Lionel Messi: Comparing The World's Best Player to Legends Pele, Maradona, Di Stefano, and Cruyff

Lionel Messi has many devotees. The 23-year-old Barcelona forward is undoubtedly the most talented player on the planet, but how does he rank against the greats of the game?

Jose Mourinho's Unbeaten Home Record Ends as Sporting Gijon Beat Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho's nine year, 150 games unbeaten home record stretching all the way back to March 16 2002 came to an end on April 2 2011 after Sporting Gijon beat his Real Madrid team 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

History Of The World Cup Football 1930 to 2010

Football has changed greatly from the first World Cup in 1930. Players are fitter than ever before, football gear has changed from baggy shorts to tight fitting jerseys,  rules have changed to suit the attacking team, and believe it or not the roundness of the simple football has become something of a science all in itself.

The balls that were used in the 1930s are very much different from what we are used to now, literally made from a pig's bladder, they are now put together with the science and preciseness of space age technology.

Here is a brief history of the development of the one device that the game cannot exist without.

Profiles Of The Great and Good: Arsenio Erico Finally Comes Home To Paraguay, 32 Years After His Death

32 years after he was laid to rest in Buenos Aires, Arsenio Erico, finally returned home to Paraguay. Thousands of fans showed up to pay tribute to the 'greatest striker in Argentinian league history' as they celebrated his repatriation.

Profiles Of The Great and Good: Arthur Friedenreich: The Original “Black” Pearl.

What do you get if you cross a German Footballer and a Brazilian Footballer? You get Arthur Friedenreich, the greatest goalscorer the world has ever seen. He scored more goals than Pele, furthered civil rights, had a 26 year career and got his teeth kicked in.

Ars Bandeet and Other Funny Names From The Wonderful World of Football

Never heard of Ars Bandeet? How about Einar Aas? No? Well everyone's heard of Segar Bastard, haven't they? For every Diego and Pele, there has been an Ars or an Aas. Here are a couple of the greatest names ever to grace a football pitch...

Dragan Stojkovic Scores the Greatest Goal of All Time...in His Suit

The greatest goal the world has ever seen was scored this week by Grampus 8 manager Dragan Stoijkovic. In an amazing effort from his own technical area, he volleyed the ball into the net.

Grampus 8 Manager and Yugoslavian legend Dragan Stoijkovic is world renowned for his silken skills as a footballer. But if anything, those skills have improved...as a manager.

Shane Supple Retires From Football At 22 To Choose A Life Less Ordinary

Ipswich Town's Shane Supple has taken the decision to retire from professional football at the tender age of 22 after he "fell out of love" with the game.

In a fitting final act before retiring, the young star saved the final Shrewsbury penalty in last week's Carling Cup tie, which sent the Tractor Boys through to the next round.

The Fast and the Furious: The Fastest Goals in Football

There have been many column inches dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo's wonder goal against Porto in the UEFA Champions League. A goal of such breathtaking beauty that it left even the most experienced of journalists scrambling for words to describe the strike.

At 65mph, the ball left Ronaldo's foot like an exocet missile and shook the back of the net while the 'keeper just looked on like a spectator. Everyone was in agreement that it was a special goal, especially Ronaldo.

But was it one of the fastest goals ever scored?

Profiles of the Great and Good: Hristo Stoichkov: "There Are Only Two Christs...The Other Is in Heaven"

"There are only two Christs; one plays for Barcelona, the other is in heaven," so said Hristo Stoichkov before collecting his award for European Footballer of the Year in 1994.

With Hristo directly translating as Christ, you could be forgiven for thinking he was joking and that it was a play on words...but you'd be wrong. Stoichkov had three massive elements to his person, a God-given skill, a God-sized ego, and a Devil of a temperament...

Football's Hard Men: A Who's Who of the Hardest Men in Soccer

The beautiful game...Over the years football has had its fair share of memorable characters. Great players, great managers, legends...One can remember moments that seem to stick in the recesses of the mind.

Diego Maradona dribbling from the half way line against England. Marco Tardelli wheeling away with tears in his eyes after he scored in the World Cup final. Pele and Moore swapping jerseys. There are many moments in the sport we love.

But one thing that is as remembered as a great goal is a great tackle, and sometimes a bad tackle.

Here is a celebration of some of the hardest, dirtiest, and toughest players ever to play the game.

First up is Terry Butcher as pictured above...

Harry Gregg, the Safest Hands in Soccer: Hero of the Munich Air Disaster

Harry Gregg is relatively unknown for the heroics that he performed on a dark winter night on the sixth of February 1958, a date that has become etched in the minds of football fans all over the world, no matter what club they support.

And over his 35 year career as a player and a manager, Harry Gregg achieved more than most. He was a part of the famous "Busby Babes" for almost 10 years, was voted the best 'keeper in the world after his heroics for Northern Ireland in the World Cup in 1958, and for a time he was the most expensive goalkeeper in the world.

The date of February 6th 1958 was the night of "The Munich Air Disaster." And on that night F-609 crashed to claim the lives of 23 people, including eight members of Matt Busby's Manchester United team.

Profiles of the Great and Good: The Killie Pie, Once Tasted, Never Forgotten

Kilmarnock came from behind to defeat derby rivals Ayr United 3-1, despite being reduced to 10 men in their Scottish Cup match last night. And while almost 12,000 fans packed into Rugby Park, the big winners of the tie were Brownings Bakers.

You see, Brownings make the world famous "Killie Pie." And it's not just any pie, the halftime delicacy is so good that even away fans can't come to Rugby Park without tasting one of its delights. On an average Saturday, Brownings can expect to sell some 7,000 to 8,000 pies. Considering the average crowd hits around 10,000, these sales figure are massive.

But what's so special about the Killie Pie? Well, for a start it tastes incredible, and that's not just my opinion. You see the Killie Pie is a steak pie, and it's actually made of steak, and not the usual offal that you find in pies around the grounds of football stadiums up and down Britain...

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur: A Rivalry Explained

As the Community Leader for Tottenham Hotspur on Bleacher Report I tend to write about all things Spurs quite a bit. And with the rivalry between Tottenham and Arsenal I do occasionally get some idiotic comments from idiotic Arsenal fans, as well as few from disgruntled Spurs fans...

Manager of the Year 2008: Roy Hodgson

Exactly one year ago, Roy Hodgson took over as Fulham manager after Lawrie Sanchez's ill fated run. The team were in disarray and were conceding goals at an alarming rate and relegation looked a foregone conclusion. And just to rub salt in their wounds, Roy Hodgson found himself taking over on the verge of the crunch tie with Chelsea, a match that saw Fulham sink to even lower depths after a 2-1 defeat.

Move forward a year, and Fulham sit comfortably in mid-table. They are unbeaten in seven games, only Manchester United have conceded fewer goals and today they dealt a massive blow to Chelsea's title ambitions by claiming a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage, a real fortress under Hodgson.

Profiles of the Great and Good: Garry Brooke—Better To Be Lucky Than Good

There are very few outside Spurs who would have heard of Garry Brooke, come to think of it, there are few Spurs fans who would even remember his time at White Hart Lane.

Darren Anderton Retired Today, But He Bowed Out in Style for Bournemouth

In his final match as a professional footballer, ex-Spurs, Portsmouth, and England player Darren Anderton came off the bench to score from the edge of the box with a trademark finish to secure vital points for Bournemouth as they strive to fight off the threat of relegation from League Two.

How Do YOU Rate Players?

How do you rate players? I mean, how do you do it exactly?

Ever since the dawn of time, players have been compared to each other. Teams have been compared to each other. Players have been described as great, brilliant, poor, and average. But when it boils right down to it, what do you look for in a player?

Profiles Of the Great and Good: Roy Race: It's Real Roy of the Rovers Stuff Here

Roy of the Rovers was by far the most popular football comic ever.

Running from 1954 to 2001, stories covered various issues—Roy as a teen trying to break into the famed "Melchester Rovers" team, winning every trophy imaginable, representing his country in the World Cup, playing with pop stars and even relegation.

He even had an unstoppable shot called the "Racy Rocket"....ah, those were the days.

After 21 Years, It's the Dawn of a New Era as Shamrock Rovers Finally Move Home

For those outside Emerald Isle, Shamrock Rovers are synonymous with football in Ireland.

One of the oldest clubs in the country—they were founded in 1901—Rovers have also proved to be the country's most successful club.