Magic Johnson: The GOAT, the king, the legend...

Duvnjak... I don't know, maybe he's got about 20% of what made Balica special. Honestly, nobody else even comes close to him. He’s the only one who’s managed to separate himself from the pack a little bit, but even then, he isn't quite there yet. In my eyes, he's more like Nikola Karabatic.

We'll just have to wait and see how much they can actually stomach during this tournament, because once he starts to falter, the whole damn empire is going to come crashing down, don't you think?

wanderingorca9 said:There was simply no one else...☕
I've been following handball for quite a while now, and while I can certainly recall a massive wave of elite players passing through the league, I don't think the handball world has ever witnessed a player as complete as Ivano...
I've also had several conversations with people who have a really sharp memory for the old school era, and they all seem to reach the exact same conclusion.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Ivano Balić is the greatest handball player to ever step onto the court...🙏🙏🙏🙏

Ivano Balić is easily the most lethal offensive force in the history of the sport; he's just playing on a different level than everyone else, and that's a fact.
But honestly, isn't it a bit silly to call him the most well-rounded player of all time?
If we're being real, Metličić was a much more complete athlete, especially during those years when he was just as dominant on defense as he was on offense.

So, we're talking about the Michael Jordan of handball here, right? Is that the vibe?

Samuel Baker3 said:but calling him the most complete player ever is just silly
well, Metličić was a much more well-rounded player than he was—especially back when his two-way game was actually balanced between offense and defense

Pero is more complete than LeBron James...🤣
Respect to Pero, I guess, but you can't really compare him to LeBron James in any single aspect of the game... not even close...

Samuel Baker3 said:Honestly, Metličić was such a more complete player back then, especially when he was pulling weight just as heavily on both ends of the floor, offense and defense alike.

That’s just the truth of it. I mean, back when Metličić was playing in Portugal, he was absolute class—a total powerhouse who could score, dish out assists, and shut things down defensively without breaking a sweat. He was the full package. During that same stretch, Balić was this incredible playmaker and assist machine, sure, but he wasn't much of a scorer, and let's be real, his defensive game left a lot to be desired. While Balić definitely leveled up over the years, it looks like the clock is finally starting to catch up with Metličić.

Ivano Balić - scoring through his legs

The absolute virtuoso of the handball court. We see these kinds of masterclass plays from him in almost every single game. Honestly, even if you aren't a huge fan of the sport, you have to tune in to watch whenever Ivano is playing...
He’s easily the best player on the planet right now, and quite possibly the greatest to ever play the game....

Thank God they finally let this thread stay up... I’ve had my posts nuked 2 or 3 times already—how are people supposed to talk about him if you won't let us? Ivano Balić!!🙏

Douglas Cox29 said:And his successor is Duvnjak!😂😂😂

What exactly is supposed to be funny? 😕

Dana Peterson39 said:Duvnjak is never going to be Balić—it’s just not happening—because he lacks that raw courage when the pressure really hits the fan. You saw it clearly with those penalties; he just can't deliver when it matters most. It’s always the same story... a total failure right at the finish line.
Look, I’m not saying the kid won't be a solid player—he'll likely have a decent career—but let's be real for a second: he is never going to become what we’re all actually praying for. He isn't going to be the next Ivano Balić. Period.
God, if only I were cheating...

I honestly have no idea what you're talking about—I mean, really—because I can't for the life of me remember the last time a nineteen-year-old stepped up to take penalty shots for one of the top-ranked national teams in the world. It just doesn't happen.

If we’re going to draw some comparisons here—and I say this with a healthy dose of skepticism—Duvnjak is actually playing at a higher level right now than Balić was when he was nineteen. Honestly, if you look at the trajectory, it seems pretty obvious why. It boils down to the fact that he hit his stride much earlier and possesses a physical ceiling that is just massive.

Lawrence Sanders4 said:Are we actually talking about the Michael Jordan of handball here? Because if we aren't, then what are we even doing?

That’s one way to put it. 👍

I’ll say it plainly—Balić is the greatest handball player on the planet. It isn't just about raw athleticism or sheer force; he’s operating on an entirely different level because of his vision, his imagination, and that certain sense of wit he brings to the court. He’s playing a game most players can't even visualize—he executes moves that simply shouldn't be possible, which is exactly why he stays miles ahead of everyone else.

Look, Duvnjak isn't exactly some once-in-a-generation virtuoso—not quite at that level yet—but let’s be real: the kid is currently the best junior on the planet. If he stays disciplined, puts in the work, and actually follows a proper development path, he’s going to end up as one of the elite players in the world at his position. And if God wills it and keeps a steady hand on the pulse of global handball for the next decade, we're looking at a serious superstar.
And just like that, he’s positioning himself as the natural successor to Balić—as if it were some kind of destiny rather than just a calculated move. ☕

Anthony Roberts2 said:What’s so funny? 😕

I have no clue what you're even talking about—I don't recall the last time some 19-year-old was sinking seven-meter shots for one of the top national teams in the world.

If we're actually making comparisons—Duvnjak is already better than Balić was at 19—and honestly, I think it's just because he matured early and has insane physical tools.

You could say that, 👍

-Balić is the best player on the planet because his vision, imagination, and pure wit put him leagues ahead of everyone else—he pulls off stuff nobody else can even dream of.

Duvnjak isn't that kind of virtuoso, sure, but the fact remains: he's the best junior in the world, and if he keeps grinding and develops right, he'll be one of the best in his position globally—God willing—for the next decade.
And because of that, he's positioned as the natural successor to Balić. ☕

That all holds water, but they play different styles... there is simply NO such thing as a "successor" to Balić! You're either born with that gift or you aren't...

Joseph Lee42 said:That’s all fine and well—but we're talking about different breeds of players here... there simply is NO successor to Balić! You don't just manufacture a talent like that... someone like him is born once in a lifetime.

Look, I'm not even suggesting we need some kind of direct clone who's going to eclipse him overnight—that's unrealistic. What I mean is that we shouldn't have any major issues at that position for a very long time.

Anthony Roberts2 said:If we’re really going to draw comparisons here, I’d argue Duvnjak is actually performing better right now than Balić was at nineteen, mostly because he seems to have hit his physical peak much earlier in his career.

The real issue, though, is that Duvnjak was a significantly more impressive player at eighteen than he is at nineteen.🤔

It’s all well and good to talk about hard work, discipline, and pure dedication... but something just feels off lately, like he's hitting this weird plateau, and I can only hope he finds his spark again soon.

Duvnjak doesn't have any backbone 🤷 and honestly, you could really see it today!!! It’s just so frustrating... he’s been stuck in neutral for a whole year now......

wanderingorca9 said:He's more well-rounded than Balić...🤣
I have to hand it to vividbadger182, but honestly, you just can't compare him to Balić in any single facet of the game... not at all...

the defensive side of the game

If you want to tell me who the more complete player is, why don't you try comparing how they both handle defense first? It's pretty simple: Balić isn't exactly known for his defensive prowess, which is exactly why he usually ends up positioned way out on the far left of the perimeter.

At the end of the day, handball is about scoring goals, and that’s why Balić stands alone as the greatest to ever step onto the court. I've been following the sport for a long time now, and I can say I've never seen anyone score with such effortless grace, but it would be a mistake to assume that translates to elite-level defense when it really doesn't.

And don't even get me started on comparing him to someone like Nikola Karabatić.

Chris Lopez59 said:Man, it's true... I mean, look at Metla back when he was tearing it up in Portugal, he was absolute class, just a total beast who could do everything from shut down plays on defense to rack up goals and assists like it was nothing... He was just unstoppable back then. At that same time, Ivan was this incredible playmaker and assist machine, but he wasn't really much of a scorer, and man, his defensive game definitely wasn't where it needed to be. Ivan definitely leveled up his game since then, but honestly, it looks like the years are finally starting to catch up with Metla...

😲
I literally just wrote the exact same thing over on the US-Denmark forum...

This is just too much. 🤣 First, everything is all thanks to God, but once things start going south, suddenly "age" is the excuse. 🤣

But look, I’m not even going to dive deep into this. Honestly, maybe you guys actually have a point. I didn't catch the game against the Danes—I passed out like a light after a brutal day at work 😁. And honestly? It’s probably for the best. I would've been dead to the world anyway.

I swear, I’m sick of watching Metličić age right before our eyes! 😁
Go back to bed already. 😁

I'm out. 😁

Samuel Baker3 said:the defensive side of the game

compare their defensive stats and then tell me who’s the more complete player—it’s pretty straightforward, Balić isn't much of a defender, which is why he ends up stationed way out on the left flank during those plays.

Peter's defensive contribution just doesn't hold a candle to what Balić brings to the offensive end—the playmaking, the vision, reading the court, managing the spacing... it's incomparable.
Besides, you only have to look at how efficient our national team is when Ivan is on the bench versus when Peter is leading things... without Ivan, this team is essentially playing at a 70% deficit.

Samuel Baker3 said:handball is about scoring goals, and that's why Balić is the greatest to ever step on the court. I've been following the sport for a long time and I've never seen anyone score with such effortless grace—but it would be a mistake to assume that translates to elite defense, because it simply doesn't.

And let's not even get started on comparing him to Nikola Karabatic.

Exactly... people don't show up to watch handball to marvel at efficient defensive rotations (well, maybe a little...) 😁 they come to see magic from players like Ivan...

Balić - just a car and that's that 🙂