Who is the best God-given talent/skilled player your nation has ever produced?

Another for consideration from USA, Hugo Perez. Born in El Salvador, moved here around age 10-11. Trained with Ajax in late 80s and Cruyff wanted to sign him, but the world-beater club known as the San Diego Sockers wouldn't release him. A second attempt to get him to Europe (again supported by Cruyff, this time to Parma who was preparing to make their debut in Seria A...where they finished sixth in the table their first year). Again, American genius (Bob Gannsler, this time) gets in the way, and Perez, supposedly due to injury-related lack of fitness(?), is dropped from the US 1990 WC roster.

Mind you, this is a player who is being courted by Cruyff and Ajax at a time when the top US league is the freaking MISL, and nobody...I mean nobody, from the US is playing in any European team of consequence.

It may be that Adu surpasses him (to the extent that Adu is "USA home grown"). There's also the argument that Perez himself isn't a completely "home grown" product. On the other hand, and no disrespect intended to El Salvador, but it's not as if Champions' League rosters are overflowing with their children, either. But to have gotten the attention that Perez did, from the calibre of teams that he did, at a time when American Soccer was truly an oxymoron, speaks of a very special talent.

 

I have to throw John O'Brien into the mix. I really think we never got to see him very much because of injury. But if you are talking about talent and touch etc.. I think he probably played more beautifully than Donovan, if I didn't misunderstand the idea.

 

What do you expect when we have a whole month dedicated to drinking???

 

*tsk* look at the size of the heads on those beers. Take 'em back wench and fill 'em up proper like.

 

I can agree with tht... O'Brien had class that stood apart... that's why I said Reyna.. even tho I didnt like him much... his class on the field is something I have not seen from an American, until this upcoming generation... starting with Adu

 

Germans love head.

 

I'm guessing you've read the 'Greatest Footballer You Never Saw' book written about him. I think that book and the media attention on its release, has made a lot of people aware of Friday.

 

Kind of how Richard Hadlee clashes with the other cricket commentators when you compare them. Years ago he used to commentate and he was a class above everyone else in his insight and balanced coverage of things.

Wynton Rufer was a true star...he'll never be appreciated by the idiots here who worship the english 3rd division...I mean you've seen the football "pundits" right? Katsanos, Ngata, Elrick, De Jong...football for them is the EPL, A-league, and the English NT.

 

The people here are pretty clueless in general about who's who in football. During the WC, my cousin's office provided breakfast and a big screen TV to watch the sweden game to (as advertised) "support England". They don't really know why they support England either apart from the "mother country" reason.

 

hehe, I wonder what they will do this June??

I'll be happy if it gets some coverage on radio etc (but I doubt that) apart from Sky TV showing the games.

 

You forgot

Benjamin Galindo and Hector Hernandez

God can't believe I just said that.

Washes mouth with soap.

 

Jonathan de Guzman. I would love to see him line up alongside his brother for the national team.

 

Argentina:

Contrary to popular belief and to whatever my dear countrymen say, this is the greatest God-given talent to ever grace an Argentinian football pitch:

Tomas Felipe "Trinche" Carlovich

 

NO WAY..... BETTER THAN BAGGIO OR ZOLA....ANYWAY FROM MY COUNTRY COLOMBIA ITS BETWEEN Valderrama or asprilla

 

Rossi is American, but his dream was to play for Italy.

 

For Belgium Enzo Scifo...
Older people said Rik Coppens ,but I never saw him play and there are no video's available from him (he played as forward in the fifties).
So I can't judge over him...

 

What a "Great" American!!!

 

Daniel Amokachi.

You're right, it isn't. Zidane also won a Euro(2002) France's only WC title(1998) and took them to their only other appearance in the WC finals(2006.) He also won World Player of the year 3 times(1998, 2000, 2003) European player of the year(1998.) Not to mention winning the Spanish League, the Serie A, and the Champion's League.





Mine, Paolo Cesar Wanchope.