"They are watching not only the best player ever but the best team ever...this is a unique group of players". He said everything in only one sentence !
Graeme Souness got it right now didn't he? He was one of the first neutrals who actually hailed Messi as the greatest player of all time way back in 2011. I wasn't so sure about it at that time, but 6 years down the line, you got to admit that he is indeed the greatest player that's ever lived.
@@erea8319 LM7 is most definitely the goat not couldn’t reach 7. Better goalscorer, dribbler, playmaker and passer, the necessary essentials for the best forward and footballer to exist 🐐
From the first moment I seen him play in 2008 I saw instantly he was different to anything I'd seen before, I just wanted him to have the ball all the time because it seemed impossible he would lose it or make a mistake it was incredibly rare he would mess up.. if he kicked the ball it was a goal or crossbar if he passed the ball it was perfect & unbelievable vision even then..from the beginning it was clear he was a genius & there was nothing like him in sports period. He's run 2009-2012 will never be matched.
@@C.J.80 i can only imagine, I was born in 96 so I only knew of Barca because of Ronaldhino, I remember in 2007 1 of my friends had a Messi jersey & by the way ppl talked about Messi I at the time thought Messi was a past legend because I'd never seen him before but I heard a lot about him. I was living with my grandfather at this time & it was the UCL final Barca vs Man Utd at that time I hated United because they were dominating the premier league & I'm a Liverpool fan , also hated Ronaldo because he was too good I guess.. but before the game my grandfather told me "Messi is gonna run rings around them" I said "what!!?!! Messi is a player that still plays??" He said "of course, he's only 21" then I saw on the TV his picture , his name his age / goals etc..& I couldn't believe it , then I saw him humiliate a team that to me looked invincible in the premier league. From that day on I didn't miss a single game of Messi , I wanted him to win everything. Even when my team Liverpool was playing I would choose to watch Barca.. that's how obsessed I was with that team / Messi & I still don't miss a game. Nobody displays football better than Messi.
Ah, the 86 World Cup-winning side was only good because of Maradona's inclusion, was it? Giusti, Burruchaga and even Valdano when he wasn't philosophising were all decent players and then there was Ruggeri, who vies with Passarella and Monti as Argentina's greatest ever centre back, but Redknapp's probably never heard of him
All the clowns out there say maradona carried argentinaa. Whenever someone says that,its clear that they didnt actually watch that argentinian team. Souness doesnt say shit like that despite having watched maradona,so its clear that maradona had a great team around him
yeah, and a midfielder of all ppl probably knows that the team dynamic is most important. maradonas greatest moments came when argentina were still in the game and very much competing, specifically, scores like 0-0, 2-2. bruh messis 2017-2020 barcelona&argentina would already be 3-0 down at that point. these goated forwards are difference makers when their team can compete; none of the goat contenders have ever somehow pulled the score back AFTER their team went like 3-0 down and as they were getting dominated. luckily for maradona in 86 and pele throughout his career, their national team was never in that situation.
This is 2021 and 10 years on and souness was bang on . He played against maradona and knows what he’s talking about , Messi was in his early 20s for Christ’s sake 🐐
Messi at that age was something special but he was also in the best team ever , as the years went on Barca weren't the same force bar 2015, Messi was still good but he wasn't winning the big trophy's that's where Ronaldo came into conversations with people, for me Messi is the best I've ever seen by ab absolute country mile but I don't no if he was better than maradona because I never seen him
He would be the greatest even in 2012 he would be at least in Maradonas level if he retired. Fact is you could make a case for him being the greatest player ever to touch a football would has he retired in 2012
@@TheTaterTotP80 no he doesn't 🤣 his points were Maradona got tackled more and he won a world cup by himself WHICH HE DIDNT because Argentina's 1986 team was unreal. Maradona got tackled yes but he got tackled by slower, unathletic (in comparison), poorly coached and SMALLER defenders. He's stupid and you're a moron for taking anything he says seriously. He backs down to Souness on every point because he knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on and didn't want to get found out and embarrassed for his Bias towards Pele and Maradona.
@@vampycaltm5273 He is just a pure nostalgia merchant, he didn't even see them during their playing days. Souness, Gerry Armstrong, Valdano, Maldini etc. have seen all of them (Valdano even played with Maradona) and they all say that Messi surpassed Maradona, Pele and all the other ones.
This was the concensus from Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Graeme Souness, Pep Guardiola etc when he was 23!! Anything else he has done gas just added on to his greatness.
The fact he was getting GOAT shouts before his 91 goal season even came is just insane to think about. Even more crazy when put into perspective now. World Cup, will retire with 800+ goals, might surpass Dani alves with most trophies, and maybe an 8th ballon dor. And this is leaving out all the other shit he did from 2013-2021. How people don’t think this man is the best ever just crazy to me at this point.
2012 season was great in terms of statistics. But Messi in 2011 was perfect. His dribbling was the best it's ever been and he showed up in every big game that season. He shined on the biggest of stages. He also played with more fluidity and agility.
”These guys” dont determine who the greatest is. Pele is still ahead of messi as the *undisputed* GOAT. Messi will have finished his career without having never put up GOAT level performances at the highest level and biggest stage of all. Therefore he should never be considered as the no1 player above all others. Also you cant be the greatest if you are not the greatest from your country. Go ask argentinians who they prefer. Also you cant be the greatest if you havent definitively been deemed the best of your generation. Ronaldo is ahead of messi in greatness actually. For these 3 reasons Messi cannot, nor should he ever be seen as the best and greatest player of all time. The best talent arguably or even probably, but never the best and greatest player of all time.
@Jeremy Grant ”Cristiano is not even close” only a missyite can utter such drivel. Let me expose your coldchested choker Messy. Ronaldo is 2 1/2 years *OLDER* than missy yet plays in a *BETTER* league in a *LESSER* team scoring *MORE* goals. Ronaldo is greater. Pessi can only dream about Ronaldos leadership and CLUTCHNESS
@Jeremy Grant He could have gone to City but was proper enough not to throw away his legacy. Add 2 1/2 years more to Messis unathletic body and put him in the prem he wont even touch the ball. Messi his whole career people have been saying he cant do it outside la liga and Barcelona yet instead of proving the doubters wrong he goes to the Oil Team argentina and spain 2.0 because he cant do anything outside his comfortzone. The fact a player who cant do anything but score goals have surpassed Messi shows how overrated messi truly is. Camp Nou merchant and international fraud for his country. Biggest choker and excuse maker ever.
People who doubt that have a brain problem. I'd go so far as to say that no one is even close to him,the next best player,whoever it may be,is a few levels below him
What baffles me is that they were saying this back and we are literally 10 years down the line and his numbers are still roughly the same. It's madness that people have almost U-turned and started questioning his GOAT status because some Portuguese gym rat who plays as a poacher for a team that came 7th in the league scores a few goals
Chill bro they are all silent now after their idol acted like a child the GOAT led Argentina to WC glory. I guess they pretend to be conspiracy theorists claiming that the WC was rigged.
"if everybody kicks him you will get in the book" and with Maradona wasn't the case. - guy on the left. It's true, that's fact, but it's actually plus for Messi in this battle with Maradona Why? let me explain you how. Neither did Maradona or Messi were falling easily, i think everyone can agree on that. Maradona was more of a bull type, but Messi's balance is up there with Maradona's if not greater. Having that said means Messi wouldn't be falling in 80s, neither did Maradona. That would cause referee not to call a foul and since Messi doesn't fall he would get past 3-5-2 players more consistantly because he would be freed of fouls and would be able to play like Maradona. He would dribble and since there is no fouls and he doesn't fall he would keep going and would be literally unstoppable as Maradona did. Fouls are actually load for Messi in his game. Increasing number of fouls actually made it worse for him because foul became valuable tactic against Messi. You can't take away ball from his feet so you foul him. That's tactic against Messi these days. Look at final game against Juventus. Everytime Messi got ball there would be atleast 3 players around him ((one more difference. Mardona would play mostly with one man marking him, Messi pays with 2-3-4 players around him)) and if he tries to do something with his dribbles he would be immeditely pulled down, and because there is number of fouls more frequent in recent times referee will call it everytime, not necessarily yellow card!! That way, fouling him all the time, they have quashed his dribbles. But still Messi is so good he took a role of Xavi and made the difference in that game. That's reason why Messi is better besides playing in the time of modern football (arguably harder to play in). Messi is complete attacker. If he is not in mood with his dribbles (rarely), he will get deep and playmake from deeper positions. If his playmaking skills are off (rarely again) he will go upfront and score some goals. No matter against which team he plays he always found role (false nine, winger, advanced playmaker) in which he is the most useful that game, Maradona mostly played as advanced playmaker or second striker, he couldn't adopt to the game so easily as Messi does. I feel like Messi, besides his skills, understand game so well while Maradona was leader with astonishing skills, but didn't always know what to do in certain situations when his team is down. He just leaned to his footballing skills and sometimes got successful, while Messi adopts to every game perfectly. When Barca struggles Messi always found solution. One more huge plus for Messi is consistency!!! 6 years in row the best player there is. I know Ronaldo won last two ballon d'Ors, but if Messi was fully fit through this two years(2013, 2014), Ronaldo would never shine. 6 years on top of the top. To understand that we praise Messi greatness and not Barcelona greatness says the fact that Xavi before Messi appearence in first team (2008/09) won 6 trophies with Barcelona and Barcelona had some great players such as Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto'o. After Messi came into first team Xavi have won 19 trophies!! And only difference before and after 2008/09 is Guardiola who gave Messi main role and freedome. Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Marquez, Henry nothing has changed and look at difference between Xavi's trophies. In 13 years without Messi in first team he has won 6 titles. In 7 seasons with Messi as a main drive he has won 19 (!!!) The difference Messi does on the pitch in modern football, arguably harder time, is magnificient. He did more until 27 than Maradona in his whole career. Maradona only valued argument is controversial WC 1986. And the most importantly: *Maradona finshed his career, but Messi still writes the history!!* He might not come to his peak yet. It's crazy to even think about that. "He is something else"
Sexy Beast totally agree!!! And it has become decade now and still in top!!!! If you don't think he is still not the greatest player and I don't know who is????
Sexy beast, i think your points are valid and on spot and correct. Most of the people are not reading your comment because its too long or they don't understand the game or simply put they don't like messi I think but the onces who will read it , they would definitely agree with you and I 100% iagree with you ! Love and care.....
i remember hearing this after the match as a kid and always wanted to comeback to this video once messi had a world cup. 2011 messi was weirdly good and far better than any other player i have ever seen.
@@CFlame20 It's close but I still think 2011 Messi was a different beast even compared to 2012, despite all the goals he scored in 2012. 2011 Messi was more like a natural disaster to the opponents, he would just dribble past everyone nonstop and there was nothing you could do about that. Maybe 2012, 2015 or 2019 Messi were better but the 2011 version is the most terrifying player I've ever seen.
@@CFlame20nah Messi 2011 is arguably his very very best 2012 and 2015 are close tho. I personally love Messi 2010 equally as 2011 cause I don’t know how to explain he scored so many legendary goals that season for me 2009/10 is criminal underrated. He showcased some of not this wildest moments in his entire career like something against Zaragoza, or Arsenal, derpotivo la curna etc.
@@ebenezerindi1766nah 2019 isnt close to his 2011, 2012 or 2015. I understand why you rate him so highly due to Allrounder playmaking while being effective infront of the goal but it’s not . S tier Messi in my opinion S- 2011, 2015, 2012 A -2010, 2009, 2019, 2013 B- 2017, 2016, 2018, 2021 C- 2014,2008,2007,2020,2022 D-2023, 2024
Who’s here after Leo won the world cup🐐🥳🔥📈❤️11 years after arguably the best Champions league final performance in Wembley he puts a masterclass against France in a World cup final !!!
Messi is definitely the best ever..there was a debate in 2011..when people thought they had seen it all..but today? no question about it, he is the best player EVER!! Maradona himself said it last week..he knows it, we all do!
@@claritywithteekay inevitable, incredible, genius, GOAT. Astounding, 7 years have gone by and he remains the best. I can guarantee there will never be another like him watch it appreciate it and hopefully in seven more years time we can look back on this conversation and say that from this point on it only got better.
People don't understand the gravity of this, they won't for at least a few decades. This is just Souness and Neville, there are millions of people around the world that day calling a 23 year old the greatest to play professional football.
Exactly. Ronaldo is brilliant at what he does but Messi is just...Messi. You can take away all the space, mark him with 2 men, but still he's gonna find a goal wheter it's a goal or an assist trought the defence. And what you said about the tactical awereness is very true. Ronaldo is an exeptional goalscorer but Messi is an exeptional goalscorer, playmaker, dribbler...I could go on forever.
everyone forgets the spanish manager in world cup 2010 after their victory thought messi deserved the golden ball magical runs, hit the post many many times, and the driving force for almost every goal argentina scored in that tourney WC 2014, look out, argentina may not win, but messi will once again be the best player in the tourney
I have seen alot of Maradona full matches. He was the greatest ever in my opinion, but to say that he did everything alone is a massive myth. Did he do all the defending, the goal keeping, the creating, the scoring and every single thing? Not at all. When Maradona played for Barcelona, he wasn't all that great.
in pele era the era of george best,beckenbauer it was ten times harder for strikers or number 10s to thrive.tackling from behinde were legal,as opposed to illegal now,players in england and brazil played on surfaces that were a million miles away from the carpets play football on today.in pele era the pitches were bumpy uneven making it 100 times difficult for players to express themselves yet players like pele george best cruff glided on this pitches like ice skaters.
Now we know that Jamie Redknapp does not watch La Liga. What a prejudiced and ignorant little Englander. It´s true that players get booked for hardly more than brushing against Ronaldo in the Spanish league. It´s a different story with Messi. He plays for a Catalan club that is generally hated by the Spanish referees and the Spanish Football Association. Their sympathy lies with Real Madrid, so most assaults on Messi during games are generally ignored. Jamie Redknapp should watch some La Liga.
Not often I agree with neville but it's true. Obviously it came down to picking one country over another, but if Zidane had picked algeria instead of france, he would never have won a world cup or european championship. If messi had picked spain he blatantly would have.... not to mention the fact that many of france's key players like desailly, vieira, djorkaeff also chose france instead of choosing their country of birth/parents nationality
@91gaganchill ...As for Carlos, he was 31 at the time and again, Messi beat him with ease also. As for Vidic, Pepe, etc, they are still great defenders.. Maldini and baresi were outstanding- the greatest but those other players are still incredibly hard to face. Cruyff never won a world cup... And the answer to your question is not no because he still has two, maybe three world cups to go...
@Bingorhyus messi made vidic and rio ....the best defenders in england look like school kids ..... and against other epl teams ......messi will cut thru the defense like hot knife thru butter ........
bullshit, typical hater...messi is the best in the world, at the end of his career he can be the considered the greatest ever if he keeps playing like that
Both are immense though. It's cringeworthy when you go on here and people can't just hold their hands up and respect great players. Messi and Maradona were the greatest of their eras. Both would be good in any era as well imo.
If Messi was english or if Rooney had half of Messi's talent people would be praising him like a God of some sort. It's hilairous. People just knit picking at genius and the best footballer to give us goal after amazing goal every season. That's so unfair.
First time I watched messi he was a 17 year old in 2006 World Cup and he was absolutely phenomenal, could tell he was going to be special, but to continue that him and Ronaldo 15 years later is ridiculous they set standards in football and raised the bar amazing players glad i was born to see them.
With success comes haters because there are people who hate successful people. Messi is best ever. Look at goals,trophies, influence on games etc. The only problem is he will become a victim of his own success. People will now expect him to score 50 league goals next season and if he doesn't the haters will come out again.
You have to realise Messi was only 23 and his point about maradona was spot on. He basically was fouled 6 7 times before a player would get booked back then some of them tackles would be straight reds in today but Messi is the 🐐
@@DamonSlateryup while Maradona had a couple of trophies and was happy to waste his time with stupid behavior. Messi had a drive and loves the game soo much he gave it his all for many years
I think that Messi is the greatest footballer, Maradona and Pele might have had more skill and imagination with the ball, but in terms of all aspects of football, moving off the ball, putting pressure without the ball, passing etc. you can't say there has been anybody better ... if Ronaldinho stayed in form for another few seasons, things might have been different
Haters go against probability and into the realm of the extremely unlikely to justify their hating. It is incredibly likely(No I cannot predict the future but all the evidence is with me not with the haters) that Messi would shine and be a star wherever in the world he plays. He is superlative. Yesterday he broke Gerd Muller's record having scored a total of 68 goals this season. He is legendary even at age 24. He is an all time great and prob the GOAT. Haters gonna hate.
ok.. it's so obvious that he's the best ever and whoever diss about the World Cup will shut up after Messi win his cup at 2014 in and against Brazil with style
ive seen alot of pele,and have over a 100 complete pele full matches against european opposition and in my opinion pele is the greatest ever followed by garrincha,then maradonna.
PREACH! greatest ever by a country mile! back in the day of maradona defenders were eating fish and chips and chugging lagers. christ even diego was on drugs. not hard to see how someone can ghost past players then. alot harder these days. Messi is the god of football.
@91gaganchill But as I say, even in an unorganised side, he is now starting to become influential for them. He's provided 10 assists in 13 games in 2011, which alone shows that he's performed. I agree he needs to score more- but he has plenty of time on his side and if Argentina can get the balance right, he will do that. He is a tremendous player- no one can deny that.
THANK YOU!!! Im always trying to say the exact same thing. World cup is overrated not the same as it use to be the champions league is far better for me and the way the game is played with defences more condensed than ever before and he still does his majic! best player ever.
if we are talking about playing football only then Messi is the best player I've ever seen. but to be the greatest you have to do something special, something more than playing good, he has to win the WC with Argentina. I love Messi and I do think he plays better than any other player in History, but its sometimes more than just this.
@91gaganchill Messi in 2006 had just come back from a long term injury and started the first two games of the tournament on the bench because of it.. He started the game against Holland but again did not start against Mexico or Germany..Therefore, you cannot compare him when Ronaldo was fully fit and played many more minutes..
@91gaganchill And Messi has also produced moments, where his magic won Barca the game.. Like I said, the two goals Messi scored against Madrid won them the tie- without those they may not have gone through- also the goal in the final that gave them the lead.. That was down to his ability, not the players around him. As for Best, I personally think he is one of the best players ever- but united at that time were a very good side.
The fact that he said this in 2011 when Messi was only 23 speaks volumes of how special this guy is. No one is close to his level.
@Arithmetic Me and a very good friend felt that way after the 08/09 season lol, he was something else and it was evident so early on
And nobody has or will
High praise for Souness!
💯💯🐐
Here after qatar
🇦🇷🏆🐐
"They are watching not only the best player ever but the best team ever...this is a unique group of players". He said everything in only one sentence !
You still alive? Reply me
@@ganeshkps8727 sup brah yh I am
It's end of an era now 10yrs ago
@@BARBENWARR after 7 years wow 😲😂
Graeme Souness got it right now didn't he? He was one of the first neutrals who actually hailed Messi as the greatest player of all time way back in 2011. I wasn't so sure about it at that time, but 6 years down the line, you got to admit that he is indeed the greatest player that's ever lived.
Upender Gowda
lol what u on about you knew it within a year of his debut.
2020??!
I agreed with Graeme from the start, my friends at school were all CR7 fans seemed only I could see his genius.
The Best Of All Time For Me Is Lionel Messi,
Lionel Messi Was Just Born Play Football, Absolutely Natural Ability,
in years to come, Messi will be known as the best that has ever played this game.
you were wrong. His name is Cristiano Ronaldo
@@erea8319 LM7 is most definitely the goat not couldn’t reach 7. Better goalscorer, dribbler, playmaker and passer, the necessary essentials for the best forward and footballer to exist 🐐
@@erea8319 delusional pendu fan🤡🤡
@@lmn6725 😆😆😆🤡
He is
Many footballers break into the first team at 24, my man was already being considered the GOAT at 24.
Technically he was still 23 and turned 24 a month later.
Insane that he was being called the greatest of all time when he was in his early twenties. Truly a phenomenon.
Prime messi was 2008-2015 , there is no player in history of football who could lace his boots
@@iyerzzzzz Absolutely Correct....
the 2010/2011 barcelona was seriously almost unstoppable. astonishing team.
08/09 season was when they were REALLY unstoppable. Winning the treble and having players like Eto'o, Henry and Yaya Toure. Crazy stuff.
Tinizel no. they were the best in 08-09 but the football they played in 10-11 was out of this world
Shando Humphrey exactly!
Look at Barca at the Beignning of 12 13 as well. They struggled at the end
and then some stupid milan fans are telling me their team of 94 wouldnt have been destroyed by that Barcelona team.
Here after 11 years and he has finally done it. He has won the greatest accolade. He is unDOUBTEDLY the GREATEST OF ALL TIME 🐐
So happy for him bro
Wow!!! Gary Neville and Graeme Souness called him Greatest Player Ever years ago!
He was something else very evidently from 2008/09 season.. just unlike anyone i'd ever seen
@@patchh15 I'm from India 🇮🇳 and I've never seen him play live ☹️. T's on my bucket list though!
From the first moment I seen him play in 2008 I saw instantly he was different to anything I'd seen before, I just wanted him to have the ball all the time because it seemed impossible he would lose it or make a mistake it was incredibly rare he would mess up.. if he kicked the ball it was a goal or crossbar if he passed the ball it was perfect & unbelievable vision even then..from the beginning it was clear he was a genius & there was nothing like him in sports period. He's run 2009-2012 will never be matched.
@@e7ectric390 I've been following Barca for the last 30years.The hype before his debut was unbelievable
@@C.J.80 i can only imagine, I was born in 96 so I only knew of Barca because of Ronaldhino, I remember in 2007 1 of my friends had a Messi jersey & by the way ppl talked about Messi I at the time thought Messi was a past legend because I'd never seen him before but I heard a lot about him. I was living with my grandfather at this time & it was the UCL final Barca vs Man Utd at that time I hated United because they were dominating the premier league & I'm a Liverpool fan , also hated Ronaldo because he was too good I guess.. but before the game my grandfather told me "Messi is gonna run rings around them" I said "what!!?!! Messi is a player that still plays??" He said "of course, he's only 21" then I saw on the TV his picture , his name his age / goals etc..& I couldn't believe it , then I saw him humiliate a team that to me looked invincible in the premier league. From that day on I didn't miss a single game of Messi , I wanted him to win everything. Even when my team Liverpool was playing I would choose to watch Barca.. that's how obsessed I was with that team / Messi & I still don't miss a game. Nobody displays football better than Messi.
Ah, the 86 World Cup-winning side was only good because of Maradona's inclusion, was it? Giusti, Burruchaga and even Valdano when he wasn't philosophising were all decent players and then there was Ruggeri, who vies with Passarella and Monti as Argentina's greatest ever centre back, but Redknapp's probably never heard of him
Valdano was a top class player afaik.
Not to mention the amount of space Maradona had and the lack of athleticism in defenders, Maradona couldn’t shine Messi’s boots
All the clowns out there say maradona carried argentinaa. Whenever someone says that,its clear that they didnt actually watch that argentinian team. Souness doesnt say shit like that despite having watched maradona,so its clear that maradona had a great team around him
@@niranjanrajesh1058 He played against him too
yeah, and a midfielder of all ppl probably knows that the team dynamic is most important. maradonas greatest moments came when argentina were still in the game and very much competing, specifically, scores like 0-0, 2-2. bruh messis 2017-2020 barcelona&argentina would already be 3-0 down at that point. these goated forwards are difference makers when their team can compete; none of the goat contenders have ever somehow pulled the score back AFTER their team went like 3-0 down and as they were getting dominated. luckily for maradona in 86 and pele throughout his career, their national team was never in that situation.
Messi is the best ever I agree with souness on this one
This is 2021 and 10 years on and souness was bang on .
He played against maradona and knows what he’s talking about , Messi was in his early 20s for Christ’s sake
🐐
Messi at that age was something special but he was also in the best team ever , as the years went on Barca weren't the same force bar 2015, Messi was still good but he wasn't winning the big trophy's that's where Ronaldo came into conversations with people, for me Messi is the best I've ever seen by ab absolute country mile but I don't no if he was better than maradona because I never seen him
@@barry2924 wow
Even if Messi retired in 2015 he would still be among the Greatest to ever play the game
He would be the greatest even in 2012 he would be at least in Maradonas level if he retired. Fact is you could make a case for him being the greatest player ever to touch a football would has he retired in 2012
Messi was the same age here as Mbappe is now, and people were already calling him the GOAT. He was THAT good.
Yeah you can’t compare him to anyone. There’s world class and the then there’s Messi. A huge difference
Redknapp is a monumental bellend.
Not at all, he has good points.
@@TheTaterTotP80 no he doesn't 🤣 his points were Maradona got tackled more and he won a world cup by himself WHICH HE DIDNT because Argentina's 1986 team was unreal. Maradona got tackled yes but he got tackled by slower, unathletic (in comparison), poorly coached and SMALLER defenders. He's stupid and you're a moron for taking anything he says seriously. He backs down to Souness on every point because he knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on and didn't want to get found out and embarrassed for his Bias towards Pele and Maradona.
@@vampycaltm5273 He is just a pure nostalgia merchant, he didn't even see them during their playing days. Souness, Gerry Armstrong, Valdano, Maldini etc. have seen all of them (Valdano even played with Maradona) and they all say that Messi surpassed Maradona, Pele and all the other ones.
This is at 23 years old🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Saying this at 23 is actually nuts he is truly one a in a lifetime the greatest of all time he is LIGHTYEARS ahead of the rest
This was the concensus from Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Graeme Souness, Pep Guardiola etc when he was 23!! Anything else he has done gas just added on to his greatness.
The fact he was getting GOAT shouts before his 91 goal season even came is just insane to think about. Even more crazy when put into perspective now. World Cup, will retire with 800+ goals, might surpass Dani alves with most trophies, and maybe an 8th ballon dor.
And this is leaving out all the other shit he did from 2013-2021. How people don’t think this man is the best ever just crazy to me at this point.
so blessed to have seen his career from start to finish
Not really insane. Statistics are not everything. You couldn't watch Messi in this period and not think that he was special. Different gravy.
2012 season was great in terms of statistics. But Messi in 2011 was perfect. His dribbling was the best it's ever been and he showed up in every big game that season. He shined on the biggest of stages. He also played with more fluidity and agility.
@@pitamberarora6232 Facts. 2011 Messi was something different even for Messi's standards.
He has
This is 2011 btw, 10 years ago
Messi was declared the greatest ever by these guys 10 years ago.
And you still want to compare Messi to Pele?
Lmao
let alone cristiano ronaldo lmao
”These guys” dont determine who the greatest is. Pele is still ahead of messi as the *undisputed* GOAT. Messi will have finished his career without having never put up GOAT level performances at the highest level and biggest stage of all. Therefore he should never be considered as the no1 player above all others. Also you cant be the greatest if you are not the greatest from your country. Go ask argentinians who they prefer. Also you cant be the greatest if you havent definitively been deemed the best of your generation. Ronaldo is ahead of messi in greatness actually. For these 3 reasons Messi cannot, nor should he ever be seen as the best and greatest player of all time. The best talent arguably or even probably, but never the best and greatest player of all time.
@Jeremy Grant ”Cristiano is not even close” only a missyite can utter such drivel. Let me expose your coldchested choker Messy. Ronaldo is 2 1/2 years *OLDER* than missy yet plays in a *BETTER* league in a *LESSER* team scoring *MORE* goals. Ronaldo is greater. Pessi can only dream about Ronaldos leadership and CLUTCHNESS
@Jeremy Grant He could have gone to City but was proper enough not to throw away his legacy. Add 2 1/2 years more to Messis unathletic body and put him in the prem he wont even touch the ball. Messi his whole career people have been saying he cant do it outside la liga and Barcelona yet instead of proving the doubters wrong he goes to the Oil Team argentina and spain 2.0 because he cant do anything outside his comfortzone. The fact a player who cant do anything but score goals have surpassed Messi shows how overrated messi truly is. Camp Nou merchant and international fraud for his country. Biggest choker and excuse maker ever.
@@Catholic-Christian Cristiano who? 😂😭 Hes not even in the goat debate
It's funny that after such a long time of sustained greatness, making the insane a routine, people still doubt that he's the greatest player ever!
That’s because those who don’t are blinded by bias
People who doubt that have a brain problem. I'd go so far as to say that no one is even close to him,the next best player,whoever it may be,is a few levels below him
@@niranjanrajesh1058 same for me
His prime was better tha anyone else's and his consistency is we all know it
Has been doing it for more than 12 years
What baffles me is that they were saying this back and we are literally 10 years down the line and his numbers are still roughly the same. It's madness that people have almost U-turned and started questioning his GOAT status because some Portuguese gym rat who plays as a poacher for a team that came 7th in the league scores a few goals
Chill bro they are all silent now after their idol acted like a child the GOAT led Argentina to WC glory. I guess they pretend to be conspiracy theorists claiming that the WC was rigged.
Even Maradona himself said Messi is better than him when he was here in South Africa in Pretoria preparing for the world cup (2010)
Chris Ferrero
Who would win in a fight dude a bee or a wasp?3>0.Amen.
+Chris Ferrero and zidane or ronaldo de lima ?
@@zzzaaa0990 Man Utd best club
MM who would win in a fight,a wasp or a bee dude?13>1.Amen.
@@zzzaaa0990 SAF best manager
Messi gets kicked a ton. I remember Madrids tactics one Classico were to boot him and they did. Messi scored that game. Barca won :)
Hi guys, its 2022 and Messi has 7 Ballon D'Ors. So yeah the debate is pretty much settled forever.
Robbed 4 of them but keep going idiot
Its 2024 Messi won everything
what's with the pitch and the rules were all about ? This guy is pure talent he can even play on any pitch
"if everybody kicks him you will get in the book" and with Maradona wasn't the case. - guy on the left.
It's true, that's fact, but it's actually plus for Messi in this battle with Maradona Why? let me explain you how.
Neither did Maradona or Messi were falling easily, i think everyone can agree on that. Maradona was more of a bull type, but Messi's balance is up there with Maradona's if not greater. Having that said means Messi wouldn't be falling in 80s, neither did Maradona. That would cause referee not to call a foul and since Messi doesn't fall he would get past 3-5-2 players more consistantly because he would be freed of fouls and would be able to play like Maradona. He would dribble and since there is no fouls and he doesn't fall he would keep going and would be literally unstoppable as Maradona did.
Fouls are actually load for Messi in his game. Increasing number of fouls actually made it worse for him because foul became valuable tactic against Messi. You can't take away ball from his feet so you foul him. That's tactic against Messi these days.
Look at final game against Juventus. Everytime Messi got ball there would be atleast 3 players around him ((one more difference. Mardona would play mostly with one man marking him, Messi pays with 2-3-4 players around him)) and if he tries to do something with his dribbles he would be immeditely pulled down, and because there is number of fouls more frequent in recent times referee will call it everytime, not necessarily yellow card!! That way, fouling him all the time, they have quashed his dribbles. But still Messi is so good he took a role of Xavi and made the difference in that game.
That's reason why Messi is better besides playing in the time of modern football (arguably harder to play in). Messi is complete attacker. If he is not in mood with his dribbles (rarely), he will get deep and playmake from deeper positions. If his playmaking skills are off (rarely again) he will go upfront and score some goals. No matter against which team he plays he always found role (false nine, winger, advanced playmaker) in which he is the most useful that game, Maradona mostly played as advanced playmaker or second striker, he couldn't adopt to the game so easily as Messi does. I feel like Messi, besides his skills, understand game so well while Maradona was leader with astonishing skills, but didn't always know what to do in certain situations when his team is down. He just leaned to his footballing skills and sometimes got successful, while Messi adopts to every game perfectly. When Barca struggles Messi always found solution.
One more huge plus for Messi is consistency!!! 6 years in row the best player there is. I know Ronaldo won last two ballon d'Ors, but if Messi was fully fit through this two years(2013, 2014), Ronaldo would never shine.
6 years on top of the top.
To understand that we praise Messi greatness and not Barcelona greatness says the fact that Xavi before Messi appearence in first team (2008/09) won 6 trophies with Barcelona and Barcelona had some great players such as Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto'o.
After Messi came into first team Xavi have won 19 trophies!! And only difference before and after 2008/09 is Guardiola who gave Messi main role and freedome. Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Marquez, Henry nothing has changed and look at difference between Xavi's trophies. In 13 years without Messi in first team he has won 6 titles. In 7 seasons with Messi as a main drive he has won 19 (!!!)
The difference Messi does on the pitch in modern football, arguably harder time, is magnificient. He did more until 27 than Maradona in his whole career. Maradona only valued argument is controversial WC 1986.
And the most importantly:
*Maradona finshed his career, but Messi still writes the history!!*
He might not come to his peak yet. It's crazy to even think about that.
"He is something else"
Sexy Beast totally agree!!! And it has become decade now and still in top!!!! If you don't think he is still not the greatest player and I don't know who is????
Sexy beast, i think your points are valid and on spot and correct. Most of the people are not reading your comment because its too long or they don't understand the game or simply put they don't like messi I think but the onces who will read it , they would definitely agree with you and I 100% iagree with you ! Love and care.....
Must of took u ages to write this
I enjoy Graham Souness' commentary.
he was 23 years old at the time. Insane
I like how Gary is always honest when he talks. A true Man U great.
Yes I remember how he said Italy will fall short in Euro 2020.
Now, he just talks shit to get more clout
The most fouled player ever he's just a genius!
I said Messi was the greatest player I've ever seen in 2009. Nothing has changed
3:12-3:30 couldn’t agree more
Was only 10 in 2011. Didn't realise people called him the goat this early. mad
some were saying it the season before, at 21/22
I was only 7 at the time 😂
When you got oldies calling you the GOAT at 23, then you sure as hell know you're the ultimate GOAT
i remember hearing this after the match as a kid and always wanted to comeback to this video once messi had a world cup. 2011 messi was weirdly good and far better than any other player i have ever seen.
Only person better than 2011 Messi was 2012 Messi
@@CFlame20 It's close but I still think 2011 Messi was a different beast even compared to 2012, despite all the goals he scored in 2012.
2011 Messi was more like a natural disaster to the opponents, he would just dribble past everyone nonstop and there was nothing you could do about that.
Maybe 2012, 2015 or 2019 Messi were better but the 2011 version is the most terrifying player I've ever seen.
@@CFlame202011 is better than 2012 in everything other than pure goal scoring
@@CFlame20nah Messi 2011 is arguably his very very best 2012 and 2015 are close tho. I personally love Messi 2010 equally as 2011 cause I don’t know how to explain he scored so many legendary goals that season for me 2009/10 is criminal underrated. He showcased some of not this wildest moments in his entire career like something against Zaragoza, or Arsenal, derpotivo la curna etc.
@@ebenezerindi1766nah 2019 isnt close to his 2011, 2012 or 2015. I understand why you rate him so highly due to Allrounder playmaking while being effective infront of the goal but it’s not .
S tier Messi in my opinion
S- 2011, 2015, 2012
A -2010, 2009, 2019, 2013
B- 2017, 2016, 2018, 2021
C- 2014,2008,2007,2020,2022
D-2023, 2024
Who’s here after Leo won the world cup🐐🥳🔥📈❤️11 years after arguably the best Champions league final performance in Wembley he puts a masterclass against France in a World cup final !!!
What defenders did against Maradaona wouldn't get you a booking it would get you a jail sentence in today's game.
Jamie Redknapp - The guy who said Hummels was 'all left foot'
Messi is definitely the best ever..there was a debate in 2011..when people thought they had seen it all..but today? no question about it, he is the best player EVER!! Maradona himself said it last week..he knows it, we all do!
Seven years on he's still the greatest
@@charliebooth3545 7 days on and he's still the greatest (what a goal against Huesca btw!!!)
@@claritywithteekay inevitable, incredible, genius, GOAT. Astounding, 7 years have gone by and he remains the best. I can guarantee there will never be another like him watch it appreciate it and hopefully in seven more years time we can look back on this conversation and say that from this point on it only got better.
@@claritywithteekay He’s done it 🔥🔥World cup winner
@@baptistelleshi8099 broooo yessss !! madness
People don't understand the gravity of this, they won't for at least a few decades. This is just Souness and Neville, there are millions of people around the world that day calling a 23 year old the greatest to play professional football.
The eyes don't lie. Nobody close to Messi.
Who is here after Messi won the 2022 World Cup?
Remember, at the time he was only 23. 23!
Yeah and vini jr is 24, Mbappe is 25, haaland is 24 crazy that the best players of today are not even slightly close to Messi when he was 23
Exactly. Ronaldo is brilliant at what he does but Messi is just...Messi. You can take away all the space, mark him with 2 men, but still he's gonna find a goal wheter it's a goal or an assist trought the defence. And what you said about the tactical awereness is very true. Ronaldo is an exeptional goalscorer but Messi is an exeptional goalscorer, playmaker, dribbler...I could go on forever.
everyone forgets the spanish manager in world cup 2010 after their victory thought messi deserved the golden ball
magical runs, hit the post many many times, and the driving force for almost every goal argentina scored in that tourney
WC 2014, look out, argentina may not win, but messi will once again be the best player in the tourney
He was indeed
Wt a prediction! Hats off🙌🙌
@@0darumair0 oh wow, guess it was lol.
@@jasonwood8023 are you the same person? lol
And now in 2022 he won the title and was the best player.
He's not even in the same realm. Unless Ronaldo can go past 5 or more players with ease, it just isn't the same league.
I have seen alot of Maradona full matches. He was the greatest ever in my opinion, but to say that he did everything alone is a massive myth. Did he do all the defending, the goal keeping, the creating, the scoring and every single thing? Not at all. When Maradona played for Barcelona, he wasn't all that great.
The fact he’s being called the GOAT at 23 just shows how good this man is. Another 10+ years, a World Cup under his belt, there’s no doubt!
people were saying it when he was 21/22 as well
The debate on the greatest ever was over by about 2015 the latest. Its Messi and whoever you think is second (personally CR7 for me) is not close.
in pele era the era of george best,beckenbauer it was ten times harder for strikers or number 10s to thrive.tackling from behinde were legal,as opposed to illegal now,players in england and brazil played on surfaces that were a million miles away from the carpets play football on today.in pele era the pitches were bumpy uneven making it 100 times difficult for players to express themselves yet players like pele george best cruff glided on this pitches like ice skaters.
World cup argument back in 2011 it doesn't work anymore😂
Incredible. Everything Souness and Redknapp said is still right now.
Gary Neville before the 7-0 😭😭
2008-2015 prime messi the most impossible player of all time, everytime he does something and i think that is impossible
Who's here after he finally won the World Cup
Messi is the best player in football history.
We should be thankful we live to see him play
Now we know that Jamie Redknapp does not watch La Liga. What a prejudiced and ignorant little Englander. It´s true that players get booked for hardly more than brushing against Ronaldo in the Spanish league. It´s a different story with Messi. He plays for a Catalan club that is generally hated by the Spanish referees and the Spanish Football Association. Their sympathy lies with Real Madrid, so most assaults on Messi during games are generally ignored. Jamie Redknapp should watch some La Liga.
Not often I agree with neville but it's true. Obviously it came down to picking one country over another, but if Zidane had picked algeria instead of france, he would never have won a world cup or european championship. If messi had picked spain he blatantly would have.... not to mention the fact that many of france's key players like desailly, vieira, djorkaeff also chose france instead of choosing their country of birth/parents nationality
watching this today on 7 august 2021... no messi in barca... completely devastating...i dont think i ever see la liga again..😓
@91gaganchill ...As for Carlos, he was 31 at the time and again, Messi beat him with ease also. As for Vidic, Pepe, etc, they are still great defenders.. Maldini and baresi were outstanding- the greatest but those other players are still incredibly hard to face.
Cruyff never won a world cup... And the answer to your question is not no because he still has two, maybe three world cups to go...
@Bingorhyus messi made vidic and rio ....the best defenders in england look like school kids ..... and against other epl teams ......messi will cut thru the defense like hot knife thru butter ........
He is a World Champion, now ! Couldn’t say it more proudly! 😊
bullshit, typical hater...messi is the best in the world, at the end of his career he can be the considered the greatest ever if he keeps playing like that
Both are immense though. It's cringeworthy when you go on here and people can't just hold their hands up and respect great players. Messi and Maradona were the greatest of their eras. Both would be good in any era as well imo.
What Souness said back then aged well.Messi simply the greatest player ever.
Obvious GOAT 10 years ago before CR7 trolls and public relations kicked in.
If Messi was english or if Rooney had half of Messi's talent people would be praising him like a God of some sort. It's hilairous. People just knit picking at genius and the best footballer to give us goal after amazing goal every season.
That's so unfair.
First time I watched messi he was a 17 year old in 2006 World Cup and he was absolutely phenomenal, could tell he was going to be special, but to continue that him and Ronaldo 15 years later is ridiculous they set standards in football and raised the bar amazing players glad i was born to see them.
But the problem still is PAUL POGBA
Messi is not the greatest of all time...its like Pele said can he win atleast one world cup first
With success comes haters because there are people who hate successful people. Messi is best ever. Look at goals,trophies, influence on games etc. The only problem is he will become a victim of his own success. People will now expect him to score 50 league goals next season and if he doesn't the haters will come out again.
Redknapp hahaha doesn't have a clue
People are just afraid to say someone is the greatest when they are still playing.
The Best player I've ever seeing genius magic what a player amazing
*MESSI IS GOD OF FOOTBALL PERIODT.*
Just cemented this last night.
Anyone here after messi won the World Cup??
vamos leo
Guy on the left trying so hard to make believe Messi wasn't the greatest of all time 😅😂
You have to realise Messi was only 23 and his point about maradona was spot on. He basically was fouled 6 7 times before a player would get booked back then some of them tackles would be straight reds in today but Messi is the 🐐
@@Beepbeepbeepbe by the age of 23, he had already won 5 Liga titles and 3 Champions League trophies
@@DamonSlateryup while Maradona had a couple of trophies and was happy to waste his time with stupid behavior. Messi had a drive and loves the game soo much he gave it his all for many years
u seen the goal he scored against england ?
I think that Messi is the greatest footballer, Maradona and Pele might have had more skill and imagination with the ball, but in terms of all aspects of football, moving off the ball, putting pressure without the ball, passing etc. you can't say there has been anybody better ... if Ronaldinho stayed in form for another few seasons, things might have been different
You were right 🙏🏻🔥🐐Messi won the world cup
Bro he was only 23 😲
Greame played against maradonna too
Haters go against probability and into the realm of the extremely unlikely to justify their hating. It is incredibly likely(No I cannot predict the future but all the evidence is with me not with the haters) that Messi would shine and be a star wherever in the world he plays. He is superlative. Yesterday he broke Gerd Muller's record having scored a total of 68 goals this season. He is legendary even at age 24. He is an all time great and prob the GOAT. Haters gonna hate.
Redknapp is one of those people who thinks that all the players of the older generations are better than the new generations.
Some of the pitches in la liga are absolutely awful.
ok.. it's so obvious that he's the best ever and whoever diss about the World Cup will shut up after Messi win his cup at 2014 in and against Brazil with style
ive seen alot of pele,and have over a 100 complete pele full matches against european opposition and in my opinion pele is the greatest ever followed by garrincha,then maradonna.
redknapp what a troll
PREACH! greatest ever by a country mile! back in the day of maradona defenders were eating fish and chips and chugging lagers. christ even diego was on drugs. not hard to see how someone can ghost past players then. alot harder these days. Messi is the god of football.
Redknapp seems like he has sour grapes . Really respect to souness and Neville they have valid arguments always and great careers unlike Jamie
As much as I don't really like Souness he knows his football
@91gaganchill But as I say, even in an unorganised side, he is now starting to become influential for them. He's provided 10 assists in 13 games in 2011, which alone shows that he's performed. I agree he needs to score more- but he has plenty of time on his side and if Argentina can get the balance right, he will do that. He is a tremendous player- no one can deny that.
THANK YOU!!! Im always trying to say the exact same thing. World cup is overrated not the same as it use to be the champions league is far better for me and the way the game is played with defences more condensed than ever before and he still does his majic! best player ever.
You were right bro Leo’s now a world champ aswell
if we are talking about playing football only then Messi is the best player I've ever seen.
but to be the greatest you have to do something special, something more than playing good, he has to win the WC with Argentina.
I love Messi and I do think he plays better than any other player in History, but its sometimes more than just this.
if he was born in bolivia would he have to win the world cup to be the greatest?
He did it
thank you god for letting me live in the MESSI ERA. when he retires he will have change the game forever as we know it
Thoughts now he’s nearing the end of his illustrious career?
Love redknapp telling souness what it was like back in the day!
Souness was right.
@91gaganchill Messi in 2006 had just come back from a long term injury and started the first two games of the tournament on the bench because of it.. He started the game against Holland but again did not start against Mexico or Germany..Therefore, you cannot compare him when Ronaldo was fully fit and played many more minutes..
@91gaganchill And Messi has also produced moments, where his magic won Barca the game.. Like I said, the two goals Messi scored against Madrid won them the tie- without those they may not have gone through- also the goal in the final that gave them the lead.. That was down to his ability, not the players around him.
As for Best, I personally think he is one of the best players ever- but united at that time were a very good side.
Messi plays the purest form of football