Lionel Messi

[Shaggy]

I'm not saying it's *as* physical as it was then - the game has changed - but it isn't a myth. Messi gets booted all over the place. At times it's assault. I don't understand how people can't see it - watch Barca every week, he gets some right treatment. And La Liga is far rougher than our league.

[Daniel 7]

Whats Lionel's btw?

Blair

[The_weatherman]

It's rough as ****, and also when a fight kicks off they are often proper brawls, none of this pretend handbags **** we see over here. Spanish foul play is on another level altogether.

They have several old fashioned hatchet men, isn't Ballasteros one? Another one who plays for Sevilla? Ramos and Pepe, and that's just off the top of my head. IMO it's not even close anymore, Messi is also always improving at everything and he is now the most important player in the team IMO.

[Reece]

Where's that clip of Pepe going completely crazy a couple of years ago?

[Shaggy]

They have several old fashioned hatchet men, isn't Ballasteros one? Another one who plays for Sevilla? Ramos and Pepe, and that's just off the top of my head. IMO it's not even close anymore, Messi is also always improving at everything and he is now the most important player in the team IMO.

I don't think it's particularly close either. Messi is the most remarkable player of all time - the eyes can see it and the stats back it up.

[Tee]

Pepe is a pussy!! He is not a hard man looool!!! He actually sums up the modern Spanish league hard man tbf.

[Tee]

The Butcher of Bilbao..now that is what Diego had to deal with.

And in Italy he had to compete in the hardest league in the world against the world's very best players. And he near enough single handedly made Napoli win. Messi could never ever match that feat IMO.

[The_weatherman]

I don't think it's particularly close either. Messi is the most remarkable player of all time - the eyes can see it and the stats back it up.

I'll sat it again, he's 25 years old, it's frightening really. That a player in the modern era is beating records set by Pele and Muller is unbelievable really, the football is harder today IMO, we have more good footballers today then before, loads more, the competition is fierce really.

[Shaggy]

Players like Fernando Amorebieta, Carlos Marchena and Sergio Ballesteros are the proper hardmen/nutcases of La Liga. People just say Pepe cos they only watch the Clasicos

[Phoenix07]

Players like Fernando Amorebieta, Carlos Marchena and Sergio Ballesteros are the proper hardmen/nutcases of La Liga. People just say Pepe cos they only watch the Clasicos

His antics against Levante when he was 'in pain' was truly atrocious.

[Shaggy]

I'll sat it again, he's 25 years old, it's frightening really. That a player in the modern era is beating records set by Pele and Muller is unbelievable really, the football is harder today IMO, we have more good footballers today then before, loads more, the competition is fierce really.

Yep the standard is much higher, no **** teams like there were then, everyone is competitive, everyone is extremely fit. And yet at 25 Messi has already blown everybody out of the water. Astonishing.

[Tee]

Players like Fernando Amorebieta, Carlos Marchena and Sergio Ballesteros are the proper hardmen/nutcases of La Liga. People just say Pepe cos they only watch the Clasicos

Andoni Goikoetxea would eat them for brekkie. They are not even close to the hard men in Diego's days.

Anyway, back on topic. Put Messi in that Napoli team that Maradona had and would they win that Serie A? No chance.

[Daniel 7]

You have to say Messi edges it, but its not just on stats alone, otherwise you'd have to put Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Maradona too, and he just isn't.

My inner 10 year old says Maradona, but the condescending 36 year old who knows better pats him on the head and goes "I know mate, but Messi's better..."

[Tee]

One more thing, lets get this straight. Just because I think Maradona is better does not mean I do not rate Messi FFS. He is clearly one of the best players to have ever played this game, an incredible talent, however IMO he is not as good as Diego.

[Shaggy]

You have to say Messi edges it, but its not just on stats alone, otherwise you'd have to put Cristiano Ronaldo ahead off Maradona too, and he just isn't.

My inner 10 year old says Maradona, but the condescending 36 year old who knows better pats him on the head and goes "I know mate, but Messi's better..."