Quote (zarkadon @ 22 Nov 2016 19:45)
What do you mean by talent though?
Is it ball control? Flashy skills? Dribbling? Passing/crossing abilities?
Are these more important than the ability to read the game or to finish a chance? Was Bergkamp a better striker than Gerd Müller?
I think Messi is a very complete player and excels in many of these areas. I think there have been players with better ball control, others with better passing skills, etc, but Messi makes up for that by being very well rounded... the most well rounded over all? idk, Cruyff and Di Stefano, for example, excelled in many areas as well, but it's very hard to draw a precise head to head comparison with skill with players from different generations. That is why I focus more on decisiveness and achievements. There is one thing though where I think Messi is the best ever (along with Maradona), and that is dribbling in small spaces. Both of them are imo far better than any other player I've seen.
Messi is the best at taking opponents directly, heading towards goal. Ronaldo used to do some impressive flashy dribblings, but usually in meh areas. Messi gets the ball and always heads towards goal (and towards the defender too, he even admitted he likes to do that, 1v1 directly). At this chapter he remains unbeaten. Sprint with ball at his foot is another area where he's best. He can touch the ball in 5m 15 times, excellent control. Both when running or holding it in small spaces. And the acceleration, the 10m sprint. Only Ronaldo9 i can mention as a competitor here. Even when a bit fat for Rael he used to lose defenders by his 10m sprint.
There are a lot to be added here, vision/passing range and overalll movement off the ball (No, not defending, attacking wise).
Flashy things, Ronaldo was far better in his Utd days (now he cant dribble a standing guy imo). Maradona also better, Ronaldo + Ronaldinho and even Zidane probably better.