QuincyAbeyie QuincyAbeyie Yes... No. Maybe? I dunno. Can you repeat the question?

I am biased though, and pretty heavily at that. He's a great player. One of the all time greats, for sure. The talk of Cristiano Ronaldo vs Messi has always been bullshit to me as there was never any doubt Messi is on another level to Cristiano in almost all facets and is equal in just about anything else so this win alone isn't something that was needed for that. He's rightfully up there amongst the all time greats for what he's done throughout his career and not just because he won last night. It must feel amazing for him to finally win the WC after nearly ending his international career with no trophies a few years ago when he quit the NT so good for him.

I'm just not so invested in the love fest that some of you feel. I could understand it if he really did carry this team to the WC. I mean I've seen Messi carry teams before in the past and win almost everything on offer. This time however he has a lot to thank his team mates for. He got the trophy and will get all the plaudits like Ronaldo did when he won the Euros but one didn't even play in the final, and the other wasn't even his team's best performer. Di Maria and Martinez (just like at the Copa America mind you) were huge reasons for the win, especially Martinez.

The story that he got them the WC etc etc when 4 out of his 6 goals were penalties is a bit whatever. You could say that about Ronaldo at the 2002 world cup. Coming off the injury problems he had for the past 2 or so years, scoring in every game but the England match, finishing with 8 goals in the process, none of which were penalties btw. That was a monstrous WC effort by someone trying to right the wrongs of 98. For me still the greatest player I've ever watched play.

        jones That's the difference I reckon between me and you. You don't like Barca, I actively hate them for the shit they've made us go through over the years, and that's coming from someone who actually used to like them during the Ronaldo, Kluivert, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho days. So much shit I can't forgive them for and yes, it clouds my judgement even though I know the truth sometimes. I'm sure you'd be just as biased if he played for Bayern all those years 😆

        Agreed though, this was one of the best WCs ever. And probably the best WC final I've ever watched, although at the 70 minute mark I was wondering why I even bothered to watch it. My word, the final 10 minutes and extra time was just out of this world. So many twists, turns, shifts in momentum. One for the ages.

          Big Willie He got the trophy and will get all the plaudits like Ronaldo did when he won the Euros but one didn't even play in the final, and the other wasn't even his team's best performer. Di Maria and Martinez (just like at the Copa America mind you) were huge reasons for the win, especially Martinez.

          What does it even mean to "carry his team to the WC" then? Every team has more than one player being the reason for winning something, that's why a red card is a huge disadvantage for a team no matter who it is who gets it. I'm not sure if you're talking about the final specifically or the tournament, but Messi was definitely Argentina's best player of the tournament, and it wasn't really close. Nevermind that many of his goals were penalties, he was involved in pretty much every goal they scored. Di Maria was injured for most of the cup and didnt' even play half of the total minutes. Martinez was good, sure. Do any WC winning teams in history have only one player performing well?

          I'd say out of the 6 MotM awards Messi got in his 7 world cup games, the only one where he wasn't the best player on the pitch was maybe the final, and even there he should've had a couple of extra assists for Lautaro.

            jones was too young/didn't watch football during USA '94 but it seemed like a great tournament.

            France '98 was my first and will be number one to me due to the nostalgia and Ronnie-gate drama. And Dennis' goal of course.

            This was right up there though, considering the circumstances/politics around it, it was an incredible World Cup.

                Mirth This guy loves being the centre of attention!

                  If Jordi Alba was Argentine, this would be the third World Cup for Messi imo

                    Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert Don't really remember anything from 94 bar Baggio's pen and Leonardo getting sent off but I watched the shit out of tapes of it in the late 90s. 98 was great, 06 was class and 10 and 18 were fun to watch too.

                    Will have to wait for some time to pass but even trying to think as a neutral 22 might have surpassed all of them.

                      arsedocmd if Higuain and Agüero didn't turn full donkey all of a sudden he'd 100% have at least one more. Seems to be some Argentine curse that afflicts at least one player per big tourney, Lautaro this time around and I don't recall which tournament specifically but Tevez usually played like shit for Argentina too.

                        Clrnc

                        Claudius
                        No place for Anguissa? Thought he carried his quality into the tournament. Together with Mac Allister (all the basics consistently), Bellingham (movement, press, runs), Greizmann (creativity, counter attacking, defending), Modric and Casemiro (passing penetration) would be my stand out midfielders. Admittedly didn't watch a lot of Morocco.

                              Mirth At 15 seconds when he says "listen to me carefully," it would have been amazing if he then said "I shall say zis only once."

                                Great World Cup. Not as good as 82, 86 or 90 though. Those three are out there on their own.

                                  90 had good groups but and knockouts but a shit final. Can’t comment on earlier tournaments.

                                  KingslandBarge

                                  Those are all good shouts but I like my guys.

                                  I think Fifa will think long and hard about more mid season tournaments where appropriate. The players were largely in peak condition. So impressive.

                                      Claudius not the worst idea to have it alternating between January and July depending on where the tournament is.