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[Bam Bam Baklava]

Pele at least. He even had his own video game back in the day.

I can't wait to try Pele out in Ultimate Team on FIFA when he comes out in the legends release. Too bad he will probably cost like 2 million coins.

To me? Not Messi. To you? Probably Messi. This barometer of age shall guide you through life.

Sounds like you're not even sure yourself.

 

[Mesousa]

Which? '98 or '02?

And no love for the most handsome man in Britain?

Jesus christ no wonder he got a hair implant lol.

 

[WonkyPanda]

Messi has all the things Americans love in their athletes. Hes a cheating,overrated, choker.

:lol

 

[ledman]

I can believe Messi is not famous among USA members here, but c'mon , you all know Pelé right?

 

[Delicious Waffles]

I wonder where homegrown players like Donovan, Dempsey, and Howard fall, if anywhere, on this list.

 

[wildfire]

Is there anywhere we can see the full list?

And Messi/FIFA being popular isn't surprising. In the last "why don't Americans like soccer?" thread, I tried to make the point that Americans are aware that American soccer is bad and that are players are relative D-leaguers.

Let's stop right there. They aren't that bad.

 

[ThatCrazyGuy]

Oh, I'm sure. The single individual, Messi, and all his unique facial features and how they interact with his bone structure and skin tone, does not look 26 to me.

And yes, I am the authority on the subject of what Messi looks like to me. lol.

Sorry it weirds you out that some people think some people are not the age they are.

Tom Cruise looks 45 to me. Matthew Broderick looks early 40's. We can go on and on....

Also, about Messi, it seems he shows up more lately on top 10 and all of that on ESPN, though I am sure he has been scoring goals for a long time.

I assume they are going to push these guys as we get closer to the WC, like they push Tebow, hehe.

 

[Tallshortman]

Soccer will be much more accepted in america due to hispanics slowly becoming the majority

lol hispanics aren't becoming the majority, they're simply a growing minority that may push minorities as a whole to eventually outnumber "whites".

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

I can believe Messi is not famous among USA members here, but c'mon , you all know Pelé right?

Before ubiquitous cable and internet feeds, how would we have watched him play?

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

Oh, I'm sure. The single individual, Messi, and all his unique facial features and how they interact with his bone structure and skin tone, does not look 26 to me.

And yes, I am the authority on the subject of what Messi looks like to me. lol.

Sorry it weirds you out that some people think some people are not the age they are.

Tom Cruise looks 45 to me. Matthew Broderick looks early 40's. We can go on and on....

haha you're just talking nonsense man give it a break.

 

[tri_willy]

clubs
cristiano > tranny ronaldo

country
tranny ronaldo > cristiano

 

[Mesousa]

Before ubiquitous cable and internet feeds, how would we have watched him play?

He played in new york for the cosmos. In the 70's they were covered heavily all throughout the country before the league folded.

 

[HovaHovito]

He's actually not but just keep making judgements bro.

Just calling it like i see it, BRO

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

Just calling it like i see it, BRO

Well clearly you're not seeing it well enough. Look harder.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

He played in new york for the cosmos. In the 70's they were covered heavily all throughout the country before the league folded.

There was a US soccer league in the 70s?

Edit: Most people I would think know the name Pele, but I doubt many could tell you what he looked like, what he played like, or any significant career achievements. Not like, say, Joe Montana or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Pete Rose.

 

[HovaHovito]

lol hispanics aren't becoming the majority, they're simply a growing minority that may push minorities as a whole to eventually outnumber "whites".

http://nbclatino.com/2013/06/13/the...s-will-soon-outnumber-current-white-majority/
"Whites"
Hispanics can be white. Why is "white" being used in an ethnic comparison

 

[Dysun]

Messier is my favorite too

 

[ThatCrazyGuy]

haha you're just talking nonsense man give it a break.

You find it so hard to believe somebody thinks somebody doesn't look their age? lol, come on man.

You have a Messi crush or something? I hate to besmirch his image of being a young 26 year old.

 

[HovaHovito]

Well clearly you're not seeing it well enough. Look harder.

 

[Mesousa]

There was a US soccer league in the 70s?

Yeah, the NASL. It use to be FAIRLY popular. Their games would even come on ABC.

Other league owners worked to destroy interest in it though, and the league died a embarrassing death.

 

[shira]

You best edit the T-word before banhammer

Not acceptable on gaf

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

You find it so hard to believe somebody thinks somebody doesn't look their age? lol, come on man.

You have a Messi crush or something? I hate to besmirch his image of being a young 26 year old.

I just think it's hilarious you say he doesn't look 26 to you but then you can't even show what a 26 year old is supposed to look like.

 

[NaturalHigh]

I like Landon Donovan and Tim Howard. They play for the US team.

That is all I know about "football."

 

[leroidys]

I think Ronaldo comes off as an absolute prick. I don't like him or his attitude. But he a) came from nothing b) is one of the best and most accomplished athletes in the world.

 

[FauX]

Messi is overrated, Slatan Ibrahimovic is better.

 

[Deleted member 309291]

clubs
cristiano > tranny ronaldo

country
tranny ronaldo > cristiano

Charming.

 

[Delicious Waffles]

Messier is my favorite too

I was 9 when that happened. It'll be 20 years ago next year. Wow.

 

[Tragicomedy]

Messi is overrated, Slatan Ibrahimovic is better.

I'm sure you mean Zlatan. He's so awesome you don't even know how to spell his name.

For real though, Zlatan is easily top three in the world. I have no idea how he's still somehow underrated. All he does is score insane goals and win championships.

Maradona is still the best ever, that crazy coke fiend.

 

[Bread]

Except that Ronaldo actually has talent.

:lol seriously?

 

[Wes]

There was a US soccer league in the 70s?

This 90 minute documentary made in 2006 about the Cosmos might interest you.

 

[Mesousa]

I think Ronaldo comes off as an absolute prick. I don't like him or his attitude. But he a) came from nothing b) is one of the best and most accomplished athletes in the world.

Ronaldo's attitude is one of his best attributes. You see him go into a match and you know hes going to give his all for his team and country. The exact opposite of "I play when I want" Messi. In fact, I dont think a guy can hate his home nation as much as Messi does Argentina. He does not care. The people(the mass, not the hardcore who know what he is about) worship him because he represents what they want Argentina to be. You know, somebody they can try and brag to the world with. Refined and Blanco just like Di Stefano. Not at all like Maradona who they were embarrassed by for his Mestizo appearance and flamboyant lifestyle. Maradona gave it all for his country though. Messi, with that little grin on his, face sat back in Rosario in the year our lord of 2009(September 5th...the most glorious of days) and rolled over and took it. Messi didnt give a god damn about Argentina then, and he doesnt now. He has never showed an ounce of passion for the shirt. That is why Tevez does not get minutes with Argentina now. He wasnt just going to lay down for the Messi show of not caring. Its not even Messi fault though. He left for Spain long ago, and would probably play for spain if given the choice again.

Messi is a guy who has chased away every good striker he has ever played with. He is nothing more than a petulant child.

 

[ZZMitch]

Meh, Landon Donovan is my favorite soccer player.

 

[Tragicomedy]

/long, absurdly erroneous rant

Having spent almost 13 years of my life living in Argentina, including the bulk of Maradona's prime, allow me to call you an idiot.

If you take basically everything you wrote and made it say the exact opposite, you'd be correct. Argentines revered (and still do) Maradona for precisely the mestizo, rags-to-riches journey you say embarrassed them. They love Messi because he's a world class star, not his skin tone. WTF?

Messi "ran away" to Spain for the same reason Maradona ran away to Italy (and your beloved Tevez ran to Brazil, then England, and now Italy). It's called money. There is no money in AFA, at least not by comparison to other leagues. Hell, dudes make more money coming to the MLS than they do down there. Argentina has always been an exporter of world class soccer stars. One or two brilliant seasons with River, Boca, San Lorenzo, Racing, etc., and you're almost guaranteed a job in a big European league. The AFA is basically triple A for the big leagues. It pains me to admit that since I'm a die hard River Plate fan, but facts are facts.

Tevez is loved in Argentina, warts and all. He plays with a ton of passion and heart. Sadly, the national team is still plagued by politics, favoritism, and tends to stick with the old guard even when they're washed up. I don't know where Tevez is on that spectrum of favoritism, but he may be on the outside looking in.

Also, Messi has never given up on Argentina. Germany has been better than them consistently. It's been that way since 1990 in Italy when they lost to West Germany in the finals.

Although he's the best in the world, I will agree that Messi's legacy will suffer if he doesn't lead the Biceleste to victory in one of the next two WCs.

 

[IceCold]

I think Ronaldo comes off as an absolute prick. I don't like him or his attitude. But he a) came from nothing b) is one of the best and most accomplished athletes in the world.

Ronaldo's attitude is simply to thrive to be the best and to push himself. He doesn't drink alcohol, is always the first and last to leave training, donates a lot to charities, etc. If you've watch play throughout the years you would have seen that he has matured a lot. He doesn't dive as much for example. For a high profile player he also has very few scandals attached to his name.

 

[Mesousa]

Having spent almost 13 years of my life living in Argentina, including the bulk of Maradona's prime, allow me to call you an idiot.

If you take basically everything you wrote and made it say the exact opposite, you'd be correct. Argentines revered (and still do) Maradona for precisely the mestizo, rags-to-riches journey you say embarrassed them. They love Messi because he's a world class star, not his skin tone. WTF?

Messi "ran away" to Spain for the same reason Maradona ran away to Italy (and your beloved Tevez ran to Brazil, then England, and now Italy). It's called money. There is no money in AFA, at least not by comparison to other leagues. Hell, dudes make more money coming to the MLS than they do down there. Argentina has always been an exporter of world class soccer stars. One or two brilliant seasons with River, Boca, San Lorenzo, Racing, etc., and you're almost guaranteed a job in a big European league. The AFA is basically triple A for the big leagues. It pains me to admit that since I'm a die hard River Plate fan, but facts are facts.

Tevez is loved in Argentina, warts and all. He plays with a ton of passion and heart. Sadly, the national team is still plagued by politics, favoritism, and tends to stick with the old guard even when they're washed up. I don't know where Tevez is on that spectrum of favoritism, but he may be on the outside looking in.

Also, Messi has never given up on Argentina. Germany has been better than them consistently. It's been that way since 1990 in Italy when they lost to West Germany in the finals.

Although he's the best in the world, I will agree that Messi's legacy will suffer if he doesn't lead the Biceleste to victory in one of the next two WCs.

The fact that you would even compare Messi leaving for Spain as a kid to Tevez leaving for Brazil as a senior player at Boca Juniors shows where the loyalties are.

You are delusional if you dont see the difference in the way Maradona, Tevez, or even someone like Di Maria is viewed in the media compared to Messi. Messi is literally the golden child while not earning it. This is a guy while being worshiped, didnt do a damn thing at home in 2011. They want him to be their di stefano brother. The mestizo-ness embarrasses them. Maradona never rolled over the way Messi did for nation though so they have to respect that, but we know how it really is.

I dont see what Germany has to do with Messi rolling over in 2009 at home for brazil either. Not giving up on Argentina? Do you honestly believe that while watching his matches for Argentina compared to him playing for Barcelona? Do you really believe he didnt give up against Uruguay in the copa America? Or down in Rosario in 2009? Its day and night man.

Messi isnt the best at Barcelona or Argentina, much less the world.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Whenever I watch international soccer, it's always been Ronaldo that makes my jaw drop. He's electric when he touches the ball. Messi just seems more technical and efficient. Not boring, but not exciting.


It should be noted that ESPN has a profit motive to push these soccer players on their sites, since a good chunk of their programming is now dedicated to international soccer matches (and the upcoming World Cup). This poll smells like marketing bullshit to me.

 

[Jokab]

Messi isnt the best at Barcelona or Argentina, much less the world.

That's quite a statement to make considering how many goals he's scored and how many assists he's made in the last few years. Or maybe you're forgetting he won player of the year FOUR years in a row now?

 

[Dude Abides]

The Atomic Flea is an awful nickname.

 

[Ikuu]

That's quite a statement to make considering how many goals he's scored and how many assists he's made in the last few years. Or maybe you're forgetting he won player of the year FOUR years in a row now?

Only does it because of Xavi and Iniesta!

 

[TheMan]

[pic of the real ronaldo]

This will always be the first Ronaldo I think about.

lol, same here. i don't follow soccer as closely as i used to, and frankly i was never a fanatic anyway.

 

[Burt]

who?

.



But seriously, did they only poll like 7 people from Seattle though? There is no way this poll is right.

Edit: Ha, 1500 people who only listed their single favorite athlete. I find it incredibly difficult to believe that any soccer player didn't just make the list but topped it enough times to pass people's hometown heroes or the typical national sports icons, especially considering retired players seem to be fair game.

 

[snacknuts]

I can believe Messi is not famous among USA members here, but c'mon , you all know Pelé right?

I know the name. I didn't know he was black until I saw the video game cover someone posted in here.

 

[ghstwrld]

Whatever happened to Freddy Adu?

 

[perryfarrell]

The US will eventually start to like soccer. Give it a few centuries, but it will happen. They're tried exporting their own sports, but with no results as of yet. Better give up and start liking it now, America. Resistance is futile.

 

[ElFly]

The US will eventually start to like soccer. Give it a few centuries, but it will happen. They're tried exporting their own sports, but with no results as of yet. Better give up and start liking it now, America. Resistance is futile.

Basketball was exported successfully, tho.

 

[Tawpgun]

It's that FIFA hype. FIFA has become the new splitscreen favorite game among bros.

 

[Kurtofan]

Was it the tax avoidance to bumped him up the list?

 

[Kiraly]

Fucking Messi.

Yes, he is THAT good but I despise the image he has - that was either created by his actions or by the media. He is not a fucking beacon of spirituality and guidance.

 

[Sol..]

Except that Ronaldo actually has talent.

Que?

 

[Fersis]

Im ok with this news! :3