Greatest player(s) of all time

[Andresito]

We all know the answer already for top 1.

Feel free to discuss whatever regarding rankings, top 5, player vs player, most talented, boat, goat etc etc.

 

[soul24rage]

Only posting for players who I've seen live from 2004 onwards

2. Ronaldinho
3. CR7
4. Xavi
5. Iniesta

 

[Barcaman]

Messi because he maintained that amazing level for so many years and in most competitive times.
Beyond his overall game (goals, assists, free kicks, dribbling) he was also a model and humble sportsman on the pitch. Never showboated either.
And then he was also instrumental in bringing his Argentina to the top of the South America and the World.

 

[jamrock]

Dinho

 

[Don Juan Laporta Estruch]

1) Messi
2) Diego
3) R9
4) Pele
5) Di Stefano.

Honourable mention to the best attacking midfielder of all time Zico, who is 6th on my list.

 

[Windhook]

2) Maradona
3) Pele
4) Cruyff
5) Ronaldo da Lima
6) Zidane
7) Ronaldinho
8) Romario
9) Hagi
10) Stoichkov

 

[MDub94]

Thank you @Andresito for opening this thread.

Here is my top 20 best football players post ww2 list (sympathy is not considered, only quantitive and qualitive performance). It's a work in progress and I already narrowed down many candidates for a future extension to 50 players:

1. Leo Messi
2. Pelé
3. Diego Maradona
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
5. Alfredo di Stéfano
6. Johan Cruyff
7. Franz Beckenbauer
8. Ronaldo Nazário
9. Ferenc Puskás
10. Michel Platini
11. Zico
12. Zinedine Zidane
13. Ronaldinho
14. Marco van Basten
15. Gerd Müller
16. Xavi
17. Andrés Iniesta
18. Romário
19. Eusébio
20. Paolo Maldini


I am unsure about the order of top 4 to 6. Could be Cruyff or di Stéfano at 4 aswell. Marco van Basten is also pretty difficult to rate because of the early tragic end to his career. What do you guys think? I appreciate reading your lists and comments.

 

[Total-Football]

Started watching football in 1994 so I did catch the last days of maradonna (retirement days). Watched guys like mathias summer stoichkov and a bit of laudrup too. Any way best players in my opinion since 1994:

1- messi
2- penaldo
3- fat ronaldo
4- iniesta
5- Zidane
6- ronaldinho ( short prime is a massive reason not in top three)
7- Neuer
8- romario
9- Ramos
10- maldini

HM for players I loved watching : Totti, Cafu, Gerrard (massively underrated ), Henry, Cannavaro, etoo, Nedved, Rivaldo, edgar David's, thuram, Fernando torres, ( I probably forgot others).

 

[Messigician]

Messi because he maintained that amazing level for so many years and in most competitive times.
Beyond his overall game (goals, assists, free kicks, dribbling) he was also a model and humble sportsman on the pitch. Never showboated either.
And then he was also instrumental in bringing his Argentina to the top of the South America and the World.

Thread owner said we already know the ranking for 1 he wants to know about the others.

 

[Messigician]

Hagi

Who let bro cook

 

[Windhook]

Who let bro cook

?

 

[Messigician]

?

He’s top 25 at best

 

[CatalinR10]

2) Maradona
3) Pele
4) Cruyff
5) Ronaldo da Lima
6) Zidane
7) Ronaldinho
8) Romario
9) Hagi
10) Stoichkov

 

[Maradona37]

What you could do is seperate it into loose positions (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, forward) and pick out a top five/twenty for each. Defensive players tend to get the shaft in these anyway so it would give them more recognition.

Like top 5 GK
Top 20 DF
Top 20 DM/CM/AM
Top 20 Striker/Winger/Wide Forward

Bearing in mind some can go in different categories.

 

[Maradona37]

Thank you @Andresito for opening this thread.

Here is my top 20 best football players post ww2 list (sympathy is not considered, only quantitive and qualitive performance). It's a work in progress and I already narrowed down many candidates for a future extension to 50 players:

1. Leo Messi
2. Pelé
3. Diego Maradona
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
5. Alfredo di Stéfano
6. Johan Cruyff
7. Franz Beckenbauer
8. Ronaldo Nazário
9. Ferenc Puskás
10. Michel Platini
11. Zico
12. Zinedine Zidane
13. Ronaldinho
14. Marco van Basten
15. Gerd Müller
16. Xavi
17. Andrés Iniesta
18. Romário
19. Eusébio
20. Paolo Maldini


I am unsure about the order of top 4 to 6. Could be Cruyff or di Stéfano at 4 aswell. Marco van Basten is also pretty difficult to rate because of the early tragic end to his career. What do you guys think? I appreciate reading your lists and comments.

Great list and good knowledge for a top 20. Surprised there's no Garrincha though. George Best could maybe get in based on talent, if not longevity and achievement.

Other possible candidates off the top of my head: Rivelino, Gerson, Didi, Socrates, Passarella, Henry (despite what I said elsewhere), Rivaldo, Matthaus, Baresi, Moore, Bobby Charlton, Scirea, Gullit, Rijkaard and many more.