Originally posted on 08/06/2017:

Quote Originally Posted by franz555 View Post
Pele is / was the greatest player to ever play the game. His 1281 lifetime goals, are still more then double then the next in line. ( Franz Binder , 1930's ). Anyone else is just a discussion as to whom you believe was 2nd best.

It is a debate that has so many variables to it. Most effective ? Most skilled ? Most impactful ? Longevity ?

My personal list is based on all of the above

2. Messi
3. Johan Cryuff
4. Maradonna
5. Garincha


Special mention...... Eusebio , Puskas , Ronaldo , Platini ......

Ronaldinho was a pleasure to watch, but even in his prime, does'nt stack up against " The Greats " imo.


I disagree on Ronaldinho, but the rest of your list is pretty damn good. I think a ranking with number 1/2/3 etc is unfair though.
On a sidenote: there are players who put up massive numbers and I still wouldn't pay a cent to watch them play.
And then there are guys like (just to name a few) Garrincha (he was the alegria do povo for the people, not Pelé), Fritz Walter, Mehmet Scholl, Dennis Bergkamp, Cruyff, Ronaldinho, Matthias Sindelar etc. I LOVED to watch them play this game and I would kill to have watched a few of them play....