Your favorite players of all time.

Discussion in 'The Beautiful Game' started by Dr. Know, Jun 1, 2011.

  1. Bluesarc

    Bluesarc Member

    Jun 10, 2013
    Club:
    FC Porto
    Paulo Sousa, Rui Costa, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Fenomeno, Zidane, Ibrahimovich, Shevchenko, Pirlo, Iniesta, Xabi Alosno, Messi, Henry, Patrick Vieira, Quaresma(in his Porto Days), David Silva, Kaka when he played for Milan, Madjer and my all time favorite Mario Jardel...if jardel hadnt got into drugs and gambling when he left Porto he would be talked about for generations to come...my absolute childhood hero, honestly im yet to see someone so lethal in the aerial game as he was.

    Edit: well, silly me for forgetting three german gems: Oliver kahn, schweinsteiger and the legend Beckenbauer(thoug i have only seen him in recorded matches my dad had on VHS back in the days i still had a functional video player).
     
  2. RoyOfTheRovers

    Jul 24, 2009
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England



    [Speaking of players I go on about: what about Jack Crayston? ;)]
     
  3. Alan Kenworthy

    Alan Kenworthy New Member

    Jun 11, 2013
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Paul Gascoigne, Stevie G, Tony Adams, Robbie Fowler, Jurgen Klinsmann, Klose, Roberto Carlos, Zola??
     
  4. Bonus_Game

    Bonus_Game Member

    Sep 30, 2007
    San Francisco
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Under 25 here so can't say much about the game before 1998.

    Batistuta, Ronaldo (Brazilian), Edgar Davids, Riquelme, Claudio Suarez, Jaime Moreno (DC United legend)
     
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  5. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Too bad he's Spanish but otherwise this is my new favorite

     
  6. saabrian

    saabrian Member

    Mar 25, 2002
    Upstate NY
    Club:
    Leicester City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I started following the sport in the mid-90s and am partial to the #10 and am a GK so that colors my top 10

    Zidane
    Pirlo
    Riquelme
    Veron
    Messi
    Iniesta
    Henry
    Okocha
    Friedel
    Buffon
     
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  7. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    #132 PuckVanHeel, Apr 17, 2014
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2014
    To come back to this; these are who I appreciated a lot (in no order).

    Kenny Dalglish
    Gianni Rivera
    Rob Rensenbrink
    John de Wolf
    Pierre van Hooijdonk
    Jari Litmanen
    Marco van Basten (the way he 'redefined' the striker role & the willpower/mentality)
    Michael Laudrup
    Michel Platini (the footballer and person; not the sports administrator)
    Cristiano Ronaldo (greatest 'pure athlete' since Pelé; the model professional & off the pitch a nice person I think)
    Alain Giresse
    Eusebio
    Raymond Kopa
    Gunter Netzer
    Pierre Littbarski
    Josef Masopust
    Michel Preud'homme
    Paolo Roberto Falcao
    Enzo Francescoli
    Alain Simonsen
    Soren Lerby
    Jan Ceulemans
    Luis Figo
    Phillip Cocu
    Franco Causio
    Gerson
    Liam Brady
    Ossie Ardiles
    Antognoni
    Ludo Coeck
    Luc Nilis
    HM for Cruijff and what he has meant for football as well as the charitable work outside it. HM for Pelé too btw; it is easy to laugh at him, everyone does, but he has a hard role to play. In a way Pelé represents more than himself, he represents the sports, and I admire the way he does this.

    Maybe I forget some?

    Have to make a seperate one for defensive players, I think.

    EDIT: maybe I forgot some. I see Henke Larsson misses erroneously.
     
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  8. Perú FC

    Perú FC Member+

    Nov 16, 2007
    Lima, Perú
    In a tentative order:

    Goalkeepers

    - Peter Schmeichel
    - Gianluigi Buffon
    - Luis Arconada (Retrospectively)

    Central Defenders

    - Franco Baresi
    - Franz Beckenbauer (Retrospectively)
    - Marcel Desailly
    - Frank de Boer
    - Paolo Montero

    Side Defenders

    - Roberto Carlos
    - Lilian Thuram
    - Javier Zanetti
    - Júnior (Retrospectively)
    - Rafael Gordillo (Retrospectively)

    Defensive Midfielders

    - Edgar Davids
    - Mauro Silva
    - José Velásquez (Retrospectively)
    - Duncan Edwards (Retrospectively)
    - Claude Makélélé

    Central Midfielders

    - Andrea Pirlo
    - Wim van Hanegem (Retrospectively)
    - César Cueto (Retrospectively)
    - Steven Gerrard

    Attacking-Midfielders

    - Zinedine Zidane
    - Diego Maradona
    - Ronaldinho
    - Zico (Retrospectively)
    - Roberto Rivelino (Retrospectively)
    - Andrés Iniesta
    - Ricardo Bochini (Retrospectively)
    - Julio César Uribe (Retrospectively)

    Wingers

    - René Houseman (Retrospectively)
    - Grzegorz Lato (Retrospectively)
    - David Ginola
    - Arjen Robben

    Support Strikers

    - Pelé (Retrospectively)
    - Ferenc Puskás (Retrospectively)
    - Dennis Bergkamp
    - Lionel Messi
    - Cristiano Ronaldo
    - Wayne Rooney

    Strikers

    - Romário
    - Ronaldo
    - Marco van Basten (Retrospectively)
    - Gabriel Batistuta
    - Hugo Sánchez (Retrospectively)
    - Christian Vieri
     
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  9. frasermc

    frasermc Take your flunky and dangle

    Celtic
    Scotland
    Jul 28, 2006
    Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    Boo.

    I believe Peru FC has a deep seated hatred of all things Scottish.

    My suspicions will be confirmed if he does not place me within his top 5 selections in the ongoing sheep draft that is nearing conclusion. :cautious:
     
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  10. Jaweirdo

    Jaweirdo Member+

    Aug 19, 2011
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Ramires for Chelsea (no joke). Might come as a surprise but I love how gritty he plays. he has a small frame but is not afraid of a tough challenge.
     
  11. Lucas...

    Lucas... Member+

    Dec 18, 2012
    My favorites are Romário, Edmundo (http://espnfc.com/columns/story/_/id/994033/the-mavericks:-edmundo?cc=3888) and Juninho Pernambucano.

    Of course, I also liked others Brazilian players like Ronaldo, Bebeto and Ronaldinho and other less famous like Djalminha and Alex de Souza. In Argentina, Ariel Ortega, Juan Sebastian Verón and Kun Aguero are fantastic. Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Román Riquelme are the ones I most enjoyed watching.

    And Europeans like Michael Laudrup, Zidane, Dennis Bergkamp, Luis Figo, Francesco Totti, Thierry Henry, Xavi...
     
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  12. Jaweirdo

    Jaweirdo Member+

    Aug 19, 2011
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    No disrespect to you mate, but I always had a dislike for Edmundo for some weird reason.
    I also never liked hunchback Cuauhtemoc Blanco, and despised his "Blanco Hop". Maybe another thread titled "Players you dislike" would be interesting
     
  13. Lucas...

    Lucas... Member+

    Dec 18, 2012
    I completely understand. Edmundo always had a controversial and explosive personality. And he always created many problems in all the teams that played, as the article explains.. If he did not create so many problems, he could have a better career in Europe football and Brazil NT. But at the peak in Brazil he was a fantastic player to watch and an exciting for fans.
     
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  14. leadleader

    leadleader Member+

    Aug 19, 2009
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I will only mention the players that I have (in my esteem) seen enough of, so some notable omissions should be expected considering that I have not seen enough of many many players. I would divide them into two or three groups,

    Players that I like the most,

    Andres Iniesta
    Roberto Baggio
    Carlos Valderrama
    Romario
    Roman Riquelme
    Gheorghe Hagi
    Diego Maradona
    Matt Le Tissier

    Players that I like a lot though not as much as the ones already mentioned,

    Andrea Pirlo
    Zinedine Zidane (note: would be in the above list if he was a more consistent and a more direct passer)
    Michael Laudrup
    Lio Messi

    Players that I like a lot but slightly less than the above list,

    Andrey Arshavin (note: in his prime, that is, his first season with Arsenal)
    Ronaldo
    Ronaldinho
    Xavi Hernandez
    Francesco Totti (note: a stationary-type player who lacked pace, who scored a lot of goals, very rare)
    Luis Figo
    Joaquin Sanchez
     
  15. Perú FC

    Perú FC Member+

    Nov 16, 2007
    Lima, Perú
    Don't rely on my conscience. :D

    Evidently, they're only my top favorites, but among the many likes I have there are 3 Scottish: Morton, Bremner and Johnstone. The first, of course, just because the impression I've for the descriptions.
     
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  16. havoc33

    havoc33 Member

    Jan 27, 2011
    Club:
    AC Milan
    I consider myself very lucky to have grown up watching the three Dutchmen dominate for Milan during the late 80s/early 90s. It was a special time in Serie A with so many talented players and sides. The greatest players I've ever seen play have to be Maradona and Gullit. When in form, they were in a class of their own. These are the players I have most enjoyed watching, some present day players included as well...

    1) Gullit
    2) Maradona
    3) Van Basten
    4) Roberto Baggio
    5) Romario
    6) Ronaldo (fat)
    7) Zidane
    8)Ronaldo (yes he whines, but what a player..)
    9) Messi
    10) Figo
     
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  17. Jaweirdo

    Jaweirdo Member+

    Aug 19, 2011
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    #142 Jaweirdo, Apr 23, 2014
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2014
    Maldini, Paolo
    Gattuso, Genaro
    Kluivert, Patrick
    Davids, Edgar
    Nazario Da Lima, Luis
    Messi, Lionel
    Maradona, Diego
    Arantes to Nascimento, Edson
    Thuram, Lilian
    Di Stefano, Alfredo
    Ronaldo, Cristiano
    Santos Do Nascimento, Ramires
    Vieira, Patrick
    Wright, Ian
    Gullit, Ruud
    De Souza Faria, Romario
    Modric, Luca
    Montolivo, Riccardo
    Borges Da Silva, Willian
    Schweinsteiger, Bastian
    Gonçalves de Andrade, Eduardo
     
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  18. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Can you explain why you include Di Stefano but not his equally gifted partner Ferenc Puskas, Jaweirdo? Puskas had arguably even a better touch and slightly better technique, some said.
    Or why Di Stefano and not Cruijff? (who was ofc different but a bit similar)

    @Jaweirdo
     
  19. Breitner'sWig

    Breitner'sWig Member

    Apr 24, 2012
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    In no order

    10 Premiership

    Matt Le Tiss
    Paul Gascoigne (though mostly not actually in the prem)
    Gianfranco Zola
    Dennis Bergkamp
    Steve McManaman
    Peter Beardsley
    Tony Daley
    Tugay
    Ledley King
    Georgi Kinkladze

    10 Blades from watching in person

    Dane Whitehouse
    Vas Borbokis
    Stuart McCall
    Glyn Hodges
    Brian Deane
    Paul McGrath
    Dave Holdsworth
    Alan Kelly
    Phil Jagielka
    Harry Maguire

    Sadly too young to have seen Alan Woodward or Tony Currie but needless to say I'm sure they would make the list if I had.

    10 All time Legends, considering I've seen more of some than others
    Zico
    Michael Laudrup
    Gullit
    Cafu
    Hagi
    Ronaldinho
    Hoddle
    Best
    Baggio
    Cueto
     
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  20. Jaweirdo

    Jaweirdo Member+

    Aug 19, 2011
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I only like Di Stefano based on highlight clips i've seen of him, i loved his approach of keeping the game simple and passing and moving; an approach to the game that would still prove to be useful this day in age... as opposed to say Garrincha who's style I really do not like at all.

    I do like cruijff a lot, I just forgot to include him. I havent taken the time to watch Puskas, just read about him.

    Its also worth noting that I like the new version of CR7, not the overly flashy one from Manchester United that sometimes tricked his own self with his flair.
     
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  21. john wright

    john wright New Member

    Apr 27, 2014
    Club:
    Sheffield United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
     
  22. john wright

    john wright New Member

    Apr 27, 2014
    Club:
    Sheffield United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    :thumbsup:Tony currie was a footballing genius:thumbsup:
     
  23. DazerII

    DazerII Member

    May 27, 2011
    In no particular order and some at certain period in their careers;

    Maradona (even when he was over weight he was still the best)
    Hagi
    Ginola
    Bergkamp
    Rui Costa
    Zidane
    Shevchenko
    LeTisseir (sp)
    Okocha
    Tevez
    C Ronaldo (06-07 version not to say he's now bad, just prefer that version)
    Messi (up to 2011 version, same argument as above)
    Batigol
    Iniesta (with end product)
    Stoichkov
    Seerdof
    Taarabt
    Gerrard
    Ballack
    Quaresma (Porto one)
    Scholes
    Desailly (Milan one)
    Modric
    Bale
    Neymar (Brasil version)
    Malbranque (sp.)
     
  24. AD78

    AD78 Member+

    Jul 17, 2013
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Hristo Stoichkov
     
  25. RoyOfTheRovers

    Jul 24, 2009
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England



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