Messi the greatest ever so far - the top 5

[flypitcher]

Shame on the insular BBC not even inviting him.

1) Messi
2) Maradona
3) Pele
4) Cruyff
5) Best

[BigBrand]

For players I've watched in my life.

Fat Ronaldo
Zidane
Cantona
Messi
Ronaldo

In that order.

[CzarJunkie]

For players I've watched in my life.

Fat Ronaldo
Zidane
Cantona
Messi
Ronaldo

In that order.

What? Have you even seen Messi play? The 4 others in that list don't even come close.

For me Messi is the best I've seen. To score 90 goals in a calender year is incredible. And for those who suggest the Spanish league has no strength in depth and he'd never do it in the premiership, that's bollocks. Maybe 5 years ago that could be said but now the likes of Atletico Madrid, Bilbao, Valencia, Sevilla and even Levante are a match for any top English side. Guess who Messi scores the most goals against too, the top sides. His top two are Real and Atletico. Plus, he's still only 25, he's going to go on, injury permitting to set records that will never be beaten.

My top 5 are:

1. Messi
2. Eddie Gray
3. Peter Lorimer
4. Billy Bremner
5. Paul Madeley

[cyprus]

He forgot Charlie Adam.

[BigBrand]

What? Have you even seen Messi play?

No, not live. I was referring to players I've seen live.

[CzarJunkie]

No, not live. I was referring to players I've seen live.

I'm confused. You've listed him as No.4?

As regards seeing them live, I watch Messi every week live on Sky. I don't need to see him in the flesh to know he's the best ever. I've seen Maradona live, in a nightclub in Madrid. Unbeliveable tekkers on the dance floor after an ounce of coke.

[ilscuro]

While Messi is a great player don't forget he plays in probably the best team there's ever been in Barcelona, stick him in an average team and let's see how good he is, I was privelidged enough to see, who I think is the best player ever, Maradonna, play in a shit Napoli team, and lead them to the title, that in my opinion is something Messi couldn't do.

[BigBrand]

[BigBrand]

PS - What a wonderful site: http://messivsronaldo.net/

[CzarJunkie]

While Messi is a great player don't forget he plays in probably the best team there's ever been in Barcelona, stick him in an average team and let's see how good he is, I was privelidged enough to see, who I think is the best player ever, Maradonna, play in a shit Napoli team, and lead them to the title, that in my opinion is something Messi couldn't do.

I disagree. Here's an excerpt from a good article on Maradona:

Once again, we’ll start with the defence. As with Argentina’s 1986 World Champions, Napoli’s 1987 Serie A winners were built on one of the strongest defences in the league. Conceding just 21 goals in 30 games (0.7 conceded per game), meant that they had a great base to build on. Of the 30 games, they kept clean sheets in 16 of them. Only Inter Milan (3rd) conceded less goals that season, with 17. So it’s fair to say that the Title Win was built from the back.Next up, Maradona’s team mates. The team that won the title that year, ended up with 167 Italian Caps between them – hardly average players. The defence contained a young Ciro Ferrara who went on to win a second title with Napoli, and then to won six more with Juventus, along with the 1996 Champions League. Also in the squad were Italian Internationals Salvatore Bagni, Fernando De Napoli, Bruno Giordano (more of him later) and Andrea Carnevale. Not too shabby.
So it’s been established that the team had a fantastic defence and had other quality in Italian internationals. What did Maradona bring? Well, he was the Top Scorer that season and brought 10 goals in 29 appearances - a one in three strike rate. Of the 10 goals, 2 of them were penlties and two of his goals were scored in a 4-0 win over Empoli. So his goals only affected 9 of Napoli’s 30 league games.

http://averageopposition.wordpress.c...h-of-maradona/

[ilscuro]

All I can say is I was there and his presence lifted the team, the fans, the whole area in fact, and without him IMO they would have come nowhere.

[Lighty]

Where the fuck is Bebe!

[Geko]

Maradona is the greatest I have ever seen.

Best English player easily Gazza.

My dad is convinced George Best is the Best.

I think it's easier to name the 10 greatest and not argue about who comes where, as opinions will no doubt differ.

[Titanium]

1- Messi
2- Maradonna
3- Pele
4- Zidane
5- Fat Ronaldo

[Mr 250]

While Messi is a great player don't forget he plays in probably the best team there's ever been in Barcelona, stick him in an average team and let's see how good he is, I was privelidged enough to see, who I think is the best player ever, Maradonna, play in a shit Napoli team, and lead them to the title, that in my opinion is something Messi couldn't do.

Couldn't agree more

[beaconboy]

While Messi is a great player don't forget he plays in probably the best team there's ever been in Barcelona, stick him in an average team and let's see how good he is, I was privelidged enough to see, who I think is the best player ever, Maradonna, play in a shit Napoli team, and lead them to the title, that in my opinion is something Messi couldn't do.

Messi is the reason Barcalona are the best team ever ! he has scored 80 goals in a year! where would Barca be without them ?

[pratman]

Messi is the reason Barcalona are the best team ever ! he has scored 80 goals in a year! where would Barca be without them ?

still winning titles, they have an amazing squad and goals come from everywhere, in my opinion barca would miss xavi and iniesta more than messi. and i too say that maradonna is a better player because of what he did for napoli, and also what he did when he went barca too, and then playing for argentina he was the stand out man, not saying that messi isnt the main man for argentina but i personally think that maradonna is by far the best ever

1)maradonna
2)zidane
3)messi
4)fat ronaldo
5)van basten

before anyone has a pop, these are just my favourite players and the reason i dont put best or pele in there is because i just know of them from reputation and didnt get a chance to see any of them in 90 min games, just heard how great they were and see clips of how good they were.

[flypitcher]

New thread needed for best english player.
Say in the past 20 years.
Xavi says Scholes. Good enough for me.

Paul Scholes the best English player in the past 20 years.
No doubt.

[Geko]

I say Gazza.

[Mobileman]

Gazza tops the lot your all wrong