The Final

[McDermotX]

One of the excellent Maradona videos, not because it shows the usual great goals, but it shows some of the ****e he had to endure, especially for Napoli.

[ame="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DBAqGhqZq_M"]Diego Maradona Rare Skills ● Unstoppable - YouTube[/ame]


It's always difficult, I'd argue next to impossible, to compare great players across eras, even ones as recent as the 80s to now. The game was a lot more unforgiving back then, but then you can also say that today is faster, defenders are fitter, tactics are far tighter and space is at a premium at the top level, Maradona's 86 team was far better etc etc.
That said, Maradona would still be in the top two players in the world these days........an absolutely incredible talent, who's skill was only matched by his desire to win (something that a certain Luis Suarez shared IMO).

[Fredo]

Maradona is unparalleled in his genius up to this date for me. No one can compare yet. Ask any Argentinian and they'll tell you.

[Shaggy]

Maradona is unparalleled in his genius up to this date for me. No one can compare yet. Ask any Argentinian and they'll tell you.

That's quite skewed because most Argentines never took Messi to their hearts as they view him as a Catalan.

It's impossible to compare really, with any authority, but in my opinion Messi is the GOAT. This "he needs to win a WC to join the elite" talk is utter nonsense.

[Fredo]

I wasn't referring to him needing to win a world cup to be considered the greatest. Messi has been the most consistent throughout the years, of that there is no question. With his record at club level, I don't think Maradona compares.

Those comparisons are all about opinions anyway, so I disagree. Messi is fantastic, but the flamboyance and sheer charisma that Maradona had, allied to his genius footballing ability, edges it for me. There's not a lot between them mind, but things that I've seen Maradona do, I don't think Messi can.

[Shaggy]

I wasn't referring to him needing to win a world cup to be considered the greatest. Messi has been the most consistent throughout the years, of that there is no question. With his record at club level, I don't think Maradona compares.

Those comparisons are all about opinions anyway, so I disagree. Messi is fantastic, but the flamboyance and sheer charisma that Maradona had, allied to his genius footballing ability, edges it for me. There's not a lot between them mind, but things that I've seen Maradona do, I don't think Messi can.

I know - was just referring to all the talk on TV, media etc. It's total nonsense.

Maradona was incredible but I think people take Messi for granted. He blows Maradona out of the water using any metric you care to mention. Game-changing numbers, incredible goals, everything. Messi is already the GOAT in my view.

[Chazza]

[ame]https://twitter.com/AlexShawESPN/status/488577467880587264[/ame]

[Kenneth]

[Shaggy]

He has become rather strange in the last 12 months, Messi. He looks tormented, and medically incapable of joy. FWIW I think he's past his best. Look at footage of him from around 2010-2012. His pace and movement is very different to what we see now.

[Pablo]

He's looked disillusioned for a while now. I honestly think Suarez will be the star at Barca this season.

[Buzzo]

It is an impossible conversation really, totally down to your own opinion and criteria (Maradona for me) with no absolute answer.

I was listening to Gary Lineker saying that after her went to Barca, he was plsying in a charity match and Maradona walked into the middle of the pitch booted a ball high into the air and waited as it dropped to his foot, instantly firing it back up to the skies (without hitting the ground) – apparently he repeated this 10 or 11 times.

He said that he was telling his Barca team mates about this when he returned – and when they tried it the best anyone could do was 3, with a sprint for the third.

Genius.

[Fredo]

It is an impossible conversation really, totally down to your own opinion and criteria (Maradona for me) with no absolute answer.

I was listening to Gary Lineker saying that after her went to Barca, he was plsying in a charity match and Maradona walked into the middle of the pitch booted a ball high into the air and waited as it dropped to his foot, instantly firing it back up to the skies (without hitting the ground) – apparently he repeated this 10 or 11 times.

He said that he was telling his Barca team mates about this when he returned – and when they tried it the best anyone could do was 3, with a sprint for the third.

Genius.

He was insanely talented. Insanely talented doesn't even make his talent justice.

I remember seeing him warm up before a match, think it must have been in the 80's. Match was in France, Parc des Princes, and he was kicking the ball, added massive spin on it so that it went on on the floor and came back to him after doing an arc. He did this 10/15 times, effortlessly.

Incredible.

[Fredo]

Watch the first bit of that clip. That pitch How he was targeted.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBAqGhqZq_M"]Diego Maradona Rare Skills ● Unstoppable - YouTube[/ame]

[Rich]

He has become rather strange in the last 12 months, Messi. He looks tormented, and medically incapable of joy. FWIW I think he's past his best. Look at footage of him from around 2010-2012. His pace and movement is very different to what we see now.

He's looked disillusioned for a while now. I honestly think Suarez will be the star at Barca this season.

He's either totally burnt out or carrying a niggling injury as he isn't Messi as he know him.

In fact, him picking up a medium/long term injury which doesn't kill his pace might be the best thing that could happen to him. Would allow him 6 months out of the game to find himself again.

[Pablo]

He's either totally burnt out or carrying a niggling injury as he isn't Messi as he know him.

In fact, him picking up a medium/long term injury which doesn't kill his pace might be the best thing that could happen to him. Would allow him 6 months out of the game to find himself again.

He reminds me of Torres a bit in his attitude on the pitch. Seems to find no joy from it all any more. I'm exaggerating slightly for effect but he definitely has that same joyless look as Torres at times. He always used to look so casual and carefree so it's all the more obvious.

[Buzzo]

Making Messi captain was a big mistake.

It doesn't suit him, and he is under enough pressure as it is in delivering goals and performances for the team.

Mascherano (who he replaced) is an obvious captain.

Strange decision.