10 - Lionel Messi - v5

[blaugrana1987]

Here's the thing. Ronaldo (I don't normally speak about Ronaldo when Messi is the subject, but I'll make an exception this time) keeps his consistent scoring against the best sides. Hell, in recent seasons he's scored more goals in decisive games than just about any other player. And Messi, in comparison, isn't deciding these matches anymore. Messi doesn't score a lot in the big games, his scoring rate is very low. But he also doesn't dominate the midfield in these games either, so you could say that he is this great AM now. So, what exactly does Messi do in the big games lately, beause outside some goals here and there and some bits of genius at times. His consistency in anything, being goals or chances created, is rather low. Isn't an elite scorer anymore, his explosiveness has declined majorly, and his genius passes are picked up by any serious team with some good defensive discipline.

In short, Ronaldo is a better no9 than Messi is a no10 in the last years. I don't see Ronaldo as a poacher and Messi as a total presence in both goals, dribbling and passing anymore. Ronaldo is a no9 and Messi is a no 10 in recent years (again, not talking about games vs Deportivo and Malaga), and Ronaldo just does his job better.

So how did Ronaldo play against Bayern over 2 legs or against Liverpool in finals?

 

[serghei]

So how did Ronaldo play against Bayern over 2 legs or against Liverpool in finals?

So, you're gonna mention 3 games, when Messi hasn't scored in CL quarters in 5 years, with us going out 4 times in those 5 years?

This is the cold hard truth guys. Messi is not an elite scorer anymore, and he is not a great midfielder either. Play him next to the 16m box or at RW and stop this nonsense with him as an AM. He's much too soft and lazy at this point in his career to play in heavy traffic areas. Man is 31, has 2 kids and a family, and he just doesn't have that hunger anymore. Ronaldo is obssesed, different profile of a player and person.

Instead of having Messi in midfield, play some skilled midfielders who put in 11-12km per game, and have Messi as a forward/winger.

The pure 10 player is lost anyway nowadays. Teams run like crazy.

 

[MessiTBE]

This can be set up for Messi and Argentina to win it. Brazil vs Germany next round one of them will be out, and the other teams don't really look that good.

Come on Messi! Believe!!

 

[ThwiX]

Yeah, Ronaldo wasn’t really deciding games right, left and center last season for Real Madrid. Was pretty disappointing against both us and Atletico in the league to begin with, then disappeared after the games against PSG. If we are talking about the 16-17 season, then you got a point. Seems like this Spain game really fucked with some people’s heads. That was possibly his best international game ever.

 

[blaugrana1987]

So, you're gonna mention 3 games, when Messi hasn't scored in CL quarters in 5 years, with us going out 4 times in those 5 years?

This is the cold hard truth guys. Messi is not an elite scorer anymore, and he is not a great midfielder either.

Im going to mention it because Ronaldo being a passanger in 3 final games in CL still meant Real won title, without Messi and own goals, Barcelona wouldnt even pass group stages.

Its testament how good Real is when it beats Bayern in semis and Liverool with ease with Ronaldo being worst player on pitch. Even yesterday, was Messi worst player on pitch? No, he missed penalty, but he was by far best attacking player on that team. Real on the other hand won every single final in last 4 games without Ronaldo being even in top 3 best players on pitch. Incomparable.

Its knee jerk reaction. Messi plays well against Croatia and Nigeria, Ronaldo bottles it against Iran and you will have half of internet changing their tune.

 

[Mitchell1978]

Here's the thing. Ronaldo (I don't normally speak about Ronaldo when Messi is the subject, but I'll make an exception this time) keeps his consistent scoring against the best sides. Hell, in recent seasons he's scored more goals in decisive games than just about any other player. And Messi, in comparison, isn't deciding these matches anymore. Messi doesn't score a lot in the big games, his scoring rate is very low. But he also doesn't dominate the midfield in these games either, so you could say that he is this great AM now. So, what exactly does Messi do in the big games lately, beause outside some goals here and there and some bits of genius at times. His consistency in anything, being goals or chances created, is rather low. Isn't an elite scorer anymore, his explosiveness has declined majorly, and his genius passes are picked up by any serious team with some good defensive discipline.

lol, Messi isn't an elite scorer anymore, nobody scored more goals in Europe this season, what a load of nonsense, doesn't score in big games, look at the games he has scored in, its just not true

i see that now that Messi is a weak point the agenda's are coming out, think i remember you wanting Messi to be sold after the 2014 world cup and the 13/14 season

Posts like this are just disgusting

 

[serghei]

lol, Messi isn't an elite scorer anymore, nobody scored more goals in Europe this season, what a load of nonsense, doesn't score in big games, look at the games he has scored in, its just not true

i see that now that Messi is a weak point the agenda's are coming out, think i remember you wanting Messi to be sold after the 2014 world cup and the 13/14 season

Posts like this are just disgusting

Elite scorer means scoring in the biggest games.

 

[eaman]

Playing in conmebol qualifiers has really messed up Messis chances of getting past champions league quarters on a couple of seasons and injury this year. Also his strike partners were well off the pace in those games as they were both south American also. Most big games where he's fit and rested he shines in

 

[blaugrana1987]

Elite scorer means scoring in the biggest games.

Which ones though? He played best against biggest teams in championship, he was SOLE reason Argentina even qualified, I dont get what you are saying really...

 

[Mitchell1978]

Which ones though? He played best against biggest teams in championship, he was SOLE reason Argentina even qualified, I dont get what you are saying really...

he's trying to push his narrative, that Messi's role has to diminish or him to be sold even...

 

[Luftstalag14]

Here's the thing. Ronaldo (I don't normally speak about Ronaldo when Messi is the subject, but I'll make an exception this time) keeps his consistent scoring against the best sides. Hell, in recent seasons he's scored more goals in decisive games than just about any other player. And Messi, in comparison, isn't deciding these matches anymore. Messi doesn't score a lot in the big games, his scoring rate is very low. But he also doesn't dominate the midfield in these games either, so you could say that he is this great AM now. So, what exactly does Messi do in the big games lately, beause outside some goals here and there and some bits of genius at times. His consistency in anything, being goals or chances created, is rather low. Isn't an elite scorer anymore, his explosiveness has declined majorly, and his genius passes are picked up by any serious team with some good defensive discipline.

In short, Ronaldo is a better no9 than Messi is a no10 in the last years. I don't see Ronaldo as a poacher and Messi as a total presence in both goals, dribbling and passing anymore. Ronaldo is a no9 and Messi is a no 10 in recent years (again, not talking about games vs Deportivo and Malaga), and Ronaldo just does his job better.

Part of the reason for this is both Messi himself, and Barca & Argentina, who treat Messi as some kind of god who could do anything. These teams should wake the fuck up, and give Messi a precise tactical role, with roles and duties he needs to perform.

I don't dispute at all that Ronaldo overall had been far more decisive and clutch than Messi in big games in the last several years, measured by either goals or assists or chances created. I also agree that Ronaldo is a better 9 than Messi is a 10, but that's what I have been saying, this was mostly due to how the two play and how different they are in that department. Ronaldo relies on service pure and simple and he gets a lot of them, quality ones from his teammates, especially at Real Madrid. Messi has to drop deep to both create and finish. Even taking the No.10 role alone, name one player who has created more in big games than Messi please. Or name one player who has created equal number of chances in big games (we can use ratios etc. to measure) as he did in other games. Of course you are going to struggle to create in big games when you are playing much better teams.

The fact of the matter is, Ronaldo only has one role, one hat to wear and he gets adequate support; Messi has multiple roles to play, several hats to wear and he also does not have adequate support in either the service/assist or finishing department.

Sure, if I need someone to win a game I'd pick Ronaldo over Messi because all Ronaldo needs are some accurate crosses into the box and he will get the job done.

What do you mean by elite scorer anyway? Those players who score a lot of goals against elite teams in big games? If so, sure Messi is not. But who is, other than Ronaldo then?

 

[serghei]

Which ones though? He played best against biggest teams in championship, he was SOLE reason Argentina even qualified, I dont get what you are saying really...

Well, World Cup games would be a good moment to bang in goals and prove you're still an elite scorer. CL latter stages would've been another, but we all know how that went in the last 4-5 years. Messi is part of the reason why we were shit in CL quarters for the third year in a row, because he didn't show up when it mattered most.

 

[blaugrana1987]

And if he doesnt get it like for half a season in La Liga? He will not do shit. This is such an amazing overreaction lol. Argentina is here JUST because of Messi. He scored hat trick in last match that took them to WC, even before that game, he was 90% of their qualis...

 

[KingMessi]

So, you're gonna mention 3 games, when Messi hasn't scored in CL quarters in 5 years, with us going out 4 times in those 5 years?

This is the cold hard truth guys. Messi is not an elite scorer anymore, and he is not a great midfielder either. Play him next to the 16m box or at RW and stop this nonsense with him as an AM. He's much too soft and lazy at this point in his career to play in heavy traffic areas. Man is 31, has 2 kids and a family, and he just doesn't have that hunger anymore. Ronaldo is obssesed, different profile of a player and person.

Instead of having Messi in midfield, play some skilled midfielders who put in 11-12km per game, and have Messi as a forward/winger.

The pure 10 player is lost anyway nowadays. Teams run like crazy.

Never go full retard my guy. You just went full retard.

Well, World Cup games would be a good moment to bang in goals and prove you're still an elite scorer. CL latter stages would've been another, but we all know how that went in the last 4-5 years. Messi is part of the reason why we were shit in CL quarters for the third year in a row, because he didn't show up when it mattered most.

It's a team sport, my guy. The fact of the matter is that Barca and Argentina have bad games if Messi has an off game. That shouldn't be the case, but it has been the case for years now (outside of 14/15 and 15/16).

 

[Vilarrubi]

Messi isn’t the problem.. the system and players around him are.

Imagine Messi as a CF for Real Madrid with Modric/Kroos behind him, the amount of space Madrid create, with Marcelo etc.