Your top 5 footballers in your lifetime

[Weststander]

I can't remember if I answered this originally. Here goes:

1. Cruyff - the Master, an incredible player who changed football forever (with his coach Michels), my footballing hero as a kid.
2. Pele
3. Messi
4. Maradona
5. Franco Beresi - the greatest defender in history, the greatest ball playing defender in history, a genius, the fulcrum of many truly great AC Milan teams.

 

[boik]

I can't remember if I answered this originally. Here goes:

1. Cruyff - the Master, an incredible player who changed football forever (with his coach Michels), my footballing hero as a kid.
2. Pele
3. Messi
4. Maradona
5. Franco Beresi - the greatest defender in history, the greatest ball playing defender in history, a genius, the fulcrum of many truly great AC Milan teams.

Anyone who doesn't include Cruyff is either too young, or doesn't understand football. Pele was always surrounded by world-class players. Cruyff helped to turn normal players into a world class team - at Ajax, Holland and then an underachieving Barcelona. Then as a coach he helped establish the current Barca dynasty.

 

[stewart12]

Messi
Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldinho
Bergkamp

 

[spanish flair]

Anyone who doesn't include Cruyff is either too young, or doesn't understand football. Pele was always surrounded by world-class players. Cruyff helped to turn normal players into a world class team - at Ajax, Holland and then an underachieving Barcelona. Then as a coach he helped establish the current Barca dynasty.

Or as for myself, are old enough to have seen five better players before Cruyff hit the scene

 

[Megazone]

Anyone who doesn't include Cruyff is either too young, or doesn't understand football. Pele was always surrounded by world-class players. Cruyff helped to turn normal players into a world class team - at Ajax, Holland and then an underachieving Barcelona. Then as a coach he helped establish the current Barca dynasty.

Be honest. Was he better than Super Rodney Thomas?

I doubt it.

 

[theboybilly]

1 George Best
2 Denis Law
3 Kenny Dalglish
4 Glenn Hoddle
5 Jimmy Greaves

I've only included players I have watched at a football ground

 

[Megazone]

Or as for myself, are old enough to have seen five better players before Cruyff hit the scene

One player I've noticed has only had one mention (BensGrandad) is Jimmy Greaves. The star man of that 66 world cup team who missed the final due to injury. I'm far too young to have seen him but looking at his goal scoring stats, it's unbelievable.

What was he like?

edit: literarily just had his 2nd mention on the post above

 

[amexer]

Only included those I have seen live

George Best Way above any player
Peter Ward Win or lose never a game went by without him doing something you talk about
Dennis Law Maybe because I was young and impressionable but outstanding in first top flight game I saw
Hazzard Never seen anybody dominate a game like he did at Amex
Zaha Sorry but one of very few who can turn a game,Doesnt do enough would for a top side but anyone else would insure they finish 5/6 places higher.

 

[shingle]

1. Cristiano Ronaldo ...
2. Pele
3. Messi
4. George Best
5. Cruyff

 

[Megazone]

Only included those I have seen live

George Best Way above any player
Peter Ward Win or lose never a game went by without him doing something you talk about
Dennis Law Maybe because I was young and impressionable but outstanding in first top flight game I saw
Hazzard Never seen anybody dominate a game like he did at Amex
Zaha Sorry but one of very few who can turn a game,Doesnt do enough would for a top side but anyone else would insure they finish 5/6 places higher.

Mods. We've just had a perfectly good thread ruined. I'm not one for calling out bans but this is despicable.

 

[spanish flair]

One player I've noticed has only had one mention (BensGrandad) is Jimmy Greaves. The star man of that 66 world cup team who missed the final due to injury. I'm far too young to have seen him but looking at his goal scoring stats, it's unbelievable.

What was he like?

edit: literarily just had his 2nd mention on the post above

He was a great player and had a wonderful goal scoring partnership with Alan Gilzene for many seasons at Spurs

 

[Megazone]

He was a great player and had a wonderful goal scoring partnership with Alan Gilzene for many seasons at Spurs

I remember when Owen first burst on to the scene people were comparing him to Greaves. That sort of player?

 

[boik]

Messi
Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldinho
Bergkamp

I know its all about personal opinions, but you must have very strong personal reasons for having Bergkamp instead of Cruyff.

Cruyff won 3 consecutive European Cups, took Holland to 2 World Cup finals (or would have done if he wasn't threatened with kidnap in Argentina). He then helped win Barcas first league title for 14 years. As a manager he lead Barca to 4 consecutive league titles, European Cup, Cup winners Cup.

Bergkamp won the cup winners with Ajax in 87. His manager? Johann Cruyff.

 

[Megazone]

I know its all about personal opinions, but you must have very strong personal reasons for having Bergkamp instead of Cruyff.

Cruyff won 3 consecutive European Cups, took Holland to 2 World Cup finals (or would have done if he wasn't threatened with kidnap in Argentina). He then helped win Barcas first league title for 14 years. As a manager he lead Barca to 4 consecutive league titles, European Cup, Cup winners Cup.

Bergkamp won the cup winners with Ajax in 87. His manager? Johann Cruyff.

I've never seen anyone else score the sort of goals Bergkamp scored. His first touch was out of this world. His imagination with his first touch was something i've never seen from anyone else too. He was technically unbelievable. IF anyone deserved the title 'Wizard' it was Bergkamp

Show me 2 better goals when it comes to first touch:

 

[Guinness Boy]

Messi
Iniesta
Xavi
Messi and Iniesta together
Iniesta and Xavi together

....
And, on a Brighton tip

Garry Nelson
Vicente
Bruno
Nobby Horton
Kishishev

 

[Guinness Boy]

Oh, and Cantona

 

[spanish flair]

I remember when Owen first burst on to the scene people were comparing him to Greaves. That sort of player?

I think Greaves had more craft and skill to his game, Owen was more around pace and anticipation

 

[Weststander]

I know its all about personal opinions, but you must have very strong personal reasons for having Bergkamp instead of Cruyff.

Cruyff won 3 consecutive European Cups, took Holland to 2 World Cup finals (or would have done if he wasn't threatened with kidnap in Argentina). He then helped win Barcas first league title for 14 years. As a manager he lead Barca to 4 consecutive league titles, European Cup, Cup winners Cup.

Bergkamp won the cup winners with Ajax in 87. His manager? Johann Cruyff.

Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Guardiola's idol, their inspiration, their guru - Johann Cruyff.

 

[DFL JCL]

In no particular order.

Zidane
C.Ronaldo
Iniesta
Scholes
Messi

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I know its all about personal opinions, but you must have very strong personal reasons for having Bergkamp instead of Cruyff.

Cruyff won 3 consecutive European Cups, took Holland to 2 World Cup finals (or would have done if he wasn't threatened with kidnap in Argentina). He then helped win Barcas first league title for 14 years. As a manager he lead Barca to 4 consecutive league titles, European Cup, Cup winners Cup.

Bergkamp won the cup winners with Ajax in 87. His manager? Johann Cruyff.

Going on the list he's given I'd suggest it's age. The question is top 5 footballers of your lifetime. If he wasn't alive when Cruyff was playing he can't include him.

For me it's probably:

Maradona
Messi
Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Ronaldinho.