If messi is not the greatest then who is the greatest??.. Messi decision to stay in barca doesn't mean anything.. Ronaldo moved from Utd to Madrid and so?? Ryan giggs played only at Utd,he is EPL greatest player.. Messi is La Liga best player and the world best player.. I thought people always say Messi cannot play without xavi and iniesta.. Why is he still on top of his game now while his other counterpart is slowly fading away??.. Note:I am a Die hard United fan,so that should tell you a lot!..
Messi does need to move to another club...like Juve, or even PSG and Man City....and he has to win a World Cup....
Also, rather harsh attack on Pele. Pele played in a different era..when moving from club to club was the exception rather than the norm, plus the Brazillian leagues in the 1960's paid much better than Europe.
KinzyeWriter: Messi wants international trophy... Messi needs to explore other club except Barcelona as you read in the article.
Pele was hindered for not playing in Europe, but his strength is the 3 world cup he won even though he is not the all time goal scorer.
Maradona has the most tiny weakness, to have played in Europe and won trophies and also a world cup in his international level.
Ronaldo has proven himself in the EPL by winning everything, in sporting, in Madrid, and international level.
Messi on the other hand risen into greatness with great players, and failed bunch of times in the international level... Now he hinders himself for being a one club man..
KinzyeWriter: Messi wants international trophy... Messi needs to explore other club except Barcelona as you read in the article.
Pele was hindered for not playing in Europe, but his strength is the 3 world cup he won even though he is not the all time goal scorer.
Maradona has the most tiny weakness, to have played in Europe and won trophies and also a world cup in his international level.
Ronaldo has proven himself in the EPL by winning everything, in sporting, in Madrid, and international level.
Messi on the other hand risen into greatness with great players, and failed bunch of times in the international level... Now he hinders himself for being a one club man..
He is just a Barcelona legend bro
Pele's time was different. Until the 1970's..players rarely moved outside their home country to play football..plus the Brazillian leagues in Pele's time was very very lucrative. (Pele moved to Cosmos in the US because he had lost some money due to bad investments made on his behalf by someone he trusted)
Maradona...smh...sure he was good..but then came the drug scandals...and the rumors...
Messi's main issue is that the Argentina setup does not have players that can play well enough with him.That's why Messi has not won a world cup...compared to Maradona and Pele who were part of very good World cup winning squads..who could play effectively with them.
Ronaldo...yeah, better than Messi...at least he has shone in 3 leagues..but till he wins a World cup.
Benz4pimp: Did he say he wants to be the greatest ever?Most of you wake to write thrash about someone you know nothing about.....The fact remains,he is happy playing the round leather game where he is!!!!Ronaldo wants to be the greatest but ask yourself that question,is he happy?messi refers to be happy over whatever award you want to give him...He has a release clause,let a club meet that and buy him offf!!!
The OP was talking about being the best and not being the happiest
Netfilix: [b]The 30-year-old will spend another three seasons at Camp Nou, and his unwillingness to prove himself abroad will taint his legacy
Article continues below
In 1959, Pele scored what is considered the greatest goal of his career, and perhaps the best goal of all time. From a career of 1,283 goals, a header against Juventus is praised above the rest due to the outstanding technique in the build-up.
As no video evidence of the goal exists, computer simulations based on eye-witnesses and Pele himself were used to show how the then-18-year-old chipped the ball over three players and then the goalkeeper before heading it home - all in one fluid movement in which the ball never touched the ground.
There is no doubting that the virtual goal is spectacular. But it is one that comes with asterisks and disclaimers when being discussed as the greatest ever. The simulation is partly based on how Pele described it - and the Brazilian is not a man known for his humility, as he told FIFA.com in 2012 that “I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint.”
The opposition, Juventus, were not the one known to European audiences, either, but rather a local Brazilian side that Santos easily defeated with Pele scoring five times in a 10-1 rout.
Lots of Pele's goals were scored against inferior opposition, with the Brazilian only leaving Santos to join New York Cosmos at the end of his career, and never plying his trade in Europe.
Whenever an argument about the greatest player of all time comes up, Pele is one of the first names on everyone's lips. But his lack of success outside of Brazil is always cited as a reason why he cannot be considered alongside Diego Maradona, who transformed Napoli into the champions of Italy, or Johan Cruyff, a three-time European Cup winner with Ajax who also claimed domestic titles with Barcelona and Feyenoord.
On Saturday, Lionel Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona, keeping him at Camp Nou until 2021. By that time, the Argentine will be just about to turn 34, having spent 20 years with the Spanish club.
Messi arrived at La Masia as a 13-year-old, and has achieved everything he could ever have hoped at Barcelona. To date, he has won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and five Ballons d'Or.
Messi loves Barcelona and Barcelona loves Messi. It is unsurprising that he has decided to spend another three seasons with the club that he has made his own.
However, by signing a new deal at Camp Nou, he is also ensuring that his legacy as the world's greatest player will come with an asterisk like Pele's repeated challenge to successors: "When Messi's scored 1,283 goals like me, when he's won three World Cups, we'll talk about it," Pele told Le Monde in 2012.
The 30-year-old helped Argentina secure qualification for the 2018 World Cup with a tremendous hat-trick in their final qualifying game against Ecuador, but he will never match Pele's record of three World Cups - and is also unlikely to even equal Maradona's single World Cup triumph thanks to a lack of strength in the current Albiceleste squad.
"I like Messi a lot, he's a great player. Technically, we're practically at the same level," Pele said. "He's a great player for Barcelona, but when he plays for Argentina, he doesn't have the same success. People always ask me: 'When is the new Pele going to be born?' Never. My father and mother have closed the factory."
At Barcelona, Messi has been surrounded by some of the greatest players of the current generation. For the past 11 years, he has been chosen in the FIFPro World XI, which has featured at least two other Barca stars every year in support of the Argentine, including the likes of Ronaldinho, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Neymar.
When he lifted the Ballon d'Or in 2011, Messi dedicated the trophy to Xavi: "I want to share this with my friend; he deserves it."
Before signing the new three-year deal with Barcelona, Messi was linked with clubs across Europe, including a potential world-record €300 million transfer to Manchester City.
Mino Raiola, the agent responsible for superstars like Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, urged Messi to move away from Camp Nou, telling Marca: "A player like Messi must try another experience with a different club and prove how great he is."
Because of the decision to stay at Barcelona, football fans will be filled with doubt. Could Messi really have done it on a wet Tuesday night in Stoke? The talent around him at Barca and the lack of success with Argentina will surely lead to people wondering if he is truly eligible for the greatest-ever discussion.
It is a little too easy to say Messi cannot be the greatest ever because he has only played for one club. But it will definitely be a topic of conversation, especially by supporters of great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who won everything in England before moving to Real Madrid.
By signing a new Barcelona deal, Messi has ensured his legacy will be tainted by questions of 'what if?[/b]
Victornezzar: Goal.com with their trashy topics u can compare him to Maradona and pele but u can't compare Ronaldo to both
Messi is a genius
Actually if u were to teach messi or ronaldo as a topic or course, am guessing majority will choose ronaldo as a topic or course He epitomizes how hardwork and professionalism can elevate you to d same status as someone who is naturally gifted or a genius. Messi is naturally gifted but ronaldo got thier thru hardwork and professionalism which is highly recommendable and commendable, every footballer should emulate ronaldo over messi cos not everybody is naturally gifted or a genius
Pele's time was different. Until the 1970's..players rarely moved outside their home country to play football..plus the Brazillian leagues in Pele's time was very very lucrative. (Pele moved to Cosmos in the US because he had lost some money due to bad investments made on his behalf by someone he trusted)
Maradona...smh...sure he was good..but then came the drug scandals...and the rumors...
Messi's main issue is that the Argentina setup does not have players that can play well enough with him.That's why Messi has not won a world cup...compared to Maradona and Pele who were part of very good World cup winning squads..who could play effectively with them. Ronaldo...yeah, better than Messi.at least he has shone in 3 leagues..but till he wins a World cup.
Abeg shut up..
A tap-in hediot who does little to no work on the pitch can never be better than messi who is a playmaker.
Is it by playing in different clubs,, mikel has played in different leagues guess he is better than messi.
I do not think Messi needs to move to other clubs to proof his worth. He has played with the bests from other clubs and had proven to the world that his likes are yet to be born. Humble. Consistent. Dynamic....Messi is football!
Actually if u were to teach messi or ronaldo as a topic or course, am guessing majority will choose ronaldo as a topic or course He epitomizes how hardwork and professionalism can elevate you to d same status as someone who is naturally gifted or a genius. Messi is naturally gifted but ronaldo got thier thru hardwork and professionalism which is highly recommendable and commendable, every footballer should emulate ronaldo over messi cos not everybody is naturally gifted or a genius
lol....ur right
Trying to be like Messi is not advisable to all these youngsters.....Dude is gifted naturally
KinzyeWriter: Messi wants international trophy... Messi needs to explore other club except Barcelona as you read in the article.
Pele was hindered for not playing in Europe, but his strength is the 3 world cup he won even though he is not the all time goal scorer.
Maradona has the most tiny weakness, to have played in Europe and won trophies and also a world cup in his international level.
Ronaldo has proven himself in the EPL by winning everything, in sporting, in Madrid, and international level.
Messi on the other hand risen into greatness with great players, and failed bunch of times in the international level... Now he hinders himself for being a one club man..
He is just a Barcelona legend bro
By "international trophy", you mean trophies from different Countries or trophies with the National team? You've made good points above, however, I think these are your standards & requirements for Messi, not what Messi really wants...
Xsem: . Did he tell you that he wants to be the greatest? Be happy where ever you are and don't let haters or critics push you around. Contentment is the key, why would I want to prove anything to anyone when I am in the best club, doing fine, paid heavily, playing happily and have achieved everything I want. Just like how Christ dissapointed those that wanted him to showcase his powers and prove that he is God. And who is struggling anything with Pele or maradona? They should have existed in this generation alongside Messi and Ronaldo, so we would judge fairly. Football used to be easy back then, no more like now
ObaKlaz: Maybe not the very greatest ever, but THE GREATEST OF HIS GENERATION, and he's surely up there with Pele and Maradona. The argument of him leaving Barcelona to "prove himself elsewhere" (especially in that mickey mouse league they call EPL) is just a weak effort by haters and critics to question his greatness. Asides winning the world cup, he has NOTHING! to prove to any disgruntled critic or hater.
His brilliance, wizardry and legacy remain untainted FOREVER.
He is the GREATEST EVER!
Do you know since when that tag has been debated on him by footballers and commentators?
By "international trophy", you mean trophies from different Countries or trophies with the National team? You've made good points above, however, I think these are your standards & requirements for Messi, not what Messi really wants...
now you're Right, If he really want it, he wouldn't sign a new deal.
Netfilix: [b]The 30-year-old will spend another three seasons at Camp Nou, and his unwillingness to prove himself abroad will taint his legacy
Article continues below
In 1959, Pele scored what is considered the greatest goal of his career, and perhaps the best goal of all time. From a career of 1,283 goals, a header against Juventus is praised above the rest due to the outstanding technique in the build-up.
As no video evidence of the goal exists, computer simulations based on eye-witnesses and Pele himself were used to show how the then-18-year-old chipped the ball over three players and then the goalkeeper before heading it home - all in one fluid movement in which the ball never touched the ground.
There is no doubting that the virtual goal is spectacular. But it is one that comes with asterisks and disclaimers when being discussed as the greatest ever. The simulation is partly based on how Pele described it - and the Brazilian is not a man known for his humility, as he told FIFA.com in 2012 that “I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint.”
The opposition, Juventus, were not the one known to European audiences, either, but rather a local Brazilian side that Santos easily defeated with Pele scoring five times in a 10-1 rout.
Lots of Pele's goals were scored against inferior opposition, with the Brazilian only leaving Santos to join New York Cosmos at the end of his career, and never plying his trade in Europe.
Whenever an argument about the greatest player of all time comes up, Pele is one of the first names on everyone's lips. But his lack of success outside of Brazil is always cited as a reason why he cannot be considered alongside Diego Maradona, who transformed Napoli into the champions of Italy, or Johan Cruyff, a three-time European Cup winner with Ajax who also claimed domestic titles with Barcelona and Feyenoord.
On Saturday, Lionel Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona, keeping him at Camp Nou until 2021. By that time, the Argentine will be just about to turn 34, having spent 20 years with the Spanish club.
Messi arrived at La Masia as a 13-year-old, and has achieved everything he could ever have hoped at Barcelona. To date, he has won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and five Ballons d'Or.
Messi loves Barcelona and Barcelona loves Messi. It is unsurprising that he has decided to spend another three seasons with the club that he has made his own.
However, by signing a new deal at Camp Nou, he is also ensuring that his legacy as the world's greatest player will come with an asterisk like Pele's repeated challenge to successors: "When Messi's scored 1,283 goals like me, when he's won three World Cups, we'll talk about it," Pele told Le Monde in 2012.
The 30-year-old helped Argentina secure qualification for the 2018 World Cup with a tremendous hat-trick in their final qualifying game against Ecuador, but he will never match Pele's record of three World Cups - and is also unlikely to even equal Maradona's single World Cup triumph thanks to a lack of strength in the current Albiceleste squad.
"I like Messi a lot, he's a great player. Technically, we're practically at the same level," Pele said. "He's a great player for Barcelona, but when he plays for Argentina, he doesn't have the same success. People always ask me: 'When is the new Pele going to be born?' Never. My father and mother have closed the factory."
At Barcelona, Messi has been surrounded by some of the greatest players of the current generation. For the past 11 years, he has been chosen in the FIFPro World XI, which has featured at least two other Barca stars every year in support of the Argentine, including the likes of Ronaldinho, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Neymar.
When he lifted the Ballon d'Or in 2011, Messi dedicated the trophy to Xavi: "I want to share this with my friend; he deserves it."
Before signing the new three-year deal with Barcelona, Messi was linked with clubs across Europe, including a potential world-record €300 million transfer to Manchester City.
Mino Raiola, the agent responsible for superstars like Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, urged Messi to move away from Camp Nou, telling Marca: "A player like Messi must try another experience with a different club and prove how great he is."
Because of the decision to stay at Barcelona, football fans will be filled with doubt. Could Messi really have done it on a wet Tuesday night in Stoke? The talent around him at Barca and the lack of success with Argentina will surely lead to people wondering if he is truly eligible for the greatest-ever discussion.
It is a little too easy to say Messi cannot be the greatest ever because he has only played for one club. But it will definitely be a topic of conversation, especially by supporters of great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who won everything in England before moving to Real Madrid.
By signing a new Barcelona deal, Messi has ensured his legacy will be tainted by questions of 'what if?[/b]
KinzyeWriter: Messi wants international trophy... Messi needs to explore other club except Barcelona as you read in the article.
Pele was hindered for not playing in Europe, but his strength is the 3 world cup he won even though he is not the all time goal scorer.
Maradona has the most tiny weakness, to have played in Europe and won trophies and also a world cup in his international level.
Ronaldo has proven himself in the EPL by winning everything, in sporting, in Madrid, and international level.
Messi on the other hand risen into greatness with great players, and failed bunch of times in the international level... Now he hinders himself for being a one club man..
He is just a Barcelona legend bro
which kain mumu talk be dis,he played with stars ,u forgot that he made an impact when he was small,and also Rinaldo u are talking about played with rooney,carrick and Ferdinand when dey were at their best .olodo
Actually if u were to teach messi or ronaldo as a topic or course, am guessing majority will choose ronaldo as a topic or course He epitomizes how hardwork and professionalism can elevate you to d same status as someone who is naturally gifted or a genius. Messi is naturally gifted but ronaldo got thier thru hardwork and professionalism which is highly recommendable and commendable, every footballer should emulate ronaldo over messi cos not everybody is naturally gifted or a genius
in one sentence, ' Messi is where he is today, simply because he is naturally gifted
ObaKlaz: Read my post again. It never said world cup should be overlooked. And you are wrong; FOOTBALLING TALENTS AND SKILLS (which includes technique) ARE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING HOW GREAT A FOOTBALLER IS. Please tell me how many clubs Pele himself played for? What hasn't Messi won with Barcelona?!
Obviously you didn't read my post or you didn't comprehend, cos if you did, you'd see I stated that world cups are the ONLY bragging rights those guys have over Messi (which makes Pele the greatest).
You mentioned Ronaldo, I believe you meant Ronaldo deLima?
Now think about how much more he has done between 2011 and now!
You're very correct, bro. Real football pundits & unbiased analysts have all called him the greatest ever, and I agree too. But I want him to win the world cup, so for now I'd just call him the greatest of his generation ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF HUMILITY.
