Re: The Lionel Messi Appreciation Thread & Fan Club

[Harmonica]

Mourinho: "Messi sacrificed himself for the team. He wanted to win, he didn't wanted to be topscorer or mvp, he wanted to make history.

He played in zones that are not his. He had to play so low that he had to cross 2-3 lines. Always had 2-3 players on him. Messi was trying to create something out of nothing for his team. His assist to Di Maria was for example brilliant.

If Messi wanted to be the phenomenon we all know he is, he'd just have played up front, close to Higuain, waiting for a chance.

All my respect to Messi because he played for his team and this can't be said of all players at this World Cup."

[Hapless_Hans]

Yeah, I really don't see how you can fault his final performance, other than he was knackered in the end as everyone else.
Worked hard and played great.

[Mr Nick09]

Captain Messi motivating the troops

[Mr_Puyol]

Mascharno forver behind busqite  

[Donuts]

you guys are making so much out of nothing with that picture, Messi was getting called over by the ref so he could do the coin flip to decide which side of the field he would play on..

[Zealous]

Mourinho: "Messi sacrificed himself for the team. He wanted to win, he didn't wanted to be topscorer or mvp, he wanted to make history.

He played in zones that are not his. He had to play so low that he had to cross 2-3 lines. Always had 2-3 players on him. Messi was trying to create something out of nothing for his team. His assist to Di Maria was for example brilliant.

If Messi wanted to be the phenomenon we all know he is, he'd just have played up front, close to Higuain, waiting for a chance.

All my respect to Messi because he played for his team and this can't be said of all players at this World Cup."

The fact that you of all people are now quoting Mou as a way to prove a point is absolutely surreal and ridiculous lol

[RealGunner]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bsg2CbZIIAErkwR.png

[Zealous]

Wait weren't we fed endless stories about how Messi was saving himself etc?

Anyway the criticism for Messi is way too high tbh, but when you have people like Jiopsi in your corner it's no wonder people are letting La Pulga have it.

[Harmonica]

Javier Mascherano - "Without him (Messi) it would not have been possible for us to play a WC final. For the general viewer if he does not score a goal or two it may seem he is not playing well, but he gives us many other things in the field.

We left him alone too much. Messi gave the team more than the team gave Messi. At a certain point we changed our strategy and the most disadvantaged as a result was Messi"

[futbol]

Mascherano confirming Messi can't play for Chelsea.

[LeBéninois]

Wait weren't we fed endless stories about how Messi was saving himself etc?

Anyway the criticism for Messi is way too high tbh, but when you have people like Jiopsi in your corner it's no wonder people are letting La Pulga have it.

There are fns like Jiopsi everywhere. It's one's decision to hate on a player ...

[cyberman]

Messi wins golden ball yet isn't in the FIFA team of the tournament
Can we stop obsessing over these awards now?

[Harmonica]

Messi wins golden ball yet isn't in the FIFA team of the tournament
Can we stop obsessing over these awards now?

Team of the tournament was chosen the first time by Castrol ratings, the same Castrol that sponsors fakenaldo lol.

[futbol]

jiopsi.

[futbol]

[DeletedUser#1]

just noticed he follows Dan Bilzerian on Instagram

DAY ALPHA

[Harmonica]

6 defenders and goalie looking what just happened.   

Instant reminder of this.

[Harmonica]

[FennecFox7]

general enrique messi reborn

[Collblanc]

Made some fouls yesterday great game from the little man, decent pressure and great on the ball. hope he can keep up

[Beautiful Football]

[Harmonica]

Best performance's based on 4 of the most important statistic. Statistics provided by OPTA.

Goals - How much player provided attacking quality
Chances Created - How much player provided playmaking quality
Dribbles - How much player provided advancing play
Tackling - How much player provided defending quality

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC14

4 - 23 - 46 - 9 - Messi
5 - 17 - 12 - 7 - Müller
3 - 17 - 34 - 2 - Robben
6 - 11 - 15 - 6 - James

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC10

5 - 17 - 7 - 0 - Forlan
5 - 11 - 9 - 4 - Sneijder
5 - 13 - 11 - 1 - Villa
0 - 30 - 10 - 9 - Xavi
0 - 16 - 34 - 7 - Messi

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC06

3 - 12 - 15 - 4 - Zidane
5 - 15 - 8 - 8 - Klose
3 - 12 - 20 - 1 - Henry
1 - 24 - 11 - 17 - Pirlo

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC02

x - x - x - x - Kahn
8 - 13 - 11 - 4 - Ronaldo
5 - 13 - 14 - 7 - Rivaldo
1 - 24 - 7 - 17 - Schneider

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC98

4 - 7 - 16 - 3 - Ronaldo
6 - 9 - 15 - 6 - Suker
3 - 18 - 17 - 6 - Rivaldo
2 - 19 - 20 - 10 - De Boer

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC94

5 - 8 - 25 - 1 - Romario
5 - 12 - 14 - 10 - Baggio
6 - 6 - 14 - 7 - Stoichkov
3 - 18 - 17 - 11 - Brolin

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC90

6 - 8 - 9 - 2 - Schillaci
4 - 21 - 22 - 22 - Matthaus
3 - 24 - 3 - 17 - Brehme

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC86

5 - 27 - 53 - 11 - Maradona
5 - 18 - 9 - 3 - Careca
6 - 3 - 2 - 1 - Lineker

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC82

6 - 14 - 10 - 2 - Rossi
4 - 18 - 13 - 5 - Boniek
3 - 8 - 10 - 15 - Falcao
3 - 24 - 17 - 5 - Giresse

No stats for Rummenigge.

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC78

6 - 18 - 43 - 5 - Kempes
5 - 15 - 19 - 8 - Rensenbrink
2 - 19 - 10 - 24 - Haan

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC74

3 - 36 - 33 - 9 - Cruyff
3 - 30 - 23 - 17 - Deyna
7 - 13 - 8 - 14 - Lato

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC70

4 - 28 - 16 - 9 - Pele
7 - 13 - 47 - 4 - Jairzinho
10 - 14 - 4 - 0 - Gerd Müller

Goals - Chances Created - Dribbles - Tackles - WC66

3 - 18 - 15 - 15 - Charlton
9 - 10 - 35 - 10 - Eusebio
4 - 9 - 22 - 17 - Beckenbauer

The least controversial World Cup Golden Ball, based on most important statistics:

1. Maradona 86
2. Kempes 78
3. Messi 14
4. Cruyff 74
5. Romario 94
6. Rossi 82
7. Forlan 10
8. Pele 70
9. Schillaci 90
10. Charlton 66
11. Ronaldo 98
12. Zidane 06
13. Kahn 02

Note, not all players are sourced.

[rwo power]

Messi Golden Ball stats merged with Messi Appreciation thread as the former thread was only to showcase more Messi appreciation.

[Harmonica]

Why, it can't be general topic?

[Harmonica]

[shinigami99]

but

I feel like this should be merged with the LM appreciation thread

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