Which country has its best ever players active

[Excape Goat]

Which country has its best ever players who is still active?

Let's say the top 10 for the elite countries(countries that produced great plateersall the time) such as Brazil, Argentina, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Holland and England. And top 3 to 5 for the rest of the world......

Brazil: Ronaldo, perhaps Ronaldinho. I am not sure about Kaka.
Argentina: Javior Zanetti? He is one of the best ever in his position for Argentina. Messi might be able to make a claim in time.

Portugal: CR7. I am not sure whether they are considered elite. CR7 is probably in the top 5 for Portugal.
France: Henry? Is he top 10 material?
Spain: Casillas, Raul for sure. In time, Torres might make a claim.
Italy: Maldini.
Ukraine: Sheva.... even I counted the ex-Soviet players, he is still top 5.

USA: Donovan.
Cameroon: Eto'o
Japan: Nakamura.

[zasal911]

In Chile Marcelo Salas is playing his las year ... he's probably a top 3 all time, at worst top 5.

Ronaldo is top 5 for Brazil for me, as is Zanetti for Argentina.

DiRossario is top 5 for Canada

Maldini

Hanrik Larsson

maybe Ballack???

maybe Solano for Peru???

there are some more

[argentine soccer fan]

Ronaldo is top 5 for Brazil for me, as is Zanetti for Argentina.



I think Zanetti being top five is pushing it. I mean, Maradona, Di Stefano, Charro Moreno, Sivori, Kempes, Batistuta, Passarella...

But if I was to do an all-time starting eleven for Argentina, he's probably the only active player I would include at this point. So we can probably consider players who rank as the best at their position.

Here are some other active players who I think would probably rank high in their country's all time list:

Francesco Totti (Italy)
Pavel Nedved (Czech)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Park Ji Sung (South Korea)
Ivan Cordoba (Colombia)
Rafael Marquez (Mexico)
Lilian Thuram (France)
Harry Kewell (Australia)
Ali Karimi (Iran)
Adrian Mutu (Romania)
Roque Santa Cruz (Paraguay)

Perhaps it can be argued that Park and Santa Cruz are still too young to consider, but I think they've done enough already to assume that they rate near the top.

[teccomin]

maybe Ballack???

He barely makes top 20....Theres like >5 players better than him even in the 90s alone.

[Wearethecrew1]

Landon Donovan for the US definitely. 10 years down the road you can add Tim Howard, Jozy Altidore and Freddy Adu to that list as well. I agree with Shevchenko for the Ukraine and what about Michael Owen and/or David Beckham? Take away the posh spiceness and all the retarded media attention, and you have a player who captained England at two World Cups and has over 100 caps, along with some crucial clutch goals for his country as well.

[Leeds92]

I think Zanetti being top five is pushing it. I mean, Maradona, Di Stefano, Charro Moreno, Sivori, Kempes, Batistuta, Passarella...

But if I was to do an all-time starting eleven for Argentina, he's probably the only active player I would include at this point. So we can probably consider players who rank as the best at their position.

Here are some other active players who I think would probably rank high in their country's all time list:

Francesco Totti (Italy)
Pavel Nedved (Czech)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Park Ji Sung (South Korea)
Ivan Cordoba (Colombia)
Rafael Marquez (Mexico)
Lilian Thuram (France)
Harry Kewell (Australia)
Ali Karimi (Iran)
Adrian Mutu (Romania)
Roque Santa Cruz (Paraguay)

Perhaps it can be argued that Park and Santa Cruz are still too young to consider, but I think they've done enough already to assume that they rate near the top.

Agree that Harry Kewell is one of the top 5 for Australia however wouldnt put him at the top due to the number of injuries he has had the last few years. Current actives:

1. Mark Schwarzer
2. Tim Cahill (when injury free)
3. Lucas Neill
4. Brett Emerton
5. Harry Kewell

Outside of this would be Craig Moore and Mark Viduka.

I would say in the big picture that Kewell would be regarded as our best ever player however IMO Craig Moore was a stalwart at the back for many years but is forgotten by many as he doesnt get the goals.

[bosterosoy]

Ronaldo is top 5 for Brazil for me, as is Zanetti for Argentina.

Noooooo way is Zanetti in the top 5, he barely makes top 10

Here are some other active players who I think would probably rank high in their country's all time list:

Francesco Totti (Italy)
Pavel Nedved (Czech)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Park Ji Sung (South Korea)
Ivan Cordoba (Colombia)
Rafael Marquez (Mexico)
Lilian Thuram (France)
Harry Kewell (Australia)
Ali Karimi (Iran)
Adrian Mutu (Romania)
Roque Santa Cruz (Paraguay)

strongly disagree with that one in bold. He was a great player, but wasn't out of this world with Italy who have had the likes of Maldini, Baresi. Rossi, Rivera, Buffon, Cannavaro, Zoff, Baggio, Mazzola, Meazza

[Perú FC]

I think it's difficult for some players of that traditional countries with a lot of legends, maybe only if you try to do an all-time team like the example of argentine soccer fan about Zanetti in Argentina (I'd add maybe Cafú in Brazil, Vieira and Makelele in France, Xavi in Spain...)

I'd say:

Brazil: Romario and Ronaldo for sure, I believe also Roberto Carlos.
Argentina: Maybe in an all-time team Zanetti.
France: Henry for sure, I believe also Thuram.
Italy: Maldini for sure, I really believe also Buffon and just maybe Totti.
Germany: I think no one right now could be in a Top 10.
Spain: Raúl for sure, I believe also Casillas in spite he's young as goalkeeper.
Holland: I believe van der Sar for sure, I'm not sure about van Nistelrooy.
England: I think like Germany, no one could be right now.

About other countries...:

Australia: Kewell and Viduka
Bolivia: Juan Manuel Peña
Cameroon: Eto'o for sure
Chile: Salas for sure
Colombia: Maybe Iván Córdoba
Croatia: Maybe Niko Kovac
Czech Republic: Nedved and maybe Koller
Ecuador: Maybe Iván Hurtado, De La Cruz and Méndez
Egypt: Hossam Hassan for sure
Finland: Litmanen (is he still active yet?) and Hyypiä
Iran: Mahdavikia and maybe Karimi
Ivory Coast: Drogba for sure
Mexico: Márquez and I believe maybe Oswaldo Sánchez
Nigeria: Kanú and Okocha
Paraguay: I think it's possible that Santa Cruz
Peru: I don't believe any could be there, especially for the number of impressive players in 70's, but the nearest possibility would be Solano
Portugal: Figo for sure, I don't know if it's possible Cristiano Ronaldo already
South Korea: Maybe Park Ji-Sung
Sweden: Larsson, I don't know if Ljungberg have a chance
Turkey: Hakan Sükür
United States: Maybe Donovan and Friedel
Ukraine: Shevchenko for sure
Venezuela: I believe Arango
Wales: Giggs for sure

[Leeds92]

I think it's difficult for some players of that traditional countries with a lot of legends, maybe only if you try to do an all-time team like the example of argentine soccer fan about Zanetti in Argentina (I'd add maybe Cafú in Brazil, Vieira and Makelele in France, Xavi in Spain...)

I'd say:

Brazil: Romario and Ronaldo for sure, I believe also Roberto Carlos.
Argentina: Maybe in an all-time team Zanetti.
France: Henry for sure, I believe also Thuram.
Italy: Maldini for sure, I really believe also Buffon and just maybe Totti.
Germany: I think no one right now could be in a Top 10.
Spain: Raúl for sure, I believe also Casillas in spite he's young as goalkeeper.
Holland: I believe van der Sar for sure, I'm not sure about van Nistelrooy.
England: I think like Germany, no one could be right now.

About other countries...:

Australia: Kewell and Viduka
Bolivia: Juan Manuel Peña
Cameroon: Eto'o for sure
Chile: Salas for sure
Colombia: Maybe Iván Córdoba
Croatia: Maybe Niko Kovac
Czech Republic: Nedved and maybe Koller
Ecuador: Maybe Iván Hurtado, De La Cruz and Méndez
Egypt: Hossam Hassan for sure
Finland: Litmanen (is he still active yet?) and Hyypiä
Iran: Mahdavikia and maybe Karimi
Ivory Coast: Drogba for sure
Mexico: Márquez and I believe maybe Oswaldo Sánchez
Nigeria: Kanú and Okocha
Paraguay: I think it's possible that Santa Cruz
Peru: I don't believe any could be there, especially for the number of impressive players in 70's, but the nearest possibility would be Solano
Portugal: Figo for sure, I don't know if it's possible Cristiano Ronaldo already
South Korea: Maybe Park Ji-Sung
Sweden: Larsson, I don't know if Ljungberg have a chance
Turkey: Hakan Sükür
United States: Maybe Donovan and Friedel
Ukraine: Shevchenko for sure
Venezuela: I believe Arango
Wales: Giggs for sure

Isnt Pizzaro for Chelsea (ex Bayen) from Peru?? If so I would count in in their top 10.

[zasal911]

Isnt Pizzaro for Chelsea (ex Bayen) from Peru?? If so I would count in in their top 10.



Playing for big european clubs isn't enough to automatically make you the best. Pizarro had a good spell with Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich, but with Chelsea he has done essentially nothing, and he's only been average for the national team throughout his career. Solano has more caps and more goals for Peru (even as a midfielder) and has had more prolonged success in europe.

And I have been accused of liking Zanetti too much before, but for me over the past 10 years he's been the best and most consistent Argentinean playing anywhere.

[Excape Goat]

Hanrik Larsson



I considered Sweden not an elite country liked the list above. So we are counting top 5 here. He is top 10 for sure, but top 5 is a question mark. I rated Harin and the Gre-No-Li trio higher than Larrson. I am not sure about all the four players.

what about Michael Owen and/or David Beckham? Take away the posh spiceness and all the retarded media attention, and you have a player who captained England at two World Cups and has over 100 caps, along with some crucial clutch goals for his country as well.

I can name all those players ahead of them: Moore, Finnery, Billy Wright, Sir. Matthews, Charlton, Lineker, Greaves, Barnes, Banks, Robson, Keegan. I can agrue that Beckham is better than Keegan, Robson, Greaves or Barnes, but not Owen. I think Shearer, Lampard, Scholas, Rio or Gerrard are better than Owen.

[Excape Goat]

[FONT=Arial Unicode MS]
Holland: I believe van der Sar for sure, I'm not sure about van Nistelrooy.
Czech Republic: Nedved and maybe Koller
Portugal: Figo for sure, I don't know if it's possible Cristiano Ronaldo already


Holland: Let's see... Cruyff, Neekens, Wilkes, bergkemp, MVB, Gullit, Rijkaard, Krol, Koeman. That's 9 only. van der sar or RVN can be put against Rensenbrink, Rep and Keizer for the last spot.

Czech Republic: I am counting Blokin and Belanov for Ukraine. Sheva still ranks in the top 5. So I am doing the same for the Cezch Republic with the former Czechoslovakian players.

So we got Josef Bican, Masopust, Planicka and Panenka on the list. So Koller should be out, but Nedved for sure.

Portugal: Figo for sure. Ronaldo should be in the top 5.

[Twix]

England: Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes
Wales: Ryan Giggs
ROI: Robbie Keane and Shay Given
France: Henry
Italy: Maldini
Portugal: Ronaldo

[lanman]

England: Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes

Fine players, but I wouldn't see either of them in England's top 20.

[Perú FC]

Isnt Pizzaro for Chelsea (ex Bayen) from Peru?? If so I would count in in their top 10.
Not really, I think Pizarro don't have any chance to be in a Top 10 for Peru. I could count at least to Teófilo Cubillas, Hugo Sotil, Héctor Chumpitaz, Víctor Benítez, Julio Meléndez, Juan Joya, César Cueto, Julio César Uribe, Teodoro "Lolo" Fernández, Ramón Mifflin, Roberto Challe or Juan Seminario over him with a good difference, and for the same reason, I think Solano couldn't be there neither, but would be the nearest possibility about active players.

[Perú FC]

Holland: Let's see... Cruyff, Neekens, Wilkes, bergkemp, MVB, Gullit, Rijkaard, Krol, Koeman. That's 9 only. van der sar or RVN can be put against Rensenbrink, Rep and Keizer for the last spot.
Czech Republic: I am counting Blokin and Belanov for Ukraine. Sheva still ranks in the top 5. So I am doing the same for the Cezch Republic with the former Czechoslovakian players.
So we got Josef Bican, Masopust, Planicka and Panenka on the list. So Koller should be out, but Nedved for sure.
Portugal: Figo for sure. Ronaldo should be in the top 5.
My mistake!, just I noted you said a Top 3 or Top 5 to "other countries", I thought was a Top 10 to all countries, sorry.

If would be only a Top 5, I think a lot of mentioned players couldn't be there. I'm agree Koller should be out and still would have doubts about adding Cristiano Ronaldo already for Portugal.

[bosterosoy]

Isnt Pizzaro for Chelsea (ex Bayen) from Peru?? If so I would count in in their top 10.

No. You have to remember that Peru in the 70s had a really really good team with lots of great players

[Leeds92]

Will be honest Peruvian players are not high in my area of knowledge. Will defer to the judgement of others in this thread.

Will say that when I saw Piz play in germany I did rate him highly. Totally agree that he has not done much at Chelsea.

[superfrantheman]

Not really, I think Pizarro don't have any chance to be in a Top 10 for Peru. I could count at least to Teófilo Cubillas, Hugo Sotil, Héctor Chumpitaz, Víctor Benítez, Julio Meléndez, Juan Joya, César Cueto, Julio César Uribe, Teodoro "Lolo" Fernández, Ramón Mifflin, Roberto Challe or Juan Seminario over him with a good difference, and for the same reason, I think Solano couldn't be there neither, but would be the nearest possibility about active players.

dont forget

"chemo" del solar, roberto "chorri" palacios, nolberto "ñol" solano

[superfrantheman]

active?


finland.... the best player they ever had... JARI LITMANEN
wales .... giggs(2nd best welch player)
ukraine(as a new nation) .... shevchenko