The Greatest Debate

Interesting that people are saying that, until he's "done it in a World Cup", Messi can't be considered a great like, for example, Pele.

I'd argue that yes, Pele did indeed "do it" for Brazil and in the World Cup but he played almost his entire club football with Santos so didn't prove himself-not that he had to, mind!-in Europe or top level national competition either, with Europe still considered the proverbial benchmark for success in the club game.

Messi is "doing it" in probably the best club football competition in the world (CL) at the moment, one that has, like it or not, overtaken the World Cup-for which, I see, either an interval of every two years eventually (but with fewer competiing nations) or, more likely, a 'proper' World Cup for clubs.

Maradona carried Napoli-some achievement, he was also the main man for Argentina for what, 16 years or so as a player?

Cruyff had one world cup to shine in-but do did a lot of his team mates, their 1974 team, probably my earliest football memory were out of this world. He also won the European Cup three times as a player and once as a Manager-not bad going!

All outstanding players and comparing them is pointless although it looks like I have done just that-mnot intended! The argument about who is the greatest player of all time rolls on and can never truly be established, I think we should just enjoy them whilst we've got them-and, after watching Neymar's 2nd for Santos last night, if HE ends up at Barca, well, we might as well all pack it in!

Posted By: Martin Peters, Mar 8, 14:00:55