Marcus Rashford vs Lionel Messi at 18

Weird thread. Hope its not a deliberate attempt at jinx. The OP do seem well intended going by the post. So, assuming it’s a genuine post, I like to say no way the 2 can be compared. Different players. Rash is basically Martial on the right side eventhough his finishing is not Martial’s level yet. But then again Marcus has some attributes Martial hasn’t have like better vision for example.
And since both him and Anthony are not Mourinho type players, the worry that both of them in fact, not just rashford would get wasted under him is not an unreasonable one for now. Hope mou wont do a lukaku with these lads and ditch them. They are an integral part of United’s future.

rincon wrote:Nothing like dismissing Pele for scoring a hat trick in a semi and a brace in a final to hype up Messi "almost scoring" in the R16

Harmonica also conveniently says no reliable stats can be found on 1958 World Cup when he was comparing stats of star players in every World Cup tournament

You can always trust GL to deliver the wikipedia arguments.

While pele is the undisputed best teenager of all time, teenage Ronaldo lima was better than teenage messi imo, and neymar was quite sick as a teenager. Scored 100 goals at 19. Same with Ronaldo lima and pele.

1. Pele
2. Ronaldo lima
3. Messi
4. Neymar
5. Maradona

Baring in mind that this is my opinion and that my list is restrictive to teenage-hood.

I never saw Pele or Ronaldo(at 18) play

Messi at 18 was insane for that age. I recall myself thinking that his style was more direct and potentially more lethal than Ronaldinho's.

Messi's style is/was actually more lethal than dinho tbh..

As for the players, I saw ronaldo and maradona live and can tell you that they were better, definitely on output and on talent at least.

While, I never saw pele, but what I later watched, read and heard is enough for me to know that he's probably the biggest teenage star of all time, closely followed by R9, Messi, Neymar and maradona.

Neymar is/was another crazy player for a teenager also, was the youngest south america player of the year twice in a row before moving to barca.

Took a scrub santos (basically tottenham) and won the Libertadores, Copa sudamericana, brazilian cup and I even remember when Neymar could never score an easy goal to save his life. It was basically one golazo after another golazo. He was even nominated for the puskas for 4 straight years (2010, 11, 12, 13) and was a finalist in 3 straight years (11, 12, 13) while eventually being a puskas winner (2012). The guy won the hors concors in brazil ffs, an award only won by pele (in 1976)...

Scoring a 100 professional goals as a teenager is no ordinary feat either tbh (Pele, R9, Neymar). So, in my book, its between teenage Pele, R9, Messi, Neymar and Maradona.

Pele isn't regarded as the greatest player of all time for no reason.

Its interesting the names mentioned in here, all are Latin Americans. So what about Europeans? Who are/were the top 5 most talented 18 year old Europeans in the game? Will our main man Rashford get a shout in that list ? I think Rooney deserves a shout as he as a teenager was really good.

Europeans : In no particular order Rooney, Cr7, Dembélé, Coman, Varane, Benzema ( breakthrough at 20 tho.)

Buffon deserve a mention there.

As a teenager had gone to the Olympics and competed at every youth level for Italy (and won some of the cups). Was a starter for a Parma that became runner ups in Serie A, became a full international and played in world cup qualifiers.

By 20 he was Serie A's goalkeeper of the year and had won the coppa and the UEFA cup with Parma still.

Benzemas break out season was when he was 20 though. Rooney is in with a shout though. The guy was basically a beast at 18/19

Renato Sanches

Cruijff scored 25 in 23 games in the 65-66 season. He was 18 for most of the season (birthday is April 25th). Season afterwards he scored 41 in 41. Almost certainly double digit assists aswell. He was goating right from the start.

Also, Casillas.

zigra wrote:Cruijff scored 25 in 23 games in the 65-66 season. He was 18 for most of the season (birthday is April 25th). Season afterwards he scored 41 in 41. Almost certainly double digit assists aswell. He was goating right from the start.

In second rate league.

And probably gay too hahahaha lmao mad punchline BRU
Go write another 10 pages random bs about how much you love Messi.

Hapless_Hans wrote:Renato Sanches

zigra wrote:And probably gay too hahahaha lmao mad punchline BRU
Go write another 10 pages random bs about how much you love Messi.

Eredivisie was ranked 12th best league after 65-66 http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method1/crank1966.html

Little pit less personal remarks and more about reality thanks.

No I'm done giving you any attention.

zigra wrote:No I'm done giving you any attention.

That's what you said in maths class?