Leo Messi

[M-U-R-T-Y]

Eight goals in three games, of which two were hat-tricks, 34 goals in all competitions so far this season.

Slightly different players I know, but is he more deserving of 'best player in the world' than Rooney?

[Big Foot]

Neither of them have really dominated a major tournament, let's reserve judgement until the summer.

Also interested to see how Messi plays against Arsenal, he's not done it on English soil in previous years vs United or Chelsea...

[papereyes]

The last major player to really dominate a major tournament was ...

Maradona?

Messi's second(?) last week is a thing of beauty

[soggy biscuit]

he's not done it on English soil in previous years vs United or Chelsea...

Thought I remembered him putting on a pretty decent performance at Old Trafford a couple of years back when Barca lost 1-0 and didn't play well?

[Big Foot]

he's not done it on English soil in previous years vs United or Chelsea...

Thought I remembered him putting on a pretty decent performance at Old Trafford a couple of years back when Barca lost 1-0 and didn't play well?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 368730.stm

Messi was the real danger man for Barcelona

Barcelona, inspired by the brilliant Messi

I stand corrected.

[Starfish]

The last major player to really dominate a major tournament was ...

Maradona?

Messi's second(?) last week is a thing of beauty

Not as dominant but when I think about 1998, I can only think of Zidane.

[papereyes]

Fair enough - my memories of 1998 are based around the Croatians and USA ...

Messi's goal against Zaragoza
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN6zTox- ... r_embedded

I particularly like the strength at the start and the flick around the first tackle.

[gazzer, loyal royal]

the guy is by far the best player in the world

Barca conceded two late goals on Sunday to make it 3-2 to Barca with 5 minutes to go. Messi got the ball and just ran round 5 or 6 players to win a penalty

the guy is unbelievable

[Row Z Royal]

The last major player to really dominate a major tournament was ...

Maradona?

Messi's second(?) last week is a thing of beauty

Davor Suker. HTH

[daswonder]

Neither of them have really dominated a major tournament, let's reserve judgement until the summer.

Last years Champions League

[papereyes]

Although I think I prefer Messi, I also rate Rooney incredibly highly. This season, with a more central, responsible role, he's been IMMENSE

[rhroyal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1rI9lk3ios

Not just an awesome 2nd, a genuinely immense game from Messi

[Seal]

They're both over rated

[SpaceCruiser]

They're both over rated

'greed, an over-rated diver who is so good at getting other players sent off.

[Big Foot]

They're both over rated

'greed, an over-rated diver who is so good at getting other players sent off.

LOL

[papereyes]

Never, in the field of human suffering has and, indeed, been expressed by so many at the inanity of so few.

[paultheroyal]

Witnessed his hatrick at the Nou Camp last Sunday - sublime. Partnership with Henry is nothing short of fantastic and between them destroyed the Valencia defence.

At this time - fully deserves world's greatest player.

[bobbybottler]

The last major player to really dominate a major tournament was ...

Maradona?

Messi's second(?) last week is a thing of beauty

Not as dominant but when I think about 1998, I can only think of Zidane.

Yes, but he missed a couple of matches after getting sent off.

Since 1986....
1990 - dominated by Lothar Mattheus
1992 -
1994 - Hagi and Stoichkov were each inspirational, but the most influential player was Dunga
1996 - Sammer was "the new Beckenbauer" during the group stages, but by the end it was an effort for any nation to get 11 fit + decent players on the field
1998 - Zidane I suppose
2000 - Luis Figo
2002 - fat Ronaldo
2004 - Zidane again
2006 - suggestions welcomed
2008 - not sure, Xavi? Villa?

[Ark Royal]

The last major player to really dominate a major tournament was ...

Maradona?

Messi's second(?) last week is a thing of beauty

Not as dominant but when I think about 1998, I can only think of Zidane.

Yes, but he missed a couple of matches after getting sent off.

Since 1986....
1990 - dominated by Lothar Mattheus
1992 -
1994 - Hagi and Stoichkov were each inspirational, but the most influential player was Dunga
1996 - Sammer was "the new Beckenbauer" during the group stages, but by the end it was an effort for any nation to get 11 fit + decent players on the field
1998 - Zidane I suppose
2000 - Luis Figo
2002 - fat Ronaldo
2004 - Zidane again
2006 - suggestions welcomed
2008 - not sure, Xavi? Villa?

Going back even further:

1958 Pele (at 17!)
1962 Garrincha
1966 Moore and Eusebio
1970 Pele
1974 Cruyff and Beckenbauer
1978 Kempes
1982 Rossi

[Big Foot]

The last major player to really dominate a major tournament was ...

Maradona?

Messi's second(?) last week is a thing of beauty

Not as dominant but when I think about 1998, I can only think of Zidane.

Yes, but he missed a couple of matches after getting sent off.

Since 1986....
1990 - dominated by Lothar Mattheus
1992 -
1994 - Hagi and Stoichkov were each inspirational, but the most influential player was Dunga
1996 - Sammer was "the new Beckenbauer" during the group stages, but by the end it was an effort for any nation to get 11 fit + decent players on the field
1998 - Zidane I suppose
2000 - Luis Figo
2002 - fat Ronaldo
2004 - Zidane again
2006 - suggestions welcomed
2008 - not sure, Xavi? Villa?

I would say Villa for 2008, he won golden boot didn't he?


2006 really was a poor world cup looking back wasn't it? Germany vs Costa Rica was a good game, Kaka scored a good goal against Croatia and apart from those games, England's games and the final - I can't remember much