Lionel Messi vs. LeBron James (1 Viewer)

[Bruce Dickinson]

Expect Messi to run away with this poll easily, but curious about how wide the perceived gap is.

 

[Eephus]

I'd pick whichever guy gets to use the swordhands

 

[eoMMan]

Who?

 

[TobiasFunke]

LeBron + Soccer. It's a perfect storm of HOT TAKE bait. Surprised it took someone this long to come up with it.

 

[Celph Titled]

Voted Messi, James, James.

I think #1 is pretty close, and they've both had "down" years by their own lofty standards. Messi's usually a very capable defensive player, but defense from a forward spot doesn't bear as much on a team's overall defense as it does from a forward spot in basketball.

#2 is easily James, especially if we let him play goalkeeper. Size + agility + reflexes. Even if you don't, Lebron is massive, fast for his size, and has very good vision, he could be a pretty intriguing CB prospect. Messi just doesn't have the size to be any sort of factor in basketball.

#3 is James, easily. I think a lot of what makes Messi great (e.g. close control) is exclusive to soccer.

 

[Celph Titled]

LeBron + Soccer. It's a perfect storm of HOT TAKE bait. Surprised it took someone this long to come up with it.

It's not too late!

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I will say this - James would make an awesome all-time great goalie, but I took the question to mean how would he play between the lines.

 

[Slapdash]

I will say this - James would make an awesome all-time great goalie, but I took the question to mean how would he play between the lines.

Doesn't matter, Messi would be awful at basketball

 

[Steve Tasker]

I don't know enough about basketball to choose on #1, but I'd say Lebron for #2 and #3. Can you imagine a 5'7", 150 lb Messi playing guard in the NBA?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I will say this - James would make an awesome all-time great goalie, but I took the question to mean how would he play between the lines.

Doesn't matter, Messi would be awful at basketball

Damn sight harder to score a goal than a basket or free throw.

 

[Slapdash]

Voted Messi, James, James.

I think these are all fairly easy. While both have the potential to be considered the GOAT in their sports, nobody would ever call Messi the most athletic soccer player.

 

[Celph Titled]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnItk2kT1zE

Yeah, probably not a lot of time spent playing hoop.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

re: #3, I suggest Chess Boxing as a true mano y mano test of manliness.

 

[charvik]

Comparing a non physical sport where touching other players is illegal to football seems kind of silly.

I don't think I've seen Messi be carted off/carried out by team mates because of cramps after 35 minutes of play.

 

[Zigg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnItk2kT1zE

Yeah, probably not a lot of time spent playing hoop.

Messi is at Gretzky level bad acting.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Messi v LeBron in the decathlon:

100m: Messi is slowed down more by kicking a ball than LeBron is dribbling it. Messi.

Long Jump: anything with a major vertical element has to favor LBJ. LeBron.

Shot Put: don't know if either can throw a shot-size object with accuracy, but LBJ's upper body strength gives him the edge. LeBron.

High Jump: Got to think LeBron's uncanny knack for chasing down fastbreaks and pinning layups against the glass translates well here. LeBron.

400m: Messi routinely runs many of these during soccer matches, LeBron is rarely asked to run more than 94 feet at a time. Messi.

110h: sucker bet here on LBJ. Messi weaves through traffic and jumps over outstretched legs all the time. LeBron would plow into the first hurdle and wait for the ref to blow the whistle. Messi.

Discus: see shot put. LeBron.

Pole Vault: LeBron would snap the pole in half trying to clear any meaningful height. Messi.

Javelin: Messi would have the footwork advantage, but LBJ's experience throwing passes on the run helps him work it out. LeBron.

1500m: please. LBJ cramps up on the second or third lap while Messi breaks the tape and wonders why the race was so short. Messi.

Score: 5-5, but Messi wins on points accumulated since LeBron is unable to record a score in the 1500 or pole vault.

Winner: MESSI

 

[MC Gas Money]

Do some people lebron is the best basketball player ever?

 

[Freelove]

Comparing a non physical sport where touching other players is illegal to football seems kind of silly.

I don't think I've seen Messi be carted off/carried out by team mates because of cramps after 35 minutes of play.

I've seen Messi stretchered off numerous times after suffering no injury whatsoever. We really going down this road with soccer players?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Comparing a non physical sport where touching other players is illegal to football seems kind of silly.

I don't think I've seen Messi be carted off/carried out by team mates because of cramps after 35 minutes of play.

I've seen Messi stretchered off numerous times after suffering no injury whatsoever. We really going down this road with soccer players?

Your numerous experiences are contrary to my experience watching him play and his reputation. Can you recall a specific time Messi went off on a stretcher but was uninjured, meaning, he returned to play in the game?

 

[The Gator]

Comparing a non physical sport where touching other players is illegal to football seems kind of silly.

I don't think I've seen Messi be carted off/carried out by team mates because of cramps after 35 minutes of play.

I've seen Messi stretchered off numerous times after suffering no injury whatsoever. We really going down this road with soccer players?

Picking Messi as your example of players feigning injuries is like picking Shaq as an example for great free throws.

 

[CBusAlex]

One time I saw a fat dude in a Messi jersey fall off an escalator. Does that count?

 

[sho nuff]

Comparing a non physical sport where touching other players is illegal to football seems kind of silly.

I don't think I've seen Messi be carted off/carried out by team mates because of cramps after 35 minutes of play.

I've seen Messi stretchered off numerous times after suffering no injury whatsoever. We really going down this road with soccer players?

Doubt you saw that much at all with Messi.

 

[Thunderlips]

I will say this - James would make an awesome all-time great goalie, but I took the question to mean how would he play between the lines.

We saw Lebron play the other day. His name was Kakakou....

 

[The General]

Lebron flops / dives way more than Messi.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I don't know enough about basketball to choose on #1, but I'd say Lebron for #2 and #3. Can you imagine a 5'7", 150 lb Messi playing guard in the NBA?

It was incredible what Muggsy Bogues was able to do at 5'3" in the NBA for so many years (14 if memory serves). It is mind boggling in a way. Something we may never see again in our lifetime.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Lebron flops / dives way more than Messi.

This was my first thought too.

Plenty of soccer players flop, but that has never really been Messi's style. He gets hacked more than any player on the planet but he still plays honestly.

 

[roadkill1292]

Who?

LeBron James, pro basketball player. Jeebus, where you been?

 

[Steve Tasker]

Messi v LeBron in the decathlon:

400m: Messi routinely runs many of these during soccer matches, LeBron is rarely asked to run more than 94 feet at a time. Messi.

To be fair to Lebron here, a standard soccer field, per FIFA regulations, needs to be between 90-120 meters (roughly 100-130 yards). So while it's true that Messi is definitely running more distance than Lebron during a game, it's not like he's running 400m distances in one sprint. That's the length of ~4 soccer fields.

 

[sports_fan]

lol at timing of this poll

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

One time I saw a fat dude in a Messi jersey fall off an escalator. Does that count?

In my defense , I had drank a lot of Sangria.