I was only a toddler on June 21st, 1994, but the events of the day are burned into my memory. On that summer afternoon in Foxboro, Massachusetts, Argentina thrashed Greece 4-0 in the first round of the 1994 World Cup Finals thanks to a Gabriel Batistuta hat-trick and the long-awaited return of one Diego Maradona.

Being only a small child at the time, I was unaware of the significance that this match would play in my life. All I knew was that I was surrounded by drunken men singing in Spanish, and I liked it. I learned my first football lesson that day: witnessing a good World Cup game live is the greatest feeling in the world. Maradona became my hero; and football, my passion.

Unfortunately Maradona was promptly suspended from the World Cup for failing a routine doping test. And here I learned my second football lesson: athletes are entertainers, nothing more. You can’t expect them to be good, intelligent, and moral people. It’s not in their contracts.

This cycle of Maradona-induced extreme joy and bitter disappointment replayed itself with Argentina’s shocking 6-1 defeat to Bolivia. I had high hopes for Maradona as a manager; we all did. For some absurd reason everyone assumes that former playing legends will be excellent managers. And at first it looked as if Maradona wasn’t going to let us down.

His Argentina side beat Scotland with some style (not that it’s difficult or anything, though) and notched a victory against traditional powerhouse France before hammering Venezuela, 4-0. Spirits were almost as high off the ground as La Paz in the Argentina camp when the team prepared for its Bolivian clash. Altitude was never much of a worry; Maradona had defended games played at altitude so staunchly it was simply assumed he knew how to prep his team.

And here’s where the disappointment began. Maradona did not, in fact, prep his players for the altitude, surely something any other fool would have taken into consideration. He didn’t study the Bolivian style of play. He didn’t create a tactical plan for his players to understand and carry out. To be honest, I’m not convinced Maradona did much of anything. And it’s a real shame, because his national pride is not to be doubted. He’s just in way over his head.

But it’s important to recognize that Argentina are by no means out of World Cup Qualifying. Sure, their goal difference has taken a hit, but as long as they stay on track, they’ll be fine. This game should not be taken as Argentina falling apart, it should be taken as a warning to remember that second rule: just because they’ve got the feet of a god doesn’t mean they’ve got the brain and judgment to match.

Very few teams can win without great players in the midfield. MIDFIELDERS have to cover a lot of ground, they have to win and hold the ball, they must complete passes, and they have to be adept at both ends of the field. Sometimes, they’ll be asked to take on leadership roles, barking out commands while cajoling teammates to work hard. Or they might be asked to turn the match on its head by providing one moment of brilliance, either with a perfectly placed free kick, a gorgeous cross or through-ball that sets up a teammate for a goal, or a crushing tackle in midfield to cut out a counter-attack.

Simply put, midfielders have to do it all, and these legends were the very best of their brethren.

You’ll note that I didn’t include any defensive midfielders. The defensive midfielder role is a relatively new phenomenon in modern football, and while Roy Keane or Claude Makelele might, one day, be considered legends on par with the players listed below, I couldn’t justify putting one or both of them on the list ahead of someone like Zidane. If anyone disagrees feel free to vent in the comments section below, but please keep it clean. And please don’t say that I’m biased against defensive midfielders. Once again, this is an informative feature, based on what the consensus is when it comes to what players are considered to be legends.

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Stanley Matthews
ENGLAND
1932-1965
Stoke City (1932-1947, 1961-1965) Blackpool (1947-1961)

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Known as “The Wizard of the Dribble,” Matthews was, obviously, a fantastic dribbler, especially from the right wing, which was where he played for most of his career. He was teetotaler who was known for his fantastic fitness, traits that allowed him to play for over 30 years. At 50 years old, he was the oldest player to ever play in England’s top division.

Matthews used his dribbling skills to set up teammates, to score goals, to keep possession, and to kill time if his team was ahead in the closing minutes of a match. The F.A. Cup Finals of 1953 was dubbed “The Matthews Final” as a result of his overall brilliance. During that match, his Blackpool squad were trailing, 3-1, when he assisted on two goals (including the match-winner), both coming from long crosses from the right-wing. In addition to that famous victory, Matthews won the inaugural Professional Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award in 1948 and 1963, and won the Ballon d’Or in 1956.

As a result of war, Matthews only made 54 appearances for England, despite playing for the team from 1934-1957. He played for England in the 1950 and 1954 World Cups, and had already retired from the game by the time England won their World Cup. Despite that, Matthews continued to be an important part of the national team, even as he reached his 40’s. In 1955, he set up five goals as England defeated Scotland in a match that saw the debut of the man that many people expected to be the next great winger in English football, Duncan Edwards.

Matthews died in 2000, but his legend has only grown in the intervening years. In 2002, he was the first inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame, and his birthday is unofficially a national holiday, as people are encouraged to come to work wearing football shirts. I’m sure most workers would rather have the day off, but it’s nice tribute to the English legend who defied the laws of aging and seemingly defied the laws of physics with his dribbling.

Stanley Matthews VIDEO:

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Bobby Charlton
ENGLAND
1953-1975
Manchester United (1953-1973) Preston North End (1973-1974) Waterford United (1975)

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One of the true legends of the game, Sir Bobby Charlton has been blessed with good fortune for his entire life. One of the only players who survived the Munich Air Disaster, Charlton carried the torch for his fallen comrades while providing a bridge to the new group of United players that took the team to success in the mid-60’s.

Charlton was known for his ferocious long-range shot and attacking skills in midfield, and his 249 goals for United remain a club record. He held the record for most club appearances until last season, when Ryan Giggs surpassed him. He was also the most-capped player for England at the time of his retirement, earning 106 caps for his country, and his goalscoring record for England still stands at 49 goals.

Charlton was a winner who experienced tremendous success on the pitch. He won League titles in 1957, 1965, and 1967, and an F.A. Cup title in 1963. He also captained United to its European Cup victory in 1968, and won both the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award and the Ballon d’Or in 1966.

He was a vital part of the English National Team, and scored both English goals in a 2-1 victory over Eusebio and the Portuguese team in the 1966 Semi-Finals. So dangerous was he, that, in the Finals, West Germany assigned their talismanic sweeper, Franz Beckenbauer, to mark him. Beckenbauer did the job, however Charlton showed his defensive skills and neutralized “Der Kaiser” on the other side of the ball.

Charlton has continued his service to the game, even in retirement. As Manchester United’s goodwill ambassador, his stature within the club has only increased with time. He has also served as an ambassador for English football, helping to promote England’s bids for the 2006 World Cup and the 2012 Olympics.

Bobby Charlton’s life was not snuffed out on that fateful day in Munich, and he has made the most of his second chance, continuing to contribute to the game while commemorating his fallen teammates.

Bobby Charlton VIDEO:

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George Best
N. IRELAND
1963-1984
Manchester United (1963-1974) Dunstable Town (loan, 1974) Stockport County (1975) Cork Celtic (1975-1976) Los Angeles Aztecs (1976, 1977-1978, 1978-1979) Fulham (1976-1977) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1978-1979) Hibernian (1979-1980) San Jose Earthquakes (1980-1981) Bournemouth (1983) Brisbane Lions (1983) Tobermore United (1984)

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With a name like “Best” you had better be able to live up it. George Best did so, and more, during his long career. He was one of the greatest wingers of all time, as his fleet-footed pace and acceleration allowed him to blow by defenders, while his trickery with the ball won him fans and admirers all throughout the world. He was a deadly goal-scorer, putting up an astonishing 138 goals in 361 appearances for Manchester United, and finishing with 204 in his career for both club and country.

His best years were at Old Trafford, where he was surrounded by talented players such as Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. It could have been an even more impressive array of players, as the Munich Air Disaster had occurred five years before Best debuted with the senior team. Best was seen as the replacement for the gifted Duncan Edwards, who had perished in the crash, and Best soon set about making his own legend at Old Trafford. He won two League titles in 1966 and 1967, and in 1968, he had a dream season, winning a European Cup title and being voted European Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. In the semi-finals of the European Cup that year, United were in danger of going out against Real Madrid, but Best sent a brilliant side-pass to Bill Foulkes after seeing Real Madrid’s defense and realizing that a conventional cross into the box would have been cut out. Foulkes then scored the goal that put United in the Finals, where Best scored the Cup clinching goal against a Benfica team that was led by Portuguese legend, Eusebio.

Despite his brilliance on the pitch, he was never able to lead Northern Ireland to the World Cup. That didn’t diminish his stature in his home country. Neither did his rapid physical decline as a result of decades of hard-living that turned him into a tabloid laughing stock later in his life. In Northern Ireland, they have a saying there that goes: “Maradona: Good. Pele: Better. George Best.” That about sums it up.

George Best VIDEO:

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Johan Cruijff
NETHERLANDS
1964-1984
Ajax (1964-1973, 1981-1983) Barcelona (1973-1978) Los Angeles Aztecs (1979-1980) Washington Diplomats (1980-1981) Levante (1981) Feyenoord (1983-1984)

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Known as “Pythagoras in Boots” because of his mastery of passing angles, Cruijff was instrumental to the Dutch philosophy of “Total Football.” As such, Cruijff’s position can be difficult to ascertain, since he could score, pass, and defend, and moved all over the pitch, depending on where he was needed. However, his passing and scoring skills made him most effective as an attacking midfielder.

He was a great scorer, as evidenced by his 267 goals in 366 appearance for Ajax. In all, he scored over 400 goals during his career for club and country. As mentioned earlier, he was a tremendous passer, able to see the field unlike most of his peers and deliver accurate passes from anywhere on the pitch. He could dazzle too, as he perfected the “Cruijff Turn” in which he faked a pass or cross, forcing a defender to commit to it, only to drag the ball behind his planted foot and turning away from the flat-footed defender.

At Ajax, he was the leader of one of the greatest teams of all time. He won the treble in 1972, and nearly repeated the task the following season. In all, he won eight Eredivisie titles, five KNVB Cups, and three consecutive European Cups from 1971-1973. He added a Liga title while with Barcelona to his trophy cabinet, and won a Eredivisie title with Feyenoord. He also racked up the individual honors, taking home the Ballon d’Or in 1971, 1973, and 1974.

Despite playing on some extremely talented international teams, Cruijff was never able to win the World Cup. Their best chance to win came in 1974, when Cruijff (who won the Golden Ball that year as the Best Player in the World Cup) led the Netherlands to the World Cup Final against West Germany. The Dutch had sailed through their previous matches, with Cruijff scoring three goals. He set up the opening goal against West Germany in the Finals, drawing a foul inside the box that resulted in a penalty during the 2nd minute of the match. West Germany, however, did a great job man-marking Cryuff, shutting him down with the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Berti Vogts, and others.

After retiring, Cruijff became a successful manager, winning two KNVB Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup with Ajax and four consecutive La Liga crowns while with Barcelona. Despite his often stormy relationship with Ajax (he left for bitter rivals, Feyenoord after a salary dispute and was supposed to join the club as technical director until it fell through at the last minute), he remains a club icon whose number 14 jersey was retired.

Johan Cruijff VIDEO:

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Rivelino
BRAZIL
1965-1981
Corinthians (1965-1974) Fluminense (1974-1978) Al-Hilal (1978-1981)

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When you’re considered to be the fourth greatest player in Brazilian history after Pele, Zico, and Garrincha, that’s about as great an accomplishment as there is. Rivelino was lauded for his grace on the pitch, as well as his dazzling array of moves, which included his patented “Elastico,” in which he faked going right while keeping control of the ball and then spinning it to his left. This move has become a staple in modern football, popularized by the likes of Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Zidane, and others.

Rivelino, who perfected his tricks by playing futsal in Sao Paulo, was more than just a playground player. He had excellent passing skills, a sharp mind, excellent dribbling skills, and a thunderous left footed shot. He was also a tremendous free-kick taker, famous for his “banana-bending” kicks. He scored a famous goal against the Czechs during the 1970 World Cup that was nicknamed “The Atomic Kick.” He was an important part of the aforementioned 1970 World Cup squad, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time. He played in two subsequent World Cups and ended his international career with 92 appearances and 26 goals.

He was also a quick thinker, and one example of this was when he saw the opposing teams goalkeeper finishing up his pre-match prayer right as the whistle blew to begin the game. Rivelino took the kickoff and booted a long-range shot that beat the startled goalkeeper for what is considered to be the fastest goal in football history.

Well, you don’t become one of the greatest Brazilians of all time by being stupid. Actually, that’s not entirely true, as we’ll find out with Garrincha. Still, Rivelino carved out an excellent reputation for himself, despite playing in the shadows of Pele and Zico.

Rivelino VIDEO:

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Zico
BRAZIL
1971-1994
Flamengo (1971-1983 1985-1989) Udinese (1983-1985) Sumitomo Metals (1991-1992) Kashima Antlers (1992-1994)

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Often referred to as the “White Pele,” some soccer experts have made the case that Zico may have been better than his more celebrated countryman. Pele didn’t agree, but he did praise his fellow Brazilian, saying that, out of all the great players throughout the years, Zico was the one who came closest to him.

Widely considered one of the greatest dribblers in football history, he was also a powerful finisher. He was, perhaps, best known for his ability to bend and curve his brilliant free kicks. However, he wasn’t just a great scorer. He had excellent playmaking skills and was known for his fantastic vision and precise passing.

Perhaps his reputation suffers a bit as a result of failing to win a World Cup, despite going to three consecutive World Cups from 1978-1986. He did his part in the competition, scoring 5 goals in 3 World Cups, however, he came up short, especially in 1982 when a talented Brazilian squad just missed qualifying for the knock-out phase after losing to eventual-champions Italy.

At the club level, most of his success was at Flamengo, where he remains the club’s all-time leading scorer with 508 goals. He won seven Rio State Championships and four Brazilian Professional Championships with Flamengo and added a Japanese title to his collection after heading to the Sumitomo in the early 90’s. Zico remains active in coaching circles, leading Japan to the 2006 World Cup and managing Fenerbache, FC Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan, and CSKA Moscow. Today, he’s regarded as a brilliant and skillful player whose legend has only grown with time.

Zico VIDEO:

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Michel Platini
FRANCE
1972-1987
AS Nancy (1972-1979) Saint-Etienne (1979-1982) Juventus (1982-1987)

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One of the greatest French legends and icons of all time, Platini captained his team 49 times and presided over a golden era in French football. He combined with fellow midfielders Alain Giresse, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana to make up the “carré magique” (Magic Square), where his outstanding playmaking skills and his expertise at free kicks made him the talismanic figure on the French national team. His 41 international goals were a French record until 2008, when Thierry Henry surpassed it.

Platini led France to the 1984 European Championship, winning the title with one of the greatest teams ever assembled. He scored a record 9 goals in the tournament, and scored two “perfect hat tricks” (he scored with both feet and his head – as opposed to an imperfect hat trick, where a hand is usually prominently involved) in the group stage against Belgium and Yugoslavia. He went to three World Cups, losing in the 1982 and 1986 Semifinals.

Platini won one French League title while with Saint-Etienne, but almost all of his domestic success came with Juventus. He won two Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia. He also won the 1985 European Cup and the 1984 Cup Winners’ Cup. He was the top scorer in Serie A for three consecutive seasons (1982-1985) and won three straight Ballon d’Ors from 1983-1985.

Since his retirement, Platini has continued to be active in European football. He managed France in the 1992 European Championships and was the head of the 1998 World Cup Organizing Committee. He currently serves as President of UEFA, where he has generated controversy for his support for a FIFA plan to limit each club to 5 foreign players in the starting lineup. It’s possible that his post-career activities could influence the game far more than anything he did on the pitch as a player. That would be saying something.

Michel Platini VIDEO:

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Diego Armando Maradona
ARGENTINA
1976-1997
Argentinos Juniors (1976-1981) Boca Juniors (1981-1982, 1995-1997) Barcelona (1982-1984) Napoli (1984-1991) Sevilla (1992-1993) Newell’s Old Boys (1993)

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It’s hard to argue with his on-the-field accomplishments. Most people consider him the best player ever to play the game not named Pele. In fact, some consider him to be have been better than Pele (he won FIFA’s Internet vote over Pele as “Player of the Century”). His position on the field can be difficult to categorize as he scored like a striker, but spent a lot of time in midfield creating chances for his teammates. More often than not, he lined up in midfield, but his skills were so complete that he would be all over the field. His skills were second-to-none, and his playing style has influenced generations of imitators. Much like how many talented basketball players have been labeled “the next Jordan,” many dynamic Argentine footballers have been tagged with the “next Maradona” label. Some (like Messi) have thrived, but most have failed to live up to the expectations.

It’s unfair to judge players by Maradona’s standards, because he was in a world of his own. It’s strange, considering his compact (and some would say, stocky) frame that he could be such a dominant player. However, his legs were extremely strong and capable of withstanding punishment. Plus, he had remarkable dribbling skills, which allowed him to go at full speed towards an opponent’s goal where he could either fire a deadly shot on goal or whip an accurate cross towards one of his teammates. As evidenced by his brilliant goal against England in the World Cup (the one where he didn’t use his hand), he was capable of galloping past defenders at full speed, with the ball seemingly stuck on his foot. He could pull out the tricks, as well, popularizing the Rabona technique, and was also a deadly free kicker.

On the field, he had some success at the club level, where he won an Argentine League title with Boca Juniors in 1981 and then won the double with Barcelona in 1983, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey. However, it was at Napoli where he became an icon. Moving from Barcelona for a then record £6.9 million, he presided over Napoli’s greatest era, winning the only two Scudetti in club history and guiding the team to a UEFA Cup title in 1988-1989. He remains the most beloved player in Napoli’s history, his popularity so great that when Argentina came to Italy for the 1990 World Cup, Napoli was the only city in Italy where the Argentine national anthem was not booed.

On the international level was where he affirmed his legendary status, as he led Argentina to the World Cup in 1986, during which time he scored two famous (or infamous – depending on your point of view) goals against England. His second goal was named “Goal of the Century” by FIFA, and it’s hard to come up with a better one.

He was a legend in every sense of the word, and his impact on the game is absolutely immeasurable. His problems off the field were well documented. He was suspended for 15 months in 1991 for testing positive for cocaine. He was famously tossed out of the 1994 World Cup after failing a doping test. His life has been one gigantic tabloid nightmare ever since leaving the game and his health has been so carefully scrutinized that you would think he was the President or the Pope.

Nevertheless, even if you accept that he was a controversial figure who hindered his career more than he helped it, you still can’t argue with his results. Simply put, he was one of the very best players of all time.

Diego Maradona VIDEO:

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Gheorghe Hagi
ROMANIA
1982-2001
Farul Constanţa (1982-1983) Sportul Studenţesc (1983-1987) Steaua Bucureşti (1987-1990) Real Madrid (1990-1992) Brescia Calcio (1992-1994) FC Barcelona (1994-1996) Galatasaray (1996-2001)

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Known as “the Maradona of the Carpathians,” Hagi is widely considered to be the greatest player in Romanian history. He was known as an excellent passer and playmaker in the midfield, and his prowess from long-range made him a threat to score every time he came down the pitch. He scored 237 goals in 513 games in his club career, and contributed 35 goals in 125 international matches. He is the second-most capped player for Romania, and remains the country’s all-time leading scorer.

Hagi won three consecutive domestic doubles with Steaua BucureÅŸti from 1987-1989, and lost in the 1989 UEFA Cup Final. He is one of the few players to have played with both Barcelona and Real Madrid, although he failed to win any silverware. His most successful club stint came with Galatasaray, where he won four consecutive Turkish League titles, won two consecutive Turkish Cups, and won the 2000 UEFA Cup. Due to his success, he is also considered a hero in Turkey.

Internationally, his shining moment came at the 1994 World Cup where he led Romania to the Quarterfinals, its best ever showing. He scored three goals, including a memorable 40-yard goal against Colombia, and was named to the Team of the Tournament. He played for Romania in the 1998 World Cup and in Euro 2000 before retiring from international competition.

Gheorghe Hagi VIDEO:

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Zinedine Zidane
FRANCE
1988-2006
AS Cannes (1988-1992) Bordeaux (1992-1996) Juventus (1996-2001) Real Madrid (2001-2006)

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When people ask me who the greatest player of the last 10 years was, I say, without any hesitation at all, Zinedine Zidane. Of course, people then come back with “Oh, the guy who committed the headbutt in the World Cup Final?” Yeah, Zidane was a hothead, and he ended his career on the worst possible note imaginable. However, it doesn’t diminish his brilliance, nor does it detract from his accomplishments.

Zidane was, arguably, the best playmaking international midfielder since Maradona. He was the heartbeat of the French National Team that dominated from 1998-2000, winning both the World Cup and the European Championship. If there were any doubt about how important he was to his country, look no further than the 2002 World Cup, where an injured Zidane watched the first two French matches from the bench and hobbled onto the field for the third and was unable to prevent France from being eliminated without scoring a single goal. Additionally, France’s struggles in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup without Zidane, and their poor display at Euro 2008 only underscored how reliant the team had become on his brilliant playmaking.

He wasn’t just a playmaker, though, and he was more than capable of putting the ball in the net on his own. He was a great free-kicker and was one of the best headers in the game. He had exquisite ball control skills and was great at keeping possession of the ball, especially when going forward. He had a ferocious shot, and he could finish from long-range or up close.

On the club level, Zidane was just as great as he was on the international scene. He won two Scudetti with Juventus and he won the Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid. Additionally, he won the Ballon d’Or in 1998 and was a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year. With Kaka’s proposed transfer to Manchester City falling through the cracks, Zidane remains the most expensive player of all time, transferring to Real Madrid from Juventus for £46 million.

His temper, obviously, cost him dearly, and his sending off in the World Cup Final was hardly the first time he saw red during his career (both literally and figuratively). He was sent off 14 times during his career, including an ugly incident in the 1998 World Cup where he stomped on a Saudi Arabian player’s chest. His two-match ban got him back in time for the Quarter Finals, though, but it cost him a chance at the Golden Ball. Plus, there was the embarrassing scene in 2006, where he finally did win the Golden Ball, but was sent off in the World Cup Final after headbutting Marco Materazzi. Still, just because he didn’t have a fairy tale ending, it doesn’t make him any less of a legend.

Zinedine Zidane VIDEO:

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Cast your mind back to Saturday August 15th 1998. Manchester United were kicking off their season with a home game against Leicester City and one David Beckham was making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. His infamous moment of petulance at the 1998 World Cup saw him transformed from hero to zero in the space of ten seconds. The British press could smell blood!

United had looked sluggish and were staring down the barrel of a 2-1 defeat. Three minutes into extra time and United were awarded a free kick, 25 yards out. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Beckham stepped forth and struck a superb free kick past the hapless Pegguy Arphexad.

With a single free kick Beckham had sent a defiant message to his critics. He wasn’t prepared to let the ghosts of Saint-Etienne hold him back. Beckham would go on to have his greatest ever season in a United shirt, playing a crucial role in securing United’s famous treble.

As Beckham demonstrated, the free kick specialist can with a moment’s inspiration turn a game on its head. Looking back throughout history there has been some truly gifted free kick specialists, who have taken the free kick to the verge of being an art form. But which of these “artists” would rank as the top ten free kick specialists of all time? To answer this question I considered a few different criteria:

• Frequency – How often the player scores from free kicks
• Importance – How important was the game the free kick was scored in
• Legacy – What impact did the player have on the game from his free kicks

With those criteria in mind lets commence the top ten.

10.) Pierre Van Hooijdonk

Perhaps a controversial choice to start off with. Undeniably talented, Van Hooijdonk was a bit of a footballing enigma, never truly reaching the heights his talent perhaps warranted. His free kicks however were truly spectacular, especially during his stay at Dutch giants Feyenoord. His free kicks during the 2001/02 season, particularly his wonder strike against Freiburg in the UEFA cup, propelled Feyenoord to European glory and secured Van Hooijdonk’s place in Feyenoord folk lore.

9.) Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos generated bullet like speed with his free kicks. Whilst his consistency has been called into question, I feel he warrants a spot in the top ten due to the legacy he has left on the game. His style of driving the ball at the goal with brute force offered something different to the traditional approach of bending the ball over the wall. Whilst others had used the same approach in the past, Roberto Carlos brought the approach into the mainstream and in part inspired the techniques of Cristiano Ronaldo and Juninho. His goal against France is truly one of the most amazing free kicks ever.

Youtube video: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=-t5MF7NRQh4

8.) Jose Luis Chilavert

Jose Luis Chilavert has the unique distinction of being the only goalkeeper on my list. I remember being truly captivated by Chilavert as a kid. After all it’s not every day you see a goalkeeper come up and take a free kick, let alone score! Whilst Rogerio Ceni the Brazilian keeper scored more free kicks, Chilavert captivated crowds with his bravado and was able to deliver on the highest stage with some important strikes for Paraguay. Something Ceni wasn’t able to do.

7.) Michel Plantini

Perhaps the greatest French player of all time, Michel Plantini was well renowned for his free kicks. During his playing career he scored some crucial free kicks for both Juventus and France. The standout strike would have to be his strike against Holland in the 1984 World Cup qualifier. His perfectly placed free kick resulted in a victory which guaranteed qualification for the French. He also scored from a free kick during the 1984 Euro final against Spain, although he had a helping hand from the Spanish goalkeeper!

6.) Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona, arguably the greatest player of all time. Like pretty much anything Maradona attempted his free kicks were awe inspiring. With an almost delicate feel to them, He would get the ball to gently rise over the wall and always seemed to be able to place it just inside the post, making it almost impossible for the keeper to save. Maradona consistently delivered from the deadball for both club and country.

5.) Alessandro Del Piero

Del Piero one of the most gifted players of our generation, who freakishly seems to be improving with age! His free kick are no exception to this rule, this season alone he has scored six times from dead ball situation! Whilst Michel Plantini has recently claimed his own ability from free kicks was superior to Del Piero’s,  I have to respectfully disagree and give Del Piero the nod due to his consistent ability to find the back of the net.

4.) Zico

I’ll be honest and say that before I started looking into this article, I didn’t know much about Zico’s free kick prowess. However after watching his technique I now understand why Zico is considered by many to be the original free kick specialist. His control and placement is a delight to watch. One thing that really stands out for me is that he strikes the ball from almost a standing start, relying on his aforementioned control rather than power. A true free kick great!

3.) David Beckham

David Beckham is the most famous sportsman in the world. His trademark is his brilliant free kicks which have been immortalised by the phrase “Bend it like Beckham”. What sets Beckham apart is his ability to deliver when his team needs him the most.  From the earlier mentioned free kick against Leicester, to the great free kick for England against Greece to secure qualification for the 2002 World Cup. Beckham consistently steps up to the plate when required and fully deserves his place amongst the greatest free kick specialists of all time.

2.) Sinisa Mihajlovic

Often criticised for racial and spitting probes there is one thing that everyone can agree about with Sinisa Mihaljlovic, he was a truly brilliant free kick specialist! Mihaljlovic ability to score from the dead ball situation was feared throughout Serie A. He scored close to 30 free kicks during his career including a hat trick of free kicks for Lazio against Sampdoria in 1998. A feat which to my knowledge has yet to be replicated by any other professional player.

1.) Juninho Pernambucano

Step forth the free kick master. Juninho currently plies his trade for Lyon and is absolutely deadly from a set piece. He has scored over 40 free kicks for Lyon with an unconfirmed conversion rate of over 50%! His unique style which sees the ball move in an unpredictable fashion should be familar to fans of the English Premier League as Cristiano Ronaldo uses a similar technique. Juninho has scored free kicks from just about anywhere on the pitch. It’s been said that a free kick for Lyon anywhere near the 18 yard box is almost as good as a penalty kick. That is a true testament to the ability of Juninho, the greatest free kick specialist of all time.

Who are your favourite free kick specialists of all time?

Tonight, Diego Maradona makes his bow as Argentina manager as his new charges take on Scotland at Hampden Park. This momentous occasion gives us a wonderful chance to tackle one of football’s greatest debates, to wit: Who is the greatest footballer of all time – Maradona or Pelé? Since I’ve already definitively dealt with the club versus country question, I’ve decided to have a go at this one too.

So here goes: the answer is “Pelé”. Duh.

However, I realise that, even though the answer is obvious to all but those so slack-jawed that were the rivulets of saliva which trickle from their mouths to converge, the resulting torrent would wipe out a small-to-medium port town on the Chinese coast, it is the custom to back up such an assertion with some evidence. Frankly, one could write volumes on this matter, but I shall pare down my argument (if you could call such an evidently open-and-shut case as this an “argument”) to a few paragraphs.

The litany of Maradona’s egregiousness is startling: the diving, the failed dope test at the 1994 World Cup, the cocaine addiction, the sheer greed which saw him eat his way through the entire 1990s, etc., et-bloody-cetera. But top of the list is what the man himself outrageously referred to as the “Hand of God”, when he punched the ball past England ‘keeper Peter Shilton and into the net in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. Plenty has been said about this in the two-and-a-bit decades since. Suffice to add, when you consider that the English gave the great game of footie to the nation of the ungrateful little arseboil, and that England is, was and ever shall be synonymous with Fair Play, is it any wonder England fans bear a grudge?

The “H*nd of God” could be entered not just as Exhibit A in the case against Maradona, but as Exhibit every-other-letter-of-the-alphabet, so heinous was it. But let’s apply some rigour to this. Let’s look at the things for which he is most famous. On the one hand, there is his second goal against England, which – to be fair – was very good. On the other, there is the “H*nd of G*d”, the Crazy-Eyes-Killa routine at USA ‘94, the cocaine, the morbid obesity and the massive heart attack. In summary, that’s one positive and five negatives, which makes a Class Rating of -4. That’s not my opinion – that’s Statistics.

Some may complain that it is unfair to hold someone up to an impossible moral standard just because they are gifted. To which I reply: no-one made Maradona play football. If he didn’t want the scrutiny, he should have become a shoeshine boy or a drug dealer like his squalid friends doubtless did.

Pelé had no problem dealing with the burden of talent. In fact, he thrived. Here was a footballer who was a genuine joy to behold. He gladdened the heart of everyone who saw him, whether scoring a goal, fooling a defender with a shimmy or just standing there being Pelé. He never cheated and was probably never sent off. It’s no co-incidence that the words “Pelé” and “perfection” both begin with the same two letters.

His style of play was infused with beauty. It was akin to an angelic orgy, with God having sex with Himself in the corner.

Even in the 1962 World Cup, when Pelé was injured in the group phase, his mere presence in Chile was enough to inspire Brazil to ultimate triumph. Put it this way: whoever remembers the name of any other player in that Brazil squad? Exactly.

And even when telling us that there are ways for all of us to make our winkies hard in a message sponsored by a corporation which manufactures pills to make your winkie hard, he did it with grace and elegance.

Pelé and Maradona are emblems for their respective football cultures, which dominate the South American game. Brazilian football is played to a samba beat, their players having learned to play on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. The national league is home to free-flowing attacking football, where even the defenders are better footballers than the most skillful players in most countries. There is a flair and a sway to games in Brazil which is irresistible to the hundreds of thousands of ecstatic fans in the Maracaná. As a bonus, the goalkeepers are universally awful, which ensures non-stop goal action in almost every match.

Argentine football is Brazil’s stunted twin brother. The national team’s greatest successes have come through nefarious means. In 1978, Peru’s goalkeeper – an Argentine! – practically stood back and waved in six goals as Argentina scandalously reached the final. In 1986, of course, poor England suffered at the hands – or should that be hand – of Maradona. When things go against them, they do little but whinge. When Antonio Rattín was sent off against England in 1966, he petulantly refused to leave. Not accepting the decision of a referee is a sure sign of an inherent lack of morality. In what other country would it be done with such intensity?

Maradona’s warped ideas have even been passed on to the next generation of Argentinian players like a defective gene. Lionel Messi irredeemably marked himself out as a footballing lowlife when he re-enacted the “H**d of **d” for Barcelona. (Don’t you think players who do this should have to wear a bell around their neck or have their forehead tattooed with a “H” or something?)

The most pithy way I can think of to describe the difference between Maradona and Pelé, and their respective countries, is to present their contributions to the footballing lexicon. Maradona gave us “H*** ** **d”, which is a byword for corruption, egotism and greed. Pelé gave us “The Beautiful Game”, glorious shorthand for our wonderful sport – the sport which Maradona took and dragged through the filth.

In closing, let us bring up the great Terry Butcher. Butcher is now Scotland’s assistant manager, but was a key part of the England team which was deprived of the 1986 World Cup by…you know what. Here is what he said this week:

I was selected for the drugs test with Gary Stevens and Kenny Sansom and ended up in the room with Maradona and two of his pals. Our World Cup was over and they were celebrating.

It could have been a war-zone in there but it wasn’t. I wasn’t next to him, if I was I might have done something.

Butcher would have been quite entitled to physically display his displeasure, but instead showed the admirable restraint which made him a true hero. One thing’s for sure: if God is up there picking His all-time World XI, Butcher and Pelé would be the first names on the team-sheet. Maradona wouldn’t even be trusted with the water bottles.

Fredorrarci is Chief Guard of the Ark of the Covenant, a/k/a Sport Is A TV Show.

It is always good to see passion in sport but it’s becoming rarer among players, maybe due to the fact that you’re now not allowed to incite any kind of passion in your own or the opposition’s supporters, whether you’ve scored a goal or conceded a penalty. So it was great to see Terry Butcher talking about Diego Maradona with not much less emotion than he felt on June 22, 1986.

Argentina are playing Scotland and it’s a peculiar twist of fate that has seen Maradona take on a team coached by an England hero. It was inevitable that Butcher would be asked how he felt about facing Maradona 22 years on. If you’re an England fan born since the incident, you probably haven’t seen or heard Maradona’s name without it being accompanied by the words ‘Hand of God’. Maradona blatantly cheated by batting the ball past Peter Shilton with his left hand, but he also scored a fantastic goal just five minutes later, which Butcher and his team-mates were powerless to prevent.

The fact Maradona didn’t admit to using his hand when the pair were taking a drugs test after the game seems to have rankled with Butcher almost as much as the crime itself.  The former defender has admitted: “If he had come in and said he’s used his hand, maybe I would have just wanted to hit him four times instead of 20.”

Brilliant. There are those who are saying Butcher should have brushed aside the question, but if he still feels that strongly, why not say so. The game still looms large amongst England fans and is still talked about, so to see it still affects someone who played in it to that extent, over two decades on, means there is still a link between players and fans in an age when the gap seems wider than ever.

Written by Louise Moran, who blogs about football betting on Betfair.com

Wednesday night sees the famous Argentina side arriving at Hampden Park for a ‘friendly’ (if either side could actually have such a thing) against Scotland.

I think I read somewhere that Argentina have got a new manager…?

Anything but uneventful

Yes, the great Diego Maradona has taken over and his spell in charge will, I’m sure, be anything but uneventful. There are already rumours of behind the scenes arguments about his choice of assistant and whether his tenure will be a long one or not remains to be seen. It will be fun while it lasts.

He has already said that he will walk out on the national team if he is refused permission to appoint Oscar Ruggeri as his assistant.

Threatening

Maradona’s first match is scheduled to be this game but he is threatening not to come.

“I will be the trainer with my technical staff I want, otherwise I will not come to Glasgow,” he said.

Carlos Bilardo, the Argentina FA’s technical secretary, insists Maradona will not carry out his threat.

Dispute

Argentina FA boss Julio Grondon, who Maradona is reported to be in dispute with, would not reveal the reasons for his dislike of former Argentina defender Ruggeri.

Maradona has already pointed out that he is a bit of a hero in Scotland after his exploits in 1986 and the two countries would seem to share a hatred of us poor old English.

Based in England

Despite that hatred, twelve of the Scotland squad are based in the English league and three of the Argentina squad are also based in England, Manchester United’s Carlos Tevez, Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano and Newcastle’s Fabricio Coloccini. They also include former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze in their squad.

Apart from Maradona the most notable thing about Argentina is the player who isn’t there. The new boss was unable to persuade Barcelona to release Lionel Messi for the game.

Restored

Scotland’s captain Barry Ferguson and Alan Hutton have been restored to George Burley’s twenty-six man squad for the game. Ferguson is physically fit again, but is badly lacking match fitness. Tottenham’s Alan Hutton says he is relishing the challenge of fighting for his place in the Scotland team after four months out with a foot fracture.

Ross McCormack of Cardiff City has also been re-called after impressing with twelve goals already this season whilst Birmingham City’s Garry O’Connor has been left out.

Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon is in the squad, but is struggling with an ankle injury and is unlikely to play. That could mean a second international start for Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Elsewhere, there is no place for Rangers defender David Weir or of course his team-mate midfielder Kevin Thomson who has a knee injury that will see him miss the rest of the season.

Obviously, as an Englishman I hope both teams lose on Wednesday! As that isn’t possible I predict a narrow Argentina victory. What do you think?

A Touch Of Controversy?

“E quando un giornalista inglese gli ricorda il gol di mano ai Tre Leoni e le dichiarazioni di Terry Butcher – suo avversario all’epoca e oggi assistente di George Burley, c.t. della Scozia – che non intende perdonarlo, d’incanto Maradona ritrova il piglio di un tempo. ‘Non mi interessa dare la mano a Butcher, dormirò anche senza la sua stretta di mano. Nessuno deve giudicarmi anche perché voglio ricordare che l’Inghilterra ha vinto una Coppa del Mondo (1966) con un gol che non aveva oltrepassato la riga della porta’ “.

“When an English journalist pointed out his handed goal against the Three Lions and the declarations by Terry Butcher, his adversary at the time and now the assistant to George Burley, head coach of Scotland, that he (Butcher) didn’t intend to forgive him, Maradona rediscovered a controversy from long ago:

‘It doesn’t interest me to shake hands with Butcher, I will sleep without his handshake. Nobody ought to judge me also because I remember that England won a World Cup in 1966 with a goal that hadn’t passed over the goal line.’ “

Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 18 November 2008. Translated by Steve Amoia.

Scotland Squad:

Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Sunderland), David Marshall (Norwich City), Allan McGregor (Rangers)
Defenders: Graham Alexander (Burnley), Darren Barr (Falkirk), Christophe Berra (Hearts), Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Jamie McAllister (Bristol City), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)
Midfielders: Scott Brown (Celtic), Kris Commons (Derby County), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Paul Hartley (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Celtic), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Barry Robson (Celtic)
Forwards: David Clarkson (Motherwell), Steven Fletcher (Hibernian), Chris Iwelumo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ross McCormack (Cardiff City), James McFadden (Birmingham City), Kenny Miller (Rangers)

Argentina squad:

Goalkeepers: Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)
Defenders: Javier Zanetti (Inter), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Daniel Diaz (Getafe), Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Emilano Papa (Velez Sarsfield), Cristian Villagra (River Plate)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Luis Gonzalez (FC Porto), Jose Sosa (Bayern Munich), Daniel Montenegro (Independiente)
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United), Lisandro Lopez (FC Porto), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), German Denis (Napoli)

Also See: Sam Kelly on the Argentina’s callups, Scotland the Brave, Viva El Futbol and Germany v England – 19 November 08 – Berlin.

Diego Maradona, Argentina legend and now national team manager, will visit Kolkata, India on December 6 2008.

Diego will inaugurate a soccer academy and participate in a charity dinner where some of his playing gear would be auctioned. Thousands of fans are expected to attend a public reception planned for Mister Maradona.

This will be quite the treat for our India-based readers – I recommend that you find out more about this and if you’re in Kolkata, make sure you make the trip to see Diego Maradona.

[Source: Reuters]

Yesterday in Argentina, Diego “El Pibe” Maradona was officially presented as the national team coach of the albicelestes.

He will be assisted by Dr. Carlos Bilardo, his former coach during their last World Cup triumph in 1986.

The former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona star succeeds Alfio Basile, who stepped down from the position on October 16 for personal reasons.

Mister Maradona’s first game on the Argentine bench will be a 19 November 2008 friendly in Glasgow against Scotland.

Press Conference Excerpts:

“Es un honor y es como un sueño estar en la Selección junto a Carlos”.

“It is an honor and is like a dream to be in the Argentine national team together with Carlos.”

“Nosotros dos vamos a estar al frente de todo”.

“Both of us are going to be in front of everything.”

Asked who he wanted for his back room staff?

“Lealtad absoluta. Que sean de fierro. Que estén para trabajar y que acepten órdenes de la cabeza número uno que soy yo”.

“Absolute loyalty. Those that are made of steel. Those who work and accept orders from the head man which is me.”

“Las grandes selecciones las hacen los jugadores. No quiero que mi equipo juegue como la selección del 86. Quiero que tenga identidad propia. Sabiendo que lo único que importa acá es la camiseta”, confesó y luego agregó: “Mascherano va a ser mi capitán”.

“Great national teams are made by the players. I don’t want that my team plays like the 1986 side. I want it to have its own identity. Knowing that the only important thing here is the shirt, he confessed and then added: Javier Mascherano is going to be my captain.”

Source: Clarin of Buenos Aires, 04 November 2008.

Spanish translation by Steve Amoia.

Andres Cantor on Diego Maradona

Earlier this year, Soccerlens interviewed Andres Cantor. Cantor knows Maradona quite well, and had an interesting observation:

“First and foremost he was adored because of his brilliance in the pitch. He was a magician with a football. But his life story made him have a universal appeal. He began gaining notoriety in his early teens where he stood out playing for his “Cebollitas” Team. He played in a nationally televised tournament and everyone was asking who was that midfielder that seemed capable of dribbling the entire rival team.

His rag to riches story, his confrontation with the status quo, with the powers of football and politics, his aura as a football diva and, of course, his triumphs on the pitch made him a superidol in Argentina. So much so, that many people to the day, forgive him for any wrong doings, and will always support him for what he represented as a footballer. Off the pitch I got to know a very humble, yet intelligent man, who with great difficulty had to rapidly adjust to world stardom. A very sincere and outspoken person, who also knew that when he spoke people listened. Not always could you agree with his line of thinking, but he surely caught everyone’s attention.”

Jorge Valdano on Diego Maradona

Valdano, speaking to BBC:

…Maradona, he was a genetic miracle, a man whom nature endowed with extraordinary abilities and who, moreover, grew up in the right place to achieve his potential.

On the field he demonstrated an ability to be a generous man, both committed and brave. The people who said terrible things about Maradona are the same people who forget that it is necessary to judge geniuses by their deeds and not by their life.

Maradona the Manager?

The man is a national icon, hell, an international icon, and there is no doubt that the players will respect him and that he has the footballing brain to handle coaching at the top level. The only doubts that remain would be over his man-management abilities, because I don’t see Diego Maradona falling foul of the ‘pressures’ of international management – the man single-handedly won the World Cup in 1986, he can handle a bunch of kids trying to do it the second time around.

Do you think Diego Maradona will make a good coach?

Argentina and the 2010 World Cup

Will Argentina lift the World Cup in 2010 South Africa or will his reign end in tears? Two things are certain – one, that people will continue to talk about his off-field problems and a select few on-field issues and use the past to judge the present and two, the ending will be something spectacular, whether it ends in tears or in glory.

Can’t wait to see a Maradona-led Argentina face England in South Africa 2010…

Steve Amoia is the author and editor of the World Football Commentaries blog. He has written for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio, Keeper Skool, and Soccerlens.

Diego Maradona is going to be the next coach of the Argentinean national side, and personally, I am mighty kicked about it.

Can anything match the sight of a portly Maradona pacing the sidelines, shouting expletives at the officials and rival players, and jumping animatedly at the slightest sign of excitement?

Jokes aside it’s a bold move on the part of AFA and is a risk that is definitely worth taking.

The national side has been through a really rough patch the last 7-8 years and was going nowhere despite having a very talented generation of players. It’s been painful to watch such a gifted bunch mesmerize us one day and then fall flat the next day

A host of great coaching names have come and gone, each laid low by depressing results. While Bielsa and Pekerman were at the helm of disappointing World Cup campaigns, Alfio Basile couldn’t even last the qualification campaign. The failure of these illustrious names also makes it plain obvious that this team needs more than just a coach.

This team lacks a leader on the pitch. Riquelme can orchestrate the attacks but he is hardly a natural leader. The manager needs to fill-in for that lacuna, and who better than Maradona to galvanize the troops with his powerful personality – after all he continues to remain the biggest influence in Argentinean football.

The doubters will question his coaching credentials, with both his previous stints having ended rather unceremoniously. But there is a huge gulf between coaching Racing Club and managing the national side – and it is the enormity of the task at hand and the prestige attached to it that will bring out the best of Diego – a la 1986. Maradona loves his country and its football heritage dearly and will do anything to restore it to its rightful place. And then there is always Carlos Bilardo to take care of the coaching stratagem. They have created magic previously and could well do an encore.

There are also fears about his drug habits – will he turn up for training in an inebriated state and make a fool of himself during international matches?

I don’t think that will happen and the reason is simple – Maradona loves the game of football too much and is a different person once he is actively involved in it. He was an addict almost his entire playing life but football kept him going. The dependence on drugs and his subsequent deterioration also coincided with inactivity on the football front. Now that big time football is back in his life, Maradona will have fewer reasons and less time to abuse.

Argentina could have gone ahead and appointed another excellent ‘coach’. There is no shortage of those in Argentinean football. But they needed the ‘hand of god’. And there is only man in the entire country that has got that.

Comparisons can be a pain in the backside. My dad says that nobody was ever better than Tom Finney or Puskas, my older brother says George Best and Pele have no equals, I believe Maradona to be the best ever and my son says that Cristiano Ronaldo has more than the lot of them put together.

It has always been this way. We always think that the top players of ‘our generation’ are the best of all time. It is impossible to compare these great players because they are all from a different place and time. Of course George Best wouldn’t be as quick, as fit or strong enough to play in today’s Premiership and Ronaldo would have been even more of a phenomenon than he is now if you transported him back thirty or forty years.

You can only judge them by how good they were amongst their contemporaries. It is no good listening to anecdotal evidence because the fans of each player will only tell you why their particular favourite is the best of all time. The only way to judge this fairly is to look at the facts and figures. So let’s do it:

Pele

Santos 1956-1974

Domestic League games – 605
Domestic League goals – 589

International Club games – 18
International Club goals – 24

Best scoring season – 47 in 40 games 1959

International caps (Brazil) – 92
International goals – 77

Honours
3 World Cup winners medals. (Didn’t play in 1962 final through injury but was awarded a medal some years later)
19 Domestic club honours.
Named footballer of the century by FIFA. (Voted for by panel of experts. Maradona won an online public poll)
Named athlete of the century by the International Olympic Committee.

George Best

Manchester United 1963-1974

Domestic League games – 361
Domestic League goals – 137

International Club games – 34
International Club goals – 11

Best scoring season – 32 in 52 games 1968

International caps (N Ireland) – 37
International goals – 9

Honours
European Cup winner.
2 Domestic club honours.
European Footballer of the Year.
Football Writers Player of the Year.
English football Hall of Fame.

Diego Maradona

Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli 1981-1991

Domestic League games – 357
Domestic League goals – 181

International Club games – 32
International Club goals – 13

Best scoring season – 21 in 39 games 1988

International caps (Argentina) – 91
International goals – 34

Honours
World Cup winner
UEFA Cup winner
8 Domestic club honours
World Player of the Year
Named footballer of the century by an online poll. (Pele won the award as given by a panel of experts)
South American Footballer of the Year x 5

Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United 2003 – present

Domestic League games – 157
Domestic League goals – 61

International Club games – 43
International Club goals – 11

Best scoring season – 36 in 39 games 2008 so far

International caps (Portugal) – 54
International goals – 20

Honours
3 Domestic Club honours
Selected in FIFpro World XI
Selected in UEFA Team of the Year x 2
UEFA 2004 Team of the tournament
PFA Young Player of the Year x 2
PFA Footballer of the Year
Portuguese Footballer of the Year

So there we have the stats. What do we make of them? If you need some more help let’s look at what other people think of them and in some cases, what they think of themselves.

“Comparing Paul Gascoigne to Pele is like comparing Rolf Harris to Rembrandt” – Rodney Marsh.
“For 20 years they have been asking me the same question, who is the greatest? Maradona or Pele? I reply that all you have to do is look at the facts – how many goals did he score with his right foot or with his head?” – Pele

“George Best was able to use either foot. Sometimes he seemed to have six of them” – Sir Matt Busby
“Maradona good, Pele better, George Best” – Famous Irish saying

“I worked hard all my life for this. Those who say I don’t deserve anything, that it all came easy, can kiss my arse.” – Maradona
“Maradona is our maximum term of reference. No one embodies our essence better. No one bears our emblem more nobly. To no other, in the last twenty years, have we offered up so much passion. Argentina is Maradona, Maradona is Argentina.” – Argentinian psychologist

“Everyone went crazy over Wayne Rooney, but I get more excited by Cristiano Ronaldo.” -George Best
“There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but this is the first time it’s been a compliment to me.” -George Best on Cristiano Ronaldo

So there we have it. It’s decision time. Does Cristiano Ronaldo deserve to be in this company yet? Could any of the other three score the goal that Ronaldo scored against Roma last night? Pele maybe. So if these are the greatest ever, what order do they go in?

I’ll go first and give my reasons:

1. Pele – a) 3 World Cup winners medals b) Scoring record c) Apart from Viagra, no drugs as far as we know d) He says he was better than Maradona

2. Diego Maradona – a) Won a World Cup almost single-handedly b) Talent and attitude, i.e. Kiss my arse c) Just too many drugs

3. Cristiano Ronaldo – a) Already performed at European and World Cups b) George Best said he is better than he was c) Hasn’t quite got the longevity yet

4. George Best – a) Wonderful player but Ronaldo has beaten his record b) Not his fault to be born in Northern Ireland but no major International success c) Too much booze.

Over to you.

Graham Fisher writes at Views of a fan.