David_Blunket wrote:

Maradonna for me.

Van Basten was the most complete centre forward in my lifetime though, the guy was superb.

MVB was unreal.

That volley in '88 v USSR arguably my favourite ever goal.

Pele for me. He played in an era where you were still allowed to tackle. Messi and his buddies were screaming for a sending off last night for two innocuous fouls. Pele got the shit kicked kicked out of him every week, the current starts would never cope with that sort of treatment. 

i went for maradonna,unbelievable touch and delivered on the biggest stage of all, and then four years later dragged a decent but not world cup winning team to the final almost single handedly (shout out to goikechea one of my childhood heroes).

such a difficult question, i feel age plays a big part in this. the players that went before you, you have to respect but you can't really enjoy or celebrate them. everyone has that golden era when learned about football and worshipped certain players (maradonna, narey, van basten, hagi, stoichkov, brewster) , and then as you get older nothing seems as good no matter how good they are.
 

 

i put Messi, however you can make a case for a few of the listed. Loved MVB and Maradonna back in my youth and Ronaldo is an incredible player.

However Messi does it for me in terms of his ability to glide past players with so much ease.

I feel privileged to have seen him play at Tannadice, i honestly thought the ball was stuck to his foot that night.

Also think in this day and age to have that much ability given how fit and quick all players are now complaired to 30yrs ago, he continues to make most others look ordinary. 

Last edited by Mass Debates (24/4/2017 12:58 pm)

Canadian Arab wrote:

Van Basten was the best forward I've seen. And I've seen Luggy and a'hin. A great shame his career was cut short.

I'd say some of the domestic teams that Messi tears apart are better than the national teams at the World Cup that Maradona tore apart. Pele was out of this world. Maradona was possibly better. I think Messi probably edges out both of them.

Think yer possibly bang on there "Bearspray" 😉

I voted Maradona but think I'm influenced like most by all that goes with looking back.

Messi is accused of loosing something but has scored 47 in 46 games this season. The game has moved on in many ways in recent times, tactically, fitness wise, technically etc. Reckon Messi will go down as the best over time. I'd like to know how he compares himself to Maradona if he could be honest.

 

scarpia wrote:

Maradona - turned an ordinary (very) Argentina side into world cup winners.

Some of the tackling he took was brutal/shocking - if he was around now with the level of protection players get he'd be unplayable.

 

I also loved how passionate he was about Argentina,Boca and fitba. He wasn't just the victim, he could be aggressive too......






https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LY8MkxQLQjY



He also supported like a fan in a way that would rock any stadiums' foundations if all fans had the same vocal style.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L8eV9TJZiQY

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A2glGHFo6cQ

But what do the greats think of each other?

Let's find out?

















 

I change my mind about the greatest footballer all the time, but it's rarely one of the guys on the list.

Maradonna and Cantona would be up there right enough, but I always admired the likes of Stan Bowles and Frank Worthington. Mostly I like characters who have a screwed up side to their character. Messi's worst trait is tax dodging, and he has been led in that direction by advisers.

Presently I'm reading about Robin Friday, so he's current favourite. Obviously not the greatest of all time, he didn't listen to any advice. 

Realising that isn't really what Tek's after in the poll, it proves I don't take instructions and advice on board either 



 

I read that book about Robin Friday a few years back Pat,a great,compelling story of a maverick forward.

Seemed one helluva player right enough and i particulary admired the way he fought back from that (horrific) accident he had (i won't say unless you haven't got to the that bit of the book yet but the same thing very nearly happened to me many years ago in Dunfermline...but that's a story for another time).

I am kinda with you btw.In as much as i am drawn to the flawed genius in football (and music for that matter) i am thinking Robin Friday,George Best,Eric Cantona,Hughie Gallagher,Andy McLaren etc etc.

Players who had bags of talent but also possessed a self destruct button.Makes them 'interesting'.

I also thought Georgi hagi of Romania was an unbelievable talent

Tek wrote:

motherwellarab wrote:

I also thought Georgi hagi of Romania was an unbelievable talent

With you 100%.

Him and his Balkan soul brother Hristo Stoitchkov of Bulgaria.

Oh add Dragan Stojkovic into the mix as well.Unbelievable player who rumour has it Golac tried to persuade to come to United....alas.

 
Frank rijkard was another unbelievable player who didn't get the credit he deserved

In my time,

                           Schmeichel
         Baresi         Matthaus.      Maldini
C Ronaldo.       Iniesta.      Scholes.      Giggs
                         Messi.        Maradonna
                               Ronaldo

Or something like that.