The Offside 100: 2000-09

By: Rob | November 4th, 2009

As I let you know back when I posted up this year’s FFT100, I’m a bit of a junkie for lists. They are utterly meaningless, and yet compelling at the same time.

With it being the end of the decade, there are tonnes of lists of the best albums, films, videos, celebrities etc floating around. I saw that bandwagon, and dived on it. Why should we be different?

So here’s your chance to take part in a big Offside vote. Basically, I want your top 20 players of the decade. Doesn’t matter if they played one game or all decade, if you think they’re worthy, vote them.

A couple of groundrules. No berating one another’s lists. Debate is fine, but “OMG HOW CUD U PICK LAMPARD HE IS SH!T!!!!” is not.

Second, format it 1-20, best to least best.

Other than that go nuts. You can pick anyone you think is worthy of the list. And while comparing positions is hard, just treat it as a bit of fun, thats all its here for. If you wanna keep your vote secret, email me at Weekends[at]theoffside[dot]com

That’d be groovy.

So will you go for Zidane or Henry? Will you remember Ronaldinho and Sheva’s glory days? How will today’s crop, Messi, Ibra and C-Ron do?

It’s all up to you. Voting is open until next weekend.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: World Football

Tags: Decade, Del Piero, Henry, Ibrahimovic, Messi, Offside Vote, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Shevchenko, Top 100, Totti, World Football, zidane

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• ish |  November 3rd, 2009 at 2:41 am

  
  
  

  1. Ronaldo(brazilian)
  2. Zidane
  3. Ronaldinho
  4. Messi
  5. Maldini
  6. makalele
  7. cafu
  8. buffon
  9. viera
  10. roberto carlos
  11. van basten
  12. George Weah
  13. figo
  14. cannavaro
  15. Kahn
  16. kaka
  17. Ruud Van Nisterlroy
  18. ballack
  19. c.ronaldo
  20. henry

  as a chelsea fan im ashamed that i couldnt fit lampard or drogba in but what can i say thats a fair representation of the best 20 players from 1990 onwards imho

  Posted from United States

  

• Alperinho |  November 3rd, 2009 at 3:12 am

  
  
  

  From 1999 to 2009

  1. The Real Ronaldo
  2. Zizou
  3. Ronaldinho
  4. Rivaldo
  5. Del Piero
  6. Raul
  7. CR7
  8. Messi
  9. Figo
  10. Overmars
  11. Henry
  12. Gerrard
  13. Lampard
  14. Cannavaro
  15. Puyol
  16. Kaka
  17. Ballack
  18. Cafu
  19. R. Carlos
  20. Robbie Fowler

  Roon, Ibra-Kadabra, Lahm, Evra, Ruud, Totti, Hakan Şükür, Hagi, Pascal Nouma, İlhan Mansız, Pauleta, Pirlo, Gattuso, Xavi, Iniesta and many more deserve a spot in this 20 person list…

  They are not necessarily in order, just the 20 best I can think of.

  The Dream Team

  —————Buffon——————
  Cafu—–Puyol——-Cannavaro—Carlos
  Figo———-Vieira———–Overmars
  ————–Zidane——————-
  ———Ronaldo—-Raul—————

  4-1-2-1-2

  Posted from United States

  

• Xavier |  November 3rd, 2009 at 4:32 am

  
  
  

  1. Zidane
  2. henry
  3. rivlado
  4. gerrard
  5. cr7
  6. ronaldinho
  7. old ronaldo
  8. messi
  9. maldini
  10. figo
  11. george weah
  12. rooney
  13. batistuta
  14. terry
  15. viera
  16. buffon
  17. r. carlos
  18. Beckham
  19. brad friedel (i know seems weird but along with jaskeleinen most consistent prem goalie of these years)
  20. kaka

  Posted from United States

  

• Xavier |  November 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 am

  
  
  

  actually just realised my memory playing tricks on me and weah, (and maybe batigoals) best days were b4 2000. Weah off the list, everyone moves up one, with eto moving up.

  Posted from United States

  

• sandrahn |  November 3rd, 2009 at 7:46 am

  
  
  

  Andres: “Actually zidane’s champions league was that of the 2002-03 season and the liga tittle he won was from 03-04″

  You are INCORRECT. The CL final that Real Madrid won v. Bayer Leverkeusen in which Zidane scored the competition’s best goal was in May 2002: http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2001/intro.html

  The last Liga title the Galacticos won was in May 2003: http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Club/1193041516802/PalmaresTotal/Honours.htm

  Posted from United States

  

• Andres |  November 3rd, 2009 at 9:16 am

  
  
  

  Sandrahn lol I know he’s won it in 02 I don’t any research to tell m,e that I watched the game live
  And just for future references when people say 02-03 season it means they’re talking about 2002 going to 2003 with that said I’m willing to make it the 2001-02 season

  Posted from United States

  

• john |  November 3rd, 2009 at 11:44 am

  
  
  

  1. Zidane
  2. Ronaldo I
  3. Ronaldinho
  4. Makelele
  5. Xavi
  6. Henry
  7. Kaka
  8. Cannavaro
  9. Casillas
  10. Roberto Carlos
  11. Iniesta
  12. Raul
  13. Inzaghi
  14. van Nistelrooy
  15. Buffon
  16. M. Diarra
  17. C. Ronaldo
  18. Gerrard
  19. Maldini
  20. Vieiri

  I’m already looking back at my list and wondering how Cafu, Lampard, Pirlo are not on it, but I guess since I’m never going to be satisfied, I’ll go with my gut generated list and admit it to be far from perfect. In defense of Mahamadou Diarra’s inclusion, his first nod on this post: 6 titles in six years. Surely warrants recognition.

  7. Kaka

  Posted from United States

  

• john |  November 3rd, 2009 at 11:46 am

  
  
  

  That last bit was a typo – or Kaka’s ghost being incredulous about his ranking. Also, just realized that not a single German was on my list. Doing a quick scan of the other lists posted, it seems player rankings aren’t too kind to the Bavarian nation.

  Posted from United States

  

• john |  November 3rd, 2009 at 11:48 am

  
  
  

  Oh! And F-ing David Villa isn’t on my list! sigh. I give up.

  Posted from United States

  

• Yevy |  November 3rd, 2009 at 11:51 am

  
  
  

  At this point I really wish I qualified my list with a word other than “accomplishment”. I never meant to turn this into a trophy-counting exercise. I wanted my top 20 to be made up of players who dominated matches and were feared by their opponents for the majority of this decade.

  Now, by either criteria Zidane deserves to be on this list. I left him off for two reasons. One, the 90s Zidane of Juventus and the 98 WC was a force of nature and is much preferred in my mind to the Galacticos and 06 WC incarnation. Two, it seems everyone else has Zidane in their top 3 and many at number 1. I doubt he’ll miss my vote.

  Posted from United States

  

• Hondo |  November 3rd, 2009 at 2:14 pm

  
  
  

  1.Totti
  2.Litmanen
  3.Henry
  4.Ronaldo
  5.Zidane
  6.Raul
  7.Casillas
  8.Ronaldinho
  9.Fabregas
  10.Xavi
  11.Bergkamp
  12.Rivaldo
  13.C. Ronaldo
  14.Cannavaro
  15.Messi
  16.Lampard
  17.Roberto Carlos
  17.Nistelrooy
  18.Batistuta
  19.Buffon
  20.Morientes

  Posted from Finland

  

• Hondo |  November 3rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm

  
  
  

  Yeah.. And Torres and maybe Kaka also.

  Posted from Finland

  

• TheoTaylor |  November 3rd, 2009 at 3:12 pm

  
  
  

  I’m sorry but Alperinho’s post has to win some sort of prize. Managing to get Ilhan Mansiz’s name even near a top 20 players of 99/09 list is a fantastic achievement. For your dedication to all things Turkish, I salute you.

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• LeoBarnsley |  November 4th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

  
  
  

  As Cristiano Ronaldo has been shoved down our throats by Sir Alex Ferguson and the media, I don’t really think he should be named the number 1 player, . Since I’ve only been familiar of World Football since 2002 (I’m currently 18) you might not agree with some.. but here goes -

  01. Lionel Messi
  02. Kaka
  03. Ronaldinho
  04. Fabio Cannavaro
  05. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
  06. Cristiano Ronaldo
  07. Fabio Cannavaro
  08. Didier Drogba
  09. Ruud van Nistelrooy
  10. Peter Schmeichel
  11. Rivaldo
  12. David Beckham
  13. Raul
  14. John Terry
  15. Xabi Alonso
  16. Gianfranco Zola
  17. Frank Lampard
  18. Roberto Carlos
  19. Zinedine Zidane (best in the ’90’s but still oozed class later)
  20. Samuel Eto’o

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• MoMONEY |  November 4th, 2009 at 9:53 pm

  
  
  

  1. Zidane

  then
  …everyone else.

  And CR7 is not in the top 15 at all. Ask yourselves this- if John Terry makes that PK is he even being considered for this list??? To me thats an absolute NO. Remember Adebayor has scored 30+ goals and IMO he doesnt deserve to be in the same vicinity as this list…

  And Zidane is the best by a longshot and that is coming from an Arsenal fan. I love Henry but they were both on the same French team and it was pretty clear who was the more special player…

  Posted from United States

  

• alex w |  November 4th, 2009 at 10:33 pm

  
  
  

  i feel like cronaldo and messi are higher on peoples lists because there aren’t many GREAT players nowadays to compare them with. when you look at what ronaldinho and zidane did on the pitch, and compare the influence of messi and cronaldo… they just arent as good. NOBODY currently playing is as good. imo xavi comes closest for match influence.

  Posted from United States

  

• Julian |  November 4th, 2009 at 11:09 pm

  
  
  

  I haven’t been watching for long enough to give a full top 20, but here’s my top 5:
  1. Zidane. On another world entirely.
  2. Fat Ronaldo
  3. Buffon
  4. Maldini
  5. Henry

  Posted from United States

  

• MoMONEY |  November 4th, 2009 at 11:49 pm

  
  
  

  Yes I tend to agree with alex W. Messi and Ronaldo are two great players but they arent nearly as influential as a true great playmaker like Zidane or Ronaldinho. People quickly forget how friggin good dinho was for those few years at barca…

  Posted from United States

  

• ricci |  November 5th, 2009 at 12:36 am

  
  
  

  1. Zinedine
  2. Ronaldo, fat
  3. Nedved
  4. Sheva
  5. Totti
  6. Raul
  7. Eto’o
  8. Henry
  9. Ronaldinho
  10. Maldini
  11. Makelele
  12. Cannavaro
  13. Pirlo
  14. Figo
  15. Roberto Carlos
  16. Michael Owen
  17. Rooney
  18. Stevie G
  19. Ronaldo, thin
  20. Xavi
  21. Del Piero
  22. Batistuta
  23. Seedorf
  24. Davids
  25. Zanetti

  this list is impossible to put together, tried to get most of the older guys on there instead of the young bucks

  Posted from United States

  

• ricci |  November 5th, 2009 at 12:45 am

  
  
  

  honorable mentions
  Pires, Ribery, Giggs, Bergkamp, Lamps, Nesta, Becks, Essien, Iniesta, Villa, Torres, Ballack, Crespo, Xabi, Forlan, Kewell, Thuram, Makaay, Ruud etc etc

  Posted from United States

  

• Drew |  November 5th, 2009 at 1:33 am

  
  
  

  Okay, can’t resist putting down at least ten.

  1. Zidane
  2. Fat Ronaldo
  3. Messi
  4. Javier Zanetti (yes, I’m biased)
  5. Roberto Carlos
  6. Christian Vieri
  7. Buffon (in spite of my bias)
  8. Kaka
  9. Ibra
  10. Henry

  Posted from United States

  

• Ken |  November 5th, 2009 at 5:06 am

  
  
  

  I don’t like ppl keeps calling “fat” Ronaldo.
  He is the game’s legend afterall.
  Do honour him by at least call him with his real name.

  Posted from Singapore

  

• Ben |  November 5th, 2009 at 5:19 am

  
  
  

  1. Zidane
  2. Giggs
  3. Ronaldhino
  4. Henry
  5. Figo
  6. Makelele
  7. Kaka
  8. Ronaldo
  9. C Ron
  10.Scholes
  11.Bergkamp
  12.Gerrard
  13. Roberto Carlos
  14. H Larsson
  15. Maldini
  16. Seedorf
  17. Xavi
  18. Messi
  19. Eto’o
  20. Cafu

  Posted from Switzerland

  

• pfelds |  November 5th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

  
  
  

  1. Zissou Zidane
  2. Ronaldinho
  3. Ronaldo (BRA)
  4. Kaka
  5. Buffon
  6. Messi
  7. C-Ron
  8. Gerrard
  9. Henry
  9. Figo
  10. R. Carlos
  11. Maldini
  12. Van Nistelrooy
  13. Lampard
  14. Casillas
  15. Del Piero
  16. Rooney
  17. Raul
  18. Terry
  19. Viera
  20. Ballack

  Posted from United States

  

• Rob |  November 7th, 2009 at 6:40 am

  
  
  

  Voting is now closed! Thanks everyone, results will be up this afternoon.

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

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