A number of different posters have played around with the idea of teams of the decade with overlapping decades: 2010-2020, 2005-2015, 200-2010... I think it is a fun idea and will give it a shot with a couple of rules I will go by: 1) A player can only feature in one decade. For example without this rule Messi and C. Ronaldo would both be in the team of the decade for 2010-2020 and 2005-2015. I will chose only one decade for each of them. 2) A player can only feature in the decade I think they are the best in. I will not move players to decades that are not their best decade because they are better than other options in a different decade. For example, Lahm and Dani Alves both fit best in 2005-2015 but I would not move one of them to 2010-2020 so one can start in each decade. 3) I will be flexible with formations for each decade. In a compromise with rule 2 I will let myself error more towards getting the best most accomplished players in the team than having everyone in their exact correct position. So for the Alves/Lahm example I would just put them both in the team even though both had the best position of right back. The main thing I will try to stick by is having the appropriate number of defenders vs midfielders vs forwards for the decade in question. So I will have four defenders in modern times but not to worried about having exactly a right back left back and two center backs. In pyramid decades I will be sure to have three halfbacks but not to worried about exactly a right left and center half. I will include a list of substitute/honorable mention players, who are just players I gave some serious consideration to, number of players listed will vary by decade. If anyone else has already accumulated these lists feel free to add yours to mine and we can make an aggregate forum team, as I have seen a number of other posters express interest in this concept or talk about already working through it. 2010-2020 Forward: Luis Suarez (Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, Uruguay) Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina) Forward: Eden Hazard (Lille, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Belgium) Midfield: Luka Modric (Tottenham, Real Madrid, Croatia) Midfield: Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Germany) Midfield: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona, Spain) Defense: Marcelo (Real Madrid, Brazil) Defense: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid, Spain) Defense: Diego Godin (Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Uruguay) Defense: Gerard Pique (Barcelona, Spain) Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Schalke, Bayern Munich, Germany) Honorable Mention: Lewandowski, Bale, Neymar, D Silva, Vidal, Hummels, T. Silva, Chiellini, Bonucci Lewandowski vs Suarez was very tight decision, Suarez made it in my eyes by having a higher peak level. Hazard vs Neymar was also extremely close. Neymar has the slightly higher peak but Hazard has the best big tournament performance and sightly more consistent. Both of these decision could turn on how the current 19/20 season turns out. Vidal vs Kroos was also very close. As far as who belongs in this decade, Messi and Ramos were the two I had to make a decision on. I though Messi's 15/16, 16/17, 17/18 and 18/19 carry more weight than 06/07, 07/08, and 08/09. He won the Balon d'Or in 08/09 but I personally think he was better in 16/17 for example but just did not win anything, and 06/07 and 07/08 are not as good as any season post 2015. Ramos was great in 07/08 but I think the three additional European Cups post 2015 are a much bigger achievement.
Cristiano Ronaldo is not good enough for a position in the honourable mentions of the 2010-2020 decade? Ronaldo had 6 consecutive 50+ goal seasons this decade Even if we say the cut off point is 2015 Since 2015/16 till 2018/19 aged 30-34 and past his physical prime he scored 49 goals in 47 CL games:1.04 This tally includes 5 goals against juventus 6 goals against atletico Madrid 5 goals against bayern Munich His champions league goal record alone warrants him a mention since 2015 The combined efforts of hazard, suarez and lewandowski cannot touch what he did in the Cl since 2015 Don't agree at all with hazard being more consistent then neymar 2015/16 was woeful for a player of his ilk Neymars level has never dropped as hazard did in 15/16 and his peak we can both agree is higher(to what degree is debatable) How great was hazard in the WC18? I still don't see the substance (end product in KO rounds) behind the hype Again his end product in CL KO rounds is worse as Pedro So what is left is great league performances and 1 solid WC(half a dozen matches-or less) Pique improved on his 2008/09 level? I don't agree(even though he had some solid seasons under valdervade)
2005-2015 Forward: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, Sweden) Forward: Cristiano Roanldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Portugal) Forward: Arjen Robben (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Netherlands) Midfield: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain) Midfield: Xavi (Barcelona, Spain) Midfield: Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan, Juventus, Italy) Defense: Phillip Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germnay) Defense: Dani Alves (Sevilla, Barcelona, Brazil) Defense: John Terry (Chelsea, England) Defense: Nemanja Vidic (Spartak Moscow, Manchester United, Serbia) Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Spain) Honorable Mention: Villa, Dorgba, Eto'o, Rooney, Ribery, Sneijder, Schwienstieger, Alonso, Maicon Toughest decision was Ibra vs the other center forwards Villa, Eto'o and Drogba. On overall ability and peak level they are all very close maybe a slight advantage to Ibra and Drogba. Ibra has a major advantage on consistency but the other three were better in international/continental competitions: Drogba in EC, Eto'o in EC, and Villa with national team. Ribery vs Robben is close but Robben's national team performance edges it. Toughest decisions for this group were what decade players belong to, with Ronaldo being the hardest. He basically has two different peaks separated by more than a decade. Peak as an all around forward from 07 to 09, and a peak from 16-18 as a quasi poacher. There is also a peak transitioning between the two in 2012. It is hard to way 15-16, 16-17, and 17-18 vs 06-07, 07-08, and 08-09. If I placed him in 2010-2020 he would have more hardware but I think he was a better player at Man U. Robben and Iniesta had similar decisions of this decade vs 2010-20 but I think they were more clear for this decade being more appropriate.
It's not clear to me that 2005-2015 is better decade for Ronaldo than 2010-2020. Ronaldo won more team tournaments, including the treble UCLs and EURO in the latter, not the former, and was BDO podium finisher throughout the whole decade if he gets it this year, while there was a year or two missing in 2005-2015. I assume if you are in honorable mention for one decade, you can't be inlcuded in another, perhaps?
As I said if I were including players in more than one decade Ronaldo would start in 05-15 and 10-20. I chose 05-15 over 10-20 for the reasons I stated in the previous post. I would be interested to hear your arguments for which decade you think he belongs in. Hazard has a very good Euro 2016 to buoy his weak 15-16 club season. Neymar basically lost a whole season last year, injuries are part of consistency. If Neymer delivers for PSG in the champions league this season I would vault him forward. I have been disappointing by his inability to impact PSG's results in any way since his arrival. I thought hazard was the best player of the world cup so we will have to agree to disagree on that one. Yes Neymar has been better in the CL.
I agree it is not clear to me either. His post 2015 run is the most trophies he has ever won. But again I think his ultimate peak as a player was in 2008. Either way he is particular difficult to place as he has in my opinion his two best periods more than a decade apart.
Also trophies won only means so much. Man U in 08-09 could have easily won a second consecutive CL if they did not have to play maybe the best club team ever in the final. They were easily better than 15-16 or 17-18 real madrid, but just were unlucky to run into a better team.
Only one year missing in 2010 where he was cheated (in fact quite blatantly) In favour of the demonstrably inferior andres iniesta 2009/10 CR's 2009/10 DBS calcio ratings were superior to prime Ronaldinho His who scored ratings the highest of his career He was 2nd best in the world according to castrol All in a season where he had a near 2 month injury lay off and 2 red card suspensions 2010 is a step above 2008 A more mature and complete player(even on redcafe there was some talk on this at the time) The thing is you ask 10 different fans when his peak was and you'd get at least 4 different time frames It is a gross misconception that his peak wasn't well defined There was a time(almost a decade a go now)that he was a player who could receive the ball anywhere across the pitch and make a decisive action This player received 17 MOTM awards in 35 matches(29 starts) Bringing it back to the main There is no reason why he cannot fit in two different time frames Ronaldo past his physical prime(post 2015) scored 49 goals in 47 CL matches In this time frame his team won 3 consecutive European cups It's no surprise once again he is missing or his contributions devalued on big soccer
Please do not make this thread about something it is not. It is very simple, I am only putting players in one decade, that goes not just for Ronaldo but Messi, Maradona, Pele etc.
Why creating a new thread for this? There was already a thread. My attempt: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/xi-of-the-decade-2010s.2103587/page-4#post-38225664
The diesel tractor Kroos shouldn't be in the team. He has only two league titles as a starter in this superclub time, and in the Champions Leagues he won there were a handful greater protagonists for that success (Ronaldo, Modric, Marcelo, Ramos), and wasn't a starter in one of them. Vidal has not a champions league no, but he does have several campaigns where he was close. Since his CL debut in 2012 he has reached four semi finals (+1 in the Europa League). Given the factor luck that is a relevant circumstance. Furthermore, he has more good/great tournament performances for Chile and won eight league titles. Once again: it isn't close. Much better tournament performances, much better Champions League record (particularly KO stages), much better record vs Dortmund, three vs eight world class designations when playing in the same team. Only proves my previous points.
Like I said, I was inspired to try this by other attempts, I will also be going all the way through time.
Vidal has been very good for the national team but I think Kroos has been better. Vidal was very good for Chile but the competition they faced in the CA wins was not very impressive. He was good at WC 14 as well. Kroos was great in WC 14 and Euro 16. Same or higher level than Vidal against better competition. I think Kroos in WC 18 is similar to Vidal in WC 14 with both performing well despite not making it deep in the tournament.
2000-2010 Forward: Thierry Henry (Arsenal, Barcelona, France) Forward: Ronaldinho (Gremio, PSG, Barcelona, AC Milan, Brazil) Midfield: Deco (Porto, Barcelona, Chelsea, Portugal) Midfield: Kaka (Sao Paulo, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Brazil) Midfield: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England) Midfield: Patrick Vieira (Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan, France) Defense: Ashley Cole (Arsenal, Chelsea, England) Defense: Carlos Puyol (Barcelona, Spain) Defense: Fabio Cannavaro (Parma, Inter Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Italy) Defense: Alessandro Nesta (Lazio, AC Milan, Italy) Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Parma, Juventus, Italy) Honorable Mention: van Nistelrooy, Totti, Lampard, Ballack, Makelele, Lucio, Ferdinand, Samuel, Carvalho, van der Sar, Cech This is a strange decade stuck between the Zidane Ronaldo and Messi CR7 generations. More players who have some warts made there way in, seems to be less competition overall. Lampard is very close to the other midfielders, I would say it is an honest matter of opinion between him and Gerrard, the are very similar in resume. Kaka vs Totti was an interesting study in peak vs longevity, I went with the higher peak here, as through this period I think Kaka was still relatively consistent, being very good, especially for the national team up through 2009. I gave some thought to having Cole out for another Center Back but decided I should have one true fullback in the side, as I would say Lucio, Ferdinand, and Carvalho are all marginally better than Cole. Had some issues deciding on who belonged where. Vieira was a tough one, weighing one great season in 2006 that includes a great world cup vs three decent seasons in 97-99. I think the deciding factor was that he was not regular in the national team at this point, or the best player in his own midfield with Arsenal. Cannavaro is a very similar decision to Vieira, weighing one great season in 06 (plus an ok one in 07, his decline at Real was gradual and I remember him being decent this season) vs a number of good ones in the late 90s. With Cannavaro that one season is so great and defines his legacy so much I put him in this era.
@PuckVanHeel What decade would you place van der sar and seedorf in, they both have so much longevity it is hard to pick a spot, as of now I have van der sar in 2000 to 2010. This feels strange totally missing his Ajax run, and also missing one of his great seasons with man u in 2011. If I place him in in 05 to 15 he would not be that far of Cassilas. I though he has a good argument for being better in 07, 09, and 11 with Cassilas having the advantage in 08, 10, and 12. He could also be moved to 95 to 05 to pick up the Ajax run but then you totally lose the Man U run. I thought he was amazing for United but never really saw much of him for Ajax. Seedorf is similarly frustrating in that you cannot get his excellent Real Madrid seasons in the same decade as his signature season AC Milan in 2007. As of now I have him in 95-05.
1995-2005 Forward: Ronaldo (PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Brazil) Forward: Raul (Real Madrid, Spain) Midfield: Luis Figo (Sporting, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Portugal) Midfield: Pavel Nedved (Sparta Parague, Lazio, Juventus, Czech Republic) Midfield: Zinedane Zidane (Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid, France) Midfield: Roy Keane (Manchester United, Republic of Ireland) Defense: Roberto Carlos (Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Brazil) Defense: Cafu (Palmieras, Roma, AC Milan, Brazil) Defense: Lilian Thurman (Monaco, Parma, Juventus, France) Defense: Jaap Stam (PSV, Manchester United, Lazio, AC Milan, Netherlands) Goalkeeper: Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich, Germany) Honorable Mention: Shevchenko, Rivaldo, Del Piero, Beckham, Seedorf, Davids, Veron, Lizarazu, Zanetti, Ayala, Campbell. Three places were really tough for a decision between multiple players. Raul is basically neck and neck vs Rivaldo and Shevchenko, with Del Piero not far behind. Also Stam vs Ayala vs Campbell is also very tight. Keane vs Davids vs Seedorf, also very tough with Veron not far off. No real controversies in my mind on if the players belong to this era, all seem to fit this best pretty clearly.
97-00 were more than just three "decent" seasons. He was named into 2 PFA Team of the year twice in that period. While he was not a regular for France in WC98, he was for EURO2000, including being voted into the team of the tournament. Petit was seen as better than him pre-1998, but most Arsenal fans rated Vieira higher by 98-99. The price of going for his 2006 World Cup is you lose his performance both in EURO2000 and his two PFA Team of the Year performances. Only by placing him in 95-05 decade do you capture all six of his PFA Team of the Year performances, and his EURO 2000 performances. Keep in mind he was voted into both the Oversea and Overall EPL team of the first 10 years 92-02.
I was considering 99-00 as part of 2000-2010, hence the three years pre 2000 comment, So your get 99-00 and Euro 2000 in either group. So we are weighing 96-97, 97-98, and 98-99 vs 05-06 and WC 2006.
1990-2000 Forward: Romario (PSV, Barcelona, Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Brazil) Forward: Dennis Bergkamp (Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Netherlands) Forward: Roberto Baggio (Fiorentina, Juventus, AC Milan, Bologna, Inter Milan, Italy) Forward: Hristo Stoichkov (CSKA Sofia, Barcelona, Parma, Bulgaria) Midfield: Matthias Sammer (Dresden, Stuttgart, Inter Milan, Dortmund, East Germany, Germany) Midfield: Marcel Desailly (Nantes, Marseille, AC Milan, Chelsea, France) Defense: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan, Italy) Defense: Frank de Boer (Ajax, Barcelona, Netherlands) Defense: Fernando Hierro (Real Madrid, Spain) Defense: Laurent Blanc (Montpellier, Napoli, Nimes, Saint Etienne, Auxerre, Barcelona, Inter Milan, France) Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel (Brondby, Manchester United, Sporting, Denmark) Honorable Mention: Batistuta, Weah, Klinsmann, Shearer, Suker, Litmanen, Zola, Cantona, Bebeto, Giggs, Deschamps, Albertini, Kohler, Chilavert This is the first decade I am really pushing the boundaries of a reasonable formation to get the most deserving players in. This decade is full of two positions, forwards and center backs. Even basically including four forwards and five center backs, the next most deserving players left out are probably from the same positions in Bebeto, Litmanen, Cantona, Kohler etc.
1985-1995 Forward: Marco van Basten (Ajax, AC Milan, Netherlands) Forward: Michael Laudrup (Lazio, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Denmark) Midfield: Gheorghe Hagi (Studentesc, Steaua Bucuresti, Real Madrid, Brescia, Barcelona, Romania) Midfield: Ruud Gullit (Feyneoord, PSV, AC Milan, Sampdoria, Netherlands) Midfield: Lothar Mathaus (Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, West Germany, Germany) Midfield: Frank Rijkaard (Ajax, AC Milan, Netherlands) Defense: Andreas Brehme (Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Real Zaragoza, West Germany, Germany) Defense: Oscar Ruggeri (Boca Juniors, River Plate, Logrones, Real Madrid, Velez Sarsfield, San Lorenzo, Argentina) Defense: Ronald Koeman (Ajax, PSV, Barcelona, Netherlands) Defense: Franco Baresi (AC Milan, Italy) Goalkeeper: Walter Zenga (Inter Milan, Sampdoria, Italy) Honorable Mention: Papin, Lineker, Butragueno, Brolin, Michel, Barnes, Waddle, Valderrama, Stojkovic, Bergomi, Bratseth, Preud'homme, Zubizarreta Laudrup and Hagi were both somewhat tough decisions to make vs placing them in 90-00. Laudrup you are basically comparing a good run for the national team in 85, the 85 world cup, and and 85-86 season for Juventus vs the 98 World Cup and associated national team games. I think this one is reletively clear that late 80s is more important than late 90s. Hagi is more difficult. You have the career in Romania which includes some excellent European Cup runs in the late 80s vs national team performance post 95 (his club performance is negligible in major leagues during this time). I was more impressed by his play in the EC in the late 80s, as well as being good for the national team qualifying for WC 1990. On the other side he helped qualify for and was decent in Euro 96 and WC 98. The toughest decision on who to put in was Ruggeri vs Bergomi and Bratseth. I like Braseth a lot and think he is generally underrated.
1. That's because you placed Keane in the 95-05 decade when you could make a real case for his inclusion in the 90-00 decade. After all, he was so good for Forest that he demanded the British transfer record from Man Utd. The price could've been even higher if Blackburn succeeded in signing him. 2. A couple of midfielders that I think could easily compete for a place in this decade's XI are Mauro Silva and Fernando Redondo.
This much I agree with. To me, it clear that Ronaldo early Madrid years were his peak. Ironically, he won less trophies back then. If I never witnessed Messi, Ronaldo would be in contention for the greatest peak ever. I genuinely thought there was no way anyone could play better than what Ronaldo and Messi were doing at around that time, and how effing spoiled we were to watch them both. Then along came Messi 14/15, of course, and we were shown something a level above, which I didn't even know was humanly possible.
How was Casillas better in 2008? VdS was about as good as him at euro 2008, official man of the match in the CL final, won the league as well with solid performances.