Best Ever In EVERY sport by the numbers...

[IronDanHamza]

So waht you're saying is that Pele DOESN'T have the better numbers... not much of a soccer fan but i know Pele was the Mj OF SOCCER... so stop talkin' shet & pull up the numbers SON!

What he's saying is you dont get awarded 'rings' in Football (Soccer)

[Dirk Diggler UK]

He can only do it against whatever opposition he has in front of him.

Ok how about 2008 Olympics? Or each group game of the 2010 World Cup where Messi was quality. Or even the 2011 Copa America where he picked up like 3 MOM awards before they lost in the quarter finals?

Anything else that I have to put together to back up my argument that he will be the greatest player, if he isn't already, to ever do it.

You can't handicap the guy because he's playing for the greatest team ever (potentially).

He was annoynmous when his team got smashed 4-1 by Germany in the World Cup.

He didnt score in either the world cup or Copa. Yet he scores a goal per game for Barca.

Coincidence?

[IronDanHamza]

He was annoynmous when his team got smashed 4-1 by Germany in the World Cup.

He didnt score in either the world cup or Copa. Yet he scores a goal per game for Barca.

Coincidence?

I don't think it is, Dirk.

I see it like this; Messi is a great player, of course.

But, I would like to see him perform like he does with the best players in the world around him when he doesn't have them around him.

Because let's face it. He is distinctly worse when he isn't with Barcelona. Which happens to be his entire career.

I mean, he's only 24. We have to take that into consideration.

But that's another reason why he surely cannot be considered the greatest ever, yet.

Does have the potential to be? Absolutely.

But, he hasn't done it. Yet.

That's how I see it.

[jimmy1569]

Is quitting on his stool after 9 rounds whilst being well ahead one of them?

You got jokes.. son! Everyone knows Vitali is THE ONLY one who's quit in that fashion while boxing a near shutout on the cards.. everyone else quits because of a cut.. about to get ktfo... being destroyed & NO WAY to win.... so yes that is one of them... unless you can name a prominent fighter who said NO MAS having a legit shoulder injury in which he could barely defend .. even a featherfister who starts acting tough after the fact (cowering on the ropes for most of the fight).. so yes even in quitting Vitali still manages to do it by dominating his opponent....

[P4P_No1]

He was annoynmous when his team got smashed 4-1 by Germany in the World Cup.

He didnt score in either the world cup or Copa. Yet he scores a goal per game for Barca.

Coincidence?

Germany were the better side. You can't fault him on that performance.

He didn't score a goal at the Copa but got 3 assists. Didn't score in the 2010 WC but was denied by a heroic goalkeeping performance from Enyeama if i'm not mistaken, was involved in all 4 goals against North Korea & got MOM against Greece & then got the assist for Tevez' goal against Mexico.

He doesn't get as many goals for Argentina because he plays a different role. It's no secret. Look at David Villa.

Main boy at Valencia & for Spain. Scores tons of goals. Comes to Barca, plays a different role and scores less.

It's about the roles in the team.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

I don't think it is, Dirk.

I see it like this; Messi is a great player, of course.

But, I would like to see him perform like he does with the best players in the world around him when he doesn't have them around him.

Because let's face it. He is distinctly worse when he isn't with Barcelona. Which happens to be his entire career.

I mean, he's only 24. We have to take that into consideration.

But that's another reason why he surely cannot be considered the greatest ever, yet.

Does have the potential to be? Absolutely.

But, he hasn't done it. Yet.

That's how I see it.

Co-sign 100%

[IronDanHamza]

You got jokes.. son! Everyone knows Vitali is THE ONLY one who's quit in that fashion while boxing a near shutout on the cards.. everyone else quits because of a cut.. about to get ktfo... being destroyed & NO WAY to win.... so yes that is one of them... unless you can name a prominent fighter who said NO MAS having a legit shoulder injury in which he could barely defend .. even a featherfister who starts acting tough after the fact (cowering on the ropes for most of the fight).. so yes even in quitting Vitali still manages to do it by dominating his opponent....

I think the fact Vitali quit when he was clearly ahead might be worse.

[PrinceNaz88]

I think Messi will end up going down as the greatest ever if he continues what he is doing at the moment. BUT, he will have to win a World Cup.

Otherwise, it would be hard to rank him above Maradona.

[Ring Leader]

First off, Sven Ottke is the best by the numbers. Another is Wayne Gretzky being the greatest is definately up to debate

[jimmy1569]

I think the fact Vitali quit when he was clearly ahead might be worse.

That's a ridiculous statement.... quitting while you're behind shows one thing only & that is you want to get out of the shellacking you are partaking in.... it's a clear sign of surrender... Quitting while you're dominating & have a clear injury developing that is CLEARLY hindering your performance & potentially could devestate your career is actually a sign of strength if ONE WERE TO REALLY RATIONALIZE IT ACCORDINGLY...



h e gave up his belt & his immaculate recordbreaking 27 Ko streak because of CONCERN for the shoulder. Why did he have to jeapardize his career just to fight for 3 more rds? So he can appease the masses? So he can prove that he can win 3 ,ore rds against Byrd with a half a shoulder as his asset for the remainder of the fight. Everyone says Byrd couldn't have hurt him & all he had to do was dance for 9 minutes...... you try to do THAT... the dance part when you're used to knocking people the phuck out for a living... esp. dance against a featherfister... that's even more humiliating...


Vitali didn't want to be caught dead in that position.. as that's what he had to do for a minute or two towards the end of the bout & didn't think there was ANYTHING warrior about it.... in his mind quitting was LESS humiliating... but peeps don't understand the PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL pain involved in such a situation under all the circumstances mentioned.... it's a shame he had to NEARLY lose his face against Lewis JUST to save face in the public's eye... but that's the society we live in.. He quit.. therefore he quit... never mind the circumstances that he Quit IN were nowhere near the norm for boxers that have sat on there stool because of taking a hiding.