Play it at .25 for the real speed.
Lionel Messi - 909/1000
- Thread starter Bastian
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Play it at .25 for the real speed.
According to balagues book about pep, to help Messi avoid injuries they stopped messi eating argentine beef which he supposedly ate a lot of, in addition to banning popcorn, cola, pizza and chocolate peanuts and had him eat more steamed vegetables and fish.
He absolutely does care about 1000 goals. We're this far into his career and you think he doesn't care about milestones still?
He cares about scoring and winning no matter where or when. Yet if at some point he feels it's time to leave the game he'll do it, no matter the number of goals.
He might give a thought if it's really close.
And yes he has been regularly giving penalties, yet at the same time the team does not recieve a ton of those either, so it's a mix.
PD: That Temu Cucurella of Falcon has been comically awuful since some time, literrally complicating games by himself, I don't get how they do not have another replacement.
Lucho's knees are toasted BTW, the class is there in what he tries to make, but he is just broke.
Wasn't he still eating pizza until his second son was born or something like this? I remember that he had a slight drop in performances in the beginning under Luis Enrique and he later said that that was the first time he started taking care of his nutrition. Until then, he had a habit of puking during games as well.
Cool goal...
I’m quite comfortable calling him the best passer of all time
I think he's in the conversation especially when its comes through balls and final third passing, but Pirlo and Scholes were better at long balls, Modric and Xavi were incredibly well rounded. Id also argue M. Laudrup was more visionary, creative and had more varied and artistic final third passing. But that's just my opinion. Messi in his prime was more effective because his dribbling and goalscoring ability was so absurd he could throw off the entire defence and then make a killer ball.
Scholes was amazing at pinging to a guy in lots of space, it was rare for him to combine it with a through ball. Messi’s long passes inside the centre back and full back are just ridiculous
Haven't seen anyone better.
I don't think nor Xavi, nor Modric in an alltime sense deserve to be mentioned in a historical point of view, in fact in such aspect Busquets was trully a metronome and we tend to just focus too much in recent times. Of course they had excellent overall passing, yet more CM alike than actually someone like Zico, Diego, Platini, etc to just name a few without even going further in the past, or even in their own time.
Laudrup too even more in the mold of the three mentioned, was a lesser overall player on every aspect, yet at the same time criminally underrated, such a geam of a player a la Iniesta.
His through passes along the ground taking out multiple lines of defence are ridiculous.
Agreed.
Modric doesn't belong, but I personally think Xavi does.
He was more productive in 2008-2009 than attacking midfielders with the amount of assists he had while being a controller.
If he was just a specialist at that he'd have easier time being recognized as the best passer ever. The fact that he was the best finisher and dribbler as well takes some credit away from his passing.
True.
Another aspect of his game that people overlook is the quality of his finishing. It has been alluded to recently by Mbappe and previously by Boateng; his ability to find the exact place the keeper cannot get to, the bottom or top corner, with consistency is for me unmatched. A good example is the goal vs Mexico in 2022.
Both belong, also Kroos, and many in terms of let's organizative CMs, yet when you historically there are players like Zico, Platini, Maradona, Laudrup that were here mentioned, or even more offensive and risk oriented fellas the passing atribute, if we just focus on that particular skill, there are too many options to put even excellent passers like him or even current Vitinha, Pedri, Kimmich, Neves, as silly as any TOP 3 ever is.
Also historically is a huge ammount of time involved there, there were excellent passers since the 40s, or even someone like the Spaniard Luis Suarez, but we will always have more bias towards fellas that did it recently and watch regularly, specially in this CMs roles, because with time, they might get more buried by the next super forward or super 10 alike fella.
What helps Xavi, Modric and any more or less modern player like Vitinha, Neves, Pedri, etc with such characteristics, it's that the exposure is bigger in such roles in current world, that happily we can witness such great qualities vastly more regularly and when we add to this great succees like WCs, CLs, etc..this type of players finally have a deserved more recgonition. Yet at the same time, their talent in particular aspects get a tad overblown in a historical sense and even from a strict role/playing style perspective.
I don't think Modric belongs at all in a conversation about greatest passers of all-time.
That wasn't his key strength.
He was a great passer and he add a good portion of dribbling to his game. Ina any case what I've meant it's that the ultimate players in the history of the game, tend to also had an excellent rang of passing giving his shot, his strike on every sense has an over the top sensibility. The thing it's these felals also had another level of athletism, pace and dribbling ability that at times overshadows their passing ability.
BTW this does not mean having the discipline, at times even the tactical awarness that a pure CM role demands and therefore creates a constant repetition of polays taht even add an extra finesse and confidence when passing the ball.
In any case for instance Xavi's greatest stength for me, it's not his passing per se, is his will and intelligence to develope his game when maturing in a perfect partner in that one/two asociation while always going instantly to an open space to receive the ball again and again. To move within a block, at times with little space and year after year improving that move while getting closer to the rival's area to assist or even score. His mobility, basicly his touch and go, became superb, one of the best or the best I've ever witness. This also happens because with age, he entirely realized what were his strengths, his weaknesses and also what was there with space to enhace it and improve it, like arriving to open space to receive an assist, to shot more frequently and try to score.
Highlights(including 2 assists)
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What Messi has done for the MLS can’t be understated. Teams have moved their games to bigger stadiums to accommodate demand when Messi comes to town. It’s a guaranteed sell out for teams. MLS has had its share of star players but nobody has had the impact Messi has had.
907 ( I think)
That's some great defending.
He's having an incredible season at Miami. Based on his goals output at the current rate, he should be able to hit 1000 goals in 2 years.
2 goals 1 assist last night
3rd goal that looks like it was ruled an own goal afterwards but doesn't look like it on slow replays.
3rd goal that looks like it was ruled an own goal afterwards but doesn't look like it on slow replays.
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What remains tight, or might even have improved is the secondary, ghosting movements and timings - his runs and intuitive positioning really highlight how elite his mind is. He doesn’t have to take on a whole defence to score - if there are good suppliers into the box, he’ll definitely score “simple” goals at the World Cup from his approach play.
If Argentina set up right, he’ll be very potent at this tournament.
If Argentina set up right, he’ll be very potent at this tournament.
That and his chance creation % is still ridiculous. He'll probably still end up with one of the best G+A's in the tournament just by virtue of one or the other.
Are Argentina looking a better squad going into this WC? For sure Alvarez is light years better than their striking options in the last one, with Alvarez himself being significantly better.
We all know trhe MLS is no parameter, yet at the same time there are players there way younger, fitter than just simply can't do the same, even fecking lazy De Paul in his very own team. He is quite fecking old by now and his dexterity it's still impecable. This is very important, because like you've said the vision, the movement, the brain would always still there, yet he still moves and looks fitter than his real age.
I'm even a tad worried that he is puttinmg some extra effort so close to the WC (calm down motherfecker):
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Yep. He is basically a classic striker in the box now with elite movement, timing and instincts none of which rely on some supreme, athletic prowess - you take your eyes off him for a second and he's in, so that aspect will be very interesting as he'll be very potent with good supply and it won't take much out of him to make those runs when and as he elects to do so.
If Argentina have a good attack around him, he'll have no problems scoring without the "magic" we're used to seeing. In terms of convention play, there won't be (m)any better than him at the tournament. Add in athleticism and things obviously change, but he won't need athleticism to be a massive threat and particularly, he's fully acclimatised where many coming from European seasons won't be.
We should have look like a better squad, due to won it the time before with a very young team, yet...:
Keepers:
Emiliano looks that wasn't finished, go figure...absolute confidence in the looney.
Musso had done ok with Aleti in CL till that blooper. I don't trust Rulli. I'll take a bet and take Beltran from River, this kid looks promisong as hell. He might end like many young keepers in nothing or just ok, yet he looks like a gem and a WC would do wonders for his development. Dunno who finally Scaloni would take, let's hope Emiliano does not get injured. Camebces from racing even not that young, looked great since sometime if he takes him, I'll preffer him instead of Rulli that like Otamendi, is a rollercoaster.
Defense:
This forum hates Lisandro and Cuti, I fecking love them, when fit I have 110% confidence in them, the thing it's for Cuti and Lisandro to be fit.
Young players like Anselmino, that trully burst into the scene, have gotten into injury after injury and it's sad because he looked like the proper next gen. Still young, but his future looks more than dire right now. It's a pretty big concern because Otamendi, is Otamendi, still fit the mofo (extremely fit in facty), yet always capable of the best and the worst. Maybe a struck of luck makes Senesi have finally a chance? dunno.
Fullbacks, we just have to hope to mainly use two fellas that give some proper defense and not more, unless Molina hits again his WC and Udinese form that he hasn't since ages and Tagliafico at least mantein his usual tidy and intelligent self. I do not trust current Montiel, Acuña and company, maybe Scaloni suprises with some almost not used choice.
Midfield:
The strongest area in last WC, still the strongest.
Mainly because the IDEA it's still there, capable all rounders that will fight like no tomorrow to get the ball and have enough quality and malice to keep it as much as they want, yet...
De Paul decided to retire in MLS
Paredes is looking quite good recently in BOCA, finally a veteran coming back that does not svck, still not getting any younger, nor more than a very technical yet not that mobile pivot.
Mac Allister looks like someone got his soul, he better come back at time, we'll see.
Enzo for the shyte he receives and even me having trouble to find what his actual role is, he has enough quality and personality to overcome quite dire scenarios, even off field ones. He is in good form too.
Messi, still Messi, yet needing the others around to do at leats the same job they did the last Cup and that's sthg to be seen.
Young guns: Nico Paz and Barco look precisly what we need to refresh the mid, great quality in both, at times both too much old time provocative classic argie flair, not mature enough. Both too young, not in big clubs, not enough experience in the NT either. That can become good, if they are fit, willing and serious, both can be some card that no one expects. The thing it's that fellas like Enzo or Macca, are still quite fecking young, so dunno what Scaloni would do.
Missing that typical, bulky, magician all rounder with dribbling in spades we always had apart from Messi, to play with him or replacing him.
Nor Almada, Eceheverri, or even Mastantuono look right now in form or ready. Soule wasn't that used, he has lost his form recently, Dybala not even called; at least Barco and Nico without being from this type, have some dribbling in them if they finall have some chance.
Forwards:
Two all rounders proiven in the highest satge and in form, one slow as a turtle: Lautaro, the other fast, bulky and pacey: Julian. Still neither of the two, proper goalscrers in terms of being trully and mostly goalscorers and very prolific. With no Di Maria and Messi on youth form there to create space and chances out of nothing, they'll be demanded as hell. Also neither proper dribblers, yet capable none the less. The good thing? they trully know how to drop deep and even playmake, they'll press like mad men, they have enough quality to create some great goal.
Yet back to what I miss in the mids, same applies to forwards. Needing some proper looney winger, with all the dribble of the world, or at least a more serious and pro one constant crosser/assister.
There are some kids showing their trait lately, dunno if they might get a chance. Fellas like Tomas Randa (Boca) and the recently infamous Prestianni (Benfica) that look like proper fresh air, dinamic, too little sadly, yet daring and pacey.
Maybe too late for both to grab a chance, yet we need that profile. Others lately call are more strikers alike. Sadly Panichelli who was in the verge of making big waves, got seriously injured. He looked like a classic big striker, quite on form.
I?m not that fond of the likes of Giuliano Simeone or Nico Gonzalez, but I get any coach would love fellas that has their pace, power and comintmentt. More than probably they'll go because he might use both as wingbacks given the lack of proper mature top fullbacks and having an engine for days. But the lack of finesse from both, lack of finisching too, gets under my skin.
Conclusion:
It's a mistery what would happen, yet even as complicated as it to repeat, I trust that Scaloni and also Aimar, Samuel and Ayala, might find a way to belnd veternas (even young ones) with new fellas that might come with some ruprises and will do everything to keep that póssession style and comintmentt to recover the ball and protect Messi in the meantime.
PD:
This si actually the real list of Pre sellected players, yet to be define:
EMILIANO MARTÍNEZ - Aston Villa
GERÓNIMO RULLI - Olympique de Marsella
JUAN MUSSO - Atlético de Madrid
WALTER BENÍTEZ - Crystal Palace FC
FACUNDO CAMBESES - Racing Club
SANTIAGO BELTRAN - River Plate
AGUSTÍN GIAY - Palmeiras
GONZALO MONTIEL - River Plate
NAHUEL MOLINA - Atlético de Madrid
NICOLÁS CAPALDO - Hamburgo SV
KEVIN MAC ALLISTER - Union Saint Gilloise
LUCAS MARTINEZ QUARTA - River Plate
MARCOS SENESI - Bournemounth
LISANDRO MARTÍNEZ - Manchester United
NICOLÁS OTAMENDI - SL Benfica
GERMÁN PEZZELLA - River Plate
LEONARDO BALERDI - Olympique de Marsella
CRISTIAN ROMERO - Tottenhman Hotspur
LAUTARO DI LOLLO - Boca Juniors
ZAID ROMERO - Getafe CF
FACUNDO MEDINA - Olympique de Marsella
MARCOS ACUÑA - River Plate
NICOLÁS TAGLIAFICO - Olympique de Lyon
GABRIEL ROJAS - Racing Club
MÁXIMO PERRONE - Calcio Como 1907
LEANDRO PAREDES - Boca Juniors
GUIDO RODRÍGUEZ - Valencia CF
ANÍBAL MORENO - River Plate
MILTON DELGADO - Boca Juniors
ALAN VARELA - FC Porto
EZEQUIEL FERNÁNDEZ - Bayer Leverkusen
RODRIGO DE PAUL - Inter de Miami
EXEQUIEL PALACIOS - Bayer Leverkusen
ENZO FERNÁNDEZ - Chelsea
ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER - Liverpool
GIOVANI LO CELSO - Real Betis Balompié
NICOLÁS DOMÍNGUEZ - Nottingham Forest
EMILIANO BUENDIA - Aston Villa
VALENTÍN BARCO - Racing Club de Estrasburgo
LIONEL MESSI - Inter de Miami
NICOLÁS PAZ - Calcio Como 1907
FRANCO MASTANTUONO - Real Madrid
THIAGO ALMADA - Atlético de Madrid
TOMÁS ARANDA - Boca Juniors
NICOLÁS GONZÁLEZ - Atlético de Madrid
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO - Chelsea
GIULIANO SIMEONE - Atlético de Madrid
MATÍAS SOULÉ - AS Roma
CLAUDIO ECHEVERRI - Girona Fútbol Club
GIANLUCA PRESTIANNI - SL Benfica
SANTIAGO CASTRO - Bologna FC
LAUTARO MARTÍNEZ - Internazionale de Milán
JOSÉ MANUEL LÓPEZ - Palmeiras
JULIÁN ÁLVAREZ - Atlético de Madrid
MATEO PELLEGRINO - Parma Calcio
He's scored 905/907 goals in his career so far? Only 66/64 less than Ronaldo and feels like only thing Ronaldo has had on his mind for years is scoring goals, while Messi has been terrific at creating chances all this time.
Obviously super happy we had Ronaldo at United twice and we were lucky but Messi is out of this world.
Obviously super happy we had Ronaldo at United twice and we were lucky but Messi is out of this world.
909, yet I think that in his last game one of the goals was changed to an own goal.
Still, I think that evrytime we talk about numbers with the fella, we do a disservice.
And keep in mind that he has played less games and often lets other take the penalties.
Best player I’ve seen play live and it isn’t close. Fergie’s answer to that ingrate journalist’s question after the 2009 CL drubbing still cracks me up.
Messi was just different, man.
He might have extended his serviceability at the international level by going to the MLS when he did. Was a smart move I think
Dunno if it's true, yet apparently at club level since 2021/22 Messi has taken 15 penalties, converting 12.
PD: very few penalties considering that's more or less 6 years.
And seems like he's not narcissist and egomaniac. At least not to the extent Cristiano clearly is.
I believe he has more non-penalty goals than "that other guy" and obviously a better minutes-per-goal ratio.
Messi has 796 goals from open play, the other guy has 788 but has played 168 more games. But erm we are crossing into the forbidden discussion.