[b]The 30-year-old will spend another three seasons at Camp Nou, and his unwillingness to prove himself abroad will taint his legacy

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In 1959, Pele scored what is considered the greatest goal of his career, and perhaps the best goal of all time. From a career of 1,283 goals, a header against Juventus is praised above the rest due to the outstanding technique in the build-up.

As no video evidence of the goal exists, computer simulations based on eye-witnesses and Pele himself were used to show how the then-18-year-old chipped the ball over three players and then the goalkeeper before heading it home - all in one fluid movement in which the ball never touched the ground.

There is no doubting that the virtual goal is spectacular. But it is one that comes with asterisks and disclaimers when being discussed as the greatest ever. The simulation is partly based on how Pele described it - and the Brazilian is not a man known for his humility, as he told FIFA.com in 2012 that “I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint.”

The opposition, Juventus, were not the one known to European audiences, either, but rather a local Brazilian side that Santos easily defeated with Pele scoring five times in a 10-1 rout.

Lots of Pele's goals were scored against inferior opposition, with the Brazilian only leaving Santos to join New York Cosmos at the end of his career, and never plying his trade in Europe.

Whenever an argument about the greatest player of all time comes up, Pele is one of the first names on everyone's lips. But his lack of success outside of Brazil is always cited as a reason why he cannot be considered alongside Diego Maradona, who transformed Napoli into the champions of Italy, or Johan Cruyff, a three-time European Cup winner with Ajax who also claimed domestic titles with Barcelona and Feyenoord.

On Saturday, Lionel Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona, keeping him at Camp Nou until 2021. By that time, the Argentine will be just about to turn 34, having spent 20 years with the Spanish club.

Messi arrived at La Masia as a 13-year-old, and has achieved everything he could ever have hoped at Barcelona. To date, he has won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and five Ballons d'Or.


Messi loves Barcelona and Barcelona loves Messi. It is unsurprising that he has decided to spend another three seasons with the club that he has made his own.

However, by signing a new deal at Camp Nou, he is also ensuring that his legacy as the world's greatest player will come with an asterisk like Pele's repeated challenge to successors: "When Messi's scored 1,283 goals like me, when he's won three World Cups, we'll talk about it," Pele told Le Monde in 2012.

The 30-year-old helped Argentina secure qualification for the 2018 World Cup with a tremendous hat-trick in their final qualifying game against Ecuador, but he will never match Pele's record of three World Cups - and is also unlikely to even equal Maradona's single World Cup triumph thanks to a lack of strength in the current Albiceleste squad.

"I like Messi a lot, he's a great player. Technically, we're practically at the same level," Pele said. "He's a great player for Barcelona, but when he plays for Argentina, he doesn't have the same success. People always ask me: 'When is the new Pele going to be born?' Never. My father and mother have closed the factory."

At Barcelona, Messi has been surrounded by some of the greatest players of the current generation. For the past 11 years, he has been chosen in the FIFPro World XI, which has featured at least two other Barca stars every year in support of the Argentine, including the likes of Ronaldinho, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Neymar.

When he lifted the Ballon d'Or in 2011, Messi dedicated the trophy to Xavi: "I want to share this with my friend; he deserves it."


Before signing the new three-year deal with Barcelona, Messi was linked with clubs across Europe, including a potential world-record €300 million transfer to Manchester City.

Mino Raiola, the agent responsible for superstars like Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, urged Messi to move away from Camp Nou, telling Marca: "A player like Messi must try another experience with a different club and prove how great he is."

Because of the decision to stay at Barcelona, football fans will be filled with doubt. Could Messi really have done it on a wet Tuesday night in Stoke? The talent around him at Barca and the lack of success with Argentina will surely lead to people wondering if he is truly eligible for the greatest-ever discussion.

It is a little too easy to say Messi cannot be the greatest ever because he has only played for one club. But it will definitely be a topic of conversation, especially by supporters of great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who won everything in England before moving to Real Madrid.

By signing a new Barcelona deal, Messi has ensured his legacy will be tainted by questions of 'what if?[/b]


>>>> http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/messis-decision-to-stay-at-barcelona-ensures-hell-never-be/4z8wgri22ikq1rf4z0izz0cib

Nice write up. You need to attach pictures to buttress your point to Lalasticlala.

verygudbadguy:
Nice write up. You need to attach pictures to buttress your point to Lalasticlala.

Thanks


FTC straight

This is it.

And that is why Ronaldo who won everything in England before moving to Real Madrid and Won Euro 2016 for his country will be better.

Did he say he wants to be the greatest ever?Most of you wake to write thrash about someone you know nothing about.....The fact remains,he is happy playing the round leather game where he is!!!!Ronaldo wants to be the greatest but ask yourself that question,is he happy?messi refers to be happy over whatever award you want to give him...He has a release clause,let a club meet that and buy him offf!!!

Benz4pimp:
Did he say he wants to be the greatest ever?Most of you wake to write thrash about someone you know nothing about.....The fact remains,he is happy playing the round leather game where he is!!!!Ronaldo wants to be the greatest but ask yourself that question,is he happy?messi refers to be happy over whatever award you want to give him...He has a release clause,let a club meet that and buy him offf!!!

but messi just wants to play the round leathet ball kikikikiki

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/messi-blames-5-people-best-player-award-miss/

Goal.com with their trashy topics
u can compare him to Maradona and pele but u can't compare Ronaldo to both

Messi is a genius

Myd44 please help us call Mr lalasticlala to help shift this to FTC.. We don't mind if you can drive us to the Promise land either.

Maybe not the very greatest ever, but THE GREATEST OF HIS GENERATION, and he's surely up there with Pele and Maradona. The argument of him leaving Barcelona to "prove himself elsewhere" (especially in that mickey mouse league they call EPL) is just a weak effort by haters and critics to question his greatness. Asides winning the world cup, he has NOTHING! to prove to any disgruntled critic or hater.

His brilliance, wizardry and legacy remain untainted FOREVER.

Barça no just want OluwaMessi to haunt them later on in any way if not he would have been sold. Abi no be business?

Victornezzar:
Goal.com with their trashy topics
u can compare him to Maradona and pele but u can't compare Ronaldo to both

Messi is a genius

Trashy topics you say... When proved Pele's point?

uniqueboi:
Barça no just want OluwaMessi to haunt them later on in any way if not he would have been sold. Abi no be business?

Smh

KinzyeWriter:
Trashy topics you say... When proved Pele's point?

Their stories are always fake and most times stale

Victornezzar:

Their stories are always fake and most times stale

and if you want to know the truth you do your research by searching for Pele's quoted words in the article there you'll have it.

KinzyeWriter:
Smh

Gospel truth

Greatest Ever?? - No.


Greatest of his generation?? - YES!!

KinzyeWriter:
and if you want to know the truth you do your research by searching for Pele's quoted words in the article there you'll have it.

Oga, the only bragging rights Pele has over Messi are those 1k+ goals and the world cups (which makes him the greatest)

Asides that, Messi is greater skill-wise, and Pele even admitted that Messi IS ON THE SAME LEVEL WITH HIM technically too.

. Did he tell you that he wants to be the greatest? Be happy where ever you are and don't let haters or critics push you around. Contentment is the key, why would I want to prove anything to anyone when I am in the best club, doing fine, paid heavily, playing happily and have achieved everything I want. Just like how Christ dissapointed those that wanted him to showcase his powers and prove that he is God.
And who is struggling anything with Pele or maradona? They should have existed in this generation alongside Messi and Ronaldo, so we would judge fairly. Football used to be easy back then, no more like now

ObaKlaz:
Oga, the only bragging rights Pele has over Messi are those 1k+ goals and the world cups (which makes him the greatest)

Asides that, Messi is greater skill-wise, and Pele even admitted that Messi IS ON THE SAME LEVEL WITH HIM technically too.

Lol the only bragging right that is weightier than messi career goals 2x

3 world cup should be overlooked ?

When say technical, yes messi is technical and Pele claimed that, but that doesn't play a vital role in a footballer greatness, but with achievement in different Jersey whether at international level or club level... That is why maradona is better... That is why Ronaldo is better... Afterall

KinzyeWriter:
and if you want to know the truth you do your research by searching for Pele's quoted words in the article there you'll have it.

It's so trashy
Messi is the greatest in his generation

KinzyeWriter:
but messi just wants to play the round leathet ball kikikikiki

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/messi-blames-5-people-best-player-award-miss/

stop all this complete sport news!!!messi blames!!!!like he pays their wages!!!!complete sport news!!!

Victornezzar:

It's so trashy
Messi is the greatest in his generation

okay

KinzyeWriter:
Lol the only bragging right that is weightier than messi career goals 2x

3 world cup should be overlooked ?

When say technical, yes messi is technical and Pele claimed that, but that doesn't play a vital role in a footballer greatness, but with achievement in different Jersey whether at international level or club level... That is why maradona is better... That is why Ronaldo is better... Afterall

In all of these analysis, what does Messi wants?

KinzyeWriter:
Lol the only bragging right that is weightier than messi career goals 2x

3 world cup should be overlooked ?

When say technical, yes messi is technical and Pele claimed that, but that doesn't play a vital role in a footballer greatness, but with achievement in different Jersey whether at international level or club level... That is why maradona is better... That is why Ronaldo is better... Afterall

Read my post again. It never said world cup should be overlooked. And you are wrong; FOOTBALLING TALENTS AND SKILLS (which includes technique) ARE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING HOW GREAT A FOOTBALLER IS. Please tell me how many clubs Pele himself played for? What hasn't Messi won with Barcelona?!

Obviously you didn't read my post or you didn't comprehend, cos if you did, you'd see I stated that world cups are the ONLY bragging rights those guys have over Messi (which makes Pele the greatest).

You mentioned Ronaldo, I believe you meant Ronaldo deLima?

Messi is already the Greatest ever..

All this Ronaldo's sponsored journalism is migraine inducing...


When your father is the current best player, but you know the greatest player ever and your role model is sitting on same role with u

He has been the greatest before, not once not twice , so what do you mean by he won't be the greatest ever

Benz4pimp:
Did he say he wants to be the greatest ever?Most of you wake to write thrash about someone you know nothing about.....The fact remains,he is happy playing the round leather game where he is!!!!Ronaldo wants to be the greatest but ask yourself that question,is he happy?messi refers to be happy over whatever award you want to give him...He has a release clause,let a club meet that and buy him offf!!!

What has being happy got to do with this

He earns millions

You that does not have work are you happy

Dey there to look for how happy or no happy when dem no complain give

MENZPRIDE:


In all of these analysis, what does Messi wants?

Messi wants international trophy... Messi needs to explore other club except Barcelona as you read in the article.

Pele was hindered for not playing in Europe, but his strength is the 3 world cup he won even though he is not the all time goal scorer.

Maradona has the most tiny weakness, to have played in Europe and won trophies and also a world cup in his international level.


Ronaldo has proven himself in the EPL by winning everything, in sporting, in Madrid, and international level.


Messi on the other hand risen into greatness with great players, and failed bunch of times in the international level... Now he hinders himself for being a one club man..

He is just a Barcelona legend bro