Lionel Messi - Record haul

[GreiginFife]

Messi bags goals 85 and 86 of the calendar year against Betis, away at the Benito Villamarin (a tough place to go).

Has to be in with a shout as greatest ever now that the 40 year old record has now fallen.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would say so. So much more than just a finisher

 

[NWJocko]

Messi bags goals 85 and 86 of the calendar year against Betis, away at the Benito Villamarin (a tough place to go).

Has to be in with a shout as greatest ever now that the 40 year old record has now fallen.

More than a shout. Pretty sure by the time he hangs the boots up he'll be widely accepted as the best to have played the game. In my opinion of course.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Possibly but I think it's hard to compare players from different eras. I've never fully made up my mind in the Pele v Maradonna debate (I'm tending towards Maradonna but Pele was before my time). Messi will definitely be up there with those two but probably needs to produce the goods at international level to beat them.

 

[smange]

No doubt that he is/will be one of the greatest if not the greatest but he is playing in what is arguably the best team ever.

Diego Maradona took Napoli to successes that they have never had before and havent had since almost single handedly, he wasnt surrounded by a team full of world class superstars who made it relatively easy for him and the same goes for the Argentina side he guided to World Cup glory in 1986 and so nearly in 1990, where if he wasnt carrying an injury through the tournament he may just have lifted the World Cup again.

So for me Maradona shades it at the minute but if Messi can take a World Cup tournament by storm and help his country to success or even a final or two then yes he may just take over the mantle of his fellow countryman.

Unbelievable goal scoring record though and still a couple of chance to add to it

 

[GreiginFife]

For me, he is the greatest. Many now see the CL as the grail in comparison to the WC. Yes Maradona was excellent and won the WC for the Argies (albeit with a hint of cheating, the type of cheating you wouldn't get from Messi) but didn't really set the European stage alight much at club level with a UEFA Cup and a few domestic titles to show.

Messi is more than just a one man band though, his work rate for the team is hugely impressive in each and every game he plays.

 

[JustOne]

Messi is great but he's got such a great team around him too. I wonder is he could score 80+ goals if he played for West Ham.

I'm sure he'll go down as the best ever by the time he retires (unless he retires early of course).

 

[Liverbirdie]

Messi is a fantastic player, but it begs the question - If 3 players can be scoring more than a goal a game with Ronaldo, Messi and I'm guessing Falcao. How bad is defending in the Spanish league, or are the refs over protecting the forwards?

Would they score at the same level in the premier league? I know Ronaldo had one fantastic goal scoring season. After all apart from Dixie Dean in the 1930's, no-one has ever scored at these ratios.

I wonder?

 

[GreiginFife]

Messi is a fantastic player, but it begs the question - If 3 players can be scoring more than a goal a game with Ronaldo, Messi and I'm guessing Falcao. How bad is defending in the Spanish league, or are the refs over protecting the forwards?

Would they score at the same level in the premier league? I know Ronaldo had one fantastic goal scoring season. After all apart from Dixie Dean in the 1930's, no-one has ever scored at these ratios.

I wonder?

They are doing it in the CL as well so its not just Spanish defending.

 

[Liverbirdie]

They are doing it in the CL as well so its not just Spanish defending.

Good point, but Blatters officials are even worse for giving fouls for next to nothing contact, which is why the last few world cups and euros have been rubbish, IMHO.

 

[smange]

Messi is a fantastic player, but it begs the question - If 3 players can be scoring more than a goal a game with Ronaldo, Messi and I'm guessing Falcao. How bad is defending in the Spanish league, or are the refs over protecting the forwards?

Would they score at the same level in the premier league? I know Ronaldo had one fantastic goal scoring season. After all apart from Dixie Dean in the 1930's, no-one has ever scored at these ratios.

I wonder?

Have you seen the defending in the premiership these days? Its bloody awful as well and yes they, in the right team would score a barrowload there as well.

 

[Liverbirdie]

Have you seen the defending in the premiership these days? Its bloody awful as well and yes they, in the right team would score a barrowload there as well.

I don't doubt he would score a load, but 80-odd in a year, I would doubt.

It's not just the defending, but what refs give/don't give which I think is very different to the Spanish league. Ok, he is also playing for arguably one of the best club teams ever, it's just that 3 strikers are having unbelievable strike ratios in Spain at the moment. It can't be by chance, surely?

 

[DAVEYBOY]

Best player to kick a ball ever and yes he does have a excellent team around him but that doesn't help when he takes on 2-3 players and slots the ball calmly past the keeper which in fact he done against Madrid a while back.

 

[beggsy]

He wouldn't have scored that many 20 year ago even at his skill level he has now he would have been hacked to bits, I'm old school and believe the refs have spoilt it by been too soft

 

[Cherry13]

Best player to kick a ball ever and yes he does have a excellent team around him but that doesn't help when he takes on 2-3 players and slots the ball calmly past the keeper which in fact he done against Madrid a while back.

messi.... a young mans hatem ben arfa.... hahaha! couldnt care any less if hes greatest ever/plays in a 'soft' league if hes on the box then i watch,too young for maradona and pele but i thoroughly enjoy watching this guy play, just like c ronaldo, ronaldinho before that, then the zidane ronaldo era before that. enjoy him why he lasts thats my theory.

ohh and big al was greatest ever.......... hahaha!

 

[Dodger]

Have you seen the defending in the premiership these days? Its bloody awful as well and yes they, in the right team would score a barrowload there as well.

Smange,of course he wouldn't,no chance of doing what he has done,it's the "Best League in the World" don't you know.:lol:

This seasons fantastic standards has shown that.:mmm:

Messi is without doubt up there with Maradonna as the best player to have played the game but for me until Messi flicks one into the net with his hand he'll live in the great man's shadow.

 

[Liverbirdie]

Smange,of course he wouldn't,no chance of doing what he has done,it's the "Best League in the World" don't you know.:lol:

This seasons fantastic standards has shown that.:mmm:

Messi is without doubt up there with Maradonna as the best player to have played the game but for me until Messi flicks one into the net with his hand he'll live in the great man's shadow.

Hello Dodger, I thought you'd be along soon. Pull up a chair, kick your shoes off.

Ok, let me put it differently, as some of our caledonian cousins wont have a good word said for the premiership.

Do you think Messi/Ronaldo/Falcao would also be scoring at their current ratios if they were playing in Italy, a league where AC once won the league with only 36 goals in 34 games.

 

[Dodger]

Hello Dodger, I thought you'd be along soon. Pull up a chair, kick your shoes off.

Ok, let me put it differently, as some of our caledonian cousins wont have a good word said for the premiership.

Do you think Messi/Ronaldo/Falcao would also be scoring at their current ratios if they were playing in Italy, a league where AC once won the league with only 36 goals in 34 games.

Maybe,maybe not.Who knows.What I do know is that he has done it aplenty in Europe against teams from many leagues including Italy.

Most goals in a calendar year - 86

Most goals in a season: 68

Most goals in a European Cup season: 14 (jointly with José Altafini)

Most goals in a La Liga season: 50

Most La Liga hat-tricks in a season: 8

Most European Cup top scorer awards: 4 (with Gerd Mueller)

Most goals in a single European Cup game: 5

Most goals scored in Spanish Super Cup: 10

Most consecutive La Liga matches scored in: 10

Most goals in Club World Cup: 4 (held jointly with Denilson)

Barcelona's top goalscorer in all official competitions: 281

Barcelona's record goalscorer in Champions League: 56

Most La Liga hat-tricks: 15


Not really sure what Serie A has to do with this but the Premiership is not the chugg fest Sky let you believe it is.

The one thing that would seal the deal is if he could add a Ramsdens Cup to that list of achievements......

 

[Liverbirdie]

Maybe,maybe not.Who knows.What I do know is that he has done it aplenty in Europe against teams from many leagues including Italy.

Most goals in a calendar year - 86

Most goals in a season: 68

Most goals in a European Cup season: 14 (jointly with José Altafini)

Most goals in a La Liga season: 50

Most La Liga hat-tricks in a season: 8

Most European Cup top scorer awards: 4 (with Gerd Mueller)

Most goals in a single European Cup game: 5

Most goals scored in Spanish Super Cup: 10

Most consecutive La Liga matches scored in: 10

Most goals in Club World Cup: 4 (held jointly with Denilson)

Barcelona's top goalscorer in all official competitions: 281

Barcelona's record goalscorer in Champions League: 56

Most La Liga hat-tricks: 15


Not really sure what Serie A has to do with this but the Premiership is not the chugg fest Sky let you believe it is.

The one thing that would seal the deal is if he could add a Ramsdens Cup to that list of achievements......

Let's face it, if he can't breach Celtic's defence, he can't be that good.

I don't doubt that he may end up being, if not already, the best player ever. I just think that the barca/Real are given more licence by refs that the rest of La liga, by a mile, they are also 2 teams that are so far ahead of the rest, its untrue.

No-one knows, but I feel that if he played in Italy (for a top team) or even England that him, Ronaldo and Falcao wouldn't score with the same regularity. They would still probably score over 40,maybe 50 and even 60 goals in a year, but not 80 odd.

Take your hatred of the EPl out of it, do you? That's why I mentioned the Italian league instead.

 

[Dodger]

Let's face it, if he can't breach Celtic's defence, he can't be that good.

I don't doubt that he may end up being, if not already, the best player ever. I just think that the barca/Real are given more licence by refs that the rest of La liga, by a mile, they are also 2 teams that are so far ahead of the rest, its untrue.

No-one knows, but I feel that if he played in Italy (for a top team) or even England that him, Ronaldo and Falcao wouldn't score with the same regularity. They would still probably score over 40,maybe 50 and even 60 goals in a year, but not 80 odd.

Take your hatred of the EPl out of it, do you? That's why I mentioned the Italian league instead.

All ifs and buts though isn't it.If Shearer had gone abroad would he still be hawked about as the great he does or the workman like striker he actually was?

I don't "hate" it,I just find it terribly over rated,all you hear about is how today's game is going to always be a belter as there are a pile of unbelievably talented players performing in it only to be awfully disappointed when you are served up a bore fest of a nil nil complete with dreadful defending,misplaced passing,players controlling the ball off their shins and referees whom are hopeless yet at the after match studio inquest all you hear again is how wonderful a game it was.

A prime example of this was Swansea v Liverpool recently,2 terribly mediocre teams serving up a pish game yet the Sky studio still had a chugg fest after it.

And a bit like La Liga you have 2 teams way ahead of the rest then another league of maybe 6 then the rest are as poor as each other with the exception of maybe 2 at the foot of the table.

Greatest League in the World? Yer having a laugh.