SIMBOLIC: Messi V Zidane

SIMBOLIC 12.27.12	inb4 fanboys
jefflebowski 12.27.12	zidane is classier and amazing to watch, but he can't win games singlehanded to the extent messi can
bakkermaarten007 12.27.12	This shouldn't even be a question. As gracious as Zidane was he isn't the surrealism that is Messi.
bakkermaarten007 12.27.12	Lionel Messi is not even a pure striker. He dictates the game, creates creativity, gives assists and scores more than any other striker.
JamieTwort 12.27.12	Messi hands down. Zidane was amazing but Messi is probably the best player I've ever seen.
jefflebowski 12.27.12	zidane was more of an orchestrator than an individual star anyway
Zeneren 12.27.12	youtube France vs Brazil 2006 world cup
SIMBOLIC 12.27.12	well i dont think messi can win games sinbgle handedly to that extent. i watched the barcelona v celtic game first leg of the champions league group stage and messi did shit all when the barcelona team wasn't firing. i know thats not much of an example :p but when you look at barcelona's midlfield, looking at messi's goals alone isnt fair imo
SIMBOLIC 12.27.12	well messi isnt exactly a pure striker per say, but he plays as the lone centre forward in the barce set up
JamieTwort 12.27.12	Well obviously Messi can't win every game on his own but there's no denying that he does manage to win games for his team on quite a number of occasions and often spectacularly.
Zeneren 12.27.12	Without question I think Messi is the greatest finisher ever. He pretty much scores every shot in the 18 yard box. Zidane was classy as ever creative and spectacular, probably one of the most valuable players if there ever was one. Really difficult to decide.
bakkermaarten007 12.27.12	Lionel Messi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvbbzVCyoik Don't wet your pants.
wabbit 12.27.12	he does that 1v3 cut in so many times flawlessly
Kiran 12.27.12	messi is the most single-handedly influential player the world has ever seen but zidane remains my all time favourite, grew up watching him play, still remember the moment of that champions league final goal against leverkusen
SIMBOLIC 12.27.12	but at the end of the day, heskey is the best no doubt
Kiran 12.27.12	i'm glad heskey has finally found a home in the a-league, where the opposition is even less talented than he is
Kiran 12.27.12	why specifically compare these two by the way? are they your two favourites? your votes for the two best of all time or something of the sort?
SIMBOLIC 12.27.12	well i guess they are two of the best ball skilled football players ive seen. the dribbling of those two is off chops. and yeh a league is a joke. (coming from an aussie)
porch 12.27.12	the average user here is probably too young to have seen much of zidane in his prime
Keyblade 12.27.12	^^ .
wabbit 12.27.12	Yeah my only really good memory of Zidane is the headbutt. I imagine that is the case for a lot of us, esp the piece of shit north americans.
Sevendave 12.27.12	Got to be Messi, just broken the all time goal scoring record in a year & he is generally incredible. To all of you who say that the midfield behind him makes him look better - Xavi & Iniesta only assisted something like 10 - 12 of his 91 goals this year. Zidane was world class no doubt though.
jefflebowski 12.27.12	'well i dont think messi can win games sinbgle handedly to that extent. i watched the barcelona v celtic game first leg of the champions league group stage and messi did shit all' messi didn't play amazingly in one game? shock horror... on the other hand, watch the real betis game a couple of weeks ago, where barcelona were fucking awful and saved only by two excellent solo messi goals
oresttt 12.27.12	Would not really compare them, to me at least, they are different kind of players. Both were and are amazing though and Messi especially makes scoring look so easy... Still, Xavi is my favourite. Most fascinating player I've ever watched, his vision and ability to control the pace of a game are unmatched.
ButteryBiscuitBass 12.27.12	Should be Iniesta vs Zidane. In that argument I'd say Zidane, but then bring Paul Scholes into the equation and it's Paul Scholes every time. Messi is a completely different player.
oresttt 12.27.12	Yea, Iniesta vs Zidane would be a better comparison. Speaking of Messi's record: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXrltgfrrqw All 91 goals compiled.
ButteryBiscuitBass 12.27.12	Unreal isn't he?
Zeneren 12.27.12	Like I said amazing finisher and he is so good at positioning himself. He has unbelievable acceleration allowing him to take advantage of pretty much any space he gets. Messi is far and wide the most gifted footballer I've seen but really I think it's impossible to say who's the best ever, I mean you wouldn't compare him with players like Pirlo and Scholes would you who imo have equal or even more importance to a team
Kiran 12.27.12	platini in 84
Kiran 12.27.12	before my time unfortunately but a tournament (and performances) i have read about and watched countless times
wabbit 12.27.12	Jesus christ he just doesn't fall down ever does he?
JamieTwort 12.27.12	"Should be Iniesta vs Zidane. In that argument I'd say Zidane, but then bring Paul Scholes into the equation and it's Paul Scholes every time." Iniesta > Zidane and Scholes imo. There's few players I enjoy watching play more than Iniesta. Probably my second favourite player after Messi.
ButteryBiscuitBass 12.27.12	Blasphemy! I am united though, so I would be Scholes bias! I love the guy.
JamieTwort 12.27.12	I support Man United too actually. I think Scholes is amazing but I just think Iniesta is slightly better, his touch and skill combined with his passing makes for one of the best midfielders I've ever seen.
ButteryBiscuitBass 12.27.12	Iniesta is great, always rated Scholes more as a finisher as well and his passing is like a sat nav!
Kiran 12.27.12	scholes at his prime, when he played more of an attacking role and not as deep as he has for the last 4 or 5 years, was just as good as iniesta has ever been and scored plenty more goals!
JamieTwort 12.27.12	Yeah Scholes' passing is fantastic. I really enjoyed watching Iniesta in the Euros this year, he was deservedly hailed as man of the tournament. Admittedly a lot of what makes Iniesta so good is his partnership with Xavi but I think as an individual player he is slightly underrated, although he does seem to be getting a lot more recognition lately.
JamieTwort 12.27.12	Goals has never been a big part of Iniesta's game but he excells at everythig else he does and is equally as important for his team as Scholes is/was for United imo.
jefflebowski 12.27.12	scholes is a brilliant passer but nowhere near as skilful on the ball as iniesta
porch 12.27.12	"platini in 84" yeah he was on fire been watching some of milan and red star belgrade's performances from the early 90s recently, great teams
oresttt 12.27.12	I love the way how Iniesta moves, it looks like he's floating over the pitch. His technique is incredible. Also, thread needs more love for Xavi. :) Have you guys watched the clasico back 2009, the 2-6? One of the best matches I've ever watched and an amazing performance by him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp6AfbOHM-c
JamieTwort 12.27.12	"I love the way how Iniesta moves, it looks like he's floating over the pitch. His technique is incredible." Agreed. Xavi is amazing but I slightly prefer Iniesta as an individual player.
ButteryBiscuitBass 12.27.12	My all time midfield for good order and I'm bored at work ;-): Xavi, Scholes, Zidane with Ronaldo just ahead of them.
JamieTwort 12.27.12	Mine would would probably just include the core of Barca and Spain's midfield; Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. Maybe with the additon of Scholes.
Zeneren 12.27.12	I can't really see how you can differentiate between Pirlo and Xavi seeing as Xavi plays with better players and they've won pretty much the same
oresttt 12.27.12	"Xavi is amazing but I slightly prefer Iniesta as an individual player." Agreed. But the fact I love about Xavi is his movement and his positional play. You can't catch that guy, always moving, always aware of his surroundings and he always knows what to do with the ball before he receives it. And besides, he hardly makes a bad pass. But his role at Barcelona has changed in the last few years. He's not the guy for the last pass anymore. Not anywhere as spectacular as he was in 08/09.
Zeneren 12.27.12	Yeah Xavi was absolutely outrageous late 2000s
oresttt 12.27.12	Man, I hate the winter break... No Bundesliga for me. :[ Talking about football makes it even worse. :D
Zeneren 12.27.12	Aha, don't know what i'd do if we had a winter break, my saturdays would be rather empty ha
Keyblade 12.27.12	an interesting stat to those who say messi is nothing without xavi and iniesta. of the 91 goals he scored this year (holy shit wtf) only 12 were assisted by xavi or iniesta.
SaneTBP 12.27.12	Talking about scholes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa17LGUHBFo holy shiii I don't really have a say on Zidane, haven't watched his games too much. Both Messi and him are obv spectacular
thumbcrusher 12.27.12	thought zidane was a wonderful player, but messi is just on another level to everyone else
Kiran 12.27.12	"been watching some of milan and red star belgrade's performances from the early 90s recently, great teams" brings to mind two of my all time favourite players: stojkovic and baresi!
ButteryBiscuitBass 12.27.12	John Barnes, or Paul Ince?
Satellite 12.27.12	they both play a fairy sport so idk
porch 12.28.12	baresi, maldini, costacurta, tassotti unfuckwithable
Aids 12.28.12	Messi but I love Barcelona and hate anything French so.... Zidane was a true legend though.
SIMBOLIC 12.28.12	I don't think messiness the most single handedly influential player ATM. I'd go ronaldo, just cause pretty much all his goals are individual efforts.
JamieTwort 12.28.12	There really is no comparison between Ronaldo and Messi this season. Ronaldo's had a poor first half of the season for his standards, especially in La Liga.
PaddyPooHead 12.30.12	Ask any manager in the history of the game who they would rather have in their team and I'm pretty sure at least 90% of them would say Messi. The numbers don't lie, it's true that Messi plays a more advanced role but he is simply the most productive player in history therefore I have to give it to him.
thumbcrusher 12.30.12	i like how a poor start to the season for Ronaldo still results in 23 goals in 26 games haha. just shows how off the scale he has been. and that messi is still the better player makes the mind boggle at just how good he is.
JamieTwort 12.30.12	Haha yeah exactly. I should have said for his ridiculously high standards.
thumbcrusher 12.30.12	i would give a lot for the rumours that this off form ronaldo could return to united to be true...
MoosechriS 12.30.12	I'd probably go with messi, zidane on his day was one pf the greatest ever but i think messi has taken what people thought of as exceptional and taken it further.