Lionel "The Greatest of All Time" Messi

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KingLeo10

Senior Member
I always wonder why more hype isn't given to the CL encounters they had from 2008 to 2011. Both were already in their primes and playing at Ballon D'Or level (CR7 has already won his 1st, Messi would win his first 3 in this span).

For the record,

Messi in those games: 3 goals in 5 games (CL final goal and CL semi final double at Bernabeu); 2 W, 2 D, 1 L

CR7 in those games: 0 goals in 5 games (including missed penalty); 1 W; 2D, 2 L

CR7 fans have done a great job sweeping his early CL failures/disappearances and struggles v prime Barca in general (no shame in that, tbf, but he had strong ManU and RM sides too). He had a grand total of 1 goal v Barca after like 7-8 games until we began declining in 2012 :lol:
 

serghei

Senior Member
I always wonder why more hype isn't given to the CL encounters they had from 2008 to 2011. Both were already in their primes and playing at Ballon D'Or level (CR7 has already won his 1st, Messi would win his first 3 in this span).

For the record,

Messi in those games: 3 goals in 5 games (CL final goal and CL semi final double at Bernabeu); 2 W, 2 D, 1 L

CR7 in those games: 0 goals in 5 games (including missed penalty); 1 W; 2D, 2 L

CR7 fans have done a great job sweeping his early CL failures/disappearances and struggles v prime Barca in general (no shame in that, tbf, but he had strong ManU and RM sides too). He had a grand total of 1 goal v Barca after like 7-8 games until we began declining in 2012 :lol:

Pep Barca was a ruthless machine that limited teams to 3-4 decent counters a game. If Messi played against Pep Barca during that time he would have found it very tough.
 

KingLeo10

Senior Member
Pep Barca was a ruthless machine. If Messi played against Pep Barca during that time he would have found it very tough.

He struggled (0 goals in 2 games and missed penalty) in the 07-08 CL semis (before Pep). Messi put on a show at OT meanwhile and had like the record number of dribbles in a CL game (16).

So, it's not all down to Pep either
 

serghei

Senior Member
He struggled (0 goals in 2 games and missed penalty) in the 07-08 CL semis (before Pep). Messi put on a show at OT meanwhile and had like the record number of dribbles in a CL game (16).

So, it's not all down to Pep either

True, but Ronaldo imo played better later in his career, as a high-profile scorer. He was more entertaining and explosive as a winger pre-2010 so to speak, but not as great imo. Post 25 years old, he started to really refine his finishing skills and developed into a deadly finisher.
 

KingLeo10

Senior Member
True, but Ronaldo imo played better later in his career, as a high-profile scorer. He was more entertaining and explosive as a winger pre-2010 so to speak, but not as great imo. Post 25 years old, he started to really refine his finishing skills and developed into a deadly finisher.

Oh, I agree with this. I just meant like when critics highlight Messi's poor CL record (outside of 2019, for his standards) since 2016, they (not you) often sweep under the rug CR7's struggles/poor record pre-2012 and post-RM.
 

Morten

Senior Member
The perfect, relatively realistic final showdown in their prime would be a CL final between 2012 and ~2017

2015 was very close to make it happening.

That time it was our failing it did not happen, but later, if Barca didn't collapse in away legs about every season, you probably would have faced us in at least one final.
 

bismp

Well-known member
The most realistic chances were 2012 and 2015, as bot Barca and Real were really close to making the final. In 2016-2018 we choked really hard. And in 2013-2014 we were too weak.
 

soul24rage

Senior Member
Starting XI confirmed by Gaston Edul

Let's gooo

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