top five players

[QuaresmaRonaldo]

i am not a regular viewer of epl except the team arsenal...but from the games i have seen him play, he doesn't seem like convincing me...i know, he is an allround and a complete player and yes, is freakishly fast.....but when i saw him against roma in the first leg and some of his games against man city, liverpool and chelsea, i noticed that his ball control is piss poor for the so-called "world's best player"...people are decieved by him...they think he has owesome close control but what he actually does is some tricks and beat the opponents with SPEED!...don't get me wrong bro, messi and kaka too use their speed...but they have better close control, may be equally pacey and surely have a better footballing brain....
and torres, yes, he is owesome...but torres was never hyped this much when he played in atletico madrid...is it coz he wasn't as good in the past as he is now??...certainly NO!...it's just coz he plays in epl and is scoring like crazy in a defensively weak league (compared to serie a and la liga)
and about totti, i don't wanna say anything coz my reasons may not mean anything to you......
my reasoning may sound bias but i'm just saying what i think

Bold #1
- You don't watch alot of EPL games? So, your opinion is flawed?

Bold #2
- Piss-Poor ball control? Apart from his speed, ball-control is his best weapon. Tricks = ball control!

Bold #3
- Messi and Kaka are quick players, but Cristiano can control the ball while carrying it at full speed. There's a difference.
- I agree, Kaka and Messi, are more creative as well as the more gifted playmakers, but Cristiano is the more superior technical player. He doesn't have a weakness - he's strong, uber-competitive, shoots with both feet, can head the ball, extremely fast, and is good from any set piece.

Bold # 4
- Bias isn't the word I'd use. To use your own words. Deceived? The only person you are deceiving is yourself. Cristiano is the best in the world this year.

[lems87]

Bold #1
- You don't watch alot of EPL games? So, your opinion is flawed?

Bold #2
- Piss-Poor ball control? Apart from his speed, ball-control is his best weapon. Tricks = ball control!

Bold #3
- Messi and Kaka are quick players, but Cristiano can control the ball while carrying it at full speed. There's a difference.
- I agree, Kaka and Messi, are more creative as well as the more gifted playmakers, but Cristiano is the more superior technical player. He doesn't have a weakness - he's strong, uber-competitive, shoots with both feet, can head the ball, extremely fast, and is good from any set piece.

Bold # 4
- Bias isn't the word I'd use. To use your own words. Deceived? The only person you are deceiving is yourself. Cristiano is the best in the world this year.


I have to agree with my learned friend, if you don't watch many Premier League games you can't comment seriously on players from them, I would say I've probably most televised games of Man U and Arsenal this season (I'm an arsenal fan) and I have to say Ronaldo is incredible. Most pundits believe that he's the best player in the world right now including Kaka himself so there really is no argument on the factor he is a shoe in for Fifa world player of the year! His ability to beat players, out muscle them, confuse them, score, supply, pass, move, overall be efficient and yet fancy is amazing. Just look at his goal tally this year!!! As a commentator recently said he's one of the few people who can probably run as fast with the ball as without it!

As for Aguero being one of the best players in the world...that is a bit tough, I don't think you could put him up in that league yet...doesn't mean I wouldn't mind if arsenal do manage to sign him which is what the rumours here are as we've been chatting to him for a while. Benzema is amazing for his abilty to carry a team, but the French league is pretty weak so we'll have to wait till he moves.

Pato is impressive sometimes but can come completely unstuck, he was useless against Arsenal when he was being closed down. But in the Italian league when he has time and space he seems more impressive.

Last point...how is Fabregas not in the best players 20 and under?? Fair enough he's had a low point towards the end of this year but he can still carry the team on his back when needed and he's only young and yet never seems rushed and his pass percentage is MASSIVE its usually up around 83% odd which is huge. He is probably the one person in the Arsenal team that us fans would be heartbroken to lose. As Mark Lawrensen on Football Focus today said "A player like Fabregas comes alone once every 20 years."

How you can include a player like Pato who has only been playing since January in Europe and not include a player like Fabregas who's been playing at Arsenal since he was 16 and only has occasional low periods is completely incomprehensible. Anderson has also had a pretty bad seaon by his standards, I think he's only scored 1 goal? And he also keeps making mistakes despite looking very nice on the ball.

[lems87]

my list isn't based on the Player's current FORM, they were based on CLASS!!...yes, CR is the most in form player currently, but that doesn't really mean that he is the best player...c'mon, even adebayor was scoring loads of goals early this season and he was ON FORM!...
ronaldo is talented, no doubt...but he just doesn't cut it for me....personally, it was hard for me to pick # 1 bestween kaka and messi...but i prefered the latter due to personal likeliness and his exquisite ball control.....
i was confused between whom to put on my # 5. either aguero or torres...but i decided aguero because i think he is a better overall player even if he isn't scoring like crazy.....but torres would surely be on my top 10 list, alongside ibra, fabregas, pirlo and riquelme
about totti....one of you said he doesn't deserve top 5???...time after time , it is proven that he is one of the most underrated player...


Kaka is probably one of the most arrogant players currently playing, fair play he's very good, but even he this season agreed "CR" as you call him is the best player in the world at the moment. He's scoring in every game, at the moment the "Fab 3" (Ronaldo Rooney and Tevez) are the best attack force in Europe, there isnt really anything to argue about that as no other team comes close. 33 games so far - 50 goals between these 3 players. If CR isnt class, how come he was third for player of the year this year...it's not just some one seaon wonder, you have to obviously be seriously good to be named in the top three players. If he doesn't cut it for you I'm happy you're not a commentator.

I'm sure people will say Barca, but LOOK AT THEM! They're falling apart through drinking and partying, Gio Dos Santos doesnt even bother turning up for training half the time. Henry is on the left wing and not able to perform, Ronaldinho has fallen out and is leaving, Messi is injured, Eto'o isnt performing, Bojan is doing well but hes one player, for gods sake the lost to Betis being 2-0 up!

Final thing, if you're talking about class, not current form, how can you put Aguero in, he's 'potential' not class, he has the potential to be amazing but Torres was brilliant in Spain, came to England and is brilliant here, surely he is higher in class? Otherwise I just don't understand you're ranking system.

[phil80]

Bold #1
- You don't watch alot of EPL games? So, your opinion is flawed?

Bold #2
- Piss-Poor ball control? Apart from his speed, ball-control is his best weapon. Tricks = ball control!

Bold #3
- Messi and Kaka are quick players, but Cristiano can control the ball while carrying it at full speed. There's a difference.
- I agree, Kaka and Messi, are more creative as well as the more gifted playmakers, but Cristiano is the more superior technical player. He doesn't have a weakness - he's strong, uber-competitive, shoots with both feet, can head the ball, extremely fast, and is good from any set piece.

Bold # 4
- Bias isn't the word I'd use. To use your own words. Deceived? The only person you are deceiving is yourself. Cristiano is the best in the world this year.
At the moment, Ronaldo is the best player (mainly because Messi has been injured for so long), but he is not a more superior technical player. Players like Messi, Pirlo, Iniesta are more technically sound than Ronaldo. All three have better close control and better in tight areas. Ronaldo has other qualities superior to them but technical play is not one of them.

[lems87]

At the moment, Ronaldo is the best player (mainly because Messi has been injured for so long), but he is not a more superior technical player. Players like Messi, Pirlo, Iniesta are more technically sound than Ronaldo. All three have better close control and better in tight areas. Ronaldo has other qualities superior to them but technical play is not one of them.

Seriously? Football fans I know have various nicknames for him, crybaby, balletboy, but the most used one is 'glueboots,' the ball seems to stick to his feet, there are some videos I'll try and find of him training that will show you but his close control is brilliant. Messi is great I think his balls skills are fantastic and he has a low centre of gravity but he's not as much of a rounded football player as Ronaldo. Ronaldo is more similar to Kaka buy a flying winger that can also play up front, Ronaldo could play striker, winger, midfield, anywhere really and he is still dangerous, take Messi away from his little spot behind the striker and hes not as effective. Kaka can boss people around as well as having beautiful skills as well but is not playing as well this year, Messi on the other hand comes unstuck against more agressive opposition, it happened against Chelsea a few years back I seem to remember. ANYWAY the Man U vs. Barca games soon should hopefully shed some light on who is better, altho Ronaldo has a habbit of being rather more efficient than beautiful in the champions league...Messi isnt as great either, hopefully they'll sort that out.

[Dr. Know]

ANYWAY the Man U vs. Barca games soon should hopefully shed some light on who is better, altho Ronaldo has a habbit of being rather more efficient than beautiful in the champions league...Messi isnt as great either, hopefully they'll sort that out.

Messi is just coming back from injury. Judging by his past injuries and the time it's taken him to get back to good form you probably won't be seeing the best of Messi in that game. It's hardly a good measuring stick to "shed some light" on anything.

That being said I don't think anyone can deny that Ronaldo is currently the better player.

[Hendrixforpope]

Of course an inform C. Ronaldo is better than a regaining-form Messi.

[phil80]

Seriously? Football fans I know have various nicknames for him, crybaby, balletboy, but the most used one is 'glueboots,' the ball seems to stick to his feet, there are some videos I'll try and find of him training that will show you but his close control is brilliant. Messi is great I think his balls skills are fantastic and he has a low centre of gravity but he's not as much of a rounded football player as Ronaldo. Ronaldo is more similar to Kaka buy a flying winger that can also play up front, Ronaldo could play striker, winger, midfield, anywhere really and he is still dangerous, take Messi away from his little spot behind the striker and hes not as effective. Kaka can boss people around as well as having beautiful skills as well but is not playing as well this year, Messi on the other hand comes unstuck against more agressive opposition, it happened against Chelsea a few years back I seem to remember. ANYWAY the Man U vs. Barca games soon should hopefully shed some light on who is better, altho Ronaldo has a habbit of being rather more efficient than beautiful in the champions league...Messi isnt as great either, hopefully they'll sort that out.
There's no denying Ronaldo does play like he has glueboots and has incredible ball control but I would rate Messi, Pirlo, Iniesta as having better control and are more technical. That doesnt mean they are better players given Ronaldo's current form. But just for THAT ASPECT of the game I think they edge him out.

[Hendrixforpope]

In case you people didn't notice, this thread is called "top five players" NOT "How good is Cristiano Ronaldo?".

I suppose this has been done to death but...

Top 5 Strikers:

1 Fernando Torres
2 Luca Toni
3 Samuel Eto'o
4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
5 Ruud van Nistelrooy (before injury of course)

[KumarsS]

I don't think it's really fair to include van Nistelrooy in a current list, especially since his form was far from stellar before his injury.

So I'm assuming your list is based less on current form than overall class and what one would expect from the player given at least decent form and lack of injury.

1. Samuel Eto'o
2. Miroslav Klose
3. Francesco Totti
4. Ruud van Nistelrooy
5. Fernando Torres

[lems87]

Current class? Look for the people who have been in the FIFpro world XI for almost every year recently. (No partic order)

1. Kaka
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
3. Messi
4. Gerrard
5. Didier Drogba

Could also include Terry, Buffon, Cannavaro, Ferdinand, Lampard, Henry, Ronaldinho, Pirlo, Eto'o etc but it depends whether you're looking at form or potential class that it is known they COULD give if fit etc. To be honest I think Ribery deserves to be near the top judging by recent performances, if Arsenal could buy anyone (realistically - Messi etc arn't going to leave) in Europe it would be him.

[Hendrixforpope]

My list was based on current form and in hindsight it was a mistake to include Ruud. I'm a little skeptical when ranking Eto'o because I don't want to sound too biased. I don't think anyone here can make a case against him not being in the top 5 strikers in the world.

Redo of Top 5 strikers in the world (Based on current form)

1 Fernando Torres
2 Samuel Eto'o
3 Luca Toni
4 Luis Fabiano (completely forgot about him last time)
5 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (not quite sure with him)

[Perú FC]

I wouldn't change van Nistelrooy for Luis Fabiano, I think Brazilian forward isn't in a great level in spite of his numbers this season.

[Hendrixforpope]

I wouldn't change van Nistelrooy for Luis Fabiano, I think Brazilian forward isn't in a great level in spite of his numbers this season.

Numbers define a striker. If you score tons of goals, you are a good striker.

[Perú FC]

Numbers define a striker. If you score tons of goals, you are a good striker.
I'm disagree with that global definition, I think it's too simplified and shows that maths are only a part of the football, not all.

[KumarsS]

I'm disagree with that global definition, I think it's too simplified and shows that maths are only a part of the football, not all.

Indeed. Such a definition also disregards the term 'support striker', as it assumes that anyone playing in an advanced role is only there to score goals.

[lems87]

Numbers don't necessarily define a striker, if you're looking at numbers Santa Cruz has scored more for BLACKBURN this season in his league (i think). It depends more really on how much of a rounded player they are up front as well and the includes assists. Drogba isn't just a great striker cos he scores a lot, he holds up the ball and brings other people into the game which is the mark of a true great, Fabiano is more of a goal poacher I think, he's not that brilliant especially against a good defence.

[erick]

top five spain players

1) torres
2) casillas
3) raul
4) fabregas
5) ramos

[KumarsS]

top 5 spain players

1. casillas
2. sergio ramos
3. torres
4. iniesta
5. xavi

[Perú FC]

Right now...

Top 5 Spanish Players

1. Fernando Torres
2. Íker Casillas
3. Andrés Iniesta
4. Sergio Ramos
5. Xavi