The best player you have ever seen live

Post 1990 I'm still saying Juninho.

Put that player we had in 96/97 in a good team and he would have even been a few levels above what we saw, and his injury for AM took him down a fair few notches.

I never saw R9, CR7 or Messi but Juninho could have maybe matched them had he been playing for a good side and without that injury.

R9 for Barcelona is the best I've seen a lot of on TV, the absolute perfect striker. I count Messi and Ronaldo as different types of forwards, and suppose they're even very different from each other.
 
Went to Barcelona v Espanyol back in March 2019 and had the pleasure of watching the GOAT Messi. He made everything absolutely effortless. Didn't waste an ounce of energy and yet had total control of the game. He bagged twice including a free-kick where the opposition knew what he was going to do (whip it over the wall into the top corner) but could do nothing to stop it.

In terms of consistency across several live viewings I'd agree with the OP about Henry. He was unplayable at times between 2001 and 2005.
 
Otto42 said:
Peter Beardsley
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Remember when we played Liverpool in 1989 at Ayresome. We were staring down the barrel of relegation, they were on their way to the title (!). Got hammered 4-0 and Beardsley ran the show that day. As close to a 10/10 performance as you will see. Unplayable.
Henry did like playing against Boro too 😂😂
 
Messi when he was 17
Played against Osasuna and was just magical

In the UK - George Best.
 
For 'Boro - very easy, and that is Juninho.

At the riverside it is easy again and that is Thierry Henry. He is still IMO the best player to ever playing in the Premier League. The guy was ridiculous. The turn of speed but to still have full control of the ball and awareness, he was sublime.

Overall though, it has to be Messi. Saw him at the Nou Camp a few years ago and the guy is just a freak.

By far the greatest player to ever kick a football.
 
Joao Felix for Benfica a couple of years ago. He was mesmorising...not quite kicked on. For Boro obviously TLF. I do remember thinking Rio Ferdinand was a hell of a player when he came with West Ham.
 
Seen Messi just once and he didn't disappoint, scoring twice including a superb free kick against Real.
It finished 2-2 and you can guess who got a brace for the opposition.
Players seen regularly I'd have to put Ronaldo top.
Honorable mentions to Henry/Juninho/Dalglish.
 
Thierry Henry by a country mile.

I remember seeing Dennis Bergkamp launch the ball to someone during a warm up, the lad held his hands up and Bergkamp got it straight in the lads open hands from across the pitch, inch perfect, see it every week now but back then its just something that stuck with me how perfect he struck that ball.
 
BeanBeany said:
Only ever saw George Best play live in Jim Platts testimonial and you could see even then he was different class! Other than George, tough to pick probably go with Keegan as I loved the way he played.
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He was good in that game but pretty average in most of the games I have seen him play against Boro. Although he did score in the replay when they beat us 3-0 at Boro during the powercuts. Remember Alex Smith having him in his pocket one game.
 
Andy_W said:
Post 1990 I'm still saying Juninho.

Put that player we had in 96/97 in a good team and he would have even been a few levels above what we saw, and his injury for AM took him down a fair few notches.

I never saw R9, CR7 or Messi but Juninho could have maybe matched them had he been playing for a good side and without that injury.

R9 for Barcelona is the best I've seen a lot of on TV, the absolute perfect striker. I count Messi and Ronaldo as different types of forwards, and suppose they're even very different from each other.
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I firmly believe that if Ronaldo Nazario hadn't suffered his injuries he would now be spoken about in the highest of conversations, alongside the likes of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cruyff, Maradona. Injuries robbed him of being an absolute legend of the game.
 
AC Jimbo said:
I firmly believe that if Ronaldo Nazario hadn't suffered his injuries he would now be spoken about in the highest of conversations, alongside the likes of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cruyff, Maradona. Injuries robbed him of being an absolute legend of the game.
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He is by anyone with a soul.
 
Aside from Juninho, I’d have to say it could be any one of three or four from that Arsenal team. I remember them thumping us once and my dad applauded a goal of theirs. I was shocked and he just looked at me and was like ‘what can you do other than applaud that?!’ And he was spot on, they were incredible.
Viera was the best for me. Just completely dominated the pitch. But how do you seperate him, Henry, Bergkamp. Even Pires was something special
 
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