I think we can all agree that Ronaldo and Zidane dominated the headlines and discussions between roughly 1995 and 2005. The first ten years after Bosman and the revamped Champions League. The athlete vs the magician; the extrovert vs the introvert; smiling boy vs pantomime villain; Nike vs Adidas; South America vs Europe; FIFA friend vs 'outsider'. To name just a few. Then it took one or two years to move the casino chips and market towards a new and even stronger duopoly. With many themes recurring. But who would be the front runners for the 2000 to 2010 decade as a whole? With this I mean players who were good in both halves of the decade. (I will also make such thread for 1990 to 2000 - even a lot more detailed) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As some British journalists pointed out at Thierry Henry his retirement: for a brief while the headlines were centered around Ronaldinho vs Henry. "Was there a better player in world football between 2002 and 2004, when, with Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo beginning to fade at Real Madrid and Ronaldo and Lionel Messi mere ingénues, Henry brought such a formidable blend of pace, power and poise to a formidable Arsenal team? It is a subjective discussion, but if you could make cases for Ronaldinho, Raúl, Pavel Nedved or Andriy Shevchenko, you could make a very strong case for Henry." Henry played against Zidane in the 2006 Champions League, and the commentaries were in the range of: Zindedine ZIDANE 7 A shadow of the player he was when he ruled the world. There were only glimpses of his skill and control. Failed to make any sort of impact as Real chased the game. RONALDO 5 Looks overweight and sluggish. Hard to believe that the Brazilian superstar has dropped to this. Did not show enough passion or commitment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Indeed, by Ballon d'Or positions Thierry Henry, born 1977, is #1 for this time period (ahead of LM10 and CR7 too). Ronaldinho, born 1980, could've been up there but he's behind Shevchenko, Xavi and Zidane instead. Therefore he comes fifth - and it can be said that his 2006 and 2007 Ballon d'Or rankings were overinflated. I will try to think of a proper list with players who were among the best (in their respective position) in both halves. Easier than 1990 to 2000 I feel...
My initial attempt at a list: Gianluigi Buffon Iker Casillas (could be 'HM' too) Petr Cech Samuel Eto'o Rio Ferdinand Steven Gerrard Thierry Henry Frank Lampard Alessandro Nesta Andrea Pirlo Carles Puyol Edwin van der Sar HM: Michael Ballack David Beckham Ricardo Carvalho Didier Drogba Juninho Pernambucano Kaká Lucio Paul Scholes Clarence Seedorf Francesco Totti John Terry Xabi Alonso Xavi David Villa Javier Zanetti Anyone that should be there? Who crossed both 2000 - 2005 and 2005 - 2010?
Here are some of the relevant goalscorers. It is adapted from El Grafico their list (20/03/2016), which is not perfect but it provides a rough indication. Raul Gonzalez [1994] - 465 (more of a 1995 - 2005 player I suppose) Zlatan Ibrahimovic [1999] - 443 Thierry Henry [1994] - 415 (includes his MSL years) Andriy Shevchenko [1994] - 385 (more of a 1995 - 2005 player) Ruud van Nistelrooy [1993] - 384 (also more of a 1995 - 2005 player?) Samuel Eto'o [1997] - 377 Robbie Keane [1997] - 369 David Villa [2000] - 366 Sebastian Abreu [1994] - 360 Alessandro del Piero [1991] - 347 (more a 1995 - 2005 player) Didier Drogba [1998] - 342 Ronaldinho [1998] - 336 Dimitar Berbatov [1998] - 330 Claudio Pizarro [1996] - 326 Francesco Totti [1992] - 325 Roy Makaay [1993] - 322 (more a 1995 - 2005 player too, b. 1975) Luis Fabiano [1997] - 321 Hernan Crespo [1993] - 318 Wayne Rooney [2002] - 318 (despite early breakthrough still a better fit for 2005 to 2015?) David Trezeguet [1993] - 317 (1995 - 2005 to my mind) Luca Toni [1994] - 314 Antonio di Natale [1996] - 312 Martin Palermo [1992] - 305 Dirk Kuijt [1998] - 302 Diego Forlan [1997] - 299 Miroslav Klose [1998] - 297 Jan Koller [1994] - 295 (more 1995 - 2005, b. 1973) Frank Lampard [1995] - 292 (includes penalties; cf. Scholes, Gerrard) Mark Viduka [1993] - 273 Alex [1995] - 270 Michael Owen [1996] - 267 I think I've captured all.
Following some comments by @PDG1978 I think indeed of Rooney (b. 1985) as a 'perfect' 2005 - 2015 player despite his excellent euro 2004. For everything else he started his best years in 2005-06. His assists production doubled in comparison to previous years next to accolades and other things. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is despite his date of birth (1981) also a 2005 - 2015 player. He had mixed receipts at Ajax and his first season at Juventus wasn't close to his best. David Beckham (b. 1975) fits better in 1995 to 2005 yes. After this he had maybe only one really good year (or one-and-half), while 2000 to 2010 would exclude several good 1990s seasons. The perfect borderline case is Riquelme (b. 1978). For club I'd say 1995 - 2005 absolutely, including NT it is more like an extension to 2008 because that would capture some of his best form and tournaments. In 2004-05 he played 35 league games and was #1 in Don Balon (2 in 9 in UEFA Cup). In 2005-06 he played 25 league games and was down to 10th in Don Balon (2 in 12 in UCL). In 2006-07 he played 13 and in 2007-08 he was gone (with Villarreal finishing 2nd). Michael Owen as top club player and tournament player is really 1995 - 2005 indeed, while 2000 - 2010 would leave out his best tournament and club displays (and it would be incorrect to say '1995 - 2010'). I passed by him since it has David Villa, but Torres is a perfect fit for 2000 - 2010 too. In fact, his peak ended right there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Torres
Yes, agreed about Ibra (that is one case you have thought about yourself again I see as I hadn't mentioned him I know on the PM). It depends how many players get included but I guess the likes of Javier Saviola and Fredi Kanoute would join the forwards list if it was big enough (but I'm just thinking randomly with this comment and the PM and not spending time thinking through various players, so it could be I'd mention others before them having done that of course - two more could be Joaquin and Fredi Ljungberg maybe but same applies and Ljungberg could also be 95-05 I dunno).
It is a nice way of thinking because in age and mileage players have about 10 years at their very best. Also a Paolo Maldini (1985 - 1995) and Lothar Matthaus (1985 - 1995) have a best period despite good years outside it (but athletically and influence wise not at the best; being the best player in the team etc.). This is also true for Raul Gonzalez but his best team accolades and all his individual accolades are from between 1995 and 2005. In the 2007 and 2008 title winning seasons he fell outside the individual accolades, and certainly the notable ones. I included a few Manchester United and Chelsea players above but - without thinking and considering in this manner - that is because those remained strong and glamorous clubs, and with stable key personnel in both halves. You also asked about Paul Scholes but I think 2000 to 2010 is the right fit because this captures both his incarnations, both his PFA nominated years (2003 and 2007; in different incarnations) and it captures the style and tied years that received him praise from colleagues. It also captures all the occassion where he was nominated for the Ballon d'Or, although he never received a vote (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007). Saying '1995 - 2010' wouldn't be wrong either. It is telling that Cruijff as a BBC pundit at euro 2000 saw Scholes as the single best English player (generally, not just after the tournament). Raul Gonzalez He goes to 1995 - 2005. After 2005 very few recognitions. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Goes to 2005 - 2015 without hesitation. Hardly 'world class' before and played in 2004-05 for a tainted Juve. Andriy Shevchenko Definitely 1995 - 2005. He was UCL topscorer in 2005-06 but it wasn't among his best Milan seasons. Transfer to Chelsea in 2006 didn't work out. Ruud van Nistelrooy Had like Beckham about one-and-a-half 'world class' seasons after 2005 (despite bringing the goals when he played he fell out with Ferguson in 2005-06), but before 2000 he showed form in the UCL and Eredivisie that made him a British transfer record (for a short moment). Born 1976. Michael Owen Moves to 1995 - 2005 certainly (as a potential world's top player or a top support player) Alessandro del Piero Goes 1995 - 2005 as well. 2007-08 is the major exception with good match ratings but not really individual accolades and wasn't nominated for Ballon d'Or. He became topscorer with one goal ahead of team mate Trezeguet (penalty on the last match day). David Trezeguet Tricky one. He scored his last three goals for the French national team in 2006 (the games after March 2005 brought his scoring ratio down). He had his first good season in Europe in 1997-98 (Champions League) and the last in 2005-06 for Juventus. The greatest omission after 2005 is his 2007-08 league season. He also goes to 1995 to 2005 while 2000 - 2010 would not fit and 1995 - 2010 is too much of a stretch. Makaay and Koller go to 1995 - 2005 definitely and Rooney is a perfect fit for 2005 - 2015 at club level (exception is euro 2004). I had already placed the likes of Pauleta (b. 1973) and Vieri (b. 1973) there in 1995 - 2005. Hernan Crespo (b. 1975) goes to 1995 - 2005 too. So then the new list is this I think.... (2000 - 2010) Thierry Henry [1994] - 415 goals Samuel Eto'o [1997] - 377 Robbie Keane [1997] - 369 David Villa [2000] - 366 Sebastian Abreu [1994] - 360 Didier Drogba [1998] - 342 Ronaldinho [1998] - 336 Dimitar Berbatov [1998] - 330 Claudio Pizarro [1996] - 326 Francesco Totti [1992] - 325 Luis Fabiano [1997] - 321 Luca Toni [1994] - 314 Antonio di Natale [1996] - 312 Martin Palermo [1992] - 305 Dirk Kuijt [1998] - 302 Diego Forlan [1997] - 299 Miroslav Klose [1998] - 297 Frank Lampard [1995] - 292 Mark Viduka [1993] - 273 Alex [1995] - 270 For the general list I also thought about Inzaghi, Cannavaro and Makelele but didn't include them in the end.
Ronaldinho had 4 terrific years in the middle of the decade (2003-7) and also had some good performances before for Gremio and PSG and then after for Milan (he was excellent in 2009-10). Henry was consistently excellent for the duration of his time at Arsenal, with some outstanding seasons in there as well. At Barcelona his role was different but he was influential in his own way. Those are the top two candidates in my view. Danny Finkelstein did a statistical review of the decade in the Times and that came out with Frank Lampard as the player of the decade in the Premier League.
I always felt it was a bit artificial and weird to make subjective time ranges just to invent things like "players of the decade". Just seems too forced and inorganic. For example I have no idea how you artificially create Maldini's best period as "85-95". That is just weird to me trying to fit a player whose best years were actually spread out pretty consistently over 20 years into a standardized "decade" period. Even if we consider Maldini's peak as a decade (which I disagree with fundamentally) it would really be much more like 88-98 but even then that doesn't capture his phenomenal years at CB in the early 2000's which makes it misleading. It just seems to artificial to try to make up a "player of the decade". The reality is there was no "player of the decade" for 2000-2010 because it shifted too much. Nedved has an argument for 2000-2001. Thierry Henry was the best player in the world from 2002 to 2004/05. Ronaldinho then for a few years and Kaka had a brief sustained peak before the start of the Messi/CR rise. There was really no dominant player whose peak actually matched this "2000-2010" period.
To see it on a decade basis is no different than a yearly basis, with incomplete and changed seasons. Just a different analytical tool. I already laid out a few of the reasons and background variables. Thing is: background variables can change halfway a decade and then remain somewhat stable for two or more decades. Maldini had for me clearly his best period as a force and influencer, without 'gaps', between 1985 and 1995 yes. Here is a hint: http://football-ratings.blogspot.com/2013/11/memory-lane-serie-200405.html As a defender and captain the 8th best rated player of his own team. It is different for the icon and demigod in previous years. I also add, though, that Ballon d'Or comparatively underrates him in 2004. The domestic grades and domestic votes ('defender of the year'), compared to his pomp, are more telling than the Ballon d'Or voters I believe. Both Matthaus and Maldini will also feature in 1990 - 2000 (a period I'll do more extensively). Alessandro Nesta can be in 1995 - 2005 as well. Born 1976 and he was good as a youngster (in a stronger league). That one captures his outstanding euro 2000 too. True. Ronaldinho his individual dominance ended around February/March 2006. Then in 2009-10 a brief resurgence although inconsistent (and graded as such vs league peers in similar roles) and in a post-Calciopoli league. Scored 15 goals, including 7 penalties, in 43 games. Gianluigi Buffon Iker Casillas Petr Cech Samuel Eto'o Rio Ferdinand Steven Gerrard Thierry Henry Frank Lampard Alessandro Nesta Andrea Pirlo Carles Puyol Ronaldinho Edwin van der Sar HM: Michael Ballack Ricardo Carvalho Didier Drogba Juninho Pernambucano Kaká Lucio Paul Scholes Clarence Seedorf Francesco Totti John Terry Xabi Alonso Xavi David Villa Javier Zanetti [moved out David Beckham, moved in Ronaldinho]
i dont see how you can say this. In 1985 Maldini made his senior debut at age 16 as a right back. it wasnt really until 87 that Maldini had established in his iconic role as world class left back. you seem to be saying you rate Maldini as a 16 year old right back in 85 as highly as when Maldini won World Soccer footballer of the year in 1994. just doesnt make any sense mate. Maldini best years were between 1987-2004
Here are my best of the 2000-2010 Buffon Roberto Carlos Paolo Maldini Alessandro Nesta Javier Zanetti Puyol Ronaldinho Nedved Scholes Vieira Thierry Henry Didier Drogba Samuel Eto'o HM: Cristiano Ronaldo Xavi Messi Ballack Kaka Zidane Mascherano' Xabi Alonso
Briefly; Joaquin (b. 1981) slots into the 2000 - 2010 era, helped by that he did nothing of note at first division level before 2000 and was good or borderline great until 2007. Fredi Kanoute (b. 1977) is a perfect 2000 - 2010 player I agree. Was still comparably strong in 2010 and not just because of his numbers. Saviola (b. 1981): doubting in which era he fits better. In terms of 'aura' and fantasy the high point was between 1999 and 2004, or 2005. The 1999 - 2000 'hype' years made him the most expensive youngster and South American located player in the world (ahead of Riquelme, Ronaldinho). He had good years at Benfica but that wasn't exactly the height of his stay in the spotlights. Ljungberg (b. 1977) is definitely the era 1995 - 2005 for me. 2005 was his last good year for the national team, his last notable year in Europe and the last season where he scored more than 10 goals (did it three times for Arsenal). After 2004-05 he scored for various clubs never more than two goals in a season. His recognitions are in this frame as well (more or less tailing off after 2004 and ending in 2006). Suffered too much from injuries.
Okay, I accept that we might disagree mate I don't dispute he had some good very good years after 2000 (next to Nesta & sitting deeper with defense). This as illustration: http://www.dbscalcio.it/schedaCalci...mePlayer=Maldini&dataNascitaPlayer=26-06-1968 http://spielverlagerung.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Maldini_Paolo.png?x76132 Yes thanks. I had read that previously but hadn't it in my mind when I created the sketchy list (my subconsciously when thinking of Lampard and then validating in my thoughts). Below the other names and categorized (as good as I can) by myself. "Correlations between different on-field actions" 2000 - 2010. The ones in italics I had picked 'right'. 1995 - 2005 players Jens Lehmann 2000 - 2010 players Frank Lampard Petr Cech Steven Gerrard John Terry Pepe Reina Dimitar Berbatov Rio Ferdinand Robbie Keane Edwin van der Sar 2005 - 2015 players Cristiano Ronaldo Rooney Adebayor Robin van Persie Nemanja Vidic Darren Bent Cesc Fabregas Mikel Arteta Jermain Defoe Joe Hart
We clearly disagree You (and other English pundits) definitely rate Gerrard and Lampard much higher than I do. Vieira and Scholes were both clearly better for my money and deserve to be in team of the decade over them. Gerrard and Lampard both only excelled in very specific formations and tactics that were built around them. They needed very specific platforms to perform. Gerrard in particular is much too selfish Hollywood play. For instance, the pair of them had some of the worst cumulative NT team performances over that 2000-2010 period. They never played well together and neither excelled in that flat 442 England played at the time. For the majority of their international career they were underwhelming at best and always worse than the sum of their parts in all major tournaments. Vieira and Scholes were both much better team players that fit into a wider range of tactics. Thanks for sharing that graphic. Never seen that before but it looks like goalimpact agrees with me that Maldini was at his best from 88-04 Cheers and merry xmas!
I just realized this isn't even a decade. To be accurate for a decade the time here should be: The Best Players between: Jan.1, 2000 through Dec.31st, 2009 It is incomplete but I am not sure all of those qualify. Iniesta and Lahm to you qualify as best of 2000-2009? I just realized the original 'decade' of this thread is a little off chronologically and the decade actually ends Dec.31,2009. So Lahm and Iniesta might not have enough to be considered best of the Oughties decade (2000-2009). So the 2010 World Cup does not count here IMO. Some of the others you mentioned though yes I completely forgot and deserve inclusion. So I would update my list as: Top: Buffon Roberto Carlos Paolo Maldini Alessandro Nesta Javier Zanetti Puyol Schweinsteiger Ferdinand Ronaldinho Nedved Scholes Vieira Thierry Henry Didier Drogba Samuel Eto'o HM: Casillas Cristiano Ronaldo Xavi Messi Ballack Kaka Seedorf Figo Zidane Mascherano Xabi Alonso Pirlo Vidic Cannavaro Dani Alves Ashley Cole On Boundary: Lahm Iniesta
I don't rate Lampard (and Gerrard) as high as others do but it cannot be overlooked that he was excellent in both halves of the decade and he has numbers that only 15 - 20 EPL players in history can surpass or match. Additionally, both Finkelstein and GI (plus another one whose name I don't know at the moment) indicate that he made his sides win. I don't rate Ashley Cole, Cannavaro and Philipp Lahm as high as others either. Finkelstein his list doesn't show Henry, Drogba, Scholes, Ballack and Carvalho. He did show Berbatov and he's indeed surprisingly high at the scorers list, and he has next to outstanding trapping also solid EPL stats (94 goals, incl. 9 penalties, 40 assists in 229 games). I don't like broken seasons so for me it was "start of 2000-01" to "end of 2009-10" or "end of 2010 World Cup" to be fractionally flexible. The start of those campaigns (or qualifiers) are located in the 00s instead of the 90s or 10s. At the moment I can't go through all cases but I think (of your mentioned names): 1995 - 2005 Roberto Carlos Maldini Nedved Vieira Figo Zidane 2005 - 2015 Lahm Schweinsteiger Iniesta Dani Alves Vidic Mascherano Xabi Alonso Xavi Cristiano Ronaldo Messi Xabi Alonso and to a lesser extent Xavi can have a case for either/both 2000 - 2010 and 2005 - 2015 (maybe Pirlo). Seedorf, Cannavaro and Nesta can have cases for either/both 1995 - 2005 and 2000 - 2010. Scholes is imho clearly 2000 - 2010; take 1995 - 2005 and you have a player with a treble but without the praise and refined retention skills. 2000 - 2010 Top: Buffon Alessandro Nesta Javier Zanetti Puyol Ferdinand Ronaldinho Scholes Thierry Henry Didier Drogba Samuel Eto'o HM: Casillas Xavi Ballack Kaka Seedorf Xabi Alonso Pirlo Cannavaro Ashley Cole
I think I'd put Kaka in any top bracket unless it was going to be very exclusive, but ofc it will depend on how the criteria is set out. I think I'd put him over Drogba and Puyol for example anyway - Drogba had his own lesser times in the decade and maybe even a shorter or more intermittent absolute peak (as well as lesser ofc IMO). On the other hand Xavi will just fit better in the 05-15 decade I suppose, although maybe lacking longevity of peak within that time too ofc. I think I agree with comme in terms of Ronaldinho or Henry for number 1, but more centred around the middle of the decade. For the first half maybe a Zidane, or for consistency a Nedved, fare better. For the second half alone maybe Kaka (although 03-08 would be better) or even the emerging C.Ronaldo would be candidates moreso than Ronaldinho and Henry? But over the whole decade they seem prime candidates to me, considering prime but also body of work so to speak.
Yes, fair enough. I had once made a note for that he did not always feature in the 'A team', 'B team' or even 'C team' of Gazzetta and Guerin in some of the Milan seasons. In the year he won the Ballon d'Or he wasn't particularly great or influential in the league (compared to previous years). 2003-04 and 2005-06 were just better league seasons. In 2004-05 he wasn't on fire in the Champions League either, but had that wonderful assist in the final ofc. I think he's a lock for at least 'HM' and I can see the case for a category higher. He also gets in for his Champions League scoring and his assists (20 assists in the Champions League). Yes, more so than Xabi Alonso. Who has also a body of work before the start of the 2005-06 season. As a Real Sociedad player (nice stories about that president and the club ) he was chased by the big clubs but stayed there for a while. Xavi had still some really good games before 2005-06 though (one where he didn't play the back end incl. UCL final due to injury). He was MOTM against England in 2004 and was good in 2004-05 although playing 2nd fiddle behind Deco. I'm leaning towards 2005 - 2015 too however as that is what made him a great player rather than 2000 - 2005. In the 2009-10 season Ronaldinho had some good games against Internazionale (treble winners), AS Roma (#2 in the league), Juventus (meaningless match however) and Manchester United. For some also Real Madrid. You can see it on YT I guess. Overall it is easy and justified to overlook this season a bit. Henry (b. 1977) was in his 30s at Barcelona. He had a big role in the 2-6 match against Real Madrid in 2008-09 and scored 6 goals in the UCL. It is telling though he scored his two hat-tricks for the club - 1-4 against Levante; 4-0 against Valencia - when Eto'o wasn't playing... (injured & suspended)
Yes, Kaka perhaps spread his form over different competitions in different years (not to say he was only really good in the CL in 06/07 ofc) so maybe it's not that I'd see him as a 'must' for a top tier whatever, but more that I'd think (not to pick on him lol but as an example) he doesn't seem like he should be below Drogba say (or for me Lampard or Gerrard indeed although some might even say their peaks were better and certainly point to their longevity or form across that decade being longer/more constant so again it depends how someone looks at it I think - whether everyone agrees he was unlike any of those picked out as the worlds top player for a short time though albeit in what seems like a dip and/or a transitional period I suppose now in terms of great players). I guess it's ok to put players in more than one decade anyway, as like I said you'd felt Cruyff could top two of them already (and Pele too maybe, but can't recall without checking if you gave 56-65 period to him or Di Stefano). Maybe Xavi being in two would then reflect the fact his best form was bang in the middle of one period ie touched the start of the next one and carried on into it a bit too). Iniesta's career story fits better just in the next one ofc.
1995-2005 Kahn Maldini Hierro Cannavaro Thuram Keane Vieira Nedved Zidane Rivaldo Ronaldo 2000-2010 Buffon A. Cole Ferdinand Nesta Zanetti Makelele Pirlo Scholes Kaka Ronaldinho Henry 2005-2010 Casillas Lahm Puyol Terry Alves Busquets Xavi Iniesta C. Ronaldo Messi Suarez
I had Drogba as an 'HM' (both initially and in my revised attempt) so I hadn't him over Kaka in some sort of real sense. Just because this is difficult I decided to keep it at two tiers (well, three if we put Henry and Ronaldinho a tier above) rather than ranking them. Yes, I had Pelé as #1 of the decade for 1955 - 1965 and 1960 - 1970. He was clear best in the world from 1961 to 1965 and then maybe 1970 (maybe 1960 too). Of course you have to play for the right club and the right country (sort of). It helps. One of the reasons - to take an example - I included Van der Sar was that he made in 2003-04 the most saves of any goalkeeper in the league (10 more than Kiely of Charlton Athletic), and had the most clean sheets too. He did this for Fulham. That is either way you cut it a remarkable sign of ability. He was the only player to be in the top 5 of saves and top 5 of clean sheets (#1 at both). It helps to play for the right club, born into the right country, the right language family - and the right agent Is there a player that can or should be in the scorers list? Thierry Henry [1994] - 415 goals Samuel Eto'o [1997] - 377 Robbie Keane [1997] - 369 David Villa [2000] - 366 Sebastian Abreu [1994] - 360 Didier Drogba [1998] - 342 Ronaldinho [1998] - 336 Dimitar Berbatov [1998] - 330 Claudio Pizarro [1996] - 326 Francesco Totti [1992] - 325 Luis Fabiano [1997] - 321 Luca Toni [1994] - 314 Antonio di Natale [1996] - 312 Martin Palermo [1992] - 305 Dirk Kuijt [1998] - 302 Diego Forlan [1997] - 299 Miroslav Klose [1998] - 297 Frank Lampard [1995] - 292 Mark Viduka [1993] - 273 Alex [1995] - 270 Although he's born in 1977, I'm thinking about moving Di Natale to 2005 - 2015. Since he scored 199 of his 226 Serie A, Champions League and Europa League goals in this period, and 109 of the 226 goals between 2000 and 2010. Berbatov can be one for 2005 - 2015, but I think he was generally perceived as lazier and slower when he became topscorer (in 2010-11). The peak of his individuality - and creativity, creative goals - was until the 2009-10 season if not before.