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Messi Retires - the end of an era

I mean, I would say Messi is just as provocative. Look at him in the final, trying to get Cucurella sent off for no reason. Petulant chidish behaviour. Calling Weghorst an "idiot" or "fool". That is provocative. Kicking a ball directly at Madrid fans for no reason, provocative.

Messi has had his storms off. He did it to Poch at PSG

Comparing Messi storming off at PSG to a systemic pattern is a stretch. PSG was a toxic, unhappy time where the club culture was a mess and the local ultras were booing one of the greatest players in history.

Wanting to get off a pitch where you're being scapegoated isn't a shocking character flaw.....

It's a moment of normal human frustration.

You're trying to equate a handful of isolated, heated outbursts over a two-decade career to a sustained personality trait.

And I know you're going to come back with.... "which is what I did to Ronaldo" card, qbut when people criticise Ronaldo for being a little bit provocative or petulant, it’s usually because it aligns with a long, documented pattern of public posturing, high-profile media outbursts, throwing armbands, storming down tunnels mid-match (as Big Ange just saw firsthand), and openly clashing with managers and clubs (Manchester United, Juventus, Al-Nassr, Portugal).....

With the little fella...when you have to scan a thousand games over two decades to scrape together four moments of petulance, you aren't describing a petulant person you are describing a normal human being who managed to stay remarkably composed 99.9% of the time.

Punchanello said:
You could ask 100 football fans about their first, second and third impressions of Messi and I don't think petulant would come up once.

This.....
 
I wasn’t after argument but your counter approaches had that vein imo
You were not the only one who responded to me when I said Messi is not a good person. Pile on was not simply about you
Zim - can I say I read your showing you’ve had to fight over things countless times - it’s ok mate.
I’ve seen his mis behaviour but am I allowed to slightly turn the cheek for as I said his positives far outweigh his negs to me.
Can’t you accept that.
If you want to turn the cheek thats fine. In saying that, if you are able to turn the cheek it means that he has done some wrong things, and therefore my view about him is fair.
Comparing Messi storming off at PSG to a systemic pattern is a stretch. PSG was a toxic, unhappy time where the club culture was a mess and the local ultras were booing one of the greatest players in history.
Dude, you are just digging a deeper hole by finding excuse after excuse and trying to justify bad behaviour. He is arguably the best player of his generation. Kids only need to see something once for it create and set an example for them. Look at excuses you find for Messi, yet are willing to attack Ronaldo. Now magnify those attacks on Ronaldo thousand fold and you expect him to not have moments of weakness too and be upset about the way he gets treated.

- You're going to have to ignore the audio.

There was also the time he refused to be substituted against Eibar when Luis Enrique was coach.

Wanting to get off a pitch where you're being scapegoated isn't a shocking character flaw.....

It's a moment of normal human frustration.
Only Messi has moments of normal human frustration and we must always give him the benefit of the doubt?

You're trying to equate a handful of isolated, heated outbursts over a two-decade career to a sustained personality trait.
No I'm not. Ronaldo has not been spitting the dummy for two-decades. This is a recency bias narrative. When he was at United, he never spit the dummy, even when Fergie told him he would not sell him to Madrid. He put his head down, did the work, won the titles, and then left. All accounts talk about the level of hard work he puts in to be the best. Of course he is going to be a bit upset because people like you keep attacking him. I don't justify bad behaviour, but you are saying that Messi is allowed moments of frustration, for the exact same reasons that you are saying Ronaldo isn't.

And I know you're going to come back with.... "which is what I did to Ronaldo" card, qbut when people criticise Ronaldo for being a little bit provocative or petulant, it’s usually because it aligns with a long, documented pattern of public posturing, high-profile media outbursts, throwing armbands, storming down tunnels mid-match (as Big Ange just saw firsthand), and openly clashing with managers and clubs (Manchester United, Juventus, Al-Nassr, Portugal).....
High profile media outbursts?? I've literally given you evidence of Messi doing the exact same thing. I've posted articles of players who have said Messi is shitty. People who were in locker rooms with him and played with him.

I actually didn't mind his clash with Ole/Ten Hag. United was a shit show and he was demanding improvement. He was demanding changes and the club was stalling and going backwards. He came from a United that was the best in the world and saw one that was quickly falling down hill. I don't mind that he clashed. Could it have been better, sure. I don't think it's a great example for kids, but neither is Messi.

With the little fella...when you have to scan a thousand games over two decades to scrape together four moments of petulance, you aren't describing a petulant person you are describing a normal human being who managed to stay remarkably composed 99.9% of the time.

I didn't have to scan thousands of games, it also isn't just four moments. There is plenty of evidence online. I am very much describing a petulant person.

This.....
Well, this is debunked because I am a football fan and my second impression of him is petulant.
 
You were not the only one who responded to me when I said Messi is not a good person. Pile on was not simply about you

If you want to turn the cheek thats fine. In saying that, if you are able to turn the cheek it means that he has done some wrong things, and therefore my view about him is fair.

Dude, you are just digging a deeper hole by finding excuse after excuse and trying to justify bad behaviour. He is arguably the best player of his generation. Kids only need to see something once for it create and set an example for them. Look at excuses you find for Messi, yet are willing to attack Ronaldo. Now magnify those attacks on Ronaldo thousand fold and you expect him to not have moments of weakness too and be upset about the way he gets treated.

- You're going to have to ignore the audio.

There was also the time he refused to be substituted against Eibar when Luis Enrique was coach.


Only Messi has moments of normal human frustration and we must always give him the benefit of the doubt?


No I'm not. Ronaldo has not been spitting the dummy for two-decades. This is a recency bias narrative. When he was at United, he never spit the dummy, even when Fergie told him he would not sell him to Madrid. He put his head down, did the work, won the titles, and then left. All accounts talk about the level of hard work he puts in to be the best. Of course he is going to be a bit upset because people like you keep attacking him. I don't justify bad behaviour, but you are saying that Messi is allowed moments of frustration, for the exact same reasons that you are saying Ronaldo isn't.


High profile media outbursts?? I've literally given you evidence of Messi doing the exact same thing. I've posted articles of players who have said Messi is shitty. People who were in locker rooms with him and played with him.

I actually didn't mind his clash with Ole/Ten Hag. United was a shit show and he was demanding improvement. He was demanding changes and the club was stalling and going backwards. He came from a United that was the best in the world and saw one that was quickly falling down hill. I don't mind that he clashed. Could it have been better, sure. I don't think it's a great example for kids, but neither is Messi.



I didn't have to scan thousands of games, it also isn't just four moments. There is plenty of evidence online. I am very much describing a petulant person.


Well, this is debunked because I am a football fan and my second impression of him is petulant.


I think where we fundamentally disagree isn't on whether either of them has ever acted petulantly obviously both have, because they are hyper-competitive elite athletes operating under a microscope.

The disagreement is the conclusion. You look at those flashpoints and see a fundamentally petulant person who sets a bad example. I look at those exact same flashpoints across a 20-year career and see human imperfection under immense pressure, balanced against a mountain of work ethic, loyalty, and joy that in my view makes them both incredible ambassadors for the game in their own unique ways of course......

We're just weighing the scale differently. You see the blemishes as defining; I see them as exceptions to the rule....

Great debate about it all though.. 😀
 
I think where we fundamentally disagree isn't on whether either of them has ever acted petulantly obviously both have, because they are hyper-competitive elite athletes operating under a microscope.

The disagreement is the conclusion. You look at those flashpoints and see a fundamentally petulant person who sets a bad example. I look at those exact same flashpoints across a 20-year career and see human imperfection under immense pressure, balanced against a mountain of work ethic, loyalty, and joy that in my view makes them both incredible ambassadors for the game in their own unique ways of course......

We're just weighing the scale differently. You see the blemishes as defining; I see them as exceptions to the rule....

Great debate about it all though.. 😀
I don't see them as defining. I literally said he is a phenomenal athlete who deserves recognition for his on field exploits (maybe not the 2022 ballon d'or). I see them as things he should be rightly criticised for.

I am simply highlighting the hypocrisy in how we can judge one player a certain way, and then do a complete opposite for another. I never once said Ronaldo was perfect, as I do see his blemishes too, but I also don't go around saying one is better than the other. I just hate how double standards exists. Ronaldo can do this:

...yet he receives extremely harsh criticism and abuse. Messi behaved so horrible during the world cup, yet he is the next messiah.
 
It’s always amazed me that two short, stocky left footed number 10s from Argentina just happen to be in the top 3 players ever in the world’s most popular sport.
There was once a kid like Messi in Australia:
Rep coach: “Sorry kid, you’re too short, too slow, and you shirk your defensive duties. We’re going to go with Holman instead.”
* Nothing against Holman - just making a point.
 
I don't see them as defining. I literally said he is a phenomenal athlete who deserves recognition for his on field exploits (maybe not the 2022 ballon d'or). I see them as things he should be rightly criticised for.

I am simply highlighting the hypocrisy in how we can judge one player a certain way, and then do a complete opposite for another. I never once said Ronaldo was perfect, as I do see his blemishes too, but I also don't go around saying one is better than the other. I just hate how double standards exists. Ronaldo can do this:

...yet he receives extremely harsh criticism and abuse. Messi behaved so horrible during the world cup, yet he is the next messiah.
Mate, there are posters here extending the olive branch to you in this debate, but you keep knocking it away and ploughing on.
 
As fans we only see a tiny part of our footballers personalities on the pitch. The game is 90 minutes, perhaps 2 or maybe 3 times a week at most. Yes, Messi has had moments where he has behaved petulantly or poorly, the most recent World Cup Final being a bad example. BUT, Messi’s moments of bad behaviour are times 100, 200?, 500? in Ronaldo’s case. Over 20 years we’ve seen Ronaldo behave like a jerk countless times. I’m sorry that you feel “piled up” upon Zimbos. But examples of Messi’s petulance aren’t even close to Ronaldo’s.
 
For me the problem is that CR7’s advisers never told him “Do not get into any discussion about who is the best player in the world.”
Other than his occasional arrogance, he’s no worse than any footballer.
Messi got a bit grumpier over the past 4 years … but that happens to all of us.
 
Mate, there are posters here extending the olive branch to you in this debate, but you keep knocking it away and ploughing on.
Knocking back olive branches? What on earth are you talking about.

I've responded cordially to each and every post. I have no issue with any of the posters. The post you have quoted me from literally has me defend Messi at the beginning. It is also me responding in a cordial manner in direct relation to what FUL has said. I don't see how anything I said in that post is me being aggressive or attacking.


As fans we only see a tiny part of our footballers personalities on the pitch. The game is 90 minutes, perhaps 2 or maybe 3 times a week at most. Yes, Messi has had moments where he has behaved petulantly or poorly, the most recent World Cup Final being a bad example. BUT, Messi’s moments of bad behaviour are times 100, 200?, 500? in Ronaldo’s case. Over 20 years we’ve seen Ronaldo behave like a jerk countless times. I’m sorry that you feel “piled up” upon Zimbos. But examples of Messi’s petulance aren’t even close to Ronaldo’s.
Whatever. Clearly there is a bias towards Messi.

I'm not even trying to defend Ronaldo, just literally provided my opinion on Messi, then got , "How dare you! Ronaldo is so much worse. Messi has never done anything wrong, and if he has, then we are ok with ignoring it, so he has done nothing wrong"

For me, refusing to shake a managers hand, kicking a ball at fans, trying to get players sent off, making derogatory comments to another player, use of racist terms...those are pretty petulant and bad in my eyes.
 
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I just find it so depressing that in today’s world looks are valued more than personality………
 
I don't see them as defining. I literally said he is a phenomenal athlete who deserves recognition for his on field exploits (maybe not the 2022 ballon d'or). I see them as things he should be rightly criticised for.

I am simply highlighting the hypocrisy in how we can judge one player a certain way, and then do a complete opposite for another. I never once said Ronaldo was perfect, as I do see his blemishes too, but I also don't go around saying one is better than the other. I just hate how double standards exists. Ronaldo can do this:

...yet he receives extremely harsh criticism and abuse. Messi behaved so horrible during the world cup, yet he is the next messiah.

Fair enough, Zimbo, Id2 say that's a completely fair clarification, and you're spot on about the media double standard. The 'messiah' branding vs. the hyper-criticism creates a totally distorted reality, and bringing up Ronaldo’s massive charity work is a great reminder that both men are complex, charitable humans off the pitch, not just caricatures.....


Where I’ll gently push back for the final word, though, is on the 'example' piece.

You can totally acknowledge that Ronaldo cops an unfair amount of abuse for his personality while still recognising why Messi’s overall career profile staying at his boyhood club for almost two decades, quietly keeping his head down away from media crusades, and playing with a joy that inspires a generation which paints a slightly different picture of day-to-day leadership.

But honestly? You're 100% right that the fandom hypocrisy is the real poison in all of this. Can't ask for a better debate than that....
 
It’s always amazed me that two short, stocky left footed number 10s from Argentina just happen to be in the top 3 players ever in the world’s most popular sport.
There was once a kid like Messi in Australia:
Rep coach: “Sorry kid, you’re too short, too slow, and you shirk your defensive duties. We’re going to go with Holman instead.”
* Nothing against Holman - just making a point.

When I was a kid I'd say to my dad who was admittedly a bit of a fan of Pele that Maradona was the greatest player of all time....

The old man qho had been buying World Soccer magazine since it's inception, would look at me and raise his eyes...

"He’s not even the gentlest Argentinian player of all time"....

Hed then start going on about Alfredo di Stefano and Real Madrid for an hour....🤣
 
Fair enough, Zimbo, Id2 say that's a completely fair clarification, and you're spot on about the media double standard. The 'messiah' branding vs. the hyper-criticism creates a totally distorted reality, and bringing up Ronaldo’s massive charity work is a great reminder that both men are complex, charitable humans off the pitch, not just caricatures.....


Where I’ll gently push back for the final word, though, is on the 'example' piece.

You can totally acknowledge that Ronaldo cops an unfair amount of abuse for his personality while still recognising why Messi’s overall career profile staying at his boyhood club for almost two decades, quietly keeping his head down away from media crusades, and playing with a joy that inspires a generation which paints a slightly different picture of day-to-day leadership.

But honestly? You're 100% right that the fandom hypocrisy is the real poison in all of this. Can't ask for a better debate than that....
Media can distort things, and people have their biases. Fully agree on this. We all do it at times, does not justify it though. Throughout the whole Messi vs Ronaldo debate, I've always said that I don't like one over the other. I've also always acknowledged that they both have bad things about them and their attitudes. I'm probably going a bit far on the "messiah" branding, but he definitely get's lauded more than most.

Ronaldo is not even my favourite (or in my top 10 favourite) United player, so it's not even a him vs Messi thing for me. It's simply me acknowledging the talent Messi is, whilst also acknowledging the bad parts of him. He is not flawless or beyond criticism.
 
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