1.) 25 Apr 2020
25 Apr 2020 19:04:16
Thanks Ed, very interesting read.

{Ed001's Note - cheers KP.}

2.) 25 Apr 2020
25 Apr 2020 19:52:26
Great read, thanks Ed. Very knowledgable man mate.

{Ed001's Note - cheers Dtd. Not so much knowledge as research though.}

3.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 08:22:13
Great read as always mate
For me easily Ronaldo is a better player as he makes those around him play better especially international wise where he he lead that national team to glory for a long time now
Also he has done it in the top leagues around the world albeit in the best team at the time but he still performs Messi goes missing internationally a lot and have only really proven himself in la Liga nowhere else.

4.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 11:05:54
Spot on, JJ. Messi to me, is great and indeed one of the greatest players we have ever seen, talent wise. That much is a fact. He will never be the GOAT for me cos, he never w0on a WC with his national team (which to me, has always been the standard), he is yet to win an int'l comp. with his national team, which means he lacks the influence to make his team mates better. He is not a leader who can get a bunch of players to follow him, unlike CR7, Maradona, Pele et al.

Most importantly, he is yet to do it anywhere else than his Barcelona backyard and in that way, he can never be greater or better than CR7 or any of those players who led their teams to World Cup, Euro's (like CR7) or Copa America glory or dominated in other leagues like CR7, Maradona, Ronaldo 9, Zidane et al. Just my opinion.

5.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 11:35:06
Great read Ed, hope you're keeping well mate.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate, all good here thanks. How are things with you?}

6.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 12:05:29
I think it’s virtually impossible imo to name a GOAT as there are different eras and everyone will have different opinions and likely favour who they grew up watching.
However, in the Ronaldo and Messi debate, I would say Messi is the most naturally gifted out the two but Ronaldo shows what putting the training in can potentially award you.
Out of the two I would side with Ronaldo as he has dragged teams to trophies imo, plus he edges it by producing on the international stage like RM has said above.

7.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 12:46:47
Ed1, and Ed2, if you were Messi's agent and he wanted a final move before retirement, where would you like your player to move to? Also, why would you see that particular team being the best place for him?
Good article again Ed1.

{Ed002's Note - Inter Miami or LA Galaxy - both would need commercial assistance to buy him but LM's contract with Barcelona would make it possible.}

8.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 14:01:04
In 30 years time they’ll look back and go off Ballon D’ors to who is best, and Messi will have the most.

9.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 14:49:07
Has to be Ronaldo for me as he has done it in a few leagues not just Spain I often wonder how messi would cope in the prem.

10.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 15:41:54
I would put Johann Cruyff and Messi ahead of Zidane and C Ronaldo. World Cups are won by teams not individuals.

11.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 17:06:08
Kleberson won a World Cup. He must be in the equation for GOAT 👀😂.

12.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 17:52:34
JK23, and who is making the argument that Kleberson is the GOAT or better than Messi and CR7? Read the thread or the comments thoroughly and then we can discuss. Peace and Stay Safe.

13.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 18:49:41
Interesting side story about Messi. Most people are aware that he was given regular shots of HGH (human growth hormone) when he was younger due to him being born with a type of dwarfism which meant his internal organs were underdeveloped.

What is often not mentioned is that the unavoidable side effect of this was his muscles grew at a much faster rate than the other kids his age giving him physical strength and endurance 4 or 5 years above his age. Barcelona were allowed to pay for Messi to receive this treatment on medical grounds, even though it is a performance enhancing drug which did enhance his performance.

14.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 18:58:12
If Ian Rush wasn't Welsh, he'd have won a World Cup.

You have to realise that CR7 is 35 and Messi is 32. Three years at that level is massive, and CR7 is still the better player. Will Ronaldo play until he is 40? I don't know, but he is fitter, faster and has a lot more drive than Messi. I actually think CR7 still has 5 more years in him.

What is really sad, is that when CR7 and Rooney turned out for Man United early on, Rooney looked the better player. Ronaldo's pure professionalism of perfect diet, exercise and always improving himself wherever he could, over Rooney's getting pissed and shagging grannies obviously took it's toll on him.

Now, you cannot even compare those two. How good could Rooney have been if he had Ronaldo's professionalism and attitude?

15.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 19:21:08
EpicPotato pls, stay on topic. Nobody was talking about Rooney, Ian Rush or whoever else as the GOAT. So whether Rushie or Rooney (and whatever else about shagging or whatever other creepy stuff you posted about him) would have won a WC if he wasn't Welsh (what does that even mean? ) is irrelevant here. The discussion is about Messi and CR7 and who is better than who and who is considered as the GOAT.

IMO, Messi can NEVER be called the GOAT if he has not led his team to a WC (the biggest prize in football, if not sport in general) just like the other potential GOAT's (of which Rooney nor Rush is a part of) like Ronaldo 9, Pele, Maradona have done.

At least CR7 to his credit, may not have won a WC but has led his team to the Euro's, something Messi has not done and at this point, will never do. He is also yet to do it anywhere else than his Backyard, something CR7 has done 3 times over (Portugal, England, Spain and Italy) .

16.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 20:07:30
Thanks for the reply Ed2, interesting and understandable choices of club.
Can you see Messi moving to the premiership, and would his contract work against him moving to England as opposed to the USA?

{Ed002's Note - No, he will look to see out his time at Barcelona and just maybe head to the States for a final fling.}

17.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 20:32:36
I disagree, to suggest a player can Never be called the GOAT if he has not won a World Cup is wrong.
The World Cup is a knockout competition from the last 16, and requires a bit of luck to win, similar format to the FA Cup, furthermore it is held every 4 years.
1 player, even the best in the world cannot carry an average or poor team to world cup success. There are plenty of top class players who never even played in a World Cup because their Countrys squad was simply not good enough, Ryan Giggs and Ian Rush for Wales for example. Far worse players than them have World Cup winners medals.
Messi and Ronaldo are different players anyway, but I have always preferred Messi as I think he was a better team player with mesmerising dribbling skills.
I would choose the Brazilian Ronaldo over both anyway, a majestic player sadly ruined by injuries.

18.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 21:56:11
Sound Ed1, have a good week!

19.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 22:11:35
GF, that is your opinion and I can respect that. But you are missing my point. The discussion is about whether certain players with GOAT potential can be called the GOAT. Ryan Giggs nor Ian Rush (great players) is not in that conversation so no need bringing them up. And nobody is talking about far worse players than them having won the WC either cos like it or not, they are not part of the GOAT conversation either. Pretty simple, really.

For me, a Messi will never be considered the GOAT ahead of those who actually dragged their overall average teams like Maradona in 1986 or Ronnie 9 in 2002 (not fully fit, on one good knee and a bad hamstring) to winning the greatest prize in football. Again, we are talking about Messi here, not Mr. "insert random player name here" here

Finally I agree with you. Ronnie 9 is IMO, the best player I have ever seen. You know who else thinks that? A certain Jose Mourinho. When asked the question about the game's greatest talent on LiveScore, Mourinho replied: 'Ronaldo, El Fenomeno. Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers, they have remained at the top every day for 15 years.

'However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo [Nazario]. When he was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realised that he was the best player I'd ever seen take to the field. 'Injuries killed a career that could have been even more incredible, but the talent that that 19-year-old boy had was something incredible. '

Ronnie 9 in terms of raw talent and ability, is unmatched, IMO.

20.) 27 Apr 2020
27 Apr 2020 00:19:11
The assumption that a player cannot be called the GOAT unless he wins the world cup is as ludicrous as suggesting the Brazil ‘70 team were not the greatest as they didn't win the Ballon d’Or.
Maradona didn't win the WC in ‘86, the team did. CR7 didn't save a single penalty when Portugal won the Euros.
This whole argument that a player is only rated by the trophies in his cabinet is extremely flawed. Ill say it again, Johann Cruyff.

21.) 27 Apr 2020
27 Apr 2020 20:46:11
IDreamOfGini, in that cas we should scrap the discussion of who the GOAT is cos football is a team sport. Oh we can't cos you yourself just named Cruyff, as your GOAT. Why? Did he win all this trophies at Ajax and Barcelona (won nothing with Holland) by himself then?