Messi is a fantastic talent, but really, the people in this thread comparing him to Maradona of that age...couldn't have seen Maradona at that age! As great a talent as Messi is, people should give him another season before proclaiming him this or that. He's just burst on the scene and in breakthrough seasons no one knows about you, even if opposing players and coaches get to look at Messi and what he is (incredibly fast dribbler with high levels of cunning) his weaknesses and ways to stop him will come about next term. This is when we can gauge where he is going to go in the game and whom he can be compared to in the pantheon of greats. Everything is fantastic for him right now and he is having a dream debut season, but he's not the first to have a dream debut season and that is why we should temper our entusiasm a little until he's doing the same thing next term and the one after. I'm not saying I have any doubts about Messi's talent - his performance against Chelsea away, really lifted him in my estimation and he really looks like he's going to be one of the world beating talents of the next generation, but one thing you learn after watching football for a time is to wait a while before declaring new players are anything and most certainly not the new Maradona! (again, if you saw Maradona at the same age there really is no comparison) Messi has an exciting journey ahead of him. The fact that he is new and this is a WC year could combine brilliantly for him. The weaknesses in his game haven't been found yet i.e what winds him up, what upsets him, where he doesn't like to be ushered into with the ball, how he'll react in games where he sees next to nothing of the ball etc etcand that freshness could prove to be an incredible bonus for Argentina and the World Cup as a spectacle. For further examples of what I mean look at other young prodigies who burst onto the seen in majors in the very recent past: Rooney, Ronaldo at Euro 2004 (at this point no one knew their weaknesses and it made them inredibly hard to contain) Owen at the WC '98 (the Argentines had no idea whatsoever of Owen's game or weaknesses) if things go well, Messi may score some of the goals of the tournament - that's definitely not unforseeable as the combination of newness and undoutable quality combines. We can gauge what Messi is going to be (all-time talk etc) when we see how he copes when his game is 'found out' when he's just another pro player who everyone knows about and knows how to play. It's highly probable he'll rise above it and still prove himself stellar, but until he does Maradona!! comparisons are just silly. As Maradona said, however, by talent and potential, Messi must surely be the closest one, but that wont be proven for a number of years, starting with next years campaigns. Having said all this, Messi and Barca are just fun to watch and I'd like to see this brand of football go all the way this year. Both the player and the team are brilliant adverts for the game.
As far as i've seen no one on this board has definitively said messi is what maradona was at that age. the only one truely proclaiming that is maradona himself. the barca fans on this board seem to be pretty level headed, i don't know where these arguements to shoot down messi's ability come from, or the need to justify maradona's dominance. that being said, they do share a similar style of play and i believe that is what maradona bases his comparison on. messi isn't even the best in barcelona yet, but in what was in my opinion maradona's greatest strengths, the ability to change speeds continuously accelerating on extended runs and to be able to manuever comfortably in unbelievably tight coverage inside the box, at this, i do feel messi has shown to be the best since maradona, even better than ronaldinho. a player like that lacks predictability. it seems to be the common sentimate that messi is at best the first messi, and i believe that is enough for all of us barca fans.
Personally, as much as I like the way Messi plays, I want him used less. There's nothing good about using Messi to the point of burnout and only getting 2 great seasons from him and then we are clamoring to sell him by the time he's 22/23. Messi should retire a Barca player. As should Rooney, Rossi, and C. Ronaldo for Man Utd. But calling him Maradona is really a curse because he can't possibly live up to that standard unless he wins everything for the next 8 years. I do want him in Germany for Argentina, but not as a starter. Of course if he doesn't go and Argentina don't make it to the Semi-Final, Peckerman is possibly gone.
Interview with Messi: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/noticias/noticias/n06022607.shtml Guy is very mature for his age! Not just a talent but already a star. And he is still 18 years old. He can only get better...
That's not entirely true. Maradona won his first WC when he was 26 years old, after a rather disappointing debut in '82. In that aspect, Messi can actually do better than Diego. Moreover, at this age Maradona was about to win his first league title. Again, Messi has a very clear chance of winning a Liga title this season. It was only four years later that Diego would shine in Napoli, where we all know what happened.
Not in the literal sense. I mean Maradona is seen as the greatest ever. For Messi to do that he'd have to surpass Maradona in terms of trophies (not impossible) but eventually takeover for Ronaldinho,and take Barca to possibly a 10 year period better than the 90's
Messi is great... He is a joy to watch and he makes Barca alot more dangerous. I think he is only the second Barca player I've ever been a fan of (don't get me wrong I admire the quality in your side but I can't stand some of the personalities). The only other Barca player I was a fan of was Figo and he ended up playing for Real lets hope history repeats itself .
I hate to do this to a legend but what did Maradona effectively win in his time. As much as he was a game breaker and a deciding factor in the matches he participated in, when it come to titles he is nowhere near the level of some of the Brazilians today or even Pele. IMO he is better than Pele from an individual skill/knowledge/distributing of the ball but doesn't really have the titles that are insurmountable. His stat sheet of titles reads(most notable): 1 World Cup Championship (Arg)'86 1 U.E.F.A Cup Championship (Napoli) '88 2 Italian League Championships Scudetto (Napoli) '87 '90 1 Italian Cup Championship (Napoli) '87 This isn't jaw dropping stats because there are some players at Real Madrid who have accomplished more. Not to take away from Maradona's ability but something should be said about his inability to be a winner or create winners. (although I will note he carried Argentina in the 86 and 90 world cups)
good point to use number of trophies for comparing the players is insane. common there are many ok players who played for better teams and have won more trophies than Maradona. now this doesn't mean that there are thousands of players better than Maradona.
Maybe we should take into account that he has won these titles with Napoli. If i'm not mistaken, they weren't exactly world beaters before Maradona's arrival.
Being 18, playing for Barca, earning 4 million plus euros a year and having breathtaking talent all sounds very lucky to me. I could live with that. And the Neville brothers have won a truck load of medals but you will fail to convince anyone that this makes them great players.
we don't need that. or do we? This is true. Napoli wasn't a team of stars. Maradona single handlely carried that team. pretty much. Napoli wasn't expected to win those titles.
Messi and Maradona cannot be compared because they play in completely different eras. IMO maradona in his time was the best dribbler.But in terms of numbers,he produced nothing spectacular and doesnt hold any particular record,so obviously he never dominated the game.Messi is just starting out and only time will tell. Messi is only 18 -not even close to his peak and that makes it even more difficult to judge .He is very promising but only time will tell. Messi will only be Messi and not the next maradona.Their styles are completely different.Messi's biggest strength is speed-he can dribble away any defender . His biggest weakness is speed-He spends the most energy,so he gets tired quicker. Maradona's biggest strength was dribble and strength-His legs were so strong,it was difficult for opponents to tackle him.
Did you just say that about Diego Maradona? You can't be for real can you? I understand that you are a massive Brazil supporter, but come on now...Diego was dominant.
Maradona is overrated , would he be remember if he didn't win that world cup ? I mean, they cheated England out , Has never done anything exceptional , i know he carried Argentina on his back in that world cup but still , How can you compare Pele to Maradona ? Differnent Era and times , Thats like me saying Ronaldinho ---> Maradona(whice in all fairness is true if you compare , pace, drible and effectiveness)
A Real Madrid fan moaning about cheating, oh dear, irony really is dead. Given that you support a team who owe most of their success and trophies to a fascist dictator and the bribing and intimidating of referees do you not think that perhaps you are not the best person to moralise about anyone "cheating"?
Haha.., your funny, you should do stand-up! I'm sure Franco put on a Madrid Jersey and acted as a support striker for Di stefano or maybe he switch roles and play the referee once in a while Why are trying to Change the subject ? FACT is Argentina cheat in thiere last world Cup , you an Argie fan, mad at me cause i mentioned it ? - Maradona is cheat , simple as that !
Yeah, yawn, so original , no one has ever come out with that one, what a genius. Real Madrid as honest as their white shirts, tee,hee. Remind me, which country was your greatest ever player from (you can look it up on google as I imagine you are too thick to work it out for yourself).