Ronaldinho or Messi in their primes?

I agree. Henry was definitely a world class striker.

Just using your argument and applying it to other players to show you why I disagree with it.

Let's not forget Best, Giggs and Bale -- nobody would even know they existed if they only watched tournaments.

My argument is not that Messi needs to do it at international level, but that it's an interesting way to judge him without the Barca midfield, probably the greatest one of all time that suits his game perfectly.

Only watch Argentina at international tournaments and a few Copa games here and there tbf. But Messi has been playing for ARG since 2005 and his entire career needs to be considered. If you watched him only at international level, you wouldnt say he was one of the best of all time would you?

How often have Xavi and Iniesta started for Barca in the last two years though? With Messi in the team too? I bet he's played more games without that duo supporting him than with, though I don't know for sure.

I would say Ronaldo is absolutely a big game player.

You clearly missed all the years he did nothing against Barcelona when they used to destroy Real Madrid and also when he scored 10 minutes into the champions league cup final against chelsea and disappeared for the rest of the game. Or perhaps the semi final against Barcelona that year where he took one of the worst penalties I've ever seen and did very little else.

I didn't miss anything.

2004 FA Cup final vs Millwall
2004 FA Cup semi vs Arsenal
Euro 2004
2006 World Cup
2007 CL vs Roma (twice?)
2008 CL vs Roma
2008 vs Liverpool
2008 vs Arsenal
2008 CL final (Zidane scores a volley and is a big game player, Ronaldo scores a header and people move the goalposts, I'm not gonna dwell on the fact he missed a penalty, anyone can miss one)
2009 CL vs Porto
2009 CL vs Inter
2009 CL vs Arsenal

Ronaldo did tend to be a bit quiet in the Clasicos in his first couple of seasons, but that does not mean he isn't/wasn't a big game player.

First off you're going to talk about a game against millwall? Really?

An FA Cup final is a big game.

You can argue some of them aren't big if you like. Point is over his career I don't think it's fair to say he hasn't been a big game player. It was more him disappearing against Barca than disappearing in big games.

How is Zidane better than Messi?

Messi fanboys make me cringe.

What;s interesting to note is that their devotion to Lionel is such that they can't even bring themselves to admire others like C.Ronaldo for the absolutely one in a lifetime players that they are. Every compliment is backhanded or has to be phrased in such a way to imply that Lionel is superior.

Surprised nobody has come out with ''But Messi is such a nice guy and Ronaldo is such an *******!!!!!!!!!'' yet

Yea probably is but variety is not to be sniffed at either. I dont think its any coincidence that Messi has rarely replicated his form at Barca with Argentina. Maybe if Iniesta and Xavi had Argentinian passports then Messi would be as good for his country. I wonder why that is?????

Henry could play in any team, with any system and any team mates. That's worth something surely?

Interesting that Ronaldo is just as good for Portugal and obviously did the business in the EPL too!

people who say other players are better than him just to be different a far more cringeworthy

theres no comparison messi is head and shoulders above ronaldinho

In terms of stats yes, but didn't you just loveeeeee watching ronaldinho? Come on man, I know you did

I'm with you, but that's something all fanboys have in common. Similarly, you can't really compliment Messi without somebody bringing up Cristiano and asking why he doesn't get praise. Or argue that Zlatan should win a BdO without having people jump at you for that blasphemy of neglecting the other two.

I don't even know why Cristiano was brought up now, he has nothing to do with the subject. He's not even comparable to Messi or Ronaldinho since he's inherently a different type of player. He perhaps doesn't have as much natural talent but he makes up for it with his perfected technique, his athletic qualities & physique, superior work rate and determination. In that sense, to me Cristiano is more of a role model; I obviously prefer Messi as a player but I admire Cristiano more for what he has achieved.

It was an FA cup final against awful opposition. My argument is valid, in a few of those games all he did was score and that doesn't mean you've played well. A few more of those games were against weak opposition. When you play for Real games don't come much bigger than the Classico especially in the champions league.