Does Zidane deserve to be mentioned alongside Pele and Maradona?

[JayBoy]

Simple question. Given his ability and his accomplishments, could he be a contender for the mantle of 'Greatest Player of All Time'?

[Motterman]

You could probably make an argument to include him the discussion, but I wouldn't put him in my personal Top 5.

[Windmill]

Definately, he was a unique player.

Shame about his last EVER professional match were we all know what happened.

However you can never really 100% compare these players because they were all awsome in different ways.

[benni...]

Nope, but be prepared to feel the wrath of Teso on this subject.

[Twix]

I'll get in and out before Teso comes and hijacks the thread.

No, because he was nowhere near as influential, effective and clutch as Pele or most of the other greats. For France, Juve and Madrid, he had great players around them, but he did not lead them to any legendary periods of success or give in many, if any, legendary performances. Hell, you could even argue that Zidane isn't even the best player to have worn a Juve/Real Madrid shirt in the past 10 years. Some would go as far to say that he's been a passenger in all of his sides.

He's built his legacy on PR, hype and on the beauty of his play. He's a good player, but he shouldn't really be mentioned on the same level on Pele imo.

[Amdrag]

Uh I thought when France literally won everything, that was a pretty legendary period. Personally think Pele is insanely overrated, for a guy whose national side was so good, they didn't really need him. See World Cup 1962.

Also I would say a double in the World Cup final is pretty legendary.

[Twix]

Uh I thought when France literally won everything, that was a pretty legendary period.
France's WC win was built on their defence and Zidane missed some of the games due to a red card. He didn't lead them to nothing there.

He had a good Euros tournament, but that was still practically the same team as the '98 WC side and it can hardly be said he was the deciding factor there either.
Also I would say a double in the World Cup final is pretty legendary.
Two open headers against an under strength Brazil team is impressive, but it'd be a massive stretch to say to that was one of the performances of the ages.
I'll get in and out before Teso comes and hijacks the thread.
Well, Teso's taking his time.

[giggs88]

Uh I thought when France literally won everything, that was a pretty legendary period. Personally think Pele is insanely overrated, for a guy whose national side was so good, they didn't really need him. See World Cup 1962.

Also I would say a double in the World Cup final is pretty legendary.

I think the statement that "Pele is overrated" would come off as a bit sensational since he is lauded as being the greatest player ever, all the time, but I do agree with you. I have seen hours of footage of Pele playing for club and country and his technique and skill definitely do not match that of Zidane's.

[Amdrag]

France's WC win was built on their defence and Zidane missed some of the games due to a red card. He didn't lead them to nothing there.

He had a good Euros tournament, but that was still practically the same team as the '98 WC side and it can hardly be said he was the deciding factor there either.

It is hard to say that Pele was either then considering how well his side played without him.

Two open headers against an under strength Brazil team is impressive, but it'd be a massive stretch to say to that was one of the performances of the ages.

Perhaps but the double against England, the CL final goal, the WC final, and the penalty against Portugal put him in a big of rarefied air does it not?

[Republic of Mancunia]

Wrong forum.

[Twix]

It is hard to say that Pele was either then considering how well his side played without him.
Considering Brazil had won no WCs before him, and the fact it took them another 24 years to win another one after him suggests otherwise. A similar thing also happened to Santos, which suggests that Pele was influential wherever he went.
Perhaps but the double against England, the CL final goal, the WC final, and the penalty against Portugal put him in a big of rarefied air does it not?
In terms of all-time greatness? No.

Moments of brilliance are to be expected from great players. All-time great players should be able to point to breathtaking performances from start to finish. Pele has WC '58, Di Stefano has Eintracht Frankfurt, Maradona has WC '86 and Zidane has what exactly? A penalty? An open header?

I'm not saying Zidane's shite but he's not all he's cracked up to be.

[Windmill]

Maradona > Pele

[phil80]

Some would go as far to say that he's been a passenger in all of his sides.


:eek:
It's sad when people comment on players they never watch

[Invincible]

Nope.

[benni...]

This thread is going to go downhill. Before page 1 is done.

[phil80]

Zidane has what exactly?

What?? Zidane came out of retirement to lead a team that was not QUALIFYING for the world cup and led them to the finals, :rolleyes:

[Twix]

This thread is going to go downhill.
Co-signed.

Zidane arguments rarely end well.

[benni...]

He didnt wake up till Brazil came to town.

[Diego Maradona]

No, I find it hard that any non South American player will ever be classed alongside Maradona & Pele

[Reich]

i don't like such discussions because they were all great and unique players in their own way and at the end you will never really know because they all played in different time periods. though zidane was definitely the best in the last decade.