The GOAT

[chaching]

Apart from the odd highlight I have never seen Pele but his longevity and stats tells an amazing story. My first footballing memory was the hand of god so I absolutely hated Maradona but when you looked at his career and how he pretty much carried a poor Argentina and a lowly ranked (although I believe I have read somewhere Mafia assisted) Napoli side. When you think what these 2 did while having no protection with a lot of what they had to deal with would these days be considered GBH never mind red cards, Having to deal with crap pitches and not having the sports science we have now you would have to think they would be on another planet if they were playing in this age.

When comparing Messi and Ronaldo first thing to say is how amazing it is to have two players at this level at the same time, Messi is the more natural footballer. Ronaldo is a physical monster who isn't short of natural skill but not on the level of Messi. I think its a bit unfair on Ronaldo to say the world cup ends the conversation between them as Messi hasn't always been great at these tournaments and he has had better players around him at Argentina.

Football is / should be a team game. Only going on highlights and stories I think if you were a top player and you had the choice of playing with peak Pele or peak Maradona I think most would say Pele. I think most players were given the choice of playing with Peak Ronaldo or Peak Messi I think they would choose Messi.

So my uneducated opinion I would say it would be the following:
1) Pele (despite never seeing him play but making lots of assumptions)
2) Maradona (Despite Hand of God or is it hand of god that stopped me putting him first?)
3) Messi
4) Ronaldo

Surprised no one has mentioned Figo yet who I would say is in the group of players just below these 4 amongst others that have been mentioned.

Hoddle will always be the best in my heart so was difficult not to put him first (head overruled heart).

 

[XIIIMPC]

I think comparisons between Messi and maradona are like those between LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

It's difficult both to compare and distinguish them but I look at it like this:

If you put them head to head in similar teams, who comes out on top?

My feeling is that Maradona would be more likely to win. Somehow he'd find a way.

But that would depend when. You could say it's the drug-addled 1994 Maradona who might well win, then get the result reversed after the match or something.

I don't think any one-off game is a settler here. Even if you say peak vs. peak it's arguable as to when that is for each man, and if you are saying peak vs. peak you could add Brazilian Ronaldo to the discussion (for example).

 

[Trix]

I mean, all we hear about football from back then is footballers smoking at half time, having poor diets, not spending time in the gym and also players having quite wild party lifestyles. The fact that ketchup being banned is some revolutionary thing in player diets kind of proves this. I can totally understand why he would think this.

Though the type of challenges players faced back then were way worse.

Yes but we have to take into account the attacking players that were 'walking past' all these slow out of shape ill disciplined defenders, were also caning the pints, pies and woodbines at every opportunity. If you are asking would a player who trained the way they did back then cut it in modern football the answer is no not for a regular 90 minutes at least, but if those same players with the ability they had were modern day footballers training with modern methods they'd still be right up there with the best in the world. I'm still yet to see any player in a Spurs shirt pass the ball as well as Glenn did 35 years on. That isn't an era/fitness thing that's an outright ability thing. Would he be able to keep pace with modern day PL players fitness wise? I doubt it

When you are comparing players from 30-40-50 years ago, you can't use stats because they aren't really comparable. They train and eat better now, the pitches were heavier as were the boots(very much so)back then and the ball more far more unpredictable. Getting hacked to pieces was part of the game and skilful players had very little, to in some matches zero protection. Add in traveling everywhere by bus usually on the day of the game, to play on a frozen pitch thread bare in certain area's and grass too long in others and you'll surely understand it's not possible to judge the players on athletic ability or stats. What they can be compared on however is how much better they were than everyone else on the pitch, and how important they were to the team considering what they achieved. Does Maradona have close to Messi's numbers? No and tbh I wouldn't expect him to, but what he achieved with an average Napoli side and a slightly above average Argentina side was something that has never been close to being achieved since. A player that good he could pick his team up against the best sides in the world and carry them on his shoulders to major honours. I'm not trying to put Messi down because he's incredible, and as I've said imo the number 2 of all time, but if you want the closest thing to the definition of a one man team it was without question Diego Armando Maradona.

 

[nferno]

It’s too hard to call conclusively because Messi, Maradona and Pele each played in different eras, but we can all conclusively agree that Cristian Ronaldo is not in the conversation of GOAT. Him and Messi did play in the same era and everyone without a bias recognises that Messi is, objectively, the superior player.

 

[dimiSpur]

Amazing how many people post stuff like this and just don't understand why this is bollocks. How old are you out of interest?

Ask your mum.

 

[GutBucket]

Messi GOAT but Ronaldinho most entertaining player I ever watched.

 

[For the love of Spurs]

Messi GOAT but Ronaldinho most entertaining player I ever watched.

Ronaldinho brought the joy to the world. He made you love football, best GOAT for entertainment ever.

 

[Trix]

Ask your mum.

That's what I call answering without answering. By the reply I'd have to say clearly of school age.

 

[PrettyColors]

Idk it’s like basketball. Russell, Kareem, Jordan, LeBron all played in different eras. All have cases.

Same with Pele, Maradona, Messi+Ronaldo

Laver, Borg, Sampras, Big 3

I do know Messi is now over Ronaldo and that achievement (best of his era) is probably all you can hope for in this day and age.

 

[dimiSpur]

That's what I call answering without answering. By the reply I'd have to say clearly of school age.

Are you calling your mum a peado?

 

[soflapaul]

 

[theShiznit]

For me it's Messi number one, Zidane 2nd and Iniesta 3rd then fat Ronaldo 4th.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

Are you calling your mum a peado?

show some respect.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

1. Simphiwe Tshabalala
2. Messi
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
4. Ronaldo
5. Ronaldinho

This is my personal list, from players I’ve actually had the privilege of watching since 1991. Pele and Maradona would probably make the list too, but I wanted to go with strictly players I’ve seen play.

 

[cjbyid]

Messi is the goat for me. Wasn't old enough to see Maradona play so with what I've seen it's Messi for. Like other's saw him at Wembley against us and he ripped us apart.

Probably Brazilian Ronaldo and Zidane next. Watching Zidane in person was something else, made football look like the easiest game ever, everything was just so effortless to him ?

 

[Trix]

Are you calling your mum a peado?

Not sure what your end game is here mate, but you are looking more childish with every post you make.

Anyway I'm not going to drag it any further, I'll let you get back to your crayons and I'll smash the ignore button like I should have done a post or two ago.

 

[rossdapep]

Cristiano doesnt even come into my considerations for GOAT.

Stats are a huge factor but I think the biggest factor is your eyes. Combine the 2 and then that should reveal a closer answer.

Cristiano Ronaldo has obviously been phenomenal with the stats. But on eye appeal? Not for me. An incredible finisher and he can do pretty much everything but he's also spent the last 10 years basically reserving his energy for big moments in games and it's his teammates who have had to ensure they get the ball to him.

Messi is very different as he starts moves sometimes and his team turn to him to be the spark. But it's when he gets the ball and you get that sense he can just destroy a defence on his own.

So Messi is the GOAT for me as he's been dominant in the game since my early 20s, a long time.

However, if O Fenômeno did not get those damaging injuries, I'm certain he'd be my GOAT because he was simply a force of nature.

1. Messi
2. Pele
3. Maradona
4. O Fenômeno
5. Zidane

 

[g_harry]

1. Maradona
2. Maradona
3. Maradona
The rest

 

[UncleBuck]

A debate that will always split hairs and opinions just like cricket or any other sport!

 

[yusrisafri]

It’s too hard to call conclusively because Messi, Maradona and Pele each played in different eras, but we can all conclusively agree that Cristian Ronaldo is not in the conversation of GOAT. Him and Messi did play in the same era and everyone without a bias recognises that Messi is, objectively, the superior player.

I love this reply