haha maybe, chopsuey, but I wouldn't tell them that. They tend to get a wee bit excited when speaking about the GOAT.

LOL Argies

F Messi and F Maradona

He took Napoli to two Serie A title's actually as well as a UEFA Cup back when that competition was still a big deal and very tough to win.

Sorry but i'm laughing here... claiming he's the goat but can't spell his name

LOL at people calling the Napoli team terrible, they signed maradonna for a world record transfer fee and splashed the cash on a number of other players, if man city win the league should we call Silva the GOAT?

yes, Messi confirmed GOAT.

if there was ever any doubt...

He's already fourth in the all-time CL goalscoring list, and has three hat tricks in his last four outings. Just incredible.

He's 24 for ****'s sake! Already making history. Insane.

His best is yet to come.

I don't know. Maradona and Pele were before my time. But it's just so hard to imagine a player being better than him at what he does.

In terms of being the greatest at the moment, it's not really very close is it? And I mean no disrespect to Ronaldo who is an incredible footballer. Messi is the best dribbler in the world bar none. But he also has to be one of the top 3 finishers in the world. But then on top of that he's one of the top 10 passers in world football too. I think he's one of a current handful of players who can play those clever little angled through balls consistently. Like him, David Silva, Xavi, maybe Iniesta, maybe Fabregas, maybe Ozil (not sure in the German and French leagues here) - they're decision making in and around the box to wait for the correct, most +EV run and execute the pass consistently well... they're in a group of their own.

He's just so close to being the perfect attacking footballer. On the ground, at least.

i never see messi dive in my limited viewings. am i just mising it?

He is also such a solid Playmaker. I think that is what puts him over the top. He is already the best scorer. But being top 5 in playmaking? gtfo thats great.

Solid is a bit of an understatement. Only the greats can go down mid field like they are taking a stroll before making the most +EV play.

nope, he very rarely dives. less than any good player in recent memory probably. part of why he's so easy to root for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S7hlL4sJek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK8yv4h7bi8

This is the thing, I think. They talked about it during half time. He just always knows what is the best option, and when to do it. He takes his time, and releases the ball on the right moment. When people were still trying to say that Ronaldo is better, the arguments were always his technical abilities, such as heading, and better weaker foot. But Ronaldo doesn't even come close to Messi when it comes to decision making. Nobody does.

I'd say Pirlo can come close.

It really all starts with his dribbling. Because he's so good at holding onto the ball he could afford to take his time to let the play develop.

Then his attacking abilities make him the best option (usually) and passing abilities allow him to take the best options when he's not.

He plays the game like it's a video game.

He has at least 20 assists this season, 24 last season. And they're not coming from crosses really I don't think. The open play ones are clever little through balls or flicks over the top of defences from midfield or in and around the area. I'm not seeing many other footballers around currently that have his vision, timing, execution of a pass from 20 to 30 yards from goal. I think if he didn't have unparalleled dribbling ability he would be able to use his passing ability more often but most of the time he prefers to go it alone and it usually ends up being the correct decision to do so.

He dives, but far less than comparable players. The explanation imo, is that it actually is -EV for Messi to dive, he is that good.

Yep it's not just his goalscoring. It's everything. Best dribbler easily, top 3 finisher and passer as well I'd say.

Given the amount of blatant fouls committed on Messi to try to stop him that he keeps running through, I'd say he agrees as well. So many times he could take a free kick and a yellow card 20 yards out and just plows through the shirt pulling and kicking his heels to score a goal.

Yeah, the few times I have seen Messi dive its either for a penalty or when he is completely surrounded. When there is space to run into he always stays on his feet or tries to.

Those people who say that the different time periods that each potential GOAT played at shouldn't matter (should be judged relatively) forget that nowadays the range between the players at the top levels is much, much narrower. By this I mean that there just aren't any weak spots in the top European or Champions league so to really stand out in the way Messi or CR9 do is much more of a feat. I really think that truly exceptional players relative to the field are going to become rarer and rarer, although I hope I'm wrong.

One important goal for Argentina > 5 meaningless goals against Leverkusen.
Diego still GOAT

you're fighting a losing battle here mr