Messi has been so far below his top level for a good 5-6 years. In that time he literally has disappeared in 90% of any big game he's played in but the media narrative is so strong that its literally brainwashed people into believing he's still at some GOAT conversation level. Even better its whenever his team flops "aw the team sucks, Messi can't carry them every game" and if they win "Messi GOAT omg!!".

This is summed up by him moving to some weak league into a stacked team and with those conditions having a pathetic season, arguably one of the biggest flops in football history but ofc the media will never tell you that.

Bro look at Portugals run in Euro 2016 and tell me those teams were better than the opposition at Copa America. Portugal drew every game in a group with Austra, Hungary & Iceland. They also needed penalties to beat Poland. «That Wales game» bro Wales is a tiny footballing nation. France were heavy favorites for a reason.

Messi has toyed with teams in knockout stages & finals. I agree Ronaldo is the best clutch player for the big occasion tho. Messi did score more League goals & won more League titles tho which i dont see you take into consideration.

If Ronaldo is the GOAT & only has slightly better stats than Messi then Messi sure must be #2 right?



Its crazy how they just give him a balon dor If no One Else really stands out. 2021 is a great example of that. Same with 2010. Its like he is the default winner because he is regarded as «best in the world» & another player would need a truly remarkable season in order to win it. Ronaldo deserved every single balon dor he got 100%. He even got robbed in 2018 when Modric for some reason won it. Yeah he went to the final with Croatia but had an easy run, got crushed in the final & wasnt really the stand out player as the whole team was good collectively. Meanwhile Ronaldo bagged a CL for Real being clutch in every knockout game.