Best Forwards / year-by-year

[Gregoriak]

This was compiled in analogy to the best defenders thread (highest-placed forward in each year`s “European Footballer of the Year” poll since 1956).

Here goes:


1956 047 Stanley MATTHEWS (England/Blackpool FC)
1957 014 John CHARLES (Wales/Juventus Torino)
1958 040 Helmut RAHN (W Germany/RW Essen)
1959 024 John CHARLES (Wales/Juventus Torino)
1960 037 Ferenc PUSKAS (Hungary/Real Madrid)
1961 022 John HAYNES (England/Fulham FC)
1962 056 EUSEBIO (Portugal/Benfica Lisboa)
1963 051 James GREAVES (England/Tottenham Hotspur)
1964 061 Dennis LAW (Scotland/Manchester United)
1965 070 EUSEBIO (Portugal/Benfica Lisboa)
1966 080 EUSEBIO (Portugal/Benfica Lisboa)
1967 068 Florian ALBERT (Hungary/Ferencváros Budapest)
1968 061 George BEST (Northern Ireland/Manchester United)
1969 079 Gigi RIVA (Italy/US Cagliari)
1970 077 Gerd MULLER (W Germany/Bayern Munich)
1971 116 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands/Ajax Amsterdam)
1972 079 Gerd MULLER (W Germany/Bayern Munich)
1973 096 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands/Ajax Amsterdam)
1974 116 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands/Ajax Amsterdam)
1975 122 Oleg BLOKHIN (Soviet Union/Dynamo Kiev)
1976 075 Robbie RENSENBRINK (Netherlands/RSC Anderlecht)
1977 074 Allan SIMONSEN (Denmark/Borussia Moenchengladbach)
1978 087 Kevin KEEGAN (England/Hamburger SV)
1979 118 Kevin KEEGAN (England/Hamburger SV)
1980 122 Karl-Heinz RUMMENIGGE (W Germany/Bayern Munich)
1981 106 Karl-Heinz RUMMENIGGE (W Germany/Bayern Munich)
1982 115 Paolo ROSSI (Italy/Juventus Torino)
1983 026 Kenny DALGLISH (Scotland/Liverpool FC)
1984 048 Preben ELKJAER-LARSEN (Denmark/Hellas Verona)
1985 071 Preben ELKJAER-LARSEN (Denmark/Hellas Verona)
1986 062 Gary LINEKER (England/FC Barcelona)
1987 106 Ruud GULLIT (Netherlands/AC Milan)
1988 129 Marco VAN BASTEN (Netherlands/AC Milan)
1989 119 Marco VAN BASTEN (Netherlands/AC Milan)
1990 084 Salvadore SCHILLACI (Italy/Juventus Torino)
1991 141 Jean-Pierre PAPIN (France/Olympique Marseille)
1992 098 Marco VAN BASTEN (Netherlands/AC Milan)
1993 142 Roberto BAGGIO (Italy/Juventus Torino)
1994 210 Hristo STOITCHKOV (Bulgaria/FC Barcelona)
1995 144 George WEAH (Liberia/Paris St. Germain)
1997 141 RONALDO (Brazil/FC Barcelona)
1997 222 RONALDO (Brazil/Inter Milan)
1998 068 Davor SUKER (Croatia/Real Madrid)
1999 064 Andriy SHEVCHENKO (Ukraine/AC Milan)
2000 085 Andriy SHEVCHENKO (Ukraine/AC Milan)
2001 176 Michael OWEN (England/Liverpool FC)
2002 171 RONALDO (Brazil/Real Madrid)
2003 128 Thierry HENRY (France/Arsenal London)


It was sometimes problematic defining whether a player was a forward or a midfielder, especially in the 1950s. Alfredo di Stéfano and Raymond Kopa, for example, technically played centre forward (in the old WM-system), but I view them more as playmakers. On the other side, Ferenc Puskas played inside right most of the time (WM-system), but I view him more as a forward than a midfielder. I wasn`t that sure about Ruud Gullit in 1987 - more of a midfielder or more of a forward?

[tomo]

Hard to tell, I'd say a very attacking midfielder.

[Gregoriak]

If the 1987 Gullit was a midfielder, I would get to the next problem: the second-placed Paolo Futre. Same question as with Gullit!

[tomo]

If the 1987 Gullit was a midfielder, I would get to the next problem: the second-placed Paolo Futre. Same question as with Gullit!

Damn, I see the problem. Anyone?

[Gregoriak]

The third-played player would pose no such problem: Emilio Butragueno!

[dor02]

If the 1987 Gullit was a midfielder, I would get to the next problem: the second-placed Paolo Futre. Same question as with Gullit!

Wasn't Elkjaer an attacking midfielder?

[Gregoriak]

I think he was an outright forward. I`m pretty sure about that.