Pele isn't even arguably the best Brazilian of his era. A lot say that Garrincha was better. As far as who was the best, it's hard to argue as they were/are greats in their respective eras. Messi is the best ever in his era, though he is playing for arguably the best ever club in history. You think that Messi would look as good if he didn't have other greats like Xavi, Ineista etc around him. Same for players like Pele, who had great players around him.
It's a subjective argument.If someone asks me who is the best player i've ever seen i have to say Pele.If someone asks me who is the best British player i have ever seen i have to say George Best.
Agreed. It all comes down to preference. A well known quote from Brazilans about Pele and Garrincha, "Pele may have been the greatest footballer of all time, but Garrincha was better".....
I never saw Garincha play so i can not offer an opinion on him but i did see PELE.I actually saw Pele playing for New York Cosmos in 1975.It was a shame to see such a great player just going through the motions.One player who is overlooked whenever the greatest player is mentioned is Eusebio
I'm amazed no-one has mentioned Bendtner.... Messi is the best I have ever seen and that includes maradonna, But he is also playing with the best players.
An individual has less power to do anything to win the World Cup. It's a team effort like in the CL, but unlike the CL you can't choose your team. On the CL if you are the best of your era you are likely to play for a club that can win the CL, or get transferred to one eventually. The World Cup argument is stupid. He still has plenty of time to win that one as well though, but it will depend on the team cohesion of Argentina, not (mostly) on individuals. George Weah for me was one of the top 10 players of the nineties, and the guy played for Liberia. Should we consider him a failure considering his national side never qualified for a World Cup? (his breed of CFs are virtually extinct unfortunately)
This I have seen Pele in his prime and live later in his career. Also saw George Best, and Stanley Matthews. Messi? I'm sure given his age and what he will go onto achieve is "one" of the greatest. I guess to some extent it depends on the age of any particular poster on here. I'm old enough to remember what we're then considered as "the best ever and still young enough to enjoy seeing Lionel Messi. Also agree about the state of pitches years ago, what I saw George Best do was just as good as Lionel Messi is doing now, in six inches of mud and it was hissing down. Same with Matthews. It's all about oppinions but no doubt right now Messi is miles ahead of any other current player.
George Weah - what a player, every bit a superstar footballer but like his namesake Best never got to show his talent on the World Cup stage. I never saw Pele nor Best and Cruyff, but I do remember Maradona and Platini. Maradona was a player of his times - strong pocket battleship built to take the knock and the brutal thuggery employed against him. It was the treatment meeted out to him in 1990 that lead to the change in rules which meant skilful players got more protection and were given a platform to show their skills. I tell you, you see more skill now on show even from non-top class players than you saw in a whole season back in the 80s/90s. That's partly why us who lived through that time probably think Maradona was so great because he really did stick out from the rest. Much of football back then was mechanical and systemic, almost played by rote. We take the skill and excitement for granted now. Other than England, I would love to see Messi win a World Cup just to put this non-sequeter to bed. If Maradona, Pele, Garincha, Best were around now they would be awesome. But they lit up their fans, their time, and we have Messi and Ronaldo to mesmerise us. All these great players were brilliantly skillful, yet they were all different, so it's not entirely valid to compare them.
Cruyff for me because he is the first of the 'modern' players. It's difficult to compare players from different eras because the game and equipment are so different. Cruyff would suceed in all of them IMO including the modern game. It's also interesting that most of the 'greats' are forwards, the headline grabbers who score goals. But great defenders should be considered players like Maldini, Cafu, Cannavaro, Moore, McGrath,
Certainly the best in my lifetime. I just hope he can finish his career without a goal against us so that I can say we managed to stop the GOAT.
Also on the Pele vs Messi debate. Don't forget, players were allowed to tackle 10-40 years ago. Tackling today is becoming eradicated in the game. How would Messi cope with getting hammered in the same way that George Best did every week and keep getting up and outclassing them? You also have to take into consideration the advancement in sport scienece, nutrition etc
Very true. Loads of variables to contend with. Plant Messi in the same era and team which Maradonna performed in, and do we think he could achieve the same? Maradonna was not only supremely skilled but was built like a beast. Add to the fact players used to tackle VERY HARD, close to intent on injurying. I think he needed major pain injections to carry on playing because defenders used to go in to STOP HIM. Plant Maradonna in todays day with all the sports nutrition, great pitches and safe guards, he may well be even better....
There's a video on youtube comparing some plays and movements by Cruyff ages ago, and recent Messi footage. So much similarity in their game, and much more so than with Maradona. Messi is obviously a more prolific goalscorer but his style resembles Cruyff's much more than Maradona's.
