I am 73 and as a young kid would be glued to the tv in the early 60ties watching Real Madrid with incredible players like Puskás, Di Stéfano, Gento, Kopa etc. and all the other great players from all over the globe that came after but never ever have I seen a more gifted sportsman and football player then Lional Messi and as a football fan and ex player I consider myself very lucky to witness the brilliance of this GREAT man.
there is one player better than Messi, but he had a short career because of injury, Ronaldo luis nazario De Lima, El Fenomeno. If only Ronaldo R9 play diving like messi cristiano and neymar, his career would have been longggggggg. but nah he likes to play beautifully. tackles can hardly bring him down, you need 3-4 players to take him down
@@masahirukouta21 i don't think this is the case. R9 was affected by worldcup 98 and then his performance dropped. Then his injuries happened one after another. One reason for injuries is because the player isn't taking good care of himself on/off the pitch. For example, messy and R7 never had such long lasting injuries because they were taking care of themselves. R9 was good but I don't see anyone compares to messy and no one compares to R9 hard work and motivation.
@@nbsdaeiweri2506 nah from what you said i know you have never seen R9 play, probably from youtube clip, R9 never dive like Messi/Cristiano, watch the full match from his peak, he was injured during his time in Intermilan, the tackle was very brutal, and r9 went under the knife twice, even so his performance didnt drop, World cup 2002, thats right after his second surgery, many people criticizes him, but he scored in almost every match, in final we can say R9 single handedly defeated germany and gift the trophy to brazil. after his second surgery, he went to real madrid, in there he got few more injuries, then his performance started to go downhill because of hyperthyroidism which slows down his metabolism and constant partying which made the situation even worse. in the end he gained weight and cant lose it due to metabolism slowing down, more injuries and his career ended.
@@nbsdaeiweri2506 his only mistake is he never dives, he was enjoying the match and kept looking to score a beautiful goal, always against 3-5 defenders, even 4-5 defenders can hardly stop him during his peak, the only way to stop him is to tackle his leg, even after receiving hard tackle he often didnt go down and kept trying to run past them, that is his only stupidity
Kobe telling that story in Spanish about a conversation he had with Ronaldinho who prophesied that a 17 year old Messi would be the greatest player in the world is nek level!
@@Miraie93 literally everyone at Barca was betting Messi to be the greatest player even before he wore a senior team jersey. When a magician as Iniesta warns you of somebody, you better know he's out of our world.
Yes they can see that 17 year old Messi plays very good football and so when he grows little bit older to be part of the first team. He going to be best footballer in the world.
@@Miraie93 JJ OKOCHA SAW RONALDINHO TOO IN PSG HE WAS MAGIC SO WHEN RONALDINHO CAME HE STOLE EVERY MOVE AND AUGUSTINE JUST SAID THIS GUY WILL BE BEST PLAYER EVER !! OF COURSE RONALDINHO BECAME BEST ON PLANET BUT NOT BEST EVER CAUSE HE LOVES FOOTBALL AND PARTY TOO MUCH FOR GOAT U NEED DEDICATION.
This is my argument as well: all other great footballers do things amazingly well, and far better than other players can do them. Lionel Messi does things that no one else can do - and makes it look effortless. GOAT.
Messi is an average player and anyone can play like him. It's just that luck has been on his side. Lol we all know Bill Gates was never a genius, he was just lucky and got wealthy 🤣
When Barcelona beat Zaragoza 4-1 (I think this was the 09/10 season) Zlatan had been struggling with several games on a row without scoring. He also missed several chances during the game. In the last moments of the match, Barcelona is given a PK. Messi had already scored a hat trick and was supposed to take the shot. It was going to be, I think, the first poker in his career. But he let Zlatan take the shot. After the game he was asked why he let Zlatan take it and he said something like “He was struggling to score, he is a great player and this will help him gain confidence”. He was 21 years old, Zlatan was 27.
Messi is not only the huge numbers of goals he scored. The way he scored,the incredible dribling,the assists, the nutmegs, the free kicks,the passes,the long range guided missiles on target, the very short range goals against the whole defense,his ability to get through crowded spaces and shoot......
Cruyff conceived it. Inspired it. In his time tried to persuade it into being @ Barca. Zlatan said it: The Beautiful Game. All of it. Messi is the zenith of Cruyff's vision in a single player, I believe. Barca, at it's height w/ Tika Taka, is the apotheosis of his vision in a single team. Rapturous football.
@@kodalycat906 I just can't believe that anyone who watched him play back in 2008-2012 Barcelona would deny him. That team and most importantly for this conversation, that team with Messi was absolute magic. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and he's obviously kept on being great but Messi in that team was out of this world
@@candysgames323 His single impact is the highest out of any player in the sport, ever. The fact that he's constantly getting targeted by 2-3 players alone already makes him the most impactful player OAT, as this alone can release super important pressure from the rest of his team. His game sense is also the best ever, he doesn't even need to look at everyone to know where everyone is, no one can see the opportunities he sees, he has created the most beautiful passes I've ever seen. He is also skilled enough alone to punish any teams if they let him go out of their sights for even a second, he scores. He can do everything, better than everyone, While being in a severely uneven playing field when it comes to physical advantages.
@@candysgames323 you never watched Messi. All the legend manager said Messi is best player in history. But but you know football better than them. Media was against him till 2021 go and watch all the Europeans media was trolling him because he never won any international trophy. But they don't know that it was team fault even Messi was 4-5 best player award for his country in international tournament but his team was not played well. Europeans country are jealous because he is South American. They also did same things with Novak Djokovic. They literally so jealous that how some small country man and Latin country player became best player in their own game. 820 goal 370 assist Europe top scorer Most assist in Europe Most goal contribution in the world Most ballon d'or Most golden boot Most fifa pott Most playmaker award Most motm Most world cup golden ball Most award for National team Most titles 😂 At age of 25 he became greatest player in history after becoming first player in history to win 4 th ballon d'or after scoring 91 goal and 22 assist in only 69 games. Best goal scorer Great free-kick taker Great in inside of the box Great in outside of the box Great passer Great dribbler Great playmaker Real Madrid the best club in history who has most dangerous defenders that always trying to break that 5'7 guy feet. Still after all the 100s of foul career ending tackle still he has Most goal in el Clasico Most assist in Clasico Most g/a Most motm in el Clasico Most hat-trick 40 g/a in only 45 matches That 0.9 g/a per game against best team That's why you will found out that real Madrid fan who really hate Barca but still they love Messi and said he is best player in history.
He is special. Maybe we do him a discredit by saying it's a natural gift but honestly you can't teach his awareness, his intelligence in the game. Ronaldo is great because he works incredibly hard and is arguably the most disciplined player we've ever seen (aside from messi give or take) but he has to and you can teach ronaldo's discipline and skill but not Messi's. Never Messi's.
@@papiyaghosh102 I don't think you have seen much of R9 otherwise you wouldn't have made your statement. R9 would take the whole team every game including the keeper most times.
Ronaldinho in his prime was a mixture of both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He had the close control, dribbling and playmaking ability of Messi (You could argue he was even level par with Messi in these areas at his absolute best) and he had the flair, skill, speed and power of CR7, not to mention free kick ability of both Messi and CR7 and the fact he could use both feet like CR7 too. Ronaldinho wasn't anywhere near as consistent as either of them but when he was playing at his absolute best, bloody hell was he incredible to watch! I had the pleasure of watching Ronaldinho play in person. He was just so natural and elegant on the ball. He danced almost. Amazing. Top 4 of all time for me when at their absolute best; Messi, CR7, R9 and then Ronaldinho. R9 and Ronaldinho are probably tied third tbh... So good!
I took a flight just to go to Barcelona and watch Messi live. He scored a hat trick and was out of this world. I’ve watched football my whole life and never witnessed a player as remarkable as him. He is the God of football.
What's interesting is that although Messi is the greatest futbol player of all time, he is not the most athletic. If he were to do the NFL combine I don't think he would impress. I admire him very much
@@TruthAndFreedom76 - Do you know the sport where they have the fittest players. It's football. You have to be insanely fit to be sprinting up and down the pitch for 90 mins. No other sport compares. To say he is not the most athletic is an absolute ridiculous statement.
My dad was never into football fixtures or leagues outside of our country. Maybe the odd bit of English prem drama here and there. But when we both sat down to watch Messi he was in disbelief. He could not fathom how one player could outmaneuver, out play and out class, multiple opponents at the same time. He believes that after his world cup win, Messi is the GOAT of our generation and that it will be some time before we see a player who moves, shimmies and plays the way that King Leo Messi does. He is a lion personified. An absolute king of the highest class.
Messi is the best false 9 ever, Messi is the best attacking midfield ever, Messi began to play as an magical winger...... What else? The statistics don't lie: the number of goals, assists, cutting through defense passes.... But the most important aspects of his play can't be quantified: the absolutely beautiful football he s playing,his touch,his ball control,his amazing quick decisions on the pitch,his body faints,his ability to be always unpredictable...... I can ad much more qualities,but for everyone who loves football it's clear that Messi is a supreme artist,a real Magician.
The correct way to describe him would be NATURAL. He's not a product of a training or gym, etc. He was born with the gift that others have to train not only to get but to maintain. I'm excited for his kids because they might inherit this gift, or not.
Facts. This Argentina team looks promising especially since they went through qualifiers without losing a game. I’m a bit sad that Kun had to retire though, was a favourite of mine
@@Propa_Way Scaloni knows whats h doing...and it is too bad that KUN retired...we will never see him and his best friend messi lift the WC in 2022. BuTI know Messi will lift that cup and mention him for sure.
The most beatull thing of him is that he play like a child, concentrate and when the team score, or make a gol, his smile y abraza a sus compañeros con una fuerza de locura, un gran tipo, un genio
Messi is a global treasure. He is an example for all kids that feel like they can't be world class cause of their height. He is small in height, but a giant on the pitch.
The best footballer ever. Goals, assists, dribbling, playmaking, key passes, chances created, magical plays, most ballons d'or, most eur. golden boots, most mvp's at national teams level. G.O.A.T. FOR COUNTLESS REASONS
This is high time we end the debate messi and Ronaldo, because it's not even a comparison. Messi is ahead by a long distance. The people in this video are not average players or coaches. They are all legends by himself , they are all mesmerized by Meesi brilliance. Ronaldo fans can of course idolize and worship Ronaldo but it's time you accept Messi is the greatest.
Ronaldinho did an interview (for FourFourTwo I believe) when he was thought to be the best player in the world. In that interview he told them that calling him the best player in the world was false and that he wasn't even the best player at Barcelona 😂 pretty sure Messi was like 18 at the time 😂
When a player like ZLATAN says with such a humble and kind words, you sure have to understand the gravity of it. Mourinho, Klopp, Conte, Lampard like wise and Ronaldinho predicting it at when messi was 17 means is something else. BTW, there was no other player more enjoyable to watch than ronaldinho.. And Messi is the master of all Arts, Stats and Wins !!! I know WC is missing but still it can be possibility.
@@sagatshakur4720 Yeah !!! He won it all. People just see goals, championship won or WC, but Messi is more than that, he is pure artistry!!! Unfortunately, That is difficult to understand for some.
Messi imo is the GOAT, with Ronaldo being 2nd, I wasn't around to watch the likes of Pele and Maradonna but certainly for my generation, Messi and Ronaldo have by far been the best players I've seen. Their levels of consistency are absurd and they both keep breaking record after record, it truly is amazing. I've gone for Messi being the GOAT purely because of how versatile and mesmerising he is as a footballer, his passing, dribbling, technique, shooting and free kick skills are all world class and no one comes close to him in those areas- especially his dribbling. Messi can not only score important goals, he can also control/dictate games because of his incredible playmaking ability. He's essentially the complete footballer. We won't see another unique talent like like him. Ronaldo is the complete goalscorer, his greatest asset is his finishing/positioning to get goals and in addition his superior physical attributes such as shot power, strength, jumping and heading ability. Ronaldo is the kind of player you'd rely on to score a last minute goal, because of his greater goalscoring skill. He can score with his head, left/right foot, long range, free kicks and penalties. Plus you have to include his willpower and determination to succeed, that definitely puts him the conversation as one of the best players in the world.
Ronaldo is soooo overrated, only considered a goat because he has been really good for a very long time, he never peaked like Messi, Cruyff or Maradonna etc. Not hating just being realistic
@@dbouwens5049 nah man. I’m a diehard Messi fan but what that dude said is completely true, every single thing he said is true. Ronaldo is more of a goal scorer with his heading abilities, his power shots, the way he always comes in clutch for last minute goals. But Messi is more of a complete player because of his playmaking abilities. Look at him right now in psg. He’s just playing as a playmaker with his vision and passes, that’s why he’s bagging more assist than goals.
@Shaf Won't fully agree with you on that. Messi has dribbling and playmaking, and that ability has increased with him being and growing in the golden era of Barcellona. His dribbling abilities and playmaking iq wont change, but adapting and performing does and thats another factor you have to consider when talking about "the better footballer", and while Cristiano at 34 was carrying a washed Juventus and became top scorer of serie A, Messi at 34 is struggling in a farmer league with the best french team. Cristiano got athleticism (speed, header, power), and goalscoring abilities, and in his prime his dribbling was arguably one of the best. So basically they both peak with different abilities, saying one is better than the other is dumb, saying you prefer one over the other isnt.
Many thanks to Ronaldinho for grooming and imparting Messi, with no doubts Messi is the combination of Ronaldinho and Maradona in terms of skill runs, free kicks, dribbling, game control. He is the best far more than Ronaldo.
Messi surpasses everyone by a longshot. Look at the stats in Barcelona every year consistently. And the way he just goes through top knotch defenders. And he never plays dirty, hes truly remarkable
Messi was created to play football He's the god of soccer. He does unbelievable magic with the ball anytime his feet touches it He's truly the football messiah ❤
Yes, Leonel Messi is the GOAT! His generosity towards players of his team has lowered his goal count and he does not mind. His dribble pass 5 to 7 players and yet refuses to dive when he gets pushed or even tackled. His free kicks are legendary... He is humble and thanks God every chance he gets! What else can we say of him?
We are lucky to have Messi and Cristiano play in the same era,And so many other great football players,To who is better between this two,I BELIEVE the artistry of Messi is Magical,But the physical ability and love that Ronaldo brings to the. Game is beautiful,just enjoy the ride!!!
What kinda bullshit is that. Ur telling me Messi didn't work his ass off to become good as well? There's peobs some1 out there maybe not right now but has the same talent or maybe more than Messi but if they don't put the hard work and effort in then they won't be nearly as good. U need hard work regardless of talent
I don't mind saying Lionel Messi has some natural gifts but he has WORKED very hard throughout his career to improve and sustain his brilliance. I would swear that the ball is attached to him by a magnetic field of some sort! Talented? Gifted? Without question but he has WORKED for it.
To me the Ronaldo/Messi debate is simple. Ronaldo is a natural born athlete, and a great football player. Messi is a natural born football player, and a great athlete. We all like to say hard work is the most important thing, but Messi has something that can't be taught, his IQ and vision, his ball handling instincts are so far above anyone else. He reads a defence so well that it looks like he can see exactly what they're gonna do, combine this with his quickness and suprising physical strength and you have the perfect player.
Watching this video in 2023 after Messi finally won his much-deserved world cup is just so heartwarming So many professionals were already saying he's the greatest of all time. And now even the hardline Pele fans have mostly been won over, since Messi finally accomplished it all with the world cup.
Here's the thing, you show people who don't watch football some games that involve Messi and they keep saying how incredible "number 10 for the red and blue team" is. Then you know he's someone special. That is what my mom would say. She has watch football with me here and there. She's not a big fan, she just like spending time with me. Now I watch a bit of everything, I have a team I root for in like 4 leagues. But the matches she always got excited for were FCB matches because there was something about Messi that she called magical.
what it really boils down to is that Ronaldo is all hard work, which someone with dedication can replicate but Messi was born to play football and no one plays the game like him
"We will never see another player like him. Not me, not you, no one" - Pep Guardiola I'd say 4/5 of anyone who's in the football world picks Messi over anyone else. Because if you truly look at him objectively without any biased, there is no one that comes close to him today. In his prime? Forget about it. Just simple honest football. No acting, no diving. He's just one of a kind.
Truly incredible. More than blessed to be able to see messi grow and become what he is today. But as i was growing up there was another player that, for me, was even better than messi to watch. The Great Ronaldinho Gaúcho. I felt way more entertained watching Ronaldinho as a kid than any player today. Every time he had the ball, you knew it was going to be something special. Even other teams fans gave up and wave white flags.not to mention his free kicks. He had the best freekicks of any player. Him and Beckham. Its my humble opinion.
@@adils786 look at the vid, where Ronaldinho announced to Kobe that messi would be the best player ever… meaning: Ronaldinho knows Messi would be better than he ever was. And ofcourse: he was also very skillful himself.. but not as good as Messi..
Even Real Madrid fans applauded Ronaldinho when he almost single-handedly destroyed Madrid... I was at that game too... He was unbelievable when he played at his best. I idolised his style of football growing up and wanted to play like him!!! I spent weeks perfecting the flip flap so I could show off at training haha
I agree. If anyone has talent the level of Messi it’s Ronaldinho. He simply was a football artist. Sadly his career was too short. Difference with Messi is that Ronaldinho focused more on entertaining and beating his opponent. All Messi mesmerizing moves has a stronger intent>>>scoring. They are both football gods!
