Who Was/Is the BEST Soccer Player EVER?

**Optional** · 11-13-17, 05:13 PM

Older guys will all say Pele or Maradona.

Maradona and an Aussie named Craig Johnston were the big ones when I was growing up.

**jjgold** · 11-13-17, 05:14 PM

Ronaldo by far
No second

**RudyRuetigger** · 11-13-17, 05:15 PM

well I always bet on

Goal D. Locks

**Wheatgrass** · 11-13-17, 05:17 PM

zidane

wizard

**Wheatgrass** · 11-13-17, 05:17 PM

Originally posted by jjgold

Ronaldo by far
No second

which one?

**funnyb25** · 11-13-17, 05:19 PM

Originally posted by Wheatgrass

which one?

Good question...Christiano not the best....Ronaldo the former Brazil player could be

**Goat Milk** · 11-13-17, 05:24 PM

zidane really good, as were Pele and Maradona. Tough to compare because guys like Messi took a lot from zidane and pele and maradona. If you watch just from a pure skill perspective, it's Messi and isn't close. Maradona himself would admit that. The ball appears glued to his foot.

Zidane too is probably not even as good as Christiano Ronaldo from a pure skill perspective. Ronaldo is in another class than him, although Zidane is definitely one of the most skillful midfielders ever. Ronaldo is just a different breed of player. Not many ever in the history with his combination of skill and athleticism. Probably has never been a more fit player in the world, ever, than Christiano Ronaldo. Prolly like 5% body fat.

But the thing is, Zidane, Pele, Ronaldo, Maradona, these guys all have better resumes than Messi and Ronaldo. Sure, Ronaldo and Messi kill them in club play. And Messi and Ronaldo have more MVPs (Ballon's (world player of the year awards -- with Messi having the record for them I believe)) But they don't have the World Cups. This is tough, because you can only have citizens play for the national team. Obviously France and Brazil have produced some elite talent for decades, and Argentina was great in Maradonas day with world-class players everywhere. Argentina since has taken a few steps back, and it was a miracle for them to make the finals in the last World Cup, with Messi drawing so much attention (Loew said he had 3 guys focused only on Messi for 120 minutes...) that they almost won since everyone else either had 1 on 1 coverage or was left open (Aguerro, Higuine, etc).

Kinda tough, but I'm gonna have to go with Messi. The man is still only 30 years old, and he can arguably play in 2 more World Cups if he wants.

**ChuckyTheGoat** · 11-13-17, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by Wheatgrass

which one?

The fat one.

**ChuckyTheGoat** · 11-13-17, 05:30 PM

I think the answer is Pele.

Maradona invalidated himself by being a habitual cheater.

**Optional** · 11-13-17, 05:38 PM

Eric Cantona was another one I thought was a superstar growing up. Rah Rah Can ton ah

Still have a ManU Cantona jersey from the early 90s around somewhere.

**lakerboy** · 11-13-17, 05:42 PM

Puskas or di stefano

**Goat Milk** · 11-13-17, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by lakerboy

Puskas or di stefano

Puskas way ahead of his time for sure. Dominated.

**jjgold** · 11-13-17, 05:54 PM

The current Ronaldo

Did it consistently on the big stage for a while and still strong

Played in tons of big events

**slapshot81** · 11-13-17, 05:55 PM

ruud van nistelrooy

**Goat Milk** · 11-13-17, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by slapshot81

ruud van nistelrooy

He said best soccer player ever..... Van Nisterlrooy isn't even the best player out of the Netherlands.

**slapshot81** · 11-13-17, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by Goat Milk

He said best soccer player ever..... Van Nisterlrooy isn't even the best player out of the Netherlands.

how can u answer that question like brady or montana who is the best qb ever there's no 1 good answer

**Cuse0323** · 11-13-17, 06:05 PM

Me.

**texhooper** · 11-13-17, 06:07 PM

Alexi Laless

**DiggityDaggityDo** · 11-13-17, 06:11 PM

Originally posted by jjgold

The current Ronaldo

Did it consistently on the big stage for a while and still strong

Played in tons of big events

He's also the prettiest.

**lakerboy** · 11-13-17, 06:12 PM

Originally posted by Goat Milk

Puskas way ahead of his time for sure. Dominated.

He was a beast.

Di Stefano revolutionized the game

**packerd_00** · 11-13-17, 06:40 PM

Rudi Voller and Bobby Charlton

**slapshot81** · 11-13-17, 06:44 PM

i would say messi is the best league player, hard to say he is best player of all time since he has done nothing with argentina, so the obvious answer is messi is best league player of all time and pele is the best country player of all time

**lakerboy** · 11-13-17, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by packerd_00

Rudi Voller and Bobby Charlton

Voller biggest diver ever

**ByeShea** · 11-13-17, 06:48 PM

George Best

**packerd_00** · 11-13-17, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by lakerboy

Voller biggest diver ever

He should have played for Italy,good striker though.

**packerd_00** · 11-13-17, 06:52 PM

Originally posted by ByeShea

George Best

Good choice.

**Jimmy Beamish** · 11-13-17, 06:57 PM

Maradona's skills were out of this world

https://youtu.be/w21dkqtBwXk

**DigBick86** · 11-13-17, 07:00 PM

Marco Van Basten!

**lakerboy** · 11-13-17, 07:30 PM

Originally posted by packerd_00

He should have played for Italy,good striker though.

Hated him. He dove in the 90 final.

**indio** · 11-16-17, 11:38 PM

Originally posted by slapshot81

i would say messi is the best league player, hard to say he is best player of all time since he has done nothing with argentina, so the obvious answer is messi is best league player of all time and pele is the best country player of all time

Well, 63 goals, an Olympic Gold Medal, 2 Copa America finals and a World Cup final isn't exactly "nothing". I understand your point, and since he hasn't won the big one internationally, it's easy to dismiss his international career, but to say not winning a World Cup somehow eliminates him from being considered the greatest player of all time is ridiculous considering how much good luck is needed to win a World Cup held every 4 years with random draws. Maradona gets lauded as some kind of national team god, yet he only won just the one World Cup (while losing in another World Cup final) and won nothing else in his international team career while netting 34 goals.

**MickeyMan** · 11-16-17, 11:41 PM

Hope Solo

**lakerboy** · 11-16-17, 11:56 PM

Originally posted by indio

Well, 63 goals, an Olympic Gold Medal, 2 Copa America finals and a World Cup final isn't exactly "nothing". I understand your point, and since he hasn't won the big one internationally, it's easy to dismiss his international career, but to say not winning a World Cup somehow eliminates him from being considered the greatest player of all time is ridiculous considering how much good luck is needed to win a World Cup held every 4 years with random draws. Maradona gets lauded as some kind of national team god, yet he only won just the one World Cup (while losing in another World Cup final) and won nothing else in his international team career while netting 34 goals.

Maradona singlehandedly won the world cup in 1986 with a very mediocre side. He also willed a trash team into the 90 final.

**HurryUpAndDrink** · 11-17-17, 12:49 AM

Originally posted by indio

Well, 63 goals, an Olympic Gold Medal, 2 Copa America finals and a World Cup final isn't exactly "nothing". I understand your point, and since he hasn't won the big one internationally, it's easy to dismiss his international career, but to say not winning a World Cup somehow eliminates him from being considered the greatest player of all time is ridiculous considering how much good luck is needed to win a World Cup held every 4 years with random draws. Maradona gets lauded as some kind of national team god, yet he only won just the one World Cup (while losing in another World Cup final) and won nothing else in his international team career while netting 34 goals.

THIS.

And lets not forget he played well during those finals. Higuain ****** it up.

**bhoor** · 11-17-17, 01:24 AM

It has to be either Maradona or Messi. Pele played in a beer league.

Some of the notable mentions are here:

Zidane - his first touch is second to none. And he was fun to watch.
Hagi of Romania - his technical side of football was one of kind.
Ronaldino of Brazil - He played 6-month of total football at Barcelona that I never witnessed the beast mode in any player. Unfortunately, we cannot crown someone with 6-month spell.

the list can go on.