This is an argument that has and will continue to rage for as long as football is played. The beauty of football is that fans can have so many different views. It can be frustrating, but how dull would it be if we all agreed?
At the moment we are blessed with having two of the greatest footballers of all time playing alongside each other and pushing each other to greater heights. We are of course talking about Lionel Messi and Ronaldo. The arguments rage about who is the better player and in truth there is little between them and it’s probably down to personal preference and how you would want your team to play, but lets be honest you would take either!
In truth we should just enjoy seeing them play in the same era pushing each other to greater heights, but where is the fun in that!
So we shall highlight our top 5 players of all time. (our opinion) So not to be biased we shall list them in the order of their age, youngest first .
Part 1: Lionel Messi – Barcelona and Argentina
28 years old and the choice of many for the current Worlds best player and possibly of all time. Messi has won the FIFA Balon d’Or an unprecedented 5 times! 7 La Liga titles with Barcelona, 4 Champion League titles and 3 Copa del Rey and yet the holy grail of a World Cup winners medal still eludes him despite playing in an Argentina side who should have been capable of winning the tournament.
In club football he has played in 537 games scoring 442 goals (no doubt this will change next time he plays) and with at least another 4 years in top-flight football who knows where the records will end!! He is already Barcelona’s highest ever scorer.
At just 5 ft 7 inches he has a low centre of gravity and perfect balance, allowing him to twist and turn, whilst not blisteringly quick, he scares defenders with his direct running and impeccable control. Despite his lack of size he is strong in the challenge and rarely muscled off of the ball. Great vision allows him to have a great all round game, seeing and executing delicate through balls and passing around the penalty area.
As Messi has matured he has moved back a little from playing as a main striker dropping deeper into attacking midfield and whilst this may have very slightly affected his goal tally, it has arguably allowed him to have greater influence on the team. Last season Barcelona won the treble: La Liga, the Champions League and Copa del Rey.
He is an outstanding individual footballer, but plays for the team. The argument for him being the best can be attributed to rather than just Messi having a good game he is able to stimulate his team into playing better with him.
Happily married with two kids, he seems to be the perfect role model, no partying, no dramas (apart from a little tax scandal), but loving his football, the team and players who help him achieve everything.
Could he be the best ever? It is certainly close; can anyone really ever say either way? It is all down to opinions and how do you compare players from different eras and styles of football?
The monkey on his back is the lack of a World Cup winners medal. Some of his competitors for the best ever player have won leagues, cups and World Cups. Should he never win a World cup, it will always raise a small question mark; particularly as Argentina are always a strong side and one the favourites every 4 years.
Messi probably has one more shot, but can he win it? Who knows, the desire is there, he recently said he would happily give up his 5 Balon D’or prizes for a World Cup winners medal, but there have been many incredible players who have never won it.
For our part he is without doubt number 1 or 2 of all time, how could he not be! You will have to see who else makes our top 5 list to challenge him.
