Question Gary was posed and he went with C.Ronaldo.
Perhaps a contrivance, or maybe what he genuinely thinks, who knows… other than it being MNF’s segway into another Messi vs. Ronaldo eternal conflict.
Who would you go with if posed the same question from anyone who has ever played the game? Before anyone asks, no further context was given than given in the header, so I guess it’s open to interpretation what type of team or service this player will get.
The question that Neville asked is not how you should determine who is the greatest player of all time. But the correct answer is ……..Pele.
Why?
A) He could score any type of goal. Left foot, right foot, off the dribble, outside the box, inside the box, after intricate one-twos, headers etc.
B) His goal record in big games and finals is unmatched. He still to this day holds the record for goals scored in a World Cup final (jointly with Zidane and Hurst, but Hurst scored all his in one final on home soil and one of Zidane’s was a penalty). Plus his 3 goals in two WC finals (12 years apart) show his range: one was a brilliant piece of ball juggling that took out 2 defenders, one was a towering header and one was a poacher’s finish. In the biggest game of all.
C) He has literally scored more goals than anyone else in history, though his ‘official’ record has been broken (by a player that’s played over 300 more ‘official’ games).
D) He can create goals as well, with dribbling and passing/playmaking. His football IQ was off the scale. Winning the game is not just about scoring: maybe an easy chance can be created for someone else to score. That’s why I wouldn’t pick someone like Gerd Muller.