28 minutes ago, bluelightening said:

Did I read this right? Modric better than Mbappe... ... ... as you like.

Mbappe this world cup or the next is going to sit top of the all time goal scoring record. That should tell you on its own he is the greatest striker to have played at the world cup. That isnt stat watching, its the reality of the goals he has scored, putting him pretty much number one goalscorer.

Mbape has scored 20 goals in 20 games, Messi has played 11 more matches for one goal more. 31 + 21...

Once again, you're a stat watcher. The fact that you can't even conceive the idea that Modric could be argued to be the better player of the two proves that even more.

If you're going to use the World Cup to back up your argument, then by your own logic, Miroslav Klose was the greatest striker ever before this World Cup. In reality though, he wouldn't even make it into the top 50 players list at any point in his career.

8 hours ago, just said:

Conspiracy. That picture is obviously staged.

Nicolas Jackson was not the first man on the moon.

"Das ist ein kleiner Schritt für einen Menschen, ein gewaltiger Sprung für die Menschheit " (Timo Werner)

1 hour ago, just said:

Messi is an absolute God of a footballer and Mbappe is nowhere near him.

But still, for me, Pele was the most complete footballer ever. He was brilliant at everything. A killer in front of goal, fantastic running with the ball, terrific in the air, strong in the tackle. Pace, stamina, an incredible football brain, tough as nails. A hat-trick in a World Cup semi-final at 17 followed up with two goals in the final. And all this in an age when balls weighed a ton compared to today, pitches could be like ploughed fields and defenders could literally amputate a striker's leg and not be penalised. He was magnificent.

For me there is a top tier in which Pele, Maradona and Messi sit.

There is then a tier marginally below in which likes of both Ronaldos, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Muller, Zidane and Puskas sit

The third tier is where I would put a stack of players like Platini, Mbappe, van Basten, Gullit, Zico, Eusebio, Iniesta, Maldini, Eusebio and Colin Pates.

Just now, loz said:

For me there is a top tier in which Pele, Maradona and Messi sit.

There is then a tier marginally below in which likes of both Ronaldos, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Muller, Zidane and Puskas sit

The third tier is where I would put a stack of players like Platini, Mbappe, van Basten, Gullit, Zico, Eusebio, Iniesta, Maldini, Eusebio and Colin Pates.

I agree with this, although I've been adamant that there is a case for Cristiano Ronaldo being with Pele rather than being closer to Cruyff or Zidane.

I'm no football historian so my viewing of Pele is extremely limited, but I don't understand how anyone can watch Messi or Maradona, especially in their peak, and not come to the conclusion they are the greatest to have played the game.

Why the hell is nobody mentioning Pat Nevin? If he’d been Brazilian nobody would even talk about Pele!!

41 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I agree with this, although I've been adamant that there is a case for Cristiano Ronaldo being with Pele rather than being closer to Cruyff or Zidane.

I'm no football historian so my viewing of Pele is extremely limited, but I don't understand how anyone can watch Messi or Maradona, especially in their peak, and not come to the conclusion they are the greatest to have played the game.

Mate. Trust me. There really isn't.

18 minutes ago, just said:

Mate. Trust me. There really isn't.

I just flat out disagree.

Talking about 20 years, TWENTY, of consistent world-class levels.

Literally only Messi can match that.

The Americans are leaving it late to get Belgium thrown out of the competition and have themselves rightly installed in the game v Spain. Maybe they are planning to re-enter the competition at a later stage ( like some field events at the Olympics ). USA USA USA !

8 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I just flat out disagree.

Talking about 20 years, TWENTY, of consistent world-class levels.

Literally only Messi can match that.

Well you are entitled to your opinion and to disagree. But you're wrong.

I find it strange that you can make a statement like this when in a previous post you admit your viewing of Pele was extremely limited. If your knowledge of him is limited how can you reasonably make the comparison? Seems like talking for the sake of talking.

6 minutes ago, just said:

Well you are entitled to your opinion and to disagree. But you're wrong.

I find it strange that you can make a statement like this when in a previous post you admit your viewing of Pele was extremely limited. If your knowledge of him is limited how can you reasonably make the comparison? Seems like talking for the sake of talking.

Because I have seen Maradona and Messi, and I would still say Ronaldo is closer to them than Cruyff or Zidane.

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Because I have seen Maradona and Messi, and I would still say Ronaldo is closer to them than Cruyff or Zidane.

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Because I have seen Maradona and Messi, and I would still say Ronaldo is closer to them than Cruyff or Zidane.

Fair enough. Your opinion. But that Ronaldo "closeness" to the top three players you refer to is an absolute chasm.

Absolute travesty that not one person has mentioned Gazza yet. The greatest talent ever produced by this country and light years clear of the likes of Mbappe etc

2 minutes ago, just said:

Fair enough. Your opinion. But that Ronaldo "closeness" to the top three players you refer to is an absolute chasm.

Maybe to you, but this isn't some wildly off-the-mark unshared opinion.

For the record, I do have those three as the clear three.

20 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Absolute travesty that not one person has mentioned Gazza yet. The greatest talent ever produced by this country and light years clear of the likes of Mbappe etc

Its a shame gazzas madness sometimes clouds people to his football, hes the best player these isles has ever produced, he went to italy during the time they were the best league and in between loads of injuries and off field craziness he had some outstanding games.

If he was a boring fitness freak he would have been an absolute world beater.

Gazza was good - but overall too many injuries prevented him from reaching the heights that he could have done.

Most overrated Englishman in World cup history would be Rooney - his record at the world cup was awful. 11 games and only ever one goal.

Most underrated English world Cup team was the team of 1982. Never lost. Good players. They just needed a proper manager.

Most underrated English player (especially these days) is Kevin Keegan. Ballon d'or winner 1978 and 1979.

Sorry, couldn’t resist!😀😀😀

Weirdest player England player and the best penalty taker of all time and a player that could have been truly amazing and yet he was just to freaking strange and well the rest. . .. Matt Le Tissier.

32 minutes ago, dkw said:

Its a shame gazzas madness sometimes clouds people to his football, hes the best player these isles has ever produced, he went to italy during the time they were the best league and in between loads of injuries and off field craziness he had some outstanding games.

If he was a boring fitness freak he would have been an absolute world beater.

32 minutes ago, dkw said:

Its a shame gazzas madness sometimes clouds people to his football, hes the best player these isles has ever produced, he went to italy during the time they were the best league and in between loads of injuries and off field craziness he had some outstanding games.

If he was a boring fitness freak he would have been an absolute world beater.

100% mate. Best we have had in my lifetime.

25 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Most overrated Englishman in World cup history would be Rooney - his record at the world cup was awful. 11 games and only ever one goal.

Most underrated English world Cup team was the team of 1982. Never lost. Good players. They just needed a proper manager.

Most underrated English player (especially these days) is Kevin Keegan. Ballon d'or winner 1978 and 1979.

Carlton Palmer being done a great disservice.

Belgium V Spain - 2 good teams, but it could be soooo boring.

That stadium is something else!

And let’s hope this is better than last nights huge anti-climax of a contest.

The Belgium kit today is a tribute to the artist René Magritte and the nation's surrealist heritage.

2 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

The Belgium kit today is a tribute to the artist René Magritte and the nation's surrealist heritage.

Looks more like a tribute to the mayo on their frites.

15 minutes ago, dermott said:

Looks more like a tribute to the mayo on their frites.

with hints of pink and blue . . .to resemble the clouds