I'm old enough to remember Maradona but not Pele ..........but if he was better than Messi at Messi's current age.............. so to all the old timers.......I don't give a fook ........Messi is the best EVER and this has now been officially endorsed by thereev. .......and no not even keefy can make Daggers the next Messi!
It's very subjective when there is such fine margins between them as players. Maradona is still the man IMO.
It is very subjective, Ponty72. But its more fun if we focus this on players we've actually seen. Here's my three, for what it's worth. 1. George Best. Saw him play for Man U at Hillsborough, circa 1969. Law and Charlton were also playing. Wednesday did a manful job of marking Georgie out of the game that night. He broke free twice - I don't have to tell you the rest. Man U won 3-1. 2. Cantona. Saw him play at Forest and also at Hillsborough. In truth, he didn't do all that much on those occasions. I think he got an equalising penalty in the Forest game. But I've never seen a player with that much presence. Strutted about like he owned the pitch. Absolutely fascinating to watch. And so much skill for a big man. 3. Eddie Gray. My favourite of all the players I've seen live. Absolute poetry in motion. Eddie wasn't that fast, but by God, he looked like he'd got the ball on elastic. Revie's crack that he could "run on snow and not leave footprints" wasn't far off the mark. A truly memorable player for me. I mention these as seperate to the memorable players I've seen at Oakwell through the years. 1. Barnard v Huddersfield. What a goal - can't think I've seen better. 2. Aylott v Brighton. Genius to chip the Brighton keeper from the touchline. 3. Marcelle. Mercurial talent. Better not start talking about the second against Bradford or I'll get emotional - again! 4. [Extra] Ali Millar. Gillingham 1971 - lobbed the keeper from the centre circle. Donny Rovers away 1977 - free kick with "dead kill" backspin. Could have been a legend. Hope this helps, as the man would say!
Pele was better....... At 17 Pele was in the Brazil World Cup winning side. Watch his goal in the final. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPQ_lV3Qnsg And this was in an age when defenders weren't picky about how they stopped a player! You are right in that Messi is probably the greatest player playing today. But I would love to have seen Pele, in his prime, playing with the protection footballers get today.
Re: Pele was better....... agree with you 100% seen all three (television) but pele always stood out in my mind. his memory may be fading away with time probably inevitable really, thats why i like to judge achievements marradonna may come close but messi's won nowt.
Re: Pele was better....... Van Basten , he was a quality striker. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAdX7iJcxpI&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Wlfh4fI1U&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ViLiJhZuUA&feature=related
Re: Pele was better....... as i thought ure all punch drunk and have watched far too much of the super reds!
Re: Pele was better....... PELE FIFA World Cup: 1958 1962 1970 maradona FIFA World Cup: Winner: 1986 Runner up 1990 Messi ???
Pele still the best ever, Maradona second based on their club and international records. Messi is a fantastic world class player but still to achieve at international level.
cruyff, also never won anything. there are great players but to stand the test of time you have to show evidence, alas unfortunately Cruyff, george best, gazza ronaldo etc etc fail on these counts.
No, it's about opinion. In watching Cruyff he was one of the best ever. So you are saying that Nobby Styles was a better player than Cruyff then?!