The former US president delivered his verdict shortly after the final whistle of the World Cup final between Argentina and France (7:5 on penalties). “Congratulations to Argentina,” Barack Obama wrote on Twitter. “And to the GOAT!” The GOAT, i.e. the greatest footballer of all time, has been Lionel Messi for Obama since Sunday night at the latest and his first world title. There are undoubtedly enough arguments for it, but also against it.
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So is Messi the greatest of all time? Or is it Pelé, aka Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who led Brazil to three world titles (1958, 1962, 1970)? Or rather the predecessor of Messi to the last world success in 1986, Diego Maradona? Or the German football emperor Franz Beckenbauer, France’s magic foot Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Alfredo di Stefano or Cristiano Ronaldo, whose sad departure to Manchester United and also with Portugal in this World Cup has left a thick shadow on the his previously flawless career
“It’s always difficult to compare different generations,” admits Philipp Lahm, who played Messi in the 2014 final. “Pelé won three World Cup titles, Beckenbauer became world champion as a player and coach and led the tournament into Germany in 2006. Messi has shaped football for 15 years and crowned himself in his last World Cup match. His name is also outside of football is a concept for everyone.” Of the SPORTBUZZER, the sports portal of the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), picked up on the GOAT debate and also asked the other five columnists who they think is the greatest kicker of all time.
Not just brilliant for itself
by Almut Schult
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For me, there are two players who deserve “GOAT” status. On the one hand Zinedine Zidane, because he radiated a grace and naturalness in handling the ball that I have never seen since. I also see joy in playing with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and others. However, Zidane also took it for granted that football was a team sport. He not only excelled himself, but he knew how to use others. That’s why I think he’s the best team player of all time.
Zidane has always been a very respectful player. He even saw a red card once, but we all remember how it happened when he headed Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final. As far as I can remember, the Frenchman has never turned down a handshake, never has he ever walked away arrogantly. I’ve seen it with Messi and Ronaldo. I don’t like it because you are supposed to be a role model in football.
If I have to choose the best individual player, Ronaldinho comes to me. The Brazilian had such a wonderful technique: you could wake him up at 3 in the morning, throw the ball 100 meters high and say: please put it down. Then the ball stuck to his foot. With Ronaldinho, he still seemed to me a step higher than Messi, Ronaldo and Diego Maradona.
However, headlines shouldn’t decide who is the greatest footballer in the world. Because then we wouldn’t rate the game, but a collection of titles.
I am definitely with Messi
by Wolff Fuss
It’s hard for me to compare Messi to Pele, Beckenbauer and co because I’ve never seen them play live. With Messi I followed his entire career. I think he always has a role in judging who you’ve seen on television or in the stadium and who you only know from cuts, stories or old reports.
The fact that Messi is now world champion, with two goals and a penalty converted into the epic penalty, in my opinion makes him the best player I’ve ever seen. This would also resolve the issue with Cristiano Ronaldo. Becoming world champion is the greatest thing a footballer can achieve. As he ended this almost shoddy story and this fairy tale came true with the World Cup in his last World Cup game, I have to say I am definitely with Messi.
Ball game like ballet
by Jochen Breyer
As we all know, this football World Cup was special and only touched my heart twice: when Moroccan players celebrated with their mothers on the pitch and when Lionel Messi collapsed on the pitch – like a world champion. It’s strange: there’s a man who could hardly be more privileged, who is acclaimed around the world, who makes hundreds of millions, who, despite his fabulous wealth, still evades taxes and advertises for Saudi Arabia – yet, although fate has already kissed so much, I was very moved when she found out about the final coronation.
Why? Because he has given so much to us who love football. Because his art was unique, even now, in this World Cup. How did Jorge Valdano, Argentine world champion in 1986 and philosopher of football today, express himself? “If you don’t love Messi, you don’t love football.”
Messi or Ronaldo – apart from the fact that this discussion is completely pointless because both are exceptional figures: Ronaldo’s game has never touched me as much as Messi’s. Ronaldo is power, impact, efficiency. A car. Messi is grace, grace, aesthetics. A genius. A dancer. Ball game like ballet. Do you know his famous goal against Getafe? There’s no football moment I’ve watched more often on YouTube.
Is he the best of all time? No idea. But it is definitely the best of our time. And it’s a gift to see him as a football fan.
It can only be Maradona
by Ronald Reng
Our son once asked me: “Dad, who do you like better, Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi?” “Maradona,” I replied.
In my opinion, when it comes to who is the best soccer player of all time, it’s about who was the best individual player in the team sport. And that can only be Diego Maradona. He played so often as if he had to single-handedly defeat the opposing team. And he quite often he did. Messi, on the other hand, displays a multitude of fantastic individual moves, but his dribbles, hooks, passes and shots are almost always integrated into the interaction with his teammates. Messi got a dream pass from Xavi and ran away. Messi dribbled past two opponents and found Julián Álvarez optimally positioned in the six-yard box with his pass. The teammates gave the ball to Maradona and said: Come on! And he did.
I also got the impression that Maradona’s deft ball handling was unique in the truest sense of the word. He could probably do push-ups while he plays with the soccer ball with his butt. Messi’s dribbling and feinting, on the other hand, are actions we already knew, just not in this perfection. Being the best footballer in the world isn’t just about playing phenomenal football, it’s about playing with genius and madness. If we see what genius and madness have made of Maradona, Messi can be happy not to be at his level.
The crown worn
by Michael Rummenigge
Since Sunday evening I have been certain that after all there is a football god. When you see Lionel Messi lift the World Cup trophy, you already have a small tear in your eye. Especially after a drama so final that not even Shakespeare could have written better. Argentina’s triumph was well deserved. Because of Messi. No player has more stamped his mark on the tournament and his team’s play. It is a gift that we have been able to pursue such an outstanding talent throughout our lifetime. Now I hope he retires in the summer so we can remember him in top form.
Is Messi the best of all time? I think it is difficult to answer. There are many players who shaped their respective decade. Pele, for example, introduced me to football through his performances at the 1970 World Cup. Then came Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff, then Diego Maradona. One thing is certain: Messi has accomplished incredible things in his long career and crowned it with a World Cup triumph. He set countless records and created moments that will last forever. You can only bow to them and take off your hat.
The fact that his legitimate successor is already ready was also seen in the World Cup final. With his final three goals, Kylian Mbappé was also able to demonstrate his outstanding class. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to enter Messi’s spheres in the long term. For this he must be spared from wounds and blurry heads.
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