I don't know about that, Xavi is better in tight spaces which makes him a better dribbler than Pirlo imo
then you should watch more of Pirlo. People are confused between close ball control *which I did give an edge for Xavi. with dribbling. For example: Zidane was betetr at close ball conrtol then CR7, but not necessary a better dribbler then CR7. For example of last Euro2012: Dribbles: Ribery 38 >Iniesta 26 >Ozil 20 > Pirlo 15 > Xavi 10
@JamesBH11, I don't think Barca in 2004 were necessarily stronger than Milan. Milan had won the CL 2 seasons prior and were finalists that season losing after leading 3-0 against Liverpool. But in their group encounters Xavi perfomed better IMO.
the difference between 15 & 10 is little though, especially given the fact that Pirlo had a good tournament while Xavi only really showed up in the finals.
agree with you ... but sometimes it's not obvious to say which one is better in dribbling , unless they are like Messi, Neymar Ribery ....
Look , First I never said Xavi was not better in that ONE game ... but what about the 1st leg where Milan won 1-0? Even so, one game or two did not mean much. Barca 2004-05 were in strong transition into their greatest empire .. thanks to Rijkaard Ronaldinho and Etoo' In taht game Kaka was absent ... Rui Costa was old and passed his peak ... Kaka was best MF of UCL 2004-05 and Ronaldinho was best FW 2004-05 anyway ... Neither Xavi nor Pirlo was in the bests XI Lastly, I never said Pirlo was or is better player, but I just bring up some facts that he is indeed ON PAR with Xavi ... while many younger fans quickly calim Xavi is better - just because of Spain and Barca won many things! Tha's all
@JamesBH11 those days Xavi and Pirlo were a little underappreciated and Pirlo is still kind of underrated so it's no surprise to see them missing from those Best XI's... Gerrard, Lampard, Ballack etc were the midfielders likelier to get recognition. Anyway I'm just refuting your claim/the common claim that Xavi only started performing in 2008. Even by early 2000s Xavi was capable of some class perfomances regardless of Barca being quite unstable.
nop for me Ronaldhinio is lower than Rivaldo, Zidane, Pirlo, Iniesta and Xavi. Ronaldinho is the one of less inconsistent players ever. 2 years at hight level, and was avarage in Nt, lower than Pirlo, Xavi and Iniesta. Ronaldo also has nothing to do with the others, he was a striker.
Zidane scored FKs just like Pirlo, he scored some long range screamers (just as much if not more than Pirlo has), had a good long range pass like Pirlo although he tried it much less than Pirlo as Pirlo's game is mainly based on that. The only clear cut advantage i'll say Pirlo has is his long range passing.
Pirlo in log shots is by far better than Zidane, I don't remember a goal from distance by Zidane in the World Cup for example. Pirlo is by far a better FK taker than Zidane. Zidane is better than Pirlo only in dribbling and header. Pirlo is a better playmaker than Zidane for me.
And when did Pirlo do that??? maybe i missed it??? I don't remember Pirlo scoring a left foot volley in a CL final like Zidane did either, i don't even remember him scoring many FKs in the WC & EC competitions (i only remember 1 FK from last EC). And Zidane scored screamers with his right and left legs also...
another decise goal in the game against Croatia Zidane is famous for his head seriously i don't remember a wolrd class goal form Zidane in WC or EC , the world cup 98 was a mediocre tournament for him. For me Pirlo was more consistent and better than Zidane even in world cup 2006. Zidane was just more spectacular, his way of playing attracts more eyes. Pirlo was more decisive and consistent. Zidane has a great game vs Brazil, good vs Spain and Portugal a phantom in the group stage, expelled in the final.
Zidane was excellent in the WC06 final, driving France to maintaining greater possession but the Italian defense was very strong. The red card does not change what he had done the previous 110 minutes.
huh? Iniesta and Xavi had LEARNED ALOT from master Ronaldinho and became better when Ronnie left the club/ ronaldinho was better then Kaka, and Kaka was obviously the best player at MIlan when Pirlo played OK? You need a ZOOM UP in your watching tool LOL In pure skills, Ronnie was probably the BEST among all ... including Zidane Ronaldo was there, as he represent one of the best (if not the best ) in his time - until Messi showed up in 2010
Kakà 2006/2007 is better than any version of Ronaldhinio, less spectacular but more dominant. Ronaldhinio is a lot overrated, he was not consistent player and this is the most important thing Ronaldinho has become one of the most overrated players in history, thanks to you tube, is the same for Zidane but less. Ronaldhinio never has a great tournament in NT or in Clubs, Kaka won the CL on his own and carred ac Milan in the Final in Cl of 2006. Ronaldhinio is one of most skillfull players ever? opinions totally subjective, for me was more spectacular than skillful. He is considered one of the best dribblers ever (in you tube), but rarely he can beats more than 1 player, without naming Messi, Di Maria is better dribbler than him. Kakà in top of the form was more effective dribbler than him
Ridiculous, absurd, inane. Ronaldinho of 04 to 06 is higher by an order of magnitude than any of Kaka's seasons, it's not even worth a discussion.
In any case, I don't think Zidane needs to be brought into a discussion on deep-lying playmakers. He rarely played that role. If you need to add another player, you can add Redondo instead to the mix and it would make for a more fruitful discussion. And Pirlo over Xavi for me.
True as well as I do believe Zidane and France's route to the Final was much tougher than that of Pirlo's, France had to go through Spain,Brazil and Portugal. Good point on the final too as Zidane was in fine form before the red card. Pirlo's was excellent for much of Euro 2012 though.