Who Is The Greatest Dribbler Ever

It does not matter ... like Pele said Neymar is better than CR7 = and you believe him?
Xavi a partner of Messi said he is teh Greatets player ever - evne though he knows JACK of Pele and (sure) you love it eh?

That's called BS

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For NT: Pride of a national team = true FAME >>>>> Club = money and "fake" fame (celebrity)

 

thank you - clear now
But my point remained:

A few players could be undisciplined (like Romario, Ronaldo , Adriano Ronaldinho ..) but it is BY NO MEANS to claim that " the team do not take the game "seriously" just because one or few players "undisciplined"

Like English media (or some Eurocentric voice) OFTEN excuses ... for their unsuccessful in Intercontinental games

 

Agree

Did I ever base on some player's saying to "value" players?
Only when I "sarcastically" replied to others ... who brought up the quotes.

RC is not famous for his "clean mouth" especially LOL
(that's why Cafu got the captain band since he is always calm and keep his mouth shut

 

Yeah, I think a lot of it has to do with positioning as well. Figo was a strict winger who always played close to the sideline. It's gonna be tough for someone in that position to show outstanding passing because your field of vision is so limited. Just about all the great passers played in the center, where they have the whole field to survey.

Then again, positions aren't just given randomly. Players show certain abilities early in their careers and coaches place them accordingly.

Interesting about Cruyff. In the highlight videos I've seen of him, he seemed like a pure speed dribbler. Like Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka.

 

Garrincha Czibor Gento Best Mathews Dzajic... were all great in passing crossing and even scoring

Even some "accidental" wingers like Kopa, Riveldino Jairzinho, Roanldinho , Rivaldo ... were great in passing too

 

Yeah, I can understand what you're saying. At times Figo did find himself in central areas and played some quality passes I'd say, but also he did play some games from a central position. Like you say though he was mostly a winger, and most of his assists came from wide I think.

I'll pick out 4 videos each for Figo and Cruyff that could help (not knowing what you're already seen of course, but based on what you said and what I've replied). I'll do a post for each and then I think they'll all embed in the thread.

 

Playing as winger but 3:36 and 6:40 are nice passes from somewhat infield for example (not sure now how many similar examples):


3:14 and 3:53 here for example too:


There are one or two games in full/extended highlights on Youtube where he is playing from the centre in that season though I know too. And he did that when I saw his play for Portugal vs England in 1995.

For a couple of examples of dribbling followed by a nice pass:

(At the start - simple pass but nicely played and timed)
(I was looking for a second video from 98/99 actually for a similar play where he is on the edge of the box and twists and turns and then plays in Luis Enrique that I'd seen but can't find it now - anyway you get the idea I guess).

 

For Cruyff:

(good for passes despite title)


(btw - Puck has Cruyff vs Poland on his Daily Motion channel now, from Euro 76 qualifying like this game)

 

Possibly 97/98 I meant to mention, but anyway saw it recently but not sure how to find now.
I think there are more than the two examples on video 2 IIRC.

But I wouldn't say he should be thought of as among the very best passers. But in terms of capability to pass maybe not too far behind Rui Costa (but like I say Rui Costa could dribble too - if we start picking players that are just very good at both then surely there'll be a lot more; some better at passing like Rivera or some better at dribbling, but yeah I wouldn't say too many were truly great at both).

 

Agree so ...
Domino Lou is right that a "winger" would be more limit than a CAM or CM in general passing to team (besides very very few great wingers and Figo is among them)

You're rigtt Figo was playing mostly as Right wing, but during game he did move to left or center as well.
Especially for Portugal 2000-02 Figo was playing more like a AM/playmaker

 

Goals are very important on his position, but you put 5 games instead of 4

 

whatever 4 or 5 .as the LAST important games in WC02 QUAL .. Romario was not playing there
He "excused" and LIED to Scolari with saying he was injured ... (he did get a small injurie though)
That's WHY .,.. Scolari found out later and KICKED him out of the team

 

Have an introspective look and not a revisionist look when judging something like this.

It's like this... everyone knows now that arresting Japanese citizens during WWII was wrong, but back then nobody thought about it being wrong back then.

So.... If you look at the results now and try to figure out how the feeling was back then you would think that people were appalled by the arresting of the Japanese. Which just isn't true

 

Aplles to Oranges as usual

I told you FACTS about Romario in 2002 season before WC02 and WHY he was NOT there in the team!

You guys never distinguish between FACTS and SPECULATION ever eh?

 

Information you mentioned wasn't available at the time. Hence apples to apples.

 

The one at 3:36 was actually Guardiola to Luis Enrique and then his deflected pass to Ronaldo. The second my opinion of course, wasn't that great lol. It was good anticipation and reading of the game though.

 

I'm not sure now - the style looks a bit like Guardiola now you mention it but put it on full screen and can you make out Figo's number 7 (looks like it to me, but not 100%)? Yeah, the second isn't anything out of the ordinary but is just a nicely timed and placed pass from a bit infield - I didn't really set out to show that one but was just having a quick look for some passes to illustrate what I was getting at in terms of the way he played and the fact he did get involved infield a bit at times.

 

There is no "Greatest". There are only opinions.

My opinion is that anyone fairly and neutrally looking at the coverage of players we have has to conclude that Messi and Cruyff are almost inseparable and are ahead of everyone else. Brazilian Ronaldo a close third.

 

Maradona ? George Best ? ..

 

So my brother and me were watching the Brazil game, and my brothers follows this Brazilian football channel called desempedidos.

They posted this


Sometimes we do forget what an awesome experience it was to watch this player.

 

the commentary is in portuguese, but I think it's interesting when he's commentating the #1 dribble from Ronaldinho he says "how do you even allow that without sticking your finger up his ass, without kicking him in the shin, i mean brother how do you even allow that?

In Brazil, if you get past a player with 1 dribble... you need to get away clean, because the defender will not allow you to be standing and finish the dribble if he can. Look at the one Ronaldinho did vs Sao Paulo, he gets past the first defender with a simple touch, the second one is coming not to really kick the ball... but to kick whatever is left of Ronaldinho and the ball.

Ronaldinho just used a clever touch to get the ball away from his feet and kept on going. That's why Neymar's dribbling in Brazil was so crazy to see, cause he would get his ass kicked all game long but kept on going with the dribbling.

 

I think Maradona's total reliance on one foot takes him out of the absolute elite of dribblers. If you look at Messi he does not have Maradona's absolute need to run round his right to favour his left. This total inability to use his right was a huge problem for him.

Best? I'm wary of ranking him. He was undeniably a beautiful player to watch and clearly rates highly but as high as Cruyff? There are huge gaps in what survives to us in terms of footage but what does shows us that despite glimpses of genius from Best Cruyff was the better dribbler with a better record. Best is as much a cultural icon as a footballer. it is hard to distinguish one from the other. For instance Giles you are a Leeds fan. You probably know that game after game Best simply couldn't get the better of Paul Reaney.