THE MESSI PHENOMENA: IS HE
GREATEST PLAYER EVER? By Hassan Mohammed.
I want step out of my comfort
zone, and discuss my passion, which is football. It is not news that Messi has
done it again - winning the Ballon D'or for the 4th time. Not just winning 4
times but in a row. But what it is now in the minds of followers of football is
if the question of if we can say that he is now the greatest player EVER.
Whether he should now tower over great names like Pele, Ravelino, Maradona and
George Best.
When younger people try to
compare players like Pele (Brazil), Puskas (Hungary), Eusibio the Black Panther
(Portugal), Zico (Brazil), and Maradona (Argentina), with today's Messi and
Ronaldo, I don't blame them, because they were not privileged to see what we
have seen about in videos/clips (Pele, Puskas, Revelino, Garrincha, Keegan,
Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, George Best,Lato etc) and watch live (Maradona, Zico,
Platini, Tigana, Rossi, Careca, Marco Van Basten, Baggio). I only tell them
that "I know that Messi, Ronaldo will never survive 2 seasons of the
bruising football of yesterday. But Pele and Maradona will just be walking
right through goals every other match week, today". I do tell them about
the changing nature of the game and the way FIFA tries to make the game easier
for attackers to easily score, for players to be red carded just because their
shirts touch attackers; for developing technologies that make balls to be able
travel faster and wobble on the way; and sports equipment manufacturers to complement
FIFA by developing footbboots that develop to aid travel and flight of balls.
Even the football jerseys are specially designed to be lighter, and adaptive to
heat, cold and rain, so that footballers can run faster and be comfortable, as
against old sweat/wool that existed before.
The only thing FIFA did not do,
YET, is to expand the goal post for players to score easily or extend the
"18 yard" penalty box to 30 yards, so that attackers will have more
room yo dive, and easily secure penalties. In fact, they have succeeded in
scaring defenders sill-shit into making no tackles in the yard, and conditioned
them to only give way and look at attackers as they score. Most attackers,
today, will fly-dive like they are in a swimming pool and scream so they can
con the referee into awarding them the penalty kick, than to stay strong on
their feet and use their skills to dribble past the defender like Pele,
Maradona, and Van Basten would. FIFA always changing the offside rule to favour
attackers. Some of the rules are good, like the crackdown on time wasting, not
allowing backpass for goalkeepers to collect with their hands; and protecting
players from the types of career-ending tackles that Pele and Maradona in the
hands of butchers in the mold Claudio Gentile (Italy), Andoni Goikoetxea
Olaskoaga (Spain) Vinny Jones (England - who even made a film on how to kick
attackers without getting caught) or our own Bright Omokaro (10-10) and Sunday
Eboigbe, before the time of Messi, Rooney and Ronaldo. But some of the rules
are just too dumb.
Rooney, Ronaldo and Messi may not
necessarily be able kick the type of "case and bladder" balls we use
to have in the 70s and 80s; these are balls that will hit you on the head or in
the chest, and you will wake up on hospital bed. Today's players will score 40
goals, now and 18 of them will be penalties in about 50 matches. But in days
old, it will be 28 goals in 30 matches with just 2 penalties. The players score
goals while dodging elbows and flying foots. With referees urging to play like
men, not women. No doubt, these players are great, but not in mold and shape of
yesterday's stars. If pPele was to play today, he will score 100 goals every
season and 130 every calendar year, and all that thanks to the blessings of
FIFA rules and technology.
SO, IS MESSI THE GREATEST PLAYER
EVER?
NO! May be after the next Copa
America, and World Cup; or the next two editions of both tournaments. You can
only earn the tag "BEST FOOTBALLER EVER" when you concur the WORLD by
succeeding in your National team, not in one clubside or continent. That is
what set Pele, Maradona and Ronaldo Lima apart with Messi. he is definitely the
best of the pack today. But you should remember that everything that Messi won
in a team Xavi, Iniesta have won with exception of Olympics. But Xavi and
Iniesta have both won the World cup (1) and European Cup (2). He needs two
medals, then we move him up the ladder. In fact World Cup will do. For now, let
him hold the tag, best contemporary player. And please, don't say a tree cannot
make a forest. Maradona made two forests in 1986 and 1990 with makeshift teams.
The next 6 years (2 Worlds and 3 Copas) will determine Messi's true legend.
WHY DID MESSI BEAT RONALDO,
AGAIN?
So why dis Messi beat Messi
again? Answer is simple - PERSONALITY. Yes, both players are really great in
terms of techniques and talent. They are blessed to play in 2 of the best teams
in the world right now. But when it comes to personality, MESSI is miles ahead
of Ronaldo. Messi is grounded in the humble origins of the slums of Argentina,
and still remain grounded. Success has not gotten into his head. Ronaldo is
your typical European, who feels entitled to things. So arrogant and full of
themselves. And in 5 years to come, if the contest is still between Messi and
Ronaldo, Messi will win the 5 awards more times. Because unlike years back, the
winner of the ballon d'ore emerge by popular votes from coaches and captains of
about 180 FIFA affiliated nations, representatives from International
Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro), and Fifa's technical team etc.
Plus, Ronaldo always come off as arrogant, bitter and showy kind of player. But
Messi is quite, reserved and allow his football to do the talking. You kick
Messi, he stands up and go, no complaints, nothing. Ronaldo makes drama. He
thinks and play like a celebrity. His peers hates him. His personal problem as
long as a railway line.
I watched a 30 minutes interview
Ronaldo feature on CNN's World Sport, where Pedro Pinto tabled the Ronaldo
Persona-Problem, to the effect that "you are not likable, your peers and
the press feel you are arrogant. You go out to get players booked and sent
off...". All he could say was, "it is because they didn't come near
me. If they do, they see that I'm cool". Who wants to come near him to
know how good he is? These days even some of his team mates don't celebrate his
goals. So if there are votes to be cast and counted, Ronaldo will not win
against Iniesta, let alone Messi. All that Messi needs to do is feature regularly
for Barca and score just 30 goals, let Ronaldo score 60 goals, the captains and
coaches and whoever will overlook him, and hand the award to Messi. it so sad
he is sharing the same generation with a quite phenomenon and silent achiever
like Messi. Unfortunately, he is older than Lionel Messi, so Ronaldo's pain and
frustration will continue for they will continue in the same generation.
------------------------------------------
I will like to hear your take on
this "who is the greatest?" question.
Comments that follows…….
George Onmonya Daniel
Messi is heading to being the best ever player
except without having done so well in the World Cup. The World Cup sadly is one
of the parameter in which legends are judged and Messi hasn't done well in that
department. No matter what he does in Europe the World Cup will come haunting
him. But he has got time on his side and a good Argentinian side.
Hassan Mohammed
He sure does have time, George.
In his mid 20s, he is just starting.
Aliyu A. Wali
"His personal problem as
long as a railway line." Laughing @ Cristiano. It's quite unfortunate
though I like his zeal to play and always be the best he lacks character and
attitude of a great one which was his undoing.
Folarin Lawal Sode
Everything you said about C
Ronaldo is so right sir. He simply can never win the world best as long as he
has messi to contend with. But I used to think Messi is the greatest player of
all time until you analysed the help Fifa has given to the modern players. You
are indeed a great analyst and observer sir.
Dm Ovada
Messi is good where there are
Iniestas and Xavis, and the absence of players like these two explains his dismal
performance at national level. Watch him gasping for extra oxygen whenever he
plays in a formation warranting him to perform at double fronts of defense and
attack. For me Messi should perform elsewhere outside of Barcelona FC before he
can attain the status of world greatest player.
Gbelela Olabisi Michael
The only path or impediment to
his being regarded as one the best is if he can deliver the world cup to
Argentina!The world is the only parameter which the world best are
judged!Maradona did nothing at the club level whereas Pele did more on the
global stage than the club football yet they are regarded as the best yet. He
has time and years to make that happen!
Rasak Umoru
This is apt and thought
provoking....For those calling him the best ever footballer after reading will
hv a different opinion.....I doff my hat for this analysis of the week.
Yemi Adeosun
Thank you Hassan for this
analysis especially your reminders on the legends of the game,the texture of
the ball itself in those days and the very tough challenges players face then.
There was 'purer' football then without today's match-fixing,'protection' of
strikers,the mega bucks that go along with it and the
lucrative,modern-day,accepted 'slave trade' of BUYING and SELLING humans like
commodities. I agree with you Messi doesn't yet belong to the league of WORLD's
best even though time is on his side but all of this is hypothetical given the
FLUIDITY,that often comes in football,of popularity,fame and fortune! TIME is
the greatest purveyor of the emergence of some prodigy yet undiscovered in the
slums of Brazil,Nigeria,Colombia,Uzbekistan,etc for Messi to be dethroned just
when he gets to be more lionised as he is idolised than he currently is! And
there are lots more behind-the-scene moves than we can ever know NOW until in
the future. Messi may never perform as greatly as he does for club in the
national team because that's simply not part of his 'calling' which will
eventually prevent him from becoming a legend. George Weah of Ghana won FIFA's
world best footballer of the year,the first and only African so far,but he
never played at the World Cup stage. Let's continue to watch,enjoy the
beautiful game,endure the politics,racism,the glaring stupidity and obvious
bias of referees and keep our fingers crossed. The game can indeed be
beautiful!
Mohammad Saif Abdallah
Thnx Sir. Now i have more points to support my
arguement regarding his being the best footballer ever to play the round
leather game.
Hassan Mohammed
@Gbelela Olabisi Michael what do
you mean by "nothing at club level". Do you mean in Europe. Because
Pele has won all club championships in South America, and the World Club
Championship, and he did so under the conditions we mentioned above. And at
that time when they meet with Barca, Manchester, Real, Millan and the rest in intercontinental
level it is usually 4 - 0, 5 - 0, 6 - 0, and these matches were mostly played
in their European backyards. Maradona won his own tittles in Napoly by winning
2 scudetto, EUFA Cup, etc. Both of these old guns were World players, when
there was too much politics, where Europeans will just sit in a room and
announce their kinsmen as "World Best Player". Now it is democratic,
they cannot easily manipulate the results. That is why people South Americans
are dominating. Remove the voting system, and every other year Rooney will beat
Messi. In fact, they will go shopping and use their strong media to campaign
for and defend their choice. It is money in Europe and poverty in South America
that allowed the European teams to even catch up with the South Americans.
Because all talented South Americans and Africans are heading for Europe to
better their lives. When South America was able to hold on to its players, it
was always whitewash results against European teams. Check the history, please.
I will, however, agree with you
that because Messi is in his mid 20s, he has time - about 6 more years to do
the magic. And we wish him luck. I give it you Lionel Messi is a LION, but he
has a long way to go.
Compared to Maradona who single
handedly achieve his goals (1 world Cup, 2 Serie A titles) in a team that can
only boast of Alemao and Careca as real stars, Messi was surrounded by legends
who have even won more than him, apart from his olympic title and ballon d'or.
The Barca players have been together for more than for very long. Apart from
his 3 World Cups, Pele has won everything on offer to clubs in his days - 2
Copa Libertadores (South American Champions league), 2 World Club Cups, 6
League Championships etc. Again check the history, it will help you avoid such
sweeping statements as "NOTHING"
Josiah Ayobami Isaac
Mallam i agree with ur analysis but my answer
is simple.. Messi. Its simple sir, some of d names u mentiond in comparism wit
messi have openly shown their admiration4 him and owned up to d fact dat he is
d greatest. So my final answer is lionel messi
Mohammad Saif Abdallah
Josiah, do you expect Pele or Maradona to come
out and say they are better than him? That is for you and I to say. So saying
he is the best by those legend does not in anyway make him one.
Taofik Lias
hmmm......... Massi seems to be beta dan all
in my opinion
Busuyi Oloye
Bros, nothing to add as to why CR will never
win it again - his arrogance. Thanks to Fergie, he developed it in him. If you
doubt me, just go and take a glance at most ManU players, they all behave
alike. Thats the downfall of CR. Well, CR is not a second best, he is my best
for the last 2 seasons. Let FIFA and CR haters continue to give it to Messi. I
dont see either of them to win the World Cup any time soon. CR has proved to be
the best in three team, including his nation, while Messi is still struggling
to establish himself in his national team like he was in their junior team yrs
ago and has only succeeded in one team with the best in the world, who have
played together for many yrs both in the club and their national team. I know
they will say CR won the award under Fergie but he developed his ego from him
too. Now it has cost him 2 seasons award. Thanks for your analysis. You are a
real football lover!
Hassan Mohammed
Mallam Josiah Ayobami Isaac, even
Ronaldo who is constantly beaten by Messi will dare not praise Messi. He is in
a class of his own. So these great players will also extend the courtesy by
recognizing his qualities. You should not expect them to say, "Oh he is
not as good as we are". No, that will be petty. That job is yours and mine
and the rest of the world. Take away the sentiment of support and personal
liking for these players, Pele, Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo etc., and make an
objective assessment. And as I said it is always difficult for young ones who
have not experienced the two different generations playing. That is exactly the
mistake that FIFA made about 10 years ago, when they want to pick the Greatest
player of the last century. They main contestants were Pele and Maradona. They
put up the vote on the internet. Most of those who experienced Pele are either
not even on the net or hardly use it. Maradona has like 65 - 70% of the votes.
Further research into those that voted shows that they were mostly people in
their 20s and late 20s. So FIFA cancelled it and made it more open. It was
clean sweep for Pele. That is exactly what is happening now. Most of you, and
may be Mr. Taofik Lias only know Messi and little of the older generation. And
you only saw football as it is today, not before 1992 when FIFA started tinkering
with the rules, technologies and equipments to "make it easier to
score" and "make football more attractive". A report by the same
FIFA shows that today, only about 72 minutes are actually played in a normal
game because of constant whistles, players feigning injuries; teams holding on
to the ball at the back. And the added time does not even capture the split
seconds stoppages. It only consider stoppages for injuries.
Abel-Vandy Soso Deff Glone
d only way messi will prove to me dat he is d
greatest eva, 1, leave barca to another club to win d ballon d'or, 2, win d
fifa world cup, 3, win d copa america.
Shafii Abdulhamid
BEFORE READING THIS ARTICLE, I
USED TO THINK MESSI IS THE BEST PLAYER EVER WITHOUT TAKING CHANGING PARAMETERS
INTO ACCOUNT. BUT THANKS TO HASSAN MOHAMMED FOR REFRESHING MY MEMORIES OF THE
GOOD OLD DAYS. SORRY MESSI YOU STILL HAVE ALOT TO PROVE. PLS ENJOY THIS
ARTICLE...............
Moses Kpakor (Ex-Nigerian
International)
Messi is the best player in the world today,
and Ronaldo the second best. But as a coach, i will continue to insist that
presented with a situation to pick only one of the two for my team. I will
without any question and tìnking over it go for Christiano Ronaldo 7. Tìs is
simply because he is much more versatile. Period. On the other side, i do not
think Messi can be grouped among the vbest of all time greats like Pele,
Maradona, Cruff, Garincha, Tostao, Romario, Mario Kempes, Gerd Muller,
Backenbeur etc. These were stars who were exceedingly consistent at the World
cup and club stages. I think without prejudice Messi is only the best club
footballer in the world, and not yet near the greatest status. It is evident
all his ratings are solely based on what he has done and has been doing for the
spanish giants, 'BARCA'. By the way, one may like to assume Röaldo's
personality is pride and being full of one's self. But that is your guess. It
could never be true. That is his personality and those who respect people for
who they are and what God has made them realize that is who this man is. You
cannot change them or cause them to change. We are have our own personalties,
and that is how other people like to define us. But it is only from a million
miles away. When they finally get closer to us, its only then they realize they
were wrong in their assessment about. us. As for CR 7 personality, it's always
been what i have known him with since 2003 when he joined Man. Utd. It has
nothing to do with pride at all. I do not think either, whether pride is among
the creteria of choosing a best player in the world. For me, i tìnk Ronaldo is
closer to the greatest status, if he wins a world cup or european championship
with Portugal. He has proved himself and his exceeding consistency in the
Premiership and La Liga. While Messi is just around the corner. Yet that does
not at all disqualify him from being the best in the world.
Hassan Mohammed
Coach Moses Kpakor, I don't think you have
done yourself justice by referring to yourself only just as a coach. But I
understand that you don't want to behave like the lizard by gloating. That is
for me to say. For those of you reading post. The man speaking is the famous defensive
midfielder for Nigeria, who is legendary for pocketing the best midfielders in
the game. From Raber Madjer and Menad Djamel of Algeria to Jules Bocandé of
Senegal and Abdoulaye Traore during the Westerhorf era. He was the only
Nigerian that made CAF's Team of the Tournament in the 1990 African Nations Cup
in Algeria.
Back to this post, I guess,
Moses, you understand all that I was saying with the way FIFA has diluted the
rules of the game and made it such a ridiculous sport to watch these days. If
that match African Nations Cup of 1990 you played against Algeria in Algiers
where you single handedly pocketed Madjer and Djamel Menad is to be played
today, the stupid conditions would have made Nigeria lose the final match by 7
- 0, because you cannot even mark them right let alone all those tackles that
we still remember with such joy today. You people came to us like a dime a
dozen.
Aliyu A. Wali
Hassan just say we have a
celebrity on the thread!!!
Hassan Mohammed
We do Mallam Aliyu. Soon we may
have Emeka Ezeugo, Abdul Sule, Ahmed Abdulrahman, Etim John Esin, Jesse
Williams, etc who have seen top and toughest flight of our football. This issue
of "Greatest Player" and generational comparison is a topic that most
of us at one time or the other may have discussed.
Hassan Mohammed
And even one the best football buffs and
analysts Nigeria has seen, the "football officionado" himself Mr.
Godwin Dudu-orumen. And one of our real greats, in the true sense of the word,
that is "Mathematical 7" Mr. Segun Odegbami. There's also Fatai
Atere, the captain of Nigeria's U-17 in 1987. I have got me some big names
here. They are always have something to say in these issues.
Marshal Sampson
@MALAM HASSAN MOHAMMED I RESPECT YOU! CHECKING
OUT YOUR SPLENDID ANALYSIS HERE TELLS ME YOU SHOULD BE A NATIONAL SOCCER
COMMENTATOR AND ANALYST. U SABI THE THING TOO MUCH! I AGREE WITH YOU JARE' U
CORRECT! TELL THOSE WHO HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST THIS POWERFUL ANALOGY TO TALK
FACT AS GOOD AS THIS. I NOW SEE WHY U COULD TRAVEL BY TRAIN FROM KANO TO LAGOS
TO WATCH LOCAL LEAGUE FINAL. WETIN YOUR EYES DON SEE EEH, THESE CHILDREN NEVER
SEE. WHO BE MESSI! LOL! WHY DEM DEY COMPARE WOOL BLANKET WITH NAMA SKIN?
Hassan Mohammed
Sorry, Alhaji Wali, I forgot to mention Aliyu
Dattijo, who also played at the top flight of our football before joining
politics. Oga Marshal Sampson, we just dey try talk our own.
Mukhtari Wali
You forgot to mention Gary Linekar, Nwankwo
Kanu and Thierry Henry. Tony Yeboah and Abidi Ayew were also phenomenons of
their times.
Mukhtari Wali
Comparing Messi with Pele or
Ronaldo makes me nauseous.
Hassan Mohammed
Mallam Mukhtari Wali, I will not mention Kanu
because he is my mate and he played in a children's game. We played with some
of them in the late 80s as age mates, but by 1993, I was about 9 years older
than him. I can't go into that now. I made a post about age and age cheating
long ago. Thiery Henri, I respect a great deal, but he plays just like
Portugal's Ronaldo, arrogant and he also tries to get defenders booked. But he
is a class. As for Gary Linekar, Abedi Ayiw "Pele" and Anthony
Yeboah, they were just oversights. But I can't remember all of our African
greats, like Miller, Abdulrazak, Baba Otu, Rashidi Yekini, Tarik Dhaib, Magdhi
Abdilgani, Kabongo Ngoy, Yusuf Fofana, Muda Lawal etc. Forgive?
Shafii Abdulhamid
@Moses Kpakor, after a very long time I did
not hear of u this golden house hold name just pop up today in facebook. You
can not imagine how happy I was reading your comment on this issue. You are the
guys that have seen it all in soccer. Its difficult to differ with people like
u in issues like this. @Hassan, to add to your point, one parameter that you
forgot to mention is the condition of the pitches now and then. The pitches now
are so smoth and made soccer more easier and more attractive. The pitches now
allow players to display their talent more easily. May be Oga Moses will tell
us more about the pitches then which are either natural grass or sand based.
Pls, Moses don't forget to add me in your list of friends. That will surely
make my day.
Jimmy Governor O'toks Balogun
i was born just yesterday and i want 2 comment
on dis trend? No way! My mallam has lead d way i just av to follow! Mallam na
geishe ka! Am still learning d trade am ur boy sir! Just lead 4 me to
follow.....
Ahmed Abdulrahman
U r so right mal.Hassan,for me,its Messi,next
year it will still be Messi,u ve said all dat needs to be said as far as d two
players r concern.
Mukhtari Wali
@Hassan Mohammed: Terry Venebles
was so overwhelmed by the Nigerian team to the USA94 that he said, he could not
believe that Nigeria had players who could bench players like Samson Siasia and
Efan Ikoku! Siasia was also a great footballer, may be a tad not as consistent
as Messi or CR7.
Eki Fred Ehizele
Hassan Mohammed, great post!
Emeka Ezeugo (Ex-Nigerian International)
QUIT COMPARING CHOCOLATE AND COCOA BEAN. PELE
WAS ALREADY A STAR AND INSPIRATIONAL PERFORMER IN WORLD CUP FINAL ('58) AT THE
TENDER AGE OF ABOUT 16 OR 17. AM TALKING ABOUT SCORING TWO GOALS IN A WORLD CUP
FINALS. WINNING IT AGAIN FOUR YEARS LATER IN 1962. HE GOT THREE AND YOU GUYS
ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT PHENOMENON. UNLESS PHENOMENON GOT LEVELS. THE KING
REMAINS PELE, 'EL REY.' THE LEGEND NEVER FADES. YOU TUBE, FACE BOOK WAS NOT IN
EXISTENCE THEN AND KARATE WAS PART OF FOOTBALL IF YOU CAUGHT MY DRIFT. GUESS
IT'S HEALTHY FOR FOOTBALL AND LOVERS OF THE GAME TO HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK
ABOUT. GREAT POST, MY BROTHER HASSAN. KEEP IT COMING. 1 LOVE.
Caesar Kelechi Okereke
Football has changed to serious
politics,before now they said you must get at least to the world cup or
champions league finals to win the award.. Mr platini feel that football
followers are blind and dumb,can you compare laliga with premier league? Yet
the keep giving a player from a very week league the award for four years now.
May God help us all cos for me,I will pick didier drogba and cristiano ronaldo
first before messi because the can play in any league in the world.
Moses Kpakor (Ex-Nigerian International)
Common shafii, we are friends even beyond the
facebook sort of. I will not hesistate the slightest to confirm your friendship
request whenever it appears on my facebook. About bad pitches then, i will not
take you people too far. Wish you were alive to see the JS Tarka Stadium in Gboko,
the home Trafford of BCC Lions between 1983 to 1988. Please do not ask me why
it was called the 'LION'S DEN'? It was not because the Lions were there, but
for its 100% sandy nature. No single grass was on the pitch. Yet the balls
never flew like planes. Like ex-internal emeka rightly said, the game in pele's
day would never find a messi visible or impressive at all. Both for its styles
(wits and muscle) and its bad nature. Shafii, you are quite correct too, for
this is the very extent to which technology has immense impact on sports
generally. And today stars like Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Van Persie etc have
nicely capitalized and have so successfully lauched their performances to the
world stage, even without reaching an edge of the feat of the main greatest
like Pele, Maradona, Romario, Garincha, Cruff, Mario Kempes, Beckenbeaur,
Tostao, etc yet these today's footballers are tempted to be compared with these
all time greats. Like emeka said, real chocolate comparison. Shafii, you know i
was engaged deeply in my 300 level second semester's exams, hence that long
silence. I am öw back but for a while. I am on TP. But occasionally i will be
chipping in my brother. Thanks.
Kingsley Omose
If I dey earn £250,000 per week
and dey collect millions more from endorsements, I no go care if people like
me. Or not
Hassan Mohammed
Barr. Kingsley Omose, you no go care o. But
Ronaldo care. Na so so cry him dey cry since.
Kingsley Omose
@Hassan, den make e give me de money
Moses Kpakor (Ex-Nigerian International)
@shafii, i forgot to give an
answer to your first question, if or whether Messi is the greatest footballer
ever. I would honestly belheve that a greatest ever football player MUST also
have a WORLD CUP winning MEDAL or a consistent WORLD CUP performance, including
an impressive club side football successess. I think this has knocked MESSI out
of that pedigree or speculation. Of course, he can only be compared to or with
the list of greatest ever club side football playerr like Ryan Giggs, George
Best, Ian Rush, Clearence Seedof, a winner of three Champions League with three
different clubs and leagues. Ajax (Dutch League) Real. Madrid (La Liga) and AC
Milan ((Serie A), Paul scholes, Marco Tan Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Riykaard,
David Beckham, Abedi Pele, George Weah etc. That is as simple as that. But
beyond that would be an exerggeration.
Paul Nweke
Bros,forget that thing.i may not
be as old as metuselah,but i do get to watch the game the way it was played
back(thanks to the oyibos‘ recordkeeping culture).the goals they score then is
ridiculous!U cant score that kind of goals now.if the way they score goals back
then is the way they score goals now,messi would score a million goals in one
match.fact is football got more technical & advanced,it didnt get soft.its
like comparing steve jobs‘ intelligence in the 80‘s when he invented his box “macintosh“
computer to his intelligence in d new millinieum when he invented d tablet
computer.d difference is clear.so is it wit d football of then & the
football of now.
Hassan Mohammed
Paul, Paul, Paul ... FIFA admits
to cushioning the rules for goals to be scored. It started in 1989, and took
effect in 1992 because Americans said football's 0 - 0 scorelines are not good
for TV. Plus some of us played then, and did not stop active football until of
late, we know how tough it was then and now. You also have 2 ex-national team
(Nigeria) on this threadline telling you the difference. By mentioning
"technical and advance" you are only confirming my position. The
balls are made to faster, lighter and to wobble. If you know or remember Pat
Jennings, one of the greatest goalkeepers we have, who was also part of FIFA's
technical team, he complained about the speed of balls, but his report was
shelved because the idea was to get goals past goalkeepers. These were his
words "FIFA was not trying to improve the players techniques, but to make
goalkeepers look ridiculously stupid". And at that time about 30
international goalkeepers agreed. We are talking about expert opinions. You may
agree or disagree, but I, and some of the people who actually played football,
know the difference. At my age now, I was surprised at how I easily kick
today's balls now. I'm telling the weight and speed of today's balls is what we
used to call in Lagos 'felele'. And even as much as FIFA tries to globalise the
rules some regions still refuse to follow the Europeans. That is Messi will
shine in Europe, but when he is in the midst of South Americans, playing South
American conditions it is tough. He is skillful and talented, no doubt, but
South Americans will never go soft on him while run rings round, and referees
care less. I can go on and on. You can tell Europeans and Barcelona fans that
Messi is GREAT, but if tell Argentians, they will not look at your face. He has
not earn it. But if you say Maradona is great, Europeans and Argentinians will
say "YES". Because he proved it at Barcelona, Napoli and with the
Argentinian National with players you cannot even remember their names. In
Argentina, he has only Valdano and Buruchaga. In Napoli, there was only Careca and
Alemao. But in Barcelona, all are super players. And that example of "I
may not be as old as metuselah...: Haba, what was it about?
Abubakar Aliu
@oga Hassan, you really have summerized
everything aptly and justifiably. Thumbs up. Though you make some of us the
younger ones who still play football jealous of the past glory days. To say
what we play now was you guys 'felele' back then is really embarrasing to us.
.........*covering my face in shame*.
Hassan Mohammed
I'm sorry Abubakar Aliu, just trying to state
the obvious. At my age, and with my weight, I'm not supposed to be kicking
today's ball so easily. I'm supposed to struggle. Ehen! And I forget to add,
even the size of the ball is now smaller. These are not my words. FIFA said so.
Do you remember the "Jabulani"? What was it designed to achieve? G O
A L S... And If you read my post and all my comments, I'm not saying that
yesterday's players are more skillful or that today's players are less
skillful. NO! It is just that the conditions under which both generations
exhibit their talents was different in terms of technology, rules, equipment,
finance etc.
Abubakar Aliu
do you think it was for good or otherwise
sir? And apologies not required, its just the obvious truth.
Hassan Mohammed
Well, Abubakar Aliu, for the sake
of television, football revenues (in $billions) and for FIFA, and even the
beneficiaries today (attackers)? It is good. Because that was the intention -
"to make football attractive and make money". That makes it good for
the game, I guess. My, and may be our, problem is that with all these glaring
alterations all in a bid to make the game easier, I don't know how I can
compare someone who plays under hash conditions with one whose career was
facilitated by these issues. Brazillian Jaoa Havallenge, who was the FIFA
President for 26 years refused to do it. But soon as Blatter took over, his mind
went to TV revenues. Then new rules started streaming in, old ones dropped or
softened. Even at that, teams started developing means of beating the rules, as
matches were still producing low scorelines. Then FIFA shift focus to
Equipments (balls and boots). As if that is not enough, they turn to referees.
Havelenge was thinking of what they call the beautiful game, Sepp Blatter was
thinking of Billions of dollars in TV revenues.
Olawoyin 'lamidey Oladehinde
@Aliu.... Methinks Its simply
meant to boost the 'show-biz'/entertainment part of football.... Nothing more.
And ultimately, to create the
'global madness' we see today and of course, enable dem make some cool cash...
Shafii Abdulhamid
@ Oga Hassan and all the people that have been
commenting on this post, I want to seek your permissions to repost this views
and comments in my personal blog. I am highly fasinated with all your comments
and I wish to give it a wider readership. Its not for monetery gains but for my
documentations. Of cause all acknowledgements will be directed to you guys. And
before I forget thank you Oga Moses Kpakor for adding me as a friend. Thank you
all.
Hassan Mohammed
Please, Shafii Abdulhamid, feel free to post
mine, even as I believe the people commenting here will not have issues with
their views represented elsewhere. Thank you.
Daniel Kehinde Coker
make no mistake about this Messi would have
been special in any era but for now he is not the best player ever ,he ranks
behind Pele, Maradona and Zidane.], but he,s still got time on his side .
Cade Adams Agbugba
today soccer is played 3x faster than in Pele days
and 2x faster than Maradona and even Zidane days...no footballer in the history
of soccer have the same relationship with the round leather like Messi today
have...he is pretty young but as individual player he is the greatest
ever...But as team leader, Zidane, Pale and Maradona are ahead of him.
Dispassionate, factual and brilliant.
Well done.
Wonderful
Mallam Hassan i
just savoured ur dish of messi & co.The comparative analysis is superb.
Moses Kpakor (Ex-Nigerian International)
Of course, today's game may be faster?
But that does not mean today's footballers are faster. But i can assure you
this, the game is the past was toughest. Which one makes the game easier,
fastness or toughness. Besides, as a coach i will tell you today's game can
frankly be played by the laziest player in history. Why? Because the game has
increasingly witnessed a great deal of defensive tactics that makes the game a
woman's game, rather than a game for men. The game in Pele's or Maradona or
before the early 90s was 100% offensive. That is why you hardly could hear a
defender being named a player of the year or of some sort. The new technology
might also confuse your thoughts or assertion. But i will advice you to watch
the 1958 world cup final for example, or 1986 world cup final. That will change
your opinion about the faster nature of today's football. Do you not also agree
that technology has even made the game easier to play? If it does then many of
today's stars could never have been stars in the past. It is evident that Pele,
a man of three world cup winners medals must no one be compared to or with him.
At least not Messi, who is not yet close to even one. It would be unrealistic
and unreasonable. Talk of Maradona, of course yes.
Mallam Hassan amazes me! I had that
idea in mind and it hurt not to know how to defend it with enough facts and
history. Hassan has a very good background of the experience of the far older
generation and stays in sound touch with the current "swagger
generation" even more than they understand themselves. You are a sound mind indeed. I am happy that nobody here who reads
generation" even more than they understand themselves. You are a sound mind indeed. I am happy that nobody here who reads
Hassan Mohammed how dare
you? How can you explain this serious gaffe on your part? How can you lay claim
to talking about great footballers and you failed to mention Zinadine Zizou
Zidane after mentioning the likes of Pele and Maradona? C'mon!!!!!!!!!!! Is it
easy to carry a whole country on your back and hand them the WORLD CUP? That is
exactly what ZZZ did in France 98 and almost repeated it if not for that
headbutting incidence and the subsequent red card that gave Italy the leeway.
Etim John Esin (Ex-Nigerian International)
messi has to cap it off with world cup
medal for argentinai, to be de best in his era.
Thank you,
Ex-International Etim Esin
("Maradona"), you just summarised and confirmed the belief of some of
us on this thread. You have added to the richness of this discussion.
Haba, Mallam Soni Akoji, sheath ya sword...lol. I no dare o!!! Abeg, no finish me because of Zizou o. He is a legend, no doubt, but he is also a beneficiary of FIFA's relaxed rules. I agree, as you said, that he carried the weight of a whole nation on his shoulders in the 1998 World Cup. My only problem, is I would have loved to have seen him too play under the conditions we discussed on this thread. Anyway, I think Zidane would have survived it. But Ronaldo, Rooney or Messi? I still doubt.
My next football-related post in the next 24 - 48 hours will be about unwelcome reaction of the Press and some Nigerians to Coach Keshi's final 23 man list to the AFCON 2013, and my take on his exclusion of Osaze to the team. Hope all of you will keep
Haba, Mallam Soni Akoji, sheath ya sword...lol. I no dare o!!! Abeg, no finish me because of Zizou o. He is a legend, no doubt, but he is also a beneficiary of FIFA's relaxed rules. I agree, as you said, that he carried the weight of a whole nation on his shoulders in the 1998 World Cup. My only problem, is I would have loved to have seen him too play under the conditions we discussed on this thread. Anyway, I think Zidane would have survived it. But Ronaldo, Rooney or Messi? I still doubt.
My next football-related post in the next 24 - 48 hours will be about unwelcome reaction of the Press and some Nigerians to Coach Keshi's final 23 man list to the AFCON 2013, and my take on his exclusion of Osaze to the team. Hope all of you will keep
Osaze got his well deserved desert. He
is not bigger than the team. If his inclusion in the team will breed rancour,
he deserved to be axed. Obviously, the Big Boss Stephen Keshi is building a new team and we just have to keep
the faith and see how far the team will go in S.A. I wish the Super Eagle the
very best for they are no longer the favorites going into the AFCON just like
it was in the days of yore.
Waiting 4 d
post with bated breath.Some persons r already jumping d gun
Moses Kpakor (Ex-Nigerian International)
Etim esin, my brother and the greatest
all time nigerias footballer. Please you've concluded this show. When stars of
your pedigree come out to say something like this, we are lest assured of its
accuracy and reliability. I totally agree with your highly football grammatical
expression, 'THE BEST IN HIS ERA'. That's the plain truth. In my other words,
only after the 'Ronaldinho era'. He too is a World Cup winner, and three times
World footballer of the year. A three times winner of the Confederation Cup
with Brazil's national team, and perhaps two times European Champions League
Cup and two times South American Championship winner. What a mark for
Ronaldinho. Why do we easily forget such incredible marks? Messi is yet to even
reach this marks, talkless the marks of the greatest, Arantes Dos Nacimento
alias 'Pele'. This infact in the words of former Super
Etim John Esin (Ex-Nigerian International)
thanks moses hw u de, hw is benue, hope
its well wiyh ur family
This exposes
another dimension of beliefs that FIFA need to review the yardstick for
choosing the world best footballer
Oga Etim John Esin you are also welcome
Sir.
Its simple.pele
never won a Ball on D'or... Ronaldo should face his game and forget about
awards. His success should be enough to keep him happy. He is hated too much ot
just for arrogance but success too. Viva Ronaldo
NO! Not Yet.
THIS DEBATE MUST CONTINUE, SO WHAT
IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS………….
