Best players of the noughties? ( 2000 - 2010 )

Discussion in 'The Beautiful Game' started by PuckVanHeel, Dec 24, 2016.

  1. carlito86

    carlito86 Member+

    Jan 11, 2016
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Yeah Zico was a genuis of goalscoring and a genuis of passing
    For me those two things are certainly not in doubt.

    I don’t feel the same way about platini and I have legitimate reasons for that.
    Ones I have mentioned and others I have not.
     
  2. Al Gabiru

    Al Gabiru Member

    Jan 28, 2020
    Ronaldinho and Gullit were different players, like comparing Bellngham with Neymar.

    Yeah, Ronaldinho wasn't a top scorer, but Ronaldinho's 18 assists for Milan in 2009/10 is the record in Serie A history according to transfermarket, along with Roberto Mancini in 90/91 (although the site doesn't have all the seasons). So Ronaldinho was a legend as a playmaker. In that respect he was far superior to Gullit, who was much more versatile. Different players.
     
  3. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024
  4. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024


    Platini played as Volante or Regista like Xavi



    Zico was Tre-quartista and Forward or Second Striker ... sometimes he drop deeper to create with great passes skills too!!
     
  5. carlito86

    carlito86 Member+

    Jan 11, 2016
    Club:
    Real Madrid
  6. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024



    again Transfer Markt puts penalties suffered and pre-assists together with assists ... is wrong to do this ... man

    i don't believe in any number of TransferMarkt !! is a lie completelly the numbers there ,,,
     
  7. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024



    i disagree from you by so far away ...


    Ruud Gullit was a better passer than Ronaldinho ! easily !


    well TransferMarkt is a lie ..
     
  8. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024



    How many games (whole games ) that you saw of Ruud Gullit in your life ?????

    300 whole matches at least ????


    inform me about informations ... that you know these matches of Ruud Gullit that you saw talking about it ?????



    honestly for me you don't saw whole matches of Ruud Gullit ????
     
  9. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Cristiano Ronaldo 10.0 vs AS Roma (10/04/07)
    Shevchenko 10.0 vs Fenerbahce (23/11/05)
    Van Nistelrooij 10.0 vs Sparta Praha (03/11/04)
    Lampard 9.9 vs Bayern Munich (06/04/05)
    Rooney 9.8 vs Fenerbahce (28/09/04)
    Eto'o 9.7 vs Panathinaikos (02/11/05)
    Ronaldinho 9.7 vs Udinese (27/09/05)
    Robben 9.6 vs Zenit (10/12/08)
    Morientes 9.6 vs Olympiacos (12/09/06)
    Raul 9.4 vs Zenit (10/12/08)
    Beckham 9.3 vs Rosenborg (19/10/05)
    Figo 9.3 vs Roma (28/09/04)
    Gerrard 9.3 vs Bordeaux (31/10/06)
    Seedorf 9.3 vs Shaktar Donetsk (24/10/07)
    Messi 9.3 vs Bayern Munich (08/04/09)
    Van der Sar 9.1 vs Sporting (19/09/07)
    Xavi - 9.1 vs Sporting (16/09/08)
    Henry 9.0 vs Juventus (28/03/06)
    Zidane 9.0 vs Monaco (24/03/04)
    Pirlo 8.9 vs Benfica (18/09/07)
    Casillas 8.8 vs Rosenborg (01/11/05)
    Kaka 8.8 vs Deportivo la Coruna (23/03/04)
    Del Piero 8.6 vs Real Madrid (05/11/08)
    Iniesta 8.6 vs Lyon (27/11/07)
    Inzaghi 8.5 vs Bayern Munich (08/03/06)
    Kahn 8.5 vs Spartak (12/09/06)
    Ronaldo Nazario 8.5 vs Dynamo Kyiv (06/12/06)
    Buffon 8.4 vs Arsenal (05/04/06)
    Cocu 8.4 vs Milan (04/05/05)
    Deco 8.4 vs Manchester United (25/02/04)
    Giggs 8.4 vs Wolfsburg (30/09/09)
    Makelele 8.4 vs Liverpool (03/05/05)
    Roberto Carlos 8.4 vs Bayern Munich (24/02/04)
    Scholes 8.4 vs CSKA (03/11/09)
    Stam 8.4 vs Inter (06/04/05)
    Van Bommel 8.3 vs Sporting (10/03/09)
    Maldini 8.2 vs PSV (26/04/05)
    Puyol 8.2 vs Liverpool (06/03/07)
    Nesta 8.0 vs Celtic (07/12/04)
    Zanetti 8.0 vs Bremen (24/11/04)
    Davids 7.9 vs Valencia (01/11/04)
    Roy Keane 7.9 vs Rangers (04/11/03)
    Henrik Larsson 7.8 vs Anderlecht (05/11/03)
    Bergkamp 7.4 vs Celta (10/03/04)

    ---------------------

    Sneijder 8.8 vs Sparta Praha (14/09/05)

    Others at 7.5 or above: 8.5 vs Olympiacos (06/11/07), 7.9 vs Sparta Praha (22/11/05), 7.8 vs Dynamo Kyiv (04/11/09), 7.5 vs Thun (02/11/05)

    Outside this frame: 8.3 vs CSKA (31/03/10), 8.3 vs Bremen (29/09/10), 8.2 vs CSKA (06/04/10), 8.1 vs Bayern (22/05/10), 8.1 vs Bayern (15/03/11), 8.0 vs Arsenal (09/12/14), 7.9 vs Trabzonspor (14/09/11), 7.9 vs Real Madrid (09/04/13), 7.8 vs Twente (14/09/10), 7.8 vs Juventus (10/12/13), 7.6 vs Bayern (23/02/11), 7.6 vs Schalke (05/04/11), 7.5 vs Tottenham (20/10/10), 7.5 vs Lille (02/11/11)

    His first leg vs Barcelona 2010 in the semi finals is 7.4 (robbing the ball from Messi); the game 26/02/14 against Chelsea is also 7.4, behind Drogba with 7.5 and Chedjou with 7.7 the 3rd highest of the game; match 01/10/14 against Arsenal a 7.3; on 12/09/15 a 7.4 vs Atletico Madrid; has a 10.0 rated league game on 25/12/16 against Antalyaspor that finished 5th in the league. Also shows for Serie A as last rated match: 8.1 vs Pescara at 26/08/12

    I say it again: he has maybe about 20 caps too many but that he has 100+ caps is imho deserved. His last games at the World Cups are 7.4 vs Argentina, 7.9 vs Costa Rica, 7.6 vs Mexico in the knock-out stages of 2014. The Portugal game of 2006 is a 7.5 (goalkeeper Ricardo 8.2, Maniche 7.7, Ricardo Carvalho 7.6, Van Bronckhorst 7.5, Cocu 7.5). At the euros 7.7 vs Portugal 2012, 7.3 vs Germany 2012, 9.3 vs Denmark 2012, 7.6 vs Russia 2008, 9.2 vs France 2008, 8.4 vs Italy 2008. We don't need to talk about the 2010 World Cup (8.8 vs Brazil in quarter finals; directly involved in 9 of the 12 Oranje goals in the tournament). Few Benelux internationals have an as consistent record over five consecutive tournaments.


    Riquelme 8.5 vs Lille (27/09/05)

    Others at 7.5 or above: 8.2 vs Inter (04/04/06), 7.8 vs Benfica (18/10/05), 7.5 vs Villarreal (02/11/05), 7.5 vs Rangers (22/02/06)

    Check here what I overlook (nothing; has 8.5 vs Mexico at 2006WC, 8.0 vs Serbia, 7.7 vs Netherlands, 7.5 vs Cote d'Ivoire). 10 rated CL games in the database.
    https://www.sofascore.com/player/juan-roman-riquelme/5424


    Rivaldo 7.9 vs Deportivo la Coruna (23/11/04)

    Others at 7.5 or above: 7.8 vs Shakhtar (05/12/06), 7.6 vs Deportivo la Coruna (15/09/04), 7.6 vs Real Madrid (06/12/05), 7.5 vs Liverpool (08/12/04), 7.5 vs Rosenborg (13/09/05).

    The Shaktar game is the last, the 7.6 vs Deportivo the first. Rivaldo was 32 and 4 months at the first game.


    Makaay 9.6 vs Ajax (29/09/04)

    Others at 7.5 or above: 9.3 vs Rapid Wien (22/11/05), 8.5 vs Tel Aviv (23/11/04), 8.1 vs Real Madrid (24/02/04), 7.5 vs Sporting (31/10/06), 7.5 vs Inter (05/12/06)

    This are six games, but only 24 games in the database. The one with the fastest ever CL goal, against Real Madrid is a 7.4, on 07/03/07.
     
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  10. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024


    i think so Vini Jr being better than Ronaldinho Gaucho ...

    Vini Jr.. has two goals in the finals ... Ronaldinho none

    Vini Jr... has World Club-Cup .... Ronaldinho none
    Vini Jr.. has .... European super-cup Ronaldinho none ...
     
  11. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024



    Marco van Basten 10 against IFK Gotemberg ... 1992-93 ... against Ravelli
     
  12. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024



    well ...


    Michel Platini is Genius ...

    on my view .. Top 10 or Top 20 of the World Football easily




    of course

    Edson Arantes Pelé ... Messi .... Johan Cruyff ... Di Stefano ... Ferenc Puskas .... Maradona

    i see them above of Michel Platini ...but from All the rest of the main players on the World not not not

    Michel Platini fights against anyone of them ... !
     
  13. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024



    Cubillas ... was better than Ronaldinho Gaucho too !
     
  14. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Gullit was capable of some excellent flicks. See here vs Juventus in 1987 at 13:20.
     
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  15. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024




    yes ... these younger guys like Carlito 86 ...and Al Gabiru .... honestly even don't seeing at least 200 whole matches of Ruud Gullit ... honestly don't know who was Ruud Gullit at his peak ... on the field ... they are watching only videos at You Tube " Highlights " so speaking so many many bullshits ... about older players . !



    dear mate PuckVanHeel ... Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit were geniuses of the Football !
     
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  16. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Cristiano Ronaldo 10.0 vs AS Roma (10/04/07)
    Shevchenko 10.0 vs Fenerbahce (23/11/05)
    Van Nistelrooij 10.0 vs Sparta Praha (03/11/04)
    Lampard 9.9 vs Bayern Munich (06/04/05)
    Rooney 9.8 vs Fenerbahce (28/09/04)
    Eto'o 9.7 vs Panathinaikos (02/11/05)
    Ronaldinho 9.7 vs Udinese (27/09/05)
    Robben 9.6 vs Zenit (10/12/08)
    Makaay 9.6 vs Ajax (29/09/04)
    Morientes 9.6 vs Olympiacos (12/09/06)
    Raul 9.4 vs Zenit (10/12/08)
    Beckham 9.3 vs Rosenborg (19/10/05)
    Figo 9.3 vs Roma (28/09/04)
    Gerrard 9.3 vs Bordeaux (31/10/06)
    Seedorf 9.3 vs Shaktar Donetsk (24/10/07)
    Messi 9.3 vs Bayern Munich (08/04/09)
    Van der Sar 9.1 vs Sporting (19/09/07)
    Xavi - 9.1 vs Sporting (16/09/08)
    Henry 9.0 vs Juventus (28/03/06)
    Zidane 9.0 vs Monaco (24/03/04)
    Pirlo 8.9 vs Benfica (18/09/07)
    Casillas 8.8 vs Rosenborg (01/11/05)
    Kaka 8.8 vs Deportivo la Coruna (23/03/04)
    Sneijder 8.8 vs Sparta Praha (14/09/05)
    Del Piero 8.6 vs Real Madrid (05/11/08)
    Iniesta 8.6 vs Lyon (27/11/07)
    Inzaghi 8.5 vs Bayern Munich (08/03/06)
    Kahn 8.5 vs Spartak (12/09/06)
    Riquelme 8.5 vs Lille (27/09/05)
    Ronaldo Nazario 8.5 vs Dynamo Kyiv (06/12/06)
    Buffon 8.4 vs Arsenal (05/04/06)
    Cocu 8.4 vs Milan (04/05/05)
    Deco 8.4 vs Manchester United (25/02/04)
    Giggs 8.4 vs Wolfsburg (30/09/09)
    Makelele 8.4 vs Liverpool (03/05/05)
    Roberto Carlos 8.4 vs Bayern Munich (24/02/04)
    Scholes 8.4 vs CSKA (03/11/09)
    Stam 8.4 vs Inter (06/04/05)
    Van Bommel 8.3 vs Sporting (10/03/09)
    Maldini 8.2 vs PSV (26/04/05)
    Puyol 8.2 vs Liverpool (06/03/07)
    Nesta 8.0 vs Celtic (07/12/04)
    Zanetti 8.0 vs Bremen (24/11/04)
    Davids 7.9 vs Valencia (01/11/04)
    Rivaldo 7.9 vs Deportivo la Coruna (23/11/04)
    Roy Keane 7.9 vs Rangers (04/11/03)
    Henrik Larsson 7.8 vs Anderlecht (05/11/03)
    Bergkamp 7.4 vs Celta (10/03/04)

    ---------------------------

    Ronaldo Nazario has as earliest game 04/11/03 against Partizan (7.0). The 8.2 vs Roma (08/12/04) and the 8.5 vs Kyiv (06/12/06) are the only ones at 7.5 or above. Then you get 7.4, 7.3 also against Kyiv in october and november 2004. Another 7.4 vs Monaco at March 2004. The rest is 7.0 or lower. 17 rated games (11 games below 7.0).

    Adriano 9.6 vs Petrzalka (23/11/05)

    Others at 7.5 or above: 9.0 vs Valencia (20/10/04), 8.9 vs Bremen (14/09/04), 8.2 vs Villarreal (29/03/06), 8.0 vs Anorthosis (22/10/08), 7.8 vs Anderlecht (29/09/04), 7.6 vs Valencia (02/11/04), 7.6 vs Petrzalka (13/09/05), 7.6 vs Panathinaikos (16/09/08)

    This are 9 rated matches. 24 rated games in total. 16 rated games at 7.0 or lower.


    Ozil 7.9 vs Inter (09/12/08)

    Others at 7.5 or higher: 7.7 vs Anorthosis (16/09/08), 7.6 vs Panathinaikos (22/10/08). Ten rated matches.

    Outside this frame he has an 8.0 against Ghana at the 2010 tournament (7.4 vs Austrlia, 7.2 vs Argentina, 7.0 England, 6.8 Serbia etc.). 6.9 vs Portugal in 2012, followed by 7.6 Netherlands, 7.4 Denmark, 9.2 Greece, 7.9 Italy. In 2014 6.9 Portugal, 7.0 Ghana, 6.4 USA, 8.1 Algeria, 6.6 France, 7.2 Brazil, 6.7 Argentina. 2016: 7.4 Ukraine, 6.9 Poland, 8.3 Northern-Ireland, 7.6 Slovakia, 8.0 Italy, 7.6 France. 2018: 6.5 vs Mexico, 7.9 vs South Korea.

    For club, 7.5 or higher: 9.5 vs Ludogorets (19/10/16), 8.7 vs Lyon (16/03/11), 8.5 vs Tottenham (05/04/11), 8.4 vs Ajax (15/09/10), 8.3 Napoli (01/10/13). 8.2 vs Dinamo Zagreb (22/11/11), 8.2 vs Dortmund (06/11/12), 8.2 vs Dinamo Zagreb (24/11/15), 8.2 vs Ludogorets (01/11/16), 8.0 vs Lyon (02/11/11), 7.9 vs Ajax (27/09/11), 7.9 Galatasaray (03/04/13), 7.8 Monaco (04/04/15), 7.7 vs Apoel (27/03/12), 7.6 vs Bayern (25/04/12), 7.6 Marseille (26/11/13), 7.6 vs Bayern (20/10/15), 7.6 vs Basel (06/12/16), 7.5 Ajax (23/11/10).

    There are 61 rated games from the start of 2010 onward. 19 are at 7.5 or higher.


    Nedved 7.8 vs Real Madrid (21/10/08)

    Others: 7.8 vs Tel Aviv (08/12/04), 7.8 vs Borisov (10/12/08), 7.7 vs Tel Aviv (28/09/04), 7.6 vs Ajax (15/09/04), 7.6 vs Bayern (19/10/04), 7.6 vs Ajax (23/11/04), 7.6 vs Liverpool (05/04/05), 7.6 vs Rapid Wien (27/09/05), 7.5 vs Brugge (14/09/05)

    There are 27 graded games. Ten of them are 7.5 or higher. The amazing thing is that between mid-2004 and beginning-2005/06 season it is even 8 out of 10 games at that level or above. He was then 32 years old to 33.5 years old. I haven't seen that bettered until now I think, maybe not equalled either by anyone. @PDG1978 @comme @Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    ------

    Tomorrow the continuation of the presentation (the gathering is not so hard, except for Rooney so far).
     
  17. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    I am not implying he was at the same level as Henry but this seems to give a decent impression of how he looked before his first knee and ACL injury (only seen the first minute myself).

     
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  18. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    He messes this up but a dribble vs Brazil:


    @Wiliam Felipe Gracek
     
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  19. Isaías Silva Serafim

    Real Madrid
    Brazil
    Dec 2, 2021
    Nat'l Team:
    Brazil
    Who were better between RVN and RVP for you @PuckVanHeel ?
     
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  20. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024



    I've been rooting for the Netherlands to win titles since the 1990 World Cup... I was 8 years old i was born in 1982 ... 8 november ... I was a strong supporter of the Dutch national team side until 2014... Then I honestly got tired of these Dutch players in general.


    It was very disappointing for me after all these years of supporting the Netherlands National team side even being mainly brazilian .. croatian(father and grandfather) .... and french (mother).



    That's why sometimes I don't like Bergkamp.. Seedorf... Davids...Kluivert,,.... Rijkaard.... Ruud van Nilstelrooy frank de boer... ronaldo de boer winter was sad . !
     
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  21. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024


    Van Persie !
     
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  22. carlito86

    carlito86 Member+

    Jan 11, 2016
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    #497 carlito86, Jul 15, 2024
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2024
    Puck will probably be stuck between a rock and a hard place with this( comparing the two best dutch strikers of the 21st century)

    the most that can be said of RVP was that his peak namely 2011/12 & 2012/13 was a real contender for best CF in the world

    whether or not he had enough in his arsenal(no pun intended)to separate himself from a radamel falcao or zlatan ibrahimovic is highly debatable(particularly zlatan)

    much is made of Suarez almost(key word)dragging Liverpool to a PL title
    And not enough is said about RVP actually dragging a relatively mediocre Manchester United team to a premier league title
    Yeah they were mediocre(it’s the truth)
    all those ex world class players like vidic,Ferdinand,Giggs and scholes were literally on their last legs

    minus Rooney this was the core of Manchester United’s last successful side

    SAF pulled a master stroke with that signing


    Rvps record vs so called big EPL teams during that title run was really impressive too unlike some others(ie Hannibal)

    As it concerns RVP and RVN
    For a two year peak I might go with the former
    Might

    Van nistelrooy 01/02 & 02/03 was absolutely world class though
    And when he was being directly compared to Thierry Henry during that time period it didn’t sound as ‘ridiculous’ then as it does now
    And to me it isn’t a ridiculous comparison anyways


    Only ridiculous if you view him as a Haaland type CF
    But the reality is that he wasn’t

    Haaland doesn’t do this vs the league 2 sides that Manchester City routinely face in the league cup and for certain he doesn’t do this vs champions League quality teams
    He doesn’t do this against anyone
    IMG_3846.gif

    this is peak Barcelona build up with an exquisite Messi finish on the end of it
     
  23. Wiliam Felipe Gracek

    Santos FC
    France
    Feb 3, 2024



    Gullit has so many many goals like this in career and you hate Gullit i mean Lobs Goals !


    Van Nilstelrooy ... you love him too much is stranger for me .



    do you have pre-concepts against the older past Football by the way ?????
     
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  24. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    I will do first his profile and then return to this question:


    Van Persie 9.7 vs Porto (30/09/08)

    Others at 7.5 or above: 9.4 vs Sparta Praha (02/11/05), 8.8 vs Villarreal (15/04/09), 8.5 vs Olympiacos (29/09/09), 8.2 vs Fenerbahce (05/11/08), 8.0 vs Hamburg SV (13/09/06), 7.9 vs Rosenborg (07/12/04), 7.7 vs Porto (26/09/06), 7.7 vs FCSB (02/10/07), 7.7 vs Roma (24/02/09), 7.6 vs CSKA Moscow (01/11/06), 7.6 vs Hamburg SV (21/11/06), 7.6 vs FCSB (12/12/07), 7.5 vs AZ (20/10/09)

    14 games at 7.5 or higher, 34 rated games. Excluding the games prior to 2005-06 (this is I think when he became really good, if not injured), it is I think 13/26 games and that's quite good, compared to what we have seen so far.

    ---------------------------------

    Also: 7.4 vs Dynamo Kyiv (17/09/08), 7.4 vs Roma (11/03/09), 7.2 vs Thun (22/11/05), 7.2 vs Sevilla (19/09/07), 7.2 vs Man United (05/05/09 - best rated of his team... didn't play other semi-final) 7.1 vs Bayern (22/02/05), 7.1 vs Liverpool (02/04/08), 7.1 vs Dynamo Kyiv (25/11/08)

    Then we get a fairly high proportion of CL games with a 7.0 or higher.

    Outside this frame (8.0 or higher): 9.6 vs Olympiacos (19/03/14), 8.9 vs Cluj (02/10/12), 8.3 vs Dortmund (23/11/11), 8.1 vs Partizan (08/12/10)

    Also: an 8.6 in the league against the 2018-19 Ajax team (27/01/19), that was in between demolishing Real Madrid and Juventus and was better than Bayern Munich.
     
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  25. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    #500 PuckVanHeel, Jul 16, 2024
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2024
    My preference is clearly Van Persie, beyond any other Benelux center-forward that had Champions League games in this decade. I'd say he goes ahead of Van Nistelrooij as well, but not in another tier. Broadly, I'd say they belong to the same tier. Not the tier of Gullit, Van Hanegem, Rijkaard, Robben, De Bruyne, Hazard etc. but one further down I think.

    One can throw in Patrick Kluivert as well (if you're lenient to his downfall after the age of 27, after Milito whacked and ruined his knee with a kick). He is born on the exact same day as Van Nistelrooij (1 july 1976). There are some who have Kluivert ahead of those two. Kluivert was until Mbappe came around the teenager with the most Champions League goals, he is still #2. He featured in two Champions League finals, two more CL semi finals and a UEFA Cup semi final (2001), quarter final in 2003 (with four goals and about as many assists). He stands eight on Barcelona's all-time topscorers list and without penalties he jumps to fifth with only Messi, Cesar Rodriguez, Luis Suarez and Kubala ahead.

    This is a list of European Cups (all three European Cups) goalscorers as it stood on 31 december 2009. Of his era only Raul, Shevchenko, Inzaghi, Van Nistelrooij, Larsson, Henry, Del Piero and Morientes are ahead but other than RvN they all needed way more games. For the national team he was for a decade all-time topscorer and in tournaments he obviously delivered (play-offs Ireland in '95; England 96; Argentina and Brazil '98; Denmark; Yugoslavia and France '00). Many don't believe this but if you take out penalties he was more productive than Rivaldo (goals + assists) in every season (or all but one season?) and he did deliver in the second round and KO stages of the Champions League as well.

    This link 'shows' Van Persie was the most valuable Premier League player between 2002 and 2017, on a cumulative basis. Thus not Rooney or another one with the media and buzz more on their side. One other Voetbal International exercise, limiting this to players with at least 100 games, backed this up, also on a per game rate. Of course, you need to say people as Cristiano Ronaldo, Suarez and so on left the league in between.

    Now, of course many then think immediately of the highlights and all those great goals against peak Barcelona etc. and you can find that for every season of him:




    In tournaments he had his (great) goals against Ivory Coast (free kick), France, Germany, Spain and Brazil (assist vs Uruguay in 2010 semi final). In every tournament between 2006 and 2014 at least one great goal, seriously. Even if in no tournament he was close to his best.

    Van Nistelrooij is actually a bit underserved in this respect. His first touch was really top class and in the Champions League he had campaigns where he was both top-scorer and top-assister (with through balls!). He had more dribbles in the games he played against (post-injury) Ronaldo Nazario. A catalogue terrific goals too, like on euro 2004 against Germany.

    But I think Van Nistelrooij is still a bit more "what you see is what you get". Van Persie has some things and choices in his style that makes him more interesting to watch, with indeed as result that he maximized the points gained for his team. Van Persie has still 30+ goals in the Champions League, and really, each nation has so far only a few reaching that barrier. Netherlands has five, Argentina two, Brazil two, England one, France four, Germany two, Italy two, Portugal two, Spain four, Uruguay one (Croatia zero... for what's worth). The point is not "we are better than those countries" (that's false) but that it is a healthy amount to achieve and also the best don't have many above that barrier.

    The cancelled goal and the red card vs Barcelona in 2011 remains ridiculous; Arsenal could have won that tie. It is a question to ask what self-censoring effect Villar as referee committee chief and his friend as one of the vice-presidents had in those years. Especially when going 'against' a relatively small team like Arsenal (okay, CL semi-final just two years before with RvP being instrumental; top assister in the Premier League that 2008-09 season). If I am not mistaken he remains the Premier League player with the most weak-foot goals.

    Jürgen Klopp was and is still a huge fan. The quotes below are a good illustration of what I meant above.

    November 2011:
    "But Robin van Persie, wow, what a performance, what a player. He's certainly one of the best in Europe. I've hardly ever seen a player who plays so deep in midfield and then is such a danger in the box."

    January 2013:
    "Personally, when we played against Arsenal in London, I saw the best forward ever: Robin van Persie. I didn't know a player could play three [different] positions during 90 minutes. It was a great experience – and we want to use that now."

    So my preference and my call are for Van Persie but in the end I think they're in the same tier (Kluivert, Van Nistelrooij) and not quite there with De Bruyne or so. Unfortunately he had many injuries, often outside his fault. Chiellini kicked his ankle in two (literally) in 2009. That was possibly unfortunate, but it was far from the only thing happening to him and is again a good example that you can 'reduce' our players (including Hazard) without punishment or (preventive) deterrence.

    You can bet on the "usual suspects" to put him outside the top 20 center forwards of this century, just as Van Nistelrooij is put outside the top 10 (with then Aguero far ahead, yeah right...). Van Nistelrooij topscorer in three top five leagues (only Romario and Cristiano Ronaldo compare) and only Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo more often topscorer in Champions League.
     

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