and @JohnN
The issue is Messi's absolute dominance from 08-15 corresponded with Barca having a wealth of all time greats like Xavi, Iniesta, Alves. CR7's absolute dominance in CL similarly coincided with the likes of Modric, Ramos, Marcelo at their peaks. Pele's WC dominance also coincided with all time great teammates. Cruyff with his Dutch compatriots.
It is without question that Messi, Pele, CR7 elevated the level of their teammates but it is also true they benefited from all time great teammates. We can debate all day long which parties benefited more but the mutual benefits are undeniable.
Between 2015 and 2020, as Barca and Argentina declined and declined, Messi had a chance to show his individual greatness without all time great teammates. Yes, his task was proved more difficult by his own aging. But there are years like 2016 Atletico or 2017 Juventus or 2018 Roma where he was closer to his prime but was either disinterested or not good enough to make a difference. THE GOAT would pull us through in atleast 1 of the 3 ties (I'm not asking him to go 3 out of 3 as this is still a team game). To label him THE GOAT where he hasn't done anything unique compared to other GOAT candidates (i.e. dominated mostly when conditions are good around him) is a disservice to the game. I don't have any problems with people claiming he's THE GOAT aesthetically as he was an alien in his prime (similar to arguments for R9). But his body of work has amazing peaks and also glaring flaws, and on the basis of career achievements, it is a tough sell putting him at the absolute top. For the record, no matter what he does, he'll always be a GOAT based on his peak alone. So, I'm not deducting too harshly based on recent years before that becomes a major argument.
Prime R9 would destroy all washed up players no matter who that player is. Even peak Salah/Mane is better than current Messi.
