[Mengão86]

I searched the board to see if this topic has been created by I did not see anything. I'd figure that the two candidates would be Platini and Zidane. Who do you consider to be the better player? Where would you rank these two among the all-time greats in WORLD soccer?

[Fonsos]

I love Zizou but it's Michel Platini.
Why??
A small and slow man has never been so good and to think he wanted to play for Italy -- parents were of Italian descent.

Fonsos

[Mengão86]

Originally Posted by Fonsos

I love Zizou but it's Michel Platini.
Why??
A small and slow man has never been so good and to think he wanted to play for Italy -- parents were of Italian descent.

Fonsos

A couple questions for you:
- Are you French?
- Where would you rank both of these players? Doesn't have to be exact numbers, it can something like Top 50, Top 100, etc..

[Fonsos]

American, French - mostly American

I'd rank both in the top twenty-five to ever play the game. Platini would be in my first eleven. The main reason is that he had less to work with than Zizou and Platini could and did beat teams by himself. He had this strange "look" when he really wanted to beat you. The same thing that Maradona, Pele, Cruyff and a few others had. Ronaldinho has this "look" of you know you're in trouble if you're on the opposing team.

Fonsos

[triplesevn]

I disagree.

Nobody, not even the great Cheat, Maradona nor Pele beat teams by themselves. Nobody!
They may have greatly influenced the match but it takes 11 players to win.
It's the job of the Keeper to keep the ball out of the net.
It's the job of the Back line to keep the ball from getting to the keeper.
It's the job of the Midfield to get the ball up to the strikers.
It's the job of the Strikers to get the ball into the net.

All of which, I'm sure you and everyone else is aware of.

I personally think Zizou is one of the greatest players of all time, but here is the distinction between the "past" and "present". That's just it, Past vs Present. Ball's were different, the pitch was different. The players and style of play were different. Everything was different.

I think Zizou is the greatest player of the past several decades and Pele is of the past. I don't think Platini was as good nor skilled as Zizou. Just my opinion. I think if Platini won so many matches on his own, then he would have won hardware. Zizou has done this, including on the biggest stage of all.

I think Platini ranks in the top 10, that's forsure. But better than Zizou, I don't believe so. I think Zizou is better than Maradona. To me, he was a cheat. And not just speaking of the HOG in Mexico either. As for skill, watch some of his old matches. He just ran at people like a bull. Kicked the ball ahead and ran for it. Don't get me wrong, he did have skills. Better than most. That's just how I feel about it.

Zizou is the best in my opinion. Hands down. He influenced the Final's in 98. He influenced Euro 2000. In Portugal for Euro 2004, he inspired the comeback win over England. Just one of many France matches that he inspired and held great influence over.

[gaijin]

1) Zizou
2) Platini
3) Kopa

All immigrant kids as well. How do you like multiculturalism?

Zizou wins over Platini and Kopa for me, because he accomplished what both couldn't do - win a world cup for Les Bleus.

[Mengão86]

Originally Posted by ganu

1) Zizou
2) Platini
3) Kopa

All immigrant kids as well. How do you like multiculturalism?

Zizou wins over Platini and Kopa for me, because he accomplished what both couldn't do - win a world cup for Les Bleus.

Where would you rank Zizou and Platini? BTW, thanks for your replies guys. I really do appreciate it.

[gaijin]

Originally Posted by Mengão86

Where would you rank Zizou and Platini? BTW, thanks for your replies guys. I really do appreciate it.

As I've put them. Zizou 1st, Platini 2nd.

[Fonsos]

Originally Posted by triplesevn

I disagree.

Nobody, not even the great Cheat, Maradona nor Pele beat teams by themselves. Nobody!
They may have greatly influenced the match but it takes 11 players to win.....

Ask the fans in Napoli about Maradona and how he won the league for them. I remember this happening. It can and has happened. I've see the great Paulo Futre do the same to Scotland. If you're speaking in the literal sense you're right to a certain degree but it can and has been done more than a few times.

Fonsos

[ilv2]

i'd place platini above zidane, i prefer his style.