.. according to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, before last nights AC Milan v Barcelona game, Lionel Messi is only as good as he is due to the quality of players around him. Having watched the game last night my take on both players is this: Messi Awesome - plays against the best players in the world like he is having a 5-a-side kick about with his mates down the park - the only way you can stop him is by constantly fouling him - which Ambosini and Nesta in particular have turned into an art form........... Ibrahimovic Average - not bad at at holding the ball up etc but by far his most impressive attribute is his ego - that's massive. surprised Sven didn't bid for him! Watching Barca is depressing - it just shows the light years we are away from the real top quality - but I'll still live the dream...
Imbrahimovic saying that is like comparing Sol Bamba and Paul Gallagher at tackling. He is not even close
Messi is without a doubt the greatest footballer to have ever graced the pitch. He is simply magic to watch! If you ever made and edited your own team on Pro Evo or FIFA and made all stats 100/100 then he turns out like Messi in real life!
but ibrahamovic was surrounded by the same players at barca and failed....? in all seriousness he may have a point, but he is still the greatest player of all time as far as i am concerned.
Messi is just incredible. The things he does are not what you'd say are difficult, but he does everything with immense accuracy and precision. The way he, Iniesta, Xavi, Sanchez and Fabregas link up inside the penalty area is just unbelievable. While I rate Ibrahimovic as one of the greatest 'target man' strikers in the world at the moment, he isn't in a different league when it comes to playing the game as a team player. Honestly, the world hasn't and will not see a better player.
I'm old enough to have seen Maradonna in his prime and he comes close - whilst the 'hand of god goal' infuriated me at the time it shouldn't take away from the fact that Maradonna steered Argentina to win a world cup playing with a rather average bunch of team mates - certainly knowhere near as good as those that Messi had at the last World Cup ... food for thought
That is a good point. Messi has never been brilliant at a World Cup. Although you can't argue with his record in the Champions League. But yeah, he's certainly in a very good side.
i still maintain that xavi is the best player in the world actually, never EVER been a better passer and doubt there ever will.
^ yes, but look where xavi's passes go to and his %. phenominal player. With all barcas attacking talent i think they will struggle more without him than messi.
Although he's a good player how many of his passes are as difficult as the ones Xavi plays in and around the box to Messi and co?
Barca's attacking options are immense all round and so that does make Messi look better i think Argentina shows this as he never ever seems to play as well. Although i do think he is one of the best players i've ever seen. Havign said that untill he wins the World cup and wins shows in other leagues around the world what he can do then i will have to doubt he is the best ever.
There is no doubt that Messi is a great player and there is no doubt that he's surrounded by a great team. Some of the things he does are amazing. It seems to be his speed of thought, such close control and deceptive strength that make him so great. You won't see him try 10 stepovers like Ronaldo because he doesn't need to. Having said that, being surrounded by the likes of Xavi (best midfielder of his generation) will help as well. I still feel he needs to perform on the biggest stage of all to cement him as the best ever. Although, my old man still reckons he can't beat Pelé.
Jairzhinio would push him as well. Messi is a class act and would feature in an all time world best, but so would Stanley Matthews. Puskas too. Been some incredible talent over the years - just so difficult to compare. Pele and the others played football when defenders were allowed to tackle hard. be interesting to see how Messi would have coped with that
