red5FWD wrote:How would u fellow Barca fans compare Messi to Maradona? Give your personal opinion. I was not in the Maradona era, the only live game I saw him play was his last world cup befor he got thrown out. Other than that I've seen a lot of clips and I think I'll have to wait untill messi has finished playing to decide who is better
I only started seeing Maradona from 86 during that fantastic world cup and then saw him play for Napoli in which he he had good success for 1986-1990. He also played well (but not as good as 86 as I think he was injured) in 90 world cup where Argentina came second. This was Maradona prime years and after those it went downhill very fast. He was already 26 and I was too young to see him in his Boca Juniors and Barcelona days. So I had to read up on this era of his life and it seems that it wasnt anything spectacular at that time.
I've seen Messi play from since 05-06 season when he was 17 years. The first game I saw Messi played in I was very impressed. I was like this kid have some skills. At this time Ronaldinho was 'd man' but Messi was something different. I was amazed that he was just blowing past some players with ease. Every season that passed Messi was getting better but injury was his main demon. The first few seasons he was only getting injured, sometimes twice in a season. I could see a long time ago that he had the potential to become one of the (if not the) greatest players in football. His style is similar to Maradona.
I did see Maradona in his prime years and I can say that Messi has surpassed Maradona at
club level. He is much younger right now and has not reached his prime yet.
There is a big argument in football between Pele and Maradona (Pele seems to be in the lead) as to who is the best that ever played. (I've seen some crazy George Best vids though.)
I was too young to see Pele play. I've seen Maradona and the closest person to Maradona is Messi.
But to be one of the Great or Greatest players you have to do some significant contribution at World Cup level, preferably winning the WC. Messi cannot
yet compare to Maradonna here. Maradona is miles ahead of Messi here and this is naturally so. Messi is only 22. 2006 WC he was only 18 and did not get much playing time. He did score and had an assist (as a sub in 15 mins playing time) in the demolition of Serbia.
Maradona was much more of a leader than Messi is at both club and international level but Messi is now progressing, maybe its due to Messi's humble nature. Maradonna was better at free kicks but Messi is getting better. There was a time when I wished Messi was scoring more goals now he scoring too damn much.
Messi still has a long way to go but he is capable. One thing I know is that players with this kind of ability do not come around too often. We have to wait and see what 2010, 2014 and 2018 brings. Only then can we draw a really fair comparison.
I missed Pele entirely. I only saw Maradona in his prime. I'm fortunate to have seen Messi at the start and hope to see more in the future.
time now appeared