Greatest Modern Player ??

[Northy#5]

My two favorite players for sure

Zidane-Amazing. He was a genius. A playmaker and a goal scorer. Best mid of his era.

Ronaldo-Great forward before he got hurt (and fat). Could finish anything

go here for zidane:http://youtube.com/watch?v=IOELa_luz5s&feature=related

[Massimo_Oddo]

My two favorite players for sure

Zidane-Amazing. He was a genius. A playmaker and a goal scorer. Best mid of his era.

Ronaldo-Great forward before he got hurt (and fat). Could finish anything

go here for zidane:http://youtube.com/watch?v=IOELa_luz5s&feature=related

Can't agree with that.

Juve fans were not very happy with his lack of goals given that he was given so much freedom. I don't see how you can call him the best midfielder of his era! In Serie A, Veron and Rui Costa were better than him and in La Liga Ronaldinho was better than him for most of his time there.

Ronaldo is still a great finisher today.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

So the newbie comes straight in with the usual Zidane crap. :rolleyes:

[Kufibear]

weird how defenders always get ignored in these type threads(and also at awards etc)
which modern player has been consistent on the highest level like maldini?
no one comes close

[The Sun King]

Ronaldo in his prime, this man was/is the best of his generation. Only Zidane comes close...

Ronaldo in his prime is simply in the level as both Pele and Maradona!

[nickknx865]

Being a really biased Barca fan, my pick goes to Ronaldinho. I think he still is one of the best 10 players on the plane.t

[maestri09]

The one that comes to mind first is definitely Ronaldo (aka el Fenomeno). Whenever he had the ball, you were always expecting magic. More than Ronaldinho, and waay more than messi.

Also, a good mention has to be made to Romario. I believe he has scored the most goals in this era, so that has to count for something.

Also Zidane, R. Baggio, Alan Shearer, Jose Luis Chilavert--and If you're going with defenses, I'd say Fernando Hierro.

[Kulspruta]

1- Ronaldo
2- Romário
3- Maldini
4- Schmeichel
5- Baggio
6- Bergkamp
7- Zidane
''''' Rivaldo
9- Ronaldinho
10- Redondo

From the top of my head, it would probably be a little different if I had some more time to think.

[SterNYork]

1- Ronaldo
2- Romário
3- Maldini
4- Schmeichel
5- Baggio
6- Bergkamp
7- Zidane
''''' Rivaldo
9- Ronaldinho
10- Redondo

From the top of my head, it would probably be a little different if I had some more time to think.


Where's Henry?

[Cassano]

I know I have my Italian bias, but for me it's Roberto Baggio.

Definitely the best Italian player of the modern era, although you could also make a case for Maldini.

Baggio reached the 200 goal milestone in Serie A, something that hadn't been done since Altafini.

His play was all class, relying on brilliant skill and technique.

His two problems however were that 1) coaches for some reason never liked him 2) he was playing on 2 major knee surgeries.

Someone like Zidane may have won much more than Baggio, but for me Baggio was much more greater than Zidane.

[phil80]

Baggio was one of the modern greats but players like Ronaldo, Romario, Zidane, Rivaldo would be ranked higher imo.

[jpick]

i think it has to be maldini for me. i mean what other player from this era has a good chance to be on the world all-time XI? (I know, i know, the competition at left back isn't as high as at other positions but even legends like carlos alberto, nilton santos and facchetti in 20 years will be looked upon lower than maldini i think)

other than him, baggio, romario, rivaldo, buffon (when it's all said and done i think he will be remembered as better than the great dane and kahn and others), and zidane for me (not in that order per say) with special mention of ronaldo, who would have been the best had not injuries derailed him.

[justboy]

Zidane - nobody else comes close.

[phil80]

yeah, maldini would be one as well and i agree that buffon can surpass kahn

[Cassano]

Baggio was one of the modern greats but players like Ronaldo, Romario, Zidane, Rivaldo would be ranked higher imo.

I think the only things Rivaldo and Zidane did better than Baggio was win a couple of more trophies (WC, CL, etc.), but Romario and Ronaldo I could agree with.

[Cassano]

yeah, maldini would be one as well and i agree that buffon can surpass kahn

I think Buffon will definitely surpass Kahn. Buffon has always stated he wants to play until he's 40, so that gives him lots of time to have many more successes.

[ranny fash]

maldini
ronaldo
schmeichel
romario
keane
baggio
zidane
nesta
bergkamp

[kingkong1]

From 1983 on?...

I think he's got to be among the players who led their clubs or countries to great world performances (followed by titles or not).

Hagi, Stoichkov, Baggio and Maldini, Romário, Bebeto, Mauro Silva and Taffarel were great names in 1994.

Zidane and Ronaldo in 1998.

Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kahn (till before the last game) in 2002.

Zidane and Buffon in 2006.

The most successful: Ronaldo (4 WCs, 2 titles, 1 runner-up).

The most complete: Zidane.

Well...Zidane!
________________________________________________________________

PS: Although I know that the thread starter meant as 'modern' the last 15 years, I disagree with that classification.

I'd prefer to use the word 'contemporary'.

'Modern' has already been used to define Stanley Matthews, Puskas, Garrincha (absolutely modern!), Best, Pelé, Beckenbauer, Bobby Charlton, Cruyjff, Zico, Maradona etc.

For me 'modern' were all the players who revolutionized football and contributed to its evolution.

And as far as 'modernity' is concerned, compared to those guys our 'modern' contemporary players are still WAY behind them...

[BobanFan]

Zidane and Buffon in 2006.

The most complete: Zidane.

Well...Zidane!

I sense Teso is going to post very soon.:D

[kingkong1]

I sense Teso is going to post very soon.Do you sense Teso that often? :eek: ...