re: Would Messi have to win a WC to be considered the Greatest of All-Time?

I have a unique opinion on the GOAT so I don't expect anyone to agree with me, but I don't consider Maradona or Pele the GOAT. As such, Messi isn't to the point where I could call him that either. I think he has surpassed the aforementioned players, but I consider Cruyff as the GOAT, because he not only dominated soccer (like messi and maradona and pele) but he also CHANGED the landscape of soccer. He pioneered a playing style (along with his coach at Ajax, forget his name) that is used by arguably the most dominant team in club football history.

He have seen players dominate the game and master their respective trades on the field, yes Messi is especially great, but I think a player needs to do more than just dominate. Otherwise, there is no GOAT, because Pele, Maradona, Platini, Zidane, Beckenbauer, Muller, the real Ronaldo, Baresi, Carlos Alberto, Iker, Yashin, Banks, and tons of other guys all can lay some kind of claim to the title.