Yet Another Cycling Forum
Off Topic => The Pub => The Sporting Life => Topic started by: LEE on 23 November, 2014, 09:51:17 am
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(Edit. changed title to trigger a "Best ever?" discussion)
This is a player that desperately needs to win a World Cup so I can say that I was around when the best player ever was playing*
*Normally I'd say that shouldn't be the case (as with George Best) but Argentina are more than capable.
This is a striker who, despite every defender he plays against knowing they must stop Messi, manages to repeatedly deliver the goods.
8 Hat-tricks in a single season! Some strikers at top clubs would be happy with 8 goals.
Messi's records
La Liga top scorer: 253
Barcelona's top goalscorer: 368
Champions League top scorer: 71 (joint with Raul)
Most consecutive La Liga matches scored in: 21
Most goals in a season: 68
Most goals in a La Liga season: 50
Most Ballon d'Ors: 4
Most goals in Club World Cup: 4 (held jointly with Denilson)
Most European Cup top scorer awards: 4 (with Gerd Muller)
Most goals in a single European Cup game: 5 (joint with Luiz Adriano)
Most La Liga hat-tricks in a season: 8
Most goals in El Clasico: 21
Most goals in a calendar year: 91
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Seems to be a genuinely nice bloke as well.
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My son was just asking me "Who's the best footballer of all time?" I'll point him at this thread! ;)
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My son was just asking me "Who's the best footballer of all time?" I'll point him at this thread! ;)
It's going to be a short list of nominations I expect.
Of course you can only be the best in your own era but I personally have never seen anyone who looks to be in control of a football as totally as Messi is.
He seems to pass a ball into the net like a top golfer taps in a 6" putt.
George Best had it & Maradonna had it but they were both flawed to the detriment of their game. I suspect Maradonna was taking performance enhancing drugs way before he was detected.
George Best once said "In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life." (You gotta love Georgie).
Messi has it all, left foot, right foot, Headers, tap-ins, long range shots, free kicks and incredible solo "dribbles".
He's also only 27 which means he will most likely set the bar even higher. He doesn't rely on pure pace like C. Ronaldo which means he can become a prolific midfielder as he gets beyond 30.
I just checked and he's scored 26 Hat-tricks for Barcelona !!!! That's ridiculous.
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All your plaudits are well-merited, Lee (though, being a Tees-sider, I have a soft spot for Brian Clough, whose goals per game record was astonishing). But my favourite of Messi's attributes is his determination to come out of every tackle with the ball, rather than a free kick. Almost all players play for the free kick these days - not Messi.
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My son was just asking me "Who's the best footballer of all time?" I'll point him at this thread! ;)
It's going to be a short list of nominations I expect.
Of course you can only be the best in your own era but I personally have never seen anyone who looks to be in control of a football as totally as Messi is.
He seems to pass a ball into the net like a top golfer taps in a 6" putt.
... Maradonna had it but they were both flawed to the detriment of their game. I suspect Maradonna was taking performance enhancing drugs way before he was detected.
...
Maradonna was own choice, but I don't know why. When I said "A lot of people would say Pele" he responded "Who?" Time moves on... (I suspect he knows Maradonna as a manager and has seen old film, whereas Pele is just an old geezer who advertises Mastercard or something)
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Pele, like George Best, demonstrated skills that wouldn't look out of place in the modern game. Skills that, in that era, were light years away from the typical skill levels.
They both had speed of mind, which is better than speed of feet (although Pele had both).
Had there been more TV coverage in the 50s and 60s then there would be more examples of their genius.
Messi is not only blessed with footballing genius but 360 degree TV coverage of his every move, so it's easy to stack up an entire career of highlights where we may be missing 90% of George Best's.
I can imagine anyone was actually better then Messi though, maybe just as good, but not better.
Possibly that's the actual crux of the matter. Some players actually achieve perfection, they get as good as you can get, regardless of the era.
There isn't a "Greatest", just a list of "Perfects".
Pele
Best
Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Neil Ruddock
...etc
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No, no, no! Ronaldo (who is otherwise brilliant) plays for the free-kick; Neil Ruddock concedes the free-kick (I suspect you are just stirring there!).
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Norman Hunter was very effective in his role.
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Norman Hunter was very effective in his role.
Sea also "Smith, Tommy" and "Harris, Ron 'Chopper'"
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Let's brainstorm this one.
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Platini wasn't bad either, was he? Interesting that so many of the contenders
are short-arses have a low centre of gravity - Platini, Messi, Maradonna, Monty Brown (I only expect one other forum member to get the reference, and acknowledge that it only really applies if the 'best ever' epithet applies to Gainsborough Trinity players). Their other attributes must make up for the disadvantages they have when it comes to heading. Also interesting, I think, that these sort of discussions tend to coalesce around goal-scorers, and, inevitably, people playing in the last 40 or 50 years or so.
I do particularly like watching Messi play.
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I think, that these sort of discussions tend to coalesce around goal-scorers, and, inevitably, people playing in the last 40 or 50 years or so.
Agreed, but it's very hard to judge a defender when his performance is based on things not happening. Much of their work goes unseen and is "positional".
A Goal Keeper stands a better chance because it's clearer when they prevent a goal by their actions.
However, it's always going to be a forward or goal-scoring midfielder I think.
The game is ultimately about scoring goals and scoring a goal in the modern game is extremely hard to do, hence the hefty price tag on players who can do it regularly.
I think what unites people around Lionel Messi is that he seems to play for the joy of the game. As mentioned above, he seems to ride challenges (some of them designed to scythe him down) rather than fall over, even when he would be perfectly entitled to do so.
By the way, he just scored another Hat trick to become the highest goal-scorer in Champions League history...to obtain one of the few remaining records he doesn't already own.
Here's 5 minutes of magic. Really, if you don't like this then you will never like football. Most players would be dining out for life on just one of these.
Check out the final one, it out Maradonnas Maradonna.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603JM1adqRA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603JM1adqRA)
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Absolutely marvellous, Lee, even at the speeded up depictions. My favourite is the one (about the fourth goal, I think) where the keeper saves his initial attempt and Messi passes the rebound through his legs; it's just so funny, almost like a scene from Buster Keaton. I also love the way he smiles when he scores; almost everyone else roars like macho-moron. But I think I know his secret: he is a shape-shifter. There are one or two there where he just seems to disappear for a split second. I've never seen anyone feint like that, except possibly George Best and Jim Baxter. His balance is almost incredible. He makes football into an enjoyable comedy and it's great to see so many "hard men" dumped on their backsides (mteaphorically, at least) without him even touching hem.
Thanks!
Just thought, Messi, Maradonna, Aguerro, Argentina.....
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Apparently they are still trying to untie the knots in some of those defenders' legs.
Note. I don't think any of that is speeded up (Speeding up footage usually really jars with me, when you see it in car chases and such. The physics are noticeable all wrong.)
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Having not been to a top flight league game for over 30 years I have only seen the current players on TV and often you don’t get the overall impact of a performance that way. Perhaps this is why defenders rarely figure as outstanding players yet watching live they often they can be seen as a crucial team player. Messi has to rate as one of the best players in the current era purely because of his goal scoring record.
As a lad the defender I drooled over was Billy Wright at the Wolves, great leader, great defensive organiser and a great player. I often wonder if there have ever been a better defender before or since him.
Are we allowed to post some other football memories here? ;)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603JM1adqRA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603JM1adqRA)
Thanks, that's keeping us entertained. :)
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Messi has to rate as one of the best players in the current era purely because of his goal scoring record.
Yes, that would suffice but that's not really why I rate him so highly. It's the manner of how he scores goals that clinches it for me.
I'd still rate him as the best I've ever seen if his tally were half of what it is.
The similarities between Messi and George Best are incredible really, there are some identical goals, using identical changes of direction and tying-up of defenders' legs.
Check out the goal at 1:00min, it's quite possibly the best goal I've ever seen.."If you can keep your head....."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplemK3Y4ns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplemK3Y4ns)
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Check out the goal at 1:00min, it's quite possibly the best goal I've ever seen..
I think that's the second best goal I've ever seen. The best being the one that starts at 3:34 and ends at 3:44. :)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603JM1adqRA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603JM1adqRA)
Thanks, that's keeping us entertained. :)
Awesome.
What I hadn't noticed before this montage: he hardly does any single amazing thing with the ball - he just stitches together lots of simple touches, always getting his body in the right place, then slots an inch-perfect finish.
[There is one long-range screamer, but even Hoddle scored a few of those :P ]
Like watching Rocket Ronnie score a lightning 80; the trick is never _needing_ to play a difficult shot, never getting out of position. And without having to think about it.
Not even one double drag-back. Pffft.
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Agree about the simplicity of his touches, which is made possible I imagine by his incredible balance and skill at skipping over defenders' feet. I don't think I've ever seen him do a "stepover". Everyone else does..... could be a moral there.
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Check out the goal at 1:00min, it's quite possibly the best goal I've ever seen.."If you can keep your head....."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplemK3Y4ns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplemK3Y4ns)
Even he wasn't sure it was going in!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BjCcBjEx9E
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I love the one at about 58s where he leaves the defender lying on the field, shoots, and then scores when it rebounds off the goalie's knees!
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And just to put Pelé into context from the younger perspective, I was asked a couple of days ago "Is Zinedine Zidane still alive?" :D
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What I hadn't noticed before this montage: he hardly does any single amazing thing with the ball - he just stitches together lots of simple touches, always getting his body in the right place, then slots an inch-perfect finish.
[There is one long-range screamer, but even Hoddle scored a few of those :P ]
Paul Gascoigne the same. Some people seem to have the ball stuck to their feet.
Any football lovers out there need to watch this and see, possibly, the 2 best footballers duke it out with goals that make the hairs on your neck stand up.
2 totally different styles but equally effective and both showing what the game is really about. May contain some disturbing "Darts-Like" commentary.
Several times I guarantee you will think "surely not from there".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1OHxIv_Bac (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1OHxIv_Bac)
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Some people seem to have the ball stuck to their feet.
Like this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkd3HWQu32Q), always a personal favorite of mine.
Damn good player too.
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I remember that goal by Eddie Gray. My thoughts at the time remain as they were: "Why did he only ever do that once in his career?"
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I remember that goal by Eddie Gray. My thoughts at the time remain as they were: "Why did he only ever do that once in his career?"
My Step-dad is a Leeds fan. I grew up in the '70s watching them at their peak and could probably still name the 1972 Cup winning side.
That piece of skill was a one-off, they were a fairly grim side to watch.
Even thinking back to those days reminds me of "Whatever Happened to the likely Lads" and "From Norwich...it's the quiz of the week...Sale of the Century".
It was such a beige time.
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I remember that goal by Eddie Gray. My thoughts at the time remain as they were: "Why did he only ever do that once in his career?"
My Step-dad is a Leeds fan. I grew up in the '70s watching them at their peak and could probably still name the 1972 Cup winning side.
That piece of skill was a one-off, they were a fairly grim side to watch.
Even thinking back to those days reminds me of "Whatever Happened to the likely Lads" and "From Norwich...it's the quiz of the week...Sale of the Century".
It was such a beige time.
LOL! Sale of the Century! ....oh dear!
Ask your step-dad about this game (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O54WGabJcRg). He'll remember for sure.
If Leeds were grim to watch this Saturday afternoon in 1972 god only knows how you can describe the Manchester United side here. Some more one-off bits of skill from Eddie Gray too :)
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For Leeds fans, I say Bob Stokoe, Ian Porterfield and Jim Montgomery.
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For Leeds fans, I say Bob Stokoe, Ian Porterfield and Jim Montgomery.
Thankfully I'm not, cause compared to those past glories it's been a pretty grim ride for fans up there at Elland Rd these days. Living the dream and then the dream imploded.
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Cristiano Ronaldo wins the Ballon d'Or.
Hardly surprising I suppose, he has developed into an amazing athlete.
Here's the recent history of the trophy..
2014 - C. Ronaldo (runner up L. Messi)
2013 - C. Ronaldo (runner up L. Messi)
2012 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
2011 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
2010 - L. Messi (runner up A Iniesta)
2009 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
2008 - C. Ronaldo (runner up L. Messi)
Obviously an admin error in 2010 when Barcelona got 1st, 2nd & 3rd.
It's quite a purple patch for those 2 players, a real golden era.
Van Basten, Cruyff, Platini and (other) Ronaldo are the other stand-out players with 3 wins
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Messi just staked a claim for the trophy during the Barca v Bayern game.
He reduced one of the world's best defenders to a prone spectator (Boateng is still trying to figure out where Messi went) whilst sublimely chipping over the world's best goalkeeper.
If this were any other player then they'd show this goal any time they mentioned his name (think of the Gazza goal against Scotland where he chipped Colin Hendry), but this was just one of about 50 such sublime goals.
He also scored another last night by battering the ball in from outside the box and assisted a third with a superb through-ball.
This was his 100th game in European competition (not bad for a 27 year old) and his 78th goal in those competitions.
He strikes me as a George Best/Paul Gascoigne figure but without the self-destructive personality disorders. That means he can carry on at this level for another five seasons before possibly dropping back slightly, into an amazing attacking midfielder, for another few seasons. Hard to imagine him not scoring 100 goals in Europe.
He's a player to tell your Grandkids about.
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I was in a pub when that match was on. I couldn't work out initially what the two abbreviations "BAR" and "BAY" meant, and had made my mind up that it was some obscure League 1 match. Then I saw Messi's goals and thought "Thats a bit good for League 1". Then the penny dropped.
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You know, this short video would make a wonderful show-reel of a normal player's career.
10 top class goals from a 20 year career.
The thing is that this is just from Messi last season
I don't know how he keeps on doing this stuff (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRaqT7evXx4)
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I don't know how he keeps on doing this stuff (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRaqT7evXx4)
"He takes the moon and all of the planets into consideration before scoring."
WTF? ??? Even allowing for an overexcited Usanian commentator, I really hope I misheard that.
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You did, I think.
It was a Geordie. ;D
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Its the way he scores that's so spellbinding. The precision he has with a curving shot is amazing especially given that often there is only a split second in which he can shoot. It reminds me of the way Beckham used to do amazing free kicks but without having all the time in the world to think about it like Beckham had.
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Its the way he scores that's so spellbinding. The precision he has with a curving shot is amazing especially given that often there is only a split second in which he can shoot. It reminds me of the way Beckham used to do amazing free kicks but without having all the time in the world to think about it like Beckham had.
He is undoubtedly a total natural. If he thought for a moment about what he was doing he'd probably fall over.
The goal he scored against Bayern, his 2nd, he cut back, then, in about a 1/10th of a second, continued in the direction he'd been going originally. The defender (World class defender, Boeteng) simply fell over backwards. before Messi, confronted with the best goalkeeper on the planet, deftly chipped the ball over him.
This wasn't a training-ground trick, it was the Champions League.
The clue to his artistry, and it really is art, is the number of top-class defenders left helplessly on the floor, untying knots in their legs, whilst Messi celebrates another goal.
Maybe the best thing of all though is that I've yet to see him dive, or pathetically roll around on the floor in unconvincing agony. This is from a player who gets deliberately "hacked" more than most.
Thierry Henry, a former team-mate, says he's like a young kid on the park, always jumping to his feet shouting "give me the ball" (instead of waving imaginary red cards at referees).
"Best Ever" is always a difficult thing to judge (I never really saw Pele at his best) but I truly think I'm watching the best ever. This is someone doing it against the very best players the world has to offer, every single season, in the most important games.
He really needs a World Cup.
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You know, this short video would make a wonderful show-reel of a normal player's career.
10 top class goals from a 20 year career.
The thing is that this is just from Messi last season
I don't know how he keeps on doing this stuff (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRaqT7evXx4)
Sadly, I can't view that video, but this one shows him defeating many of the truly great players. If you can stand the terrible music.
https://youtu.be/bVOTjO78BxE
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That video is poorly titled: the whole point for me about Messi is that he humiliates nobody, he just beats them (easily) and that is enough. Ronaldo is a superb player who comes across as a pathetic attention-seeker.
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more ridiculousness (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RioGF5JTWFY).
Athletico put 3 defenders on him in this year's cup final so the only thing he could do was beat them all, plus make the last, 4th, defender chase his shadow before "doing" the keeper at his near post.
Nobody shoots for the near post, which is why Messi scores so many times doing it I think.
ANY other player would be happy to get 3 such goals in their end-of-career montage (Think of Gazza for example. Pele gets 2 missed attempts in his montage) but Messi will have about 100.
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Messi is a Time Lord. How else does he do it? When he beats that fourth defender, he is physically in two places at once. No other explanation.
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Shame he devotes less time to his tax affairs, they all get tarnished in the end.
Except for Gary Lineker of course ;)
I find it impossible to compare the players mentioned above - all from totally different eras. One player I'd have loved to have seen but was just before my time was Johan Cruyff, alleged to have invented rather a lot of the skills demonstrated by those who came after.
And only played in one world cup since he was a naughty boy in that one and his wife wouldn't let him go the next time ;D
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I believe Cruyff was subject to pressure from a rather more sinister source.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/apr/17/newsstory.sport
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Interesting, thanks for that :thumbsup:
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Cristiano Ronaldo wins the Ballon d'Or.
Hardly surprising I suppose, he has developed into an amazing athlete.
Here's the recent history of the trophy..
2014 - C. Ronaldo (runner up L. Messi)
2013 - C. Ronaldo (runner up L. Messi)
2012 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
2011 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
2010 - L. Messi (runner up A Iniesta)
2009 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
2008 - C. Ronaldo (runner up L. Messi)
Obviously an admin error in 2010 when Barcelona got 1st, 2nd & 3rd.
It's quite a purple patch for those 2 players, a real golden era.
Van Basten, Cruyff, Platini and (other) Ronaldo are the other stand-out players with 3 wins
2015 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
Neymar, Messi's strike partner at Barcelona, came 3rd and it's difficult to see past those 3 for next year.
... and these are just the goals from the >>> 2014/15 Season (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvO_pj08Ih4) <<< If you only have a few seconds then skip to Goal #57 because it makes you wonder how he can keep doing this.
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Oohh my worrd. Unbeliveable Uncontionable Witchcraft - from the..
_Wizard
Superb; and the commentary too ;D
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Half of it's witchcraft - the way the ball just seems to go through defenders or lazily drift in inches from a post - while the other half appears to be about being in the right place at the right time.
'Course, being so consistently right about place and time might be seen as witchcraft too ...
(And realistically, it looks like 'somewhere in the box' *is* the right place as far as he's concerned ...)
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He clearly doesn't view the world like most people.
It's as if he sees everyone around him moving in slow-motion, which gives him time to think about the best thing to do next.
For example, I could probably do some of that stuff on a football pitch if everyone else promised to walk slowly and not run.
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Heard today that Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football following the conclusion of the Copa America.
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have I read this right:
He's retiring* at 29,
While still outplaying just about everyone on the planet,
Just because he's fed up of his team being useless???
This is not an honourable end.
*From internationals, that is!
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36721892
No doubt there will be appeals and things like that.
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No doubt there will be appeals and things like that.
I suspect not. He'll not be locked up....
Under the Spanish system, prison terms under two years can be served under probation.
...and the fines are nothing.
Messi was fined about €2m and his father €1.5m.
He could lose more than that behind the sofa cushions and not miss it. He probably said 'will you accept a cheque?' there and then to the judge.
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Realistically Messi will earn £1million a week across his various sponsorship deals and Barca wages.
It's amazing just how "You can never be rich enough" people can get isn't it?
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I wonder if it's that in some cases, though I think your sentiment is broadly correct. There is a huge number of sports "stars" who can play but not think. I suspect Lionel left it all to his Dad to take of.
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Messi scores another Hat-Trick in the Champions League.
He scores Hat-Tricks like other strikers score goals.
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Heard today that Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football following the conclusion of the Copa America.
I haven't followed Argentina much during their "Road to Russia", but it seems like he's back.
And a bizarre press conference:
http://www.mundoalbiceleste.com/2016/11/15/lionel-messi-we-will-not-speak-to-the-press-anymore/
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Heard today that Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football following the conclusion of the Copa America.
I haven't followed Argentina much during their "Road to Russia", but it seems like he's back.
Disappointing evening for him against Colombia. No hat-trick. He had to settle for just 1 (spectacular) goal and 2 brilliant assists.
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Cristiano Ronaldo wins the Ballon d'Or.
Hardly surprising I suppose, he has developed into an amazing athlete.
Here's the recent history of the trophy..
2014 - C. Ronaldo (runner up L. Messi)
2013 - C. Ronaldo (runner up L. Messi)
2012 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
2011 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
2010 - L. Messi (runner up A Iniesta)
2009 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
2008 - C. Ronaldo (runner up L. Messi)
Obviously an admin error in 2010 when Barcelona got 1st, 2nd & 3rd.
It's quite a purple patch for those 2 players, a real golden era.
Van Basten, Cruyff, Platini and (other) Ronaldo are the other stand-out players with 3 wins
2015 - L.Messi (runner up C. Ronaldo)
Neymar, Messi's strike partner at Barcelona, came 3rd and it's difficult to see past those 3 for next year.
... and these are just the goals from the >>> 2014/15 Season (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvO_pj08Ih4) <<< If you only have a few seconds then skip to Goal #57 because it makes you wonder how he can keep doing this.
2016 - C. Ronaldo
Edit. Runner up.......... L.Messi
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Heard an interview with Thierry Henry (ex-Arsenal great).
"Messi is the best... Ronaldo is the best of the humans".
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Not specifically about Messi but let's look at this again...
Barcelona, trailing 0-4 from the first leg against Paris St Gemain, needed to score 5 to avoid being knocked out of the Champions League.
They pull it back to 3-4 on aggregate only for PSG to score again, 3-5.
At 87mins 27seconds Barcelona required 3 unanswered goals to avoid being knocked out (PSG would go through at 5-5, it needed to be 6-5).
........and they score 3 goals. 6-1 on the night.
Fans from both sides were leaving the stadium at 87 minutes (why wouldn't you? I mean it's all over).
I'm a Manchester United fan and remember* the 1999 final when we were 1-0 down with 91 minutes played.. so that was quite a comeback but, to come come from a 4-0 deficit and needing 3 with just a few minutes left.
Is that the best comeback in football?
* "remember" is the wrong word. I mean burned into my very consciousness.
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From what you say it sounds like this too..
Fans from both sidesPSG were leaving the stadium at 87 minutes (why wouldn't you? I mean it's all over).
Didn't MU do the comeback against Bayern Munich. In injury time? Adding insult to injury as it were..
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I wonder if there were any odd betting patterns detected. That is such an incredibly unlikely turn round.
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I switched off after PSG scored.....NUMPTY!! Only discovered the result this morning
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https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/petition-calling-barcelona-vs-paris-100243617.html
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https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/petition-calling-barcelona-vs-paris-100243617.html
Suarez dived for the 5th (penalty) goal but it actually could have been 10-1
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https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/petition-calling-barcelona-vs-paris-100243617.html
Suarez dived for the 5th (penalty) goal but it actually could have been 10-1
Bit the dust ? Sorry, i'll get my coat.
Most certainly a total collapse by PSG. The referee helped hugely by giving / not giving penalties to suit. The amount of diving going on was bad, but probably no worse than most games.
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https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/petition-calling-barcelona-vs-paris-100243617.html
Suarez dived for the 5th (penalty) goal but it actually could have been 10-1
Bit the dust ? Sorry, i'll get my coat.
This is from a public information film on how to safely feed Louis Suarez sugar-lumps.
(http://pad2.whstatic.com/images/thumb/a/aa/Hand-Feed-a-Horse-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/aid640869-728px-Hand-Feed-a-Horse-Step-11-Version-2.jpg)
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Well, Christiano Ronaldo just scored his 103rd goal in the Champions League competition. That's more than most football clubs have scored in the Champions League.
Ronaldo and Messi will be players you tell your grandchildren about in the same way I was told about Pele and Best.
It was of course by way of another hat-trick.
Quite frankly it's amazing that, given how quick and athletic top class defenders are today, he and Messi are allowed any space to score any goals. It's a testament to their ability that, despite defenders' attempts to snuff them out, they continue to run past them.
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Do you know, I can't think of any context whatsoever in which I would tell my grandchildren about Messi or Ronaldo.
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Lionel Messi? Christiano Ronaldo? They never played at Roots Hall, y'know!
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Do you know, I can't think of any context whatsoever in which I would tell my grandchildren about Messi or Ronaldo.
Possible context.
Grandchild - "Hey Gramps, is it true you know nothing about post-war football?"
Gramps - "No..I heard about Christiano Ressi and Lionel Monaldo"
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I think Wow's grandchildren only ever hear about cricketers who played for Essex between 1974 and 1986. And chess players. What a bundle of laughs that must be :P
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I think Wow's grandchildren only ever hear about cricketers who played for Essex between 1974 and 1986. And chess players. What a bundle of laughs that must be :P
Careful or you may end up with a little wooden horse's head under your duvet*
*Tradition warning to lay off Chess Players...or else.
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Here's a showreel of Messi just from this season so far.
https://youtu.be/k-2KXCxENlw (https://youtu.be/k-2KXCxENlw)
What's extraordinary is that it's like a showreel of most players' lifetime career best moments.
There's clearly something different going on, like Autism Savant, where he has a picture in his head of everything that is about to happen, as if he sees everybody else in slow-motion.
Nobody I've ever seen has this much time when there clearly is no time at all.
His lifetime career best moments showreel will be about 3 hours long.
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He certainly haz teh tekkerz...
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His ability is incredible. The beard is even harder to explain.
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Argentina, in danger of not qualifying for the World Cup, fall behind to Ecuador.
Naturally Messi resolves the situation with...a sublime hat-trick, natch.
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I have a vague feeling that it's unusual for him to really turn it on for the national team. Is that your feeling? I know Argentina have generally under-achieved over the last few tears. I mean, how is a strike force of Aguerro and Messi to be resisted? But most teams have managed it quite easily, I think.
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Messi reportedly turned down an offer from Manchester City...of...wait for it...you may want to sit down....
£88,000,000 signing on fee
PLUS
£850,000 per week wages.
Assuming the average UK wage is around £30K a year then Messi would have been paid 28 years wages... every week. That's over half of someone's lifetime earnings every week.
Of course it's the people earning 30K a year who are probably funding the ludicrous wages of the footballers.
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So what now for Messi? Over to the lawyers I guess......
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So what now for Messi? Over to the lawyers I guess......
Or the accountants.
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I have a vague feeling that it's unusual for him to really turn it on for the national team. Is that your feeling? I know Argentina have generally under-achieved over the last few years. I mean, how is a strike force of Aguerro and Messi to be resisted? But most teams have managed it quite easily, I think.
to answer my own question of three years ago!
I expect it might be service: Barcelona would thrash Argentina almost every time (Bayern would declare at half-time).
Then again, you don't seem to see Lionel Messi getting service - just suddenly he's got the ball...…
So, answers on a postcard, please.
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Messi reportedly turned down an offer from Manchester City...of...wait for it...you may want to sit down....
£88,000,000 signing on fee
PLUS
£850,000 per week wages.
I suspect that for Messi it's no longer about the money. He wants to end his career playing for a club that wins things and where he can display his talent. Barcelona are completely messed up at the moment or he wouldn't be leaving.
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Messi reportedly turned down an offer from Manchester City...of...wait for it...you may want to sit down....
£88,000,000 signing on fee
PLUS
£850,000 per week wages.
I suspect that for Messi it's no longer about the money. He wants to end his career playing for a club that wins things and where he can display his talent. Barcelona are completely messed up at the moment or he wouldn't be leaving.
I wonder how much of that money would (or will) go to the various parasites who make a fortune by doing not much other than "representing" footballers in some way...
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Messi now says he's staying at Barça (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/04/lionel-messis-father-la-liga-has-made-clear-error-over-700m-buyout-clause)