Future All Time Greats

[usain2010]

To be an all time great, you have to stand the test of time. An all time great is like a legend among legends. Very few players can achieve such when it matlegendary status. Not only must you posess uncanny ability but also perform when it matters. Who will be the next crop of all time greats. Who will people mention from this generation 50 years plus from now... for whenever the game is continued to be played.
* When you list someone you need to mention their credentials and key performances.

FW:Ronaldo- 4 goals in World Cup 1998, and 8 goals in World Cup 2002, which is a total of 12 goals in World Cup play so far... amazing goal record in club play apparently according to my calculations Ronaldo has a greater than .8 strike rate average after playing for around a decade in the game... he is unstoppable when his knee doesnt bother him!
MF: Zidane... will be remembered for his play at WC 98 and Euro 2000... has played for Juventus at their height and plays for Real Madrid who seemingly have been dominating UEFA Champions League play for the past 4 seasons or so... simply the best!
DF:Maldini- has won everything at club level... has started for milan for as long as i have been alive... has played and started in many world cup games... an amazing defender who just seems almost impossible to get past when he is at his best... However Italy's performance at 2002 world cup could count against him...

[Knave]

This is a tad off topic here. I'll move it to The Beautiful Game board. That's really the place for this discussion.

Check the FIFA & Tournaments board FAQ or PM me with questions.

[Doctor Stamen]

Damien Duff has an outside chance, despite being from an unglamourous country (Ireland).

[jd2084]

Originally posted by Doctor Stamen
Damien Duff has an outside chance, despite being from an unglamourous country (Ireland).

If I'm not mistaken isn't Duff 22 or 23 years old? Although he does have a chance to be that good, I would pick a different young player - Michael Owen.

His performances in the big games is legendary:

Goal in '98 WC
'01 FA Cup Final
WC Qualifying vs. Germany
UEFA Cup

[Doctor Stamen]

Yes he is of that age, but Owen is constantly injured, as is Ronaldo. A better choice may be Van Niistlerooy.

[Leto]

Van Nistelrooy's only had one good season at the very top level (phenomenal scoring record with PSV, but by that going then Henrik Larsson's place in legend is secured). He's definately one of the best strikers in the world right now, but a legend? Not yet.

[toot86]

Ronaldo isnt the best... He plays with brazil how hard is it going to be to score with brazil.. You got millions of options thrown at you.. To be the best with brazil you have to atleast get 5 goals per game because thats how many chances you get to score ... Its the same with Pele Mostly every forward playing for brazil will get goals its the easiest thing they give you soo much space to shoot.. They midfielders help the forwards soo much that they only have to be in a good position and place kick it good... The goals Ronaldo got werent of high tecnique he was just there at the right time and he hit the ball at the corner..But Ronaldo might be a good forward but he is over hyped.. Christian Veri is much better then him because he plays with Italy wich is the most defensive team ever!

[BrianCappellieri]

Originally posted by toot86
Ronaldo isnt the best... He plays with brazil how hard is it going to be to score with brazil..

Another classic Toot post. :D

Don't you think it means something to make the Brazilian national team? To be considered the best player in the world by many and win awards? To win a World Cup? You're such an idiot Toot.

[Doctor Stamen]

If Ronaldo hadn't have had all those injuries, he'd obviously be a much better player than he is now, and would definately be a legend.

If Beckham reproduced the sort of form in the WC qualifiers (e.g. against Greece) in the WC itself, he could have been considered.

Shearer did OK in an average England team, and was nothing short of majestic prior to that pre-season knee injury whilst at Newcastle.

All the above would probably be considered 'very good' players by the time they retire, rather than out-and-out legends like Pele, Moore or Yashin.

[Naco]

Originally posted by usain2010
To be an all time great, you have to stand the test of time. An all time great is like a legend among legends. Very few players can achieve such when it matlegendary status. Not only must you posess uncanny ability but also perform when it matters. Who will be the next crop of all time greats. Who will people mention from this generation 50 years plus from now... for whenever the game is continued to be played.
* When you list someone you need to mention their credentials and key performances.

FW:Ronaldo- 4 goals in World Cup 1998, and 8 goals in World Cup 2002, which is a total of 12 goals in World Cup play so far... amazing goal record in club play apparently according to my calculations Ronaldo has a greater than .8 strike rate average after playing for around a decade in the game... he is unstoppable when his knee doesnt bother him!
MF: Zidane... will be remembered for his play at WC 98 and Euro 2000... has played for Juventus at their height and plays for Real Madrid who seemingly have been dominating UEFA Champions League play for the past 4 seasons or so... simply the best!
DF:Maldini- has won everything at club level... has started for milan for as long as i have been alive... has played and started in many world cup games... an amazing defender who just seems almost impossible to get past when he is at his best... However Italy's performance at 2002 world cup could count against him...

In my opinion, 2 of these three (Zidane and Maldini) already are All-Time greats.

Sean

[Dave216J]

How about Kahn? He's won plenty of Bundesliga and German Cup trophies, led his team to a penalty shootout victory over Valencia in the Champions League after single-handedly keeping out Real in the semis, and just got the Golden Ball after personally taking his team to the WC Finals. And he'll probably still be in the nets for WC 06, at home. I think he'll go down as one of the all-time keepers.

[Naco]

Won't he be like 41 in '06??

Sean

[condor11]

Originally posted by Ekelund4life


In my opinion, 2 of these three (Zidane and Maldini) already are All-Time greats.

Sean
agreed
but its maldini and ronaldo not zidane

[Naco]

Disagree. As great as Ronaldo is (and I'm not saying is not) I believe that after '06, we will know that he is (or isn't) one of the all-time greats.

Sean

[soccerfan220]

Ekelund4life: no, he's either 31, or 33 now, so he should be there, in less Germany discovers a young awesome goalie like Buffon or Casillas, or he drops something like Canizares....Ronaldo, Maldini, and Zidane are already all-time greats. Ronaldo will probably bnreak the record of all-time goals, has been on two WC winning teams, and a runner-up, has two player of the years, a golden ball, and a WC top scorer, as well as being top scorer in Holland, Spain and Brazil.
Zidane has won two world player of the years, a world cup, a cl, and a euro championship. Platini is considered an all-time great and in my opinion Zidane surpasses Platini.
Maldini has won so many things don't even know. probably about 3 or 4 Cl's and about five scudetto's, as well as playing about 21 WC matches.

[Naco]

What about Hans-Jorg Butt (sp) Or Frank Rost (sp)? I wasn't sure on the age, I don't keep up to speed with zee germans, sorry.

Sean

[Slash/ED]

I'll put two Irish people forward, Dennis Irwin has won more trophys then any united player ever and Fergusson himself says he is his best ever buy and Roy Keane is a legend at Man United and is considered by most of their fans their best player.

[usain2010]

when posting try to have the paradigm of how we will view these players 20-30 years down the road

an all time great needs to dominate his generation

therefore zidane, one of the most talented players ever is a legend, but not an all time great... remember there is a difference!

players like Romario, Maldini, and Baggio could be viewed as all time greats because they dominated their generation

thats why i think ronaldo will be an all time great as well barring any more injuries...

[bocatuna]

Using the criteria of how players will viewed in 20-30 yrs time there is no doubt that Owen will be held as an all-time great . He will become England's all time top goal scorer, he will lead the line for Liverpool for the rest of his career and hopeful lead them to a new era of dominance. Though he is injury prone he still played 55 matches last season despite missing all of October. Judging from what he has achieved all ready in his career to date ( THAT goal against Argentina and his hat-trick against Germany) greatness must beckon. The same goes for Beckham (the last minute freekick against Greece).

[soccerfan220]

Of the players now, basically, Owen, Ronaldo, Kahn, Zidane, and Maldini.