He'll break every individual goal record in history if you give him time.

Best player I've ever seen.

Scariest thing is that he was already the best player in the world by the 2008/09 season, but statistically he's been getting better every season since then and he still is.

08/09: 38 goals
09/10: 47 goals
10/11: 53 goals
11/12: 60 goals (and it's only the beginning of April)

I was for a long time of the opinion that Maradona was the best player I had ever had the fortune to watch play football. Despite Messi not yet bringing success to his country, I think he is the best player I have ever seen. Not even Maradona dominated teams on a regular basis the way Messi does.

I don´t think he will ever be regarded as better than Maradona in Argentina though. They basically see him as a Spaniard.

I'd like to see him do that in a string of games against Wolves, Wigan and West Brom.
He's decent. Just below Pele for me.

I used to think it depended on whether you were saying "best player in his time" or "best player the world has ever seen". I think Messi is probably both, doesn't matter if Argentina's NT is no good/poorly coached. Put Cruyff, Pele, Maradona, all in their primes on a pitch today and Messi outshines them all week in, week out.

Neither you or I can prove who is the best amongst players from different generations. I said Pele's the best in jet. I've only ever seen his highlights, so have no idea what he was like on a day to day basis, but his stats suggest that 40 years ago, people reacted in much the way we react to Messi. Messi looks more dominant in highlights, but what if Pele and Cruyff had the benefit of modern training, coaching, medicine, physio, HGH and other advantages that Messi has? Maybe they'd be just as fierce.

In any case, I find it hard to out clear daylight between him and Ronaldo. Their stats compare favorably. The big difference may be that one man has been on the better 'team' these past three seasons.

As Lagos would say about theo, Forget the stats Cal, go with what you see with your eyes. The sheer magic you witness on some of that midget mofo's goals/ runs is stupendous.

Ronaldo's very good, but Messi's got far more natural talent than the Portugeeezer.

Kinda Similar to Federer and Nadal in tennis.

If Messi was off doing this for Milan, Napoli, Dortmund, I'd be enamored of him. I can't stand Barcelona and will admit that it clouds my judgment of any of their players. When I watch him I'm just astounded by his magic. Then he scores and I curse Barca.

he's been carrying them in recent months tbh. They're about to go into a transitional period with the likes of puyol and xavi winding down. given his age, messi's sheer consistency might actually allow barca to power through their transition where most teams would have 1-2 rocky years.

not my favourite player to watch, but still, he's the greatest of all time in my view.

Messi's unparalleled close control, pinpoint finishing, cooperative play and genius suit Barcelona's strangled, congested game. Ronaldo's "pace, power and desire" - or at least his combination of athleticism, passion and technique - suit Madrid's more direct approach.

They have comparable stats so why rate one above the other? I think Messi's probably the popular vote, but only because he resembles the idea of the perfect footballer more than Ronaldo, and seems to be a nicer guy.

True, but Madrid have other players to share the goals around: Higuain, Benzema. Barcelona have really been Messi plus a brilliant supporting cast and a tactical approach that ensure vast amounts of play go through him.

Just like "chances created" - a team that plays a possession game and squats in opposition territory always has vast numbers of chances created.

Anyway, Messi is pretty clearly a football genius, I'm just playing Devil's advocate.

But you guys raise an important point that confirms what I've been arguing this season: Messi is Barca. Take him away and you end up with a bunch of tippy-tappy merchants passing the ball around until the opponents and fans doze off.

Claudius wrote:

But you guys raise an important point that confirms what I've been arguing this season: Messi is Barca. Take him away and you end up with a bunch of tippy-tappy merchants passing the ball around until the opponents and fans doze off.

Got to agree that he's been carrying them more and more this season. Would be interesting to see how they do in a big game without him for a change - it's crazy that he's now gone through 4 seasons with Guardiola without picking up an injury.

I think they'd draw a lot more games than they do without Messi (and obviously with a replacement like Villa), but in the CL you'd probably still make them favourites. Like Spain in the world cup, it'd sometimes be boring and frustrating to watch but their style of play is perfect for the knock-outs.

Also, Madrid are winning La Liga. As Steve Jobs said 'real artists ship'. Likewise 'great footballers win'.

I am quite confident he will break every single record available in modern football history soon. Too good.

The only football history is modern football history.

Unless something horrible happens, Messi will statistically be the best. Only thing that might "hold him back" is the World Cup. But the WC is a shit competition, we all know this.

Pele is a douche. Always talking out his arse. Egomaniacal bastard was kicking a pig's bladder around for chrissake. Maradona was easily better than him, and Messi's better than Diego.

Pele is mad

http://www.goal.com/en/news/584/brazil/2012/04/10/3026966/pele-if-messi-wants-to-be-the-best-ever-first-he-must-become

Pele: If Messi wants to be the best ever first he must become better than Neymar

Brazilian football idol Pele has restated his belief that Neymar is a better player than Barcelona star Lionel Messi, and argued that the Argentine must first overcome the young Santos star before he can challenge 'O Rei' as the greatest to ever play the game.

The three-time World Cup winner was speaking on Tuesday at a press conference marking Santos' centenary celebrations in April 2012.

Never shy about publicising the ability of Neymar to the press, the 71-year-old pushed the youngster ahead of Messi in his list of the world's current stars.

"Now everyone is talking about Messi, he is a star. But [to be the best ever] he must first become better than Neymar," he asserted.

"At the moment Messi is just more experienced."

The Brazilian also played down the public feud he has allegedly maintained with Diego Maradona, insisting that there is no bad blood between the two men.

"You [journalists] are always saying that I am Maradona's rival, but it is not true. I was never his rival, and he was a great attacking midfielder," the veteran explained.

Neymar needs to come to europe and stop pissing about in Brazil.

Pele talks absolute shit.

Bored of this lad.

Ronaldinho had more natural talent.

Woah, woah, woah!

Ronaldinho was far more entertaining but Messi is an absolute beast. (and yes, I know you were joking)

Pele's an incredible gibberer, those blue pills must've cooked his brain.

Got a hunch that Neymar might just be another Robinho in Europe. Maybe that's just because he'll never end up at Arsenal...

Neymar is a beast, but only a truly partisan and bitter individual would ever consider comparing him to Messi. I would be giddy if he turned out for the Gunners.

Eh, got to come to Europe and prove himself, that's just how it is.

Can't imagine if Barca had this front 3 at their peak.

Ronaldinho Henry Messi

Anyway, anybody watched Messi's ITV documentary? Shows how amazing he is

The three most skillful forwards I've ever seen are Ronaldinho, Bergkamp and Rivaldo. Messi is a better and more functional player than all three of them ever were but he doesn't have the same grace. Neymar har similar grace when you watch him play. Suppose it comes down to personal preference but I'd rather watch him play football than Messi.

I came to the conclusion a while back that Messi is, in fact, a robot. They made him in the lab at la masia, forget all the nonsense about growth hormones, they were just the research years.

Klaus wrote:

The three most skillful forwards I've ever seen are Ronaldinho, Bergkamp and Rivaldo. Messi is a better and more functional player than all three of them ever were but he doesn't have the same grace. Neymar har similar grace when you watch him play. Suppose it comes down to personal preference but I'd rather watch him play football than Messi.

I think I agree, not specifically about Neymar because I've not seen enough of him, but definitely on Ronaldinho and Bergkamp.
I actually prefer watching cRonaldo to Messi as well.

There's definitely something a bit soulless about Messi's football. Maybe he is just too good.

Could be that, stange isn't it?

I haven't really watched Messi's brilliance over the past couple of years.

Only time I've really sat down and watched a Barcelona game for the whole 90 was whenever we played them or the last few champions league finals or an El Clasico.

He does look amazing when I do manage to catch the odd la liga game or the highlights

Seen even less of Madrid because I can't stand Mourinho and the likes of Pepe so I can't really comment on how Ronaldo's doing over there since for all I know he could have scored 50 world class goals

Never found Rivaldo that amazing to watch. Very selfish and used to shoot from all sorts of redonculous angles.

Timbo wrote:

Never found Rivaldo that amazing to watch. Very selfish and used to shoot from all sorts of redonculous angles.

Like Ronaldo.

Was thinking on wednesday that he must be a nightmare to play with; you love the goals, but jesus christ does he take some liberties.