Ronaldo over both. In reference to the post about Messi and Ronaldo getting kicked more, I dont think thats the case however, I do think football was a lot poorer quality back in the 70's/80's and a lot slower. Much easier for decent players to stand out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree with all the above and Messi over Zidane by a mile. Ronaldo best of all time with Maradona a very close second.
The great players from yesteryear weren't cosseted like the current ones. Tackling from behind was legal and sometimes extremely brutal. The gifted players got little or no protection from referees. My personal choice for greatest player ever is Pele. Closely followed by Best, Cruyff, Eusebio & di Stefano. Just my opinion.
And you would be right to say that He is the players player Zidane was a brilliant player but he isn't in the same league as players like Messi or Maradona..........and the often forgotten Eusebio Then there's Cruyff, Platini, Pele.........and the all time best of British, Tony Currie And yes I did see Best.........but Currie was the most beautiful, elegant and graceful player that I have ever seen playing in Britain.......a sort of stocky, long blond haired, Fred Astaire They have had a lot to put up with those Blunts........Tony Currie........followed by slam it Bassett.........followed by thunder booits Morgan
I was lucky enough to see George Best play twice a couple of times around 1970, he was a brilliant player as all the others you have mentioned are, well based around some of the footage I've seen from some of the one's from bygone' days. You have to give the modern player some credit though, I know the game isn't as physical as it used to be, but everyone who's playing at a top level is a primed athlete, which they certainly weren't back in the day. So for me that balances it out with the physical side just for the sheer pace of the modern game and the speed and strength of the players at which the likes of Ronaldo and Messi have to play against. I could well be wrong though
Frank Worthington for me, for a big lad he couldn't half play football. This is the best goal of all time in my book, scored by a Yorkshire lad as well. Hope the link works, if not just Google Frank Worthington goal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0z_arXZ8nM
Noone on here so far has mentioned Mark Lawrenson, one of only 3 players to have his dribbles replicated at the Sports Science Centre. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not one of those miserable Victor Meldrews who insist everything was better in days gone by. Top class players of today would have been top class players in previous eras and vice versa. They would simply adjust their games. The likes of Pele, Puskas & Best would've benefited from the more professional approach in today's game, for example.
A comparison is probably unfair since one is an attacking midfielder and one is an out and out forward, but as good as Messi is, Zidane for me was better to watch because he made everything he did look so easy and graceful.
All of the players mentioned were stand out players in their own time. I'm sure they would approach the game differently had they played in a different era. If a scientist made the perfect footballer he would make Ronaldo, if god made the perfect footballer he would make Messi. Not sure that quote helps at all, but i like it
