Soundoff: Which Current (or Recently Retired) Footballers are Future Legends?
By: Daryl | September 30th, 2009
This is a tough question, and it requires a few generalizations. But here we go:
There is a top tier of soccer players. No one’s 100% sure exactly who’s in there or where the cutoff is. But it features the likes of Pelé, Diego Maradona, Johann Cruyff, George Best, Ferenc Puskás, Eusébio, Garrincha (pictured), Alfredo di Stéfano. Basically: the greatest players who ever lived. The very best of the very best.
My question is: Which current players do you see eventually joining that list?
Before you answer, take a deep breath. Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka are likely the best players in the world right now. But the emphasis is on the right now. They’re not yet the best of all time.
Three short years ago, we might have said Ronaldinho was likely to join the greats. But then his Barcelona performances turned tepid, and now he’s struggling at Milan, and all of a sudden it seems almost silly to rank him alongside the all time greats.
There’s another similarly named player who’s a more likely candidate to join the greats once he retires. And he’s got some impressive credentials. Like the record for most goals in World Cup history. Then there’s a certain Frenchman who won everything and finished his career in the most memorable way imaginable. Will those players one day be talked about alongside Pelé at el? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, let’s try and take a guess.
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Category: World Football
Tags: Alfredo Di Stefano, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, Eusébio, Ferenc Puskas, Garrincha, George Best, Johann Cruyff, Kaka, Leo Messi, Pele, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, World Football, World Soccer, zinedine zidaneSubscribe
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Comments | Add your comment
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Zidane is a given. What a player does in one game does not tarnish a carer.
Peter Schemical has to be considered a great. Goal keepers really don’t get enough love. I remember watching Man Utd in the 90s, beating the defence meant nothing with him in you way.
Posted from
United Kingdom
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Zidane. the headbutt alone is legendary.
and of course, Ryan Giggs.
Posted from
United States -
Cafu definately belongs on the list as one of the best left backs of all time who won 2 World Cups for Brazil.
Posted from
United States -
Zizou is probably on that list, and if he isn’t then time is the only thing keeping him off it.
Current players, Messi, but it depends on if he can win a World Cup (doubtful with fatty-McCoke-face Maradonna in charge)
Posted from
Australia -
Zidane is already at the top of that list and if he isn’t, then don’t bother with these lists. After him it’s the real (Brazilian) Ronaldo and that’s all folks!!!
Posted from
United States -
Shearer. Alan Shearer
Posted from
United States -
buffon definitely, maybe pirlo and totti, cannavaro maybe alsooo
Posted from
United States -
definitely maldini with 5 champions league titles under his belt, that alone should make him on this listt
Posted from
United States -
For the “Recently retired legends”, I think that Zidane must be on the list, as well as Maldini, and perhaps (and this pains me as a Spurs fan to admit) Dennis Bergkamp is being slightly overlooked… maybe because he was a slightly quiet player and the whole “no World Cups” thing, but his skill was undeniable. Also, (fat) Ronaldo also deserves some credit… when he was on top of his game, he was undoubtedly the best striker in the world
From the current crowd of players, I believe Ronaldinho belongs on the list, not just because of his extraordinary skill, but because (like Garrincha) he will simultaneously be a cautionary tale warning player against the dangers of spending more time in night clubs instead of on the training ground. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are by far two of the most talented players, and they’re so young (in 2016, Messi will still be 29) and have accomplished so much that if they keep up their current form for a few more years (and World Cups), they will also have their names amongst the best ever.
My last name (which should come as a surprise) is Gael Kakuta, only because his name is gonna be synonymous with underage transfers, and he will be this generation’s Jean-Marc Bosman (does anyone even know what teams he played for? All we know is that he left on a free transfer and now, anyone can)
And as a final note, I think that one of the criteria for “Legend” status is the ability for you to watch that player on YouTube over and over again while saying “WOW!” to plays you’ve seen hundreds of times before, and also that player to have enough skill to overshadow whatever crappy music the person who put the video together used (”Wait… isn’t this a Britney Spears song?”)
Posted from
United States -
zizou, ronaldo (although he was only really legendary before his first knee injury. After that he was only really really good). Messi if he keeps it up.
Posted from
United States -
Whoever said Zidane got it right, the “monk” was the best I’ve seen… Messi is a Club Player at best. Ribery has insane playing ability but the inability to lead France to a World Cup will come back to haunt him, also he’s playing in the wrong league and won’t get noticed for a while, he needs Serie-A or La Liga action. You want me to nominate a “legend” or a really good player that years from now will appreciate in value? If that’s the case, then its Alvaro Recoba, all of his goals are “YouTube” specials… really insane ability, too bad his poor training habits destroyed a promising career.
I think Andrea Pirlo should have been better than what he is now… as for Del Piero & Totti, history will look back at them as mediocre at best… Cristiano Ronaldo might need to win a Euro or qualify Portugual to a World Cup since they aint going for this go-around.
Batistuta should be included in this list somewhere, although where you want to stick him is up for debate probably.
Posted from
United States -
Regarding Totti, other than sucking his thumb as is his habit after scoring a goal, I can’t recall a goal he’s ever scored which would put him in a “Legendary” category of any kind…
Recoba, how bout the two goals against Brescia? The Goals when Inter came back against Sampdoria? The Corner kick goal against Empoli… a true legend makes you remember all of his goals.
I’m glad no one brought up the Golden Asshole, David Beckham… although the penalty against Argentina in 2002 and the goal against Ecuador in 2006 were really classic all-world goals. But just mentioning his name makes me sick to my stomach.
Posted from
United States -
I think people are making this way harder then it is. There are way more players that will be remembered in 20 years then you are giving credit. R10 at Barca will always be remembered. Henry at Arsenal will always be remembered. Kaka, CR7, and Messi as well. Then you can go Maldini, Zidane, Totti, Raul, and so many others. Tough to mention them all to be honest
Posted from
United States -
zidane, balotelli that is all.
Posted from
United States -
ronaldinho, the most amazing player of the new millenium. Epitome of brazilian flair, new garrincha. Has a world cup medal, CL, la liga. Has basically won everything a player can win and did it in style, hell his highlight reel alone makes him a star.
Leo Messi, same as ronnie but younger and plays like maradonna. Amazing to watch him.
Zidane, classic player, never the fastest but in terms of class he oozes it.
Maldini, the best defender in the world for 10+ years and an excellent leftback as well.
Buffon, best keeper in the world. Simply class, has won everything.
ronaldo, best striker in the world during the 90s and equal to pele in terms of achievements.
c.ronaldo, great striker with an eye for the fancy.
the others who will be remembered as great players but with less flair are gerrard, lampard, giggs, xavi, pirlo and plenty of others
Posted from
Australia -
What about Casillas? Xavi? Iniesta? Eto’o? Rivaldo?
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Zidane is over-rated.
Posted from
United States -
the legend question was too biased for attackers. f. beckenbauer is a legend too. be more specific.
pele, di stefano and maradona are basically the top three best attackers of the game. i’m sure many would not want to compare zidane again these legends as he plays in different position but still such a pure inspiration. it would be hard even for messi to better the three legends although time in his side.
the standout player of the 2000-2010 generation are ronaldo, kaka, buffon, cannavaro, zidane, figo, t. henry, maldini, r. carlos, cafu in no orders.
Posted from
Malaysia -
There is absolutely no way that Zidane is over-rated. Best player of the past 50 years, IMO he is already there. Thierry Henry and Paolo Maldini also are unquestionably on/about to be on the list.
Posted from
United States -
We can tell by reading these comments, Zidane is already a total legend.
Also, Raul has been overlooked. As for current players, Rooney will be an England great, and Villa is the next Raul.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Mustafa: you overlooked someone.
Webster was already the new Bosman.Posted from
Netherlands -
ALAN SHEARER
Posted from
United States -
henry
giggs
zanetti
totti
puyol
villaPosted from
Canada -
Got to be Zidane, he scored in pretty much every major final and won games…that goal against Leverkusen, came down 20 feet in the air, weaker foot, on a volley, outside the area against one of Europe’s then best goalkeeper and Defender (Butt and Lucio) and dipped it into the roof of the net was simply incredible, 1 of the most under-rated goals in history!
Apart from that, Batistuta…he was simply a gladiator, left foot, right foot, air and ground, he was complete and maybe if it wasn’t for his loyalty for Fiorentina (stayed with them even when they got relegated) he would have won everything with another club!
Brian Laudrup could have gone far but went AWOL when he joined Chelsea, Luis Figo was awesome aswell as Maldini, Cafu, Kahn, Desailly, Rivaldo, Baresi, Hierro, Ronaldo, Raul and Van Basten.
I think some of the most over-rated were players like Ortega, Boban, Roberto Carlos (Bar his free-kicks) Kluivert and Edgar Davids and some of the most under-rated were players like Hagi, Larsson, Crespo, Blanc, Inzaghi and Bergkamp.
Posted from
United States -
H.Larsson and Zanetti are big under raters , should defo get some recognition
Posted from
United Kingdom
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