Zinedine Zidane

[MagIX]

Without any doubt, the best four players I have ever seen are 1. Maradona, 1. Messi, 3. R9, and 4. Zidane: la crème de la crème.

 

[Maradona37]

Without any doubt, the best four players I have ever seen are 1. Maradona, 1. Messi, 3. R9, and 4. Zidane: la crème de la crème.

Did you watch he and prime R9 in the 90s too mate? I know you, me and most of the other guys here are old enough to have watched them in their prime.

There was something special about Zizou. It's a shame people always argue about he and Iniesta, because Iniesta is very stylistically close to him, even if he's very different physically.

 

[MagIX]

I have never judged players I haven't seen play, as I have always stated.

 

[Maradona37]

I have never judged players I haven't seen play, as I have always stated.

Fair enough, mate.

I'd agree, with the caveat that I might have the aforementioned nostalgia goggles on for Zidane.

I am a massive fan of Xavi, Iniesta and Modric too though.

By the way, I too can't choose between the two Argentine wizards.

 

[MagIX]

I am also a fan of Xavi, Iniesta, and Modric. I've always liked Pirlo as well, another incredibly intelligent player like the three mentioned above.

 

[Windhook]

Bold is true, or Stojkovic, Hagi, Stoitchkov even. Plus if these guys were from big countries they wouldn't have had to 'adapt' by moving to big leagues.

The level of football was different in late 80's, early 90's. Stoichkov went to Barca in 1990 at 24, elite level, didn't have to wait 18 months to break into the squad. In his words learning the language was the hardest part.

Yugoslav, Romanian, Bulgarian and few Russian players were hot on the market after 1989. Clubs signed elite level players, not nobodies from Eastern Europe like they do today.

One example is Portugal. A dozen of the best Bulgarian players went to play in Primeira and they definitely contributed to the rise of Portuguese football in late 90's.

 

[Maradona37]

The level of football was different in late 80's, early 90's. Stoichkov went to Barca in 1990 at 24, elite level, didn't have to wait 18 months to break into the squad. In his words learning the language was the hardest part.

Yugoslav, Romanian, Bulgarian and few Russian players were hot on the market after 1989. Clubs signed elite level players, not nobodies from Eastern Europe like they do today.

One example is Portugal. A dozen of the best Bulgarian players went to play in Primeira and they definitely contributed to the rise of Portuguese football in late 90's.

True, you're right. But imagine if Stoitchkov was Catalan like Pep and others, he'd have come through the academy.

But the more pertinent point I was making is that if Hagi was Brazilian and not Romanian (for instance) He'd be rated a lot higher in the year 2025. Cos he was a genius.

Ditto with the others.

 

[Windhook]

True, you're right. But imagine if Stoitchkov was Catalan like Pep and others, he'd have come through the academy.

But the more pertinent point I was making is that if Hagi was Brazilian and not Romanian (for instance) He'd be rated a lot higher in the year 2025. Cos he was a genius.

Ditto with the others.

It's objective. I feel fine about where Balkan players stand in legacy. Those who know, they know. Those who don't - go check Pele's FIFA 100 list, it's also at least 100 players short.

 

[Maradona37]

It's objective. I feel fine about where Balkan players stand in legacy. Those who know, they know. Those who don't - go check Pele's FIFA 100 list, it's also at least 100 players short.

True. I rate them extremely highly but I was reading reddit a few months ago (I know, mostly teenage Americans new to football, sorry, soccer) and they were disrespecting Hagi a lot. Even Neymar himself didn't know who he was.

And lots of legends are forgotten like that. Their legacies are more likely to be preserved if they're Brazilian or German.

The disrespect of Hagi as a player made my blood boil.

 

[Gnidrologist]

His fame mostly comes from some outrages moves, passes, flicks, dribbles that nobody else came up with with that frequency. A bit like Ronaldinho, who also had this out of the box thinking going on. Highly creative and entertaining footballer for sure. His overall contribution to his club teams though is probably less effective than Del Pieros, who he played alongside in Juve.
Cemented his position as all time great mainly by being the centerpiece of that 98-2000 France squad, which was stacked even without him, but being a great conductor matters. Think, if it wasn't for his NT success, he'd be regarded on same level as likes of Hagi, Baggio, Rui Costa and other great 10s of that period.
Same like Lamine Yamal wouldn't been nearly as hailed right now, if not for the Euros. NT football and late CL playoffs is the center stage. Like of Oliver Bierhoff suddenly became a superstar for that one goal in '96 and was requested by Milan, who would never care for him otherwise.

 

[Maradona37]

His fame mostly comes from some outrages moves, passes, flicks, dribbles that nobody else came up with with that frequency. A bit like Ronaldinho, who also had this out of the box thinking going on. Highly creative and entertaining footballer for sure. His overall contribution to his club teams is probably less effective than Del Pieros, who he played alongside in Juve.
Cemented his position as all time great mainly by being the centerpiece of that 98-2000 France squad, which was stacked even without him, but being a great conductor matter. Think, if it wasn't for his NT success, he'd be regarded on same level as likes of Hagi, Baggio, Rui Costa and other great 10s of that period.
Same like Lamine Yamal wouldn't been so nearly as hailed right now, if not for the Euros. NT football and late CL playoffs is the center stage. Like of Oliver Bierhoff suddenly became a superstar for that one goal in '96 and was requested by Milan, who would never care for him otherwise.

Tremendous post in general, though obviously Zidane done a lot more in his career outside moments than Bierhoff did (not saying Bierhoff wasn't a good striker).

Zidane just has magic that is transcendent. In his case, consistency, goals and assists don't really apply. Like Ronaldinho, Garrincha, and George Best, they are loved as footballers for being outrageously gifted and so entertaining (even if a more boring player like a Cristiano Ronaldo achieved more and did more). For me entertainment is what the game is all about.

 

[Rassvet]

Of Midfielders we've all seen play on a regular basis he's top 5. Could be lower if we go further back, but I'll keep it in modern football, who we aren't replying on memory berries.

Xavi
Iniesta
Modric
Kroos.
Zidane.

If someone wants to put him 4th i wouldn't be mad it at.

Kroos better than Zidane? At least the other 3 are debatable

He's world class, but him being mentioned alongside the other 4 is a classic case of a player getting overrated due to team trophies.

Ancelotti said he hadn't even reached Rakitic's level back in 2016. Then Madrid go on a CL run without the level of his performances changing considerably and he's now on par with the greatest mids of all time.

 

[Rassvet]

Gentle reminder that Zidane could/was/had:

Great close control
Dribbling ability
Vision
Passing ability
Great shot
Amazing weak foot
Take good set pieces
Great in the air
Physically strong
Had countless iconic tricks and flicks
Make players around him better

Name a more complete player in his role.

Nothing funnier than Barca fans lecturing people about how numbers aren't everything and then trying to downplay Zinedine Fucking Zidane's greatness.

Zidane was an absolute baller. I suppose it's a good omen for Bellingham though that the same arguments and suspects downplaying Zidane are being used against HIM.

 

[Joan]

What’s the point of arguing about players you’ve never seen play?

Weird.

 

[vegitot]

Did you watch he and prime R9 in the 90s too mate? I know you, me and most of the other guys here are old enough to have watched them in their prime.

There was something special about Zizou. It's a shame people always argue about he and Iniesta, because Iniesta is very stylistically close to him, even if he's very different physically.

Zidane, like Messi, Maradona, Ronaldinho... was born with the love of football. The ball just falls in love with them.