Which combination would you rather in your team? Ronaldo, Zidane and Ronaldinho were the best players in the early 2000s, now in 2012 Messi, CR7 and Neymar are the best. Neymar is young and hes still becoming one of the best, he still hasnt proved himself in Europe yet, but I think he will be in the same class as Mess in a couple of years if he reaches his potential and doesnt get injured.
These are the best players of all time in World Champions: 1924: Leandro Andrade 1928: Héctor Scarone 1930: José Nasazzi 1934: Giuseppe Meazza 1938: Silvio Piola 1950: Juan A. Schiaffino 1954: Ferenc Puskás 1958: Pelé 1962: Garrincha 1966: Bobby Charlton 1970: Pelé 1974: Johan Cruyff 1978: Jorge R. Videla 1982: Zico 1986: Diego A. Maradona 1990: Lothar Matthäus 1994: Romario 1998: Ronaldo 2002: Ronaldo 2006: Zidane 2010: Forlán 2014: ? 2014, in my opinion, Luis Suárez.
Zidane World Champion Ronaldo World Champion Ronaldinho World Champion CR7 eliminated in semifinals Messi eliminated in quarterfinals Neymar... ?
Neymar hasnt proved himself on the big stage yet, so we need to wait a couple of years. But he does belong in that group.
I'm old school. I think if you've failed to prove yourself with your NT in a world cup, there will always be an asterisk besides the "Great Player" tag. That's why Cantona is not held with the same regard as Zidane, and Rooney won't be a myth like Charlton.
Neymar is one of the top 3 players in the world???? ROFL, What are you smoking?! These Brazilians and their need for a new big superstar i swear.... There's atleast 20 other footballers in the world I would rather have in my team than that overhyped, skunk-like, clown.
Im saying that Neymar hasnt proved himself in Europe yet, but he still belongs in that group because hes a very good talented player who will be #1 in a couple of years. But we all need to wait until 2014 World Cup, then we can see if Neymar is better than Messi and CR7.
Since when are you Nostradamus? You can't prove he will be #1 in a couple of years. Hell if we're playing that game then I would put my chips on Goetze or Hazard being in the Messi and CR7 group in a couple of years. You keep contradicting yourself, saying he should be in that group yet he hasn't proved himself. If we need to wait until 2014 to see what Neymar has in him, then why are you making this poll in December 2011?
LMFAO! It would be a better poll to compare Zidane + Figo + Ronaldinho + Ronaldo vs Xavi + Iniesta + CR7 + Messi.
But what is the logic in choosing those head-to-head comparisons? Let's try: Ronaldinho << CR Zidane < Messi Ronaldo >>> Neymar Different conclusion reached just by shuffling the comparisons a bit. That said, on my team I would take the first 3 easily because each player offers something different. With the other 3, even if Neymar fulfills his potential, he will likely be a very similar type of player to CRonaldo.
Neymar shouldn't be there in the poll to start with. True, but in football the only thing that matter is goals. Ronaldo creates and provides them in plenty. It shouldn't matter Ronaldinho being better in freestyle, entertaining crowds and managing to pull out a Maradonesque pass once in every 22 attempts with a more sexy youtube compilation. Cristiano would never reach the levels of Messi, R9 Ronaldo or Zidane for sure but has already surpassed Ronaldinho.
I you serious? CR7 is not better than Ronaldinho. CR7 hasn't even won a Euro, let alone a World Cup like Ronaldinho.
Gone are the days when world cups and Euros being the yard stick to rate footballers. Times have changed... It shouldn't really matter a player being a part of the world cup squad or not. Brazil of 2002 was probably the worst Brazilian team ever to win a poor world cup in terms of quality of football played and Ronaldinho didn't exactly set the tournament on fire either.