Platini Top Ten All-Time?

Glanville actually did consider Matthews above Garrincha, at least when he wrote the following article. You get the point I'm making though, simply because some old timers regarded Labruna, Moreno and Pedernera above Di Stefano doesn't mean it was necessarily so (and I'm not denying it may be the case Moishe, no doubt they were all phenomenal players).

Glanville's top 100 players (I know the rules about posting whole articles, but given there is no link and it's from over 10 years ago I think it's OK)

1 PELE (Brazil 1940-)

Born Edson Arantes de Nascimento in the state of Minas Gerais, Pele (main photograph) must surely be the greatest footballer of all time. The son of a footballer, Dondinho, he was a Brazilian international at 16 and a star of the 1958 World Cup at 17, in which he scored three goals in the semi-final against France and two against Sweden in the final, the first of them a marvel of jugglery and calm, the second a superb header. Though only 5ft 8in, his heading was always remarkable; he'd head another fine goal in the 1970 final in Mexico. Between those tournaments he was forced out of two World Cups by injury. Scorer of more than 1,000 first-class goals, he was twice ruined financially and forced to resume his career in 1975 with the New York Cosmos. Before that, his only major club had been Santos, with whom he won Brazilian, South American (Liberatadores) and inter-continental championships. He starred in the implausible POW drama Escape to Victory in 1981 and has been Brazil's Sports Minister since 1994.

2 ALFREDO DI STEFANO (Argentina and Spain 1926-)

Di Stefano, the inspiration of Real Madrid's European Cup monopoly between 1956 and 1960, is perhaps the greatest all-round centre-forward of all time. He built up his remarkable stamina by running through the streets of his native Buenos Aires and added to this fine technique, creative flair and deadly finishing. He emerged with River Plate, absconded to Millonarios of Colombia in 1949 and joined Real Madrid in 1953, when they outwitted Barcelona. Already an Argentina international, he played 31 times for Spain but sat out the 1962 World Cup in Chile. Later he managed Real Madrid, Valencia and Boca Juniors.

3 DIEGO MARADONA (Argentina 1960-)

The radiant Argentinian star (right) figured in four World Cups and two World Cup finals and inspired Napoli to two unprecedented Italian Championships, only to be chased out of Italy for cocaine abuse and out of the 1994 World Cup for taking stimulants. One of eight children of a poor Buenos Aires family, he made the Argentinos Juniors team at 16 and almost got into Argentina's 1978 World Cup squad. His 1982 World Cup in Spain was disappointing, his spell at Barcelona typically torrid. In 1984 he moved to Napoli and in 1986 scored his notorious "Hand of God" World Cup goal against England in the Azteca Stadium. He followed this up with an astounding individual goal, a feat repeated against Belgium. In the 1990 World Cup, he helped Argentina to the final. After Naples, he played in Spain for Seville and in Argentina for Newells Old Boys and Boca Juniors.

4 JOHAN CRUYFF (Holland 1947-)

Along with Franz Beckenbauer, Cruyff (left) was the grand progenitor of 1970s Total Football, both at Ajax - the club he joined as a boy - and for Holland. He helped Ajax to win three successive European Cups between 1971 and 1973, excelled for Holland in the 1974 World Cup (when they made the final), but refused to play in 1978 for domestic reasons. He was sent off in his first international for Holland against Czechoslovakia and suspended for a year. He helped Barcelona to win the Spanish championship in 1974, played for Feyenoord of Rotterdam, and then managed Ajax and, until last year, Barcelona. He was three times European Footballer of the Year between 1971 and 1974.

5 FRANZ BECKENBAUER (West Germany 1945-)

One of the true pioneers of Total Football in the 1970s, Beckenbauer (above) virtually invented the attacking sweeper as a teenager with Bayern Munich. He was a star right half in the 1966 World Cup, was crippled in the 1970 World Cup semi-final against Italy and captained West Germany to the world title in Munich in 1974. On the field, he was authority personified. As manager, he won another World Cup with West Germany in Rome in 1990.

6 STANLEY MATTHEWS (England 1915-)

A remarkable outside right who played until he was over 50, Matthews was born in the Potteries, the son of boxer Jack, the Fighting Barber of Hanley. He was in Stoke City's first team at 17, an England international at 19, and became winner of 54 official caps, famous for his swerve and sprint. He played as a guest for Blackpool when serving in the wartime RAF, joined them in 1947 and virtually won them the 1953 Cup final. He took part in the 1950 World Cup, as a last-moment choice, and that of 1954. Two years later he tormented Brazil's defence at Wembley at the age of 41. He returned to Stoke City in 1961, helping them to promotion to the First Division.

7 GEORGE BEST (Northern Ireland 1946-)

Possibly the finest British player to have emerged since the war, Best (below) was born in Belfast, joined Manchester United as a teenager, excelled as a winger, and went on to become a wholly versatile attacker with pace, skill and courage. A hectic romantic life led to many a contretemps and surely abbreviated a dazzling career which included marvellous European Cup displays for United against Benfica, both in Lisbon in 1966 and in the Wembley final of 1968, when he scored a memorable goal. He was capped 37 times by Northern Ireland.

8 FERENC PUSKAS (Hungary 1926-)

Puskas had perhaps the most dexterous, powerful left foot ever known in the game. Born in Budapest in the suburb of Kispest, he played for the local club and was first capped at 18 against Austria. He went on to win 84 caps, scoring 85 goals. There would have been more of each had he not stayed abroad after the 1956 revolution, joining Real Madrid, where he struck up a glorious partnership with Alfredo Di Stefano, scoring four goals in the 1960 European Cup final and three in the 1962 final. The great anti-climax of his career came in the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland when, kicked in the first game, he didn't come back until the final, when he was clearly not fully fit and Hungary lost to West Germany. He captained the Hungarian side which smashed England's unbeaten home record against foreign teams at Wembley in November 1953, scoring a memorable goal. Later, as manager, he took Panathinaikos of Athens to the 1971 European Cup final at Wembley.

9 ALEX JAMES (Scotland 1902-1953)

Another Wembley Wizard and an inside left with an outstanding talent for passing, whether diagonally to the left wing, crossfield to the right, or through the middle for the centre forward. James (left) was essential to Arsenal's great success during his dazzling years with them between 1929 and 1937. Born, like Hughie Gallacher, in the mining village of Bellshill, he began with Raith Rovers, went to Preston North End in 1925 and to Arsenal four years later. Scotland, so wary of "Anglos" between the wars, capped him just eight times, but he was the finest inside forward of his day, his passing matched by a remarkable technique.

10 JUAN SCHIAFFINO (Uruguay 1925-)

Schiaffino was an inside left who scored one of Uruguay's two goals against Brazil in the decider of the 1950 World Cup and was still more impressive in the Swiss finals of 1954, after which he joined Milan, helping them win the championship. Pale and slender, he was a superlative ball player and a master of the defence-breaching pass. Even when he had to drop back to left half against England in the 1954 World Cup quarter-final, he looked impeccable. Born in Montevideo, he was co-opted by the Italians almost as soon as he arrived, playing against Argentina. He won three more caps, and eventually joined Roma. Launched by Pe$arol of Montevideo, he returned there to become a club manager and, in 1975, to manage Uruguay.

11 GARRINCHA (Brazil 1933-1983)

As befits a player nicknamed after a small bird, Garrincha was always a child of nature. He excelled in two World Cups: 1958, when he turned the game against Sweden with two superb serves and bursts down the right flank, and 1962 in Chile, when, with Pele injured, he metamorphosed into a remarkable all-round attacker, scoring from afar with his left foot and leaping to head in a corner against England despite his lack of height. Manoel Francisco dos Santos was born in Pau Grande and soon after, his left leg was twisted by an operation. Yet as a player he made a virtue out of this handicap, with his amazing swerve. He also played a diminished part in the 1966 World Cup, though he scored one marvellous goal from a free kick. Father of seven girls, he left his wife for a singer, hurt his knee in a motor accident and slid into drink and poverty, dying in despair.

12 MATTHIAS SINDELAR (Austria 1903-1939)

One of the most technically gifted European centre forwards of the inter-war years, Sindelar was nicknamed Der Paperiener (the Man of Paper) for his spindly physique. He was as elusive as a ghost. He was the fulcrum of the Austrian Wunderteam, winning 44 caps and playing in the 1934 Italian World Cup. Originally with Hertha, he joined FA Austria when barely 20 and spent the rest of his career there. His model was a famous, wandering Hungarian, Kalman Konrad, another attacker of huge skill. Sindelar had a strong shot but preferred to stroll his way through defences to score. He died in a gas-filled room in 1939.

13 MICHEL PLATINI (France 1955-)

Platini (above) was a player of huge skill and flair who perfected his famous free kicks by endless practice against a row of wooden dummies. He was in Nancy's first team as a 17-year-old and spent seven seasons with them before joining Saint Etienne for three. In 1982 he moved to Juventus, where he scored 16 goals in his first season, winning championship and intercontinental medals. He says his finest goal was scored in the Inter-continental final in Tokyo in 1985, when he lobbed two players with his right foot and volleyed in with his left, only for the referee to disallow it. A star of three World Cups, 1978, 1982 and 1986, though injured in each, he also helped France to win the European Championship of 1984. He retired at 32 when still in fine form and became France's manager in 1988. He later took charge of their World Cup 1998 organisation. "I've done what I could," he has said. "I've no regrets."

14 MARCO VAN BASTEN (Holland 1964-)

One of the finest postwar centre forwards and a protege of Johan Cruyff, Van Basten (below) superbly combined power, pace, skill and heading ability, only for his career to come to a premature end when his ankle cartilage was worn away. Born in Utrecht, he made his debut for Ajax in the 1981-82 season and stayed there until he joined Milan in 1987. Injury restricted him that season to 11 appearances, but he recovered in time to inspire Holland in the 1988 European Championship finals, scoring a sensational right-foot volleyed goal against the Soviets in the Munich final. With Milan he won championship and European Cup medals, perhaps unwisely deciding to play in the European Cup final of 1993. He figured in just one World Cup, 1990, when in common with the Dutch team at large, he disappointed.

15 RUUD GULLIT (Holland 1962-)

A majestic, dreadlocked figure, a superb compound of strength and skill and by turns sweeper, mid-fielder and striker, Gullit (right) made his name in Holland, excelled in Italy with Milan and Sampdoria and then unexpectedly joined Chelsea as a player, becoming their impressive player-manager a year later in 1996. Born in Amsterdam of mixed Dutch-Surinam parentage, Gullit briefly played for the DWS club, had three seasons with Harlem, three with Feyenoord and two with PSV Eindhoven, before joining Milan for Pounds 5 million in 1987. There he formed a celebrated partnership with two other Dutch stars, Van Basten and Rijkaard. A coruscating figure in the Dutch team which won the 1988 European Championship in Germany, he was less successful in the 1990 World Cup, having survived a series of knee operations, and refused to play in the 1994 tournament.

16 EUSEBIO (Portugal 1942-)

After Eusebio's superb display in the European Cup final of 1962 in Amsterdam, Puskas, who had just scored three for Real Madrid, symbolically gave him his shirt. Benfica brought him to Lisbon from his native Lourenco Marques, Mozambique, when he was 19 for just Pounds 7,500. An inside right with a devastating right foot, he went straight into the Paris tournament, scoring three goals against Pele's Santos. A superb runner with great acceleration, he excelled in the 1966 World Cup in England, scoring four against North Korea in the quarter-finals and ending up as top scorer with seven goals. Later he played for Boston (USA) and Monterrey (Mexico).

17 RAYMOND KOPA (France 1931-)

Born Raymond Kopaczewski (above), the son of a Polish miner, he was hurt in a mining accident and "escaped" to turn professional with Angers, and thence to Reims. They turned him from a clever little W X right winger into an all-purpose centre forward and inspiration of his team, which reached the first European Cup final in 1956 against Real Madrid, whom he promptly joined. Di Stefano's presence forced him back to the wing, but he had a marvellous 1958 World Cup in Sweden as France's centre forward, making bullets for Fontaine to fire. Beautifully balanced and highly skilled, he was capped 45 times for France and went back to Reims in 1959.

18 ERNST OCWIRK (Austria 1926-1980)

Ocwirk was a pivotal player of the excellent Austrian national team of the early 1950s as an attacking centre half, later, under the W formation, becoming a left half. He had a superb left foot and was adept in long, sweeping passes. He played for Fussball Klub Austria, was first capped in 1945 and was a member of Austria's 1948 Olympic team in London and their 1954 World Cup team in Switzerland. In 1956 he went to Genoa to play as an inside forward for Sampdoria, later managing both his old clubs, FK Austria and Sampdoria.

19 CLIFF BASTIN (England 1912-1990)

Nicknamed "Boy" Bastin for his precocity, Bastin joined Arsenal from his local Exeter City at 17 in 1929, converting from inside forward to left winger, though he would be capped for England in both roles. A formidable goal-scorer, he got 33 goals from outside left in the 1932-33 season, scoring in all 150 First Division goals in 350 games. His partnership with the Scottish inside left Alex James was famous. Between 1931 and 1938, he won 21 caps for England. With Arsenal, he won five League Championship and two FA Cup medals. He retired in 1946, later keeping a pub in his native Exeter.

20 TOM FINNEY (England 1922-)

Nicknamed "The Preston Plumber" - his other occupation - Finney spent all of his splendid career with his local club, though it was interrupted by wartime Army service abroad. A naturally left-footed player who became an outside right with exquisite ball control, an elusive swerve and two good feet, in his latter years he would turn into a deep-lying centre forward of notable balance and invention. He was clearly a future star when posted to the Middle East in 1941, but not until five years later did he win the first of his 76 England caps. Initially he kept Stanley Matthews out of the side, until Lisbon in May 1947, when he played on the left, Matthews on the right, and England won 10-0. Finney played in the 1950, 1954 and 1958 World Cups and scored 30 goals for England and 187 league goals for Preston in 431 games. He retired in 1960, after getting no fewer than 17 goals in 37 league games in his last season. An impeccable sportsman.

21 JOHN CHARLES (Wales 1931-)

Adulated by Juventus fans as King John, The Gentle Giant, Charles (below) scored 93 league goals for them between 1957 and 1962, having got 150 goals for his original club, Leeds United, who spirited him away from Swansea and converted him from a Welsh international centre half into a powerful, quick centre forward. Later he played again for Leeds, Roma and, as player-manager, Hereford United. He was first capped for Wales at 17.

22 TOMMY LAWTON (England 1919-1996)

Lawton was a tremendously accomplished, powerful centre forward whose international career was interrupted by the war. Already a star with Burnley at 16, he had come to them from junior football in his native Bolton. In 1937, he joined Everton for a then remarkable fee for a teenager of Pounds 6,500. In his first two full seasons he scored 62 goals, winning a championship medal in 1938-39 and a place in the England team. His heading was legendary - it was claimed that he could hang in the air. During the war he served in the Army PT corps, led a famous England attack and joined Chelsea in November 1945, moving surprisingly to Third Division Notts County for the first ever Pounds 20,000 fee in 1947. He later played for Brentford and Arsenal, and managed Notts County. Altogether, he scored 231 league goals in 390 games and 22 goals in 23 internationals. In later years he appeared in court for minor financial offences.

23 JOHAN NEESKENS (Holland 1951-)

Neeskens (left) was the ideal all-rounder: by turns tackler, creator and goalscorer, best known as a midfielder but also adept as a right back, a centre back, even as a centre forward. A strongly built, aggressive player, Neeskens joined Ajax of Amsterdam from Harlem, having also played tennis, baseball and basketball, and even kept goal. He took part in Ajax's three successive European Cup wins between 1971 (as a right back) and 1973, and excelled in the World Cups of 1974 and 1978. He had a remarkable understanding with Johan Cruyff, never better shown than when he scored from Cruyff's fine pass against Brazil in the 1974 World Cup in Dortmund. Later he played for the New York Cosmos.

24 SILVIO PIOLA (Italy 1913-1996)

Piola was the most prolific Italian scorer of his day and one of the salient figures of the 1938 World Cup in France, where he scored twice in the final. He scored 356 goals in first-class soccer, 30 of them for Italy in 34 games, one of which he blatantly punched against England in Milan in 1939. It was against England, too, that he was recalled to play his final international in Florence in 1951, at the age of 38. Tall, strong, quick, as adept in the air as on the ground, he emerged in the 1929-30 season with the once-renowned Pro Vercelli club, moved to Rome, and to Lazio in 1934, where he stayed for eight years. Later he joined Juventus and Novara. He became the first manager of the Italian Under-23 side in 1954.

25 DIXIE DEAN (England 1907-80)

A prolific centre forward and superb in the air, Dean (right) scored a record 60 championship goals for Everton in 1927-28, the last three of them in a hat-trick against Arsenal in the final match. Born in Birkenhead, he began with local Tranmere Rovers, joining Everton in 1924, where he remained until 1937, scoring 349 league goals. Then he went to Notts County. He played 16 times for England, scoring 18 goals, 12 of them in 1926-27, including both in a 2-1 win at Hampden against Scotland - England's first there since 1904.

 

Very interesting. Do you have those articles electronically and could post? Or know what paper/magazine they are from and the dates?

Thanks

 

This was done in 4 articles. I posted the 4th earlier, here are the other 3 all together.



"With their million-pound signings and glitzy lifestyles, today's footballers are the popstars of the sporting world. But how would they fare against the Boy's Own heroes of yesterday? Brian Glanville kicks off his countdown of the best players ever

OVER THE GENERATIONS, football has become faster and faster, the players more and more athletic. Fifty years ago, they complained that the game was getting too quick, but when one sees film footage from those days, it seems almost comically slow.

This makes comparisons notoriously difficult and subjective, but it was arrogant nonsense when Peter Schmeichel, Manchester United's outspoken Danish goalkeeper, claimed that the current team would have beaten the Manchester United team which won the European Cup in 1968 10-0. Players as gifted as George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton would surely have been able to impose their skills on any epoch.

The very greatest footballers show qualities transcending time. They might now be given less time, less room, to excel, but excel they still would. Pele, with his buoyant muscularity, his tremendous technique, his heading power, his flair for the crucial pass, was a World Cup star in 1958, and might have been again in 1974 had he wished to play. Alfredo Di Stefano, inspiration of the Real Madrid team which won the first five European Cups in a row, was playing "total football" - based on the notion of complete versatility - long before it was fashionable, showing stamina, speed and technique to rival any present player.

Diego Maradona, now making more comebacks than Sarah Bernhardt, was another talented player whose astonishing left foot and sublime invention would allow him to shine in the modern game. And Holland's Johan Cruyff would insist, when he played, that he was not especially quick, but simply saw things quickly. Quickly enough to make him another untouchable.

The hero of my own boyhood was Stanley Matthews. He played in the first professional game I went to see, England v Scotland at Wembley, in January, 1942. Mrs Churchill inspected the teams, then announced that she was off to meet her husband, just returned from Moscow. Two famous future managers, Bill Shankly and Mat Busby, were Scotland's wing halves. Tommy Lawton, the England centre-forward, was surely as dangerous a header of the ball as any who followed him.

Matthews, of course, was a classical outside-right, and today wingers are at a premium. He had a bewildering body swerve which fooled a fullback into lurching off balance, while he, with a flick of the foot, was away past him on the outside, up the flank.

Could he do it today? Who knows? Who cares? He did it for decades, in his own long, long career, and what else matters?

100 RONALDO (Brazil 1976-)

Having been voted the world's best footballer in 1996, Ronaldo (above) became the world's most expensive player in 1997 when Internazionale of Milan agreed to pay Barcelona a Pounds 50m transfer fee, plus Pounds 18m to buy out his contract. Even then, a bitter struggle between the clubs led to the intervention of Fifa and the European Union. Ronaldo Luiz Nazario da Lima was born in a poor quarter of Rio, the son of a drug addict. He might have joined Rio's chief club, Flamengo, but hadn't the bus fare to attend the trial. So he began with lesser Sao Cristovao, whence he joined Cruzeiro of Belo Horizonte. In 1994, PSV Einhoven took him to Holland, where, despite knee trouble, he scored prolifically. He recovered from surgery to play in the 1996 Olympic tournament and then went to Barcelona, where he helped his team to win the Spanish Cup and the European Cupwinners' Cup. Technically remarkable, Ronaldo is a fine opportunist who specialises in extraordinary solo goals.

99 BILLY WRIGHT (England 1924-1994)

Wright (above) joined Wolves as an inside-forward, before dropping back to wing-half - the position in which he made his debut for England against Belgium in 1946 - and eventually to centre-half. His jumping ability belied his small stature and he won 105 international caps, a record for his day, and played in the World Cup Finals of 1954 and 1958. He was an ideal captain - both of England and of his only club, Wolves, whom he led to Cup and Championship success. After retiring, he managed England's youth and Under-23 teams, but had scant success in his four years at Arsenal, more as a TV sports executive.

98 GRZEGORZ LATO (Poland 1950-)

A right-winger who, late in his career, moved into mid-field. Lato was the leading scorer in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, his tally of seven including the goal that gave Poland victory over Brazil to take third place. Compact, quick, strong and intelligent, he made a formidable partner to the left-winger, Gadocha. He twice won the Polish Championship with Stal Mielec.

97 KENNY DALGLISH (Scotland 1951-)

One of the finest Scottish players since the war, Dalglish (above) went on to win the English championship as manager of both Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers. Tactically and technically an outstanding inside-right, he played 102 games for Scotland yet hardly did himself justice in the World Cup finals of 1974, 1978 and 1982. His career started at Glasgow Celtic in 1967, for whom he played 204 games and scored 112 goals, before succeeding Kevin Keegan in Liverpool's attack in 1977 for Pounds 440,000. There he won five Championship medals, three for the European Cup. He won the FA Cup and League double in his first season as player-manager in 1986. Became Newcastle United manager after Keegan's resignation this year.

96 ENZO FRANCESCOLI (Uruguay 1961-)

An inside-forward of exceptional skill and creative ability who has flourished alike in his native Uruguay, in Argentina (with River Plate), in France (with RC Paris, Matra Racing and Marseille) and in Italy (with Cagliari and Torino). His preferred position was always just behind the strikers. He started with six years with the local Wanderers, winning his first international cap in 1982, before two seasons - and 49 goals - with River Plate, to whom he eventually returned, helping them to win the 1996 Copa Libertadores. He swore he'd retire at 35, but has continued, better than ever.

95 JULINHO (Brazil 1929-)

A muscular outside-right who combined exceptional pace with unusual ball control, Julinho scored perhaps the finest goal of the 1954 World Cup finals, a ferocious right-footed drive from beyond the box, against Hungary. Born in Sao Paulo, he emerged with that city's Portuguesa club and then moved on to Fiorentina, playing a great part in winning their first ever Italian championship in 1956. Three years later he returned to Brazil and promptly demolished England's defence in Rio. Real name: Giulio Botelho.

94 ROBERTO BAGGIO (Italy 1967-)

World Footballer of the Year in 1993, humiliatingly substituted by Italy against Norway in the 1994 World Cup, saviour of the quarter-final against Spain, winner of the semi-final against Bulgaria, and misser of a penalty in the final's shoot-out - the career of "the Divine Ponytail" (right) has been strangely erratic. He began with the local team, before moving to Fiorentina, Juventus, Milan and now Bologna. An attacker with astonishing technique and flair, despite early knee injuries.

93 STAN MORTENSEN(England 1921-1991)

An inside-right and, latterly, centre-forward of outstanding opportunism, Mortensen (left) is especially remembered for his goal against Italy in Turin in May, 1948 from an "impossible" angle, and for the three he scored in the "Matthews Final" of 1953 for Blackpool against Bolton at Wembley. It was there, nine years earlier, that he'd made his international debut - playing for Wales because they were short of substitutes. This after having recovered from head injuries in an RAF plane crash. Though a Blackpool player, he had made his name playing for Bath City. He was a guest for Arsenal in the war, became the ideal partner for club and country for Stanley Matthews, and scored 23 goals in 25 internationals, including four against Portugal in 1947. He scored 225 league goals in 395 games, leaving Blackpool for Hull City and Stockport and later managing his former club.

92 GIAMPIERO BONIPERTI (Italy 192

The blond, blue-eyed, matinee idol of Italian football in the Fifties, Boniperti (below) was equally effective at centre-forward, his initial position, inside-right or outside-right, from which position he scored twice for the FUFA XI against England at Wembley in October, 1953. He spent his whole career with Juventus, ultimately becoming their president. Scored eight goals in his 38 appearances for Italy.

91 DE FIGUREIDO GERMANO (Portugal 1933-)

Much admired by England's manager Walter Winterbottom ("He bounces with energy"), Germano was, for all his resilient athleticism, a late developer who did not stay long at the top, thanks to injuries. Tall, dark and bald, with a striking moustache, he was still one of the best centre-halves of his day. He joined Benfica in 1960 for just Pounds 2,000 from Atletico, won European Cup medals in 1961 and 1962, and took over in goal in the 1965 final against Inter in Milan and wasn't beaten. Capped 20 times for Portugal.

90 JOHNNY CAREY (Ireland 1919-1995)

Famous for telling the Manchester United team he captained so well to "keep on playing football" when they fell behind in the 1948 Cup Final against Blackpool. They won 4-2. Carey (right) joined United in 1936 as an inside forward for Pounds 200. Became in turn a right-half, captaining the Rest of Europe against Great Britain in May, 1947, and a right-back. He later managed Blackburn, Everton, Leyton Orient and Nottingham Forest.

89 JOHN HANSEN (Denmark 1924-1990)

Hansen, a tall, lean inside-left who was formidable in the air and immensely skilful on the ground, never lost his affection for Frem, his original club. A star of the Danish team which won bronze in the 1948 Olympics, he joined Juventus in the same year, winning Championship medals during his six seasons there, before concluding his Italian career with Lazio of Rome. Returned home to play for Frem, then to work in management for Coca-Cola and Karlsbad lager.

88 FRANK SWIFT (England 1915-1958)

Immensely popular goalkeeper, sadly to die as a journalist in the Manchester United Munich air crash of February 1958. As a 19-year-old Manchester City goalkeeper, he played in the 1934 FA Cup Final - and fainted through nerves. He and his brother, also a pro goalkeeper, ran a pleasure boat on Blackpool beach. Swift had a job in a gasworks, played non-league for Fleetwood, joined Manchester City in October, 1932 and made his league debut on Christmas Day, 1933. He became England's wartime goal-keeper in 1943 and stayed there, winning 19 full caps, until 1949.

87 DINO ZOFF (Italy 1942-)

A grave, courteous, dedicated man who, as their goalkeeper, captained Italy to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, the third of his World Cups. Somewhat surprisingly, he lost his place in the 1970 Cup to Albertosi. Born in northeast Italy, Zoff (below) began with the local club, Udinese, then went to Mantova two years later in 1963, to Napoli in 1967 and to Juventus, very expensively, in 1972. There he won Championships, played in the European Final in 1973 and eventually became manager, winning the Italian and UEFA Cups - which still didn't save him from getting sacked. He then managed Lazio, later becoming president, only to manage them again this year. His Italian debut came in April, 1968 against Bulgaria in Naples. Overall he won 112 caps, the last of them aged 41, against Sweden in Gothenburg in May, 1983.

86 GIACINTO FACCHETTI (Italy 1942-)

An attacking left-back who often scored with his right foot, Facchetti spent his whole career with Internazionale of Milan, later being taken on their staff. With them he won two European Cups, four Italian Championships and 94 Italian Caps, which included the World Cup finals of 1966, 1970 and 1974, latterly as a sweeper.

85 OLEG BLOKHIN (Soviet Union 1952-)

Blokhin (above), the blond Ukrainian left-winger, excelled with Dynamo Kiev and the national side. He inherited his speed from his mother, an 80m hurdle champion, and could run the 100m in 10.8 seconds. He W X made his name in the Olympic soccer tournament in Munich in 1972 and was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1975. An excellent ball player who always deprecated his own heading abilities.

84 ELISHA SCOTT (Northern Ireland 1893-1951)

Dixie Dean, often his opponent with Everton, called Scott the best keeper he ever faced. Legend has it that when they met on Liverpool station, Dean nodded and Scott flung himself on to the platform. "Leesh" was the brother of another Irish international, William, who advised him to join Liverpool, he himself being Everton's first choice. Leesh made his Liverpool debut in 1913, fought in the war and returned to play 428 games for the club, plus 31 for the Irish. In 1934, having made his name as a goalkeeper with positional sense and great reflexes, he returned to Belfast Celtic, played a couple of seasons for them and eventually managed them until the club went into limbo after a horrific race riot in 1948. He stayed on for years, managing a ghost club that never played.

83 DANNY BLANCHFLOWER (Northern Ireland 1926-1993)

An accomplished, highly intelligent right-half who superbly captained Northern Ireland to the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden and Tottenham Hotspur to the league and cup double in 1961, the first time this century it had been done. Blanchflower previously played for Glentoran, Barnsley and Aston Villa. He was a fluent speaker and writer and later became manager of Chelsea. He won 56 caps for his country and was its team manager for a time.

82 GERSON (Brazil 1941-)

Gerson, a stockily built mid-field general with a remarkable left foot, is famed for his free kicks on the field and his chain-smoking off it. He was also a superb long passer of the ball and scorer of a memorable goal against Italy in the 1970 World Cup final in Mexico City. Born in Niteroi, he emerged with Flamengo, moved to Botafogo, then to Sao Paolo.

81 FRANCO BARESI (Italy 1971-)

Baresi (left) played in the 1994 World Cup final despite having just had a knee operation and having previously retired from international football. A sweeper or centre-back whose whole career was spent with Milan, he made his debut at 17. An inspiring captain of club and country, with whom he won 81 caps. Retired this year.

80 FRANCISCO (PACO) GENTO (Spain 1933-)

The only player to figure in all of Real Madrid's first six European Cup Final victories, Gento (right), a sturdy left-winger with exceptional pace, joined Real in 1953 after spells with Nueva Montana, Astillero and Santander. He didn't break through until 1955 when he had a fine Latin Cup final against Belenenses in Lisbon, the first of more than 40 Spanish Cups. He scored Real's winner against Milan in the 1958 European Cup final and he played in the World Cups of 1962 and 1966.

79 SANDRO MAZZOLA (Italy 1942-)

The gifted son of a famous father - Valentino, who captained Italy and perished in the 1949 Torino air crash - Mazzola joined Internazionale of Milan, becoming an inside or centre-forward of great skill and notable opportunism. He helped Inter win two European Cups and played 70 times for Italy, his debut coming against Brazil in 1963. Three years later, in the World Cup final, he played so well that his "rival", Rivera, got on only for a matter of minutes.

78 GIANNI RIVERA (Italy 1943-)

A slightly built inside-forward with a surprisingly powerful shot, Rivera played in Alessandria's Serie A side at 15. At 16 he joined Milan for Pounds 65,000, after playing in the Olympic tournament in Italy as a right-winger. With Milan he won Championships and European Cups, his passing being a crucial feature of their win at Wembley in the 1963 final. He took part in four World Cups, from 1962 to 1970, when, despite scoring vital goals against Mexico and West Germany, he got into the Final for just six minutes. He won the first of his 60 Italian caps in May 1962 and scored 14 goals in all. Later became Milan's club president, then an Italian Senator.

77 MARIO LOBO ZAGALLO (Brazil 1931-)

A left-winger of incredible stamina, which he claimed to have developed swimming in the breakers off Rio, Zagallo was an essential feature of Brazil's World Cup winning teams of 1958 and 1962. In the 1958 final in Stockholm, he not only scored Brazil's fourth goal, but at one stage cleared from under his own crossbar. He started at America, but when he moved to Flamengo the fans there did not warm to his functional, cerebral style. He was nearly passed over for the 1962 World Cup; when he was picked, he says, he wept. He was manager of the dour 1970 Brazilian World Cup team, and then of Flamengo and the club for which he left them, Botafogo. He was assistant manager of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team and then resumed as actual manager of that and the Olympic side.

76 ALEC JACKSON (Scotland 1905-1946)

At 5ft7in, Jackson (above), an outside-right, was the tallest of Scotland's Wembley Wizards who thrashed England in 1928; he scored three of the five Scottish goals. In all he played 17 times for Scotland, scoring eight goals. To fine ball skills he allied pace and opportunism. He followed his brother, Wattie, to play in USA soccer, but returned in 1924 to join Aberdeen. The following season, he crossed the border to Huddersfield Town, and, after five full seasons, joined Chelsea. He fell out with them after a couple of seasons and briefly played non-League football for Ashton National. He died in a car crash in the Middle East while serving as an Army major.

75

HARRY HIBBS (England 1907-1984)

At 5ft 9in, Hibbs (above) was small for a goalkeeper, and, according to Stanley Matthews, he was never at ease with crosses. But his agility and judgment of angles nevertheless made him England's best goalkeeper between the wars and, thanks to his positional sense, he made hard shots look easy to hold. He spent his whole league career from 1925 to 1939 with Birmingham, making 337 appearances but winning no major medal. He made his international debut against South Africa in 1929 and went on to win 25 caps. After the 1931 match against Spain and their celebrated keeper Ricardo Zamora, which England won 7-1, a columnist wrote, "If Zamora earns Pounds 50 a week, then Hibbs is worth a benefit once a fortnight."

74

LUISITO SUAREZ

(Spain 1935-)

Suarez (below) was an inside-forward with a ferocious right foot and great passing skills. Dark hair plastered to his head like a 1930s Argentinian singer, he was famed for his control, swerve and flair. He joined Barcelona at 18, helped them to reach the 1961 European Cup Final, then joined Internazionale of Milan for Pounds 210,000. There he twice won the European Cup. Although he did play for Spain in the 1962 World Cup, his appearances in the national squad became less frequent. He was, however, an inspiration in their European Nations Cup success in 1964. After retiring, he went with mixed success into management, having several spells, some as a stop gap, with Inter. He became manager of Spain in 1989 before returning again to Inter's staff.

73

PAOLO ROSSI

(Italy 1956-)

Rossi (main picture) was a great success in the 1978 World Cup, but had to be given an amnesty two years into a three-year suspension for match-fixing in order to play in the 1982 World Cup. He rewarded this act of faith with a marvellous burst of half a dozen goals in Italy's last three games: three against Brazil, two against Poland and one in the final against West Germany. Rossi started at Juventus after graduating from a Tuscan nursery club as a right winger, but failed to make an impact. He moved to Lanerossi Vicenza via Como, where they cured his "dribbling mania" and made him a prolific centre-forward. Small but immensely adroit, Rossi was a prolific scorer in his three seasons at Vicenza between 1976 and 1979, but the club had over-reached itself when bidding against Juventus and was forced to sell him in 1979 to Perugia, where things went wrong. He returned to Juventus for his final years. Played in 48 internationals, scoring 20 goals.

72

GUNNAR GREN

(Sweden 1920-1990)

Nicknamed the Professor, Gren was a member of the brilliant Swedish team which won the Olympic title at Wembley in 1948. He started as inside-right for IFK Gothenburg, before joining Milan in 1949, where he formed part of the famous Grenoli trio with Nordahl and Liedholm. At the age of 37 he returned to the Swedish team when they hosted the 1958 World Cup, scoring a memorable semi-final goal against West Germany. He died in heavily reduced circumstances in November, 1990.

71

MARIO KEMPES

(Argentina 1954-)

Kempes (left) was an outstanding star of the 1978 World Cup final against Holland in Buenos Aires. Three superb slalom runs brought him two goals and one for Bertoni. Playing effectively as inside-left, rather than in his usual role as centre-forward, he found extra room, ending up as the tournament's leading scorer with six goals. This more than made up for his disappointment in 1974 in West Germany when, as a 19-year-old, he missed a crucial chance against Poland. Born at Belle Ville, C"rdoba, he began with local club Instituto, then moved to Rosario Central, before going to Valencia, where he became one of the top scorers in Spain. His debut for Argentina was against Bolivia in La Paz in September 1973. In 1997 he briefly became manager of Lushnje, Albania.

70

RAIMUNDO ORSI

(Argentina and Italy 1929-1986)

Dual nationality enabled this Argentinian outside-left to play and score a bizarre goal for Italy in the World Cup Final of 1934 in Rome. Nicknamed Mummo and born to Italian immigrants, he emerged with Independiente, played for Argentina in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics, and then moved to Juventus, so becoming ineligible to play for Argentina in the 1930 World Cup. He had won his first Italian cap in December 1929, scoring twice against Portugal. Overall he scored 13 goals for Italy in 35 games.

69

MARQUES MENEZES ADEMIR

(Brazil 1923-1996)

An immensely gifted centre-forward of Brazil's 1950 World Cup team, which failed at the final hurdle, Ademir was the tournament's leading scorer with seven goals. He made up a dynamic inside-forward trio with Zizinho and Jair. Slim, dark, elusive, with a devastating change of pace and fine ball control, he began with the local club in Recife, went on to play for Rio's Vasca da Gama (unbeaten 1949 champions) and Fluminense. Injuries spoilt his later career.

68

JIM BAXTER

(Scotland 1939-)

A left-half in the classical Scottish tradition, Baxter (below) scored a glorious solo goal against England at Wembley in 1963, when he beat man after man. He began with Raith Rovers and joined Glasgow Rangers in 1960 for just Pounds 7,000. He was capped 29 times for Scotland, but never truly recovered from breaking a leg in a 1964 European Cup tie in Vienna. Spells with Sunderland and Nottingham Forest were an anti-climax to a hitherto outstanding career.

67

FRANTISEK PLANICKA

(Czechoslovakia 1904-1996)

Although small for a goalkeeper, Planicka was one of the best between the wars, a hero of the 1934 and 1938 World Cups and most unlucky to be beaten in the 1934 final by Orsi's freakish equaliser. He captained his country in both those tournaments, and in 1938 played the last 45 minutes against Brazil despite a broken arm. Altogether he made 74 appearances for the Czechs and his impeccable sportsmanship led to a Unesco Fair Play Award in 1994. He first played for Slovan Prague and Bubenec, but was chiefly associated with Slavia Prague, with whom he won six Czech championships. Died in 1996, aged 92, still a Czech hero.

66

RICARDO ZAMORA

(Spain 1901-1978)

Zamora was one of the finest pre-war goalkeepers, though untypically he had a nightmarish game against England at Highbury in 1931, conceding seven goals. He emerged a star from his defiant displays in the 1920 Olympic tournament in Antwerp and went on to play in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics, too. But he was never better than in the 1934 World Cup in Italy, when he kept the Italians out in a bruising game in Florence, beaten only when he was fouled and put out of the replay through his injuries. He started with Espa$ol, joined their city rivals, Barcelona, and then Real Madrid in 1930 for a record Pounds 6,000. Later he managed Spain's national side and his son became a first division keeper.

65

STANLEY CULLIS

(England 1915-)

As a centre-half, Cullis (above) was both defensively strong and technically adept. Born in Ellesmere Port of Black Country parents, he spent his whole playing career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, captaining them in their 1939 Cup Final and managing them successfully for many years on retirement. He won only 12 official caps in a career interrupted by the war, when he was a member of the famous England and Army half-back line, comprising Britton, Cullis and Mercer. He left Wolves in 1964 to manage, with less success, Birmingham City.

64. ROBERTO RIVELINO

(Brazil 1946-)

Rivelino (left) possessed a dynamic left foot, just like his rival, Gerson. Brazil accommodated both in their winning 1970 World Cup team, using Rivelino deep on the left. Thick-thighed, long-haired and heavily moustached, Rivelino first played for the Corinthians of Sao Paulo, then for Fluminense of Rio. A master of free kicks, he was the fulcrum of Brazil's 1974 World Cup team in West Germany, scoring three of their goals. His debut had been made in 1968, against Mexico.

63

OMAR ENRIQUE SIVORI

(Argentina and Italy 1935-)

Sivori was one of the so-called Trio de la Muerte, with Angelillo and Maschio, which excelled in the South American Championship of 1957. He then went straight to Juventus, thus missing the 1958 World Cup finals. Born in a Buenos Aires suburb, San Nicolas de Los Aroyos, he was a maverick inside-left with huge flair and a fine left foot shot. With his socks permanently rolled down his calves, Sivori had consistent success with Juve before joining Napoli in 1965. In 1973, as team manager, he qualified Argentina for the 1974 World Cup finals, but resigned before they took place.

62

RAICH CARTER

(England 1913-1994)

Carter (above right) excelled with his local team, Sunderland, yet Leicester initially had him as an amateur. An inside-forward who provided the perfect partner to Stanley Matthews in England's wartime team, he won the first of his 13 full caps in Budapest in 1934. After the war and a fine spell with Derby, he became the silver-haired player-manager of Hull City. In all he scored 216 goals in 451 league games before going on to manage Leeds United.

61. DENIS LAW

(Scotland 1940-)

As inside-forward or centre-forward, Law (below) was a notable goal-scorer with both foot and head. He had only one turbulent season in Italy - with Torino in 1961/2 - but although he never settled there, he left a great impression. Born in Aberdeen, he joined Huddersfield Town as a frail, bespectacled 15-year-old. Manchester City paid Pounds 55,000 for him in 1960 and sold him a year later to Torino for Pounds 100,000. Home he came to Manchester United, where he had his chief triumphs, giving a superb display in the FA Cup final of 1963, and for the Rest of the World against England later that year. Brave, acrobatic and utterly versatile, he won 54 caps for Scotland, played in the 1974 World Cup and then enjoyed an Indian summer, again with Manchester City. His most bitter-sweet moment came when his goal sent Manchester United into Division Two. Later he became a radio commentator.

60

UWE SEELER

(West Germany 1936-)

A squat, battling centre-forward who was a great hero to his countrymen, Seeler (above) was born in Hamburg, the son of a former Hamburg SV player. He was to spend his whole career with the club and eventually become its president. He made his international debut at 17 against France in October 1954, going on to play in four World Cups, despite having an artificial achilles tendon inserted before the 1966 tournament, when Germany lost to England in the final. A remarkable header of the ball, it was just such a goal which helped beat England in the 1970 quarter-finals in Le"n. He retired from international football later that year with 72 caps.

59

PETER DOHERTY

(Northern Ireland 1914-)

A red-haired inside-left of immense energy, finesse and finishing power, Doherty eventually became the inspirational manager of the Northern Ireland team which reached the quarter finals of the 1958 World Cup. Born in Coleraine, but humiliated by the local club, he instead joined Glentoran before moving to Blackpool in 1933 for Pounds 3,000 and to Manchester City in 1936, helping them to win the 1936/7 Championship. He joined the RAF during the war and established a notable partnership with Raich Carter - not least in the FA Cup final, which City won in 1946. Always a rebel, Doherty went on to Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers, as player-manager, and manager of Bristol City. He won 16 Irish caps, scoring three goals.

58

NANDOR HIDEGKUTI

(Hungary 1922-)

The first major interpreter of the deep-lying centre-forward role and a key figure in the superb Hungarian team of the early 1950s, Hidegkuti scored their first goal against England at Wembley in their 6-3 victory after just 90 seconds. He was one of the few Hungarian stars to escape joining Honved and to stay with his original team, Voros Logobo. Born in the Budapest working-class quarter of Obudz Ujlak, he learnt soccer in the streets and joined MTK before it was forced to become Voros Logobo (Red Flag). He figured in the 1954 and, less happily, the 1958 World Cups, later managing Vasas Gyoer and Italy's Fiorentina.

57

CHARLIE ROBERTS

(England 1884-1939)

A famous attacking centre-half who would have won many more than his mere three caps had he not clashed often with authority, not least in his role as founder of the Players' Union. Tall, strong and a fine passer of the ball, Roberts (left) inspired Italy's Vittorio Pozzo to base his future World Cup-winning tactics on his style. Roberts was originally with Darlington, then Grimsby Town, but he signed for Manchester United, the one club he said he would join and the place where he was to flourish, in 1904 for Pounds 4,000. Later he transferred to Oldham Athletic. He liked to spend his summers on a Grimsby trawler in Icelandic waters.

56

LUIGI (GIGI) RIVA

(Italy 1944-)

Riva was treated almost as an object of worship in Italy before the 1970 World Cup - in which he scored a memorable goal with his left foot in the semi-final against West Germany. He himself remained composed and modest. Originally a left-winger who turned in time into an all-round striker, he began his career with third division Legnano, before joining the then obscure Cagliari in 1963. He stayed there for the rest of his career, out of loyalty angrily refusing to join Juventus in 1973. He broke his left leg in 1967 and his right in 1970, but he always returned and shone. He helped Cagliari to win the championship in 1970 with 21 goals in 28 games. For Italy he scored 35 goals in 42 games, later joining the azzurri's staff.

55

DUNCAN EDWARDS

(England 1936-1958)

Edwards was a powerful, precocious player who died a cruelly early death in the Manchester United Munich air crash of 1958. A muscular left-half with a fine left foot, Edwards came from Dudley and might have been expected to join a Midlands club. But Manchester United persuaded him and at 17 he was already a first-team player and an England Under-23 international. He played 18 full internationals, scoring a decisive goal against West Germany in Berlin in May, 1956.

54

ZOLTAN CZIBOR

(Hungary 1929-)

A winger who, as he showed in the 1954 World Cup, could play just as well at inside-left. Born in Budapest and just 5ft 7in tall, he began with Ferencvaros but was obliged to join Honved, the Army club, where he established a celebrated partnership with Puskas. A member of the Hungarian team which smashed England's unbeaten record at Wembley in November, 1953, he switched from the wing to replace an injured Puskas at inside-left in the 1954 World Cup and remained there until the final. Despite "escaping" to play for Barcelona in 1956, he won 43 Hungarian caps.

53

PETER SHILTON

(England 1949-)

Shilton (above right) was a powerfully built, perfectionist goalkeeper who played a record 125 games for England, the last of which was the World Cup third-place match against Italy in 1990. He started as understudy to another great England keeper, Gordon Banks, at Leicester and became the club's first choice in the 1967/8 season. He played for them until 1974, and then moved to Stoke and in 1977 to Nottingham Forest. He stayed there for five seasons, helping them to win two European Cups, and was indomitable in the 1980 final against Hamburg in Madrid. His debut for England came against East Germany at Wembley in November 1970. Three years later he blamed himself for letting in Domarski's goal, which qualified Poland for the 1974 World Cup at England's expense. In the 1986 World Cup he was famously beaten by Maradona's Hand of God goal, but helped England take fourth place in 1990. On the home front, he had moved to Southampton in 1982, Derby County in 1987, and Plymouth Argyle in 1991, where he became an ill-starred manager. Briefly a reserve with Wimbledon, Bolton and West Ham between 1994 and 1996, financial exigencies that year caused him to play at 47 for Leyton Orient.

52

DAVID JACK

(England 1897-1958)

An inside-right with an astonishing swerve, which once enabled him to score a goal for Arsenal leaving five defenders standing. Jack first played for Plymouth Argyle, managed by his father, Rollo, before joining Bolton Wanderers for Pounds 3,000 in 1921. It was for them in a Cup Final he scored the first ever goal at Wembley. Three years later, in 1926, his goal won them the final against Manchester City. He gained a third Cup medal in 1930 with Arsenal, whom he'd joined in 1929 for a record Pounds 10,000. Strangely, he won but nine England caps. He got 143 League goals for Bolton, 112 for Arsenal, later managing Southend United and Middlesbrough.

51

RUUD KROL

(Holland 1949-)

Krol (below) was a formidable attacking left-back (World Cup 1974) who metamorphosed into an equally fine sweeper (World Cup 1978). Born in Amsterdam , he first played for Root Wit, joining Ajax in 1967. He missed the European Cup final of 1971 with a broken leg, but played in the next two. After a short spell with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 1980, he joined Napoli and became a major force in their defence. Subsequently he coached and managed with success in Africa.

50

NILTON SANTOS (Brazil 1926-)

Santos was a majestic attacking left back who won World Cup medals with Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Born near Rio, he spent his career with the city's Botafogo club. In 1949 he was Brazil's left back in the South American championships, but only a reserve for the 1950 World Cup. The 1954 finals in Berne saw him sent off, after coming to blows with Hungary's Josef Boszik. He formed a redoubtable and adventurous partnership alongside his namesake, Djalma, at fullback for Brazil.

49 STEVE BLOOMER (England 1874-1938)

Bloomer was the most prolific goalscorer of his day, playing for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England. A pale, slight figure with a dynamic right foot, he scored 352 league goals and 28 for England in 23 games - including five in one match against Wales, in March 1896. He was interned in Germany at the start of the First World War, although he coached there throughout hostilities. "I try to get there first," was how he explained his marksmanship.

48 GERHARD HANAPPI (Austria 1929-)

Engineer Hanappi, as he was known, was born in Vienna and made his name as a sturdy, blond all-rounder with the local Wacker club before moving to Rapid in 1950. Technically and tactically outstanding, he could play as an attacking centre half, a right half, an overlapping right-back or even as centre forward. He won 96 caps and would have topped 100 had he not fallen out with team manager Karl Decker. He played for Fifa versus England at Wembley in 1953 and in the Swiss World Cup of 1954.

47 DIDI (Brazil 192

At Fluminense, Waldir Pereira (left) became renowned for his skill, supreme passing and remarkable "falling leaf" free kicks, which would appear to hang in the air. It was one of these which beat Peru and qualified Brazil for the 1958 World Cup, which they won in Sweden. Didi had already played in the 1954 World Cup finals and won a second medal in Chile in 1962, having overcome an unhappy interlude with Real Madrid, when Di Stefano froze him out. He played for Sporting Cristal of Lima, Botafogo of Rio and later managed Peru.

46 PAUL BREITNER (West Germany 1951-)

Breitner (above) was an unorthodox and rebellious footballer who walked out on West Germany after helping them win the 1974 World Cup final as an attacking left back, only to return and captain them from midfield in the World Cup final of 1982. He developed with Bayern Munich, where he was a total contrast to the conservative Beckenbauer, and joined Real Madrid in 1974, switching to midfield. Even from fullback he could always score tremendous goals.

45 BOBBY MOORE (England 1941-1993)

Moore (top), England's blond left half and imperturbable captain in the World Cups of 1966 and 1970, was named outstanding player in 1966. He started out with his local club, West Ham United, as a centre back but was profitably converted to left half, where he read the game so remarkably. He won his first England cap at 21 in Peru, and then went straight into the 1962 World Cup team, staying on to win 108 caps. He captained West Ham to victory at Wembley in the 1964 FA Cup final and the 1965 European Cup Winners' final and then led Fulham against his old club in the 1975 final. He was less successful as a manager.

44 BILLY MEREDITH (Wales 1874-1958)

The toothpick-chewing Wales outside right was originally a member of the famous amateur Chirk club. He began with Northwich Victoria, where he was considered slow. Then, despite his "bony and bowed" legs, he joined Manchester City as an amateur before turning professional. He played 51 games for Wales between 1894 and 1920, scored the only goal of the 1904 FA Cup final for Manchester City, survived a match-fixing scandal and a season's suspension the following year and joined Manchester United in 1906, winning another Cup medal with them. He played into his fifties, returning to Manchester City for his last four years. Scored 470 goals.

43 RODRIGUEZ ANDRADE (Uruguay 1930-)

Andrade, the nephew of Jose, Uruguay's right half when they won the 1930 World Cup, had two superb World Cups of his own. He was left and right half - virtually a wing back - in 1950, when they beat Brazil in the final, and in 1954. He played for Pe$arol and was a fine tackler, and, unusually, an impeccable sportsman even in the most torrid of games.

42 NILS LIEDHOLM (Sweden 1922-)

In Italy - where he played majestically for Milan, Fiorentina and Roma - Liedholm was nicknamed The Baron. Style was of the essence, both at inside left or, later on, at right half. He was left winger in the Sweden team which won the Olympic tournament of 1948 at Wembley, and inside left in the Swedish team which ten years later lost the World Cup final against Brazil. The previous May he'd played for Milan in the European Cup final against Real Madrid in Brussels. He was a star of the Norkopping team which dominated the Swedish championship in the 1940s. As a manager in Italy, he weaned Milan from catenaccio ("bolt defence") to zonal defence.

41 GYORGY SAROSI (Hungary 1912-1993)

Born in Budapest, where he obtained a doctorate in law and excelled not only at football but as a swimmer, fencer and tennis player, Sarosi (see overleaf) was capped for his country 75 times and scored 42 goals. He was so versatile he could play at centre forward, as he did in the 1934 and 1938 World Cups, or as an attacking centre half. In the latter tournament he scored four goals, including one against Italy when Hungary lost the final. He left Hungary in 1947 after the Communist putsch, spent time in America, then went to Italy, managing Padova, Lucchese, Bari, Juventus (champions in 1952), Genoa, Roma, Bologna and Brescia.

40 GUNNAR NORDAHL (Sweden 1921-1995)

Nicknamed the Fireman, his original occupation, Nordahl (above) combined power, skill, strategy and heading ability as one of the outstanding centre forwards of his day. The one pity was that, having led the attack of the Sweden team which won the 1948 Olympic title, his turning professional with Milan meant he never played for them again - although his Milan team-mates, Gren and Liedholm, returned for the 1958 World Cup. Born at Homefors, he became a star with Norkopping, joined Milan in 1948, won two championship medals, led the Rest of Europe attack against Britain in 1947 in Glasgow, scoring their only goal, and led the Fifa attack against England at Wembley in 1953. He was first capped for Sweden in 1942, playing 33 times for them. He finished his Italian career with Roma.

39 MARIO COLUNA (Portugal 1935-)

Portugal's left half, captain and star of the 1966 World Cup, Coluna was initially an inside left. He was famous for his long-range left-foot shooting, with which he scored for Benfica in their winning European Cup finals of 1961 and 1962. Born in Mozambique, he was originally a long-jump champion, and joined Benfica from local club Deportivo. When Pivatelli of Milan fouled him and put him off the field in the European Cup final of 1963, Benfica lost the game. Later he played in France for Lyons.

38 CHARLIE BUCHAN (England 1891-1961)

Buchan (below) was an inside right, tactician and virtual inventor of the Third Back Game when he joined Arsenal from Sunderland in the summer of 1925. He began as an amateur with Woolwich Arsenal before the First World War, in which he fought in the trenches, only to leave them over a dispute about 11 shillings' expenses. Tall, powerful and an accomplished ball player, he made only half a dozen appearances for England, but was a major star with Sunderland. Later he became a well known broadcaster.

37 GEORGE WEAH (Liberia 1966-)

Weah, European and World Footballer of the Year in 1995, was initially a left winger but became an outstandingly powerful, gifted and incisive centre forward. Born in Monrovia, he initially played football in the dust for Young Survivors. Three changes of Liberian club eventually saw him move to the Tonnerre club in the Ivory Coast, whence he was recommended in 1988 to Monaco, coming under the benign influence of manager Arsene Wenger. Paris Saint-Germain bought him in 1992 and there he stayed for four seasons, helping them to win the French championship in 1994 and reach the semi-final of the European Cup in 1995. By then he had controversially agreed to join Milan, which he helped to win the 1996 championship. He received the Fifa Fair Play award in the European Cup tournament last year, despite butting a racist opponent in Oporto.

36 FRITZ WALTER (Germany 1921-)

In a remarkable 18-year international career with Germany, Walter scored 33 goals - his age when he captained them to success in the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, playing beside his brother, Otmar. A creative inside forward who could also score goals, he spent his whole club career with his local team, Kaiserslautern, making the first of 61 appearances for Germany in 1940 against Romania and scoring a hat-trick. He served as a paratrooper in the war, after which he wouldn't fly, having seen a colleague killed in action beside him. He played a major role in the defeat of Hungary in the 1954 World Cup final, having been involved in all six goals when Austria were defeated in the semi-final. At 37 he was just as effective in the 1958 World Cup, only to be put out of the semi-final with a brutal tackle.

35 BOBBY CHARLTON (England 193

Charlton (left) miraculously survived the Munich air crash of February 1958, when so many of his Manchester United team-mates died. Stanley Matthews aside, no English player has made such a global impact. Born into a footballing family in Ashington, Northumberland, he joined United as a boy, scored twice from centre forward on his debut at 17, and became in turn inside forward, outside left and deep centre forward. As such, he was a 1966 World Cup winner. He won 106 England caps, scoring a record 49 goals.

34 GORDON BANKS (England 1937-)

A goalkeeper whose amazing one-handed save from Pele's header in Guadalajara in the 1970 World Cup will long be celebrated. Illness put him out of the quarterfinal against West Germany. Banks (below) started with Chesterfield, but made his name with Leicester City. He was first capped for England in 1963, playing a crucial part in their 1966 World Cup victory. He won 73 caps in all and later played for Stoke City.

33 GERD MULLER (West Germany 1945-)

Muller, or der Bomber, was a centre forward of phenomenal opportunism and scorer of the winning World Cup final goal in 1974, one of 68 in just62 internationals. Born in Noerdlingen, he began with his local club and was turned down by two major clubs before Bayern Munich took him - and even then it needed the club president to overrule the manager. Squat, thick-thighed and for ever in the right place, Muller (above) was never as popular with German fans as Uwe Seeler, but he played for Bayern in three winning European Cup finals, in which he scored three goals. His was the volleyed goal that beat England at Le"n in the 1970 World Cup quarterfinal.

32 LEV YACHIN (USSR 1929-1990)

Yachin (below) was a giant goalkeeper of huge presence who took part in the World Cups of 1958, 1962 (disappointingly) and 1966. Born in Moscow, he also played ice hockey and basketball and was a diver and an athlete. Always a Moscow Dynamo player, he said he was inspired by Sokolov, the Bulgaria keeper, and was always eager to rush out of his area. Yachin says his own secret was "to observe the opponent". He left school at 14 and worked in an aircraft factory before becoming a full-time footballer. He won an Olympic gold medal in Melbourne in 1956, when he had a fine tournament. He coached Dynamo on retirement.

31 ROMARIO (Brazil 1966-)

Romario (right) is a short, stocky, superbly balanced centre-forward and a magnificent ball player who conjures goals out of nowhere. He was properly voted best player of the 1994 World Cup, which Brazil could hardly have won without him. Nor could they have qualified without him. It was only when they restored him to the team and his goals beat Uruguay that they took wing. He'd been out of the team since 1992, infuriated when he didn't start a game against Germany. He started with Olario, joined Vasco da Gama at 14 and went to PSV Eindhoven in 1989, where he scored prolifically and quarrelled endlessly with his managers. From there he went to Barcelona, back to Flamengo of Rio and to Europe again in 1996, when he joined Valencia in Spain. There he had further clashes with his manager and was accused, not for the first time, of failing to train. He rejoined Flamengo on loan in 1996 and won an Olympic gold medal with Brazil in the Seoul Olympic tournament of 1988. "It's nothing new for me to score three or four goals in a game," he says, "because that's my job."

30 EDDIE HAPGOOD (England 1909-1973)

Arsenal's impeccable captain and left back joined the Gunners from non-league Kettering in 1927. He went on to win five championships and two FA Cup medals, making 43 appearances for England, mostly as captain. His first cap came against Italy in Rome in 1933, his last against Wales at Wembley ten years later. He subsequently managed Blackburn Rovers, Watford and Bath City with limited success.

29 SANDOR KOCSIS (Hungary 1929-1979)

Nicknamed Golden Head for his power in the air, Kocsis (below) was an inside right whose name will always be coupled with that of Puskas. Born in Budapest, he was a street footballer who wore his first boots when he joined the KTC club. From there he went to his favourite club, Ferencvaros, which was later amalgamated with Honved. Kocsis scored 11 goals for Hungary when he became top scorer in the 1954 World Cup. With Puskas and Czibor, he stayed abroad after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and signed for Barcelona, playing for them in the 1961 European Cup final. But after he stopped playing, things went awry and, sick and poor, he threw himself out of a Barcelona window.

28 OBDULIO VARELA (Uruguay 1917-1995)

Varela was an inspirational attacking centre half whose superb captaincy enabled Uruguay to turn the tide in their World Cup decider of 1950 in the Maracana Stadium against Brazil. When officials told the team to lose by as few goals as possible, Varela told them they must win. His first club was Wanderers, for whom he made his debut at 21. He was already an international, at first as an inside left, when he went to Pe$arol in 1942. He was a towering figure even at 37 in the 1954 Swiss World Cup. After retiring he briefly coached Pesarol.

27 HUGHIE GALLACHER (Scotland 1903-1957)

Gallacher (above right), a stocky, free-scoring centre forward, was one of the Wembley Wizards who thrashed England in 1928. He was easily provoked on the field and was a notoriously heavy drinker, but he managed to score 387 goals in 541 league games with Airdrieonians (1921-25), Newcastle United (1925) - where he became an idol, scoring 133 goals - Chelsea, Derby County, Notts County, Grimsby Town and Gateshead. He played 19 times for Scotland, scoring 22 goals. Domestic problems caused him to throw himself under a train in 1957.

26 GIUSEPPE MEAZZA (Italy 1910-1979)

Meazza (below left, with Gyorgy Sarosi) played as inside right in the Italian teams which won the World Cups of 1934 and 1938, though his true position was centre forward. His slight physique was compensated by exceptional skill and positional sense. He was also surprisingly good in the air. Most of his career was spent with Internazionale of Milan, known between the wars at Fascist behest as Ambrosiana-Inter. He left after the war for Milan, Juventus and Varese, returning to Inter as player-manager and eventually as youth team coach. He scored 355 goals in first-class football and 33 for Italy in 53 games, two of them on his debut in 1930."

 

I don't know why I bother with you. It's a total waste of my time, but since you are so interested here you go.

All of the players that I mentioned played before 1912. They were all considered by many British commentators to be far better than the England amateurs who humiliated the rest of the world at the Olympics, and better than the England sides of the 20s and 30s who so dominated the games they played.

The decision to withdraw from FIFA had no impact on these players, they all played before FIFA was even formed.

So you believe that match reports alone are enough to give you an accurate judgement of how players from the 30s compare to those of today?

No I establish the 30 year period because that is the period since Gerd Muller effectively retired. He is the last striker who can genuinely rival Ronaldo as the greatest ever.

As it is for you for most of those as well. How much of Leonidas, Kopa, Pedernera, Matthews, Di Stéfano or Labruna did you get to see at the time? Given the lack of TV I would imagine precious little.

 

Just my opinion, but Ronaldo ranks ahead of both. I didn't see Muller in his pomp, so don't feel I could say for sure that Ronaldo was better than him. Muller's numbers as well are truly phenomenal.

I rated both Van Basten and Romario very highly, but I didn't think either was a match for Ronaldo.

 

No British actually, but I would put Platini first by a margin and then Zidane and Kopa close together.

Sanchez? No way does he rival Ronaldo or Muller, or Romario or Van Basten. Sanchez was a very good player, but in his era I don't see him as being in a different class to Rush, Lineker, Careca, or Papin.

How on earth does he rival Muller?

 

Muller in league games scored 489 goals in 565 goals. At international level he scored 68 goals in 62 games. He scored 14 goals at the World Cup. He scored 66 goals in 74 games in European Competition.

Sanchez scored 397 goals in 694 games at club level (his wiki page says 488 goals but if you add up the club totals it comes to 397). He scored 29 goals in 75 games at international level. He scored 1 goal at the World Cup.

They are really leagues apart.