Yeah, there’s a layer below the absolute all-time greatest players and it’s no shame to be a part of it, but I think you can win a lot of trophies and some Ballon D’Ors and still not crack that tier.
Of our generation, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, no doubt about it. Does Zidane make it? Maybe. Xavi? Won everything there was to win, unbelievable player, but not Maradona level genius. Thierry Henry? Don’t think so. Luka Modric? Pirlo? Figo? Even Ronaldinho?
Some interesting suggestions there.
Xavi didn't have the extraordinary abilities of the likes of Maradona or Proper Ronaldo, but he did something different and simple to such an astonishingly effective extent you'd have to put him very very close. Not to mention the platform him and Iniesta gave Messi - I honestly don't think you can appraise Messi's Barcelona years and not give some credit to the levels he achieved to those two.
Pirlo I'd put on a level with Xavi as well - all he lacked was the same calibre of teammates.
Zidane was extraordinary, never sure why he doesn't get mentioned more in these discussions, because on his day he had everything.
Henry the best I've ever seen in the flesh. Watching him always softened the blow of getting hammered by Arsenal over and over again.
Ronaldinho was just astonishing, a circus act, but not a show pony - the stuff he did made a difference.
This is why I hate this whole GOAT thing being reduced to numbers, it's so joyless. CR has accumulated a filing cabinet full of evidence to call himself the best ever, but very little for me in terms of memories. I don't really care about "best", "favourite" will do for me. Aside from the above, there's no player I ever enjoyed watching more than Gheorghe Hagi. Not as consistent or high achieving as those in the debate, but every bit as good and an absolute delight to watch.
