Best player of the last two decades?

[Favelado]

Unquestionably. But goals rarely come from "absolutely nothing". It's a lot harder to cover Messi when he can slot it to the middle to Suarez, deep left to Neymar, back to Iniesta or Rakitic, or just ride a couple of defenders to get a shot on goal than it would be if all he had was just solid but unspectacular players around him where defenders could afford risking loosening coverage on one of them just to close down on Messi.
Other than late-season fatigue, that's the difference between Argentina Messi and Barcelona Messi. Argentina is a pretty good team even with an out-of-form Messi, but lacks the star power Barcelona can afford to put on the field week in week out.

(same thing could be said of Mememe Ronaldo - He does decide a lot of games for Portugal, but overall his level of play is much lower with the national team because not only we don't have a striker, but also lack a true world class offensive midfielder and that makes covering him an easier affair than when he's with Real Madrid - quite a drop-off from Benzema, Bale and James to Eder, Nani and Danny/Moutinho/André.)

A well considered and useful post, so thank you Silva. I'd still make the case that his Argentina record is fantastic with 49 goals in 105 appearances playing as quite a deep forward. The difference between Messi for Argentina and Barça is the difference between incredible and absolutely incredible. Worth continuing the cheerleading to say that he would probably have driven the team on to a World Cup Final win last year if he hadn't been vomiting during the game due to the ailment he was suffering from last season.

I loved this one he scored against Brazil.

 

[Silva]

The difference between Messi for Argentina and Barça is the difference between incredible and absolutely incredible.

Yeah, ultimately, it all comes down to this. His production is freakish, usually the difference is how freakishly high.

 

[miktheword]

When playing in a country where defending wasn't an issue, and when playing in a team benefiting from Champ league money and at a time with little competition from other oligarchs, Bergkamp and Henry excelled.

Both failed in Italy in the immediate years pre their transportation to 'the best league in the world'.

'The best of the last twenty years'...
Henry?! mentioned above, failed to score in any final for Arsenal or France. To his credit, he even jokingly (but poignantly) mentioned that 'nobody really cares about defending here' whilst picking up an award.

From these isles, a player who would have got into any of the great European teams of the last twenty years is Roy Keane.

 

[Favelado]

When playing in a country where defending wasn't an issue, and when playing in a team benefiting from Champ league money and at a time with little competition from other oligarchs, Bergkamp and Henry excelled.

Both failed in Italy in the immediate years pre their transportation to 'the best league in the world'.

'The best of the last twenty years'...
Henry?! mentioned above, failed to score in any final for Arsenal or France. To his credit, he even jokingly (but poignantly) mentioned that 'nobody really cares about defending here' whilst picking up an award.

From these isles, a player who would have got into any of the great European teams of the last twenty years is Roy Keane.

Not Guardiola's Barça he wouldn't.

 

[Johnny Doe]

Giggs disqualified on grounds of being not a very nice person.

DOnly joking editor!)

 

[skyscraper101]

It is surely Messi, even though I'm not a fan, you can't argue with the form.

In terms of who I've enjoyed watching the most? That would be a tougher call. Ronaldo would be up there, only marginally tainted by his on-pitch tantrums and Euro 2004 v Rooney. Also, Henry, Solskjaer, Gascoigne, Larsson, Roy Keane, and Cantona would feature. Too difficult to call.

Ian Wright is my personal favourite footballer but that's only half based on his on football skills.

 

[purves grundy]

To say Messi makes me feel like I'm participating in one of those polls that ends up half filled of contemporary e.g best bloke singer = some One Direction dude. But definitely Messi.