Lionel "The Greatest of All Time" Messi

[JohnN]

MESSI === GOAT Birdy. We don't need to write both.
Tell us more about how Argentina would be better without him.

 

[DonAK]

No, don't make so much sense. Too much for this forum to handle...
Only scream MESSI and GOAT in big capital letters, post pics of him holding the trophy, etc

Weren't you the one who said Argentina weren't good enough and that Messi would end up exiting early with his WC ending in tears?

Doubt many people here are disputing what Temptation said. Think he is underselling Messi's game a bit, but difference of opinion.

 

[FCMessi]

The Argentine national team is so simple. They're not trying to be something else. They know exactly what they are. No delusions.

Shoutout to Scaloni for constantly changing tactics based on opponents and getting it right every time post Saudi. That's how you manage an NT.

Argentina were the best at tactical fouling and pressurising refs this WC. They got a chunk of lady luck with the refs. No denying that.

Also the support really helped. I heard that more than half of Argentina's fans were from Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. Practically every game was a home game.

They had the right amount of grit and guile.


The technical ability of these players are extremely underrated by Messi fans.

Enzo and Paredes are really good technically. Alvarez is a beast. Alexis was fantastic. Di Maria provided Stardust in the final. Messi is Messi.

They didn't even have to use ballers like Dybala and Correa.

It's a fantastic set of individuals who are even more than the sum of their parts and finally Messi adds the star power and moments of magic in most games unlocking opponents.

Shoutout to Messi's Defensive work in the final. Thought he had great moments defensively. Played an average game on the ball apart from the goal but he worked really hard off the ball today.

Kudos to Scaloni. Was immensely impressed by the tactical fouling. So well managed, united and know exactly what they wanna do.

don't forget the GOAT Otamendi

 

[Birdy]

Weren't you the one who said Argentina weren't good enough and that Messi would end up exiting early with his WC ending in tears?

Doubt many people here are disputing what Temptation said. Think he is underselling Messi's game a bit, but difference of opinion.

No, I was the one who said things that had much more nuance in them than what you wrote, and things you need to have a de-fanaticized spirit to get.
Not your sport apparently. Get back to fanboy posting

 

[serghei]

The Argentine national team is so simple. They're not trying to be something else. They know exactly what they are. No delusions.

Shoutout to Scaloni for constantly changing tactics based on opponents and getting it right every time post Saudi. That's how you manage an NT.

Argentina were the best at tactical fouling and pressurising refs this WC. They got a chunk of lady luck with the refs. No denying that.

Also the support really helped. I heard that more than half of Argentina's fans were from Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. Practically every game was a home game.

They had the right amount of grit and guile.


The technical ability of these players are extremely underrated by Messi fans.

Enzo and Paredes are really good technically. Alvarez is a beast. Alexis was fantastic. Di Maria provided Stardust in the final. Messi is Messi.

They didn't even have to use ballers like Dybala and Correa.

It's a fantastic set of individuals who are even more than the sum of their parts and finally Messi adds the star power and moments of magic in most games unlocking opponents.

Shoutout to Messi's Defensive work in the final. Thought he had great moments defensively. Played an average game on the ball apart from the goal but he worked really hard off the ball today.

Kudos to Scaloni. Was immensely impressed by the tactical fouling. So well managed, united and know exactly what they wanna do.

Good post.

But Argentina aren't a fantastic set of individuals. On the contrary, Argentina are a team that is focused on the collective part, knowing full well that their only two superstars are over 35 years old. They understood that, and knew what to do to compensate for it with a lot of hard work.

Dial down on this great individual quality of the supporting cast of Messi (not many players in this team play at world's best club teams if you want to check), up his contribution in this tournament by a good bit, and you've got yourself a top notch analysis.

 

[DonAK]

No, I was the one who said things that had much more nuance in them than what you wrote, and things you need to have a de-fanaticized spirit to get.
Not your sport apparently. Get back to fanboy posting

Yes, a lot of nuance here:

https://www.barcaforum.com/showthread.php/19384-Lionel-Messi/page659

 

[Birdy]

Yes, a lot of nuance here:

https://www.barcaforum.com/showthread.php/19384-Lionel-Messi/page659

which was the state of things in March 2022. Now its end of Dec and most of these NT sides had an underwhelming WC
Like I said above, Argentina proved the most consistent in the end
Far from the super team the fanboys (you included) were making them out to be, while making Messi out to be like Messi 2012

 

[JohnN]

which was the state of things in March 2022. Now its end of Dec and most of these NT sides had an underwhelming WC
Like I said above, Argentina proved the most consistent in the end
Far from the super team the fanboys (you included) were making them out to be, while making Messi out to be like Messi 2012

Argentina is far from a super team and Messi is far from his 2012 prime. No one in this forum or anywhere claimed those things.
This is the essence of this achievement you are desperately trying to downplay.

 

[KingLeo10]

Yes, a lot of nuance here:

https://www.barcaforum.com/showthread.php/19384-Lionel-Messi/page659

Lmao, I tried to tell him Argentina aren't pushovers and got labeled a delusional troll/fanboy . Again, I don't think Argentina are the best national team in the world. France is.

But they beat France (on every metric), from number of shots (20 vs. 10), shots on target (10 vs 5), xG (3.4 to 2.3), to pens scored (all 4 vs. 2).

They were led by a man on a mission, who wanted this trophy more than anything else. And his teammates saw that, and performed at 110% of their level all tournament (bar SA game).

 

[Hardy]

lol barca og like to that post, wonder how he feels now

 

[El Gato]

None of the teams you (@Birdy) talked about were many levels above Argentina. Still aren't.

 

[KingLeo10]

also, special shout out to [MENTION=22502]soul24rage[/MENTION] and [MENTION=15376]DonAK[/MENTION]. We were ridiculed here for saying Argentina have a chance at the WC (a year plug ago) after winning the Copa and game v Italy (which Rassvet called a lower than friendly tier game)

 

[CatalinR10]

Toni Kroos: "Leo Messi deserves this World Cup, absolutely... I haven't seen an individual performance like his in this tournament. He didn't play for clubs I like but I have to be honest!"



we should have brought him home together with Modric.


SMH.

 

[Temptation]

Would also like to draw attention to the X Factor Messi brings. Whether he's having a good game, poor game or average game he attracts 2 or 3 opponents and draws them in creating a lot of space for others. Also took great pens. Pessi FTW!


I stand by my point of people underrating the technical ability of the Argie mids. Enzo won young player of the tournament. Paredes has always been a very technically sound player. Alexis has been one of Brighton's best players and that team has played beautiful technical football for ages. RDP was a total workhorse and just kept up the intensity. Carried the ball well and combined well with his 1-2s. It's not always the biggest, glossy and sexy names that do you good. Every time Argentina played with a positive intent they effortlessly were great in possession as a team.

Alvarez is attack was immense with his runs, directness and finishing. Terrific player.

After Messi, Emi was Argentina's most important player. He seems like a penalty specialist and his energy is infectious. Must be a huge psychological advantage for Argentina going into Shootouts with him.

Molina came up with a big goal. Full backs are bang average but functional and worked hard. The 3 CBs are good. Otamendi and Romero are pretty dumb at times. Romero has the qualities to be a World Class CB though. Licha deserved more playing time.

 

[Horatio]

Never forget I was first to hype up this Argentina. Qualifier games even before Copa started siuuuuuuuuuuuuu.