Slight segue, but it was mentioned before that Messi has nothing to prove. I just wonder if the fact that he has only done it at one club would be significant if it had been Ronaldo who had only done that and Messi had won the Ballon d'or playing in England like Ronaldo has. He also did that, scoring 42 goals, as a right-winger, before switching to left wing and then centre forward while at Real Madrid. This all round attacking game: height, strength, pace, trickery, two-footedness, makes him world class both in the air and on the ground, and is the reason why he has led three different teams - Man United, Madrid, and Portugal - to major honours. Whereas Messi, being small and all left foot, while a genius in the Barcelona / Guardiola style, but may not be so flexible and work in as many different ways as Ronaldo. For instance, Argentina have won 14 Copa America's and 2 world cups pre-Messi, but he has so far won no trophies during his dozen years with them; while Portugal had never been to a final pre-Ronaldo and have reached two with him, winning one.
There's no doubt they are both outstanding, and two of the greatest ever players, but I think it would have been interesting to see if Messi would have reached the same levels away from Barcelona or Guardiola and therefore having to adjust his game.

Good posts. Yip, we'll call it, like their 5-5 Ballon d'or awards, a creditable draw.

Interesting discussion; I enjoyed that little diversion.

Whichever is the greatest, we've all been privileged to see two such fantastic players.

Going back on topic, one tactic Guardiola employs, which few others do, is having his full backs stay back, acting like fast centre halves, while at least one centre half goes into midfield. It's something I have sympathy with after an argument with a games teacher in a basketball match that the wider play shouldn't overlap as they had further on run, but everyone should budge up. He wasn't impressed.

It’s not so much that the full backs stay back but come inside. You often see them flooding central midfield or even the traditional inside forward positions. Tactically he’s one step ahead of everyone else.

Whatever it is I like it

https://blog.wyscout.com/fullbacks-role ... al-system/

Although I also see it's defensive advantages and would make a Shaun Williams centre half invaluable.

imagine Shaun and John Stones as a partnership

Nothing to do with Guardiola or Barcelona, but on a similar theme...
I see that Guti is being linked with the Real Madrid job should Zidane be sacked. Like Zidane (and Guardiola at Barcelona) he is currently managing their youth levels and would be a promotion from within.
I don't think Zidane should be sacked, but if he is then I really hope Guti gets it and does well. I absolutely loved watching him as a player and he was terribly underrated by everyone but Madrid themselves (almost 550 games for them).
He had great vision and a wonderful left foot and spread the ball about beautifully in midfield and his creativity was a treat to watch. I dislike Man City and Barcelona, but if he had played for one of those Guardiola teams people would have drooled over his performances.
I would put him as one of the top 5 players I have most enjoyed watching.
Hope he has a great managerial career.