O/T - Greatest Ever

[JamesMcClean]

less physically demanding .

That's the question isn't it? What's the definition of less physically demanding? If you mean by that not getting kicked to absolute phuck whilst getting zero protection from the referee then I guess you can say it was less physically demanding. As we know though, that was NOT the case in Maradona's era. I would say it was THE most physically demanding era in football history - the 70s and 80s were BRUTAL. I personally think Messi would have been destroyed by the like of Claudio Gentile.Conversely, I reckon Christiano would have fared better in that era.

[JuanShoe]

That's the question isn't it? What's the definition of less physically demanding? If you mean by that not getting kicked to absolute phuck whilst getting zero protection from the referee then I guess you can say it was less physically demanding. As we know though, that was NOT the case in Maradona's era. I would say it was THE most physically demanding era in football history - the 70s and 80s were BRUTAL. I personally think Messi would have been destroyed by the like of Claudio Gentile.Conversely, I reckon Christiano would have fared better in that era.

Physically demanding refers to the way the game is played not reffed. Players run faster and for longer. They are physically stronger, fitter and sharper than previous eras. You simply would never get a player of Maradona's physical capabilities succeeding at the highest level anymore.


Also find it curious as to why you think Messi would struggle (a player who gets up time after time having been kicked and gets on with the game) and Ronaldo (who rolls round the floor and then goes into the cream puff anytime anybody challenges him) would succeed. But as previously said, it is impossible to compare players from different eras with any accuracy.

[JamesMcClean]

The criteria I apply for greatest ever is when you look at a particular player and really examine if they made such an inherent difference that elevated an average team to greatness. I look at Pele and the Brazil team of 1970 and wonder would that team have still won the World Cup without him? Quite possibly. Messi plays in/has played in possibly the greatest Club side in history. Would Barca have still won a lot without him? Quite probably, yes. Messi has benefited massively by playing alongside the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Suarez, Neymar etc etc.

However, when it comes to Maradona, look at the sides he played in. Would Napoli have won Serie A titles without him? No. Would Argentina have won the World Cup without him? No. What allowed these teams to achieve greatness? Maradona.

I am not for one minute saying that Messi is not an incredible football player, of course not. But at this point, sorry, I don't think he comes close to Maradona. Having said that, if Messi carries what looks like a currently average Argie team to the World Cup this year then, yes, things may need to be re-examined.