[iainmerrick]

But don’t forget also that football is literally a different game now. The rules around offside, back-passing to the goalie and handball have all been tweaked over the years, and modern strategies have evolved partly in response to that. Fouls are policed much more strictly now than in the past (in the high-profile leagues, at least).

I’ll grant you that modern players are likely much fitter, and players from past eras would struggle if thrown into today’s fast-paced game. But today’s players would similarly struggle if forced to play with old heavy shoes, irregular balls, bumpy pitch, etc.

[ergocoder]

That's fair, though I still think R7 and Messi would have faired much better given superior training (physical, mental, and strategy) and nutrition they have had over their careers.

[bilbo0s]

Point is, that they would not have gotten that.

You give all three the exact same training, messed up pitch, and rules, CR7 and Messi don't touch him.

[iainmerrick]

I think I shouldn’t have written that second paragraph above, it just obscured the main point I wanted to make: direct comparison is literally impossible because the rules of the game are different now. Not just the equipment or the strategy, but the rule book.

[bag_boy]

Messi would but Ronaldo not so much.

[ergocoder]

The reality is they didn't receive the same training. CR7 and Messi have received 10x training.

In the real world, we don't evaluate people relative to how better training they have received. So, better training is not an evaluation criteria.

[philippejara]

>In the real world, we don't evaluate people relative to how better training they have received.

In the real world people mostly still hold pelé and maradona as the best football players to ever get on field so i'm not sure that's accurate.