Who're you pulling for?

[sigma_dawg]

It clearly is the case or he wouldn't be in MLS. That's just a fact of soccer life. He can't preform at this level over a European club season, not even in Spain. He knows that, so do the clubs, that's why he is in MLS. I don't get why you are so defensive about this. A lot of greats have come here to take retirement gigs and maybe keep their hand in for a last WC appearance. Nothing wrong with that. Watch how he plays now too. He is brilliant, in short spurts. He mostly walks. It works in international soccer, not so much at the top
levels of the game.

This is all just a complete bizarre take on things. I understand dying on a hill if we are defending abolishing slavery, unjust taxes, or even climate change, etc… but to be this argumentative over trying to cast the undisputed greatest player of all time in a negative light is just beyond strange. England clearly doesn’t have the best players in the game because 39 year old Messi just handed their a**es to them.

England just got outsoccered by an American team. How does this happen? If we want to debate anything it may be how England and their soccer system is horribly overrated. They didn’t perform much better than we did and they are OUT.

 

[She Mate Me]

I’m just gonna say that L4 has been well mannered in this thread. Yeah, he’s still off in his assessment of where Messi is as a player today. And stubborn as a mule about his wrongness. But others are turning this into the same ole, same ole.

 

[L4Dawg]

The ol Stans stall. Whoops.

EXACTLY.

 

[L4Dawg]

He was very clearly the focus for England whenever he touched the ball. Moreso than any other player on the field for either team. That makes it pretty clear what kind of player he is today.

And it cost England BIGTIME. They were handling him well, till they went full on defense. They didn't have their roles well defined.

 

[L4Dawg]

Argentina definitely has the clutch gene about them.

But I think Spain is taking them down on Sunday.

Englands defense has been suspect. That's why going full on defense as soon as they did was madness. Spain has given up ONE goal the entire tournament.

 

[L4Dawg]

I think it helps that he’s fresher from his club season than all the players that have been playing in Europe. The MLS season only started in February and they don’t play nearly the quantity of games as the European sides do, who basically are full blast from August to May with minimal breaks.

EXACTLY. That's why they come here for a retirement gig. That's been my whole point.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

 

[L4Dawg]

Tell me you know nothing about greatness without saying you know nothing about greatness.

You need to read all of my posts. He is the GOAT. I've said this all along. He no longer is capable of that level of play except in spurts. It is what it is. He is 39.

 

[olblue]

EXACTLY. That's why they come here for a retirement gig. That's been my whole point.

No it hasn’t.

 

[olblue]

You need to read all of my posts. He is the GOAT. I've said this all along. He no longer is capable of that level of play except in spurts. It is what it is. He is 39.

I don’t want to read all of your posts. There are over 11K of them. 99% BS.

 

[L4Dawg]

No it hasn’t.

Yes, it has. I can't help it if you misunderstood.

 

[patdog]

Messi didn’t score. Man, he sucks. **

ugly game in the 1st half. Argentina is a dirty team & the ref completely lost control of the game. I saw him earlier in the tournament & he was awful then too. But after England scored, Argentina got away from playing dirty & started playing soccer. England had no answer. They may have had 10% possession after the goal. It was just a matter of time. Newsflash, the best way to protect a lead is to possess the ball, not sit back in a 5-4-1 block. Spain will present a much stronger challenge for Argentina.

 

[patdog]

You need to read all of my posts. He is the GOAT. I've said this all along. He no longer is capable of that level of play except in spurts. It is what it is. He is 39.

He leads this World Cup in both goals & assists. I’d say he’s still pretty elite.

 

[patdog]

Craziest World Cup stat. In 96 years of doing this, England has still only made 1 world cuo final. I mean you freaking invented the sport. You should have more than 1 final appearance in a century.

 

[L4Dawg]

He leads this World Cup in both goals & assists. I’d say he’s still pretty elite.

So if you are Barca you gonna sign him? Liverpool?

 

[L4Dawg]

Craziest World Cup stat. In 96 years of doing this, England has still only made 1 world cuo final. I mean you freaking invented the sport. You should have more than 1 final appearance in a century.

And they were the host for that one. It is crazy.

 

[olblue]

So if you are Barca you gonna sign him? Liverpool?

If they offer him $100MM, they might be able to get a deal done.

 

[L4Dawg]

If they offer him $100MM, they might be able to get a deal done.

No real club is going to sign a 39 year old for that amount of money. Maybe the Saudis…..that’s it. Get real man.

 

[olblue]

No real club is going to sign a 39 year old for that amount of money. Maybe the Saudis…..that’s it. Get real man.

 

[patdog]

So if you are Barca you gonna sign him? Liverpool?

Would I take the World Cup leader in goals & assists even at 39? Hell yeah. Could we afford him? No.

If they offer him $100MM, they might be able to get a deal done.

He’s making $130MM now. That’s $50MM more than the highest paid premier league player. So no. He’s not going anywhere unless the Arabs come in with a $200MM offer. Which who knows? They might.

 

[olblue]

Would I take the World Cup leader in goals & assists even at 39? Hell yeah. Could we afford him? No.

He’s making $130MM now. That’s $50MM more than the highest paid premier league player. So no. He’s not going anywhere unless the Arabs come in with a $200MM offer. Which who knows? They might.

On field income is $70MM. Total is ~$140MM. Yet L4 would have you think that the only reason he is playing in the MLS is because he fled to America because he is over-the-hill.

 

[L4Dawg]

Would I take the World Cup leader in goals & assists even at 39? Hell yeah. Could we afford him? No.

He’s making $130MM now. That’s $50MM more than the highest paid premier league player. So no. He’s not going anywhere unless the Arabs come in with a $200MM offer. Which who knows? They might.

Remember Mo last year? You don't pay 39 year old players that kind of money unless you want their name. That's why MLS did it. It's why the Saudis might.

Premier League players do not have the luxury of walking most of the time they are on the pitch. There is a reason he showed up yesterday when England quit pressing. That was just insane on England's part. Go back and look at how Liverpool played him at Anfield in 2019. He probably was still at his height then.

 

[L4Dawg]

On field income is $70MM. Total is ~$140MM. Yet L4 would have you think that the only reason he is playing in the MLS is because he fled to America because he is over-the-hill.

Well, no European club was going to pay a player his age that kind of money, and they didn't. Thanks for perfectly illustrating what I've been saying!

 

[patdog]

Remember Mo last year? You don't pay 39 year old players that kind of money unless you want their name. That's why MLS did it. It's why the Saudis might.

Premier League players do not have the luxury of walking most of the time they are on the pitch. There is a reason he showed up yesterday when England quit pressing. That was just insane on England's part. Go back and look at how Liverpool played him at Anfield in 2019. He probably was still at his height then.

Tuechel is taking a LOT of heat for the last 30 minutes of that game. Deservedly so. I’ve never thought he was that great a coach anyway.

Well, no European club was going to pay a player his age that kind of money, and they didn't. Thanks for perfectly illustrating what I've been saying!

It’s not like the European teams are paying anyone else that kind of money either.

 

[Drebin]

The ol Stans stall. Whoops.

50% of the time, it works every time.

 

[olblue]

Well, no European club was going to pay a player his age that kind of money, and they didn't. Thanks for perfectly illustrating what I've been saying!

That would be a cool take if that is - in fact - what you’ve been ranting about for a month. But it isn’t. Die on the hill that he’s over the hill if you want, but please stop lying. Nobody here is buying your pivot.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Tuechel is taking a LOT of heat for the last 30 minutes of that game. Deservedly so. I’ve never thought he was that great a coach anyway.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

Longer recovery time is just naturally true for any 39 year old. Why is this such an argument?

I don't get what is so controversial about Messi not able stand up to a Premier League season but can make it in the MLS where he does not play defense hardly at all and still be one of, if not the best player in world offensively at age 39.

Why can't we just appreciate what he is doing right now as amazing and realize this may be his last great performance in a WC. If he comes back in 4 years, he would be 43 and aging will have taken an even worse toll. Among things undefeated, father time is up at the top of the list.

Spain was the favorite coming into the WC. They have not seized headlines because allowing only one goal for the entire world cup is boring but it does win games. I think Spain takes 'em out.

 

[L4Dawg]

That would be a cool take if that is - in fact - what you’ve been ranting about for a month. But it isn’t. Die on the hill that he’s over the hill if you want, but please stop lying. Nobody here is buying your pivot.

It's not a pivot. It's what I've been saying all along. You are late to the party. This has been going on since the first game. A lot of y'all, including you, have assigned a position to me that I have never taken. It's why I find yall so entertaining!

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Why can't we just appreciate what he is doing right now as amazing and realize this may be his last great performance in a WC.

It would appear that all, save one of us, can.

 

[L4Dawg]

It would appear that all, save one of us, can.

You need to look back up the thread.

 

[L4Dawg]

Tuechel is taking a LOT of heat for the last 30 minutes of that game. Deservedly so. I’ve never thought he was that great a coach anyway.

It’s not like the European teams are paying anyone else that kind of money either.

He isn't getting that much from MLS. Look it up.

 

[Raiderdawg]

He isn't getting that much from MLS. Look it up.

Messi’s total (base salary plus revenue sharing) annual compensation from Miami and MLS is 70 to 80 million a year, making him the second highest paid player in the world for on field play.

Add in his endorsements and it doubles to $140 million.

 

[L4Dawg]

Messi’s total (base salary plus revenue sharing) annual compensation from Miami and MLS is 70 to 80 million a year, making him the second highest paid player in the world for on field play.

Add in his endorsements and it doubles to $140 million.

That is incorrect

MSN

Red the fine print, it differs from yours.

 

[Raiderdawg]

That is incorrect

MSN

Red the fine print, it differs from yours.

I guess Miami’s owner, Jorge Mas is a liar?

“Taking into account his ownership stake in Inter Miami, Messi collects $70 million to $80 million per year, club owner Jorge Mas told Bloomberg in March.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-06/messi-is-paid-up-to-80-million-a-year-by-inter-miami-mas-says

https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/article/lionel-messis-mls-pay-climbs-again-as-inter-miami-star-widens-gap-atop-salary-rankings-180313942.html

The Highest-Paid Players At The 2026 FIFA World Cup

Two new billionaires lead a starting 11 that collectively hauled in an estimated $950 million in the 12 months leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

www.forbes.com

 

[Raiderdawg]

That is incorrect

MSN

Red the fine print, it differs from yours.

Wait, you literally linked to an article that says his contract with Miami is for an annual 70-80 million, 25 million based plus revenue share to get up to 70-80 million, which is #2 in contracted compensation annually.

Then he gets another 70-80 million a year in off field endorsements on top of that to make around $150 million total per year.

Miami only counts the 70-80 million toward his on field contract. Thats still the second highest on field contract in the world.

 

[olblue]

It's not a pivot. It's what I've been saying all along. You are late to the party. This has been going on since the first game. A lot of y'all, including you, have assigned a position to me that I have never taken. It's why I find yall so entertaining!

If you

That is incorrect

MSN

Red the fine print, it differs from yours.

Read the bold print. It differs from yours. And it has been proven over and over, across sport after sport, that differing from your bat **** crazy view of the world is a better bet than those made by Trump’s teleprompter guy.

World's Highest-Paid Athletes: 2026 Forbes List

See Forbes' 2026 list of the world's highest-paid athletes, featuring a record payday by Cristiano Ronaldo, plus other sports stars who made at least $100 million.

www.forbes.com

 

[L4Dawg]

Wait, you literally linked to an article that says his contract with Miami is for an annual 70-80 million, 25 million based plus revenue share to get up to 70-80 million, which is #2 in contracted compensation annually.

Then he gets another 70-80 million a year in off field endorsements on top of that to make around $150 million total per year.

Miami only counts the 70-80 million toward his on field contract. Thats still the second highest on field contract in the world.

Read it… it includes endorsements. FOR A THIRTY NINE YEAR OLD PLAYER. It’s pure insanity. Only MLS for a NAME geezer or the Saudi league….. I’m laughing at y’all, and y‘all don't even comprehend why.

 

[L4Dawg]

Wait, you literally linked to an article that says his contract with Miami is for an annual 70-80 million, 25 million based plus revenue share to get up to 70-80 million, which is #2 in contracted compensation annually.

Then he gets another 70-80 million a year in off field endorsements on top of that to make around $150 million total per year.

Miami only counts the 70-80 million toward his on field contract. Thats still the second highest on field contract in the world.

You didn’t read the fine print.

 

[Raiderdawg]

Read it… it includes endorsements. FOR A THIRTY NINE YEAR OLD PLAYER. It’s pure insanity. Only MLS for a NAME geezer or the Saudi league….. I’m laughing at y’all, and y‘all don't even comprehend why.

We understand. You’re a self-righteous moron.

Your argument is to ignore all the other parts of the deal except the base pay, so you can right.

Contracts are more than just base pay. Using your logic, MSU only pays Lebby $800,000 a year because the rest comes from Bulldog Club. Elon is working for free because he has no direct salary. All that matters is direct compensation, right?

He wouldn’t be in Miami for only 25 million and I can promise you there are clubs in the world that would pay him more if they could get him.