Messi wins the GOAT debate

SIMPLY THE BEST Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are pictured at the FIFA Ballon D’Or 2014 awards. Pic: Sportsfile


The way I see it
Ger Flanagan

BEFORE this year most people, including myself, may never have heard of the Puck Fair – Ireland’s oldest festival that takes place in Killorglin, Kerry in August each year.
Its origins date as far back as 1613 and each year a wild goat is caught in the mountains before being hoisted above the town square for three days. The goat is known as the ‘King Puck’ and is released back into the wild on the final day of the festival.
The event has been shrouded in controversy for the past number of years because, let’s face it, it’s pretty cruel and immoral. This year the controversy sparked global outrage because of the heatwave conditions during the festival and the subsequent fears for the health of the animal sitting in a metal cage, 50ft above the ground.
The organisers were very quick to try and dampen any negative PR around the event, claiming they had fitted a sophisticated cooling system to the cage along very generously providing said goat with water.
Needless to say, rights activists all over the world were having canaries throughout the event.
To me, and in many weird and wonderful ways, the Puck Fair has resembled the Qatar World Cup and the crowning of soccer’s ‘King Puck’, Lionel Messi.
In the desert heatwave the little Argentine was rescued from the nightmarish mountains of his PSG tenure, beating stiff competition from his fellow GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Cristiano Ronaldo, to be officially hoisted up to receive his rightful crown of ‘King GOAT’.
The loud and many complaints bellowing from the activists around the ongoing inhumane practices taking place in the host state, in addition to the punishing climate, were ultimately ignored in the name of tradition.
After climbing to the very top, the King Puck and his metaphorical compatriot, Messi, were released back to their homelands, much to the adoration of their peers.
But, random analogies aside, let it be said that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was officially the moment this columnist concluded our debate that Messi is officially the greatest of all time.
Funnily enough, it was only a few weeks ago in these very pages that I stated Cristiano Ronaldo was the GOAT! But there’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then.
And there is nothing wrong with changing your opinion on a very important matter when new evidence is put before your eyes. Admitting you’re wrong and changing sides in a polarised debate isn’t a weakness, it shows strength of character.
These are all justifications I am using to remind myself as I come to terms with the fact that Messi is indeed the greater of the two in the ‘Messi versus Ronaldo’ debate.
The reason I have changed sides isn’t solely because Messi won the World Cup. Because, let’s face it, the margins were so incredibly fine in how his Argentina team won the greatest prize in soccer.
France were literally inches from snatching victory from the jaws of defeat and this beautiful Messi story we’re all experiencing would forever remain a dream.
It’s quite the fairytale really.
But the World Cup is basically the one piece of silverware separating Messi and Ronaldo – they’ve both won everything outside of that. Maybe that grain of rice is too little to tip the scale of such a vast debate, but it helps in processing the why.
As a life-long Man United fan, there was a deep, deep level of loyalty when it came to Ronaldo. I remember the week he signed for the club – it was almost surreal to see this spotty teenager from Portugal with his white Nike boots and blonde spaghetti hair boasting that legendary nametag.
Little did anyone know he would outgrow the ‘original Ronaldo’ back then, but that’s what he did. He helped United to the biggest honours and left on harmonious terms, before reaching more unimaginable heights.
The way he spoke of United in those years were always romantic – it was what we all wanted to hear, whether he really meant it or not. It served to only grow the bond and admiration, the same which probably clouded our judgement in the great debate.
But eaten and broken bread is soon forgotten and Ronaldo’s recent behaviour has you questioning all you ever believed about him.
Ultimately it served as a moment where you could weigh up the debate through a more impartial lense.
And it’s hard to deny that Messi just has that piece of absolute magic that Ronaldo lacks. They both do amazing things on the ball, but it’s the way in which Messi can do something absolutely extraordinary anytime he gets it that is truly GOAT status.
It’s the way that the stadium literally comes to light when the ball lands at his feet. I witnessed it first hand in the Nou Camp when I saw him score a hat-trick live back in 2019.
He dodders around in circles when not in possession, but once Barcelona worked the ball to him, the whole stadium shifted forward in their seats and held their breath momentarily.
This was every, single time he had the ball. Most of the time he did something relatively normal, but there was always that one occasion where he simply took your breath away.
There were many of those moments in Qatar. Think of his goals in the final or his assist in the semi-final. Argentina’s game plan was a simple ‘keep in tight at the back and then give it to Leo’.
This was the final time that Messi and Ronaldo were going to share the same stage and Messi delivered the final blow. No doubt they were both conscious of that fact too.
Their respective countries were also of similar talent, with arguably Portugal having the greater team on paper – so the balance of play was fair.
I’m including a disclaimer in that I’m aware some older generation may believe Maradona or Pele are the greatest, but that needs a whole other column.