Best could walk through players and they couldnt touch the ball.

Messi doesnt do that very often, hes just short and agile and sneaks past.

Also, messi is a one footed argentian tw at, besty was a double footed god

I hate to say this but Best was a bit like David Beckham - certainly a player that caught the public eye.

In truth, Dennis Law was a superior player in my fathers honest opinion.

u talk about best using muddy pitches and rubbish boots.

BUT, what about the defending being far superior now to what it was then, with zonal defending, very high levels of physical fitness of defenders and the fact that they hav hours of footage and stats to try to stop Messi?

Best was amazing to watch growing up could have become one of the best in the world but chose to quit at a young age ....shame

As for Messi the guy is showing why he is number one in the world and still young which is scary, agree they are both simillar, but Messi can still get better if that possible

Pele though for me is the best player of all time

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Never saw Best play live, before my time. Seen loads of him on video though including full matches (no YouTube nonsense). Never seen Messi live, but obviously seen enough of him on TV. I believe that they are very, very similar players actually and can't believe nobody has really pointed out their similarities.
Because of playing in different eras, it's hard to call, because I always find it hard to compare players from different times as the game has changed so much.
I'll go for Best for 2 reasons:
1) level of protection for skillful players are better now (Best used to be clattered, get up again, then just beat the offender with brilliant skill and consummate ease). Messi has it much easier in this respect.

2) I'm a Utd fan. How could I possibly choose Messi?

I am not old enough to have seen Best live, but from what I have seen from old footage, he tore holes in very spread out defences.

Messi can dribble/pass through 10 players camped on the edge of the penalty box, and scores from it once or twice every game.

Messi also has a far better mentality than Best. Messi is clearly in it for the football while best was in it for the fame, which is probably why Best didn't reach the legendary status of Pele and Maradona and why Messi just might.

Comparing players is such an inaccurate science though so we should just appreciate the great football they create.

In addition to muddy pictures, boots, ball and playing a match three or four times a week, Best also had to contend with people like Chopper Harris etc. There sole aim in a match was to kick you in to the stands and break your legs. In those days it was pretty much allowed too.

Whilst some can say Best wouldn't stand up to Messi in todays game, Messi wouldn't last five minutes in Bests day.

In my opinion you can't compare Best to anyone. He was an enigma - touted as the best player in the world by Pele, effectively retired at 24, never had a chance to show his skills at the World Cup. The man is a legend and he probably only achieved 25% of what he could have.

Great article by the way.

And I'm sorry but comparing Becks to Best is like comparing Scholes to David Batty. I reckon Becks would be happy to agree as well.

Best in modern day football wouldnt survive.

Body wouldnt hack it afraid to say.

As for whos better, messi. 60 goals in one season in this day and age. Just say's everything you need to know.

messi wouldnt have survived in those days no, because the hormone drugs to make him bigger surely didnt exist, he would have been a mere 4 foot 2 midget

Jinky i choose Best for a couple of reasons.

1. He was stronger and bigger
2. Equally as good on both feet with power and skill
3. Isnt argentinian tw at

60 goals in one season says nothing. Other than Real Madrid the standard of the Spanish League is pretty poor. On top of that Messi is supplied by a fantasticly creative midfield and most things go through him - like Van Persie at Arsenal but up a level.

Also, if we're judging him on goals well Ronaldo isn't far off this year and consistently bangs in loads. Is Ronaldo to be compared with Best? You could certainly put a case forward.

As I said, you can't compare the two but for those who come out and say Messi you really show a big level of naivity. The game then and now is worlds apart and without doubt most of the advantages are here today. To be blunt it was a lot harder to shine as a creative world class player then than it is now.

Metro lol yeah right typical bitter scouse bile. Best was the best fact

weeeey Strettys back with his pure La liga love and bias crap! welcome back

Players from Best's era would survive in today's game if they were professional and dedicated enough. Thay've got to have those two attributes to make it in top class football these days. Talent alone would not make you a good, never mind a great footballer. Unfortunately, Best lacked both these elements. It was a character flaw. I believe it was SAF that said:
"Hard work will always beat talent if talent diesn't work hard."

But Messi wouldn't have be the same player back then. He probably wouldn't even be playing football in Europe, as few South American players came to our continent then as compared to now. We would ony see him in the World Cup, and he hasn't really set that competition alight has he.
Maradonna was better than both IMO. Best player I've ever seen.

Greg

I didn't see best play but was my time,Agree was amazing to watch but gave up football before his prime, but while he played the guy had the ball stuck to his feet, and treust me the ball in them days was like rock when it got wet, I think if he would have played on he would have become one of the best

As for messi diffrent era and diffrent style of play, but watching Messi is like a breath of fresh and reminds me why I love football, Eric Cantona is the only other player I have seen in a Man Ud shirt that has come anywhere near best, Fergie got he best out of him like he does will all his players

But for me Messi is diffrent class and stll young

Not bias, just truth. Anyone who says best is better than messi is talking rot. Messis proving this year that he is the best ever. Without question.

When did best contribute 85 goals/assists in one season?

Metro lol yeah right typical bitter scouse bile. Best was the best fact
.......

Bitter by claiming Law was better than Best ???

Wake up ya kid

Maradona single handedly - no pun intended - won his country the world cup in 86. Like Best he was a flawed genius but showed enough on the world stage and at club level in Spain and Italy to be classed as the best player of all time. Comparing Best and Messi is a good article with lots of legs. Comparing Messi to Maradonna would be a waste of time.

Carrickature

Completely agree with your last comment.

Stretty, read my last article. Best v Messi is a worthwhile topic. Messi v Maradonna is no contest no matter how many goals and assists you throw up. Maradonna won trophies single handedly. That Argentina side in 86 was muck and he did it all on his own. Messi is supplied by the best players in world football. He doesn't do it on his own.

Stretty, read my last article. Best v Messi is a worthwhile topic. Messi v Maradonna is no contest no matter how many goals and assists you throw up. Maradonna won trophies single handedly. That Argentina side in 86 was muck and he did it all on his own. Messi is supplied by the best players in world football. He doesn't do it on his own.
====================================

Maradonna the only player on that team was he/?

Naaaahhhh.

I've never crossed paths with you before Stretty so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. The Argentina side of 1986 was very poor - England actually would have beaten them quite comfortably if hadn't been for Maradonna. This was indicative of the whole tournament where he effectively won the World Cup off his own back.

Metro.......hardly a kid idiot, and I'm one of the few to have seen best play. So shut the deck up! And law better lol not even close and law would be embarrassed to! Charlton the best for me, then best then scholes in terms of united greats but next time you type try and think as you may pick on someone who s seen it al

Carrickature

you can have the best midfield in the world but you still have to score the goals and messi himself has scored some crackers

Utd had some great midfield player but how many forwards scored 60 goals and the season is till going


Pele proved for a long time that he was the best footballer in the world and never had to score with his hand and