Which would you chose to have in your team during their prime years? I was having this debate in work the other day and everybody seems to think Messi is untouchable.
Messi and Ronaldo are the two best players ever been. You can argue with your Zidane's, Pele's and Maradona's but these are better. I've seen so many of the goals Pele etc have scored and defenders just fall down in front of them, George Best being the prime example of this. Defenders actually try and kick **** out of both Messi and Ronaldo and are still both untouchable
You think Messi and Ronaldo are given a hard time by defenders in comparison to Pele, Maradona and Best? Wow.
I mean you're comment that defenders kick the **** out of them. They can't touch them these days. Whereas they could assault them back in days of Pele, Best and Maradona.
Fair play, I never took that in account to be honest. I may be bias because I'm more of a modern day fan as I never saw anything back then, only ever seen highlights and documentaries
I suppose it's impossible and a bit pointless to compare players from different eras. Maradona and Pele may have been the best in their own eras, but the game has changed since then, so would either of them be among the best nowadays? I can't believe that it's already been nearly ten years since Zidane retired! Anyway, to answer your question, I'd definitely choose Messi.
Best, Maradona and Pele were kicked to death by opposition players. Players are given much more protection now than these players, and others of their generation, were ever given. You can't even compare the game now to the era they played in.
I'd have to pick Messi but only because of his scoring record at club level. At international level you'd have to argue that Zidane was the better player, simply based on medals won.
Scholes my favourite player but would say Messi is a step above even Scholes. I think La Liga is weaker on the whole than the Prem but Messi takes the piss at Champions League level. He's just incredible - the perfect player.