Pele v Maradona v Messi v Best v Other - Your Vote Please
Poll: Pele v Maradona v Messi v Best v Other - Your Vote Please
Total Members Polled: 130
Discussion
Just a thought exercise really. I know its not possible to compare players from across different eras as clearly the more recent players are fitter than any that went before and so are the defenders they come up against today.
What is possible to compare is a players greatness or matchday influence within his era against particular players from earlier and later eras....
Was Maradona during his era a greater player than Messi is today? Over the years who struck you as the greatest player you ever saw.
I've put up the generally recognised (obvious) candidates and probably left some off (Puskas, Moore, Matthews, Charlton etc)
I'd have to go with Maradonna just edging it from Pele. Diego, much as I dislike him, scared me the most when facing 'my' team. He not only almost single-handedly won the World Cup for Argentina but he then went and won the Italian League for Napoli (who?)plus other honours.
The drugs thing tarnished him I'll admit.
Messi has the potential but I feel that until he reproduces his form at International level he'll forever be 2nd or 3rd on the list.
What is possible to compare is a players greatness or matchday influence within his era against particular players from earlier and later eras....
Was Maradona during his era a greater player than Messi is today? Over the years who struck you as the greatest player you ever saw.
I've put up the generally recognised (obvious) candidates and probably left some off (Puskas, Moore, Matthews, Charlton etc)
I'd have to go with Maradonna just edging it from Pele. Diego, much as I dislike him, scared me the most when facing 'my' team. He not only almost single-handedly won the World Cup for Argentina but he then went and won the Italian League for Napoli (who?)plus other honours.
The drugs thing tarnished him I'll admit.
Messi has the potential but I feel that until he reproduces his form at International level he'll forever be 2nd or 3rd on the list.
Edited by im on Monday 7th November 16:33
Muddy pitches, heavy ball and bad tackles, yet Best could still do his stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs6WTt7atic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs6WTt7atic
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...see "other".Leon Best? I know Newcastle have started well, but he hasn't contributed THAT much...
Though he was a long time before my time, i'd say it has to be Pele...
Its too soon to say Messi, though if he carrys on scoring 45-50 goals a season for the next 5 or 6 years, he will be up there with Pele...
Though he was a long time before my time, i'd say it has to be Pele...
Its too soon to say Messi, though if he carrys on scoring 45-50 goals a season for the next 5 or 6 years, he will be up there with Pele...
As good as Messi clearly is, Liga BBVA isn't really the most contested league. Big 2 are way out in front, the rest are cannon fodder for them, 99% of the time. How does he do internationally? Not too great, he isn't a leader, his workrate is all forward going. Similar can be said of Ronaldo, though he is proven in the Prem, too.
Someone like Zidane, however, has it all. Run and run all day long, power, presence, works for the team, scores goals, can run the game by himself. And he's not scared of putting his head where it hurts
Someone like Zidane, however, has it all. Run and run all day long, power, presence, works for the team, scores goals, can run the game by himself. And he's not scared of putting his head where it hurts
If you have played football (at any level)over a long period of time you will recognise all in the list as top class "players" ie- as well as being individually outstanding they could also bring other players into the game with a defence splitting pass or "lay one on a plate"for a team mate and all were/are great to watch.
I am sure we could all add others to the list,including the best ever English "player"I have seen "Paul Gascoigne."
So If you have played football then you will surely know that Diego Maradona was the greatest player to ever grace the WORLD stage.
I am sure we could all add others to the list,including the best ever English "player"I have seen "Paul Gascoigne."
So If you have played football then you will surely know that Diego Maradona was the greatest player to ever grace the WORLD stage.
Comparing players from different eras is often a futile task. However, having witnessed Messi over the last few seasons I do think it's hard to argue that there has ever been anyone better.
Maradona for example was an incredibly talented player, one of the best of all time. Like many historical figures from the past he is mostly remembered by a few clips or soundbites such as his second goal vs England in 86. However if you objectively compare his goalscoring record against Messi's he's way, way behind. Maradona's best season for league goals in Europe was 16 for Napoli in 86 - Messi scored 34 for Barcelona in 09/10. I'd expect Maradona to be similarly behind in an assists comparison. Of course statistics do not tell the whole story, but neither do oft repeated clips from the 80s...
Oh and for the record my favourite ever player is an Italian genius called Roberto Baggio
Maradona for example was an incredibly talented player, one of the best of all time. Like many historical figures from the past he is mostly remembered by a few clips or soundbites such as his second goal vs England in 86. However if you objectively compare his goalscoring record against Messi's he's way, way behind. Maradona's best season for league goals in Europe was 16 for Napoli in 86 - Messi scored 34 for Barcelona in 09/10. I'd expect Maradona to be similarly behind in an assists comparison. Of course statistics do not tell the whole story, but neither do oft repeated clips from the 80s...
Oh and for the record my favourite ever player is an Italian genius called Roberto Baggio
Olivera said:
Comparing players from different eras is often a futile task. However, having witnessed Messi over the last few seasons I do think it's hard to argue that there has ever been anyone better.
Maradona for example was an incredibly talented player, one of the best of all time. Like many historical figures from the past he is mostly remembered by a few clips or soundbites such as his second goal vs England in 86. However if you objectively compare his goalscoring record against Messi's he's way, way behind. Maradona's best season for league goals in Europe was 16 for Napoli in 86 - Messi scored 34 for Barcelona in 09/10. I'd expect Maradona to be similarly behind in an assists comparison. Of course statistics do not tell the whole story, but neither do oft repeated clips from the 80s...
Oh and for the record my favourite ever player is an Italian genius called Roberto Baggio
Yeah but I could score 36 goals playing with Xavi and Iniesta, and scoring 16 in Serie A is probably harder than scoring 36 in La Liga. Plus Ronaldo is better than Messi. Maradona for example was an incredibly talented player, one of the best of all time. Like many historical figures from the past he is mostly remembered by a few clips or soundbites such as his second goal vs England in 86. However if you objectively compare his goalscoring record against Messi's he's way, way behind. Maradona's best season for league goals in Europe was 16 for Napoli in 86 - Messi scored 34 for Barcelona in 09/10. I'd expect Maradona to be similarly behind in an assists comparison. Of course statistics do not tell the whole story, but neither do oft repeated clips from the 80s...
Oh and for the record my favourite ever player is an Italian genius called Roberto Baggio
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