Why Messi Isn't The Greatest Footballer Of All Time

Lionel Messi, considered by some as the greatest footballer of all time was born on the 26th of June 1987 to a steel worker father and a part-time cleaner mother. I could go on about his background but this is no biography. I won't beat about the bush. There's a lot to be talked about here.
I have no other business here than to explain why Messi isn't the greatest ever. Or even the greatest in the last 20 years.
I'll start in 2010. Jose Mourinho's Inter were paired with Pep's Barcelona who had just swept all 6 trophies in which they had competed in. Sneijder scored and provided Milito's goal for Inter to take the first leg by 3 goals to 1. Messi was nowhere to be found. Some say Cambiasso put him in his pocket. Barca won the 2nd leg but Inter went through to the final. Sneijder vital for Inter again providing an assist for one of Milito's goals. Messi ended up being top scorer scoring 8 in 11 but Ronaldo had a better goal ratio scoring 7 in 6 games. Golden boot? Inter went on to win the treble with Sneijder scoring 8 and providing 12 in 39 games. He was ready for the World Cup.
June came and all the world stars were in South Africa to battle for supremacy. I'd like to believe you all watched (football newbies inclusive) so I'll skip the details. Messi crashed out of the tournament by losing by 4 goals to Germany (of which he had to deal with a similar situation in this season's champions league) in the quarter finals. Sneijder went on to the final following spectacular performances against Brazil and Uruguay winning 4 man of the match awards and scoring 5 goals (joint highest). Messi finished with just 2 assists in South Africa after scoring 47 goals in 53 games for Barcelona in the season before. It was obvious by now who was better between both players at this point. Messi had inspired Barcelona to the league but Sneijder had taken Italy, Europe and almost conquered the world. He scored more goals than Sneijder but Suarez had more goals than Messi. The 2010 Ballon D'Or was given to Messi after scoring goals that brought only a La Liga title.
In 2011, he fully deserved the award. In 2012, Messi won the award again after failing Barca when they needed him the most. Messi couldn’t score a single goal in the two most important matches of the season for Barcelona (the UCL semifinals against Chelsea, including a penalty kick miss) which lost them 2 trophies. A year in which Ronaldo was vital for his club and country taking Real Madrid to the UCL semi final, winning the La Liga title with a record 100 point haul, beating Barca in the Spanish Super Cup and taking Portugal to the semis of the Euros. Ronaldo had done enough. He had outclassed Messi even in games against Barcelona. FIFA had a mind of their own giving the award to Messi for the 4th year running just because Messi had more goals but yet couldn't score in decisive games. Fifa had changed the criteria again to suit Messi.
Messi in actual fact deserved just 2 of the 4 awards he received. This brings him to a step below Cruyff, Platini, Van Basten, Ronaldo and Zidane. The 2012 polls was the same one in which the Thai national team coach voted Sergio Busquets as the best player in the world. You'd stop to ask yourself what the world is coming to.
People compare Messi to people who have performed for their homelands and various clubs no matter what. Players whose names are chanted on the highest world stage in football. It won't be fair to mention the likes of Pele, Maradona and Zidane here as they are light years ahead of the Argentine.
Let's look at what Messi has done. He's delivered for Barcelona but really, if we take time to analyze his style and how it works with Barcelona's core players, it's fair to see that without them (in Argentina), he can't replicate that form for country or anywhere he may go. He's scored record number of goals in years in which he didn't win many trophies but yet won more for team and scored less for club in other years.
In Argentina, Messi has a wealth of stars. I've seen people lift the World Cup with weaker players. It's true Messi isn't 11 players but Maradona did it. If Messi is the best ever, why can't he do it? Let's reduce the standard to Copa America. Messi still can't do it.
When Barcelona wins 6 trophies, it's because Messi was phenomenal. When Barcelona lose out, we blame the other 10 players.
Again, let's consider the time-frame. Have a look at Ronaldinho's fast rise and fall. We don't know what tomorrow holds. We can't jump on the 'World's Greatest' bandwagon after 6 years. People have stayed at the very top for at least 10 years with some hitting 20. These feats aren't easy to achieve.
Ronaldo has proved himself in the white of Real Madrid, the red of Manchester United and green of Portugal and his current record goal record for Real Madrid is miles ahead of Messi's. Forget the bravado, stylishness and other things Ronaldo stands for, it's football we're talking about. We should discuss Messi and Ronaldo cos they are in the same league (literally and figuratively) though there are quite a few attributes which makes Ronaldo more complete than Messi.
We could decide to over-look what Messi really deserved and say he won 4 Ballon D'Ors but that won't be fair. Leonardo DiCaprio has never won an Oscar. You can also decide to over-look that and say he wasn't good enough but that won't be fair either.
He's been lucky to be in a dominating team cos really, when the top 3 players in a year are from one club, it just goes to show that it's been more of a collective effort than an individual one.