The best player in my memory is Zidane....

[Skip Donoghue]

For most naturally gifted footballer I would have to go for Ronaldinho. Unfortunatley he didn't have the same love for the game that he did for self-gratification.

I think you're spot on with this, for 3/4 years he was unplayable and without doubt deserves a mention

But when compared to the real elite Messi, Maradona, Cruyff , Zidane, etc he comes up short, but only because he didn't last the distance, like those

 

[abu13]

The best player I have ever seen was Maradonna, unplayable on his day.

 

[bluethrunthru]

This thread disgracefully overlooks the great Paul Sugrue - shameful

 

[Grealish’s Shinpads]

I've said this before on here
On a peak day, IMO Zidane would be a better player, however, every week KDB puts in 100% and is a far more consistent performer than Zidane ever was. The number of times we watched Zidane "not be arsed "
And KDB would never allow himself to be ill disciplined and be sent off in a WC Final. As revenge he'd just have scored a belting goal

Not just any WC final either. The last ever game of his career. The sheer stupidity of what he did should automatically discount him from any “greatest” discussion

 

[City Hobgoblin]

Gheorghe Hagi doesn't get enough recognition

 

[Josh_D]

These two not spoken about enough, Micheal Laudrup/Baggio. Also an argument that if not for his injuries, Ronaldo Nazario may have ended up the best of all time. I don’t bother about the title anymore. One that will always have many names cropping up.

 

[Jack Hackett]

The best player in my memory (and I’m older than you) was George Best…no contest

 

[bluethrunthru]

For me its Cruyff because he was an actual innovator both in play ( think total football and the turn ) and as a coach

 

[aguero93:20]

I don't want to tempt fate but KDB is really starting to attack that dangerzone. The next 2 and a bit years are going to define his career.

(Apologies mods, I did look for a thread but 100s were coming up)

Agree on Zidane, best player in my memory too.

 

[Manchester la la la la]

Zidane on his absolute peak was immense. Kev isn't quite at his level but is more consistent albeit at a level below but that's not a bad thing

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

There is a selection of truly world class players in my lifetime, but for me the stand out was Maradona

That little argentine bloke was blessed by God to play football.

 

[Bluewonder]

Messi is/was about 5 times the player Zidane was.
If we win a CL or two, and KDB picks up a Ballon D'or, he'll reach the Zidane perception.

 

[SamTheGuru]

Zidane without those goals v brasil and headbut would have been forgotten as his Juve and Real days were extremely inconsistant, he shined at bordeuax and for the national team at times but wasn't as great as made out.

Platini, Viera and dare I say Deschamps and Makelele are all better french midfielders as their club form and international form were both consistant in their prime.

Kev is better imho but will never be recognised as such because of no world cup or ballon dor to date

no one can get near Diego though he was the greatest there has been

Sorry, but I strongly disagree with you on the first 3/4 of your statement. The headbutt was the ancient of his career for me. Before that, he was a pretty good all rounded midfielder.

I cannot comment on Diego though as he was before my time to remember properly.

 

[Koniec]

Diego is the Greatest. Messi and the half priced Ronaldo would have struggled in his era.

Zidane was fantastic, as was Hagi, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Baggio. If the non Rapey Ronaldo had stayed injury free he’d be up there, he was similar to Haaland but could dribble too. Complete forward.

 

[Manx Blue]

For me its Cruyff because he was an actual innovator both in play ( think total football and the turn ) and as a coach

I think that is an excellent point. Will we ever see the likes of Messi manage? I doubt it because of what he earned.

Zidane probably won't manage again for similar reasons

Ronaldo won't manage.

Cruyff as a player was so fluid and graceful, a joy to watch.

 

[aguero93:20]

Disappointing nobodies mentioned the GOAT.

 

[BlueHammer85]

KDB is the best Prem midfielder ever , Gerrard runs a close second

 

[halfcenturyup]

For me its Cruyff because he was an actual innovator both in play ( think total football and the turn ) and as a coach

And for his enormous fucking off of Franco.

His impact on European football dwarfs anybody else's, with Ajax at the time, through the Barcelona era and what we are witnessing now is due, in no small part of course, to Hendrik Johannes Cruijff.

Maradona, Pele, Messi, Zidane, Ronaldhino, Ronaldo (both of them) all great, but no continuing legacy.

 

[aguero93:20]

For me its Cruyff because he was an actual innovator both in play ( think total football and the turn ) and as a coach

You might enjoy this

Cruyff, Total Football & World Cup heartbreak

In the latest of our World Cup icons series, BBC Sport remembers Johan Cruyff and the Netherlands' stunning Total Football in 1974.

www.bbc.com

 

[Koniec]

And for his enormous fucking off of Franco.

His impact on European football dwarfs anybody else's, with Ajax at the time, through the Barcelona era and what we are witnessing now is due, in no small part of course, to Hendrik Johannes Cruijff.

Maradona, Pele, Messi, Zidane, Ronaldhino, Ronaldo (both of them) all great, but no continuing legacy.

Maradona has no continuing legacy? He has a religion. Go to Napoli, the mural there is a Mecca for fans of all nationalities. Canavaro was reduced to tears by a phone call from him. No D10S, no Messi, Sergio, Riquelme et al.