Messi wins the World Cup: G.O.A.T debate, settled?

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, holding the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament, kisses the World Cup trophy at the end of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

The G.O.A.T debate is football’s most contested conversation, eliciting strong opinions and a lot of disagreement. Often, due to fan loyalties, the debate pushes people to extreme positions, pedestalizing one player while diminishing another. Ultimately, there is no objective metric to compare the “greatness” of players spanning across generations and situations. What is possible to do, however, is to have a conversation that respects footballing context before making an informed opinion.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

The Indian Express dives into the G.O.A.T debate and some players that frequently crop up in the conversation.

Pele, the original GOAT

Pele was football’s first global superstar. Possibly the best paid athlete of his era (1956-77), he averaged just about a goal a game for his entire career, scoring a whopping 757 goals in 831 official games. He was also an underrated creative player, with a record 8 assists in his World Cup career. Till date, he is the only player who has won the World Cup thrice (1958, 1962, 1970), doing so in four attempts.

Pele averaged just about a goal a game for his entire career, scoring a whopping 757 goals in 831 official games.

Pele’s case to be the G.O.A.T is both helped and hindered by just how long ago he played. On one hand, nostalgia attaches mythical status to Pele, whose legend has grown over time. At the same time, many modern fans raise questions about the context he played in – specifically, the level of the competition he faced. Without a lot of game footage, Pele’s greatness will always be a matter of fierce debate, with no way to definitively settle the issue.

But one thing is for certain, the game of football would be poorer without him.

The G.O.A.T debate is football’s most contested conversation, eliciting strong opinions and a lot of disagreement.

Diego Maradona, arousing the football romantic

If Pele was a symbol for the purity of the beautiful game, Maradona was its fallen angel. Notorious for his bohemian lifestyle, Maradona was the definition of a wayward genius. He had skill that would defy logic, and a heart to go with it. When opponents were unable to stop him legally, they would kick him to the ground, a practice referees were far more lenient with back in the day. However, Maradona always got back up and played like nothing had happened.

Diego Maradona was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup. (File/Reuters)

While his actual output was modest in comparison to some other players in this list and the peak of his career was short-lived, Maradona’s case to be the G.O.A.T is based on how gifted he was and how he made everyone who watched him feel. Crucially, he always rose to the occasion, with his exploits in the 1986 World Cup widely considered to be the greatest individual performance in a football tournament.

The ultimate player for the football romantic, Maradona is venerated everywhere he played, from Napoli to Buenos Aires.

Argentina’s players celebrate their victory at the end of the World Cup final match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. (AP)

Johan Cruyff, the football philosopher

Few players have had the tremendous impact on the game of football as Johan Cruyff. A technical maestro, Cruyff overcame his physical limitations with sheer footballing genius and strength of will. Progenitor of “total football” along with coach Rinus Michels, his game would be defined by his positional versatility and tactical nous. He was voted as the European Player of the Century in a 1999 poll, coming second to Pele in the World Player voting.

Johan Cruyff retired from international football in 1977. (Source: Reuters)

Cruyff’s G.O.A.T case is based on just how transformative his play style and football philosophy has been. It is his influence that laid foundations to modern positional play, with an emphasis on creating space in different contexts on the pitch. From Pep Guardiola’s incomparable Barcelona team of the late 2000s and early 2010s to the World Cup winning Spanish team of 2010, Cruyff’s legacy has touched modern football unlike any other player.

After hanging up his boots, Cruyff had a very successful managerial career.

Zinedine Zidane, the complete midfielder

Zizou, as he was fondly called, remains the gold standard for midfield excellence. In a playing career spanning around 17 years, he won every single individual and team accolade possible, including a World Cup in 1998, France’s first ever. A complete playmaker, he was renowned for his elegance, vision, passing, ball control, and technique. Zidane also had a maverick streak to him, a streak that would only add his mythical stature.

Zinedine Zidane with the Super Cup final trophy. (Source: Reuters)

Zidane’s claim to G.O.A.T status is based on the sheer range he had in his game, and his ability to single handedly will his team to victory, through any way imaginable. In the 1998 World Cup final, Zidane was the man of the match, scoring two headed goals when heading was probably the last skill he was renowned for. Yet the brilliance of Zidane lies in the fact that he was a complete footballer.

Even today, Zidane remains the benchmark for midfield excellence.

Cristiano Ronaldo, taking goal scoring to the absolute zenith

Football fans have been spoiled by the sheer goal scoring output of Cristiano Ronaldo at his peak. Beginning his career as a flamboyant yet not always efficient winger, Cristiano transformed into a goal scoring machine in his peak years. A flawless physical specimen, Cristiano perfected the art of finishing, whether it be with his feet, body or head. Over his career, he has won every personal and club accolade he could, including an improbable victory in the Euros of 2016.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. (Reuters)

Cristiano’s case to be the G.O.A.T is based on sustaining previously unheard of goal-scoring numbers, forming a legendary rivalry with Messi. Over his club career, he has contributed to 636 goals in 651 games, with another 118 goals scored for Portugal. At his absolute peak, he was averaging around 40 club goals and 10 assists a season.

Cristiano’s greatness lies in the way in which he normalised goal-scoring over a long period of time.

Ronaldo Nazario, the ephemeral star

Brazil’s Ronaldo for many is the most talented player of his generation, with a career severely truncated by injuries. Il Fenomeno, as he was lovingly called, possessed breakneck pace and decision-making to match, beating players before they could even figure out what was happening. His early years saw him put up video game numbers in different settings. For instance, in his only season for Barcelona in 1996-97, he scored 47 times in 51 appearances.

Ronaldo Nazário, Brazil hero of the 2002 World Cup. (File)

However, knee injuries at the turn of the century robbed him of some of his early magic, even though he played at the top level till 2007. Fenomeno had a shorter career, and an even shorter peak than many others in this list. Yet, his G.O.A.T claim lies in the fact that in the period of time before his career was rocked with injuries, his play and production was unparalleled in football history.

One of his biggest achievements was to return from injury to the Brazil team in 2002 and be the biggest contributor in a successful World Cup campaign.

Lionel Messi, sustaining excellence

Leo Messi has combined Maradona’s magic with unmatched production. Over the course of his career he has scored 592 goals (club plus international games) and assisted another 350 times. Along the way, he has wowed players and fans alike with his sublime skill, vision and the audacity to try the unimaginable. All this, in a modern era where advanced analytics and video footage helps opponents know all facets of a player’s game, all the tiny tendencies which were previously missed.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi

Messi’s G.O.A.T case is simple. Sustained excellence. Previously, players of his ilk had short effervescent peaks but faded either due to injuries, indifference or simply getting “figured out.” Messi’s own idol, Diego Maradona is the perfect example. The fact that Messi has kept his magic alive for such a long period is the ultimate testament to his greatness.

This World Cup win is a storybook ending to a legendary career. His trophy cabinet is now complete, and with it is his case to be the greatest to ever play the game. There is nothing more he can do.