How can you apply any serious analysis. Basketball v Soccer?
Messi, essentially only has to play offence, whilst LeBrian is expected to play O & D. LeBrian could score zillions more points if that was his only focus. Lets face it there are 50 players league wise who would win the scoring le if they had the green light to put up a Kobe 33 shots a night. How many points a game would Patty Mills put up if Pop said Patty I want 33 shots each game. Messi has that green offence light.
Talking purely Soccer now, Messi is not just the best but the GOAT. Sorry defenders (Franco Baresi, you still the best). The best defenders in the world are unable to stop him. Pele, Maradona, Van Basten, all amazing but Messi is from another planet. Van Basten was near unstoppable until the hard men of the Serie A crunched his ankles to mush, but Messi is so nimble there is no stopping him.