Graeme Souness got it right now didn't he? He was one of the first neutrals who actually hailed Messi as the greatest player of all time way back in 2011. I wasn't so sure about it at that time, but 6 years down the line, you got to admit that he is indeed the greatest player that's ever lived.
"They are watching not only the best player ever but the best team ever...this is a unique group of players". He said everything in only one sentence !
@@erea8319 LM7 is most definitely the goat not couldn’t reach 7. Better goalscorer, dribbler, playmaker and passer, the necessary essentials for the best forward and footballer to exist 🐐
From the first moment I seen him play in 2008 I saw instantly he was different to anything I'd seen before, I just wanted him to have the ball all the time because it seemed impossible he would lose it or make a mistake it was incredibly rare he would mess up.. if he kicked the ball it was a goal or crossbar if he passed the ball it was perfect & unbelievable vision even then..from the beginning it was clear he was a genius & there was nothing like him in sports period. He's run 2009-2012 will never be matched.
@@C.J.80 i can only imagine, I was born in 96 so I only knew of Barca because of Ronaldhino, I remember in 2007 1 of my friends had a Messi jersey & by the way ppl talked about Messi I at the time thought Messi was a past legend because I'd never seen him before but I heard a lot about him. I was living with my grandfather at this time & it was the UCL final Barca vs Man Utd at that time I hated United because they were dominating the premier league & I'm a Liverpool fan , also hated Ronaldo because he was too good I guess.. but before the game my grandfather told me "Messi is gonna run rings around them" I said "what!!?!! Messi is a player that still plays??" He said "of course, he's only 21" then I saw on the TV his picture , his name his age / goals etc..& I couldn't believe it , then I saw him humiliate a team that to me looked invincible in the premier league. From that day on I didn't miss a single game of Messi , I wanted him to win everything. Even when my team Liverpool was playing I would choose to watch Barca.. that's how obsessed I was with that team / Messi & I still don't miss a game. Nobody displays football better than Messi.
This is 2021 and 10 years on and souness was bang on . He played against maradona and knows what he’s talking about , Messi was in his early 20s for Christ’s sake 🐐
Messi at that age was something special but he was also in the best team ever , as the years went on Barca weren't the same force bar 2015, Messi was still good but he wasn't winning the big trophy's that's where Ronaldo came into conversations with people, for me Messi is the best I've ever seen by ab absolute country mile but I don't no if he was better than maradona because I never seen him
This was the concensus from Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Graeme Souness, Pep Guardiola etc when he was 23!! Anything else he has done gas just added on to his greatness.
Who’s here after Leo won the world cup🐐🥳🔥📈❤️11 years after arguably the best Champions league final performance in Wembley he puts a masterclass against France in a World cup final !!!
i remember hearing this after the match as a kid and always wanted to comeback to this video once messi had a world cup. 2011 messi was weirdly good and far better than any other player i have ever seen.
@@CFlame20 It's close but I still think 2011 Messi as a different beast even compared to 2012, despite all the goals he scored in 2012. 2011 Messi as more like a natural disaster to the opponents, he would just dribble past everyone nonstop and there was nothing you could do about that. Maybe 2012, 2015 or 2019 Messi were better but the 2011 version is the most terrifying player I've ever seen.
The fact he was getting GOAT shouts before his 91 goal season even came is just insane to think about. Even more crazy when put into perspective now. World Cup, will retire with 800+ goals, might surpass Dani alves with most trophies, and maybe an 8th ballon dor. And this is leaving out all the other shit he did from 2013-2021. How people don’t think this man is the best ever just crazy to me at this point.
2012 season was great in terms of statistics. But Messi in 2011 was perfect. His dribbling was the best it's ever been and he showed up in every big game that season. He shined on the biggest of stages. He also played with more fluidity and agility.
Ah, the 86 World Cup-winning side was only good because of Maradona's inclusion, was it? Giusti, Burruchaga and even Valdano when he wasn't philosophising were all decent players and then there was Ruggeri, who vies with Passarella and Monti as Argentina's greatest ever centre back, but Redknapp's probably never heard of him
All the clowns out there say maradona carried argentinaa. Whenever someone says that,its clear that they didnt actually watch that argentinian team. Souness doesnt say shit like that despite having watched maradona,so its clear that maradona had a great team around him
yeah, and a midfielder of all ppl probably knows that the team dynamic is most important. maradonas greatest moments came when argentina were still in the game and very much competing, specifically, scores like 0-0, 2-2. bruh messis 2017-2020 barcelona&argentina would already be 3-0 down at that point. these goated forwards are difference makers when their team can compete; none of the goat contenders have ever somehow pulled the score back AFTER their team went like 3-0 down and as they were getting dominated. luckily for maradona in 86 and pele throughout his career, their national team was never in that situation.
@@TheTaterTotP80 no he doesn't 🤣 his points were Maradona got tackled more and he won a world cup by himself WHICH HE DIDNT because Argentina's 1986 team was unreal. Maradona got tackled yes but he got tackled by slower, unathletic (in comparison), poorly coached and SMALLER defenders. He's stupid and you're a moron for taking anything he says seriously. He backs down to Souness on every point because he knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on and didn't want to get found out and embarrassed for his Bias towards Pele and Maradona.
@@vampycaltm5273 He is just a pure nostalgia merchant, he didn't even see them during their playing days. Souness, Gerry Armstrong, Valdano, Maldini etc. have seen all of them (Valdano even played with Maradona) and they all say that Messi surpassed Maradona, Pele and all the other ones.
People who doubt that have a brain problem. I'd go so far as to say that no one is even close to him,the next best player,whoever it may be,is a few levels below him
everyone forgets the spanish manager in world cup 2010 after their victory thought messi deserved the golden ball magical runs, hit the post many many times, and the driving force for almost every goal argentina scored in that tourney WC 2014, look out, argentina may not win, but messi will once again be the best player in the tourney
Messi is definitely the best ever..there was a debate in 2011..when people thought they had seen it all..but today? no question about it, he is the best player EVER!! Maradona himself said it last week..he knows it, we all do!
@@claritywithteekay inevitable, incredible, genius, GOAT. Astounding, 7 years have gone by and he remains the best. I can guarantee there will never be another like him watch it appreciate it and hopefully in seven more years time we can look back on this conversation and say that from this point on it only got better.
First time I watched messi he was a 17 year old in 2006 World Cup and he was absolutely phenomenal, could tell he was going to be special, but to continue that him and Ronaldo 15 years later is ridiculous they set standards in football and raised the bar amazing players glad i was born to see them.
What baffles me is that they were saying this back and we are literally 10 years down the line and his numbers are still roughly the same. It's madness that people have almost U-turned and started questioning his GOAT status because some Portuguese gym rat who plays as a poacher for a team that came 7th in the league scores a few goals
Chill bro they are all silent now after their idol acted like a child the GOAT led Argentina to WC glory. I guess they pretend to be conspiracy theorists claiming that the WC was rigged.
With success comes haters because there are people who hate successful people. Messi is best ever. Look at goals,trophies, influence on games etc. The only problem is he will become a victim of his own success. People will now expect him to score 50 league goals next season and if he doesn't the haters will come out again.
People don't understand the gravity of this, they won't for at least a few decades. This is just Souness and Neville, there are millions of people around the world that day calling a 23 year old the greatest to play professional football.
"if everybody kicks him you will get in the book" and with Maradona wasn't the case. - guy on the left. It's true, that's fact, but it's actually plus for Messi in this battle with Maradona Why? let me explain you how. Neither did Maradona or Messi were falling easily, i think everyone can agree on that. Maradona was more of a bull type, but Messi's balance is up there with Maradona's if not greater. Having that said means Messi wouldn't be falling in 80s, neither did Maradona. That would cause referee not to call a foul and since Messi doesn't fall he would get past 3-5-2 players more consistantly because he would be freed of fouls and would be able to play like Maradona. He would dribble and since there is no fouls and he doesn't fall he would keep going and would be literally unstoppable as Maradona did. Fouls are actually load for Messi in his game. Increasing number of fouls actually made it worse for him because foul became valuable tactic against Messi. You can't take away ball from his feet so you foul him. That's tactic against Messi these days. Look at final game against Juventus. Everytime Messi got ball there would be atleast 3 players around him ((one more difference. Mardona would play mostly with one man marking him, Messi pays with 2-3-4 players around him)) and if he tries to do something with his dribbles he would be immeditely pulled down, and because there is number of fouls more frequent in recent times referee will call it everytime, not necessarily yellow card!! That way, fouling him all the time, they have quashed his dribbles. But still Messi is so good he took a role of Xavi and made the difference in that game. That's reason why Messi is better besides playing in the time of modern football (arguably harder to play in). Messi is complete attacker. If he is not in mood with his dribbles (rarely), he will get deep and playmake from deeper positions. If his playmaking skills are off (rarely again) he will go upfront and score some goals. No matter against which team he plays he always found role (false nine, winger, advanced playmaker) in which he is the most useful that game, Maradona mostly played as advanced playmaker or second striker, he couldn't adopt to the game so easily as Messi does. I feel like Messi, besides his skills, understand game so well while Maradona was leader with astonishing skills, but didn't always know what to do in certain situations when his team is down. He just leaned to his footballing skills and sometimes got successful, while Messi adopts to every game perfectly. When Barca struggles Messi always found solution. One more huge plus for Messi is consistency!!! 6 years in row the best player there is. I know Ronaldo won last two ballon d'Ors, but if Messi was fully fit through this two years(2013, 2014), Ronaldo would never shine. 6 years on top of the top. To understand that we praise Messi greatness and not Barcelona greatness says the fact that Xavi before Messi appearence in first team (2008/09) won 6 trophies with Barcelona and Barcelona had some great players such as Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto'o. After Messi came into first team Xavi have won 19 trophies!! And only difference before and after 2008/09 is Guardiola who gave Messi main role and freedome. Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Marquez, Henry nothing has changed and look at difference between Xavi's trophies. In 13 years without Messi in first team he has won 6 titles. In 7 seasons with Messi as a main drive he has won 19 (!!!) The difference Messi does on the pitch in modern football, arguably harder time, is magnificient. He did more until 27 than Maradona in his whole career. Maradona only valued argument is controversial WC 1986. And the most importantly: *Maradona finshed his career, but Messi still writes the history!!* He might not come to his peak yet. It's crazy to even think about that. "He is something else"
Sexy Beast totally agree!!! And it has become decade now and still in top!!!! If you don't think he is still not the greatest player and I don't know who is????
Sexy beast, i think your points are valid and on spot and correct. Most of the people are not reading your comment because its too long or they don't understand the game or simply put they don't like messi I think but the onces who will read it , they would definitely agree with you and I 100% iagree with you ! Love and care.....
Bayern demolishes oppositions brutally but still people who watched football last decade prefer Barca of 2011-12... A bunch of world class players at their prime, alongside one of the greatest player of all time upfront.. That team was remarkable... People will proudly say they have witnessed this game 20/30 or even 40 years later
Exactly. Ronaldo is brilliant at what he does but Messi is just...Messi. You can take away all the space, mark him with 2 men, but still he's gonna find a goal wheter it's a goal or an assist trought the defence. And what you said about the tactical awereness is very true. Ronaldo is an exeptional goalscorer but Messi is an exeptional goalscorer, playmaker, dribbler...I could go on forever.
In 1965, as most everyone knows, when a game was not being broadcast, film cameras were installed behind the goalposts. I remember seeing both the most marvellous goal I've ever witnessed (see my comment below), then waiting for the next day's soccer highlights. When the goal was not shown, I waited until the next game, descended to the field after the game was over and asked the reporters who's been the one who's missed it. The answer? He saw the ball coming, but had no time to react.
@91gaganchill But as I say, even in an unorganised side, he is now starting to become influential for them. He's provided 10 assists in 13 games in 2011, which alone shows that he's performed. I agree he needs to score more- but he has plenty of time on his side and if Argentina can get the balance right, he will do that. He is a tremendous player- no one can deny that.
@91gaganchill The fact is, Messi at 24 has already scored three goals that very few players will ever score. No matter your level of ability, goals like that are incredibly difficult to score, especially as in an Argentina shirt- he has to start his runs even further away from goal, which means space is even more limited and there are more people to pass.
Both are immense though. It's cringeworthy when you go on here and people can't just hold their hands up and respect great players. Messi and Maradona were the greatest of their eras. Both would be good in any era as well imo.
@91gaganchill Messi in 2006 had just come back from a long term injury and started the first two games of the tournament on the bench because of it.. He started the game against Holland but again did not start against Mexico or Germany..Therefore, you cannot compare him when Ronaldo was fully fit and played many more minutes..
@91gaganchill And Messi has also produced moments, where his magic won Barca the game.. Like I said, the two goals Messi scored against Madrid won them the tie- without those they may not have gone through- also the goal in the final that gave them the lead.. That was down to his ability, not the players around him. As for Best, I personally think he is one of the best players ever- but united at that time were a very good side.
maradona like all the greats were the best wen they were 25 n older n messi is only 23 he has alot of his career ahead but wen he becomes 26 hell b aMESSIng for now hes the greatest in the world for a long long long time .
THANK YOU!!! Im always trying to say the exact same thing. World cup is overrated not the same as it use to be the champions league is far better for me and the way the game is played with defences more condensed than ever before and he still does his majic! best player ever.
I remember watching Souness analysis of Messi and what he said , that I found to be so bold given that he played against Maradona and watched Legenda like Pele , Cruyff ,R9 but now after Winning the Worlc Cup , anyone who claims Messi is not the greatest is just making himself look foolish, because there is no argument against him now.
@91gaganchill Yes, conditions were much harder and physical in those days- but footballers were not as tactically aware or the athletes they are today.. After all, how many great defenders are remembered, with the exception of Moore, Beckenbauer and Santos.. You only have to watch the games to see the lack of quality..
in pele era the era of george best,beckenbauer it was ten times harder for strikers or number 10s to thrive.tackling from behinde were legal,as opposed to illegal now,players in england and brazil played on surfaces that were a million miles away from the carpets play football on today.in pele era the pitches were bumpy uneven making it 100 times difficult for players to express themselves yet players like pele george best cruff glided on this pitches like ice skaters.
@91gaganchill That fact he was nominated showed he performed well. Directly he only assisted two but he was heavily involved in five of their goals.. Like I said, he was the creator and that's what he did. Yes, he should have scored but the fact he was nominated showed he did well. Messi has won the world's best player of the year award three times in a row now- you may say that does not make him great- but people in the game now regard him as that- like it or not.
Not often I agree with neville but it's true. Obviously it came down to picking one country over another, but if Zidane had picked algeria instead of france, he would never have won a world cup or european championship. If messi had picked spain he blatantly would have.... not to mention the fact that many of france's key players like desailly, vieira, djorkaeff also chose france instead of choosing their country of birth/parents nationality
@91gaganchill But it's not just about the goals-it's about the performances of Messi. Ronaldo and Rooney are top class players but they do not have the ability Messi does- Their record in big games also at club level is not the same. Messi is already regarded as one of the best because of the talent he has, it's not just the goals. Not to mention, he has an added dimension, in that he is also a great playmaker.
