Which footballer peaked the highest?

[kouroux]

Eder, Euro 2016 final

 

[kerano.]

As a Swede I have to say Tomas Brolin 1994.

 

[Jeppers7]

peter schmeichel euro 1992?

great shout.

 

[Jeppers7]

In terms of a high peak in comparison to the rest of his career. James Rodriguez at the World Cup.

 

[antohan]

Zidane didn't really carry France in 2006, the team was built around Vieira, Henry, Thuram and Zidane. In 1998 the team was built to defend deep and give the ball to Zidane, he was everything for that team.

I'd agree with @Cutch though that he had a better tournament in 2006.

As you say, the issue was it always seemed he had an extra gear and rarely used it. He also had a temper. The difference to his legacy is how he timed them.

In 1998 he got red carded in the last group game, was sorely missed against Paraguay, and only really went up that extra gear in the Final.

In 2006 he was majestic, displayed his extra gear consistently, but blew his top off in the Final.

Platini 84 beats either easily anyway.

 

[antohan]

The pre-tournament Ronaldo hype in 98 was incredible. Never seen anything like that. And he was fecking 21! Although he had won 2 consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year in 96 and 97. Which itself is an amazing feat as a 19 & 20 year old.

Add to that the Brazilian crowd demanding he came on during the bore draw at the 1994 Final, aged 17.

 

[JPRouve]

I'd agree with @Cutch though that he had a better tournament in 2006.

As you say, the issue was it always seemed he had an extra gear and rarely used it. He also had a temper. The difference to his legacy is how he timed them.

In 1998 he got red carded in the last group game, was sorely missed against Paraguay, and only really went up that extra gear in the Final.

In 2006 he was majestic, displayed his extra gear consistently, but blew his top off in the Final.

Platini 84 beats either easily anyway.

I think that he had a better tournament in 2006 but it was in a more balanced team. In 2006 Zidane was more crucial off the field, he was the true leader of the team.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

Robben World Cup 2014 or 2010 I cant remember.

Had a better tournament than Messi or Ronaldo have ever had.

Also Robben in the 2012-13 Champions League, he was insane in the games against Barcelona for Bayern, then scored the winner in the final. Great player.

 

[giorno]

I think that he had a better tournament in 2006 but it was in a more balanced team. In 2006 Zidane was more crucial off the field, he was the true leader of the team.

My impression was the '98 side was supposed to be great defence+Zidane, and the 06 side was supposed to be a complete and balanced side with Henry the star

But in reality, the 98 side turned out to be a complete and balanced side, and the 06 one was defence+Zidane

 

[Synco]

Goalkeepers - Neuer at 2014 World Cup, Buffon at 2006 World Cup, Courtois in 2013-14 Champions League, Shilton in 1979-80 European Cup
Defenders - Cannavaro in 2006 World Cup, Baresi in 1994 World Cup, Nesta in 2003 Champions League, Beckenbauer in 1972 Euros
Midfielders - Xavi in 2011 Champions League, Matthaus in 1990 World Cup, Platini in 1984 Euros, Maradona in 1986 World Cup
Forwards - Messi in 2011 Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo in 2017 Champions League, Pele in 1970 World Cup, Fontaine in 1958 World Cup

Kahn 2002 belongs there, despite his error in the final.

 

[JPRouve]

My impression was the '98 side was supposed to be great defence+Zidane, and the 06 side was supposed to be a complete and balanced side with Henry the star

But in reality, the 98 side turned out to be a complete and balanced side, and the 06 one was defence+Zidane

The 98 side wasn't balanced, it was very defensive and lacked creativity. The 2006 team was very good defensively but a lot more creative and dangerous in the last third. The 2000 team was the best.

 

[Gio]

From the many games of zidane i've watched, my impression was that he only became a player that could be labelled inconsistent as one of his main traits in his last 2 or 3 seasons at Real Madrid. Unless you're looking at him from the view of a goalscorer/direct decider of matches and not a midfield playmaker and orchestrator.

Aye. I would also add that in any cross-generation comparison Zidane played in a highly competitive era. Serie A in the 1990s (and 1980s to be fair) and La Liga in the early 2000s were both at their most competitive - in terms of teams jostling for the title - and the gap between top and bottom being nowhere near as pronounced as it is today, or was during some of the other great players' eras. Typically you were looking at 70 points being enough for the title in late 1990s Serie A, most teams being evenly matched as marked by the quantity of draws and even possession and territory splits during matches. And tactically a challenging environment for creators to shine in given Italian clubs distrust of wingers and preference for hard-working midfielders to suffocate the space.

 

[vulmik]

Zidane at Euro 2000 was close to unplayable. In 2006 he was poor/suspended in the group stage then really lifted in the knock out stages.

 

[Handré1990]

Ok here's a thought out detailed response. Please don’t TL;DR.

The legend of Zidane is that he was the mythical Maghreb who frequently dragged his team through tournaments and seasons sparkling goldust on the pitch every time he entered it. But the aura comes from a handful of CL games and the Leverkusen goal, the goals in Paris, the near perfect game against Brazil in 06 and Euro 2000. He was in fact very patchy and ornery for large portions of his career.


1. He was never ever ever the best player in the world over a full season the way Ronaldinho or Kaka or Figo were. Just simply never. Zidane could be incredible but he was never incredibly consistent by even the standards of say Figo or Kaka let alone Messi or Ronaldo. Did he have the talent? Of course! Did he step up in big games? Yes. Was he glorious to watch? You can't imagine!

To give an example of Zidane tasked with leading in a season – look no further than In 98-99. Del Piero had his big knee injury and spent months out. That ended phase one of his career. He was never the same again.

Zidane became main man and Juve finished 7th. 16 points off Milan. Juve were reigning champs and finished 20 points behind their 97-98 total. Zidane was consistently underwhelming that year. He scored 2 goals in 40 and (I think he got either 2 or no assists). Actually one of his better games was the Roy Keane game in Turin which of course they lost.

Assuming we think numbers are somewhat significant for attackers let alone such talents like Zizou those numbers are shocking. Those are Lingard numbers. He played that year with a young pre-Arsenal Thierry Henry and Pippo Inzaghi. Now Inzaghi still scored goals that year but no one could make up for Del Piero's and part of that was on Zidane's form. Juve actually scored some 25 goals less than the previous year even if their defence only conceded as many as AC Milan's (who won serie A that season).



2. A great peak means the someone who is always the best game in game out for a few seasons. Zidane had some great seasons but they were spread out over a decade not bunched up.

The other thing is Zidane dragging teams through tournaments:

1998: The fact is that Zidane did nothing in 1998 till the final. He was sent off in their second game against the mighty Saudi Arabia. Then he missed the final group game. Missed the 1-0 win over Paraguay. Did nought in a goalless draw v Italy that went to pens where he scored his and Albertini missed.
In the semi vs Croatia it was Thuram (of all people) who scored and Djorkaeff who set up one of the goals up for Thuram.
In the final of course we know what he did.

To compare: Pogba had a far superior world cup in 2018 where he legitimately probably was France's best midfielder and creative outlet while playing severely within himself in a deeper lying position and still contributing defensively.

Euro 2000: He was fantastic in Euro 2000. He had a good season building up to it also.

World Cup 2002: Missed the first two games through injury. Had a fairly good game v Denmark but France lost 2-0.

Euro 2004: Was decent. Scored two vs. England which always helps improve a player’s perception in the anglocentric media. Had a pretty underwhelming season coming into
it.

World Cup 2006: Was very good. The game vs Brazil was near perfection. A pretty rank season coming into it.

Zidane left Juve and he was seamlessly replaced by Pavel Nedved (who is genuinely underrated). Zidane at Madrid in the insane teams he played in finished:

1. A distant third behind Valencia and Deportivo la Coruna
2. Champion
3. A distant fourth
4. Second to Ronaldinho's Barca
5. Comprehensively outdone by Ronaldinho's Barca (He retired after this season and the world cup)

You can say a lot for Zidane's lack of league titles at Real. Makelele leaving for instance or mediocre managers like Camacho and Queiroz. But the fact is also that Zidane can and would go months without doing anything much. Plus he was a massive defensive liability which didn't matter when Jacquet got Karembu, Petit and Deschamps behind him in a short tournament but over a season it is much harder to justify.


Conclusion:

I am NOT saying Zidane was overrated. In fact his talent and technique cannot be rated highly enough. I loved him. He was a fantastic moments player. But he was not one you could lean on for a whole season. There were times where he simply COULD NOT BE arsed. In a sense he was the opposite of Thierry Henry who never a great player in big games but season in-season out he was far better than Zidane ever was.

(But Zidane also had big games where he was not that great.

In 1996 UEFA cup final he played the second leg as Bayern wiped the floor with Bourdeaux. Ok it was only Bourdeaux and it was Bayern after all.

In The 1997 final where he was marked out of the game by that titan of football Paul Lambert.

In 1998 final he started well but then Karembu and Redondo marked him out of the game as Madrid beat a ludicrously good Juventus side 1-0.

He played off the park by his replacement at Juve, Nedved when Juve beat Madrid 3-1 in 2003.)

Overall he was a great player. Probably didn’t do as much as he should have on a season by season basis. Great career. But he never had a so-called great peak that stretched over 2 or 3 seasons. Don’t get too carried away with the Balon D’or and so on. It’s indicative of nothing.

Ironically it is Bale who has resembled Zidane a lot. World record transfer. Obvious greatness. Great Euro performances. Often goes weeks and months not doing very much then goes and wins them the final in ridiculous style.

Good post. Especially the part about the 98 WC. It was all about Ronaldo that tournament, until the final. The EC cup in 2000 was a different matter though.

 

[MalcolmTucker]

I watched Zidane a lot during the Galactico years and he was often passive in games. When Ronaldinho came along he showed a higher peak and was far more decisive - I'd say even Kaka who came around a little later had a year or two that were higher than what I saw from Zidane over a season.

 

[Josep Dowling]

Ronaldinho was untouchable around 2004/05.

 

[Vooon]

Of the players I actually have seen and remember maybe Romario in the 1994 WC. Kinda felt like he carried Brazil on his shoulders. I'd also add Zidane in 1998 based on his performance in the final, although he was suspended for a few matches.

Of the guys I've never seen Maradona in 86 must be the obvious one. Must be the most important single player for a team ever, what a player at his best.

 

[giorno]

The 98 side wasn't balanced, it was very defensive and lacked creativity. The 2006 team was very good defensively but a lot more creative and dangerous in the last third. The 2000 team was the best.

The 98 side was balanced in the sense that it could generate attack multiple ways. Whereas the 06 side was ball to Zidane and Inshallah

And it was supposed to be the other way around

 

[JPRouve]

The 98 side was balanced in the sense that it could generate attack multiple ways. Whereas the 06 side was ball to Zidane and Inshallah

And it was supposed to be the other way around

But that's not the case, the 98 team wasn't able to generate attack in multiple ways and Zidane was the center of everything in attack. The 2006 team was able to play methodically through Zidane or play in a very direct way with Malouda, Henry and Ribéry. The 98 team was a pure counter attacking team with a low block, hard workers in midfield and either Zidane or Djorkaeff creating something out of nothing.

 

[Lay]

Ronaldo in his only Barcelona season. If t wasn’t for the fact he played for Brazil the same time Barcelona were playing (and lost) they would have won the league.

 

[Bogdannn]

Was Zidane that good in the France 98 tournament or did the 2 goals in the final massively inflate how good he was overall? Thought he carried them more in 2006

Those 2 goals inflated his status bigtime. He didn't do anything up to the final.

 

[Luke1995]

Can I add Riquelme 2007 Libertadores performances to the mix ?

I realize that it's a smaller competition than the champions league, but he was dominating all the games.

 

[Tallis]

From my lifetime:

1. R9 - 96-98
2. R7 - 3CL
3. Zidane- 2006/ 1998 WC
4. Ronaldinho - 2005
5. Messi - pick your favourite year.

 

[MUFC OK]

Messi's 91 goal year (2012 I think).

 

[SirReginald]

Zidane is a myth ? Pretty sure he was the main man in every team that won every trophy worth winning

Probably comes from the people who use stats like goals and assists to judge players. If it wasn’t for Messi and Ronaldo completely decimating goal records it wouldn’t be an issue.

 

[NasirTimothy]

During a cup competition?

World Cup, Euros, Champions League, etc.

Is it Maradona in the 1986 World Cup? Probably my pick.

Some other candidates off the top of my head: Platini Euro 1984, Messi 2010-2011 Champions League, Pele 1958 World Cup(I know he won the Golden Ball in 1970, but I was more impressed with his performances in 1958).

So who's your pick?

Maradona in 1986 obviously.

 

[Bastian]

Maradona and R9

 

[James Peril]

During a cup competition?

World Cup, Euros, Champions League, etc.

Is it Maradona in the 1986 World Cup? Probably my pick.

Some other candidates off the top of my head: Platini Euro 1984, Messi 2010-2011 Champions League, Pele 1958 World Cup(I know he won the Golden Ball in 1970, but I was more impressed with his performances in 1958).

So who's your pick?

You were more impressed by his games in 1958? Did you see all the games, have you seen the games since, did they even film all of them back then? I don’t remember much of the last World Cup, but you remember foundly over 60 years back in time - that is highly impressive. If I ran a casino in Las Vegas, I’d never let you in.

 

[BalanceUnAutreJoint]

Football was so ridiculously unbalanced prior to the 90s that I don't even think you can compare the WCs Pele,Fontaine and others played in with the current cup competitions.

No one is going to score 13 goals at a WC or 9 goals in 5 Euro games anymore. It's just not happening but that doesn't mean these players were head and shoulders better than anyone has been in the past 20 years.

 

[Cascarino]

You were more impressed by his games in 1958? Did you see all the games, have you seen the games since, did they even film all of them back then? I don’t remember much of the last World Cup, but you remember foundly over 60 years back in time - that is highly impressive. If I ran a casino in Las Vegas, I’d never let you in.

Dunno if they’re still there but you used to be able to watch the ‘58 games on YouTube

 

[led_scholes]

Toldo Euro 2000. Up until Buffon was injured, he was the backup GK.
Every single Greek player in 2004.
Grosso and Luca Toni in 2006. Fairly unknown players who suddenly became stars.

 

[Oranges038]

Fred - 2021 - 2022.

Treble winner with Utd and World Cup winner with Brazil. Scored 25 goals all from outside 25 yards. Played every minute of every game. Perfect Xg, 100% record in pass completion, tackles, headers, dribbles, breakfast, lunch and dinners. What a year.

 

[DixieDean]

Probably comes from the people who use stats like goals and assists to judge players. If it wasn’t for Messi and Ronaldo completely decimating goal records it wouldn’t be an issue.

I first saw it from Zonal Marking on twitter. He talked about how Zidane was the ultimate big game player but through the course of a season (bar a couple) he would not shine. I never watched him week in week out, so I can't give an opinion on that.

I do remember him being brilliant in Euro 2000, though.

 

[Hulksmash]

Maradona there's not 1 Player close to his peak.
Player almost killed him on the pitch ,the only way u stopped the guy.

 

[AKDevil]

During a cup competition?

World Cup, Euros, Champions League, etc.

Is it Maradona in the 1986 World Cup? Probably my pick.

Some other candidates off the top of my head: Platini Euro 1984, Messi 2010-2011 Champions League, Pele 1958 World Cup(I know he won the Golden Ball in 1970, but I was more impressed with his performances in 1958).

So who's your pick?

Ronaldinho. At his peak, there can’t have been a clearer winner of the Ballon d’Or. Miles, miles, miles ahead of everyone.

 

[Cascarino]

Michu 2012-2013
God amongst men

 

[The Cat]

Also... Eder, scorer of goal, creater of worlds, 2016.

May his name never be denigrated

Much prefer Eder 1982 version.

 

[Gehrman]

Maradonna World cup

Messi 2010-2011 CL

Ronaldo 2016-2017 CL

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

You were more impressed by his games in 1958? Did you see all the games, have you seen the games since, did they even film all of them back then? I don’t remember much of the last World Cup, but you remember foundly over 60 years back in time - that is highly impressive. If I ran a casino in Las Vegas, I’d never let you in.

You can find them on the internet last time I watched

 

[Ibn Battuta]

Maradona there's not 1 Player close to his peak.
Player almost killed him on the pitch ,the only way u stopped the guy.

An underrated aspect when comparing players across generations. I was shocked looking at highlights of Maradona and the utter violence he was exposed to. I mean the mentality you must have had to go out there and do the stuff he did in that era is incredible.

Messi is incredible but also lucky to be alive in an era where players are more protected. It was like every two tackles could have ended his career.