The great big (summer 2014) best player in the world discussion.

[Montasura]

Right, I know it is a question often debated but on the back of the World Cup and a lot of talk about Lionel Messi, I thought I would ask the perennial question again.

In recent years it has always been an argument between the Messi camp and the Ronaldo camp (with wise heads throwing Iniesta in there as well).

But what makes a world's best player? Can club form alone merit such talk, or should they also perform for their country? What then of players like Bale who will never get to play at a world cup? What of players like Messi who have committed to one club? Or can we consider someone to be the greatest based simply on talent alone?

For me the last few years have been a toss up between Messi and Iniesta, with Ronaldo a begrudging third but thats only my opinion. I base my opinion on talent alone.

And what of the future? Is Messi's star fading? Personally I think he is burnt out or carrying injury. Or maybe is is simply getting bored of it all and the weight of expectation is just too much. I'm not convinced he will sustain any greatness from here on in and can see him going the way of Kaka. Players like Iniesta and Xavi are at the end of their reigns as well. But on the horizon we have players like Kroos and Gotze, the former having huge potential IMO. And at 24 and 22 respectively they have it all ahead of them. Rodriguez had an outstanding tournament and will shortly be playing his club football at the top. At only 23 he again has a bright future.

Anyway, lets hear your thoughts.

 

[tobi]

I think consistent club form at a high level (talisman) is enough, if your national team is good and gives you a chance to win then that's an added bonus.

IMO Cristiano Ronaldo is deserving of his title as the best in the world and its not right to judge a player based on his good or bad form at an international tournament.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

C Ronaldo for me

 

[Gbspurs]

Bale.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Danny Rose.

 

[Montasura]

Danny Rose.

I should have known better than to expect a serious discussion

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I should have known better than to expect a serious discussion

I am going to make a serious post, don't worry, just not at the moment

 

[WalkerboyUK]

Difficult one really.
On the one hand, you can't pick where you are born, so the fact that Bale will (likely) never play in a major international competition is outside his control. That doesn't stop him being one of the best in Europe at club level though.
That said, the big-name club players, such as Messi & Ronaldo didn't exactly set the world alight with individual performances during the World Cup. Portugal crashed at the first hurdle, while Messi's goals more or less carried his team through each round.

Likewise, at club level, do you have to be at one of the "Big clubs" to be considered one of the best in the world?

To be honest I think Ronaldo has been the better player for last 18-24 months. But his game/style is completely different to that of Messi. Ronaldo is about pace and power, whereas Messi is a diminutive figure who's game is built around ball control and balance.

 

[nightgoat]

I wanted Argentina to win simply because it would put to rest all this nonsense about how Messi can't be considered one of the best players ever because he hasn't won the World Cup. One player cannot win the World Cup on his own, and only Mascherano from the Argentina squad had a really good World Cup. Di Maria and Higuain were poor, Aguero wasn't fit, Tevez was left out. Ronaldo is similarly hamstrung by a decidedly average Portugal team.

If winning the World Cup was a prerequisite for being considered a great player then Stephane Guivarc'h is among the greats.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Yeah. I don't hold at all with this 'can't be the best player if doesn't win the world cup' ... It's ridiculous.

' Can't be the best player in the world if fails to perform at world cup' - yes

 

[indianspurs]

Thiago Silva

 

[barry]

Exactly George Weah was arguably the best player in the world for a few years, but he never got close to attending a World Cup, same for Bale

 

[Spurslove]

Exactly George Weah was arguably the best player in the world for a few years, but he never got close to attending a World Cup, same for Bale

I guess we could say the same about Georgie Best, who never played in a World Cup.

For me, it has to be Messi as the world's best player. OK, this last season he wasn't at his best through injuries and poor coaching, but his stats prove him to be the greatest ever, in my eyes, and it's true what they say, class is permanent etc...

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Yeah. I don't hold at all with this 'can't be the best player if doesn't win the world cup' ... It's ridiculous.

' Can't be the best player in the world if fails to perform at world cup' - yes

Both apply to Messi and Ronaldo so who is the best player in the world?

 

[yankspurs]

I wanted Argentina to win simply because it would put to rest all this nonsense about how Messi can't be considered one of the best players ever because he hasn't won the World Cup. One player cannot win the World Cup on his own, and only Mascherano from the Argentina squad had a really good World Cup. Di Maria and Higuain were poor, Aguero wasn't fit, Tevez was left out. Ronaldo is similarly hamstrung by a decidedly average Portugal team.

If winning the World Cup was a prerequisite for being considered a great player then Stephane Guivarc'h is among the greats.

Here's the thing, Messi played like complete shit in the final and missed 2 sitters.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Here's the thing, Messi played like complete shit in the final and missed 2 sitters.

Ronaldo played like complete shit in the group stage and they got knocked out.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Both apply to Messi and Ronaldo so who is the best player in the world?

Steeeeed!!!!

 

[yankspurs]

Ronaldo played like complete shit in the group stage and they got knocked out.

I was not talking about Ronaldo. Neither was the post I quoted about Messi being considered one of the best players ever. So that post is pretty irrelevant. Although I agree. Ronaldo was shit this tournament.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I was not talking about Ronaldo. Neither was the post I quoted about Messi being considered one of the best players ever. So that post is pretty irrelevant. Although I agree. Ronaldo was shit this tournament.

Meh. Messi is still better than Ronaldo (and he's the best player ever...)

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

Messi. I have no hesitation whatsoever in saying he is a better player than Ronaldo, who is certainly the nearest to him (Bale is close too), but on a level below.

Unlike Ronaldo, Messi does things that you can only understand when you see them again in slomo. And even in games when people say he's been anonymous, he's done something that's just beyond most players, but expectations are so high that unless he scores the winning goal in every game, he "hasn't performed".

He doesn't depend just on power, or speed, or vision, or intelligence, or razor-sharp instincts: he, uniquely, has all these qualities.