Jo, do you really believe this Stoke bollocks? Personally, I think it's a bit disrespectful to a guy whose taken some of the best defenders in world football to the cleaners, that he can't perform on a cold night in fecking Stoke!
Messi is better than maradona....
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Jo, do you really believe this Stoke bollocks? Personally, I think it's a bit disrespectful to a guy whose taken some of the best defenders in world football to the cleaners, that he can't perform on a cold night in fecking Stoke!
In fairness, I would love to see him play Stoke, just for the look on his face when Delap runs up to take a throw. It'd be even better to watch him play for Stoke, and see how he fit into their gameplan.
Anyone posted this one yet:
I was just about to! Freaky how they both scored almost identical goals.
Messi still hasnt got up the level of Maradona yet. As others have stated he really needs to make an impact at international level and we havent seen that yet.
Fantastic player though. Three champions league medals at 23! Most players would be delighted to get that in their whole careers, or even just one! Whos to say he wont end up with 6 or 7.....
The Copa America's certainly not an elite international tournament, not even close, but the people who talk about Messi not being able to replicate his form for Argentina - on any level - could certainly have less of an argument by the end of it. In a couple of years anything can happen in international football but it's hard to believe he won't be making an impact on the next WC.
I think this is toss myself
I think it's just a question of how much he wins. The other generally accepted 'greatest ever' contenders (Best and Pele) both won the World Cup, given the nation he plays for, I think that would tip Messi over the age for most. Then again at the age of 23, Messi has already shattered what both achieved at domestic level. Different situations and all that, but he's a phenomenon
The longer he goes on at this level, the more ridiculous people denying that he's right amongst the greatest ever, if not the greatest ever, will look. It's ok citing tougher defences back in the day and whatnot, but the sheer pace of the game has to be taken into account. And it's not as if teams haven't tried kicking Messi out of the game. More often than that they can't get close enough to do it!
The idea that Maradona won the World Cup, or even the Italian title, on his own is a complete myth and its a shame such disrespectful horseshit of oft repeated. And yes he won Seria A with an 'unfashionable' club (Third biggest City in Italy and they broke the world record fee to sign him, let's add some perspective. They also brought other cracking quality in)
The great problem of this is that we see warts and all coverage these days. If Messi so much as farts is televised. Unless you were a Napoli season ticket holder, or Pele's team mate, you didn't really have that view of the player back then. Does make a difference when you look back on players, as of course does time eradicating the mundane and glossing the fantastic
So he's pissed all over Arsenal 2 seasons in a row...
yet a cold night in stoke comes up?
.....actually you're right.
Oh, come on, you've turned the whole post into some sort of parody with that line! You must be joking there given how many times that's been trotted out on here as joke, surely?
He's just shafted the best defence that has been assembled in quite some time. To be honest, it didn't look particularly difficult either - he could probably do it again today, the day after, and maybe the day after that if we still kept coming back for more.
He'd be better off being Delap's ballboy
i too believe messi cant be put in the same level as maradona
but the thing about stoke in a cold february night is just ridiculous
and i'm going to take some time to explain this to you, because i respect you
none of you seems to know how cold and rainy are the winters in galicia -celta de vigo, deportivo la coruña-, in gijon and santander -sporting de gijon or racing de santander -and in the pais vasco -atletic de bilbao, real sociedad, osasuna- well, as for all of you to know, they are fecking cold, windy and rainy, trust me, my twin brother lives near vigo, and i've visited him lots of times, and it rains every fecking day and in winter either rains or snows
so what does stoke have that is so hard for a player that plays in that same condition every january and february? uh? can stoke be compared with Deportivo la coruña? don't think so
that statement is as ridiculous as saying "id like to see rooney, Gerrard or that spatzo of lampard playing in an august afternoon in sevilla" then they will prove they are good players
right? 45 degrees hot! will they melt?
and he might be in a league not as good as the premier, but he scored 12 goals in the CL, so he proved that he is a goalscorer not only against spanish oposition
Messi doesn't need to win the world cup, "single handed" or not, to compare. Did Maradona ever win the European Cup?
Messi is dominating the champions league without much difficulty. And he contributes an insane amount to his club team right through the year. His output is unmatched and yet he remains a team player. He seems like a manager's dream player.
Messi is dominating the champions league without much difficulty. And he contributes an insane amount to his club team right through the year. His output is unmatched and yet he remains a team player. He seems like a manager's dream player.
I didn't see Maradona, but at the moment I just get the impression that winning the world cup with Argentina would simply put him beyond Maradona in the eyes of many fans without any shadow of a doubt.
Could be wrong before you "oh, well you youngsters of these days didn't see Maradona, and are far inferior beings because of this" Ihni binni dimi diniwiny anitaime jump on that comment!
Could be wrong before you "oh, well you youngsters of these days didn't see Maradona, and are far inferior beings because of this" Ihni binni dimi diniwiny anitaime jump on that comment!
Diego is still comfortably the better player as far as I'm concerned, but for the first time I feel as though Messi's got a chance, albeit a slim one, of reaching the dizzy heights of a heyday Maradona.
Why the hell is performing on a cold February night in Stoke so important?
Should we also feed to the beastly defenders of Sunday-league who wouldn't have hesitation hacking him down at every given opportunity?
Gee, he's a world class player on a world class stage. So what if he can't perform at bloody stoke? Does it make him less of a player? Or is every body going to say, "oh that lionel messi, great player but can't perform against stoke".
Look, play him against strong physical teams, there may be times when he struggles if only because of his physique. Everyone has weaknesses. So what if he can't perform against stoke or the like if he pisses over every one in Europe?
I really don't see why he needs to prove himself on a "cold night in stoke".
Should we also feed to the beastly defenders of Sunday-league who wouldn't have hesitation hacking him down at every given opportunity?
Gee, he's a world class player on a world class stage. So what if he can't perform at bloody stoke? Does it make him less of a player? Or is every body going to say, "oh that lionel messi, great player but can't perform against stoke".
Look, play him against strong physical teams, there may be times when he struggles if only because of his physique. Everyone has weaknesses. So what if he can't perform against stoke or the like if he pisses over every one in Europe?
I really don't see why he needs to prove himself on a "cold night in stoke".
I feel really old when i hear people say they didnt see maradona play. 
And im only thirty fecking four!!
And im only thirty fecking four!!
I don't think anyone could argue that at this age, Messi has done far more and is the better player than Maradona. Well I've not heard anyone argue against that anyway. At this age, Maradona was embarking on his first club experience in Europe, his relatively unsuccessful sell at Barcelona, and by that point he'd won the Argentine league, and the Spanish cup. He'd had a decent World Cup the year previous, but it had ended ingloriously seeing red against Brazil, having started poorly losing to Belgium. I can't be arsed to reel off what Messi has done. Ah feck it, 5 Spanish league titles and 3 Champions League trophies. And the Spanish cup
By 30, Maradona left Napoli in disgrace, and wasn't the same player he was earlier in his career. Messi has seven years of peak performance until we can reasonable compare their overall careers to some sensible degree
But the idea that Messi cannot touch Maradona is absolute nonsense to me. At the very least, in my view, he could retire tomorrow and be considered in the same league, if not better
Thing is, most people saw Maradona in the World Cup, and hadn't heard of his team mates. Therefore the myth he won it on his own, and the idea that Messi has to do the same to be able to be held in the same esteem. Who knows whether he will achieve it, I dare say being the best player of the tournament and winning the World Cup for Argentina on Brazilian soil would silence a few of his doubters just a tad!
By 30, Maradona left Napoli in disgrace, and wasn't the same player he was earlier in his career. Messi has seven years of peak performance until we can reasonable compare their overall careers to some sensible degree
But the idea that Messi cannot touch Maradona is absolute nonsense to me. At the very least, in my view, he could retire tomorrow and be considered in the same league, if not better
Thing is, most people saw Maradona in the World Cup, and hadn't heard of his team mates. Therefore the myth he won it on his own, and the idea that Messi has to do the same to be able to be held in the same esteem. Who knows whether he will achieve it, I dare say being the best player of the tournament and winning the World Cup for Argentina on Brazilian soil would silence a few of his doubters just a tad!
Pulis would keep him benched and ship him out before long.
I prefer Maradona and Messi is still way off for me.
People are always waiting for the "G.O.A.T." in every sport and it's annoying. Let Messi be himself, he might end up as the best ever but at the moment he really isn't. He's a great player though, one of the two best in the world. The class of the Barca team (especially the midfield and Villa) is just a step above everyone else at the moment. Messi might be the best in the world but it really doesn't hurt that they have the best striker in the world and two of the best playmakers in the world in their starting 11 with him (Xavi being the best playmaker in the world by far and is the real engine behind Barcelona).
People are always waiting for the "G.O.A.T." in every sport and it's annoying. Let Messi be himself, he might end up as the best ever but at the moment he really isn't. He's a great player though, one of the two best in the world. The class of the Barca team (especially the midfield and Villa) is just a step above everyone else at the moment. Messi might be the best in the world but it really doesn't hurt that they have the best striker in the world and two of the best playmakers in the world in their starting 11 with him (Xavi being the best playmaker in the world by far and is the real engine behind Barcelona).
Who is the other?
Oh, you know who (as much as he annoys me at times)... I really don't need to say it do I? Messi might be better but he's also in a team that is much, much, much better, that really will always help you be even better.
Messi does not have to win a world Cup to be equal to or better than Maradona.
If winning the World Cup was the measure of a player, then Best would be nowhere in the pantheon of the game.
But yet he stands on the same pedestal as Maradona and Pele in terms of his ability to destroy the opposition.
Having watched Maradona from the start of his playing days and quite a bit of Best, I can say that Messi will never be better than those two in terms of ability.
Without doubt Messi is the greatest player of his generation. That is no mean achievement.
btw great post Jopub.
If winning the World Cup was the measure of a player, then Best would be nowhere in the pantheon of the game.
But yet he stands on the same pedestal as Maradona and Pele in terms of his ability to destroy the opposition.
Having watched Maradona from the start of his playing days and quite a bit of Best, I can say that Messi will never be better than those two in terms of ability.
Without doubt Messi is the greatest player of his generation. That is no mean achievement.
btw great post Jopub.
Of interest, why? What's holding him back? Opponents cannot cope with him, he's absolutely magnificent to watch, he's mopped up in terms of silverware so far in his career... why will he never be better than those two?
Messi does not have to win a world Cup to be equal to or better than Maradona.
If winning the World Cup was the measure of a player, then Best would be nowhere in the pantheon of the game.
But yet he stands on the same pedestal as Maradona and Pele in terms of his ability to destroy the opposition.
Having watched Maradona from the start of his playing days and quite a bit of Best, I can say that Messi will never be better than those two in terms of ability.
Without doubt Messi is the greatest player of his generation. That is no mean achievement.
btw great post Jopub.
so you now know that a player that is only 23 years old, that has already won 3 champions leagues and that has already scored 198 goals wont be in the same league as maradona
and sorry, but i've seen maradona a lot more than you, ive seen it in the field, from his start in argentinos juniors, and at messis age he didnt achived what messi did
and at that age he had already played for boca juniors and barcelona
and yes, he won the scudetto with napoli, twice! wow!!!!!! outstanding,
and no, he didn't win the world cup single handedly, he was sorrounded by great players like valdano, ruggeri, burruchaga, enrique, pumpido, giusti etc
and what jopub said is mostly ridiculous, i did play rugby and i did it in winter and with very cold weather, and you know what? i played ok, not better, not worse than in a 20 degree spring morning
so claiming that messi needs to prove himself in a winter night against stoke is extremely stupid
a player does not develop greater 'natural abilities'. That is what I am saying.
He can improve on what he has. The silverware argument is a separate one. I see people bringing that up too often and in my opinion that is not relevant. You cannot win the world cup on your own. But having said that Maradona almost did that single handedly in 86 and took them to the final in 1990 being surrounded by utter dross. Best playing for NI? nuff said.
Having seen the three, Best and Maradona seemed to be able to do anything they wanted.
They were less 'team players' Their individual brilliance seemed to be enough. In fact I would say they could not be 'team players'.
Messi is a fantastic player in a fantastic team. That is the difference. Messi compliments and is complimented by the team he plays in. Maradona never played in a team like Messi.
Best played in a team that was the best since the Busby Babes and in all honesty has not been bettered since. But he was the gem in the side outshining even Law and Charlton, until he ruined himself.
In all honesty, I think many younger fans see what Messi is doing now and are watching open mouthed...as they should.
Us older fans are more fortunate is all. I would never be able to convince me dad, if he were around or many of his generation that there was anyone better than Edwards...though a few would grudgingly agree Best was darn close
I think if we stepped back and looked at it, it would have to be like the first experience of love.
Watching Best for the first time...was akin to being 'born again'..a religious experience if you like.
Still if I put that aside, I still stand by my original opinion.
The greatest compliment I can give Messi is this. There are times, when he drops his shoulders and swivels his hips to beat an opponent, he does remind me of Best. But it is a fleeting moment. I have never seen any other player remind me of Best...or Maradona.
I don't know if Messi is the best of all-time, but it's easy for people to make that call when we see so much of him. And of course, it's a given that the media will state that he is the best ever, simply because he's playing now, he's current 'news' and therefore they can get more copy out of features on a contemporary player rather than someone who's no longer playing.
I'll say this though: I once saw some old, B & W footage of Pelé. It was all close-ups of his dribbling. And, my God, he had absolutely everything that his fellow Brazilian genius Ronaldo had - Pelé was unstoppable. Yet the modern consensus is that Ronaldo is the best striker ever...
I just question whether we should be so swift in claiming modern players are best, simply because we've more coverage of these footballers' careers than the 'older' players'.
I'll say this though: I once saw some old, B & W footage of Pelé. It was all close-ups of his dribbling. And, my God, he had absolutely everything that his fellow Brazilian genius Ronaldo had - Pelé was unstoppable. Yet the modern consensus is that Ronaldo is the best striker ever...
I just question whether we should be so swift in claiming modern players are best, simply because we've more coverage of these footballers' careers than the 'older' players'.
As I said, I reject the argument of winning trophies as the benchmark of a great player. the Best argument is the one I put forward to support that. The winning of trophies is more relevant to discussing the best teams. Yet even in such discussions, one will have to bring up the example of the the great Holland side of 74 and the Brazil side of 82. Most will agree they never saw better football watching them.
I can see what Jopub means by the Stoke example.
I still say playing football in the cold damp weather of the English league is more taxing than the Spanish league. Other than the top 6 or so sides there the rest seem to be cannon fodder.
btw congratulations on your rugby carrier. not relevant to these discussions of football.
thats not true at all, the only truth is that you don't know who he won the world cup with, but to say he won it single handedly is a huge misconception made by fans that don't know how was the argentinian tournament at that moment
when argentina won the 1985 world cup, only three players of the regular squad were doing it abroad, maradona, valdano and burruchaga
the argentinian tournament was on par with any other tournament, in fact the last libertadores cup [/QUOTE]
didn't he play for barcelona?
but don't let that fact, blind you, he also played for boca, the same team that two years before won the libertadores cup twice, and he played for argentina, a team that when he started playing for, already had won the world cup -one year before-
i saw maradona play a lot of times in the field and yes, i agree, messi is not yet at his level, but if he keeps playing like this, not only he will reach him, but he will surpass him, no doubt about it
excelent. please explain, because is one of the most repeated stupid examples i've read on this forum
that, and the one that says that maradona won the world cup alone
Old players always get overrated. They were great players, but unless a player surpasses them by a VERY big margin now, the old guys will always be considered "superior".
And not only that, people try to make lame excuses to act like they have a proof to prove their opinions..
Messi is not up with those names because he didn't win the world cup? And how many world cups did Best win??
Messi is not up with those names because he didn't play in the premier league? Hmmm, I wonder why everybody forgets about that argument when talking about Pele's greatness!
By your standards, Xavi will be better than Maradona. He's proved himself on club AND international level, and has won every single trophy any player can win. Is Xavi better than Maradona?
And just for the records:
Messi won 5 league titles. Maradona won 4.
Messi won 3 Champions League titles. Maradona managed only one UEFA CUP title.
Messi won 7 other less important titles. Maradona won 4.
Messi won one U-20 world cup title and and olympic gold medal with Argentina. Maradona won one U-20 world cup title and one world cup title with Argentina.
Messi scored 180 goals in 269 appearances at club level. Maradona scored 311 in 589 appearances at club level (150 of them in Argentina).
Messi scored 16 goals in 55 appearances for Argentina. Maradona scored 34 in 91.
Messi is 23. Maradona in done.
And for those saying defense was stronger in the old days than it is right now, this stat simply proves you wrong.
World Cups ............. Goals/game average
---------------------------------------------
2002-2010 ..................... 2.36
1990-1998 ..................... 2.54
1978-1986 ..................... 2.68
1966-1974 ..................... 2.76
1954-1962 ..................... 3.82
1930-1950 ..................... 4.16
And not only that, people try to make lame excuses to act like they have a proof to prove their opinions..
Messi is not up with those names because he didn't win the world cup? And how many world cups did Best win??
Messi is not up with those names because he didn't play in the premier league? Hmmm, I wonder why everybody forgets about that argument when talking about Pele's greatness!
By your standards, Xavi will be better than Maradona. He's proved himself on club AND international level, and has won every single trophy any player can win. Is Xavi better than Maradona?
And just for the records:
Messi won 5 league titles. Maradona won 4.
Messi won 3 Champions League titles. Maradona managed only one UEFA CUP title.
Messi won 7 other less important titles. Maradona won 4.
Messi won one U-20 world cup title and and olympic gold medal with Argentina. Maradona won one U-20 world cup title and one world cup title with Argentina.
Messi scored 180 goals in 269 appearances at club level. Maradona scored 311 in 589 appearances at club level (150 of them in Argentina).
Messi scored 16 goals in 55 appearances for Argentina. Maradona scored 34 in 91.
Messi is 23. Maradona in done.
And for those saying defense was stronger in the old days than it is right now, this stat simply proves you wrong.
World Cups ............. Goals/game average
---------------------------------------------
2002-2010 ..................... 2.36
1990-1998 ..................... 2.54
1978-1986 ..................... 2.68
1966-1974 ..................... 2.76
1954-1962 ..................... 3.82
1930-1950 ..................... 4.16
as i thought, Red Dreams went to sleep before having to explain the inexplicable
I find it hard to believe that anywhere in England is what you could reasonably call cold.
Being born and raised in Canada, I know cold. In my own personal experience, so long as the ball itself does not freeze, cold temperatures are highly, highly preferable to hot ones. I've played football, both kinds in temperatures over 40 celcius, and -20 celcius or possibly more playing American football. Give me cold over hot any day!
Come on marcos. You know Messi would struggle in a midweek January game on a snowy, breezy night at the Britannia.
I don't see the Maradona comparisons yet. I don't think you can compare a 23 year old player to one that's dubbed as the greatest ever, and already retired. Maradona played in 3 WC's (i think) whereas Messi's featured in one. Messi's also only played for a team of extreme quality. Maybe, in 5-10 years time, if he's still at Barca, they may not be the powerhouse they are today and thus that could require him to step up to the job of carrying them.
I don't see the Maradona comparisons yet. I don't think you can compare a 23 year old player to one that's dubbed as the greatest ever, and already retired. Maradona played in 3 WC's (i think) whereas Messi's featured in one. Messi's also only played for a team of extreme quality. Maybe, in 5-10 years time, if he's still at Barca, they may not be the powerhouse they are today and thus that could require him to step up to the job of carrying them.
in-fecking-deed
what 99 percent of the players complain is not about cold weather, is about hot weather
and no english team has to play at a 45 degree temperature, like sevilla, betis, mallorca or tenerife
Come on marcos. You know Messi would struggle in a midweek January game on a snowy, breezy night at the Britannia.
I don't see the Maradona comparisons yet. I don't think you can compare a 23 year old player to one that's dubbed as the greatest ever, and already retired. Maradona played in 3 WC's (i think) whereas Messi's featured in one. Messi's also only played for a team of extreme quality. Maybe, in 5-10 years time, if he's still at Barca, they may not be the powerhouse they are today and thus that could require him to step up to the job of carrying them.
i'm not comparing mate, i'm just saying that is too early
but red dreams and jopub are already saying that messi will never surpass or equilize maradona
wich, IMO, is ridiculous
Come on marcos. You know Messi would struggle in a midweek January game on a snowy, breezy night at the Britannia.
I don't see the Maradona comparisons yet. I don't think you can compare a 23 year old player to one that's dubbed as the greatest ever, and already retired. Maradona played in 3 WC's (i think) whereas Messi's featured in one. Messi's also only played for a team of extreme quality. Maybe, in 5-10 years time, if he's still at Barca, they may not be the powerhouse they are today and thus that could require him to step up to the job of carrying them.
Two, Argentina went out to Germany in both 2006 and 2010.
Come on marcos. You know Messi would struggle in a midweek January game on a snowy, breezy night at the Britannia.
I don't see the Maradona comparisons yet. I don't think you can compare a 23 year old player to one that's dubbed as the greatest ever, and already retired. Maradona played in 3 WC's (i think) whereas Messi's featured in one. Messi's also only played for a team of extreme quality. Maybe, in 5-10 years time, if he's still at Barca, they may not be the powerhouse they are today and thus that could require him to step up to the job of carrying them.
Like scoring 100 goals a season??
didn't he play for barcelona?
but don't let that fact, blind you, he also played for boca, the same team that two years before won the libertadores cup twice, and he played for argentina, a team that when he started playing for, already had won the world cup -one year before-
i saw maradona play a lot of times in the field and yes, i agree, messi is not yet at his level, but if he keeps playing like this, not only he will reach him, but he will surpass him, no doubt about it[/QUOTE]
you bleating on about the World Cup is a poor way to argue. I said he 'almost single handedly'.
Maradona would have shone in any team he played for.
Please tell me how Messi will surpass Maradona'a ability? Are you talking trophy counts?
Or is he suddenly going to beat more players, make better passes?
so the fact he played for Barcelona then, means that Barcelona team is the same as this one? come on, you can do better. The current side is probably the best they have ever produced.
you still cannot get your mind past the team these players played in.
As I said bringing up the World Cup is not even an argument. I only brought up that example...more significantly the 1990 tournament as the better example of what Maradona did for the team.
but tbf, it is very difficult to compare players from different eras. I will agree.
For most of us, it is moments that stand out. The more we have seen, the more such moments we have.
I will just say that watching Messi now is a privilege. I hope he gets better...except he has bad days against us
Please, lets forget trophies and look at it based on talent. Messi can do things with a football I haven't seen a player do for a long time, certainly since Luis Ronaldo's days..yet Messi has far surpassed him in the greatness stakes.
Let's take the final for example. Messi got himself a goal, fashioned a chance all by himself when he picking the ball up on the halfway line, nutmegged Vidic and was inches away from connecting with the return ball. He also had a big part to play in Villa's goal since it was his dribble that wasn't defended properly and ended up with Villa curling the loose ball in. Let's look at the previous game against Madrid..scored one of the best goals ever in a CL Semi-final all by himself.
Talk about turning it on big-style in the biggest games..the collective sight of defenders soiling themselves tenfold each time Messi is running at them, should pretty much explain this guy's talent. He's a once-in-a-generation player we should be thankful to be seeing in our lifetimes..if he keeps up this level of performance for the next few years while winning his side the big trophies out there, he'll unquestionably surpass the others ahead of him. 20 years down the line, we'll be talking about what a privilege it was to watch perhaps the most brilliant player ever to grace a football pitch.
Let's take the final for example. Messi got himself a goal, fashioned a chance all by himself when he picking the ball up on the halfway line, nutmegged Vidic and was inches away from connecting with the return ball. He also had a big part to play in Villa's goal since it was his dribble that wasn't defended properly and ended up with Villa curling the loose ball in. Let's look at the previous game against Madrid..scored one of the best goals ever in a CL Semi-final all by himself.
Talk about turning it on big-style in the biggest games..the collective sight of defenders soiling themselves tenfold each time Messi is running at them, should pretty much explain this guy's talent. He's a once-in-a-generation player we should be thankful to be seeing in our lifetimes..if he keeps up this level of performance for the next few years while winning his side the big trophies out there, he'll unquestionably surpass the others ahead of him. 20 years down the line, we'll be talking about what a privilege it was to watch perhaps the most brilliant player ever to grace a football pitch.
right, 2006, he played five minutes against serbia and scored one goal -becoming the six youngest player to score in a world cup- then he played all the game agains netherlands -both teams were already qualified for the next stage, and six minutes against mexico
hardly a bad world cup experience for him, but again, don't let a fact interrupt your hatred towards him
and in my opinion during the 2010 wc he was the best argentinian player
No. Not necessarily stats wise in terms of goals. More in terms of leadership qualities.
As brilliant as Messi is, nobody can deny he's been helped hugely by being inherited by one of the greatest team ever, with two superb CM's pulling the strings.
If Barca were too fade away so slightly in Messi's playing time, as in dominance, then by him resurrecting them and continuing his ridiculously consistent good form, it'd be unfair to deny him as the worlds greatest.
Even if Messi does nothing at his next 3 WC's, but keeps up his club form for 10 years, then he'll be considered the greatest player ever imo.