All About Football

Who Is the Greatest-Lionel Messi, Pele or Diego Maradona?

2012-04-07T18:21:00.000+05:30

Lionel Messi was at it again on Wednesday,7th March —becoming the first player to score five in a Champions League match as Barcelona annihilated Bayer Leverkusun 7-1 at Camp Nou to ensure their place in the quarterfinals.

Messi now has 250 goals from his 378 appearances for Barcelona and Argentina, and a remarkable 52 goals in 54 games since last July. His haul of 12 in the 2011-12 Champions Leagueis already tied for the season record he shares with Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Ballon d'Or winner in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Messi will surely make it four in a row in 2012.The

diminutive genius has been so good, so consistently, we're running out of plaudits for him.

"Tonight we witnessed one of Messi's most special nights; watching it was like receiving a gift," Barca coach Pep Guardiola told reporters after the game.

"He deserves to be honoured right now because it's something really incredible that he is now just seven goals behind [Barca's all-time top scorer] Cesar [Rodríguez]—he's only 24.

"It's not easy to score five goals in a single game and that's coming from someone who scored 11 in his entire career. If he wants to, he'll score six one day."

All of which raises the familiar debate of where Messi stands in the pantheon of football greats.

"It is not just about his five goals today, he has been showing this already for years," said Leverkusen's sporting director Rudi Voller last night. "He is now in a region with Pele and (Diego) Maradona."

Most would agree with him, but has Messi now done enough and achieved enough to outrank either of them?

The most common argument against Messi is his lack of success at a World Cup. Pele won three (1958, 1962 and 1970), while Maradona triumphed with Argentina in 1986. Some would argue that until Messi gets his hands on the trophy, or at least makes his mark at a World Cup, he can't be considered in their category.

The counterargument is two-fold—firstly, that international success is dependent on far more than the talent of an individual (take George Best for example, who never played in one), and secondly, that the World Cup is no longer the game's gold standard.If that is now the Champions League, then Messi has more than proved his point already. And he's still not halfway through his career.

Of course any debate like this is open to any number of interpretations. Our thinking will be influenced, amongst other things, by the generation we were born into, the kind of footballer we most admire and sometimes by what the writers and commentators we most respect have to say on the argument.

But this is your chance to vote. It's a straight shootout between Pele, Maradona and Messi and you have to decide who is the greatest.

Comment your opinion below...Let's see who wins!!!

Soccer Transfers @2012

2012-04-05T02:07:00.000+05:30

Its been just about a month since the January transfer window closed down and speculations,predictions, rumours and talks between clubs have already started for the flip-flops in the summer transfer window.The post winter-window time has seen some of the major clubs and players making a move to secure their players and clubs of interest.

Here is a list of some of the hottest transfer talks for the summer transfer window:

Real Madrid have offered Manchester City Higuain plus cash in return for their star striker Sergio Aguero. According to AS,los Blancos are ready to offer Manchester City Gonzalo Higuain plus money between 5m to 10m euros,depending upon the progress of negotiations to secure a move of City striker Sergio Aguero to their club.Although these reports have been rubbished by Madrid boss Jose Mourinho saying that he sees Higuain as a long term player with Real, but Madrid may still be interested in Aguero given his excellent run of form at the Etihad.

Gonzalo Higuain(Real Madrid)

Sergio Kun Aguero(Manchester City)

Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao has cooled talk of a summer move to Manchester City or Chelsea.“I’m trying not to listen to these rumours”, Falcao told Radio Goycoche 9. “Today, I am only thinking about doing well with Atletico Madrid.”Colombia striker Falcao, 26, has been a huge success in Europe since arriving from River Plate in 2009, helping Porto to league and Europa League success last season and hitting 26 goals in 37 games for Atletico in the current campaign.That form has seen talk of a move to the Premier League resurface, but Falcao insists he is happy with life at the Vicente Calderon.

Falcao dismisses rumours of his exit from Atletico Madrid

Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila has added fuel to speculations that he is set to leave the club at the end of the season by admitting he is interested in joining the big European clubs that are after him.He has admitted that the opportunity to ply his trade in the Premier League with Arsenal would be a fantastic one, and something he would be very interested in.There had also been suggestions that Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho had already contacted M'Vila to find out about his potential interest in a move to the Bernabeu. Asked about his future, M'Vila told Canal+ he would be particularly interested in linking up with a fellow Frenchman, and said: "Inter, Arsenal, Real... I will take the fun everywhere!" "These are great clubs. If the coach calls you and tells you he wants you to make you play, especially a French coach, it changes everything.

Yann M’Vila is set to leave for some big european club this summer

Yann M'Vila compilation at Arsenal

Mario Ballotelli may exit Manchester City on account of his notorious behaviour and inability to abide by the instructions of City boss Roberto Mancini. Mancini criticised Ballotelli's performance in saturday's 3-3 home draw against Sunderland,despite the Italian striker scoring a brace against the Black Cats.Mario's crazy antics are starting to test Mancini's patience and it looks like his compatriot has pushed him far too far as that he can expect his name to be in listed for transfer in the upcoming window.

Mancini is furious over Ballotelli's behaviour on & off the pitch

Roberto Mancini says "I don't trust Mario"

Balotelli's disrespectful backheel attempt and argument with Mancini

Gareth Bale, one of the rarest talents in world football, could prove to be the hottest property in the upcoming summer transfer window.He has already indicated his interest in a move to the European giants: Barcelona and Real Madrid.The Welsh international told the Sun: “If you are talking about Barcelona or Real Madrid, two of the biggest clubs in the world, then it’s a bit like Harry and England, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime dream.“If you said to any young player that you could play for Barcelona or Real would they turn it down? Probably not. If a bid was accepted you would obviously have to seriously consider it. But that has not happened so, at the moment, I’m just concentrating on Tottenham.” Bale’s stock in the world game has risen sizeably in the last few years and he has became one of the most in-demand players in British football.

Gareth Bale says it would be difficult to turn down offers from the likes of Barca and Real

Gareth Bale-"The Unstoppable Winger"

Real Madrid have reignited their interest in Real Sociedad midfielder Ruben Pardo, according to Spanish radio Onda Cero.Los Blancos officials see the 19-year-old as a possible successor to Xabi Alonso, the player who also started his career at Real Sociedad, and are determined to sign the player in the summer.Real Madrid had a €6 million bid for the highly rated midfielder rejected last summer, but los Merengues believe they can wrap up the deal in the next transfer window.Real Sociedad are in serious financial problems at the moment and they could be forced into selling their prized asset.Real Madrid officials see Pardo as the one for the future and they want him to spend some time in Castilla, Real’s B team before joining the senior squad.Ruben Pardo featured in 11 La Liga games for Real Sociedad this term and scored one goal in the process.

Ruben Pardo:The next Xabi Alonso

Bayern Munich have announced that striker Mario Gomez has signed a new contract with the club.Gomez, 26, joined Bayern in 2009 from Stuttgart for a reported fee of around £30 million and has proved a prolific addition at the Allianz Arena.The Germany international scored 28 Bundesliga goals last season and he has continued that form this campaign, netting 23 times in the league to date.Bayern have now moved to tie down the forward on extended terms, agreeing a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2016.Gomez told the side's official website: "I've always said that Bayern is a great club and that I feel comfortable here."I am, therefore, glad this contract extension has now been agreed. I am excited about the future here."

Mario Gomez has penned down a new deal untill 2006 with Bayern Munich

Brazilian full-back Douglas Maicon is set to leave Inter at the end of the season, Il Corriere dello Sport reports.The Italian newspaper claims that Maicon has cancelled the lease on his apartment in Milano, sparking speculations that he is set to leave the club in the summer.The 31-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid last summer, but the two clubs were unable to agree on the transfer fee.However, after spending another disappointing season at Inter, the Brazilian has set his sights on leaving the club.Maicon is looking for a new challenge and he will probably be allowed to leave as the Neroazzurri prepare a major summer clearout.Il Corriere dello Sport explains that Paris Saint-Germain and Anzhi are showing interest in the player’s signature.The Brazilian has featured in 18 Serie A games this term, and he managed to score one goal in the process.

Maicon set for Inter exit

Thus,this summer transfer window could freshen up many clubs while it may provide relief and strength to others with the addition of new players to their armoury.It will also provide players with a chance to resolve the difficulties they are facing at their current club and to settle disputes their by moving to new places if they want to.Let's hope we get to see some fresh and entertaining football this summer.