Lionel Messi is impossible (in-depth analysis)

[GivenToFly]

I know I could have posted this in the soccer thread but I felt it deserved its own

Statistician does extremely elaborate analysis (for famous statistician Nate Silver's website) on Messi's playing and compares to other players, mainly C. Ronaldo. Conclusion is simply "wow..."

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lionel-messi-is-impossible/

Messi is so good it's simply unreal.

[Axl_morris]

I havn't clicked the link yet but if its worth anything he done absolutly nothing in the game he's just played.

As someone who doesn't study football religiously he has left a poor impression this world cup. Even though he has scored a few goals nothing strikes me that he's the greatest player.

[supercool]

I havn't clicked the link yet but if its worth anything he done absolutly nothing in the game he's just played.

As someone who doesn't study football religiously he has left a poor impression this world cup. Even though he has scored a few goals nothing strikes me that he's the greatest player.

lol

[Thin White Duke]

I havn't clicked the link yet but if its worth anything he done absolutly nothing in the game he's just played.

I didn't watch the match but I've heard the goal was a pass of him, which is what I call something.

I haven't read the link yet but I approve of this thread.

[moreblack]

He made all the difference today. And in pretty much every game Argentina has won at this World Cup.

[tinyrobot]

He can't display a lot because he's always marked by 5 assholes. But he's always there, waiting in the shadows if he has to, to help the team and pull it out of darkness when it's needed.

Messi is GOD.

[YOUCOULDBEMINE.]

He's greatly overrated. He does well at Barcelona because that whole team is designed for Messi. He's good, but not as 'impossible' as some like to think.

[GivenToFly]

He's greatly overrated. He does well at Barcelona because that whole team is designed for Messi. He's good, but not as 'impossible' as some like to think.

Did you read the article? He's so much better than everyone else by most metrics it's not even funny, and even in the very few aspects where he's not the very best he's up there near the top.

[YOUCOULDBEMINE.]

Still, meh. I'm not impressed by his playing for Argentina.

[DieselDaisy]

I do not think he is - Pele, Maradonna level (as hyped up) - but he is not far off. Better in a Barca shirt mind. His Argie teammates are cack though. Di Maria there - you need a Tia Maria after seeing his passing display. Then there is that dick with the ponytail. Just a bunch of dicks basically. Hopeless tactics, fluffed passes, no desire - if I was an Argie, which I am not (because I do not look like an caveman cum Iron Maiden fan), I would be very worried.

Messi carries the team.

[Thin White Duke]

I would like to see Pelé in today's football and with a round ball and see how good he would be.

Messi is the best one, at least of his time, maybe in 30 years people will acknowledge it.

Edited July 2, 2014 by Thin White Duke

[DieselDaisy]

The old footage of Pele is simply astonishing. I could literally watch it everyday. Same with Diego even though he was a cheating little bastard. My favourite though is Garrincha.

[GivenToFly]

Maradona didn't have the physique or the work ethic. I think if he had been born 20 years later he would have had a career like that of Ronaldinho, with a few very good years followed by a quick fade away. There have probably been at least 10 players in the last 10 years that were better than Maradona.

[DieselDaisy]

I do not agree. It is fair to say he was peaking, circa 1985-1990 - that is when he won the World Cup 1986, won 2 Serie A titles and UEFA cup at Naples, runner up in the World Cup in that final year, scored tons of goals in Italy. Thereafter it all unravelled for him. Now in 1990 he was 30. He may have had another good 2-3 years, or even 5 if he had Giggs levels of application (he could have even tackled the 1994 WC without the steroids), but at 30 he would have already being startng to fall away from his peak, even without the drugs, booze and whores.

Five years, of peak period, top flight, football, is a good innings.

Similar arguments are applied to Best and Gazza. It is a popular saying here, ''Best, he destroyed his career'', but a football career is so short and these guys achieved about all they could possibly dream of within that short period, Gazza being the exception perhaps.

[Russel Nash]

He's greatly overrated. He does well at Barcelona because that whole team is designed for Messi. He's good, but not as 'impossible' as some like to think.

If the best player of all time is overrated you should view another sport.

[Thin White Duke]

Ronaldinho had so much potential. During his best years in Barcelona (not many) he was awesome.

[Russel Nash]

I do not agree. It is fair to say he was peaking, circa 1985-1990 - that is when he won the World Cup 1986, won 2 Serie A titles and UEFA cup at Naples, runner up in the World Cup in that final year, scored tons of goals in Italy. Thereafter it all unravelled for him. Now in 1990 he was 30. He may have had another good 2-3 years, or even 5 if he had Giggs levels of application (he could have even tackled the 1994 WC without the steroids), but at 30 he would have already being startng to fall away from his peak, even without the drugs, booze and whores.

Five years, of peak period, top flight, football, is a good innings.

Similar arguments are applied to Best and Gazza. It is a popular saying here, ''Best, he destroyed his career'', but a football career is so short and these guys achieved about all they could possibly dream of within that short period, Gazza being the exception perhaps.

First of all. Maradona at his best was also struggling with cocaine addiction, he started that shit in 82. In 94 it wasn't steroids, was a banned cough syrup.(a naive move by the medical team).

Messi on the other hand, comes clean. I expect 5 more years at the top.

Best was living the dream, outside UK he's a legend for the partying, not so much for the football.

To me Garrincha was better player than Pele. I don't buy the 1300 goals.

[moreblack]

I would like to see Pelé in today's football and with a round ball and see how good he would be.

By the same token, I'd love to see today's players try to do what Pele did, with the ball and shoes, and pitches from back then.

[Thin White Duke]

Yes, exactly. I don't think it's fair to compare different eras. Today's football is more physical, faster, with different tactics, etc.

Messi and Pele can't be compared objectively.

Edited July 2, 2014 by Thin White Duke

[YOUCOULDBEMINE.]

He's greatly overrated. He does well at Barcelona because that whole team is designed for Messi. He's good, but not as 'impossible' as some like to think.

If the best player of all time is overrated you should view another sport.

Puskas? Pelé? Eusebio? Cruyff? Who are you talking about?

How does anyone dare to compare Messi with names like those? Football was different back then, nowadays everytime you touch someone its a foul and someone falls down like he's dying.

Messi wouldn't last 45 minutes around any of the defenses you saw back in the day.

Edited July 2, 2014 by UcudBmine

[Thin White Duke]

He's greatly overrated. He does well at Barcelona because that whole team is designed for Messi. He's good, but not as 'impossible' as some like to think.

If the best player of all time is overrated you should view another sport.

Puskas? Pelé? Eusebio? Cruyff? Who are you talking about?

How does anyone dare to compare Messi with names like those? Football was different back then, nowadays everytime you touch someone its a foul and someone falls down like he's dying.

Messi wouldn't last 45 minutes around any of the defenses you saw back in the day.

You would be right if you weren't wrong. Pepe wasn't born back then.

I love Eusebio and it's the national hero (fuck Cristiano) but Messi is among all those without any doubt. I don't know why he gets so much criticism.

[Russel Nash]

He's greatly overrated. He does well at Barcelona because that whole team is designed for Messi. He's good, but not as 'impossible' as some like to think.

If the best player of all time is overrated you should view another sport.

Puskas? Pelé? Eusebio? Cruyff? Who are you talking about?

How does anyone dare to compare Messi with names like those? Football was different back then, nowadays everytime you touch someone its a foul and someone falls down like he's dying.

Messi wouldn't last 45 minutes around any of the defenses you saw back in the day.

Im talking about Messi obviously. Puskas, Pele, Eusebio, Cruyff, Sanfilipo, Distefano, great players in another age at the sport. Today is more competitive, mote tactics, more physic, and more boring.

How old are you? Did you get to see those players ?

He's greatly overrated. He does well at Barcelona because that whole team is designed for Messi. He's good, but not as 'impossible' as some like to think.

If the best player of all time is overrated you should view another sport.

Puskas? Pelé? Eusebio? Cruyff? Who are you talking about?

How does anyone dare to compare Messi with names like those? Football was different back then, nowadays everytime you touch someone its a foul and someone falls down like he's dying.

Messi wouldn't last 45 minutes around any of the defenses you saw back in the day.

You would be right if you weren't wrong. Pepe wasn't born back then.

I love Eusebio and it's the national hero (fuck Cristiano) but Messi is among all those without any doubt. I don't know why he gets so much criticism.

Michael Jordan.

[YOUCOULDBEMINE.]

He's greatly overrated. He does well at Barcelona because that whole team is designed for Messi. He's good, but not as 'impossible' as some like to think.

If the best player of all time is overrated you should view another sport.

Puskas? Pelé? Eusebio? Cruyff? Who are you talking about?

How does anyone dare to compare Messi with names like those? Football was different back then, nowadays everytime you touch someone its a foul and someone falls down like he's dying.

Messi wouldn't last 45 minutes around any of the defenses you saw back in the day.

Im talking about Messi obviously. Puskas, Pele, Eusebio, Cruyff, Sanfilipo, Distefano, great players in another age at the sport. Today is more competitive, mote tactics, more physic, and more boring.

How old are you? Did you get to see those players ?

He's greatly overrated. He does well at Barcelona because that whole team is designed for Messi. He's good, but not as 'impossible' as some like to think.

If the best player of all time is overrated you should view another sport.

Puskas? Pelé? Eusebio? Cruyff? Who are you talking about?

How does anyone dare to compare Messi with names like those? Football was different back then, nowadays everytime you touch someone its a foul and someone falls down like he's dying.

Messi wouldn't last 45 minutes around any of the defenses you saw back in the day.

You would be right if you weren't wrong. Pepe wasn't born back then.

I love Eusebio and it's the national hero (fuck Cristiano) but Messi is among all those without any doubt. I don't know why he gets so much criticism.

Michael Jordan.

I grew up watching those guys. Of course I'm not old enough to have seen some of the greatest players ever.

And I might've been a bit harsh on Messi, he's a great player and I haven't seen anything like him in ages. But I do think he's a bit overrated.

I'd love to see Messi play in other teams / competitions, it would be a great way to see how good he really is.

Edited July 2, 2014 by UcudBmine

[MB.]

I think Messi needs another 2 years or so to say he is the best ever. He is still young. But I am convinced he can be called the best ever in a few years.

For now I still put Maradonna, Cruyff, Pele above him, but probably not for long.

[Thin White Duke]

Pele didn't even played in Europe. And most of the great players just known one or 2 teams. Yes, Messi is great in a Barcelona made for him but the guy would bright anywhere. So far in this WC and not playing his best football (he hasn't been at his best for months), he is still being the key that keeps Argentina alive. And Argentina has nothing to do with Barcelona style.