If Lionel Messi's Career Ended Today, How Would He Rank Among All-Time Greats?

By

Michael Cummings

It's a simple but tantalizing question, and no matter how you answer, an argument is sure to follow.
Imagine Lionel Messi's career ended today. How would the magical Argentine rank among football's all-time greats?
On the one hand, Messi has won the Ballon d'Or—awarded yearly to the world's top player—an unprecedented four straight years. At the age of 25, he has already won it all in the club game with Barcelona, from domestic titles to European and international honors.
On the other hand, he's neither won a World Cup nor sustained his dominance for as long as legendary players like Pele or Diego Maradona.
So, again, how would you rank Messi among the game's all-time greats? Is he already up there with Pele, Maradona, Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo de Lima and Johan Cruyff? Or does he need to do it all for a little longer?
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