Greatest player of the last twenty years..

[lilywhitecurtis]

Simply question really! prompted by a debate with a friend, I eventually decided on a certain Mr Zidane and he decided on Paolo Maldini (perhaps controversial). Just wondering what everyone else thinks really..

Is there room for fat Ronaldo, or diving Ronaldo etc? Don't really want a top 3, try and decide on just one if you can.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

When did Maradona retire?

 

[Green Valley]

Zidane, Ronaldinho, Messi and both Ronaldo's in no order.

 

[TheBlueRooster]

Ronaldo (Brazil)

 

[Supersonic]

Its Zidane. Hes an absolute icon as well.

Closely followed by fatboy Ronaldo.

 

[seany]

Roberto carlos

 

[Vecellio]

If you exclude Diego i'd go with fatboy Ronaldo, in those early years he was something else.

 

[antiloqus]

Zidane for me

 

[Davo99]

Ronaldo.

 

[chinaman]

Zidane

 

[Kyras]

Zidane for me, even though he was a nutjob. Romario is worth a mention IMO as are Batistuta, Papin, Weah, Rivaldo and Vieri (at the top of their game).

 

[3Dnata]

Gazza!

 

[Green Valley]

Zidane for me, even though he was a nutjob. Romario is worth a mention IMO as are Batistuta, Papin, Weah, Rivaldo and Vieri (at the top of their game).

They were all very good but not in the elite league imo. You can add Gullit, Van Basten, Henry, Figo and co to that list as well.

 

[Vecellio]

Gazza!

Fuck me, forgot all about him in the context of this question (and given what he actually won you could argue he should never be near a thread like this). But in terms of pure talent he was right up there and he's one of my favourite players ever..Some people will no doubt ridicule this but in my opinion he was as naturally gifted as Zizou, and stronger to boot (different styles..he didn't perhaps do as many tricks to retain posession as Zizou but in instinctive brilliance he was arguably more impressive.)

Some other players were as influential as Zizou week in week out i reckon such as Rui Costa and Redondo.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Just checked, 20 years ago he'd have been 29. Maradona it is then. Makes ZZ look like Tom Huddlestone.

 

[spursandbarca]

the 2006 ronaldinho

 

[dontcallme]

Hard to say, are you asking about ability or longevity and professionalism? If ability then Ronaldinho can get a mention.

Going back to 1989, I'd have to say Maradonna. Thinking about the 90s onwards I'd have to agree with whoever said Maldini.

 

[Phantom]

Zidane for me, I just can't vote for that horrible fat cheat.

 

[llamafarmer]

I can't really consider Maradonna because I never really watched him at his peak (was he even anywhere near his best in 1989 anyway?)

So for me it's Zidane by a distance. He won everything going and was the heartbeat of every team he played in. There was some truly great players around at the same time but not one I'd rather watch than Zizou, he could do things with a football that nobody else could.

 

[mil1lion]

1. Maldini
2. Zidane
3. Ronaldo