Henry - RVN - Ronaldo - Shevchenko: Who's the best of them all?

[Twix]

At one time or another, they all had a claim at being the best #9* in the world. Seeing as their careers are winding down, and it's conceivable none of them could be starters for their NT in the 2010 WC, so I thought now would finally be the time to pose this question.

Who's been the best? Who'll be remembered as the best? How would you rank them?

For all you stats junkies**, maybe this'll help you make your decision.

Player ------Games---Goals--NT Games--NT Goals--Total goals--Total Apps

Henry --------573------280-----102--------45------325-------675

RVN ----------459------302-----64---------33------335-------523

Ronaldo ------393-------276----112---------74-----350-------505

Sheva --------536------289-----80---------37------326-------616



* Yes, Henry is more of a forward but meh..

** They're from Wiki so don't crucify me if they're slightly inaccurate

[comme]

Ronaldo clearly out in front.

Of the others, as an overall player Henry, then Shevchenko and RVN.

Ronaldo is in the very top level of post-war strikers along with Puskas, Van Basten, Muller and Eusebio.

The others all have been excellent players, but they are just in among the huge group of other greats. In the way that Van Basten stood just out from the likes of Hugo Sanchez, Rush, Lineker, Papin, Careca etc Ronaldo is in front of his opponents.

Henry's ability as a maker as well as a taker of chances along with his WC and EC victories will put him next.

[lionmessi]

fully fit ronaldo is the most explosive player ive ever seen

[lanman]

Ronaldo, and it's not even close.

[johno]

Ronaldo in front as expected but the rest of them all have their strengths.

RVN is the best pure goal scorer
Sheva the best mover and most rounded
Henry the most creative

[ChelseaForTheCup(s)]

Ronaldo, clearly.

Could be included in a list of best ever.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

I would not go with Ronaldo. We are looking at this quartet in terms of their overall career and I think it is being dishonest to put too much stock in pre-injury Ronaldo. It was simply too short a period of time and it is being unfair to the other aforementioned players. I would personally go for Van Nistelrooy because I rate him as the best #9 of my generation and his record is second to none. I'm also fortunate enough to have watched the vast majority of his games at his peak. He has been the best pure striker since Müller and scoring goals is the fundamental role of a striker.

[lanman]

Yet Ronaldo has a better goals per game ratio for both club and country.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

For country simply look at the breakdown of his goals. I never denied that Ronaldo scored goals but when allowing him to do so cripples your team (see Real Madrid before he was shipped out and Brazil when Ronaldo could barely move)... Plus Ronaldo has been disappointing in European competition.

[ChelseaForTheCup(s)]

For country simply look at the breakdown of his goals. I never denied that Ronaldo scored goals but when allowing him to do so cripples your team (see Real Madrid before he was shipped out and Brazil when Ronaldo could barely move)... Plus Ronaldo has been disappointing in European competition.

36 goals in 72 European games is disappointing....?

None of the other players mentioned besides Henry have done what Ronaldo has.

All time WC goal scorer. Two Copa Americas and a Confederations Cup.

And more than a just a few individual honors.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Look at the breakdown of them though.


Champions League - 42 games, 16 goals
Cup Winners Cup - 7 games, 5 goals
UEFA Cup - 23 games, 15 goals


Van Nistelrooy, Shevchenko and Henry have all scored more CL goals than Ronaldo has European goals. It is a disappointing record for a striker of his ability.

[ChelseaForTheCup(s)]

Look at the breakdown of them though.


Champions League - 42 games, 16 goals
Cup Winners Cup - 7 games, 5 goals
UEFA Cup - 23 games, 15 goals


Van Nistelrooy, Shevchenko and Henry have all scored more CL goals than Ronaldo has European goals. It is a disappointing record for a striker of his ability.

That's true.

But as it stands, Ronaldo really did accomplish more, and was far more influential for his country than either RvN or Sheva.

The only one I think that compares is Henry, but even then, Ronaldo proved himself far more in terms of the international stage.

[Twix]

Ronaldo is in the very top level of post-war strikers along with Puskas, Van Basten, Muller and Eusebio.
I'd add Romario to that list too.

On the topic of Ronaldo, I'd say he's easily the best at NT level, but at CL level? He hasnt dominated that scene at all. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that, out of the four, he's been the worst at Champions League level.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Again you need to look at the breakdown to put things in perspective. If you look at competitive goals for their countries their respective records are as follows:

Ronaldo - 47 games, 35 goals, 0.74 GPG
Van Nistelrooy - 37 games, 27 goals, 0.73 GPG
Shevchenko - 60 games, 32 goals, 0.53 GPG
Henry - 48 games, 26 goals, 0.51 GPG

Now I did not include games played nor the breakdown by competition because I (a) do not have time, and (b) the site I usually use has not been updated to take the tail end of Euro 2008 qualification into account nor the final tournament. There are obvious differences between qualification and final tournament goals that we must consider and that works in the favour of Ronaldo. We also have injuries to discuss, their respective roles and the quality of their respective teams.

EDIT: It might be wrong but I tried to quickly add competitive games played myself.

[Big Soccer Member]

Not that I'm saying your stats are inaccurate but I'm extremely surprised Henry's goals to game ratio is so low. In their 5 years together in the Premiership, Henry outscored RVN 4 times. For me, it seemed that Henry scored for Arsenal every match for 5 years (although obviously not). I would say that Henry has been the best EPL player of all time.

Although I voted for Ronaldo, I'm beginning to regret it. Without his 1 year at Barcelona he wouldn't be remembered as one of the greats.

P.S How good was Van Nistelrooy in 02/03.

[ChelseaForTheCup(s)]

Not that I'm saying your stats are inaccurate but I'm extremely surprised Henry's goals to game ratio is so low. In their 5 years together in the Premiership, Henry outscored RVN 4 times. For me, it seemed that Henry scored for Arsenal every match for 5 years (although obviously not). I would say that Henry has been the best EPL player of all time.

Although I voted for Ronaldo, I'm beginning to regret it. Without his 1 year at Barcelona he wouldn't be remembered as one of the greats.

P.S How good was Van Nistelrooy in 02/03.

Are you kidding?

I guess everyone would've ignored all time World Cup high scorer and World Cup winner Ronaldo....:rolleyes:

What a STUPID comment to make.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

He's also played more games than the others in the WC top scorcer list. Watching him barely move and contesting own goals in order to get his 'record' was painful to say the least.

[Twix]

Are you kidding?

I guess everyone would've ignored all time World Cup high scorer and World Cup winner Ronaldo....:rolleyes:

What a STUPID comment to make.
WTF? No need to be a prick about it. It's hardly a stupid thing to say.

Pre-1974, Just Fontaine was the all time WC top scorer, and he wasn't (and still isn't) considered as one of the all-time greats iirc, so your point is weak. If we did take away one of Ronaldo's peak seasons, it's easily conceivable he wouldn't be as exalted as he is now.

[ChelseaForTheCup(s)]

He's also played more games than the others in the WC top scorcer list. Watching him barely move and contesting own goals in order to get his 'record' was painful to say the least.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OG8W1NAgGHA

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JPM1cyLp_Tw

http://youtube.com/watch?v=X2NHqSXftzU

Look at that terrible movement. :rolleyes:

I thought you were intelligent for a second.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Touched a nerve I assume?