Messi and Tevez beating Maradona in Soccer Tennis
It doesn’t exactly solve the “Who’s better?” debate, but it’s certainly a nice Friday Flashback. There’s nothing like seeing El Diego put the old boots on and duel with the best. With Enzo as his partner, Maradona took on Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez. Not an easy task. Unsurprisingly, Leo and Carlos swept their competition aside, but not without witnessing a few classic flicks (and complaints) from Maradona.
Source: afootballreport
Next week’s TIME Magizine: Global cover vs the U.S. cover
I am not amused, America.
Source: bearderic
Unquantifiable Genius: Neymar as Messi
By Eric Beard
“Pelé doesn’t know sh*t.”
That was Sid Lowe’s response to James Richardson’s teasing statement on The Guardian’s Football Weekly Podcast. Richardson, of course, was referencing Pelé’s opinion that Neymar is better than Lionel Messi. With Pelé getting up there in age, Sid might be on to something. But that’s neither here nor there. The fact is that Neymar couldn’t do sh*t to stop Barcelona from winning the Club World Cup.
Player comparisons are far too often full of intangibles that draw upon the weak base of power language possesses. Language is expected to casually unveil a dramatic truth when poetically expressed. However, according to Pep Guardiola, “there are no adjectives” to describe Messi. Language is sh*t next to Messi. Words are sh*t, next to a 24-year-old from Rosario. He is “extraordinary” in dozens of matches every year, and yet his brilliance is invariably unique from one match to another. But if you describe dribbling nine players and chipping the keeper with the same superlative as a hat-trick at the Bernabeu, you need not fear the wrath of Señor Guardiola.
Rather, Pep should understand the deficiencies of human linguistics. But this is not about Messi. It’s not about Neymar, either. The question we’re faced with is the power of an individual, even a phenomenon. Before we go any further, let’s recognize that “phenomenon” is a word football fans can comprehend and associate with Neymar and Messi. But let’s also recognize that it’s a word that doesn’t mean sh*t in defining Neymar or Messi. The subjectivity of definition is clouded by the illusion, the false formation of a collective consciousness. If this were the case, if we could adequately identify the essence of brilliance another through millions of opinions, then we would not be left speechless listening to Messi being described as a “wonderful salmon [rising] out of the stream.”
Source: afootballreport
Leo and “Playstation Messi” mode against FC Viktoria Plzen
Sometimes you have to shake your head and laugh. It’s pure entertainment. It shouldn’t look that easy. Little Lionel, not even halfway through his career, continues to be an absolute anomaly. As Gary Lineker put it in his post-match analysis, “When I watch Messi, I feel like I was rubbish as a footballer.” He makes professionals look like amateurs. But of course, this is no revelation. Sometimes, there’s nothing left to say. There’s nothing to explain. Amazing is universal. Sometimes, you need to sit back and enjoy.
Source: afootballreport
Odd story: the great-great-grandfathers of Lionel Messi and Bojan Krkic were brothers. The Pérez family, football salutes you.
Source: inventfootball
