itscalledfootball

[itscalledfootball]

Where does Lionel Messi rank among the all-time greats?

At his fifth and final attempt, Lionel Messi finally managed to achieve the ultimate goal: winning the world cup. In a game that didn't seem worthy of a final for almost 80 minutes, the Argentine guided his team to the biggest prize of them all. Many fans and analysts agree that this triumph makes clear once and for all who the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) really is. But how does Messi compare to other iconic players such as Pelé, fellow countryman Diego Maradona, and long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo? Let's find out by listing the greats.

Lionel Messi: starting off with the main man himself. The World Cup was the one missing jewel on his already magnificent crown. After enduring one heartbreak after another for many years, Messi finally managed to win some international trophies with Argentina in the twilight of his career. Although the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup are also the merit of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and coach Lionel Scaloni, among others, Messi had a massive part to play in both triumphs. The stats speak for themselves: at the Copa America, he scored 4 goals (joint-most) and produced 5 assists (most). At the World Cup, he scored 7 goals (2nd most) and produced 3 assists (joint-most). He is not only Argentina's all-time top scorer with 98 goals in 172 appearances, but also FC Barcelona's, with 672 goals in 778 games. And stats do not say everything, of course, as the versatile forward is equally well-known for displaying some of the most wonderful pieces of skill ever seen. Having now won literally everything at both international and club level, as well as a record 7 Ballon d'Ors, Messi certainly is a safe choice to pick as your GOAT.

Diego Maradona: for a long time, the World Cup seemed to be the only prize separating Messi from his illustrous predecessor. Maradona almost single-handedly won football's biggest trophy for Argentina in 1986, scoring 5 goals and being crowned the tournament's best player in the process. That particular tournament is generally seen as the absolute highlight of Maradona's career, although his surprising move to Napoli in 1984, resulting in the club's two only league titles, definetely deserves an honorable mention as well. Unfortunately, the Argentinian icon's name is also linked to less sportsmanlike affairs, such as a cocaine addiction and the infamous "Hand of God" goal. Nevertheless, Maradona's glorious achievements on the pitch will forever mark him as one of the absolute best to ever kick a ball.

Pelé: 3 World Cup trophies, 12 World Cup goals, over 1 000 career goals in total... Pelé's numbers speak for themselves. Football's first global star is still considered to be the GOAT by many people, including himself. The Brazilian icon spent most of his career with Santos, which he helped win five consecutive league titles between 1961 and 1965 and a sixth one in 1968. The forward was even declared a "national treasure" by the Brazilian president, which prevented him from being transferred out of the country. Nowadays, the fact that he never got the chance to prove himself at a European club casts doubts over his status as "the best ever", although the whole world could witness Pelé's massive talent and goalscoring ability at some of the most iconic World Cups to date.

Johan Cruyff: one of the "classic three", together with Maradona and Pelé. The Dutchman's outstanding set of skills and goalscoring ability made him by far the best European player of his generation, with no less than 3 Ballon d'Ors to show for it. Thanks to his tactical insight, he was not only one of the most successful players, but also one of the cleverest managers of all time. A genius on the pitch and next to it, Cruyff left a legacy worthy of a true GOAT. If only his heroics at the 1974 World Cup weren't met with an unyielding West-German side in the final...

Ronaldo: the Brazilian one, to be clear. Nicknamed Il Fenomeno, Ronaldo was arguably the greatest talent of his generation - and perhaps even of all time. Playing for diverse European clubs, including both AC Milan and Inter Milan, as well as FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, the Brazilian won over the hearts of football fans all around with extraordinary skills and countless goals. His heroics at the 2002 World Cup included 8 of his record-breaking total of 15 World Cup goals. Surprisingly, Ronaldo never managed to win the Champions League, not even after joining Real Madrid's galácticos. Football fans can only imagine how astronomical his already phenomenal career would have been if it weren't for the recurring knee injuries that kept him off the pitch for so long and that would eventually bring an end to his footballing days.

Zinédine Zidane: few players in history were lucky enough to be as technically gifted as Zidane. The midfield maestro showcased his extraordinary dribbling skills in France, Italy and Spain, collecting numerous trophies as well as individual awards on the way. Above that, he guided the French national team to triumphs in the 2000 European Championship and the 1998 World Cup. He came dramatically close to a second world title in 2006, but in what remains one of the most notorious moments in sports history, Zidane got sent off in the final after headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi. It was an action the French icon will undoubtedly regret, as his side would go on to lose on penalties.

Cristiano Ronaldo: a born winner, a goal machine, a record breaker on all levels... there are many ways to describe Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite being born with significantly less talent than some of the names on this list, the Portuguese forward worked extremely hard to achieve his dreams. His trophy cabinet reveals that the hard work paid off: 5 Champions League trophies, 5 Ballon d'Ors, numerous league titles in various European competitions... Ronaldo also holds the record for top scorer in men's football, with no less than 118 goals. Once a feared winger, CR7 has in recent years restricted his game to simply scoring as many goals as possible. Unfortunately for Ronaldo, his change in playing style has been making it difficult to adapt to his teammates as of late, both internationally and on a club level. It must be difficult for the proud Portuguese to have to watch his long-time Argentinian adversary, who is getting older as well, develop a more pronounced playmaking dimension to his game while also catching up with him in terms of international success - and even winning the one trophy Ronaldo could never lay his hands on. Despite being a phenomenal player with a monumental career, Ronaldo might have been remembered as the GOAT if only he didn't have to play in the exact same era as Lionel Messi...

Conclusion: Lionel Messi had already earned a place among the greatest footballers of all time, but he might have just taken the top spot after his most recent - and perhaps most impressive - accomplishment. Having collected the one piece missing from his illustrous trophy cabinet, the Argentine arguably has the most complete and most impressive career of them all. After all, someone has to be the best, and his unmatched achievements are proof that Messi certainly wouldn't have stolen that title.

[itscalledfootball]

Congratulations to Argentina: champions of the world!