The "Messi: the best player in the world. Is it even up for discussion?" thread

Then pretty much what Zidane is good at, Ronaldinho is even better at it.

 

Did ya see much of Zidane ??

Many rate the top 4 in no particular order

Zidane
Messi
Pele
Maradona

You hardly ever hear of any of Totti ( love him ) or Ronaldhino ( love him also ) being mentioned as best ever ..

 

fixed

 

No, Zidane not even in top 10. So many recent and classic players are better.

 

Who

 

Pretty sure there are many

 

So none , then ..

 

Here's why Messi has little chance to win WC no matter how good he is.





The rest of his team wont make any runs, let alone being creative.

 

Will Messi pull a Maradona?

 

I would rate Pele, Garrincha, Beckenbauer, George Best, Cruyff, Di Stefano, Zico, Platini, Ronaldo phenomeno, Messi, Puskas, Maradona, Romario, and Maldini higher. You could also make a case for Yashin, Xavi, Didi, Bobby Charlton, Eusebio, Ronaldinho (peak), Bobby Moore, Baresi, Banks etc. Even if you take out the non-attackers, Zidane being in the top 10 is not a foregone conclusion.

 

Some great names there I admit .

Zidane still my number one ever ( coming from long time Barca fan as well )

Zidane , Zico , Cruyff , Maradona then Pele imho

 

I'm surprised he only has 20. That's an average of 2 per year.

Surely its more than that(?)

 

Only La Liga.
My two main sources for Liga records both confirmed 20 free kick goals.

FCB 2-1 ALA (84') - Messi (20) supera a Cristiano Ronaldo (19) y ya es el jugador con más goles de falta directa en #LaLiga en los últimos 25 años. Quinta jornada consecutiva en la que marca Messi.

— MisterChip (Alexis) (@2010MisterChip) January 28, 2018

Más goles de falta directa en Primera en los últimos 25 años:
20 Messi
19 Cristiano
16 Roberto Carlos
15 Ronaldinho

— Pedro Martin (@pedritonumeros) January 28, 2018

Opta credits both Messi and Cristiano for an extra goal (?)

21 - Lionel Messi has scored 21 direct free-kick goals in La Liga, more than any other player since at least 2003/04 (Cristiano Ronaldo, 20). Magic. pic.twitter.com/5INzUggstM

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 28, 2018

 

Messi really has got some great celebration pics lately, that and the three in the last two Clasicos.

 

Finally had time to update my database.

Messi has 36 freekick goals in official games for club and country, 21 in La Liga.

Also Messi's last assist against Betis was his 250th for Barcelona, four shy from 300 for club and country.

 

Scored, 84 taken.