What constitutes a world class footballer?

Obviously, for a footballer to be world class, he must be among the best at his position. But where is the cutoff? Top 4? 5? 10? Surely, the 11th best at any position shouldn't be considered world class.

Please post your opinions. Thanx

My definition of World Class is someone who I'd consider if selecting a World XI to play a team from another planet (and no, I don't want to get into a discussion about the possibility of life on Mars, Jupiter or any other planet).
With that in mind you're probably looking at no more than the top 2 or 3 in any position.

In my opinion a world class footballer is anybody that performs consistently well at the highest levels e.g. Champions League, Barclays premier league, Serie A, Bundesliga, and La Liga. Most players can play multiple positions so saying that they have to be in the top whatever amount for whatever position to be world class is wrong.

Yes, but every footballer has a position he is most effective in. Narrow it down to that, then tell how many players per position are worthy to be considered world class.

It's not based on how many players per position are world class, it's mostly determined on quality and clutch...e.g.: many would not have considered Pirlo in the top three at his position anymore, but this Euro showed he is indeed world class. Another example for your tiny little mind: during the eighties, at one point all of Maradona, Platini, Zico, Socrates, Boniek, Francescoli, Bochini, Futre, Michel, Schuster and Magico were playing at or close to their peak, meaning all of them world class playmakers. So it's not about an arbitrary number but rather some eras will have more world class players than others in certain positions.

Then I would say probably top 10, but it varies depending on position.

No, you see, the title "world class" implies comparative talent. That's why they add in the word "world". Meaning, how good is this player in comparison with the rest of the world.

If all footballers this instant became as good as Messi, not all would be world class. They would all be very good, but that's where the description ends. "World class" means upper tier of footballers, and thus there should be a clear-cut cutoff so that we're not all living by different definitions like a bunch of fools.

Tu eres el que tiene la mente pequeña si no comprendes lo que significa "nivel mundial". No solamente significa que son buenos jugadores.

If all the world's footballers became retarded, there still would be a world class. The top tier. It would be good to distinctively define the cutoff point for that top tier. Once again, "world class" doesn't just mean "damn good footballers".

Good enough to start for Man U, Real Madrid, Barca, juve, Bayern, Chelsea type clubs.

World class should not be a comparative measure but rather absolute - is it a player who may be viewed amongst the very best to have played that position ever? If so, then they are world class. For example, Bernd Schuster to me was a world class player with an illustrious career, but he probably ranked outside of the top five playmakers during his time, as Maradona, Platini, Zico, Boniek, Valderrama and Francescoli are probably ahead.

As for the bolded part, what the hell man? Just trying to have a civilized exploratory discussion here.

I think he means current players, but I gave an example from the eighties to illustrate how there may be more than three, or even six, players that are world class at a given positin. Likewise, you may use the nineties for the centerforward striker position: Ronaldo, Batistuta, Shearer, Romario, Vieri, Balbo, Suker, Morientes.

What is the essential difference between those two?

1986 and 1987, Futre was the young starlet at Porto whiel Boniek still had it while at Roma. They were both the playmakers for their respective teams, though Boniek usually dropped deeper at this time.

To me, a world class player would be one you'd seriously consider for a world XI. I don't think you can put an exact number of on it, as it'd vary according to the quality in that position at any one time. You'd be unlikely to go beyond 4 or 5 though.

Amongst the best of this type in the world. what else does the word "world-class" mean?

How many games have you seen of Porto or Atletico Madrid with him?

I always thought that he was the central figure of his team, even more so than Boniek.

Hey man, I was just responding to your personal attack with the bolded part.

I disagree that it should be an absolute measure. It can't be, there's a reason why "world" is used as an adjective here. Specifically to judge them in comparison to their worldwide peers.

In this context, it isn't to judge whether they are amongst the very best to have played that position ever. Just among current players.

Well, in the interest of free speech, the discussion is simply for posters to clarify what constitutes a world class footballer, in their view. As far as historical players, they are to be judged by year. For example, one can say a certain footballer was world class in a given year, but not anymore.

Judging whether a footballer had a world class career is an entirely different matter, and perhaps can warrant its own thread. Or ifhof.com

Good point

I agree with you. It is ridiculous that a Mats Hummels is seen as 'world class'. If that is true, than Cassano and Balotelli are supadupa world class.

Similarly, RVP was last season regarded as best player of the Premier League but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was a 'class' better - and showed it at various teams and leagues too.



And as you pointed out before: some players with one Ballon d'Or are superior to players with two Ballon d'Ors.

By the way, I hate the term 'world class', because it is invented by kicker and somehow people are incorporating that worthless concept; it is again testament to the hard and soft power of the Germans in the world.

Hummels deemed as world class, lol. I thin what the current generation has depth is in wingers, with Messi, Ronaldo, Robben, Ribery, DiMaria, Silva, Navas, Robinho, Maluoda, Nani, Gaitan, Neymar all excelling at the position.

Neither of them are pure wingers. Robben was one, but they diluted him.

Not everyone is equally good too. Now you have Malouda, who is past his peak by the way, and Di Maria; 15 years ago you had Fuser who was of an equal level.

That doesn’t mean much. Oleguer and Edmilson used to start for Barca, Gravesen, Albiol for Madrid, Paolo Ferreira and Duff for Chelsea, Jones, and Roy Carroll for Man Utd, etc...

Good enough to I said; a player like Graveson was always out of his depth and moved on quickly. Duff was awesome btw and if someone like Jones doesn't improve he won't start.

All this top 5 in there position type talk is bull really(just a fans subjective list), you might as well trust the managers that spend the money and are employed for their knowledge.

Duff was pretty good but he was never world class. Jones is shit. Oleguer was shit and he started in a CL final for Barca