Me! At the very bottom, but still.Has anyone put Rio in their list yet? Surely he deserves it.
Me! At the very bottom, but still.Has anyone put Rio in their list yet? Surely he deserves it.
I had to exclude Schweiny, Lahm and Alves alongside Modric, Carlos, Maldini... there’s just too much competition. As I said, it’s really more difficult to compile this list than to compile an all-time 20.btw.: I know you guys don't really rate defenders, but Phillip Lahm surely should make every single list. Most intelligent player Pep has ever worked with (his quote), even after he worked with Xavi and Iniesta.
Xavi's resume is practically perfect once he became a star. He's about the most rock-solid one on the entire list, and has an argument to be the literal #1 because, unlike all the other candidates, there is zero difference between his performance for club or country and the consistency with both is unparalleled. I thought about putting him at #1, but it is a bit hipsterish or makes a person look like they are 'hating' on 'the 2'Suprised how low people are ranking Zidane, I know his career was split over the 90s/00s but I would say he's 3rd best overall. Outstanding in Euro 2000, Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. Shame he was injured for 2002 World Cup.
I would have Ronaldinho at #4, then Iniesta/Xavi etc.
Still the previous century. He won the CL in 2002 and not much else. Compared to what Xavi and Iniesta won this century, it is not enough. Think Ronaldinho was better too.Suprised how low people are ranking Zidane, I know his career was split over the 90s/00s but I would say he's 3rd best overall. Outstanding in Euro 2000, Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. Shame he was injured for 2002 World Cup.
I would have Ronaldinho at #4, then Iniesta/Xavi etc.
How’s 2000 the previous century?Still the previous century. He won the CL in 2002 and not much else. Compared to what Xavi and Iniesta won this century, it is not enough. Think Ronaldinho was better too.
Not hard to google:How’s 2000 the previous century?
The 21st (twenty-first) century is the current century of the Anno Domini era or Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. It began on January 1, 2001, and will end on December 31, 2100.
Xavi and Iniesta won what they won because they worked in an excellent system with a world class team, they fed off each other, individually on their own (without the other) I don't think they won games single handedly as much as Zidane or Ronaldinho did. I rank Rivaldo as high as Iniesta or Xavi.Still the previous century. He won the CL in 2002 and not much else. Compared to what Xavi and Iniesta won this century, it is not enough. Think Ronaldinho was better too.
Not my argument but I'm guessing it's the old "there was no year zero" thing that some people go with. Can apply to decades, centuries, millennia. It is actually correct too, the calendar went from 1 BC/BCE to 1 AD/CE.How’s 2000 the previous century?
I stand corrected.Not hard to google:
Cheers. The confusion is understandable.I stand corrected.
Xavi was the system. Everything orbited around him.Xavi and Iniesta won what they won because they worked in an excellent system with a world class team, they fed off each other, individually on their own (without the other) I don't think they won games single handedly as much as Zidane or Ronaldinho did. I rank Rivaldo as high as Iniesta or Xavi.
Zidane would be a top 10 overall in the history of the sport.
Most people would regard 2000 as being part of the 00s.
Thought of creating this thread after seeing the "of all time" one. I think most of us are better in judging the best players of the past 20 years because many of us haven't seen the likes of Pele, Maradona, Puskas, Beckenbauer, etc.
I just do it off the top of my head, i will probably forget some good ones. And don't forget: Only of this century. So if a player had his peak in the 90s, but not in the 00s, he should not be on the list (or below).
Goalkeepers excluded. Or we even may add a top 5 goalkeepers of this century as well if you like.
1. Messi
2. C. Ronaldo
3. Ronaldinho
4. Ronaldo #9
5. Zidane
6. Robben
7. Xavi
8. Iniesta
9. Lahm
10. Henry
11. Pirlo
12. Kaka
13. Ballack
14. Ribery
15. Rooney
16. Ibrahimovic
17. Totti
18. Shevchenko
19. Roberto Carlos
20. Nedved
Well this was hard, and this list is probably shit.
GKs
1. Kahn
2. Buffon
3. Neuer
4. Schmeichel
5. Casillas
Eto'oooooooo?All born after 1975 to avoid including Zidane, Rivaldo, Nedved and Figo who otherwise would have been ensconced in the top 10 (for me Rivaldo/Zidane around 4th/5th and Figo/Nedved around 8-10th). Luís Ronaldo out too for the reasons in the OP.
- Messi
- Cristiano
- Xavi
- Ronaldinho
- Nesta
- Iniesta
- Henry
- Robben
- Suarez
- Schweinsteiger
- Vieira
- Pirlo
- Kaka
- Cannavaro
- De Bruyne
- Gerrard
- Ferdinand
- Alves
- Ballack
- Modric
Neymar and Hazard will get there but light on big game pedigree to date.
GK
1 - Buffon
2 - Kahn
3 - Neuer
4 - De Gea
5 - Cech
I've probably got a bias to midfielders in my list, whereas most other folk are loading up on attackers. I only had two centre-forwards on there in Henry and Saurez, both of whom were in my eyes a level above the majority of other top strikers with their ability to create as well as plunder goals. Eto'o's Champions League credentials comfortably place him in the top 10, and his big-game pedigree is rare amongst strikers of the last two decades - which is why you probably rate him so highly. But I don't believe he had the domestic consistency of Henry/Saurez, nor arguably the likes of Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Aguero, Lewandowski, etc, who are guys he trumps at the business end of the season. There was a streakiness about his finishing at times which is why I'd put him 3rd-4th highest ranked centre-forward in the era. Similarly Shevchenko was unlucky not to make my list, but I reasoned that off with his best years spanning the late 1990s as well as the early 2000s.Eto'oooooooo?
Schweini, I can't believe I forgot! I think United has me wiping him from my first thoughts.
but this isn't between Eto'o and Suarez, especially since you could say the same for Suarez as well. I feel he was simply more influental for his teams in Europe and for his NT than some of the players that get mentioned here almost by default. for example, he's comfortably above Zlatan in my eyes. I would also put him above the players like Totti and Shevchenko, let alone Neymar, Hazard or RVP.Is he really better than Suarez?
I'd comfortably rate Ballack ahead of Lampard.These rankings always tend to have a bias against PL footballers.
I love Ballack but he makes the cut over Lampard? I don’t think so.
Interesting. Came up huge for two clubs, one independent of peak Ronaldinho and shone at a time (age) and in a position few thought he would. At the least, that should assure him place, before his big game pedigree etc. is factored in?I've probably got a bias to midfielders in my list, whereas most other folk are loading up on attackers. I only had two centre-forwards on there in Henry and Saurez, both of whom were in my eyes a level above the majority of other top strikers with their ability to create as well as plunder goals. Eto'o's Champions League credentials comfortably place him in the top 10, and his big-game pedigree is rare amongst strikers of the last two decades - which is why you probably rate him so highly. But I don't believe he had the domestic consistency of Henry/Saurez, nor arguably the likes of Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Aguero, Lewandowski, etc, who are guys he trumps at the business end of the season. There was a streakiness about his finishing at times which is why I'd put him 3rd-4th highest ranked centre-forward in the era. Similarly Shevchenko was unlucky not to make my list, but I reasoned that off with his best years spanning the late 1990s as well as the early 2000s.
100% agree. Just want to add that Ballack had to change his role at Chelsea (because of Lampard) too. Ballack was more of a CAM/10 before he joined Chelsea and was in Germany known as the most dangerous goal scoring midfielder in the world. He especially scored many many important 1:0's. For Chelsea he played as a defensive midfielder. Obviously that also took away some of his strenghts.I'd comfortably rate Ballack ahead of Lampard.
Ballack was one of the best players at the 02 WC and generally had a solid 06 WC too. His international career ranks a lot higher compared to Lampard's. Also his feats at Leverkusen and Bayern were when he was at his peak and to me he's has shown more then too..
Naturally Lampard is the better player when it comes to purely comparing PL alone, but Ballack was over the hill then.
He probably deserves some extra credit for being able to adapt his game to free up Lampard and show a level of self-sacrifice and positional discipline that neither of the top two English box-to-box midfielders of the same generation displayed.100% agree. Just want to add that Ballack had to change his role at Chelsea (because of Lampard) too. Ballack was more of a CAM/10 before he joined Chelsea and was in Germany known as the most dangerous goal scoring midfielder in the world. He especially scored many many important 1:0's. For Chelsea he played as a defensive midfielder. Obviously that also took away some of his strenghts.
And not even to mention that Ballack just turned 30 when he arrived in London. And without that horrible Boateng foul his career could have been even better.He probably deserves some extra credit for being able to adapt his game to free up Lampard and show a level of self-sacrifice and positional discipline that neither of the top two English box-to-box midfielders of the same generation displayed.
This is true, Spain without Xavi have underwhelmed since he retired, like they're trying to replicate tika-taka but don't know how. Game against Russia at the last World Cup was a typical example, Xavi would have passed with much greater purpose. Barcelona's midfield has also been much inferior in the CL since Xavi left, they haven't won one since despite Messi being in top form, as they can't dominate in the same way any more. Obviously these are not entirely down to Xavi but it's no coincidence since he was the best game-runner of the modern era.Xavi was the system. Everything orbited around him.