The best ever football player in the world?

I’d go with Messi too.

I understand tonight emotion is high and Pele was a wonderful player, but I can’t see how you can look beyond Messi’s statistics and constant level he’s played at. Pele as good as he was had probably the best ever international team around him for the best part of 10 years, and his club career was almost entirely in Brazil, never testing himself in Europe.

Again I understand timing, but I’d probably have Pele in my top 5, behind Messi, Maradona, CR7 and ahead of Cruyff for my personal top 5.
 
Got to be Messi.

91 goals in a calendar year is absolutely insane.

I can't see any top level player matching that figure in my lifetime.

Very hard to compare eras though, the likes of Pele and Maradona might have reached even greater heights with modern conditions, fitness and diets, or they might have struggled against more professional opposition.
 
3 World Cups. Best player in two of them.
Over 700 goals not including friendlies. Two Intercontinental cups, when it actually meant something, basically the equivalent of the World Cup for domestic teams. Which shows Pele definitely did do it against European clubs
Loads of other trophies, won in Brazil when it was one of the toughest leagues in the world.
All achieved when defenders were allowed to kick the **** out of you...
Saying all that I'd still say Messi is the greatest, Pele a close second. Definitely not 4th!🙄😆
 
I love Messi but I would have to say George Best. I’m old and recall seeing him in his prime on tv. The guy was awesome. In those days the pitches were like farm fields, the ball much harder and players much more physical. He made it look so easy with his dribbling skills, movement and agility. I would advise anyone to check out those old videos of him playing. Nowadays players would just fall down and roll about in agony if fouled like they used to foul in the 1970s, but the likes of Best just carried on.I would then say Pele. A footballing genius who made it look so simple.
 
It's generational. Of the greats I've had the pleasure of watching it would be Messi, there's so many I didn't see though. I had the pleasure of watching Eusebio, Best and Charlton at Ayresome Park, only for them, with one exception, to disappoint. Ronaldo on the other hand, despite being a cheat, was great to watch. Better than Best, not as good as Messi.
 
For being consistently brilliant and longevity then you have to say Messi. Although much shorter in time length I don't think anyone can beat maradona at his peak. So I would say maradona
 
I hate to say it but it has to be Maradona for me
I still can't forgive the hand of God.
But what a player he was.
Absolutely magnificent in Mexico world cup when he wasn't cheating.
But I am too young to remember Pele.
 
Well first thing you can't make the judgement on trophies won. Good as one player may be he can't do it all on his own so it depends on the team he is in. It should be primarily judged on footballing skills and ability. Otherwise Steve Bruce for example ( 3 Premier Leagues, 3 FA Cups a League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup) would be a far superior player to Matt Le Tissier( who won nothing) which is obviously nonsense. The Argentinian team Maradonna played in was relatively more competitive in World Football than the one Messi has played in hence he has as yet no World Cup Winners medal.

It's also very difficult to judge players from different generations. The modern game is much quicker, the art of defending much stronger, players fitness levels are higher etc. than in Pele's day. That is not to say that if Pele was playing now he wouldn't be as good. He probably would - you adapt to the conditions of your time.

All of the players mentioned in this thread are truly great players. I am old enough to have watched the great Brazil team of 1970 with Pele in it. I have enjoyed watching all of them over the years however in my opinion Messi is the GOAT.
 
The only player i’d purposely pay to watch would be Ronaldinho. For 3-4 years he was sublime, playing with a smile on his face, doing things with a ball you’d never seen before.

I’d also say Gazza before his knee injury was about to become the best player in the world. He was naturally phenomenal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top