Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Wrecka
I know nothing of soccer. But can't an argument be made that Messi isn't even the best player playing right now. To my extremely untrained eye watching the World Cup I thought Ronaldo looked better. But again, I am ignorant to this foreign I must play without my hands sport
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Ronaldo may have looked better at the world cup, I actually don't remember, and Ronaldo is definitely one of the all time greats, but he is not as naturally gifted as Messi, I don't think anybody has ever been. Maradona and George Best were amazingly gifted too but I think Messi overshadows even those two.
Also, the number of records he holds is amazing.
World records
- Only player to ever win all of the Balon d’Or, FIFA World Player, Pichichi and Golden Shoe in the same season (2009/10).
- Youngest three-time winner of the Balon d’Or in January 2012 (24 years, 6 months and 17 days.
- Only person to win four consecutive Balon d’Or trophies (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012).
- Top scorer in one season of official matches: 73 goals in 2011/12 (50 in La Liga, 14 in Champions League, 3 in Cup, 3 in the Spanish Supercup, 1 in the European Supercup and 2 in the Clubs World Cup.
- Top goalscorer in a calendar year: 96 goals in 2012. 84 for Barça (59 in the Liga, 13 in the Champions League, 5 in the Spanish Cup, 2 in the Spanish Supercup and 5 in friendly matches) and 12 for Argentina.
- Longest scoring run in La Liga (33 goals in 21 consecutive games (2012/13)).
European records
- Leading goalscorer in League history with 253 goals in 289 matches, surpassing the record of 251 goals set by Telmo Zarra of Athletic club de Bilbao which had stood since 1955.
- All-time top goalscorer in the Champions League, tied with Raúl on 71 goals. The Argentinian did it in 90 games while Raúl did it in 142 games for Real Madrid and Schalke 04.
- Only player to be top goalscorer in the Champions League for four consecutive seasons (2008/09 to 2011/12).
- Top goalscorer in a European league in the Golden Shoe era, since 1966/67 (50 goals in 2011/12).
- Top goalscorer in a league (50 goals in 2011/12).
- Top goalscorer in home matches in a league season (35 goals at the Camp Nou in Liga 2011/12).
- Top goalscorer in away matches in a league season (24 goals in Liga 2012/13).
- Most games scoring away from home (15 games and 24 goals in Liga 2012/13).
- Top goalscorer in second half of La Liga (28 goals in the Liga 2011/12).
- Only top goalscorer and top supplier of assists in the same season (50 goals and 15 assists (tied with Özil of Real Madrid) in Liga 2011/12).
- Top overall goalscorer in a season: 75 goals in 2011/12 (50 in La Liga, 14 in the Champions League, 3 in the Cup, 3 in the Spanish Supercup, 1 in the European Supercup, 2 in the Clubs World Cup and 2 in friendlies).
- First player to score in every game for half of a Liga season (30 goals in 19 consecutive games in Liga 2012/13.