NBA - Soccer Player Comparisons

[guille_4]

Allen Iversion scored ~32 points per game twice, most in the league in the last 25 years after Kobe's 06 and 07 seasons. Didn't know he was the best player in the league and efficient scorer.

Messi has 0.4-0.5 goals per shot. Ronaldo has 0.1-0.2. He stops almost every Real Madrid attack with shoots. This is not efficient in a team sport.

Lol, this isn't basketball. I'm not a fan of Ronaldo, but this comment is totally out of touch.

As much as I dislike him, there's no doubt he's a top5 player ever and he's an integral part to Real Madrid's success in the past few seasons. Real Madrid fairs pretty poorly when he's out and IMO he's one of Real's 2 most important players, the other being Luka Modric.

I am not saying he isn't top 5/10 all time, but he is not even close to LeBron as impact, performance or legendary status. He is more similar to Kobe than to LeBron.

Also Ronaldo is a bit overrated too. Last year he was awful during Euro 2016. Portugal won the championship even with his awful performance except 2 of the 7 games. They won the Final without him. This year Real Madrid wouldn't even play in the later stages of CL if it wasn't the referees versus Bayern M. On Bernabeu Ronaldo scored two goals when he was in offside, Casemiro didn't receive red card and Vidal didn't even foul the opponent when received red card. So Ronaldo is great but let's not overreact that he is similar to LeBron.

P.P. Interesting stat before Euro 2016. Ronaldo had ~160 shoots in his career in Euro Championships, 45 of them from free kicks. Second place all time is David Trezeguet with 40 shots total

IMO it's widely accepted he's definitely a top5 player, unlike Kobe, who's in the 5-12 range for most people.

Either way, I don't disagree with you. He has many flaws and you can argue he's benefitted from this and that, but there's no way Portugal or Real Madrid win what they've won without him. He was the only player in Portugal who was top3 in his position in the Euro.

Earlier in his career, he didn't show up in the big games and that's one of the reasons why I criticized him. He's shut my mouth in the past 2 seasons on that regard. Regarding free kicks, I've always hated him and Sergio Ramos taking them. I'd rather have James (now gone), Bale or Kroos taking them instead.

[Jaivl]

Agree on your percepcions of CR7...

This year Real Madrid wouldn't even play in the later stages of CL if it wasn't the referees versus Bayern M. On Bernabeu Ronaldo scored two goals when he was in offside, Casemiro didn't receive red card and Vidal didn't even foul the opponent when received red card.

Vidal should have been given the red card waaay earlier. If anything, late expulsion.
Bayern's penalty on Robben... wasn't even close.
One of Bayern's goals was offside too, so the OT was unnecesary, the Real Madrid would have won it.

2 critical mistakes for each side.

EDIT: Also an unexistant penalty for Bayern in the 1st match (which they didn't score, but still a critical error).

[cpower]

The best comparison for Messi is Durant.
One of the best scorers of all time but needs a super team to validate his greatness. (Curry, Green , or Iniesta and Xavi )

[Bruh Man]

The best comparison for Messi is Durant.
One of the best scorers of all time but needs a super team to validate his greatness. (Curry, Green , or Iniesta and Xavi )

Messi is MJ
Durant is more like Ibra, great scorer but nowhere near Goat discussion.

[cpower]

The best comparison for Messi is Durant.
One of the best scorers of all time but needs a super team to validate his greatness. (Curry, Green , or Iniesta and Xavi )

Messi is MJ
Durant is more like Ibra, great scorer but nowhere near Goat discussion.

I am saying Messi is like Durant but better. Don't think he plays like MJ though, MJ is a beast on both ends of the floor and had a motor that unmatched by anyone.

[Bruh Man]

The best comparison for Messi is Durant.
One of the best scorers of all time but needs a super team to validate his greatness. (Curry, Green , or Iniesta and Xavi )

Messi is MJ
Durant is more like Ibra, great scorer but nowhere near Goat discussion.

I am saying Messi is like Durant but better. Don't think he plays like MJ though, MJ is a beast on both ends of the floor and had a motor that unmatched by anyone.

Messi is arguably the best playmaker in the league unlike Durant. MJ does play both ends but in soccer it's not necessary unless you're a midfielder.

[The-Power]

The best comparison for Messi is Durant.
One of the best scorers of all time but needs a super team to validate his greatness. (Curry, Green , or Iniesta and Xavi )

First, Messi has become arguably the best playmaker in the final third we've ever seen in soccer. Second, Messi has had a lot of success without Xavi and with Iniesta in a much reduced role. Messi's success doesn't depend on a couple of other players and that's true for any soccer player really. Sure he has a good team around him and needs that to have the impact he does – again, that's true for any (modern) soccer player due to the nature of the game. You don't have superstars carrying really weak teams to great success in soccer as that would be entirely impossible and there is not a single bonafide superstar in soccer who does not play on a good team with a lot of talent around him.

[cpower]

The best comparison for Messi is Durant.
One of the best scorers of all time but needs a super team to validate his greatness. (Curry, Green , or Iniesta and Xavi )

First, Messi has become arguably the best playmaker in the final third we've ever seen in soccer. Second, Messi has had a lot of success without Xavi and with Iniesta in a much reduced role. Messi's success doesn't depend on a couple of other players and that's true for any soccer player really. Sure he has a good team around him and needs that to have the impact he does – again, that's true for any (modern) soccer player due to the nature of the game. You don't have superstars carrying really weak teams to great success in soccer as that would be entirely impossible and there is not a single bonafide superstar in soccer who does not play on a good team with a lot of talent around him.

[The-Power]

The best comparison for Messi is Durant.
One of the best scorers of all time but needs a super team to validate his greatness. (Curry, Green , or Iniesta and Xavi )

First, Messi has become arguably the best playmaker in the final third we've ever seen in soccer. Second, Messi has had a lot of success without Xavi and with Iniesta in a much reduced role. Messi's success doesn't depend on a couple of other players and that's true for any soccer player really. Sure he has a good team around him and needs that to have the impact he does – again, that's true for any (modern) soccer player due to the nature of the game. You don't have superstars carrying really weak teams to great success in soccer as that would be entirely impossible and there is not a single bonafide superstar in soccer who does not play on a good team with a lot of talent around him.

Not sure why that is supposed to be a crazy thought in your mind.

[cpower]

First, Messi has become arguably the best playmaker in the final third we've ever seen in soccer. Second, Messi has had a lot of success without Xavi and with Iniesta in a much reduced role. Messi's success doesn't depend on a couple of other players and that's true for any soccer player really. Sure he has a good team around him and needs that to have the impact he does – again, that's true for any (modern) soccer player due to the nature of the game. You don't have superstars carrying really weak teams to great success in soccer as that would be entirely impossible and there is not a single bonafide superstar in soccer who does not play on a good team with a lot of talent around him.

Not sure why that is supposed to be a crazy thought in your mind.

because there are two better playmakers on his own team.

[The-Power]

Not sure why that is supposed to be a crazy thought in your mind.

because there are two better playmakers on his own team.

a) No, there are not (I guess you're talking about Iniesta and Busquets). b) Certainly not in the final third as I wrote above, no.

[Bruh Man]

Not sure why that is supposed to be a crazy thought in your mind.

because there are two better playmakers on his own team.

Iniesta and who else? Neymar? they are all Elite playmakers but if I had to rank them it would be

Messi
Iniesta
Neymar

[NormanDale]

Lol, not even close LeBron == Ronaldo. LeBron is top 3 GOAT, super efficient, amazing playmaker. Ronaldo is inefficient volume scorer who doesn't have the impact of Messi.

The best comparison for Messi is LeBron + Curry strengths in Curry's body. Messi is super efficient, amazing playmaker and passer, the GOAT offensive player.
Ronaldo == Kobe - not so efficient as GOATs, overachieved players with huge ego, reaching their legendary status by amazing work ethic.

This is the first time I've ever heard "volume scorer" written as a negative in soccer. Scoring goals is really hard. It's also the most valuable thing a player can do for his team.

Still, the Kobe comparison is pretty good for Ronaldo, I think. Right down to the obvious social awkwardness.

Original Ronaldo was Shaq. Zidane was Magic Johnson.

[clyde21]

The best comparison for Messi is Durant.
One of the best scorers of all time but needs a super team to validate his greatness. (Curry, Green , or Iniesta and Xavi )

For Durant I'd go Didier Drogba or Thierry Henry.

[clyde21]

Not sure why that is supposed to be a crazy thought in your mind.

because there are two better playmakers on his own team.

Iniesta and who else? Neymar? they are all Elite playmakers but if I had to rank them it would be

Messi
Iniesta
Neymar

He was playing in front of Xavi and Iniesta for a large portion of his Barca career, and had Fabregas coming off the bench for them for a while too.

He pretty much played with the Spanish midfield (the same Spanish team that won 3 titles in a row) his entire club career.

[The-Power]

He was playing in front of Xavi and Iniesta for a large portion of his Barca career, and had Fabregas coming off the bench for them for a while too.

He pretty much played with the Spanish midfield (the same Spanish team that won 3 titles in a row) his entire club career.

So? What's your point here? Messi's own playmaking skills aren't any less great because he played with other great players.

[clyde21]

He was playing in front of Xavi and Iniesta for a large portion of his Barca career, and had Fabregas coming off the bench for them for a while too.

He pretty much played with the Spanish midfield (the same Spanish team that won 3 titles in a row) his entire club career.

So? What's your point here? Messi's own playmaking skills aren't any less great because he played with other great players.

It explains why his club play has always been at a much higher level than his national performances.

Not to take anything away from Messi, but having Iniesta and Xavi spoon feeding you offense over and over again is a huge luxury.

[Joey Wheeler]

Messi = Jordan #GOAT

Mike is the GOAT closer/winner in the NBA. That's not Messi at all.

Individual players have relatively little impact in football due to the 11 vs 11 nature of the game. You can be the best individual player and win nothing (not that this is Messi's case).

Still, Messi is the best player to ever live. His level of ability so far surpasses that of every other player it's not even funny, he's both the best scorer, the best dribbler and the best playmaker in the game.

[The-Power]

He was playing in front of Xavi and Iniesta for a large portion of his Barca career, and had Fabregas coming off the bench for them for a while too.

He pretty much played with the Spanish midfield (the same Spanish team that won 3 titles in a row) his entire club career.

So? What's your point here? Messi's own playmaking skills aren't any less great because he played with other great players.

It explains why his club play has always been at a much higher level than his national performances.

Not to take anything away from Messi, but having Iniesta and Xavi spoon feeding you offense over and over again is a huge luxury.

You must not have watched Barça very much then if you believe he was ‘spoon fed‘ by anybody.

[clyde21]

Messi = Jordan #GOAT

Mike is the GOAT closer/winner in the NBA. That's not Messi at all.

Individual players have relatively little impact in football due to the 11 vs 11 nature of the game. You can be the best individual player and win nothing (not that this is Messi's case).

Still, Messi is the best player to ever live. His level of ability so far surpasses that of every other player it's not even funny, he's both the best scorer, the best dribbler and the best playmaker in the game.

He's one of the GOATs, for sure. Not sure I can call him THE goat with him consistently underwhelming at the national level, despite having a great team behind him himself.