, his National Team was start studded so he won, Brazilian League was easy so he won, why couldn't he prove himself in Europe?
David Paul Grubesic
Guest
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (Brazil) is the best player to of ever played the game until Messi replicate his FCB form to Argentina
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Yes, he was, however I'm still surprised you chose him over someone like Paolo Maldini.
Brian
Guest
yes only defender to ever with Ballon D'or. But was also very good in late 90's, early 2000s with Parma, Juve & Italy. He was also very solid in Euro 00 & 04 as well as WC 2002 even though Italy didn't have the same success
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Do you really have to be a goal scorer to be the best player in the world? Take your pick Xavi and Iniesta are in my view the best players in the world at present. Without them Messi is not so hot. Let's remember Messi was very ordinary in the 2010 world cup fro Argentina and lacked his usual penetration. Put Xavi and Iniesta in the team he then becomes a super star. Barca are the team they are because of the close triangles they play. Orchestrated by no other then the two maestros Xavi and Iniesta.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Cannavarro is pretty surprising. Yashin is a certainty, but many would argue that Cannavarro has only ever had one great season.
Brian
Guest
To be the greatest you have to be the best for a long time. I would say its only 1-2 years ago since Messi overtook Ronaldo. So currently his time at the top is equla with say Figo, Zidane, Ronladinho, Ronlado & Ronaldo. In the last 30 years Maradona was the greatest, one critical criteria is that he was dominant for both Argentina & Napoli. He was also streets ahead of the second best player at the time (probably Van Basten). Regarding years prior its very hard to judge cause we really are working off the WC. I think of the last 3 or 4 WC and think if someone analyses them in 100 years they will conclude Klose to be the greatest striker of the 2000s, most of us however acknowledge the reality is different. Its also very hard to judge great players from weaker countries - Best, Ronaldo, Yashin, Eusebio, that Peruvian guy from the 70s.
Brian
Guest
Cannavarro & Yashin
whiskeymac
Guest
matthaus, platini, b charlton, jennings, banks, romario, hierro, stiochkov, van basten, koeman, laudrup(s), schmeichal (sp?)... all great. this list cld go on too...but greatest, still comes down to those already mentioned? i think so. its very generational too - and in that respect messi picks up where pele (60s/70s), maradonna (80s mostly) left (and imo zidane (90s)- the best of his generation.
whiskeymac
Guest
le tissier falls into that category but he isnt an all time great - just was very good and a bit lazy.