mufcwarm92
Full Member
Messi has now been unplayably good for about 8 years. Got to be him at the top already, with a few more years in the tank too.
He was a great servant for them for years, however the lack of participation in the biggest club competition that is teh Champions League holds his reputation back a bit. But no doubt, he was great in the league.Without trophies and based on contribution alone it'd havr to be alan shearer for what he brings to the magpies
The 70's Gladbach side, that rivaled us in the league and won 5 league titles in the 70's, was an incredible football team, probably the greatest football side I've seen that never won the European Cup/CL and one of the most entertaining. Two time UEFA Cup winner, reached two more UEFA Cup finals and a European Cup final and were robbed of another great European Cup run when the 7-1 win against Inter had to be replayed because one of the Inter players was hit by an empty can thrown by a stupid fan. Matt Busby watched the game in the stands and said:It's peculiar that Der Kaiser and Der Bomber won "only" 4 league titles (in 12 and 14 seasons, respectively) and yet 3 European Cups (in 4 participations!!)
Ronaldo is one of the best strikers the game has ever produced. There's no argument there.What?
He hasn't ever won UCL. I fact, in Europe he has only won the league once in 15 seasons for PSV, Barca, Inter, Madrid and Milan.
remove itInternational
Brazil
Individual
- South American U-17 Championship (1): 2005
- Copa América (1): 2007
- Olympic Bronze Medal (1): 2008
- FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball (1): 2005
- Golden Boy Award (1): 2008
- World Pie Eating Championships (6) 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
He's not been at the very highest tier though. Trophies aren't the only measure of a footballer.No other player has win as many league titles as him in Europe, ever. I think he belongs there (not with Di Stefano, Messi, Cruyff, Maldini and Beckenbauer) but just below them.
You forgot Heynckes who - would not have been Müller at the same time playing like him - would have had a different standing as goal scorer, too.They were managed by two all time great German managers in Weisweiler and Lattek over those years, full of fantastic players like Netzer, Vogts, Stielike, Bonhof and many more, including, Allan Simonsen, who won the Ballon d'Or while playing for them.
As good as he was, he wasn't a truly key player for any of them in the way others mentioned in here were. First player to be subbed off for Ajax when they won it in 1995, Milan when they lost it in 2005 and wasn't even included in the squad when Madrid won their title in 2000. I'm not saying that's proof of anything, but it's certainly an indication of his importance in the team. In the 2005 final in Istanbul for example he was largely peripheral when Milan dominated the first half and when Liverpool put up a fight in the second half he was utterly invisible. Kaká, Pirlo and even Gattuso were much more important. He was a fairweather player in comparison to most of the players mentioned in this thread.Clarence Seedorf:
Ajax
Real Madrid
- Eredivisie (2): 1993–94, 1994–95
- KNVB Cup (1): 1992–93
- Johan Cruijff-schaal (2): 1993, 1994
- UEFA Champions League (1): 1994–95
Milan
- La Liga (1): 1996–97
- Supercopa de España (1): 1997
- UEFA Champions League (1): 1997–98
- Intercontinental Cup (1): 1998
- Serie A (2): 2003–04, 2010–11
- Coppa Italia (1): 2002–03
- Supercoppa Italiana (2): 2004, 2011
- UEFA Champions League (2): 2002–03, 2006–07
- UEFA Super Cup (2): 2003, 2007
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2007
In large part thanks to his international career, though.Any greatest footballers list without Zinedine Zidane isn't worth looking at. He's one of the best footballers...EVER!
Or in other words, "who is the greatest footballer of all time once we discount the one argument that is constantly used to prove Messi isn't the greatest footballer of all time"?This.
Very impressive across countries with different teams. Many others like Giggs/Messi/Totti will be single clubs and single country.I'll start with one of the obvious names, though as we go further I hope to see some club legends who probably aren't remembered as a few others due to their lack of international contributions, despite having great careers for their clubs.
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Club Honours :
- River Plate
- Primera División: 1945, 1947
- South American Club Championship : 1948 (runner-up)
- Millonarios
- Colombian Championship: 1949, 1951, 1952,
- Copa Colombia: 1953
- Pequeña Copa del Mundo de Clubes: 1953
The man who conquered the most prestigious club competition as we know it today, five times in a row while scoring in each of those finals. The history every Madrid fan is proud of wouldn't have been possible without The Blonde Arrow. His transfer to Madrid instead of Barcelona changed the fortunes and the futures of the two clubs.
- Real Madrid
- Intercontinental Cup: 1960
- UEFA Champions League (5): 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60
- Primera División (8): 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964
- Copa del Rey: 1962
The two time Ballon D'or winner was also the top scorer in the league eight! times in his career and scored a whopping 307 goals in 396 games for Madrid, always leading from the front. Also regarded as one of the greatest and most complete players of all time, he is, quite rightly, one of the greatest club footballers of all time.
Good luck topping that.
Good shout.Steve Claridge ??
Fareham Town, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Crystal Palace, Aldershot, Cambridge United, Luton Town, Cambridge United, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Portsmouth (loan), Wolverhampton Wanderers, Portsmouth, Millwall (loan), Millwall, Weymouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford, Wycombe Wanderers (loan), Wycombe Wanderers, Millwall, Gillingham, Bradford City, Walsall (loan). Bournemouth, Worthing, Harrow Borough, Weymouth and Gosport Borough.
and he lost both the 2009-2010 and 2011-12 World Pie Eating Championships on goal difference, so that's pretty much as good as a win.
Grêmio
Porto
Manchester United
- Primeira Liga (2): 2005–06, 2006–07
- Taça de Portugal (1): 2005–06
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (1): 2006
Internacional
- Premier League (4): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
- Football League Cup (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
- FA Community Shield (2): 2011, 2013
- UEFA Champions League (1): 2007–08
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008
- Campeonato Gaúcho (1): 2015
Incredible how he won 5 CL and "only" 7 league titles.
He's been a key component for the greatest manager ever during utd's most successful period in their history. Utd are one of the great clubs and Giggs is arguably our greatest player.He's not been at the very highest tier though. Trophies aren't the only measure of a footballer.
Grêmio
Porto
Manchester United
- Primeira Liga (2): 2005–06, 2006–07
- Taça de Portugal (1): 2005–06
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (1): 2006
Internacional
- Premier League (4): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
- Football League Cup (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
- FA Community Shield (2): 2011, 2013
- UEFA Champions League (1): 2007–08
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008
- Campeonato Gaúcho (1): 2015
Ferenc Puskás)
What? He's probably the most decorated player of all time, if not then in the top 3. Not to mention all his honors are from the elite leagues.Doesn't really belong on this list IMO.
Keane was far better for us than Shearer was for Newcastle even if you take away the trophies.Without trophies and based on contribution alone it'd havr to be alan shearer for what he brings to the magpies
Sure, go for it.Just asking are we at some stage going to resemble a starting eleven? Would make very interesting reading.
I know, but on the good sport of the thread, he does worth a mention. If this was all about skills and trophies the only answer people have is Messi, messi, and messi.Keane was far better for us than Shearer was for Newcastle even if you take away the trophies.
Thanks! I was scrolling down the first, and then the second page, just waiting for someone to mention Charlton. Can't believe it took 74 posts!It is easy to overlook something right next to us....
Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton
Joined the club at the age of 16, and twenty years later, finished as possibly the biggest iconic figure at the club, which stands right till this day. Few men can be associated more to the club than the legend that is Bobby Charlton. A Busby Babe, witnessed and survived the trauma of Munich, came back and conquered everything in sight, leading the team on every front. Without a doubt, one of the greatest club careers one can talk about!
What? He's probably the most decorated player of all time, if not then in the top 3. Not to mention all his honors are from the elite leagues.
Apologies. I misunderstood the thread. I thought it was about the best footballer rather than footballer.He's been a key component for the greatest manager ever during utd's most successful period in their history. Utd are one of the great clubs and Giggs is arguably our greatest player.
Obviously he was a big talisman for Newcastle, but his best football was undoubtedly at Blackburn.I know, but on the good sport of the thread, he does worth a mention. If this was all about skills and trophies the only answer people have is Messi, messi, and messi.
But to elaborate, Shearer is like Maradonna at Napoli, what he does at the Magpies is magnificent looking back. I know they have a nice squad back then, but he really is something else back then.