In regards to your above response to me:
Yes, those gedolei hador on your list were the greatest in recent times. (Btw, my zaida z”l learned by the Ch”Ch in Radin for 16 years, and we are cousins with Maran RM”F… [I’m afraid I am identifying myself.]) Yes, as far as we know, all on your list are greater than the Lubavitcher Rebbe z”l.
However, did you see the Mesilas Yesharim I cited? He says specific qualifications that may apply to the Rebbe z”l more than anyone, even more than those bigger than him all around. Of course, Mashiach will be a talmid chacham and tzaddik. But possibly not necessarily the biggest t”ch & tzaddik.
I had a question. How will the Melech HaMashiach be anyone from our generation, no matter who, when it will be after techiyas hamaisim with Rebbe Akiva Eiger walking around? With the Vilna Gaon, the Rashba, the Ramban, the Rambam and Rashi? Abaiye veRava? Rebbe Meir and all the Tanaim? Even Dovid Hamelech? The Avos? Moishe Rabeinu, who it is apikursis to believe anyone could be a bigger navi? How will someone from today will be on top of all of them? R’ Yeruchum in Daas Torah asks something similar.
It just must be, that this is the ratzon of H’, that Mashiach will be from the generation of his coming, with certain qualities, but lav davka the biggest around.
As for your 2nd personal question of me: I happen to shtam from the first chasidim of the Alter Rebbe. (There were about 5.) The first 6 Rebbes were meshadech with my mishpacha. We are cousins with the “Heintege Rebbe” (that’s his name) z”l. My elter zaida was a Rosh Yeshiva in Russia before WW1.
(Most Lubavitchers today are from the Heintige Rebbe z”l or the Friedeke Rebbe. Behind their backs we call them the “tzu gekumeners””. We are the “geboiriners.” However, through a series of events, my Zaida z”l was a yasom as a boy, ended up in a Litvish Yeshiva, became an adam gadol, and lost all ties to Lubavitch. So, I am not a Lubavitcher, but I have some affinity to it. (I have what to answer to any misnagdus taanois too.)
As per your request for me to clarify my stance, yes, I “ unequivocally (agree) that the lubavitcher rebbe was not and will not be moshiach.” This is based on the understanding that Mashiach will be from the living (not really sure of the source of that.) So since the Rebbe z”l was niftar, that takes the Rebbe z”l out of the running.