[Moishe]

Originally Posted by JamesBH11

Why? he was once labeled as the next "Maradona" (in term of playmaking from center field). Yet he was struggled at Barca and lately ... He was very good at Villa Real as his best ever form since he left Boca

He was hardly the first player to be labeled the "next Maradona" and he most definitely won't be the last even from midfield. Do the names Ortega, Veron and Gallardo ring a bell. How about Aimar or D'Allesandro? Messi is now considered the "next Maradona", why should that label have a bearing on a players reputation? There will never be a next Maradona.

Saying he struggled at Barca is way too easy, a lot more depth should be gone in to all the factors and not just the end product. As far as his lately, he's suffered multiple ankle, foot and knee injuries regularly for over a year now however lately as in before the Superclasico he was dominant. Also his best form since leaving Boca wasn't with Villarreal but in 07 when he carried us to the Libertadores title. He also had that excellent run in the Libertadores.

[AmericanKaka]

Originally Posted by zenden

The look on his face after he hit the post......there was no way they were gonna win after that.

Yeah, that was quite a moment.
Still, I thought he was far and away Argentina's best player in that as in every other match.

[Siempre_Albiceleste]

Originally Posted by Pass-n-Go

I am going off memory. In the final vs Brazil, Roman was the bright spot offensively for Argentina. I remember asking what happenened to the other Argentina attackers that game.

Spot on. And to think that the whole game plan for Brazil was simple that game...Put Riquelme on his behind every time he touches the ball. I've hardly ever seen a game with so little flow because one team was fouling so much with no punishment from the ref. I'm going off of memory alone but I think Roman was fouled/put on the ground at least 20 times that game. Still, he produced the only really noteworthy offensive plays for Argentina that game. In addition to hitting the post, let's not forget that insane save the goalie made on one of his shot a few minutes later. A few inches on either play could have made the difference.
Riquelme's passing philosophy is simple. Make the simple pass, rock the defense to sleep, and go for the killer ball when it presents itself. When people mention that a lot of his passes are lateral or backwards as a criticism, I have to ask if they think they're watching american football.

[holden]

Nobody's said Franck Ribéry. Maybe he's not the best, but at least he deserves some mention.

[TKORL]

Franck Ribery is the best passer in the world? That's certainly news.

[holden]

Originally Posted by TKORL

Franck Ribery is the best passer in the world? That's certainly news.

Like I said, he might not be the best, but I thought he deserved some mention. I know I'm not the only one that thinks he's a good passer. It's even on his wikipedia page (and I swear I didn't write it).

[TKORL]

Lol point taken.

[impalemeplz]

Robin Van Persie. He is on pace for 20+ assists this season and last time i looked an assist counts as a pass ;]

[rooneywillsaveus]

Has to be Becks!

[Finnish Taktix]

Dennis Bergkamp and Jari Litmanen, both especially in their Ajax times. Both of them were a beauty to watch. Their passing was magnificent, magical...any praising word can be used here.