1. CRITICS said Messi was nothing without Ronaldinho, Deco and Etoo.

FACT: All three players left and Messi peaked even at their absence winning uncountable team and individual honors.

2. CRITICS changed narrative to say Messi is benefitting from the geniuses of Xavi and Iniesta at Barca..

FACT: Xavi left Barca, Iniesta also left yet Messi keep blazing, winning trophies awards.

3. They said Messi is a one club hero, asking him to emulate Ronaldo by changing clubs to prove that he is indeed a great player...

FACT: Ronaldo left Manchester United(Man U) to join Real Madrid(RM) because RM is a far bigger club to Man U. Ronaldo left RM to Juventus because he was unhappy with RM hierarchy and the way he was treated in 2018 by the club's President.

On the other hand Messi is a Barcelona product and Barcelona is a far greater club to any other team in the world (argue with me). In addition, Messi is in great shape at Barca and Barca love him.
Beside, Nikolas Anelka is one of the most "travelled" player in Europe but no one is calling him G.O.A.T for his football tourism.

4: CRITICS said Messi should go to another league to win trophy to prove his status

FACT: Messi doesn't need to go to any league to prove himself, he has played all top teams from each top leagues in Europe and demolished them... Neymar has won league trophies with Barcelona (Spain), PSG (France) and Santos (Brazil - where he also won South America champions league), yet no one is saying he is GOAT.

5. CRITICS said Messi should win trophy for his country to be considered G.O.A.T

FACT: Messi led his country to youth world cup triumph, he led his country's men team to Olympic Gold in 2008.

He further led his country to Copa America final twice in 2015 and 2016 where they lost via penalty shootout (game of luck).

The biggest of all, he led his country to World Cup final in 2014 (where they narrowly lost at extra time) and was crowned MVP for all the aforementioned tournaments.

MORE FACTS:

1. Messi has more goals than all his teammates and former teammates in Barcelona and Argentina

2. Messi has more assist than all his teammates and former teammates in Barcelona and Argentina

3. Argentina is a semi average team without Messi but a team "to beat" with Messi in it.

4. Take Messi out of Barcelona and Barcelona will struggle to win games.

AS FOR FIFA AWARD 2019:

Critics claim Messi is undeserving of FIFA Award 2019 but who deserves it more than the man that achieved the following in 2019...

1. Top Scorer in Europe 2018/19 (European Golden Boot)

2. Top scorer in UEFA Champions League 2018/2019

3. Joint Most Goal Assist in Europe 2018/2019

4. Most Man of the Match won in 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League

5. Most player of the Week won in 2018/2019 UEFA Champions league

6. Best Forward in Europe 2018/19

I don't even want to mention domestic individual honors he got but critics can't give us any individual player with a stat to match Messi in 2018/19.

The summary of this epistle is that Lionel Messi is the GREATEST SPORTSMAN OF ALL TIME...

This is a fact that even his critics know but ashamed to publicly admit.

Amotolongbo:
Penalty shots per season for clubs and national teams

www.nairaland.com/attachments/11972121_1f4c18e0c43d49daaf478bd0cba49f00_jpeg_jpeg9b83692ee9664bbe3b6f7b3b6d3dd6c9
https://michelacosta.com/en/messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-penalties-missed-and-scored/

Messi’s most Penalty season - 2011/12 season

Total penalty kicks taken- 19
Number of Penalty kicks scored -17
Number of Penalty kicks missed- 2



Ronaldo’s most Penalty season- 2011/12 season

Total penalty kicks taken- 16
Number of Penalty kicks scored - 14
Number of Penalty kicks missed - 2

Messi wasn't shameless enough to score all that penalty and not score much more non-penalty goals. Messi scored 73 goals that season. How many did non-penalty goals did penaldo score despite scoring almost same number of penalties with Messi?
By the way, penaldo still scored more penalties in laliga (12) than messi (10) in that same 2011/2012 season.
He is penaldo for a reason

bayelsaowei:
you have actually helped us exonerate messi when his team mates refuse to actively deliver for argentina..you have actually with all your examples buttress the effect of team football...

These are the reasons why ronaldo could ever enjoy any trophy with Portugal and not because he is the GOAT..your ilks here make it look like it was solely because of ronaldo Portugal won the euros 2016...

Has any fantastic player ever won it alone?? What are u talking about here?? Portugal winning the European cup was like Leicester winning the English league... u cant compare the quality of players in Portugal to Argentina... pls mention 5 world class players in Portugal now and I will mention 10 in Argentina... winning the euros is as difficult as the world cup ... south American football cant even perform in the world cup ... Argentina is like italy in Europe, while Portugal is like Colombia in south America

Beverlyjean:



Has messi ever assisted or scored in a final ?? That's y they say messi fans are retar.ds... has Thierry Henry ever scored or assisted in a final b4 ??

So because trezeguet scored the winning goal against Italy in 2000, it means he was better than zidane and henry ... or because Mario gotze scored in the final, that means he was better than Muller and klose ... so if higuain scored that night abs win the world cup for Argentina, it will mean higuain was more relevant than messi ... u messi fans are suffering from brain tumor

you are arguing the wrong thing my sister..

Please ask penaldo fans why they attribute the portuguese trophy to ronaldo..

You should be lecturing them and not me

MAYOWAAK:
1. CRITICS said Messi was nothing without Ronaldinho, Deco and Etoo.

FACT: All three players left and Messi peaked even at their absence winning uncountable team and individual honors.

2. CRITICS changed narrative to say Messi is benefitting from the geniuses of Xavi and Iniesta at Barca..

FACT: Xavi left Barca, Iniesta also left yet Messi keep blazing, winning trophies awards.

3. They said Messi is a one club hero, asking him to emulate Ronaldo by changing clubs to prove that he is indeed a great player...

FACT: Ronaldo left Manchester United(Man U) to join Real Madrid(RM) because RM is a far bigger club to Man U. Ronaldo left RM to Juventus because he was unhappy with RM hierarchy and the way he was treated in 2018 by the club's President.

On the other hand Messi is a Barcelona product and Barcelona is a far greater club to any other team in the world (argue with me). In addition, Messi is in great shape at Barca and Barca love him.
Beside, Nikolas Anelka is one of the most "travelled" player in Europe but no one is calling him G.O.A.T for his football tourism.

4: CRITICS said Messi should go to another league to win trophy to prove his status

FACT: Messi doesn't need to go to any league to prove himself, he has played all top teams from each top leagues in Europe and demolished them... Neymar has won league trophies with Barcelona (Spain), PSG (France) and Santos (Brazil - where he also won South America champions league), yet no one is saying he is GOAT.

5. CRITICS said Messi should win trophy for his country to be considered G.O.A.T

FACT: Messi led his country to youth world cup triumph, he led his country's men team to Olympic Gold in 2008.

He further led his country to Copa America final twice in 2015 and 2016 where they lost via penalty shootout (game of luck).

The biggest of all, he led his country to World Cup final in 2014 (where they narrowly lost at extra time) and was crowned MVP for all the aforementioned tournaments.

MORE FACTS:

1. Messi has more goals than all his teammates and former teammates in Barcelona and Argentina

2. Messi has more assist than all his teammates and former teammates in Barcelona and Argentina

3. Argentina is a semi average team without Messi but a team "to beat" with Messi in it.

4. Take Messi out of Barcelona and Barcelona will struggle to win games.

AS FOR FIFA AWARD 2019:

Critics claim Messi is undeserving of FIFA Award 2019 but who deserves it more than the man that achieved the following in 2019...

1. Top Scorer in Europe 2018/19 (European Golden Boot)

2. Top scorer in UEFA Champions League 2018/2019

3. Joint Most Goal Assist in Europe 2018/2019

4. Most Man of the Match won in 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League

5. Most player of the Week won in 2018/2019 UEFA Champions league

6. Best Forward in Europe 2018/19

I don't even want to mention domestic individual honors he got but critics can't give us any individual player with a stat to match Messi in 2018/19.

The summary of this epistle is that Lionel Messi is the GREATEST SPORTSMAN OF ALL TIME...

This is a fact that even his critics know but ashamed to publicly admit.

U just posted pure crap...pls what has messi win since iniesta and xavi left ??

Pls stop mentioning children's cup as achievement, only messi fans use children's cup as messis achievement... xavi also win junior world cup so as pogba...but no one cares ... in fact no one remembers the present holders ... neymar doesn't talk about his Olympic medal but rather the cops America he won ... only u shameless messi fans de carry children's cup for head as achievement cos ur little boy cant win cup meant for men

bayelsaowei:
you have actually helped us exonerate messi when his team mates refuse to actively deliver for argentina..you have actually with all your examples buttress the effect of team football...

These are the reasons why ronaldo could ever enjoy any trophy with Portugal and not because he is the GOAT..your ilks here make it look like it was solely because of ronaldo Portugal won the euros 2016...

Cristiano= 'Eder man'

Maobichek:
My intension is not to instigate argument. Thank you for accepting that world cup is the greatest, in my post, I didn't mention Maradona but Pele alone. I watched Ajax (Overmas, Kanu, Edger Davis, Seedorf etc) won champions league, I watched Madrid won champions league against Bayan Leverkusen. this will show you that I have watched champions league for years. Ronaldo and Messi are good but in the world of football, Pele is still the greatest as far as world cup still remains the highest football tournament.

Pele is only relevant every 4 years!!!

1958 World cup: Didi was the best player in the Brazilian team

1962 World cup: Garrincha was the best player in the team... Infact Pele only played just one game and got injured!!

1970: Pele won the World cup Golden ball for the first time.. But I think Jarzinho is robbed for his record dribble (Highest in World cup history) and goals in all games!!

Pele simply played with the best generation of Brazilian players ... He never won the Trophies alone..

He was the best in the Brazilian League and of course the best in his time but he is not the best ever!!

If he was truly the best ever, may be he would win 3 World cup Golden balls to prove himself as the absolute best all the time!!!

A world cup Legend but not the GOAT!!

Messi is a better player!!! Pele would fail if he had Higuain without Djalma Santos, Milton Santos, Garrincha, Jarzinho, Didi Gerson, Rivelinho, Carlos Alberto etc..

Please don't mention any Messi's teammates, none of them can stand all Pele's teammates in history!!

1970 World cup team is regarded as the best team in the history of Football... If Pele happened to exist in the 2014 squad of Brazil, he would be disgraced too..
Great Teammates is the key here!!!

obonujoker:


Since pessi is not a penalty merchant, why did he let the match get to penalties?? Wasnt he supposed to dribble Gary medel and co to score against Navas ?

You completely by ignored Higuain empty net miss, just to spite who??
The player that had 5goals 4assists in the competiton??

I can't help you

Beverlyjean:


Did Maradona score in the final of the only world cup he ever won ?? And did u c the way he held the cup... Did messi score in the final of the last time barca win champions league, did Kanu score on the final against Argentina to hand Nigeria gold medal , did Yekini score in the final of Tunisia 94 when nigeria win the trophy, did zidane score in the final of euro 2000 to hand France the European trophy , did eto score in the final of the CL against bayern when he was at inter to win the trophy , the last time Germany won the world cup , did klose or Muller score in the final?? When Spain win their only world cup , did villa score I the final despite scoring in almost every game leading to the final as he scored more than half of the goals Spain had in south africa ... all u guys especially moronic eni4real are all re.tards ... and bitter souls ... messi has only scored Nigeria, Bosnia, Iran and Serbia in his entire world cup history ... someone that hasn't played in a CL final since 2015 lol... u guys ain't serious ... half of his goals after covid were penalties and no one is complaining cos it's part of football... just because ronaldo is good at it, u condemn him... go to basketball and ask them to also kill off free throws ... Italy, Brazil used penalties to win world cup , penalties had been in existence b4 dem born Ronaldo mama .. dont hate the player , hate the game

Harry Kane loves you

Best player in the 2018 World cup by far

Because he scored penalties and won the Golden boot!

Modric, who?? Hazard, who??

New logic from Immobile and Cristiano fans

bayelsaowei:
you are arguing the wrong thing my sister..

Please ask penaldo fans why they attribute the portuguese trophy to ronaldo..

You should be lecturing them and not me

Don't mind them.
The only final penaldo played with Portugal, they lost against ordinary Greece. The other final he ran away like a chicken forming injury, Nani stood like the man that he is and led the team to defeat a whole France IN FRANCE which is supposed to be one of their most difficult games ever.
These penaldo sycophants don't even know Nani had the same number of goals in that same tournament with penaldo.

Even in the recent Euro nations league, Portugal got to the semifinals effortlessly without penaldo, but penaldo will come along as usual after that to try to steal Bernardo silva's glory, but God pass am.

He's carried his yeyeness to juve that had won Copa Italia 4 consecutive times before he came & has now spoilt everything.

Beverlyjean:


Has any fantastic player ever won it alone?? What are u talking about here?? Portugal winning the European cup was like Leicester winning the English league... u cant compare the quality of players in Portugal to Argentina... pls mention 5 world class players in Portugal now and I will mention 10 in Argentina... winning the euros is as difficult as the world cup ... south American football cant even perform in the world cup ... Argentina is like italy in Europe, while Portugal is like Colombia in south America

a high concentration of super star players does not in any way constitute a superb coordinated team..

And yeah no one player wins a trophy alone...explain that to your ronaldo fans

ProfAmaben:
Penalties are the sole reason why Messi hasn't won any tangible trophy for Argentina.

To be the best, you have to master all tenets of soccer such as Heading, Penalties, Freekicks, outside shot, one on one situations and dribbling.

Ronaldo has it all.

Lies, heading, outside shot, penalty he has them but not others

Beverlyjean:


U just posted pure crap...pls what has messi win since iniesta and xavi left ??

Pls stop mentioning children's cup as achievement, only messi fans use children's cup as messis achievement... xavi also win junior world cup so as pogba...but no one cares ... in fact no one remembers the present holders ... neymar doesn't talk about his Olympic medal but rather the cops America he won ... only u shameless messi fans de carry children's cup for head as achievement cos ur little boy cant win cup meant for men

as a country we remember kanus performance in the Olympics and also nigeria as a whole..except you were little not to know the impact a competition like the Olympics had on nigeria..

And after inietsa and xavi left messi continued to win the laliga with other new team mates and also won the balon doer

eni4real:


Harry Kane loves you

Best player in the 2018 World cup by far

Because he scored penalties and won the Golden boot!

Modric, who?? Hazard, who??

New logic from Immobile and Cristiano fans

Do u actually read people's opinion about u...most think u are retar.ded ... u might even b a 12 yr old typing on his dads computer

Amotolongbo:
The competition for the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) in the world of football has been a bone of contention between these two fantastic footballers, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The argument has been more among the fans of these two players than between the two players themselves.

There are many points raised for and against each of the two players as strengths and weaknesses they have. One of the points raised against one of them is that he waits more on being given penalties to score than nipping his way through the defence of the opponents to hit the back of the net

My article dwells on the penalty kicks awarded and taken by the players since the inception of their individual careers till date.

This table shows the last penalty scored by both of them
www.nairaland.com/attachments/11971912_8caecb4ca2ea486da53e9df65ccb51e7_jpeg_jpegfb942b6910909f63009cb8d2c25666ff

Nice thread. If you can, pleasealso make a comparison for freekicks and do remember to give me a mention. Cheers!!!

Beverlyjean:


Which havoc?? Do u know how many completed dribbles, shots on goal/ target and chances created ronaldo had in that game ??

go and watch that match and stop arguing here...there can never be a match in this world where ronaldo ever out played messi in all ramifications(dribbles, passes, game build up play and even marking of opponents).. even in their encounter in 2007 when barca lost to man u messi wanted to kill man united..

sonofthunder:

Nice thread. If you can, pleasealso make a comparison for freekicks and do remember to give me a mention. Cheers!!!

ok

[quote author=ojaysam25 post=92034163]
Ronaldo takes a pay cut to join juventus....[/qu
Which paycut?
What is his position in the list of the highest paid footballers?
You should speak on what you can ascertain. He was clamoring for highest paid player in the world

Babaj145:


And who told u ronaldo left man u because of his wages.. Man u were ready to offer peak Ronaldo any amount be would have asked for..common we are talking about d newly crowned best player in d world then..he was a treasure to man u and sir Alex Ferguson In particular.. Infant he was begged and persuaded to stay for one season b4 he made d transfer to Madrid..ronaldo never made it a secret dat it was his dream to play for Madrid..his move wasn't about money bro, it was about legacy and playing for his dream club..and who also told u be left Madrid for juve because of money Someone dat took a pay cut in order make the transfer and if u check well he is even receiving less money than he was receiving at Madrid...so tell me how d move was about money??..

Ronaldo was demanding for him to be made the highest paid player by real Madrid which Perez refuse. Where is the position of Ronaldo in the list of the highest paid players presently? How much was he receiving before he left Madrid to Juventus

Was it a dream too for him to play for Juventus mr defender?

Beverlyjean:


Do u actually read people's opinion about u...most think u are retar.ded ... u might even b a 12 yr old typing on his dads computer

Please stop with incessant personal abuse on him. What's wrong with your ilk and a lack of social decorum? He aired his opinion without insulting you. You should be smart enough to do same!

eni4real:
Pele is only relevant every 4 years!!!

1958 World cup: Didi was the best player in the Brazilian team

1962 World cup: Garrincha was the best player in the team... Infact Pele only played just one game and got injured!!

1970: Pele won the World cup Golden ball for the first time.. But I think Jarzinho is robbed for his record dribble (Highest in World cup history) and goals in all games!!

Pele simply played with the best generation of Brazilian players ... He never won the Trophies alone..

He was the best in the Brazilian League and of course the best in his time but he is not the best ever!!

If he was truly the best ever, may be he would win 3 World cup Golden balls to prove himself as the absolute best all the time!!!

A world cup Legend but not the GOAT!!

Messi is a better player!!! Pele would fail if he had Higuain without Djalma Santos, Milton Santos, Garrincha, Jarzinho, Didi Gerson, Rivelinho, Carlos Alberto etc..

Please don't mention any Messi's teammates, none of them can stand all Pele's teammates in history!!

1970 World cup team is regarded as the best team in the history of Football... If Pele happened to exist in the 2014 squad of Brazil, he would be disgraced too..
Great Teammates is the key here!!!

. Good morning, I wonder why you said that I shouldn't mention Messi's teammates cos if I mention ppl who have played with Messi, you will how your head in respect to Pele. Remember that most of the rules that is in place now was not there then so Ronaldo and Messi have more advantage compare to Pele. From your words so far, I believe that you know about Pele but close look at the ppl that played with Messi at national team and even at Bacerlona. Jose Morinho guided Inter Milan to Champions league trophy but that same year, how many of the Argentise in Inter first team made it to world cup except Milito. This is to show you that during the era of Messi, Argentina has the best of stars also in Bacerlona Ronaldinho/Eto era changed everything and Messi benefited greatly from that cos Bacerlona has remained consistent with Tika-tika style of play with many world-class players. Remember that Ronaldo delima, Rivaldo, Kluvert etc all played Bacerlona in the past but everything changed with the new style of play during Ronaldinho/Eto era which helped Messi. Messi should leave Bacerlona and go to Man U, Liverpool, PSG, Bayern etc, let see him replicate what he did with all his teammates at Bacerlona, thank you.

obonujoker:


At least he get 2 national team FIFA recognized trophies ...

Show us Messi Copa America bro ...

Una badluck no allow Messi win anything because God dey see una heart .. we fir no hear word....

lol, but still your badluck still allow am get him 6th b'dor while your best was still playing
tell me another joke

ProfAmaben:
Penalties are the sole reason why Messi hasn't won any tangible trophy for Argentina.

To be the best, you have to master all tenets of soccer such as Heading, Penalties, Freekicks, outside shot, one on one situations and dribbling.

Ronaldo has it all.

What a profoundly foolish analysis!

Gamesmart:


What a profoundly foolish analysis!

Kindly remove the smart and leave only the game in your moniker.

ThierryJay:


Please stop with incessant personal abuse on him. What's wrong with your ilk and a lack of social decorum? He aired his opinion without insulting you. You should be smart enough to do same!

No one asked for ur support cocksuc.ker

bayelsaowei:
go and watch that match and stop arguing here...there can never be a match in this world where ronaldo ever out played messi in all ramifications(dribbles, passes, game build up play and even marking of opponents).. even in their encounter in 2007 when barca lost to man u messi wanted to kill man united..

Man u never played barca in 07

bayelsaowei:
as a country we remember kanus performance in the Olympics and also nigeria as a whole..except you were little not to know the impact a competition like the Olympics had on nigeria..

And after inietsa and xavi left messi continued to win the laliga with other new team mates and also won the balon doer

Barca will continue to win la Liga after messi ... winning the league is no big deal .... CL is the holy grail of club football... over 60 teams win league titles every season , only one team wins the CL...

Beverlyjean:



Barca will continue to win la Liga after messi ... winning the league is no big deal .... CL is the holy grail of club football... over 60 teams win league titles every season , only one team wins the CL...

so you open your mouth to say winning the laliga isn't a big deal? Then why do all 20 teams sweat out their asses to tussle for the title?

CL is the holy grail of club football and so players should neglect their local leagues?? Please tell Liverpool that..

Beverlyjean:


Man u never played barca in 07

2007/2008 CL season they both met..man u won by a goal in old Trafford. Goal scored by Scholes...watch all of those matches and come back to compare ronaldo vs messi game play...

bayelsaowei:
so you open your mouth to say winning the laliga isn't a big deal? Then why do all 20 teams sweat out their asses to tussle for the title?

CL is the holy grail of club football and so players should neglect their local leagues?? Please tell Liverpool that..

Are u saying the league is now bigger trophy than the CL?? Typical messi fans ... golden ball and balon dor is bigger than the world cup says messi fans , assists is better than scoring penalties says messi fans ... Olympics and junior WC is more credible than the European cup and European nations league says messi fans ... u guys are so lost in delusions

bayelsaowei:
2007/2008 CL season they both met..man u won by a goal in old Trafford. Goal scored by Scholes...watch all of those matches and come back to compare ronaldo vs messi game play...

Messi dint play shi.t in that game , maybe u are mistaken for Chelsea... he was completely lost , besides hu cares , they lost and cudnt register one goal in both legs