4 assists is exceptional. I think he should have won a penalty vs korea rather than get a second yellow. He also stuffed up royally with that spit in 2004. I think in 2002 he was denied a real chance to shine and in that cup some of his passes werent getting finished off. He also went into 2006 carrying an injury, and as I mentioned in 2004 thru suspension, he pretty much only played in 3 tournaments for the azzurri. Remarkable.
The point I was making is that he would have scored from a bicycle kick goal if both legs were in good shape. He did good under the circumstances but generally speaking, he was decent.
It is beyond me how Pirlo was not chosen for the FIFPro. Having said that, he doesn't need the golden ball or the FIFPro to prove that he is one of the greatest midfielders in the history of the game. He has surpassed Zidane in my opinion.
Buffon may have warranted a mention in this list. He is a player after all He's been voted the top goal keeper in the past 25 years by the IFFHS http://www.iffhs.de/?388d85ff8b00388f05f4cbc0385fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb88419 Thursday January 17 2013 Buffon best world keeper of 25 years Gigi Buffon has emerged as the world’s best goalkeeper in the last 25 years, announced the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. Gianluigi Buffon ahead of Iker Casillas and Edwin van der Sar ! The question of who are the all-time world‘s best goalkeepers cannot be answer precisely. The advent was the official vote for The World‘s best Goalkeeper of the Century, by selected jurors (editorial departments) from almost all countries, which produced competente results for the 20th century. This vote was made on the basis of a list of candidates, who had qualified by means of the goalkeeper votes of the six football continents Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania as well as North and Central America/Carribean. The results of these votes (by IFFHS) across the individual football continents and the world were taken into consideration for the period 1901-2000 and are published in this website in the chapters VII and IX. Besides the IFFHS acknowledges the performances of the world‘s best goalkeeperss for the period 1871-1986 (and over and above that) in different categories of goalkeepers in the full "A" internationals, Olympic matches, national cupfinals, national championships and continental club competitions. These rankings will be drawn up in chronological order and published step-by-step on the IFFHS website, accompanied by text and photos. Publication of these these world rankings has begun in chapters I, II, III, IV and V. The introduction of the voting of the annual The World‘s best Goalkeeper (by the IFFHS) and the annual world rankings of goalkeepers offered a more objective basis from 1987. This gives a more precise way of determining the world‘s best goalkeeper but only since 1987. The determination of The World‘s best Goalkeeper for the Quarter of a Century (1987-1911) was carried out analogous as those of The World‘s best Goalkeeper of the 1st Decade, so there is a uniform system for the future. Each year many different jurors (countries) have taken part in the vote and, in addition, the jurors in the early years voted for the top three places (3 points to 1 point), and later for the top four places (4 points to 1 point). So it would not be possible to simply add the points awarded in the annual votes. From the annual world ranking of the goalkeepers (as a result of the world vote) the IFFHS will take into consideration the "Top 20" for each year and allocate points to each place. So the first-placed receives 20 points, the second-placed 19 points, the third-placed 18 points ... and a point for twentieth place. If the annual world ranking comprises more than 20 goalkeepers, then the goalkeepers from 21st place onwards receive no points. If the annual world ranking comprises fewer than 20 goalkeepers (based on the fixed rules), no points will be awarded for the unoccupied palces. Adding the points from the individual years provides a world ranking for the period 1987-2011. The first-placed goalkeeper of this final ranking for the period is The World‘s best Goalkeeper of the Quarter of a Century (1987-2011). Italian Gianluigi Buffon is The World’s best Goalkeeper of the last Quarter of a Century (1987-2011) ahead of Spaniard Iker Casillas and Dutchman Edwin van der Sar. Van der Sar, Andoni Zubizarreta and Taffarel are the three goalkeepers among the "Top 10" who never became The World’s best Goalkeeper of the Year, but were able to provide world-class performances over a very long period of time. In the "Top 10" there are eight European goalkeepers. Paraguayan José Luis Félix Chilavert is South America’s best goalkeeper of the last quarter of a century (1987-2011), ahead of Brazilian Taffarel and his countryman »Dida«. Mexican Jorge Campos is the best goalkeeper of the last quarter of a century (1987-2011) in Central and North America, ahead of American Timothy Matthew Howard. South Corean Woon-Jae Lee is Asia’s best goalkeeper of the last quarter of a century (1987-2011), ahead of Saudi Arabian Mohamed Abullaziz Al-Deayea. Moroccan Badou Zaki is Africa’s best goalkeeper of the last quarter of a century (1987-2011) ahead of Alain Gouaméné from Ivory Coast. The best goalkeeper in Oceania in these 25 years was Australian Mark Schwarzer. Goalkeeper Nationality Points 1. Gianluigi Buffon Italia 245 2. Iker Casillas España 233 3. Edwin van der Sar Nederland 201 4. Peter Schmeichel Danmark 179 5. Petr Čech Česká Republika 172 6. Oliver Kahn Deutschland 162 7. José Luis Félix Chilavert Paraguay 146 8. Andoni Zubizarreta España 132 Walter Zenga Italia 132 10. Claudio André Mergen Taffarel Brasil 130 11. Michel Preud’homme Belgique 124 12. Fabien Barthez France 115 13. David Seaman England 114 14. Nélson de Jesus e Silva »Dida« Brasil 109 15. Víctor Valdés España 97 16. Vítor Manuel Martins Baía Portugal 94 17. Gianluca Pagliuca Italia 90 18. Francesco Toldo Italia 82 19. Jens Lehmann Deutschland 81 20. Júlio César Soãres Espíndola Brasil 76 21. Bodo Illgner Deutschland 71 Johannes Franciscus van Breukelen Nederland 71 23. Roberto Carlos Abbondanzieri Argentina 68 24. Sergio Javier Goycochea Argentina 66 25. Andreas Köpke Deutschland 64 26. Jorge Campos México 62 Peter Shilton England 62 28. Thomas Ravelli Sverige 61 29. Rinat Dasaev Russia 57 30. Angelo Peruzzi Italia 56 Neville Southall Wales 56 32. José Manuel Reina España 54 33. Manuel Neuer Deutschland 53 Rogério Ceni Brasil 53 35. José Santiago Cañizares España 51 36. Jean-Marie Pfaff Belgique 49 37. Jerzy Dudek Polska 48 38. Igor Akinfeev Russia 47 39. Bernard Lama France 38 Hugo Lloris France 38 Óscar Eduardo Córdoba Colombia 38 42. Patrick Bonner Ireland 36 Timothy Matthew Howard USA 36 44. Justo Wilmar Villar Paraguay 34 45. Dmitry Kharin Russia 33 46. Sebastiano Rossi Italia 32
Goalkeepers? yeah, yeah... Saint Miccoli has been the greatest attacking player since Italy won in 2006. Too bad we have had incompetent fools as our coach ever since then that have not recognized their talent. Good thing a terrible world cup in africa and an even worse ass kicking in the finals of the Euros have been enough to make people forget about our best players.
What's with all silcillians named salvatore? SamCalcioCatania bring all your catania buddies on here and make your own sub forum, palermo have no fans
For the NT; 2003-2013/2002-2012 1) Andrea Pirlo 2) Gigi Buffon 3) D. De Rossi 4) F. Cannavaro 5) F. Totti Overall; 02/03-12/13 1) Francesco Totti 2) A. Pirlo 3) Gigi Buffon 4) Del Piero 5) Alessandro Nesta
It's hard to choose between Pirlo, Totti and Buffon. All three have been the best player in the world at their respective positions during certain points of their careers. If we are talking strictly Serie A then I'm voting for Totti. Would have been considered one of the all time greats had he played for a bigger club. He's also been an incredibly consistent player who is still playing at a high level at 36 years old. For national team it's a tossup between Pirlo and Buffon.
What would Pirlo be for Italy if he didn't have Gattuso and now DDR protecting him though? It is either Buffon, who may be the all time greatest keeper, or Totti.
No doubt Pirlo. Just look at the 45 minutes he played in 2010 and the difference in the team. Or 2008 when he didn't play against Spain. I'll go as far as to say Pirlo is the best player ever for Italy.
at the same time, look at how well Italy did in 2004 with Totti suspended with a somewhat similar squad to the one that won the WC in 2006. Totti makes those around him better while Pirlo, though great in his own right, needs the players around him to enhance his level. but that doesn't matter because Buffon > Pirlo always.
Personally? 2006 Fabio Cannavaro was on another level. Same with 2006 Buffon. Pirlo has been consistently immense for years now. Those three are at the top. Totti does deserve a mention too.
Pirlo no doubt if your talking jut NT. Spain was facing weaker competition during their run. Italy had to contend with stiff European and a loaded brazil from 00-04.