Greatest Modern Player ??

[Twix]

This isn't the thread for the Peles and Maradonas of this world to take mainstage. It's more a thread to see what constitutes modern greatness these days. So while the Henrys and Tottis arguably look out of place in an all timer list, maybe they are what it constitutes a modern great ??

So by modern, I mean after the glory days of Maradona, probably the last all timer to come to the fore. So I ask that only players that were active after 1993 to be considered. Any achievements, active players, goals scored etc., Pre 1993 is irrelevant for the purpose of this thread to prevent people from comparing Stephen Bywater to Lev Yashin, Emile Heskey to Gerd Muller and so on...:rolleyes:

The main criteria, is their ability, achievements, personal role in team's success and their overall skill and effiency.

With all that being said, I defy someone to say that Phil Neville isn't the best player of Modern Times...:p

[Perú FC]

For me, Zinedine Zidane without any doubt, and would consider players as Gabriel Batistuta, Gianluigi Buffon, Romario, Peter Schmeichel, Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Franco Baresi, Kaká, Ronaldinho, Dennis Bergkamp, Andriy Shevchenko, Pavel Nedved, Íker Casillas, Rivaldo, Paolo Maldini, Oliver Kahn, Luis Figo, Edgar Davids, Lilian Thuram, Roberto Baggio, Carlos Valderrama or maybe already Cristiano Ronaldo.

[Sukhwa]

Whether it's true or not, history will remember Zidane as the greatest player of our times. His respectable list of trophies and awards, his longetivity, memorable "big match" performances and crowd pleasing silky skills makes him a media favourite. Sure he's not as great as some people make him out to be, but in my opinion he's as good a choice as any other player.

As for me, Ronaldo is the player I'll remember this era for. His pre-injury performances were so out of this world, I don't think I've ever seen the same level of play from ANYONE ever since his knees gave way. Maybe those few years of superhuman play isn't enough to place him at the top of the list (his post-injury performances sure as hell isn't), but I don't think I can put anyone above him knowing that, back in his "prime", a 21 year old Ronaldo was playing on a different level compared to whoever was playing at the time.

[Twix]

For me, Zinedine Zidane without any doubt, and would consider players as Gabriel Batistuta, Gianluigi Buffon, Romario, Peter Schmeichel, Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Franco Baresi, Kaká, Ronaldinho, Dennis Bergkamp, Andriy Shevchenko, Pavel Nedved, Íker Casillas, Rivaldo, Paolo Maldini, Oliver Kahn, Luis Figo, Edgar Davids, Lilian Thuram, Roberto Baggio, Carlos Valderrama or maybe already Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nice list but Davids look out of place and Cristiano and Kaka don't deserve contenders yet.

For me at Club level, it's Ryan Giggs
International Level, it's Ronaldo

If forced to back a Greatest all rounder, i would just play it safe and chose Paolo Maldini.


Whether it's true or not, history will remember Zidane as the greatest player of our times. His respectable list of trophies and awards, his longetivity, memorable "big match" performances and crowd pleasing silky skills makes him a media favourite. Sure he's not as great as some people make him out to be, but in my opinion he's as good a choice as any other player.

Totally agree. He wouldn't make my top 10 of all time but I agree that he should be a contender for gratest modern player.

[drahnier]

Paolo Maldini is among the most obvious ones to me.

And yes, Zidane is obvious as well.

There's Michael Laudrup, George Hagi. (Ok Hagi might be doubtful, but he was a charming player.)
Cantona?

Oh and Lothar Matthäus, easily.

Picking just one is impossible though, i'm just mentioning some names that weren't mentioned earlier. (apart from the first 2)

[Perú FC]

and Cristiano and Kaka don't deserve contenders yet.
That's because maybe you're giving an upperweight to the years of career, could be a reason to making doubts really. That's the reason I can't be sure about Cristiano Ronaldo yet, because I don't remember him in Sporting Lisboa and only I began to watch him in Manchester United, where his first performances weren't too fantastic for his criticized individualism. Otherwise, Kaká, I could watch him since his debut in Sao Paulo 6 years ago, and I think he had always a good level, enough for me to consider him already.

Oh and Lothar Matthäus, easily.
A great player :), but if MrTwix69 only considers since 1993, I think his best performances were before.

[Twix]

Oh and Lothar Matthäus, easily.

Matthaus easily...:confused:

If Matthaus is an easy one, then Keane is an even easier one as I think he's been better than him in modern times.

Keane was the driving force behind United for 12 years in which they won 7 league titles, 4 FA cups and a CL title to boot. He bossed every midfielder in the league and was rarely outdone. He was a player built to drive teams on to win trophies.

Matthaus was a great player but what he achieved with Bayern and Inter in the 80s is irrelevant for this thread and that weakens his claim.

[Twix]

That's because maybe you're giving an upperweight to the years of career, could be a reason to making doubts really.



Correct, while aesthetically(sp?) there can be a case for Kaka and Cristiano. The length of their careers are their shortcomings. Compare Kaka to Paul Scholes, while both at a great level, Scholes has been greater for longer.

If Kaka keeps performing the way he is, no doubt he should be included in a couple of years. But him and Cristiano shouldn't even be in the reckoning imo.

[drahnier]

A great player :), but if MrTwix69 only considers since 1993, I think his best performances were before

Matthaus was a great player but what he achieved with Bayern and Inter in the 80s is irrelevant for this thread and that weakens his claim.
I missed the part where he said everything before 1993 should be ignored.

Too bad.

[Twix]

Picking just one is impossible though

I agree, might as well revert to a good ol' top 10 list.

1. Paolo Maldini - The best defender in the 'Modern' era.

2. Ryan Giggs - United's most decorated player and a magnificent player to boot. Been doing it at the highest level for 15 years and counting.

3. Ronaldo - Breathtaking but his injury really messed him up. Still scored goals where he went though

4. Keane - The best box to box midfielder the Premier league has ever seen.

5. Romario - May be controversial to put him as low as 4th. One of the great goalscorers of all time even.

6. Zidane - Unnecessarily overhyped, but I struggle not to put him in my top 10. Beautiful player to watch

7. Schmeichel - May be a pattern..:p Seriously he was a dominating presence for United and you'll struggle to find many modern keepers that were as influential as him

7. Gabriel Batistuta - A great striker who achieved alot at club and international level.

8. Francesco Totti - Always sparkles. Not many can boast to havin a season that he has just had.

9. Claude Makelele - Galactitos went on a 3 year trophy drought when he left. Chelsea entered a new age of dominance when he came.

10. Thierry Henry - A Domestic God. A scorer of great goals.


.

Honorable Mentions: Scholes, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Buffon, Nedved, Baresi, Shearer, Desially, Figo, Valderrama, Kahn, Cafu, Ballack, Shevchenko, Desailly, Casillas.

I'm shocked at the players I left out..:eek:. I'll probably look at this tomorrow and regret some of my choices.

[drahnier]

What about Cannavaro and Nesta?

Maybe Roberto Carlos just for being such an icon, even though he's highly overhyped, especially his freekicks.

[impalemeplz]

i tried to go with; born between 65 and 79. ie between van basten and ronaldinho. my top 45 as follows;

henry, bergkamp, batigol, romario, ronaldo, sheva, weah, cantona, rvn, baggio, totti, raul, vieri, stoichkov, shearer

figo, zidane, pires, deco, macca, nedved, rui costa, rivaldo, giggs, luis enrique

veron, scholes, pirlo, boban, pep

davids, vieira, keane, ince, makelele

cafu, carlos, thuram, maldini

nesta, desailly, stam, campbell

buffon
schmeichel

i agree with some of the other posts. zidane will be looked back at as the best of this generation. my estimation is rivaldo. he was the 2nd most important player for barca, behind pep, and 2nd most important for brazil-behind ronaldo. he had alot of unique skills whereas zidane relied mainly on his pirouettes.

my personal fav is bergkamp.

[Silva 5]

the likes of Zidane, Maldini, Ronaldo, Bergkamp, Henry, Beckham

[Berean Todd]

the likes of Zidane, Maldini, Ronaldo, Bergkamp, Henry, Beckham

Drop Beckham, add in Roberto Baggio, Gabriel Batistuta and maybe an Alan Shearer. My top five would be:

1. Ronaldo
2. Maldini
3 (tied). Zidane + Baggio

[Antonio81]

This isn't the thread for the Peles and Maradonas of this world to take mainstage.

So by modern, I mean after the glory days of Maradona, probably the last all timer to come to the fore. So I ask that only players that were active after 1993 to be considered. Any achievements, active players, goals scored etc., Pre 1993 is irrelevant for the purpose of this thread to prevent people from comparing Stephen Bywater to Lev Yashin, Emile Heskey to Gerd Muller and so on...:rolleyes:

The main criteria, is their ability, achievements, personal role in team's success and their overall skill and effiency.
Thing is, Maradona was active during and after 1993...

BjFuzVUEJdY


So he takes the cake.

[bigpoppapump]

how about Fernando Redondo , I think he deserves to be up there.

[Twix]

I knew someone would mention the Maradona still being active but to be fair between 1993 and now, there are players that achieved more and arguably some that played better than he did.

[phil80]

I agree, might as well revert to a good ol' top 10 list.

1. Paolo Maldini - The best defender in the 'Modern' era.

2. Ryan Giggs - United's most decorated player and a magnificent player to boot. Been doing it at the highest level for 15 years and counting.

3. Ronaldo - Breathtaking but his injury really messed him up. Still scored goals where he went though

4. Keane - The best box to box midfielder the Premier league has ever seen.

5. Romario - May be controversial to put him as low as 4th. One of the great goalscorers of all time even.

6. Zidane - Unnecessarily overhyped, but I struggle not to put him in my top 10. Beautiful player to watch

7. Schmeichel - May be a pattern..:p Seriously he was a dominating presence for United and you'll struggle to find many modern keepers that were as influential as him

7. Gabriel Batistuta - A great striker who achieved alot at club and international level.

8. Francesco Totti - Always sparkles. Not many can boast to havin a season that he has just had.

9. Claude Makelele - Galactitos went on a 3 year trophy drought when he left. Chelsea entered a new age of dominance when he came.

10. Thierry Henry - A Domestic God. A scorer of great goals.


.

Honorable Mentions: Scholes, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Buffon, Nedved, Baresi, Shearer, Desially, Figo, Valderrama, Kahn, Cafu, Ballack, Shevchenko, Desailly, Casillas.

I'm shocked at the players I left out..:eek:. I'll probably look at this tomorrow and regret some of my choices.
Giggs, Totti, Henry do not deserve to be ranked higher than Ronaldinho. Giggs has been consistent for several years but has never reached the level of dominance of Ronaldinho. Totti, though Italy's best player in recent years (and still is), has also not had the same impact. I would put Henry on the same level as van Nistelrooy in terms of their history (now Nistelrooy looks leagues better than henry), and henry has been done very little on the international level

[Twix]

Giggs has been consistent for several years but has never reached the level of dominance of Ronaldinho.

That's pretty laughable. Giggs has ben consistent for more than several years, try his whole career. He has won the most accolades in United's history and was just about pivotal to winning all of them. While I agree Ronaldinho was breathtaking for 3 years, Ronaldinho's brilliant 3 years are not enough to override 15 years of top quality performances. Ronaldinho hasn't even won half of what Giggs has won but you have somehow come to the conclusion that Ronaldinho has done more for football since 1993 than Giggs. Come on.

Totti, though Italy's best player in recent years (and still is), has also not had the same impact.

Totti got the nod over Ronaldinho simple for longevity while Ronaldinho seems to have fallen off the rails of late. Totti plays in a team that plays without a proper striker, but still managed to score 26 league goals. That's just plain remarkable. Ronaldinho's partying seems to have affected him while Totti hs been putting unerring consistent performances for Roma in the last 10 years so that tipped it into Totti's favour.

I would put Henry on the same level as van Nistelrooy in terms of their history (now Nistelrooy looks leagues better than henry), and henry has been done very little on the international level

I made a booboo by forgetting Ruud...:o

I flopped by putting Henry in at tenth. Forgot to factor in International and CL performances for Henry. I'll concede then that Ronaldinho should of been put ahead of Henry.

[gmonn]

That's pretty laughable. Giggs has ben consistent for more than several years, try his whole career. He has won the most accolades in United's history and was just about pivotal to winning all of them. While I agree Ronaldinho was breathtaking for 3 years, Ronaldinho's brilliant 3 years are not enough to override 15 years of top quality performances. Ronaldinho hasn't even won half of what Giggs has won but you have somehow come to the conclusion that Ronaldinho has done more for football since 1993 than Giggs. Come on.


Giggs vs. Ronaldinho? This isn't about being an ambassador or an old man at your club. Funny how Man Utd. players always come out on top in their supporters' minds. So much rationalization, but nobody else is ever convinced.