Best ever player you have seen play??

Razor75 · Jan 9, 2003

Not everyone had the pleasure of seeing Pele, Best, Charlton, Eusebio, Di Stefano or Puskas play. I wanted to know who is the best player you have seen play in your lifetime.

Mine has to be Kenny Dalgelish (excuse spelling)
He had everything, I saw him in the late 70's early eighties and he was awesome.
Schmicheal comes in a close second.

Matt Clark · Jan 9, 2003

Dalglish by a country mile. Followed by Rush, Barnes, Magath, Platini, Beardsley, Hoddle, Gascoigne and Robbie Fowler.

Schmeichel? ROFL!

Bauser · Jan 9, 2003

I only got to see King Kenny live in flesh once and that was towards the very end of his career the season after winning The Double, but he was special. No doubt about it. Even at that age. His type of player is rare. You don't see many "Dalglish Light" types around nowadays. The way he connected with Ian Rush was phenomenal also.

#8 · Jan 9, 2003

Pele, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Meuller - NASL golden era (late 70s - early 80s).

usa1950 · Jan 9, 2003

In person? I was lucky to see Cruyff play in the NASL.

On TV? Perhaps Bjorn-Tore Kvarme

afgrijselijkheid · Jan 9, 2003

i saw bergkamp score at world cup '94 in orlando

july 4th ORANJE 2 ireland 0
(keano played that day also)

overmars was all over the pitch as well

what a great day!!!

goyoureddevils · Jan 9, 2003

In person as a spectator I would have to say Hristo Stoichkov in WC 94.

As a player I played against a Canadian National Team Sweeper.... wish I knew his name, about 1997 who was by far the most impressive defensive player I played against.

I am from the same town as the Beasley brother, and my father worked with their parents for 15 years, and still calls them close friends. DaMarcus is by far the best all around player I've ever played with.

ruudboy · Jan 9, 2003

I got to see the 94 Brasil team, they were camped up here in the Bay Area for a month before the WC USA 94, they practiced two blocks from my crib in Santa Clara, I also attended every game at Stanford, it was an amazing feeling for an american like myself who's mad crazy for Football,

Romario, he was the best I've seen with my own eyes.

Captain Splarg · Jan 9, 2003

Gazza, Raul, Le tiss, and Baggio would make my top 10 without a doubt.

kopiteinkc · Jan 9, 2003

King Kenny. No doubt.

In his first match at Anfield he did his trademark shield, turn and shot.

The Kop literally gasped at the pure brilliance and speed at which he executed the move and all doubts that he couldn't fill Keegan's boots were removed in one move.

His goals were one thing, his set ups for Rush were another. His skill on the ball was unmatched in his day and he'd still have defenders turned inside out today.

"I'll walk a million miles for one of your goals ... oh Kenny!"

ERIMUS · Jan 10, 2003

Juninho

el_urchinio · Jan 10, 2003

Robert Prosinecki, hands down. Met him back in 1997 or 1998. The man had it all, probably the most talented player of the last 20 years, but blew it all as a result of a combination of bad injuries, bad temperament, poor workrate, 2 packs of smokes a day, vodka and fast food.

michaec · Jan 11, 2003

Over the last few years, I have had the pleasure of watching Dennis Bergkamp play for Arsenal on a regular basis. Great skill, great vision, great goals, what more can I say?

Fusion City · Jan 11, 2003

Colin Bell,Trevor Francis,Nik Anelka,Dennis Tueart,Denis Law & as for opposition,Gianfranco Zola,Glen Hoddle,Ian Rush,Patrick Viera.

pedro111 · Jan 13, 2003

Rivaldo, Bergkamp, Beardsley, Gazza, but top of the list is the great Alan Shearer.

Few players have an air of greatness about them but I have to say Shearer definately has an Aura about him.

Being a Geordie didnt influence that decision at all!

MarioKempes · Jan 14, 2003

Don't hate me, but Diego "I am not a fat gobshite" Maradona in the '86 final. That was when his heart still functioned properly. Great player.

gdan · Jan 15, 2003

George Best unquestionably. And with Bobby Charlton and Denis Law in the same team that was a team to behold.

whirlwind · Jan 16, 2003

At WC94:
Romario, Bebeto, Gheorge Hagi, Martin Dahlin, Tomas Brolin, Alain Sutter, John Harkes, Eric Wynalda.

At US Cup 93:
Jurgen Klinsmann, David Platt, Peter Beardsley, Rudi Voeller, Lothar Matthaeus,

At a USA-USSR friendly in 91:
Andrei Kanchelskis

NASL:
Franz Beckenbauer, Johann Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, George Best, Gordon Banks, Hubert Birkenmeier, Carlos Alberto, Roberto Cabanas, Giorgio Chinaglia, Vladislav Bogicevic, Karl-Heinz Granitza, Dick Advocaat, Phil Parkes, Arno Steffenhagen, Tino Lettieri, Ace Ntsolengoe, Trevor Francis, I'm sure I'm forgetting a few...

Motterman · Jan 16, 2003

George Best

I saw George Best play for the San Jose Earthquakes in the NASL. Bad knee and all, he was still the class on the pitch. I was lucky enough to be at Spartan Stadium the night he score "That Goal".

He also did two kids soccer camps that I went to, I was only 10, but I did get to play soccer with George Best!

How many can say that?

sjjn · Jan 16, 2003

Pele and Beckenbauer for the Cosmos.

I've seen Klinsmann at WC 94 (Stoichkov was there as well) WC 98 against US and the MLS vs the World game.

Zidane for France at WC 98, for Juve against Roma in Rome (Sweet freekick winner) and for RM against Roma at the swamp.

Delpiero at WC 98 ( was then subbed out for Il Codino. I took a picture of the scoreboard showing the substition and had it framed.)and in Rome against Roma.

futbolnut · Jan 16, 2003

In Person: Pele during the Santos years.
TV: Gazza

on a slightly different note.. Romario circa '94 was the best player I have ever seen in the penalty area. Shearer would have to get a nod in that category, but with a more blue-collar approach.

buffalo · Jan 20, 2003

best i have ever scene live would be Edgar Davids, he owned the Chiefs, i mean pitch.

ZZ10 · Jan 21, 2003

Platini au Euro 84. Never has a player dominated a tournament like the great Michel in 84.

Bergkamp at WC 98

Zidane at Euro 2000

Thierry Henry every week-end at Arsenal.

nextpele · Jan 23, 2003

Henry by far then its probably Pele/Ronaldo

Random · Jan 23, 2003

Live - Bergkamp. Just makes other players look like they're fumbling around

I'll admit I may be biased, but not that the guy isn't magic.