I'm gradually becoming more and more convinced that he might just be the best player I've ever seen (which means he's the best of all time, as I'm old enough to remember Diego Maradona at his astonishing peak).

The second goal last night was as skillful as any goal I have ever seen, and ranks alongside Maradona's legendary effort v England in the 1986 WC.

Messi might take a while longer to be recognised as the all-time best, because Maradona was surrounded by mediocre players, but nevertheless guided them to two successive WC finals..........

..... but Messi - what a talent. What a talent.

He's 23, scored FIFTY TWO goals so far this season and is already Barca's third top scorer of all time.

Saying that, he's done **** all in the world cup.

it does help playing in a team that is vastly better than any other team in the league. from what I heard he only really came into the game last night after Real had gone down to 10 men.

He will probably give your lot a real good stuffing next month

He's been the best in the world for quite a while now in my opinion and could be the best as he's still young enough . His World Cup moments will come .

Maradona's goal in 86 was phenomonal to say the least , the only downside of that was that he only had to beat Peter Reid , Steve Hodge and Terry Fenwick to score , not the quickest 3 out of the blocks.....

I watched him here in Doha in November when Argentina beat Brazil and Messi scored the winner in the last minute.
He eptomisies everything that is perfect about a footballer. I watched him specifically that night as you get to see a player properly when you're at the game and his movement , runs , balance , speed , technique were second to none and way above anyone else on the field and he was in the company of some great players that night.

He made Ronaldinhio , Neymar and Robinho who were all on the pitch at the same time look like 3 carthorses the boy was that good , even watching the kid off the ball was a pleasure .

I watched some youtube vids of him

Is he one of the only players today that actually plays for the goal and doesnt go down on the first challenge?

Yes, he is very very special but 'best of all time' surely we are not saying the Maradona was the best ever....

Yes , without a doubt in my opinion , won leagues , world cups and totally influenced every team and club he was at.

Match winner every time

if he sticks at it he could be as good as Gary Rowell one day

I'd second that, Maradona was, at his peak, the best footballer I've seen play. Messi's second goal was sheer quality, and he does have the potential to be one of greatest, though , in my books, he still has to deliver on the World Cup stage.

I'd have to say Maradona is the all-time best.

He was surrounded by mediocrity, but still guided his country to two consecutive WC finals (86 and 90). Pele was a different sort of player, but every other member of that 'best team of all time' (Brazil, 1970 world champions) was also brilliant. Put it another way - even without Pele, that team would still have won the 70 WC. It's easier to look great if everyone else is pretty good too............

It's interesting to ponder who else might have scored that second goal for Barca v Real this week..................... Maradona? Probably.

Er............. that's it.

Since we are talking about football, how come the Gulf countries are quite sucky. I am not comparing the Gulf to power houses with vastly greater populations but just to other small nations , for example Cameroon did quite well in 1990 WC and last WC Ghana did well . The Gulf with all their money and free time for the youth don't even make a blip on the radar.

Surely Pele in the '70 Brazil side is the same as Messi in the current Barcelona team??? Messi is surrounded by some of the best players in the world!!!
Personally I'd choose Pele over Maradona, scoring over 1000 goals in your career is tough to do even when surrounded by the best in the world!
Plus the number of assists Pele has to his name is phenomenal!

"The United Arab Emirates currently ranks as the 18th most obese country in the world, with a 33.7% obesity rate among adults"

Might have something to do with it...