Its hard to compare. Different generations, different formations throughout time. Its even harder if you could only see some of these players on TV. Having said this, there are some classic known World best players missing in the poll like: FERENC PUSKAS, JOHAN CRUYFF, GARRINCHA, MICHEL PLATINI. GERD MULLER, ROMARIO (over 900 goals, some claim he reached 1000) Nevertheless I cant comprehend the like of Henrik Larsson making into the poll. He is not even near the above mentioned players.
Okay now my opinion, I would say the best world players in no particular order, PELE; MARADONA, ZIDANE. Lets see some of the stats
Zidane: Couple of Champions League, won league with RM and Juventus, 1 WC. Class player, but it seems to me that he always won in teams that were already class. French national side, had Deschamps, Petit, Lizarazu, Vieira, Makelele, Henry, Dugarry, Trezeguet (Half Argentinean). All these players in their prime when they won the World Cup plus they played home which is a big advantage for big teams in such competition. Just remember Germany in WC 2006, where they had a slightly above average team before the WC, and still got their 3rd place. In Juventus he had Trezeguet, Del Piero, Ferrara, Nedved, Deschamps, etc...In RM, well we all know the Galacticos (Ronaldo, Figo, Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Redondo, etc)
Pele: 3 World Cups, couple libertadores, several leagues with Santos, over 1000 GOALS!!! Astonishing feat. I think only 3 players accomplished that. One Arthur Friedenreich (Yes, he´s Brazilian), Romario (some claim he did and Pele). I see some great players score 300, 400 or 500 or even 600 goals in their career. But a 1000? WOW.Still, he was always surrounded buy world class players or a good side. Santos was at that time the team to beat. In WC 58, GARRINCHA was with him. In 62 as well. In 70, well, Gerson, Rivelino, etc....A team playing with 5 "10" creative midfielders. There was so much quality in that generation in Brazil, that they couldnt leave the best creative midfielders out of it. Even if they had to loose some on the defense aspect.
Maradona: 1 WC (and another final), Couple of Argentinean leagues, 1 Copa Libertadores, 1 Uefa Cup, and some Serie A leagues. Individually I believe he was the best technically. A natural leader, which took an average Argentinean side to their 2nd WC, and a very poor Argentinean side to a WC Final. Also he was the only one of these three to take a "middle" team like Napoli to the highest levels. True that his last league win (his 3rd), Napoli had already some good players there (Alemao, Careca, etc) but it also true that the competition was fierce there. Milan had Van Basten, Guillit, Massara, Maldini, Baresi, Costacurta, Rijkaard,etc. Also, he scored arguably the best goal ever in World Cup against England. Because of the previous tensions between those countries, and this game meant a lot for both countries. It looks more or less like the Miracle on Ice between USA and USSR (not to intend to offend anyone here). But it meant a lot.
Then, in the following WC, Argentina had a very poor team, Maradona was injured, and playing at more or less 60% of his capabilities, took Argentina all the way to the final, and even though they lost by a penaly (it was not supposed to be), they lost well to a formidable German team (Matthaus, Brehme, Moller, Kohler, Voller, Klinsmann, etc). So, what I mean with all this, is that Maradona, always had struggle in his teams, and still managed to outperform and get some titles, whilst the other 2 had some great players playing with them.
As I say, its hard to compare, each of the three played in different generations. One more thing for the author of this poll. I would have excluded active players, because the likes of Kaka, Messi and C.Ronaldo, are still Young, and can improve a lot. What if Portugal wins 2 WC thanks to CR, or Messi does the same? And during that time, win another 2, 3 Champions League, then everybody could claim they are the best. They are young, CR24, Messi 22, Kaka, 26....still a lot do. Remember that Zidane made his best accomplishments between 26 and 30....
Okay now my opinion, I would say the best world players in no particular order, PELE; MARADONA, ZIDANE. Lets see some of the stats
Zidane: Couple of Champions League, won league with RM and Juventus, 1 WC. Class player, but it seems to me that he always won in teams that were already class. French national side, had Deschamps, Petit, Lizarazu, Vieira, Makelele, Henry, Dugarry, Trezeguet (Half Argentinean). All these players in their prime when they won the World Cup plus they played home which is a big advantage for big teams in such competition. Just remember Germany in WC 2006, where they had a slightly above average team before the WC, and still got their 3rd place. In Juventus he had Trezeguet, Del Piero, Ferrara, Nedved, Deschamps, etc...In RM, well we all know the Galacticos (Ronaldo, Figo, Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Redondo, etc)
Pele: 3 World Cups, couple libertadores, several leagues with Santos, over 1000 GOALS!!! Astonishing feat. I think only 3 players accomplished that. One Arthur Friedenreich (Yes, he´s Brazilian), Romario (some claim he did and Pele). I see some great players score 300, 400 or 500 or even 600 goals in their career. But a 1000? WOW.Still, he was always surrounded buy world class players or a good side. Santos was at that time the team to beat. In WC 58, GARRINCHA was with him. In 62 as well. In 70, well, Gerson, Rivelino, etc....A team playing with 5 "10" creative midfielders. There was so much quality in that generation in Brazil, that they couldnt leave the best creative midfielders out of it. Even if they had to loose some on the defense aspect.
Maradona: 1 WC (and another final), Couple of Argentinean leagues, 1 Copa Libertadores, 1 Uefa Cup, and some Serie A leagues. Individually I believe he was the best technically. A natural leader, which took an average Argentinean side to their 2nd WC, and a very poor Argentinean side to a WC Final. Also he was the only one of these three to take a "middle" team like Napoli to the highest levels. True that his last league win (his 3rd), Napoli had already some good players there (Alemao, Careca, etc) but it also true that the competition was fierce there. Milan had Van Basten, Guillit, Massara, Maldini, Baresi, Costacurta, Rijkaard,etc. Also, he scored arguably the best goal ever in World Cup against England. Because of the previous tensions between those countries, and this game meant a lot for both countries. It looks more or less like the Miracle on Ice between USA and USSR (not to intend to offend anyone here). But it meant a lot.
Then, in the following WC, Argentina had a very poor team, Maradona was injured, and playing at more or less 60% of his capabilities, took Argentina all the way to the final, and even though they lost by a penaly (it was not supposed to be), they lost well to a formidable German team (Matthaus, Brehme, Moller, Kohler, Voller, Klinsmann, etc). So, what I mean with all this, is that Maradona, always had struggle in his teams, and still managed to outperform and get some titles, whilst the other 2 had some great players playing with them.
As I say, its hard to compare, each of the three played in different generations. One more thing for the author of this poll. I would have excluded active players, because the likes of Kaka, Messi and C.Ronaldo, are still Young, and can improve a lot. What if Portugal wins 2 WC thanks to CR, or Messi does the same? And during that time, win another 2, 3 Champions League, then everybody could claim they are the best. They are young, CR24, Messi 22, Kaka, 26....still a lot do. Remember that Zidane made his best accomplishments between 26 and 30....
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