Lionel "The Greatest of All Time" Messi

[CatalinR10]

winning the world cup and mvp of the tourney just less than 2 months ago doesn't make you elite

 

[fergus90]

Messi is still one of the elite but if we are being brutally honest, he's not made much of an impact in the latter stages Champions League for almost four years.

18/19 exit was sour because it felt like it was the last huge chance.

 

[ajnotkeith]

A main core of Xavi's identity as a coach is very intense pressing and counter pressing and doing it high up the pitch for 90 minutes, both as a way to create offense and stop the opponent progressing the ball.

People seriously want Messi back so he can stroll around the pitch not moving a muscle to break that system?

Messi will always be a legend, but age catches everyone, and he is declining sharply in his last years. A comeback would be a clown move and there is good reason why Laporta let him leave despite claim it was about FFP (we pulled levers for players the next summer).

 

[Richard.H]

winning the world cup and mvp of the tourney just less than 2 months ago doesn't make you elite

TBH we don't play Argentina system in this club. Scaloni is a world class coach because the style they played suited Messi so much and also suited the short tournament style of a WC/Copa America. He really surrounded Messi with players that would fight tooth and nail to support him and also a very counter-attacking style where they would sit back. Occasionally you would have also Messi coming back to support the defending.

Like said above, I don't know where current Messi would play in Xavi's Barca. Look at how much this team presses off the ball now.

 

[Richard.H]

Also, Messi has won everything now. Who gives a fuk how he performs vs Bayern? If anything it's a bigger match for the divas Ney and Mbappe.

 

[Jadentheman]

So Messi will be plying on injury, Neymar still halfway coming off injury and unfit, and Mbappe who is injured and will be rushed back. What could go wrong?

This doesn't even account for PSG other key players who just got off from injury and will be pushed to their limit

 

[KingLeo10]

If Messi is motivated and surrounded by right kind of players, he is a top 3 player in the world EVEN AT 35. Up there with Mbappe and Haaland, ahead of Lewa and Benzema who are 4/5.

Obviously, he requires more to bring out his best self these days since he is literally 35/36 in a few months. No one disputes this either.

 

[malvolio]

PSG initially looked like changing direction with new coach and sporting director, but did the same thing of collecting a bunch of crap midfielders and/or defenders and neglecting the winger and striker position. Neymar and Messi were all in for the WC, while Mbappe was struggling at the start of the season and still being a moody bitch.

 

[Morten]

If Messi is motivated and surrounded by right kind of players, he is a top 3 player in the world EVEN AT 35. Up there with Mbappe and Haaland, ahead of Lewa and Benzema who are 4/5.

Obviously, he requires more to bring out his best self these days since he is literally 35/36 in a few months. No one disputes this either.

Out of attackers, more or less agree with the list, except i think its been long enough to say that Benzema has declined now, and not in top 5 anymore.

 

[iniestaGOAT]

Psg is finished. Experiment over.

Time to come home.

 

[Birdy]

You think he's not?

The only thing he is still elite in is ball striking ability: passing and shooting
In everything else he is granny version of his former self

Now some helpless folk think that 'top teams' at club level can be built with Messi in there, sitting in an armchair and spraying passes and shots with barely moving...

 

[ajnotkeith]

Out of attackers, more or less agree with the list, except i think its been long enough to say that Benzema has declined now, and not in top 5 anymore.

Benzema has gotten better in his later years, if anything.

Might have lost a yard or two but his finishing/goalscoring ability has been far better after 30 (could say it is a consequence of Ronaldo leaving, but he has also had some crazy xG overperformances too).

Adding to that, his linkup and associative play is phenomenal for a striker. Undoubtedly the best in the world at that and is truly a complete forward. Almost false9 style player whilst still being a box presence and poaching goals.

One of the players I wish we had here and you guys are gonna miss him a lot when he leaves.

 

[Morten]

Benzema has gotten better in his later years, if anything.

Might have lost a yard or two but his finishing/goalscoring ability has been far better after 30 (could say it is a consequence of Ronaldo leaving, but he has also had some crazy xG overperformances too).

Adding to that, his linkup and associative play is phenomenal for a striker. Undoubtedly the best in the world at that and is truly a complete forward. Almost false9 style player whilst still being a box presence and poaching goals.

One of the players I wish we had here and you guys are gonna miss him a lot when he leaves.

Benzema has been great the latest years, no doubt, but speaking the last half year its a clear step back, which was my point.

Of course we will miss his qualities, he is a complete forward, if we bring someone like Haaland in the future it will be a very different way of playing.

 

[soul24rage]

If Messi is motivated and surrounded by right kind of players, he is a top 3 player in the world EVEN AT 35. Up there with Mbappe and Haaland, ahead of Lewa and Benzema who are 4/5.

Obviously, he requires more to bring out his best self these days since he is literally 35/36 in a few months. No one disputes this either.

Agreed.

Anyways, looks like he got injured the last game which explains his subdued performance yesterday. Hope he is fully healed vs Bayern

 

[JohnN]

Birdy still arguing with something none said.
Shit, we know he is a shadow of his best himself dog, he is almost 36 now, what do you expect?
We still know if you build a solid team like Argentina he can perform as he did.
I'd like to see your lover boy, Dembele, at 36. Imagine he will set the world on fire. Oh wait, he can't do that even in his prime age, because he is injured all the time.