Messi : the Greatest ever???

[Kremezerukh]

Lionel Andres Messi: 234 goals from 8 seasons with 18 hatricks in his club carrer.... nut is he the greatest ecer footballer?? Can This 24 Year old lad be cmpared with legends like Pele and Mardona?? have Your say.

[Sauron]

Easily. I'd like to see how many assists he has too

[Eist]

He's certainly an amazing talent, but as you say - he's only 24. Since football is such an elite game, it takes a lot to keep up that ability - inherent natural ability alone is, of course, not enough. If he keeps this level up for a few more years, then he'll certainly be in the same group as Pelé, Beckenbauer, Platini, Maradonna and Cruyff.

[Aersoldorf]

I was going to post, until I figured out we're talking soccer and I don't really have a clue. Those stats seem pretty impressive though.

[Eist]

Given that he's 5'7'' and 148 lbs, I don't think Messi would cut it half as much in American Football.

[Sauron]

Mar 31, 2012 12:25:30 GMT -5 Eist said:

He's certainly an amazing talent, but as you say - he's only 24. Since football is such an elite game, it takes a lot to keep up that ability - inherent natural ability alone is, of course, not enough. If he keeps this level up for a few more years, then he'll certainly be in the same group as Pelé, Beckenbauer, Platini, Maradonna and Cruyff.

I think you can already put him in those terms already based on what he's done. If he does continue then yeah he will be the best ever.

And Aersoldorf, Shane Williams was 5"7 and plays Rugby Union and at his peak was one of the best around. Even though American Football is slightly different, the physicality is just as important in rugby so just doesn't he can't be any good at it

[Kokkinostan]

For me, he probably is - the man just radiates talent... The only player that I think really comes close is Maradona - if Messi's career suddenly flops, then I may reconsider and place Maradona back on top. But for now, just watching Messi on the ball tells you how much talent this guy has!

[Free South Califas]

Mar 31, 2012 14:58:52 GMT -5 Eist said:

Given that he's 5'7'' and 148 lbs, I don't think Messi would cut it half as much in American Football.

shrubbery, there must be a dozen successful running backs of that height and broadly similar weight (considering how different the dietary and conditioning routines of the two sports are) in the history of the Chargers alone.