For some reason I keep viewing this thread despite not giving a hoot, but something is nagging at my curiosity.

Nobody talks about Argentina. They say Messi, as if he is the one player in the team. As if he is the team. OK he may be the greatest player ever, however you quantify that, but he still needs 10 other teammates.

Dec 13, 2022 23:24:09 GMT Emperor said:

For some reason I keep viewing this thread despite not giving a hoot, but something is nagging at my curiosity.

Nobody talks about Argentina. They say Messi, as if he is the one player in the team. As if he is the team. OK he may be the greatest player ever, however you quantify that, but he still needs 10 other teammates.

I think the main storyline for Argentina much like with Portugual was their superstar of two decades has one final shot to finally win the big one so they overshadow the other talents. Of course Messi can't goalkeep or defend but his passing makes everyone around him better so everyone roots for him. 

Dec 13, 2022 21:23:42 GMT Blindy said:

If Messi can win this Sunday, he will have surpassed Tom Brady as the current GOAT of all sports IMHO.

BTW Michael Jordan is on his own tier for team sports, did not omit him. What he did is never getting touched in another sport.

Dec 13, 2022 23:38:10 GMT Blindy said:

Dec 13, 2022 21:23:42 GMT Blindy said:

If Messi can win this Sunday, he will have surpassed Tom Brady as the current GOAT of all sports IMHO.

BTW Michael Jordan is on his own tier for team sports, did not omit him. What he did is never getting touched in another sport.

I was going to attack you for your Messi take, but you saved yourself here.

What makes Messi such a great player?

Dec 14, 2022 13:35:12 GMT Emperor said:

What makes Messi such a great player?

His smile and wink. The ladies love it. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Dec 13, 2022 23:38:10 GMT Blindy said:

Dec 13, 2022 21:23:42 GMT Blindy said:

If Messi can win this Sunday, he will have surpassed Tom Brady as the current GOAT of all sports IMHO.

BTW Michael Jordan is on his own tier for team sports, did not omit him. What he did is never getting touched in another sport.

I was getting ready to rip you apart 😂

All but set in stone.

Messi, looking for his first World Cup. Versus France, a team looking to be the first back-to-back winners in 60 years.

Dec 13, 2022 23:24:09 GMT Emperor said:

For some reason I keep viewing this thread despite not giving a hoot, but something is nagging at my curiosity.

Nobody talks about Argentina. They say Messi, as if he is the one player in the team. As if he is the team. OK he may be the greatest player ever, however you quantify that, but he still needs 10 other teammates.

It's a long standing narrative that's based on years of underachievement during Messi's career. They have a extensive history of losing finals, three in the Copa America, one in the Confed Cup, and the 2014 World Cup, that was finally broken last year when they beat Brazil to win the Copa for Messi's first international trophy. A lot of those have been marked by individual failures by otherwise really good players, Higuain's miss against Germany the most ignominious:



Argentina's managers have also historically struggled to make the sum greater than the parts. They've always had a great deal of talent at their disposal but have regularly failed to find the right formula. They had their strongest squad between 2006-2010 but Pekerman and Maradona made selection errors. Scaloni doesn't have a lot of experience but has clearly galvanised the squad, the togetherness is very evident (largely around "doing it for Leo" - the younger players in the squad are prepared to sacrifice physically whereas in years past the rest of the team would have just been waiting for Messi to deliver some magic) and he's also shown some tactical acumen, changing up his formation to suit game situations, like using a back three to protect leads.

All the Qatari shenanigans aside, this World Cup has been one of the funnest I can remember watching. Seeing the US actually qualify, Japan getting closer to emulating Blue Lock, Brazil & England losing, Morocco coming out of nowhere, Messi/Argentina reaching the final, etc. etc. If France loses it'll be worthy of a chef's kiss in my book.

I like the conspiracy theories going around surrounding this WC.

Qatar (hosts) own PSG, and Messi and Mbappe both play for PSG, so Qatar fixed it for their two best players to be against one another in the final.


Enough of that tripe though, I hope Argentina win on Sunday, I had hoped they won back in 2014, but this time around, they're the real deal. Fernandez and Alvarez I have been massively impressed by.

Messi can solidify himself (not that he needs to) as The GOAT of this generation, IF/WHEN Argentina are crowned World Champions.

Dec 14, 2022 13:35:12 GMT Emperor said:

What makes Messi such a great player?

There are two aspects to it. His achievements and his profile.

No player has ever achieved as much as he has, outside of winning the World Cup, which as HR explains is driving the narrative. Seven times he has been voted the best player in the world in a single year, an award known as the Ballon d'Or, which is a record. Six European Golden Shoes, awarded to the highest goalscorer in a single season in Europe. His team honours include four Champions Leagues (the top level European championship in club football), and eleven domestic league championships. Internationally, he was awarded the 2014 World Cup best player, and has won it twice in the Copa America, as well as winning the competition itself in 2021. The Copa America is the South American equivalent of the Euros. He is two goals shy of 800 goals, making him the seventh highest recorded goalscorer in football history.

But what makes Messi extra special is his profile. Far from being a goal poacher, or powerhouse, Messi is much an instigator, creating goals, as he is a scorer of them. Messi has a record 386 assists in his career. It seems impossible that a ball-dominant goalscorer as prolific as Messi would also be the world's greatest provider of goals to other players. It should be, but this is Messi. And it isn't just numbers, he's thrilling to watch. His combination of velcro-like close control, lightning acceleration, and ballet-like composure make him the most complete player to ever play. I really hope he can do it Sunday.

I'm not in the business of putting him over Pele and Maradona because I never saw them. But I'm old enough to remember Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, and obviously Cristiano, and if you're putting Messi behind any of those, you need to give your head a wobble.

Is Benzema going to be playing in the Final?

Either way, I’ll be rooting for Messi, but I think France wins 3-1.

No chance Benzema starts with no match fitness and Giroud in good form. He might come on for a bit at the end. I wouldn’t do it.

If the 'Drake Curse' is a thing, France will win tomorrow now.

MESSI SCORES!!!

1-0 Argentina

EDIT: Now 2-0!  DiMaria gets this one.

Lovely.

Argentina playing so inspired

HOLY FUCK!!!

Mbappe just scored two in two minutes to tie it!

EXTRA TIME IN THE FINAL!!!

What a fucking game.

Messi 10 mins from World Cup, Golden Ball and Golden Boot when Otamendi decides to have one of his classic brainfarts and it all changes. Which is why anyone who simplistically thinks that the result of this match actually changes how good Messi is is not really worth listening to.

This France feel a lot like recent Real Madrid. They don't need to be good. They do it in moments.

Dec 18, 2022 17:13:35 GMT Strobe said:

Messi 10 mins from World Cup, Golden Ball and Golden Boot when Otamendi decides to have one of his classic brainfarts and it all changes. Which is why anyone who simplistically thinks that the result of this match actually changes how good Messi is is not really worth listening to.

This France feel a lot like recent Real Madrid. They don't need to be good. They do it in moments.

Reminds me of a quote from the great John Facenda.  "Great teams aren't always great.  They're just great when they have to be."

MESSI MESSI MESSI!!!

Just hang on for 10 minutes now without doing anything daft.

Had the French player not have stuck his butt out, that would've been offside.

OH MY GOD, NOT AGAIN!!!

We all need some oxygen after that.

Greatest game of all time.

THE KING FINALLY HAS HIS CROWN!!!

Dec 18, 2022 17:55:06 GMT CM Punk'd said:

THE KING FINALLY HAS HIS CROWN!!!

CM Punk’d post of the year