7 Ballon d'Ors. 6 golden boots. 4 IFFHS playmaker awards. 40 trophies. He's the only player in history who has dominated both goalscoring and playmaking - all while making it look normal. He's the best finisher I've ever seen, best dribbler I've ever seen, best passer I've ever seen...it's actually unreal how good he is. And now, he's producing an all-timer WC campaign at 35 years old. The greatest to ever do it. UPDATE: WORLD CUP WON = DEBATE DONE. 🇦🇷🏆🐐

I think it's disrespectful to Messi comparing him with all these players, you will truly know how great he is once he retires. 7 Ballon d'ors, 6 European Golden Boots, 8 League Top scorer, 6 FIFA POTY, 3 UEFA POTY, 1 Laureus SOTY, 1 WC Golden Ball, 2 CA Golden Ball, 1 CA Golden Boot, 790 Goals (Soon to beat the record), 349 Assists, 60 Free Kicks, 87 Outside the Box Goals (Open Play), 56 Hat-tricks, 208 Brace, most goals in a year ever, most assist in a year ever, most dribbles ever (2975), 41 Trophies. Lionel Messi.

With or without a world cup, I think he's the greatest by a distance. I've never seen a player who is able to dribble to the level he does, while having that level of passing and vision and also being one of the greatest goalscorers ever too. Not to mention, the consistency and longevity he's shown over 15 years. The fact he's 35 and still doing what he is at this world cup just is further evidence of why he's a class apart.

He won three Golden Boots IN A ROW at the age of 30-32 while being a playmaker. Madness

Messi is undeniably the greatest of all time. He checks all the boxes and his performances this world cup are just legendary at 35 years old

Messi is the best footballer I've ever seen. When you look at all attributes (vision, passing, dribbling, touch, finishing, set pieces, pressing, tackling, heading, movement) you could say that messi tops most of the categories. Pretty much all the technical ones. I always thought if Iniesta hit an average 20 goals a season, he could have been the goat. But he didn't, and here we are.

Just ignore the statistics and watch him play, it’s a joy, an amazing feeling, pure happiness. I bet anyone of you football fans, you smiled atleast once and were amazed of something Messi did during the last 17 years. The guy is on a another level, the things he do on a pitch will be remembered for eternity, and for those who doesn’t see him like that once he retire and we all comeback and watch his videos you will realise that you didn’t appreciate greatness because you were blinded by emotions and your love for other players or teams. With or without the world cup this guy will always be remembered as the little genius that came and conquered the world of football. Win or lose the world cup, thank you Messi for those memories, it was a pleasure watching you play !

Dominating in goalscoring,playmaking and dribbling for more than decade...He is not only GOAT in football,He is also GOAT athlete

Messi for me is incomparable. He did it in the most advanced era of sport science and tactics and maintained it for over 15 years. A genius level of playmaking and being an elite goal scorer. What pele and maradona did was great for their time, but they did it against heavy smokers and drinkers with limited athleticism, whilst playing about half of the games they play annually now. Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t even in the conversation with these 3 who all surpass him, he should be compared with the likes of Alan shearer and Inzaghi great poachers, nothing else.

I can say alot of things about Messi or show statistics to argue is the best of all time. But if you really want to know just watch him play.

The way he played at "17 years of age" and after a tremendously successful journey the way he is playing 18 years later at "35 years of age" is the same or maybe even better with the :- Ball Control, Dribbling, Passing, Assisting, Goal-scoring and everything which tries to execute; He's not just the "GOAT" of this planet in my opinion he's the "GOAT" of all the galaxies combined

Need an update video after tonight’s performance against Croatia! Messi = Legend

1- Messi 2 Maradona 3- Pelé 4- Cruyff 5- Ronaldo Nazário

I am lucky to see Messi play from the beginning of his career. If football is life, we are in heaven.

In this case they’re comparing mainly based on number of ballon dors but if you put those awards to a side, I mean come on the style and game that Messi shows literally every weekend for 15+ years is just insane, the dribbles and assists and vision I mean it’s just unreal the way this guy plays, it’s just too hard not to consider him the Goat after you sit and truly watch every single one of his highlights since he was just a kid

YES Debate Over!

100% he is the G.O.A.T & now he's in his 2nd FIFA World Cup final.

Can1t believe people still have this discussion. It is so painstakingly obvious. Yes, Ronaldo is great, but come on. A completely unbiased footballknower has to say Messi ALL TIME.

Messi is the greatest.

I can understand why people would prefer other certain players back in their generation cause they grew up watching them. Messi though, he’s different, pure world class. Once in a lifetime player like him. Don’t get me wrong CR7 is up there with the legends, but Messi just stands out from all of them. We’re so lucky to have witness the greatest football player in history.

In my opinion Messi , Ronaldo , Pele , R9 and Maradona are in a league of their own...cant really compare players of different generations but of the last 10-15 years , no single player can match what Ronaldo and Messi have achieved.

What Messi really amazes me is that he's not just the best, but he has been the best for the longest time. He's now 35 and he still plays like the genius he is, it's just unbelievable!

And now he retires peacefully after capturing the world cup. He has completed his career.

Messi is simply by far the best ever..the GOAT ...no one is comparable to him...

I have understood a fact, Ronaldo fanboys now have nothing so have to cling with the argument "Ronaldo proved in different leagues". Mate, Ronaldo joined Prime United, Prime Real Madrid to win UCL. And couldn't win UCL with Juve as they did not have Modric, Ferdinand, Rooney, Casemiro, Bale to carry him Messi is the GOAT followed by Maradona and Pele then after that is where Ronaldo (CR7) comes.

I understand that they are looking at the past with nostalgia, but the reality is that Messi and Cristiano have played against some legendary players as well. Lewandowski, Suarez, Benzema, Ibrahimovic, Modric, Xavi, Iniesta, KDB, Alexis Sanchez, etc. The fact that Messi and Cristiano have dominated the game for as long as they have with all these players playing at the same time is just incredible. This generation of footballers deserves more respect. EDIT - I’ve missed some names, that’s why I put etc. I think the point still comes across.

All I want for Christmas is to see Messi win the world cup

Messi.. no doubt 🐐❤️

I think he demonstranted, against The Netherlands and Croatia, why he is the goat. He has a superb technique and close ball control that has been honed through 3 decades. Stuff like that wont wither away with age. You saw him taking on 3 opponent players at once and they struggled.

girls and kids and even young men, they say ronado is the goat because he is good looking but in reality messi numbers says it all. MESSI IS THE REAL GOAT

Even being a ronaldo fan, i think so

One player that wasn’t mentioned not on same level as Messi but pretty good in his playing days was Roberto Baggio

Even as someone who is a massive ronaldo fan and will always be my favourite player, messi is best to do it. Messi is like a Pure freak of nature where as Ronaldo is an example of pure hard work and determination, Despite this the disrespect towards Ronaldo from some has been shocking and just shows how short people's memory is.

It’s out of Messi and Maradonna

M - Magical E - Extraterrestrial S - Sensational S - Spontaneous I - Inspirational

He is incredibly good at the Game, but what is unstopable is that he controlls his mind like nobody. He is the GOAT

Many great players all have something different to offer.. There is no such thing as the GOAT. Messi is easily the best dribbler, its as if the ball is stuck to his feet when he runs.

It's not all about numbers. Maradona did not play in any teams as good as Messi's Argentina nor Barcelona but took both Argentina and Napoli to the top. Napoli more so. To break the Milan side of that era would have been something else, imagine the Leicester team winning the pl twice with the current man city team around, that big of an achievement. You cannot underestimate how defensive and rough that era was as well as man marking not zonal marking, plus the poor pitches too. Is there any coincidence that Barcelona haven't hit the heights since xavi, iniesta retired and even Suarez and neymar left, even though they still had Messi? Maradona was a midfielder that dragged his team's over the line, Messi is a striker.

I’ve said it many times, he’s one of the great genius human beings of his craft. Once in a century people who are born with a god given talent that no mere mortal could ever realize with hard work alone. Words alone don’t and can’t do him justice. Watching Messi play is a joy

Easily the best 🐐

Greatest dribbler, greatest goal scorer, greatest playmaker. He’s easily the GOAT in my eyes.

You know what’s really crazy? If Ronaldo wasn’t playing in the same generation as Messi, Messi would have 13 balon d’ors… Ronaldo would have a similar amount if it wasn’t for Messi too. You wonder if without each other they would have pushed themselves to such a high level, or if they’d solidified without doubt, that they are the greatest of all time with no rival

GOAT debate is finally over❌ Forced debate is finally over ✔️

Messi is the best player, Ronaldo is the best pure striker. Both 🐐 in my eyes and they have achievements to back up both those claims. End of debate.

One of the unfortunate things about football punditry is that so often, the “experts” are former professionals who are not very articulate. They just ramble on endlessly without making valid points. The case for Messi being the greatest of all time is fairly easy to make. But I always here pundits absolutely butchering it, just listing out other great players and talking in circles. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Ronaldo won La Liga, the UCL, the Euros, balloon d’or, etc etc all in the same year. With another UCL either side of it. The big difference between Ronaldo and Messi is that Messi needs a whole system behind him for him to excel. Ronaldo would have been league top scorer playing at Fulham

One of the greatest players Sòcrates once said this and stands true today in regards to this ridiculous argument. “To have this ridiculous fight, “I’m the best. No, I’m the best”. They are not better than anyone, especially given that their time has already been and gone. You have to be yourself. You don’t need to be better than anyone else, nobody does. Because if you are better than someone, then someone has to be better than you. Let’s throw Einstein into the argument, who is better Maradona or Einstein? Pele or Einstein? Or Galileo? Who was more important for mankind?”

It doesn't matter how better a player performs at club level. All it comes down is that elusive World Cup trophy, which maradonn won, Pele won, whereas some greats didn't.

Short Answer : YES. Long Answer : 100%, Absolutely, no doubt about it - YES.

The GOAT without a doubt. Denying it is underappreciating what he is as a footballer, and missing out on the enjoyment he can give to a real fan of the game.

Kris Boyd speaking sense. The longevity of unbelievable performance is what sets Messi and Ronaldo aside from the rest. Winning World Cups can’t be a measure as these are team achievements and we’re talking about individuals. As mentioned, Best had no chance of winning a WC, Haarland will be the same and Ronaldo would find it way more difficult than Maradona, Pele or Messi. Messi and Ronaldo have been different players to each other and each has their strengths over the other. I don’t think you can separate them. Both have been extraordinary players and two of the very best there’s ever been.

I think messi has always been ahead of ronaldo when it comes to footballing ability. Ronaldo's career makes it comparable him to messi and how much he's worked on his attributes. Ronaldo never should've been compared to messi but the fact that he is is credit to ronaldo

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the two best players I have seen in my lifetime. With that being said, Messi is levels ahead of Cristiano. I truly believe that if Messi didnt exist, Ronaldo wouldve never been as good as he has become. Having Messi as a driving force and competitor is why we all respect and admire the footballer Ronaldo has become. However if it were the other way around where Ronaldo didnt exist. Messi would have been just as spectacular as he is now. This man is born to play football and he himself has changed the way football is being played. With or without the WC, Messi is the GOAT.

plot twist: debate is over

As an argentinian (and Lio's) fan, I always thought Ronaldo was underrated, and I think Lío himself is showing to the world right now how actually good the portuguese was at his peak physical prime. I mean, Mbappé and Haaland can't overcome a 35 years old Lio about to retire, he's literally casting a Shadow that prevent these two amazing football players of winning any trophies and awards... Ronaldo won 5 Ballon D'or when Messi was at his peak, I mean... How GOOD was he to stand toe to toe against the argentinian for more than a decade? Messi is the greatest without any doubt, but I don't think he's by far. Had Cristiano born in a country with a strong football culture like Argentina, with a good national team, he would have a World Cup or two already. But then, if Ronaldo and Messi both were born in Argentina... Football wouldn't have been a fair sport anymore.

Messi has answered the question today against Croatia and now looking forward to the trophy. Messi the GOAT!!

Messi's got a World cup now...Now he's the undisputed G.O.A.T...No debate,no doubt...Oppose if you can!

Yess I wish questions this easy will come in my Tommorow's exam as well. 😀😀

Messi is already the greatest without the World Cup This just proves this man is unreal, pointless comparing other players to him he is a cheat code

I never understand people who call R9 "the original Ronaldo" Immediately you already know it's a Messi fan

It can realistically only be Maradona or Messi. Saying Maradona would only have won 2 ballon d'ors is laughable. He was clearly the worlds best player from 1980/81 until 1990. 1984 yes Platini, besides that he should at least have had 5. But when it comes down to it the ballon d'or itself its hardly a valid accolade, Igor Belanov won it in 86 ffs. Sammer, Owen and Papin also come to mind.

Why don’t they talk about Romario, Garrincha & Gerd Muller etc. I’m a Messi fan but I think context matters a lot. A player like Garrincha wouldn’t have to think about longevity because how the game perceived at that time. You don’t have to play European football cuz Brazil league was great back then. And he won everything there to win. His mission was complete. Romario & Gerd Muller were unbelievable forwards. I think players like them need to be included in the greatest of all time conversations.

GOAT debates and somebody brought up George Best😭😭😭how embarrassing

Why does everyone argue in the comments all the time? Can’t all football fans appreciate Messi, Maradona, Ronaldo, Pele etc instead of dividing themselves from others based on their opinions. Anyways some arguments people make are pathetic, just enjoy it all!!!

Johan Cruyff is the greatest and most influential footballer of all time

1 Premier league player of the month, 1 championship player of the month, 1 Reading POTS , 1 Hoffenheim POTS, 9 Icelandic POTY, 2 Icelandic sportsperson of the year, 2 Swansea POTS and Gylfi Sigurðsson isn't even considered in the GOAT debate. Simply ridiculous.

Saying that it was harder to stand out previously is absolutely disrespectful to great players today, that if they lived in any other era, would’ve definitely won ballon d’or. Think of the great players Messi and Ronaldo have overshadowed: Neymar, Suarez, Lewandowski, Bale, Benzema, Aguero, De Bruyne, Ozil, Drogba, Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, Hazard, Sanchez, Ramos, Pique, Xavi, Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Muller, Lahm, Neuer. This is probably the most talented era in football history, and they dogwalked it 3:23

8th ballon d'Or is loading now for Messi in 2023.

The best there is,the best there ever has been and possibly the best there ever will be 🐐

This debate has been going on for most of their careers and will continue into the future but I feel as they both near retirement the general consensus is that Messi is not only better that Ronaldo but the best to have ever played the game.

Mario Kempes was not on the '86 team. The guy you're thinking of, hopefully, is Jorge Valdano or Jorge Burruchaga...

With the World Cup over and Messi winning the only trophy left in his career. It's uncontested that the 2 greatest players of all time are from South America. King Pelé & Goat Messi showing why the number 10 is the most desired number in football 🇧🇷🇦🇷🔟

This is what the Media and the Other People (hidden sect) have always wanted, Crotia has no chance today because as usual, the refree and the lines man will do everything possible to make argentina win...just like in the last match with Netherland, where Messi stopped ball with his hand and no media, no one is talking about it...

He’ll be getting his eighth ballon d’or next year for sure

Love Ronaldo, he’s an ELITE scorer and serial winner but as a football fan I don’t see how you can watch the game and not have Messi above everyone else. Ronaldo is a predator but Messi is simply a magician, a phenomenon, seemingly blessed and born to play ball.

Playing With Argentina And Portugal Are Different Things !!

For me, Maradona will always be Number One.

Messi = god gifted But Cristiano = hard working man

Ronaldo is great but he just isn’t Messi! The only thing Ronaldo had above Messi lately was his consistency at a really high age and Messi is even taking that away from him now. When Ronaldo was 35 two years ago he wasn’t even close to Messi’s current level. Messi as of today is still the best player in the world!

I feel like the game now is the most technical it has ever been, simply because the amount of time and people that put everything into it, and he’s the top of the pile IMO. Incredible player, and plays like no one now. I don’t think we’ll see anything like him again

I had hoped for Ronaldo to reach the world cup final along with Argentina, giving us a Messi vs Ronaldo dream final match. And I was sad that Portugal bowed out to Morocco. If that hadn't been the case, I'd have been fine with either of them winning the World Cup. But now that Ronaldo is out, I sincerely hope Messi wins it. It would be a travesty for their generation if they both retired without the elusive trophy. BTW, what a load of nonsense - "It was much harder for all the great players before Messi to stand out in their time?" Really? Isn't it just that Messi has completely dwarfed every other great player of his generation by a country mile, with the exception of Cristiano Ronaldo? "Harder to stand out" my a**. Football has evolved a lot over the last few decades. The level of physical, technical and mental abilities you need to possess just in order to get noticed these days is much greater compared to back then. Nowadays, even central defenders are required to be reasonably tall, strong, fast, mobile, disciplined and can dribble quite a bit on demand if they are going to stand out. Defenders like Van Dijk, Koulibaly, Godin, etc. are all exceptionally good players who would have gotten more limelight if it wasn't for Messi and CR7 taking all the spotlight year after year. Hell, way back then, someone like Harry Maguire might have been considered a very capable and reliable defender instead of the walking meme he is today (okay, that last one may be a bit too far, but you get my point). Its not that there are no more great players today. Its just that the overwhelming majority of top league players are all so equally good that its hard to see them as anything more than normal. And with Messi's achievements making them all look even more normal, its not hard to see why. Heck, Mbappe and Neymar would already have the "one of the all time greats" tag if they didn't have the misfortune of being born into a Messi-Ronaldo era. I am willing to bet everything that, had Messi been born in the Cryuff, Platini, Van Basten, era, he'd still rise up to be one of the best ever in history at the very least.

Debates over now

Why is there even a debate it's just Messi is the GOAT 🐐

Messi, to me, is what Ronaldinho could’ve and should’ve been. Insanely talented, amazing passing, vision and creativity. Those passes that Messi pulled off were so similar to the passes Ronaldinho used to do at Barca in his prime

top 3........maradona messi pele.

tbh, there was never a debate

1 Pele 2 Messi 3 Maradona 4 Zidane 5 Beckenbauer Guys this is the real one from a football fan since 1980s. You guys do the research or at least see footages of the GOATs. Messi is current GOAT period. But if he plays on the 80s 90s sure he will be dropped out to face Maldini, Matthaeus, Baresi, Desaily, Roy Keane, Stam, Cannavaro, Nesta, etc. Dont compare era to era. But the achievement and trophies have said it all. To underestimate Pele is a total joke from a newborn generation. 3 WC and crazy highlights. Watch on YT it's everywhere. He's the reason why football is no1 sport until this day. If he plays in Europe maybe he will get 10+ UCL and 10+ballon D'or. To rule out Zidane? Come on. He's the Mozart, the biggest artist of football at all time, with all medals as leader and main man everywhere he plays. His leadership and charisma is 100x than other GOATs. The skills? See on YT! Many many living legend, footballers, ex, or coach have said ZZ as GOAT, including your idol manager, Pep! Maradona is better than Messi. He has Messi's dribble, Ronaldinho's crazy skills, Oliver Kahn's leadership, Cantona's charisma, R9+CR7+Kempes finishing, etc. He won Serie A with Napoli. Assume It's like Messi won the Premier League with Birmingham. Just use any logic. If he plays now, messi has no chance to be the captain to Argentina. Respect him! Beckenbauer? Google him! A defender with all medals. Period. 2 ballon D'or, WC, UCL and many more. An achievement nobody will ever reach for a defender. Never ever. Who's your fav def? virgil? Ramos? Dream on to get those medals collected together. Messi is the current GOAT. Stop Cr7 messi debate. Its done. No one will ever close to him. Next year will be his 8th ballon dors. In 100years ahead from now, i believe no one will ever close to his achievement. He is the fairy tale, the sports superhero of this century. Oh im btw a massive CR7 fan. Sad to have him lost but he is done. Reminds me of the great Platini which was finally overshadowed by Maradona. Now Messi is the GOAT! Thanks

I think one of the things that make winning this WC so important for his legacy, is when we're 30-40+ years down the line, historic World Cup wins are just more talked about and known by future generations compared to league titles or UCL wins. I couldn't tell you what trophies Pele won outside the World Cup, or what clubs he played for. Maradona is more associated to playing for Argentina than he is compared to playing for Napoli when talking about general public/fan knowledge. If Messi can win this WC, it will be one of the main achievements referenced to him when people discuss him in 4 decades, because of the nature of winning a World Cup

I like Messi and Ronaldo, I don't compare them anymore!

Messi is an extraordinary player and by far the best of his generation. But Maradona was a genius, god like, and will never be matched.

When I see Lionel play, I start to think "Men In Black" is not a sci-fy movie, and aliens may be among us for real.

CR7 in the same picture as maradona pele and messi is a joke. A great striker and scorer but not near the magic of pele and maradona. Brits and madrid fans put cr7 up there.

Messi is the only player to have ever scored and assist in 3 games in a world cup. GOAT

The world cup is just the icing on the cake and everyone knows it

Did you really put (?) sign in the end?? Unnecessary question

"Absolutely no way Norway will win the world cup" With Morocco and Croatia in the semis rn its very likely this comment will age like milk.

There's no debate. He is already The GOAT💪

Becouse u protected messi not made him part of ur every stence like u do with it cr7 he survived and played with out media darkness

Honestly, Best analysis ever about Messi….thank you guys Messi has no ego , he didn’t want to speak 🗣 about his ability….

You 💯 need a WC on your resume to be called the GOAT... unless your career look's like the one of Messi and Ronaldo. These two players are without a doubt The Greatest to Ever do it. And even then, Messi is on another level.