Lionel Messi

[Coastwalker]

Watching him last night,and how fit he is,I can see him playing in his forties,maybe even the next World Cup at aged 43.
What a player.

[bencher]

Words cannot do justice to this guy. High press or low block, he can handle them all. And the bit less mentioned - he has an incredible hunger to win.

[Bassey the warrior]

Watching him last night,and how fit he is,I can see him playing in his forties,maybe even the next World Cup at aged 43.
What a player.

Absolutely, it helps that he spends most of the match walking around. Unlike Ronaldo, he is still quality without his mobility.

[SP]

And unless I've missed it, he keeps out of the political stuff?

[WindyCity]

Yeah, very impressive.  One of the oldest (if not the oldest?) on the pitch, and still bossing the game.  Dribbling through multiple defenders, passing, etc.  He was taken off the ball a handful of times, but he also got through just the same.  I might agree that he could still be of service the next WC.

[General]

Watching him last night,and how fit he is,I can see him playing in his forties,maybe even the next World Cup at aged 43.
What a player.

I'm not sure he's 'fit' necessarily.. a lot of coaches, including Guardiola, mention how he doesn't run around a lot but instead focused on analysing the game to find weakenesses and spaces to create impact.. with the view that it only takes one or two moments to make the difference.  Obviously he's also a very gifted player technically and when it comes to dribbling, but I thought for the most part yesterday he was more of a footnote  and was limited to very few chances or opportunities.

Would he have scored or assisted if our tactics after scoring were different? I'm not 100% sure.

He is a brilliant player, undoubtedly, but definitely not the player he has been.

[YankeeJim]

Messi is a player who has never relied on flat out speed to succeed. His game is quickness. If you force him to run, he can be defended. His first touch or step is just worlds ahead of anyone else. It also keeps him from being taken out with a body slam. He seldom takes a hard hit. He just gets around the defender. He really is a joy to watch. I never saw Pele in his prime and I wonder if he was the same type of player.
Ronaldo, at one time was a player that would be fed the ball and he'd outrun and out jump everyone else. He is still excellent but has lost a step and is not nor has he ever been the team player that Messi is. Ronaldo beat you with speed and talent. Messi beats you because he makes his team better.

[LittleErn]

Watching him last night,and how fit he is,I can see him playing in his forties,maybe even the next World Cup at aged 43.
What a player.

I'm not sure he's 'fit' necessarily.. a lot of coaches, including Guardiola, mention how he doesn't run around a lot but instead focused on analysing the game to find weakenesses and spaces to create impact.. with the view that it only takes one or two moments to make the difference.  Obviously he's also a very gifted player technically and when it comes to dribbling, but I thought for the most part yesterday he was more of a footnote  and was limited to very few chances or opportunities.

Would he have scored or assisted if our tactics after scoring were different? I'm not 100% sure.

He is a brilliant player, undoubtedly, but definitely not the player he has been.

In the later stages of the game (before they scored) he was noticeably able to find acres of room on the right and had the time to pick a spot for a pass/cross without being hurried. Not one of our defenders took responsibility for man marking him and without that pressure he became deadly. Poor tactics indeed.

[epsomraver]

And unless I've missed it, he keeps out of the political stuff?

so thats not him holding the Malvinas banner then at one stage?

[HobGoblin]

Best player i've ever seen, wish he was English

[FishaPrice]

And unless I've missed it, he keeps out of the political stuff?

so thats not him holding the Malvinas banner then at one stage?

Did he? I saw his teammates.

[SP]

And unless I've missed it, he keeps out of the political stuff?

so thats not him holding the Malvinas banner then at one stage?

As I said, unless I missed it, clearly you've seen more.

[v]

Watching him last night,and how fit he is,I can see him playing in his forties,maybe even the next World Cup at aged 43.
What a player.

I'm not sure he's 'fit' necessarily.. a lot of coaches, including Guardiola, mention how he doesn't run around a lot but instead focused on analysing the game to find weakenesses and spaces to create impact.. with the view that it only takes one or two moments to make the difference.  Obviously he's also a very gifted player technically and when it comes to dribbling, but I thought for the most part yesterday he was more of a footnote  and was limited to very few chances or opportunities.

Would he have scored or assisted if our tactics after scoring were different? I'm not 100% sure.

He is a brilliant player, undoubtedly, but definitely not the player he has been.

True.

At one point before the second Argentina goal the camera pans to Messi and he is standing stock still between the halfway line and the 18 yard box, waiting to see what happens.
Conserving his energy and only springing into action when needed.

One of the most 'intelligent' players the game has produced.

[AnotherOldgit]

I noticed that he doesn't follow the annoying recent trend of placing the ball as far forward as possible when taking corners!

[_Putney_]

Best player. Such a joy to watch. And to think it's because I told him to aim between the white posts.

[Volz]

Messi is by far the best player I have ever seen play in my 46 years of living, I would argue he is the smartest footballer ever. He doesn't need to waste energy running around because he knows exactly when and where to position himself. His close control with the ball is amazing, his passing and crossing is always on point.

I remember reading an article on how Haaland differentiates himself from most other strikers by the way he is scanning the pitch much more frequently at all times. I kept a close eye on Messi last match and he seems to be doing the very same; head constantly moving, looking for opportunities and executing in milliseconds.

I personally feel blessed having lived in the same time that he had his active career, I get goosebumps at times when i see him play.

[RaySmith]

He always seemed to create space for himself, even with several players around him. Though as the game wore on he often seemed to be in yards of space, no England players near him. When he crosses or passes it was usually a killer ball.
The  player who headed their second goal was in yards of space, despite all our tall defenders on the pitch.

We seemed to lose confidence collectively, when they suddenly started to come at us once we'd scored.

[Angus Telford]

CR7 is twice the player. Great career in a soft league where the authorities protected him but would have come unstuck with the quality and physicality of the PL.