Messi has officially solidified his status as the greatest

As much as I am a huge supporter of Maradona being my personal GOAT, I have no problem now by saying that Messi has surpassed Maradona for Argentina and is the greatest of all time. A monumental victory over Brazil at their own turf that will live forever in Argentine history. His biggest enemies in Argentina can no longer say he doesn't sweat or bleed for his country after an outstanding performance in the copa america.

Congratulations Messi

Tears in my eyes

GOAT

He solidified it more than half a decade ago.

People using out dated information to define GOAT status was always incredibly dumb.

The reason in Maradona, Pele etc days international football successes was held in such high asteem is because it genuinely was the highest level of the sport.

Champions League has been a higher level than any international tournament for like 30 years, so people still putting higher stock in International tournaments still is incredibly dumb.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:He solidified it more than half a decade ago.

People using out dated information to define GOAT status was always incredibly dumb.

The reason in Maradona, Pele etc days international football successes was held in such high asteem is because it genuinely was the highest level of the sport.

Champions League has been a higher level than any international tournament for like 30 years, so people still putting higher stock in International tournaments still is incredibly dumb.

Amazing post , amazing

Exactly my thought

Agreed, but it's nice to see him win something with Argentina as that's been his main criticism for a decade when the GOAT shouts started.

I wouldn't say 30 years Mole.

The top national teams of the late 90s/early 00s (Brazil, France, Italy, the Netherlands, etc..) were still superior to the top clubs of that era.

It Is since 1999-2000, since we 've the Champions League with top 4 of best leagues etc

30 might be overkill lol, but it's been a long ass time.

It's pretty much due to money, clubs have been able to build teams they literally couldn't do before and now far out weigh international football standards.

All of it contributed to why i don't enjoy the sport anymore but it is what it is.

Robespierre wrote:It Is since 1999-2000, since we 've the Champions League with top 4 of best leagues etc

Pretty much.

Just compare the Euro 2000 final with that year's CL final that featured Madrid vs Valencia. It's pretty evident which one had the highest level of football.

congrats on the Copa, Messi

'Surpassed Maradonna'

I'm sorry when did he win the World Cup?

Yeah congrats to him for winning a Copa America after CONCACAF spammed that shit for 5 years straight

And if Champions League is at a higher level, then how come he hasn't won at the WC? By that logic it should be a breeze

International tournaments will always be held in higher esteem, you need more cohesion, more understanding, you need to work more because you're in a completely different team. As well as adapt against teams and their playing styles, club football is much easier in that you know how teams will play based on their set permutations and players. Levels when guys like Pep predict how Chelsea will play to the T and still manage to lose:



This your GOAT competition?

In any case, he is a legend without a doubt.

Copa America is nothing but a pre-season tournament lol. Even in there messi choked last night and Di Maria had to pull out his 'big game player' card.

Messi's status remains exactly the same as it was before last night.

^ correct... been the GOAT, still the GOAT

Messi:

World Cup
———————-
Second place
Mvp


Copa America
—————————
Champion
3 times Runner up
2 time MVP (3rd time he declined)
Top Scorer
Top assister
Top All time assister (17 assists, 13 goals in 34 games in Copa America)


Olympics
——————
First place medal


Under 20 World Cup
————————————
Champion
Mvp
Top scorer

_____________________
76 goals, 53 assists (?), 151 games
————————————




This was before the final:


“Messi’s 2021 Copa America Campaign is one of the most dominant international campaigns by any footballer ever.

Leading 24 different statistical categories in a single international tournament will never be seen again.”
—————-

“Messi is leading the Copa America in 24 different statistically categories.

This includes Shot and Goal Creating Actions, Progressive Passes and Carries, Dribbles Completed, xG outperformance, and Through Balls.

So much more than just his goals and assists.

Scaloni said that Messi played the semifinal and final with a hamstring injury.

Messi's Ankel was bleeding against Colombia. South American Football is brutal.

GOAT because of a Copa América that teams like Dagenham would beat?

It's a pretegious cup but it's a shocking level of football and he was not exactly lighting up the final.

Cristiano has two more CLs than him including a final not to mention a Euro, a far superior level. Not to mention he's been miles better for Portugal than Messi for Argentina who's been unlucky but nowhere near what he is for Barça.

Commander isn't the player Messi is but has had the greater career and done it in three countries.

Retire Missi.

Scaloni has revealed that Messi was injured in the semi and final but he chose to play anyways. GOAT.

But in any event winning this cup doesn't really change his legacy, he didn't need it before and it's just a nice plus.

Arquitecto wrote:GOAT because of a Copa América that teams like Dagenham would beat?

It's a pretegious cup but it's a shocking level of football and he was not exactly lighting up the final.

Cristiano has two more CLs than him including a final not to mention a Euro, a far superior level. Not to mention he's been miles better for Portugal than Messi for Argentina who's been unlucky but nowhere near what he is for Barça.

Commander isn't the player Messi is but has had the greater career and done it in three countries.

Retire Missi.

copypasta?

CR only own 1 More UCL.
When CR Own Euro 2016 he played against Hungary, Iceland, Austria, Croatia, Poland and Wales, not really the most difficult run ever. CR's Performance in euro 2016 is nothing close to Messi's Copa 2021.

Well, he was always one of the GOATs regardless of whether he won or not but I'm actually happy he finally won with his Nation at a senior level.

That being said, World Cup > anything else.

Well at the same time Maradona never won the Champions League but rather he got knocked out soon those times.
I think the discussion on who's best is diffcult to be done for different football ages, it's subjective taste but I didn't think and I don't think it could be based on a WC more or less or CL more or less.
Football changes in its complexity.
For a wider  speech, we live in a media age where everything is exasperated to excess, the defects of the current football players got overstaded, we  don't miss a detail.
Vice versa, the past champions look like us as immortal and they have never lost in their life. And hardly we 've watched them for 90 minutes.frequently But even them , sometimes, suffered defeats.
It is the beauty and the evil of modernity.

Also, going by the logic the CL > anything else, Ronaldo should be considered the GOAT as he is the competition's greatest goal scorer?

In any case, Messi finally winning was really nice to see and seeing Scaloni win something was a bit special as he was part of the Super Depor side.

Maradona titles with argentina -2 (WC+U20)
Messi titles - 3 (Copa+olimpics+U20)

Also Maradona was a copa america flop, never played a final
Messi played 4 copa final and won one of them

Other than that Messi holds every record for Argentina

For me both of them will be remembered equally. you cant forget messi's records and you cant forget maradona's gol against england

Messi Might not be best ever. In absoulte truth he is clearly better than CR.
All You need to see what they do beyond their goal scoring ability.
Many statical player will come Like CR. Most probably Mbappe and Halland will take over both Messi and CR in overall goal socrer. So did in previous generation like Gerd Muller, Puskas, Romario.

But Player of messi's quality come once in a life time. He has Dribblig, playmakng, passing, scoring, decision making ability and top of that he passes eye test too. Very few player in the history of football have that combo. Pele own 3 World cup becauyse he had Best national teeam ever with him. same goes in club football for messi and CR.

Individual player level remain same regardless of team success.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Scaloni has revealed that Messi was injured in the semi and final but he chose to play anyways. GOAT.

But in any event winning this cup doesn't really change his legacy, he didn't need it before and it's just a nice plus.

He played with swollen foot

No wonder he couldn't do much impact in the final. Every other match he was outstanding, i didn't expect 34 years old Messi to be that good. I think Final is the only match he didn't assist or score.