Who is the greatest player you ever saw live?

[Harty]

For me its Cruyff, saw him at Wembley Feb 1977 when he tore England apart, it was sublime having watched it on video a few years later his was actually pointing out to his teamates where he wanted them to run to and where he was going to pass it.

 

[mccraque]

Rivaldo was pretty useful for Barca v Arse at Wembley around the year 2k....Also saw Barca at the NC - Iniesta was quite good that night. Lothar Matheus was useful too when I watched the krauts in Euro 96

But - Johnny Byrne lit up an entire season for me.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Paul Gascoigne

 

[bhaexpress]

Liam Brady

 

[Thanet Seagull]

Messi for Barcelona against Levante in March 2008. Loved the fact that when he lost the ball he did everything to win it back. All round great player.

 

[algie]

Keegan

 

[scooter1]

Ronaldo for Real Madrid in 2004, or was it Zidane, or Carlos or Beckham or Figo or Raul - all in that same match.
It wasn't even a great game, but being able to see all those players on the pitch at the same time was pretty dazzling

 

[algie]

I would aslo put Ian Wright up there.I've always respected him as a footballer.

 

[folkestonesgull]

Gascoigne, in a friendly at the Goldstone when I was really young. He nearly broke the cross bar with a thunderbolt.

More recently probably Tevez or Beckham

 

[Gwylan]

Glenn Hoddle. Got a reputation as a bit of a cock now but at his peak, boy, could be play. If he'd born in Italy or Spain, they'd have built sides round him but was never really trusted here.

I remember seeing him as an 18 or 19 year old bossing a game against Man U and when I first moved to London, I watched Tottenham more often than any other London team - even though I lived 5 minutes away from Highbury.

I've seen several other world class players but none seemed to have the command of the pitch that Hoddle had in those few years.

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

liam brady

 

[Arthritic Toe]

Ossie Ardilles for Spurs against the Albion in the old 1st division. He ran the game for the entire 90 mins and was a class above anyone else I saw during that period.

 

[Mendoza]

I was there when Beckham scored from the halfway line and made a name for himself, but the best player I have ever seen live is this GREAT of the game, and my football hero

 

[Tooting Gull]

Gazza, without a doubt. Those two seasons leading up to 1990, he was on a different planet. Then came the injuries, drink and drugs which put him on a third planet.

 

[bhaexpress]

Ossie Ardilles for Spurs against the Albion in the old 1st division. He ran the game for the entire 90 mins and was a class above anyone else I saw during that period.

I remember that game, he was rather special I agree.

 

[MORTY]

John crumplin

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Tricky one. I would say George Best - although on one occasion when Best was playing It was Dennis Law who was unplayable.

I saw Cruyff - he carried an aura - and the opposition also looked a little in awe.

But for the player who got the pulse racing and a sense of anticipation every time he got the ball - Peter Ward.

 

[Tooting Gull]

John crumplin

Leon Knight?

 

[acrossthepond]

Cantona

By a country mile.....

 

[Marshy]

Hoddle would be my choice also. His range of pasing with either foot is just incredible.

Iniesta and Xavi of his day.