Maradona,Cruyff,Pele,Di Stefano and

Can't he have more than one Idol?
I have already watched many Maradona's interviews which he said that Rivelino is his biggest idol... I didn't read his book, but I heard that from his mouth....

 

I would add Zidane with those players easily

 

I would prefer to judge him a few years after he has retired, when you can really put his career into perspective. At the moment I could not put him in the top tier - he has not been good enough over a sustained length of time or dominant enough over a shorter period to really class with Pele, Maradona, Puskas et al.

 

PELÉ said in a recent interview to the Brazilian TV that ZICO came near to his level of playing.

 

I saw Eusabio play and he was great, I was a fan of his. But don't make brainless comments about England cheating just because your team lost. It was a well played game from both teams.

 

Yikes--and i though i was the old un' on here remembering Cryuff from his actual playing days

 

Isn't it funny

how most of the people who consider Zidane on the level of Cruyff and DiStefano are Real Madrid fans?
I think its too soon to see his career in perspective. People forget that he had a less than memorable World Cup until the final game (he was suspended for part of it, and was invisible against Italy) - I remember watching some of France's games and thinking "what's the big deal?"

Also, my favorite comment about him is by Platini - when Juve asked Platini what they were getting with Zidane, he responded "he will entertain you." Which he certainly has.

I think that in 8 years or so we'll be able to judge Zidane's career, but now is too early.

In my mind, he's still behind Pele, DiStefano, Garrincha, Platini, Cruyff and Maradona, who are the top tier, in no particular order. Maybe Puskas too.

 

What? Zidane is almost at the end of his career now, why cant we asses it at this moment in time, whats gonna happen in 8 years, long after he has retired, to change that? Most people who have seen Zidane play on a regular basis would admit he is one of the all time greats. I dont understand what your trying to say. Why is it too early? He has already achieved so much. Its all a matter of opinion anyway when you compare players today to players throughout history.

 

Never mind sonny, I was in the Kop before Shankly got to Liverpool. An original Red glory seeker.

Cryuff wasn't a bad player, he just got better 'in his mind' as he got older.

 

I have to argree! Why can't we judge Zidane? He is one of the best players to play. Top 20 for sure maybe top ten. I think Maradona, Pele, and Di Stefano are in a league of their own though. This debate could go on forever.

Where do you think Ronaldo will rank when his career ends? I would think top ten but this one we'll have to wait and see.

 

i'll say yes.

 

Because its hard to judge the quality of a player in comparison to past players. We see Zidane now, and marvel at him. That gives him an advantage - DiStefano hasn't scored a goal in years.
Look at it this way: A Kylie Minogue song was recently voted by the British as the 33rd (approximately) best song of all time. That doesn't necessarily make the British stupid (although it is anecdotal evidence in favor of that hypothesis), but shows that people tend to forget older and better music. When the song is no longer current, no one will vote for it. Same thing with Zidane. Once we can judge them without current passions, we'll get a better understanding.

You must be joking. Ronaldo doesn't even come close. Better than Eusebio? Puskas? Charlton? Beckenbauer? Zico? He'd have to displace them to land in the top ten. He's not even close. I don't think he's even been the most dominating striker in the world over his career.
Btw, why do we have to wait to decide on Ronaldo, but not Zidane? That makes no sense.

 

Nicephoras - What a bag of crap. So we have to wait eight years as you say, before we can judge Zidane because we need to get rid of our bias feelings for him that we have now. Is that it? I havent heard such a load of bolloks since I posted last! Basically, Zidane is one of the best in his position in the world today. There is no one that could take his place in the starting line up of any team, he is universally accepted as one of the very MOST talented attacking midfielders in the modern game. The standard of football today is as high, if not higher, than it ever has been, therefore Zidane can safely be said as being one of the greatest players in history, although that list is dubious, and quite long. Why dont you hang around for 8 years and come to the same conclusion!!

 

You can't mention cups when talking about the best players - it's meaningless. Apart from anything else all of the players people are talking about as having won this cup or that cup played with another 10 players on their teams - are we going to include all them as well?

The name that I haven't heard mentioned yet is Stan Matthews whose playing career spanned 33 years including 84 appearances for England - and this in the days when International matches were a rarity. Not only was he a great player he was never booked although I think even he would have found it a problem to achieve that now.

When he finished playing players like DeStefano, Yashin, Masopust and Schnellinger turned out for his testimonial. His last game in England was in 1965 and came 5 days after his 50th birthday.

There are also quite a few who were great players but because of injury or other problems never became well-known. In England we have had George Best who could do anything with the ball - when he was sober... And what about people like Brian Clough, yes... that one. 222 Games for Middlesborough = 204 goals - that's roughly the same ratio of goals per game as Pele - until his career was cut short by a knee injury at about 26 or 27. Obviously I'm mentioning the ones I'm familiar with from England. Other will have examples from their country.

I also notice there aren't any defenders or keepers in the people you've picked out. What about Bobby Moore? What about Franco Baresi? What about Lev Yashin or Gordon Banks?

 

Thank god I'm not the only old 'un here...

 

I was beginning to wonder when somebody might mention Best. I'm not old enough to say that I remember him playing in person (although I probably saw him in the NASL), but the video clips I've seen of him are amazing.

Best is also a good example of why World Cups mean nothing to judge the quality of a player. Being from Northern Ireland, of course he wouldn't have had the opportunity to shine in cup finals like players who happen to come from international powerhouses do.

 

I'd rate Baresi right between the greatest, certainly Maldini will be there when he finishes his career.