The new Maradona

[Maldini]

It's kind of been a running joke now for the past decade or so with dozens of players being given the tag of "The new Maradona" but I think we finally have a player who can live up to it in Leo Messi. I've never enjoyed watching a player as much as this guy, he's just incredible, any time he gets the ball in the final third there's a chance of a goal.

[_00_deathscar]

Aguero will do fine too I reckon. Different sort of player, mind...

[Stevie H]

i was at a bar on a rooftop at about five this morning and the barca match was on. couldn't help but watch it just to see him play, he's an absolute pleasure to watch every time.

[Snookie]

He's magnificent. Injuries may rob him of the chance to become an absolute all time great but he's the one player playing at the moment capable of being legitimately being talked about in the same breadth as Maradona, Pele and Cryuff. Zidane is the closest there has been in the last 15 years but, as good as he was - and he was brilliant - he occupies a level just below him.

 

Messi is the anti-Ronaldo. He plays the game for the love of it. Ronaldo plays it out of love of himself.

[goodrobotusses]

Already the best in the world - just hope injuries don't become too much of a problem throughout his career.

[Benzo-13]

Messi's the best individual player in the world by a mile.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is a blinkered Manc.

 

He needs titles now and a few memorable performances in major championships to leave a legacy in the game - though he's a lot of time to do so!

[Hassony]

One thing about Messi is that its difficult to hate him, In the same way way that its easy to hate the likes of C Ronaldo, Robben, Henry

[Swipe]

One thing about Messi is that its difficult to hate him, In the same way way that its easy to hate the likes of C Ronaldo, Robben, Henry

 

 

Yep, there certainly doesn't seem to be much of an ego with him.

 

He's awesome. Must be horrible to defend against.

 

Still don't think there's anyone in the world at Maradona's level though

[Swagger]

Never heard of him.

 

Who does he play for?

[Snoeker]

... he's the one player playing at the moment capable of being legitimately being talked about in the same breadth as Maradona, Pele and Cryuff.

 

You mean Brazilian Ronaldo?

[Nebraska Red]

the great thing for him is that Barcelona are resting him on a regular basis to keep him fresh, when he starts, he is usually one of the first to be subbed out.

 

a great player who does not seem to have an ego comparable to some of the other so called superstars of the game.

[Coyler]

He looks like little boys look in cartoons in France and Spain.

[cymrococh]

Anyone else think this thread was about Leto?

[Leo No.8]

Wonderful player - a true genius with a great attitude and approach to the game. Messi and Torres are the two shining examples of players with world class ability and profile but an incredibly down to earth, grounded personality.

 

I don't mind a genius with a bit of arrogance though if he's a bit off the rails and interesting even if he plays for a rival; players like Maradona, Garrincha, Best and even Cantona all fall into that flawed genius category.

 

I've named two United players so its not about who they play for, I like to think I'm fairly objective. But Ronaldo is so dislikable its untrue. He has all the arrogance and more of any player in history but no personality or humour whatsoever.

 

This is the thing about many of the top players in the modern era, the likes of Ronaldo and Robben; they have all the arrogance but none of the interest of the great players of the past who were a bit mad as well.

 

Plus they tend to throw themselves about more and cheat which makes them even more unpleasant.

[Hassony]

Cantona???????????? Is this the same player who couldn't get into a poor french team, and never played a decent game for united in europe? are you seriously comparing him with the likes of Pele and Maradona?

[Leo No.8]

Cantona???????????? Is this the same player who couldn't get into a poor french team, and never played a decent game for united in europe? are you seriously comparing him with the likes of Pele and Maradona?

 

Of course not, just giving him as an example of a top class player who was arrogant but interesting in a lunatic way.

 

He was brilliant though, practically won the title single handedly for United a couple of times.

[Hassony]

Of course not, just giving him as an example of a top class player who was arrogant but interesting in a lunatic way.

 

He was brilliant though, practically won the title single handedly for United a couple of times.

 

he was important to that team, but single handedly is pushing it a bit

 

I don't think he will manage to get in the current united team

[R A Softlad]

It's kind of been a running joke now for the past decade or so with dozens of players being given the tag of "The new Maradona" but I think we finally have a player who can live up to it in Leo Messi. I've never enjoyed watching a player as much as this guy, he's just incredible, any time he gets the ball in the final third there's a chance of a goal.

 

Tread lightly through the fields of happy tissues.