Who is the next Maradona?

[gmonn]

Messi is a great player.

That's all I'm saying. A unique player.

[Kulspruta]

FFS the topic is about being the next Maradona, not about being the most consistent, most influential, most accomplished or most prolific player in the world. And what should we expect from a new Maradona? I only expect one thing when I hear the name: the alien playing style, taking defenses by himself in mesmerizing runs. That's what defined him, and that's what made him so special. Of course he had many other assets that many other players had - and they helped him propel his name in history -, but I know only of four players who could play this same football style: Pelé, Maradona, Best and Ronaldo. It doesn't necessarily mean they were the best in history, it means nobody could play the game the way they did. Do any of you honestly think C. Ronaldo can play this brand of football? I'm a hundred percent sure he can't. Tevez? Not in a million years. I'll stick with Messi, too bad his carreer might take a crooked road, like Ronaldo's.

[roykeanes_safc]

FFS the topic is about being the next Maradona, not about being the most consistent, most influential, most accomplished or most prolific player in the world. And what should we expect from a new Maradona? I only expect one thing when I hear the name: the alien playing style, taking defenses by himself in mesmerizing runs. That's what defined him, and that's what made him so special. Of course he had many other assets that many other players had - and they helped him propel his name in history -, but I know only of four players who could play this same football style: Pelé, Maradona, Best and Ronaldo. It doesn't necessarily mean they were the best in history, it means nobody could play the game the way they did. Do any of you honestly think C. Ronaldo can play this brand of football? I'm a hundred percent sure he can't. Tevez? Not in a million years. I'll stick with Messi, too bad his carreer might take a crooked road, like Ronaldo's.

Well none of the above in the poll play anything like Maradonna so maybe the thread should be renamed who is the next World player of the year.

Pele and Maradonna were nothing alike in playing styles, Pele was an out and out goalscorer, a genius he was not.

Best was a better dribbler than Maradonna but couldnt pick a pass like Diego.

Ronaldo is far too direct to even be compared to Maradonna and his close control isnt great.

And Messi like Best doesnt possess the passing range.

The threadstarter obviosly has seen little of Maradonna as the closest someone to maradonnas style in recent years is Zidane who was a slow Maradonna and there is nobody currently even close to being the new Maradonna.

The thing that defined Maradonna was not his alien playing style it was that he was the complete player. He had no weakenesses on the pitch apart from his size and even for his size he was incredibly strong. He could go in either direction with either foot, when dribbling wasnt an option he would pick out a teamate and if you fouled him he would put one in the top corner. He is what you called unplayable.

My comment was about Ronaldo being a better player currently than Messi which he is, Messi can hardly been labelled Maradonna mkII when he hasnt even shown he is better than Ronaldo yet.

[gmonn]

Well none of the above in the poll play anything like Maradonna so maybe the thread should be renamed who is the next World player of the year.

Pele and Maradonna were nothing alike in playing styles, Pele was an out and out goalscorer, a genius he was not.


If you look in the dictionary, under out and out goalscorer you will see Gerd Muller. Under genius you will see Pele.

Messi isn't Maradona yet, but his game is still evolving.

[Twix]

Pele and Maradonna were nothing alike in playing styles, Pele was an out and out goalscorer, a genius he was not.


Elaborate.

[Kulspruta]

Well none of the above in the poll play anything like Maradonna so maybe the thread should be renamed who is the next World player of the year.
Messi's playing style is somewhat similar, but it's true, that's a bad poll.

Pele and Maradonna were nothing alike in playing styles, Pele was an out and out goalscorer, a genius he was not.
I guess you have never seen one of his games before.

Best was a better dribbler than Maradonna but couldnt pick a pass like Diego.
Like I said before, they all had a lot of assets, what they had in common was the ability to go through defenses by their own, in a regular basis.

Ronaldo is far too direct to even be compared to Maradonna and his close control isnt great.
Are you kidding?

And Messi like Best doesnt possess the passing range.
See above.

The threadstarter obviosly has seen little of Maradonna as the closest someone to maradonnas style in recent years is Zidane who was a slow Maradonna and there is nobody currently even close to being the new Maradonna.
Are you f*ckin nuts? Zidane's style has nothing to do with Maradona's, Ronaldo's and Messi's are much closer.

The thing that defined Maradonna was not his alien playing style it was that he was the complete player. He had no weakenesses on the pitch apart from his size and even for his size he was incredibly strong. He could go in either direction with either foot, when dribbling wasnt an option he would pick out a teamate and if you fouled him he would put one in the top corner. He is what you called unplayable.
You've been reading too much and watching too little my friend. Maradona was one of the best dribblers in the history of the game, and had a great vision for passes, but he was not even close to being a complete footballer. He didn't finish like Pele, Gerd Müller or even Romário, for example. He didn't even had a good right-foot shot.


My comment was about Ronaldo being a better player currently than Messi which he is, Messi can hardly been labelled Maradonna mkII when he hasnt even shown he is better than Ronaldo yet.
No one is Maradonna[sic] II yet. But C.Ronaldo will certainly never be, while Messi still has a chance.

[roykeanes_safc]

I guess you have never seen one of his games before.

Pele wasnt a genius he was clever yes, but not a genius. Robinhio is very similar to pele. Intelligent players but they are not genius.

Like I said before, they all had a lot of assets, what they had in common was the ability to go through defenses by their own, in a regular basis.


Are you kidding?

No i am not kidding, Ronaldos control is excellent when he has the ball, but when recieving it from his teamates it isnt flawless. Im not saying his close control isnt good but when recieving passes it could be better.

See above.


Are you f*ckin nuts? Zidane's style has nothing to do with Maradona's, Ronaldo's and Messi's are much closer.

Zidane was very similar to Maradonna. He had no pace but could beat players through his excellent control and quick feet. They both had tremendous vision as well. Messi is not much closer, his passing skills are average, Maradonnas were world class.

You've been reading too much and watching too little my friend. Maradona was one of the best dribblers in the history of the game, and had a great vision for passes, but he was not even close to being a complete footballer. He didn't finish like Pele, Gerd Müller or even Romário, for example. He didn't even had a good right-foot shot.

Dont patronise me mate Maradonnas my idol in football and ive seen a lot more of him than you have. He wasnt a striker so its very harsh critcising his finishing and his lack of a right foot shot doesnt take away from the fact he could dribble or hit an instant pass throughball with either foot, its nitpicking to say he wasnt technically gifted with either foot.



No one is Maradonna[sic] II yet. But C.Ronaldo will certainly never be, while Messi still has a chance.

Messi will never be Maradonna II he cant pass the ball well and thats something you cant learn.

[bosterosoy]

Messi will never be Maradonna II he cant pass the ball well and thats something you cant learn.

lol that is definitely something you CAN learn especially since he's still only 20

[gmonn]

Pele wasnt a genius he was clever yes, but not a genius. Robinhio is very similar to pele. Intelligent players but they are not genius.

Dude, are you trying to make our heads explode? If Robinho is similar to Pele, Messi is 10 times better than Maradona.

Messi will never be Maradonna II he cant pass the ball well and thats something you cant learn.

He can pass the ball extremely well. He's starting to pass like Riquelme recently.

[roykeanes_safc]

Dude, are you trying to make our heads explode? If Robinho is similar to Pele, Messi is 10 times better than Maradona.

In styles they are, im not saying Robinhio is as good as Pele. Heskey is similar to Drogba but he isnt as good as Drogba

He can pass the ball extremely well. He's starting to pass like Riquelme recently.

Now are you trying to make my head explode, Messi doesnt pass the ball like Riquelme at all. He may be able to make short simple passes but he cannot control a game like Riquelme or Maradonna could through their passing.

[roykeanes_safc]

lol that is definitely something you CAN learn especially since he's still only 20

Maradonna, Riquelme, Zidane, Beckham, Pirlo, Mendieta

All these players are world class passers of the ball and the one thing they have in common?

Their passing was already the strong point of their game when they made the breakthrough. Passing and the other qualities that link to passing, vision, awareness and intelligence is not something that can be coached. Its a natural gift like pace, all the coaching in the world couldnt have made Zidane any faster as its a gift.

[gmonn]

Now are you trying to make my head explode, Messi doesnt pass the ball like Riquelme at all. He may be able to make short simple passes but he cannot control a game like Riquelme or Maradonna could through their passing.

He doesn't play their position, as you said about Maradona. But you've probably missed the evolution in his passing. He has been busting out some Riquelmesque passes recently.

[roykeanes_safc]

He doesn't play their position, as you said about Maradona. But you've probably missed the evolution in his passing. He has been busting out some Riquelmesque passes recently.

Thats exactly my point, how can he be Maradonna mkII when he doesnt even play in Maradonnas position.

What next Rooney the next Van Basten

[Dr. Know]

Messi will never be Maradonna II he cant pass the ball well and thats something you cant learn.

Are you serious? You clearly haven't been watching Messi this season. His passing as been incredible. It's a shame he got injured because we were witnessing a whole new aspect of his game develop incredibly. His vision was developing as well. You needed to see some of the feeds and assists he's had this season (he's leading Barca in assists) including some Riquelmesque through balls.

EDIT.

gtgunning beat me to it.

[Kulspruta]

Do you recall how old was Zidane when he became a superstar? ;)
And what the heck was that about Robinho and Pele? Man, you're tripping.

[gmonn]

Thats exactly my point, how can he be Maradonna mkII when he doesnt even play in Maradonnas position.


You've got a point there. A large part is being a great Argentinian hope, and also just having the potential to reach a rare level of attacking genius.

[roykeanes_safc]

Do you recall how old was Zidane when he became a superstar? ;)
And what the heck was that about Robinho and Pele? Man, you're tripping.

Yes but just because he wasnt a superstar doesnt mean his passing skills werent there. The problem with Zidane was more down to his attitude, Drogba was similar.

Robinho has only recently been used as winger, at Santos he played striker with Diego off him and there are similar traits in his and Peles play. This is not a statement to say he is anywhere near as good as pele which some people seem to think im suggesting.

[phil80]

Messi will never be Maradonna II he cant pass the ball well and thats something you cant learn.
It seems you havent been watching Messi recently. His vision, passing, and football IQ is improving rapidly every year, and a player can improve on these qualities. This past year he has been making chipped passes and pinpoint through balls (more than a few yards) routinely and a player develops these techniques into their early twenties.

[phil80]

It seems you havent been watching Messi recently. His vision, passing, and football IQ is improving rapidly every year, and a player can improve on these qualities. This past year he has been making chipped passes and pinpoint through balls (more than a few yards) routinely and a player develops these techniques into their early twenties.
I guess we can safely rule out Henry since his career is dwindling and he is not close to reaching Maradona's level.

[Moishe]

It seems you havent been watching Messi recently. His vision, passing, and football IQ is improving rapidly every year, and a player can improve on these qualities. This past year he has been making chipped passes and pinpoint through balls (more than a few yards) routinely and a player develops these techniques into their early twenties.

It pains me to agree with you sometimes but you are absolutely correct. What Messi did to improve his game in maybe the first six months of the past year was astonishing. In the areas he had question marks, he just didn't improve but actually became worldly.

I guess we can safely rule out Henry since his career is dwindling and he is not close to reaching Maradona's level.

Are you sure about that?:D