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Pro Bowl Player
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Was Zidane there tonight? . After all, Messi has come up very small on the biggest stage....Foxborough became maybe the only stadium that hosted two greatest football players of our time in their play-off games.
Was Zidane there tonight? . After all, Messi has come up very small on the biggest stage....
Messi wasn't even the best player in his side - that was Mascherano....Messi plays on the best team money can buy in Barcelona...u can't compare the accomplishments of Zidane and Messi - goals, maybe....trophy case, no way....Oh? That Argentina team had no business being in the WC final. Not talented enough. Great defense, yeah. But nothing other than Messi up front (Aguero washurt). Messi took them there. And doesn't Messi have a couple Champions League Championships? 2015 was his last (also Brady's last championship). Just because they kwent out in the semis this year (Brady did too) doesn't mean he comes up small regularly. I would say that's true of Ronaldo.
********. Messi is an incredible talent and is clearly, along with Ronaldo, in the discussion for best player in the world and perhaps this generation.Messi wasn't even the best player in his side - that was Mascherano....Messi plays on the best team money can buy in Barcelona...u can't compare the accomplishments of Zidane and Messi - goals, maybe....trophy case, no way....
The problem with a lot of the way people look at guys like Messi, Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic etc. is if their nation isn't or doesn't experience ultimate international success, that's somehow a slight on them. That's absurd given there are teams that are simply better than them. Germany and Spain have had a phenomenal few years and now you're looking at a young Belgium side ready to take over. Hell, Portugal is basically carried into major competitions by Ronaldo. There's only so much you can do when you're taking on the best of the world in a knockout situation.Oh? That Argentina team had no business being in the WC final. Not talented enough. Great defense, yeah. But nothing other than Messi up front (Aguero was hurt). Messi took them there. And doesn't Messi have a couple Champions League Championships? 2015 was his last (also Brady's last championship). Just because they went out in the semis this year (Brady did too) doesn't mean he comes up small regularly. I would say that's true of Ronaldo.
Oh? That Argentina team had no business being in the WC final. Not talented enough. Great defense, yeah. But nothing other than Messi up front (Aguero was hurt). Messi took them there. And doesn't Messi have a couple Champions League Championships? 2015 was his last (also Brady's last championship). Just because they went out in the semis this year (Brady did too) doesn't mean he comes up small regularly. I would say that's true of Ronaldo.
Real Madrid has won the CL twice in the past couple years, I definitely wouldn't call Ronaldo a choker or anything like that. He and Messi are two of the best ever.
Payton Manning. With that forehead, he could "head" the ball 100 yards!Let me ask this then...Who is the Tom Brady of soccer
First off…let's eradicate the Prima Donna label immediately. Messi is the antithesis of Prima Donna. He gets mauled on the soccer pitch, day in day out, and never performs the histrionics that so many do (see Suarez). And given the quality and quantity of his assist making, the guy is as unselfish a star (see Brady) on the planet.Whenever Messi was not part of the action, he was walking around. He was pretty much the only player on the field walking around. What's up with that? Was he hurt? Was he conserving his energy? Was he being a field general? Was he being a prima donna? Was I hallucinating?
I'm sure there is insight to be had.
Maradona over everybody else for me, I think people have to remember it was a different game back then, it was much more physical in the late 80's early 90's, must make it easier for the creative players now. He was an absolute beast. You have to wonder what feats him, pele and best could have achieved these days.The "no national team hardware" argument used to devalue players like Messi, Ronaldo, etc is such garbage. These studs play against the world's all-stars in approximately 45-50 inter league and Champions league games each year and the quality of soccer is so far superior to these semi-annual national team "showcases for their country's all stars.
Zidane was an icon and it was a shame European football hadn't reached USA TV screens like today or Zidane would be in our conscience more than it is.
Regarding Messi and Ronaldo, I look at them like this
1A) Messi……Greatest SCORER……best balance I've ever seen / ball sticks to his feet / ability to maneuver in tightest box / as accurate a shooter as I have ever seen. And in recent years, Messi has become an elite assist man with pin point accuracy, especially over the top of defenses. A weapon
1B) Ronaldo……Greatest ATHLETE……. I have ever seen play soccer with greatest physical tools. See his vertical tells you his athleticism is off the charts. I love the guys drive, his speed, his overall game
Personally, I love watching Messi play because I see magic when he possesses the ball.
Ask me who I would build a team around….using sound judgement I'd pick Ronaldo because of his total game……but….pure goal scoring ability is such an elusive commodity and Messi is in a league of his own so I'm discarding sound judgement and taking the special player. It's like taking Curry over Lebron….except Messi has been special for a decade.
Regarding the Argentinian debate of greatest in country, Maradona's drive was insane and I can understand why the locals elevate Diego above Messi. It was a different game back then Maradona never had to maneuver thru packed in defenses that Messi faces every day….but Messi doesn't possess the open field speed to weave thru more spread out defenses that Maradona faced. Different skill set but Maradona was a force of nature. Messi is a gift…no right answer.
The "no national team hardware" argument used to devalue players like Messi, Ronaldo, etc is such garbage. These studs play against the world's all-stars in approximately 45-50 inter league and Champions league games each year and the quality of soccer is so far superior to these semi-annual national team "showcases for their country's all stars.
Zidane was an icon and it was a shame European football hadn't reached USA TV screens like today or Zidane would be in our conscience more than it is.
Regarding Messi and Ronaldo, I look at them like this
1A) Messi……Greatest SCORER……best balance I've ever seen / ball sticks to his feet / ability to maneuver in tightest box / as accurate a shooter as I have ever seen. And in recent years, Messi has become an elite assist man with pin point accuracy, especially over the top of defenses. A weapon
1B) Ronaldo……Greatest ATHLETE……. I have ever seen play soccer with greatest physical tools. See his vertical tells you his athleticism is off the charts. I love the guys drive, his speed, his overall game
Personally, I love watching Messi play because I see magic when he possesses the ball.
Ask me who I would build a team around….using sound judgement I'd pick Ronaldo because of his total game……but….pure goal scoring ability is such an elusive commodity and Messi is in a league of his own so I'm discarding sound judgement and taking the special player. It's like taking Curry over Lebron….except Messi has been special for a decade.
Regarding the Argentinian debate of greatest in country, Maradona's drive was insane and I can understand why the locals elevate Diego above Messi. It was a different game back then Maradona never had to maneuver thru packed in defenses that Messi faces every day….but Messi doesn't possess the open field speed to weave thru more spread out defenses that Maradona faced. Different skill set but Maradona was a force of nature. Messi is a gift…no right answer.
First off…let's eradicate the Prima Donna label immediately. Messi is the antithesis of Prima Donna. He gets mauled on the soccer pitch, day in day out, and never performs the histrionics that so many do (see Suarez).
After 90 minutes…..1 goal, at least two amazing assists that I know of…….talk about efficiency …from the oppositions defensive focal point.
Whats incredible about both Messi and Ronaldo is how long they've been at their peek. Brazilian Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, those guys had 4-5 years of world class play. Ronaldo and Messi have been playing at this elite level for almost a decade.
I pull for Ronaldo because im Portuguese, but i def appreciate Messi. He makes the other 10 guys better. Thats a special trait. He uses his size (or lack of) to his advantage. Ive never seen a player dribble/ball control the way he does. He has physical limitations though, but credit to himx he always gets up.
Ronaldo is more of a forward nowadays. More selfish, hes a primadonna. With that when Ronaldo clicking (unfortunately for me last night wasnt one of them) he can take over a game. Even in a bad game, hes spraying the net with shots.
Both great talents. Im glad ive watched them both.
Thanks. That helps. Messi was definitely mugged many a time.
I was referring to the PK by Seijas. I think it was the only of the game.