Who is the best footballer of ALL TIME?

[study20]

Theres a thread on current players but whos the best footballer that their has ever been. Either overall or best for each postion

I think
GK - Lev Yashin
DF - Bobby Moore
MF - Cryff
FW - Van Basten or Pele both skillfull and great goal scorers

[wixon]

maradona?

[rebusrahman]

Pele/Eusebio/Cruyff/Maradona - Can't really separate them!

[Mambo]

Wasn't Cruyff more of a striker than a MF?

No-one's mentioned Di Stefano or Puskas yet. Beckenbauer too was great. I reckon overall was Maradona

[jag87]

pele was the best as he scored over 1000 goals in his career.
Eusebo aslo as he holds the record of scoring 16 goals in a single world cup campaign.

[rebusrahman]

I did not specify position? I just rate them as the best players ever. Didn't mention Puskas or di Stefano as I have never seen any footage of them play. I need to see them play as well as see their records etc. And as for Pele it's not always down to goals scored.

[jag87]

i know but there was something special about the way he played his football. for me every goal he scored - urm - words cant describe that man

[rebusrahman]

No ur right. I was gonna say that certain players inspire people, or more specifically, youngsters. Pele's bicycle kick did it for me. Becks obviously inspires people (not necessarily with his technical ability) with his will to win. Eg England v Greece.

Players like Zidane and Figo have such grace and technical ability it is like "poetry in motion" to watch them. Pele is right at the top for that. Roger Milla was a great player. Best. Socrates. Six. Platini. Rijkaard. Even Gary Lineker inspired me when he played for England... sob sob!

[elliottume]

There's a lot of inspiration here!

I read a book about Cruyff's career once, quite interesting about how he always did what he wanted. Still a great player and, of course, gave us the Cruyff turn.

[fastcow10]

George Best. The clue's in the name...
Him or John O'Shea, hard to pick...

[hitmanuk2k]

to be perfectly honest, i dont want to say anyone like pele or maradonna.... because although i accept they were probably the best, the only footage i have seen of them is "there best bits" if you know what i mean. i have never watched a full game with them players in.... so going off this, i would have to say

zidane or figo for skill and henry for general brilliance

[rebusrahman]

Originally posted by fastcow10
George Best. The clue's in the name...
Him or John O'Shea, hard to pick...

What's the clue in O'Shea's name? How can you say that O'Shea is the best footballer of all time. He's only played, what, 2 seasons?

[fordfocus]

I BELIEVE THAT PELE AND VAN BASTEN ARE THE BEST. BUT THERE WAS A PLAYER THAT MOST OF YOU PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF. VASILIS HATZIPANAGIS. HE WAS A GREEK PLAYER. FIND INFORMATION ABOUT HIM AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THE BEST MF EVER!!

[rebusrahman]

fordfocus, can you please NOT SHOUT! Capitals are considered to be shouting. If I do get a chance I will look up Vasilis Hatzipanagis...

[fastcow10]

A footballer's success over a career is only an indication of how good they are. John O'Shea could quite feasibly be the best footballer ever at present, if he is currently better than any of the other players mentioned at the peak of their careers. Which he clearly is. Bring it on pele, sheasy'll just close ya out of the game!

[fordfocus]

sorry for "shouting" it's only because capital seems easier

[rebusrahman]

Hey, no problem. It is easier!!!

[dream team]

Raul is personally my fav player of all time he is skillful, quick, intellagent, a great passer, finsher and he works hard push forward and dropping back to defend. Eusebio for portugal was a great striker and Baresi for italy was a the best sweeper i have ever seen skillful and was comfortable on the ball when go forward

[Lord Shrimpeh]

Pele is the best surely?

[jag87]

it is between pele and maradona. 2 brilliant players.

[rebusrahman]

Perhaps Pele shaves it cos he is still an ambassador to the game and quite clean cut. Maradona is a prick! And this not just because I am English either

[jag87]

yeah maradona abused the game as he took drugs.

[ricardinho]

It's gotta be Litmanen... :D

[Rentalkid]

The best Players?

Pélé
Maradonna
Beckenbauer
Cruyff
Platini
Eusebio

[umdiddley]

the three masters:

pele/maradona/zidane

and ''best'' aswell

[rebusrahman]

Originally posted by ricardinho
It's gotta be Litmanen... :D

If ur going to b like that then it has to b Danny Blind!!!!

[microcutz]

There will always bee an argument for the past greats but the greates player the now is by far Ruud Van Nistelrooy as he puts away everything, he cant miss .