Re: The Lionel Messi Appreciation Thread & Fan Club IV

[Arquitecto]

My boy tito absolutely smoked Harmonica resulting in the latter using who scored as the fall back option lol

[Clutch]

Messi had a slow start and wasnt even considered the best til like 2009-2010. Mbappe at 18 is up there with the Pele R9 and neymar starts. I don't think mbappe is better than any of those names mentioned though. It's okay, you guys don't have to give messi every single award, he has enough lol

[El Gunner]

see "slow start" is just unsound wording... everything can't be measured by goals and numbers... everyone tapped in knew what Messi could/will become by 2006/07

to me there's no point in saying Mbappe was better at age 18 than Messi was, because what's the point? and even if he technically was, we all know he could never be Messi

[Harmonica]

Messi actually was undefeated that season in the double and in World Cup. Pekerman not fielding Messi against Germany has to be the biggest waste of Messi ever. Probably even bigger than having a meme-coach in the next one. Only thing that held Messi back then was big injuries, and that's what he improved the most since. And that's the only thing Mbappe was better @18, he didn't get injured as much, but that was mostly because of play styles.

[Vibe]

Ultimately you have to be ridiculously healthy and fit to be in the goat category aside from being ridiculously good and consistent, it is incredible how both Ronaldo and Messi avoided injuries.

Hard to believe anyone will top what they did.

[Arquitecto]

I dont know why our Finnish friend argues against CR when he is the top scorer of 2023. Twice the season Schmessi has had.

[Harmonica]

Wins 8th FIFA Player of the Year for 2023, and still the best player in the world.  


1. Messi
2. Haaland
3. Mbappe
4. De Bruyne
5. Osimhen
6. Rodri
7. Alvarez
8. Silva
9. Gündogan
10. Kvaratskhelia

[Thimmy]

Pretty incredible win for Messi, considering this award does not include the world cup. I'm honestly not sure what to say

[Vibe]

Just terrible, man's been retired since Ligue 1 ended in February 2023, says everything about these awards really.

[Warrior]

And the 2040 ballon d'or is...

Spoiler:

[Arquitecto]

As if Harmonica doesn't know how Politically motivated these FIFA mickey mouse awards are.

[El Gunner]

this one is a bit ridiculous honestly... but it doesn't mean the rest of his awards are

then again John Cross wrote an article based on this award where he said Messi might actually still be the best player in the world even though he doesn't have to show it anymore

[Harmonica]

It's a fair win. Haaland has been mediocre since the CL QF and Mbappe was worse than Messi in Lique 1 titulero. On top of that Messi single handedly won the first ever titulero for the absolute worst team in the country.

Next year will be tougher, not impossible. Might even be disqualified from the Ballon d'Or because he doesn't play in Europe.

[Harmonica]

[BarcaLearning]

Ballon D'or is the one, this FIFA one is a joke if it doesnt include the WC tbh... just FIFA naming all the big names, basically an annual ad for the FIFA

[Vibe]

It's a fair win. Haaland has been mediocre since the CL QF and Mbappe was worse than Messi in Lique 1 titulero.

Messi last goal for Inter Miami was in August ffs

[titosantill]

And the 2040 ballon d'or is...

Spoiler:

[BarcaLearning]

https://www.marca.com/en/football/mls/2024/02/04/65bfe80c46163fc5bb8b456f.html

So the latest round of friendlies, Hong Kong one Messi and Suarez just sat on the bench, hence the booing from the fans post match n call for refunds But what I wanna ask if, is this normal for these moeny spinning tours for these clubs?

On the one hand, I get the thought of resting the players n avoiding injuries, but the level of these friendlies means the chances are so low it shouldnt be a thing? N think the fans just wanted some minutes to see Messi on the field, even if it was like 20 mins or whatever. It was funny cos the fans what bought tickets for the training session the day b4 which were much cheaper got the better deal

I think the gov n organisers have contracts with the club in these things n this means the club might not get the full amount in the agreement if the stars dont feature, not sure...

Anyway, why didnt he just play a bit to avoid all the trouble? It could be hes really injured but looks unlikely... and in the past, my impression was he does play mostly in these types of tour games? Didnt pay much attention though... perhaps both him n CR essentially snubbing China n just cbf in general says a lot about how the world views the country nowadays?

[Harmonica]

This is not normal

pic.twitter.com/btRypfpz3x

— All About Argentina (@AlbicelesteTalk) February 22, 2024

Reminds me of

[Vibe]

Dribbling over an injured player? A bit disrespectful, no...

Robaldo would be in prison.

Anyway, almost a year since Messi last scored a goal, Ballon d'Or incoming.

[Vibe]

Messi really chipped a player who was down injured pic.twitter.com/BN3fpsDjxy

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 22, 2024

Just saw the whole thing, everyone was like WTF

[Thimmy]

Just showing the guy on the ground that the game is still in play

[Myesyats]

Absolutely disgusting behavior by the lying player pretending to be injured and getting in the King's way.

[Harmonica]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/fifa-world-cup/lionel-messi-replaces-michael-jordan-as-most-popular-athlete-in-usa/ar-BB1iLrQD

Lionel Messi Replaces Michael Jordan As Most Popular Athlete in USA

Lionel Messi is the most popular athlete in the United States of America right now, according to a poll conducted by SSRS.

The research company has been polling American sports fans aged 12 and over every quarter since 1995 and this is the first time that a soccer player has received the most votes.

[El Gunner]

proof that Tom Brady's first 3 rings was more Patriots driven even though Mahomes haters will like to pretend otherwise today...

also proof that LeWhine James is a more so a product of ESPN hype, and they constantly have had to compare him to Jordan, Kobe and Curry to sell him and keep him relevant.

[Vibe]

Why would we even believe a poll conducted by the Soviet Union? Ffs.

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