Who was the best footballer ever at his peak?

[shadow_operative 15932]

Who, at his peak, was/is the best to ever play the beautiful game?

[shadow_operative 15932]

for me it's Messi, and only being able to speak about the players i've actually seen, i'd probably put Ronaldo Fenómeno next. Ronaldo at his very best is probably the single most dominant player ever in the attacking third. like a soccer hybrid of LeBron James and Steph Curry- to strong and powerful to be stopped, and as skillful as anyone who has ever played. just amazing to watch. 

but Messi...ssshhheeeeiiiittttt, partner; he's simply the best, ever. the biggest difference in Messi and his rival CR7, to me, is how Messi makes everyone around him better. he not only makes their jobs easier by attracting so much attention and opening up the entire field for his teammates, but he's a footballing genius who can't help but raise the level of anyone who has the privilege of training and playing alongside him.

also, i loved how, maybe 10 years ago, CR7 was considered an elite FK taker, while Messi was just ok. there were times during his career at Barca where he had 4 or 5 guys out on the pitch with him who were better FK takers. then, over the years we've been able to watch as CR7 has become a shell of his former FK taking self, while Messi has worked on his craft and become one of the all time elite FK takers ever. there's just nobody else like him, and i have a hard time imagining anyone else ever being quite like him. 

[shnsajax 3591]

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima!

[Gucci_Suit 2642]

Dude, it’s CR7. There was a time when I didn’t even care that much when RM would fall behind in a big game. I knew Cristiano would win it in the end. God I miss those days  

It’s either CR or Jozi Altidore for me. 

[InkaUtexas 25857]

This is very hard since so many dominated in their era's. What are the parameters? Do we overlook Eusebio? Never won shit, but was magical. 

Talk all we want about CR and Messi. Go look at video of Maradona at his prime with Napoli. The Flying Dutchman was amazing. And we discount Der Kaiser? 

I look forward to this discussion. Love the dutch so will leave this here.

 

 

[ztejas 43411]

3 minutes ago, InkaUtexas said:

I look forward to this discussion.

It isn't a discussion for me unfortunately. Partially because I wasn't around or not watching for a lot of the greats - partially because Messi is just too ridiculous - even for people that were around to see the others. 

[InkaUtexas 25857]

11 minutes ago, ztejas said:

It isn't a discussion for me unfortunately. Partially because I wasn't around or not watching for a lot of the greats - partially because Messi is just too ridiculous - even for people that were around to see the others. 

You calling me old? Dammit..... Well ya know we have YouTube!

 

[ztejas 43411]

5 minutes ago, InkaUtexas said:

You calling me old? Dammit..... Well ya know we have YouTube!

 

Not really. I didn't start paying much attention to European soccer until 2014 or so. Doing my best to study up on the history but there's a lot to cover. 

[InkaUtexas 25857]

There are video recaps of every WC on YouTube. I put them on to piss off my GF when she annoys me and I am writing. 

[gsoda3 3245]

cruyff was messi before messi was born.  without cruyff promoting the total football system tiki taka barca of the 2010s might not exist. 

 

it's cool to see how similar they were.  they both excelled in a team based system.  they both made their teams better.  messi is more proficient at single-handedly taking over games.  neither won it all with their country but have come close. 

 

that said, cruyff was obviously before my time so i can't make a judgement about who was better. 

 

also, were you serious about jack wilshere...?

[TexArcher 37761]

There's a great debate to be had about #2, but #1 is Messi.

[ztejas 43411]

8 minutes ago, TexArcher said:

There's a great debate to be had about #2, but #1 is Messi.

This is the last rep you're getting - fuck off and celebrate your Astros win and go Blues.

[TexArcher 37761]

I bet Jose Altuve would've been an amazing footballer, since he's amazing at everything.

Carry on.

[ztejas 43411]

9 minutes ago, TexArcher said:

I bet Jose Altuve would've been an amazing footballer, since he's amazing at everything.

Carry on.

Maybe read some pages back in the ALCS thread. I was gushing over your boy. 

[WBT 20561]

Messi is the best I've seen.  From what I've read from people from that era, Di Stefano should be a choice in the poll.

[dieucla98 2942]

Ricardo Pepi.

[shadow_operative 15932]

On 10/15/2021 at 9:05 PM, gsoda3 said:

also, were you serious about jack wilshere...?

i mean it was him or Santi Cazorla.

[Napoleon 8660]

5 hours ago, WBT said:

Messi is the best I've seen.  From what I've read from people from that era, Di Stefano should be a choice in the poll.

…or Diego?

Which one of those three was the best Argentine at his peak?

Then who was the better Brazilian at his peak? Ronaldo Fenomino or Ronaldinho?

I don’t think that CR7’s peak can match Ronaldinho’s, so I wouldn’t include him in the conversation.

Pele scored a lot of goals from middle school until retirement, and he’ll tell you about it, but I don’t know where he stacks up against the 5 above. 🤷‍♂️

[midtown 3345]

I voted Pele because this goal even got the German officers to applaud

 

[Napoleon 8660]

31 minutes ago, midtown said:

I voted Pele because this goal even got the German officers to applaud

 

I looked up…

”How many times did Max Von Sydow play a Nazi?”

I wasn’t offered a quick answer without having to do research, but from two different links, I got these quotes:

1) “Actor Max von Sydow was not Jewish or German, and yet, through much of his English-language film career he played Holocaust survivors or Nazis.”

2) ”Playing a Nazi officer was something von Sydow could do falling out of bed.”

👨‍✈️

[Soccer Program 2]

• If you are a footballer player, you will definitely the game player and i hope you liked to play on the best ping pong tables.
  
  So, find out the table and play the game now!

[Juicy 725]

I think it is Messi, but Ronaldhino was insane to watch. 

[WBT 20561]

A bot combing the internet and spamming ping pong tables wherever people are discussing the best footballers ever...that's an interesting business strategy.

[Hagbard Celine 10849]

i am proud to hang out with you heathens, 2/3rds of whom will have total consciousness on your deathbead, which is nice

[Hagbard Celine 10849]

 

[maninblack 7974]

Messi.

1.) He's the correct answer.

2.) Refer to #1

[horn4life 3759]

I pout a vote down for Pelé.  Simply as his play was truly game altering at the time.  PLUS, the level of fouling and physical punishment allowed to try and mute his talent was considerably more than the physical abuse that Messi faced on game days.  

Messi is clearly the modern and overall skill winner.  It would be silly for me to say that Messi does not have a superior skill set to Pelé.  All you need do is look at the Academy System that Messi was a part of, versus the poverty of Pelés youth.  Head to head, in the exact same system, I would put my money on the original.  There is absolutely no doubt that if Messi was in Pelé's time Messi would be the loser, as hormone therapy of that era would have rendered Messi at a severe disadvantage in a more physical era.

Both are beautiful and creative players. And as i said Messi has the overall superior skill set.  But Pelé, ruled his era in a way that I honestly doubt that Messi could have without the greater protections for the players afforded today in officiating.  Flame away...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi#2004–05:_Success_at_youth_level

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelé#Early_years

[sidis 9822]

the fact that this op of all people could have possibly left olivier giroud off the list is devastating. 

[Ted Lange 16083]

The true 🐐

[ztejas 43411]

21 hours ago, sidis said:

the fact that this op of all people could have possibly left olivier giroud off the list is devastating. 

And Granit Xhaka - the Rasheed Wallace of the PL.