The raging debate about who is the greatest footballer of all time among football fundamentalists may have been laid to rest following a list released by Football magazine FourFourTwo which places Argentina and Barcelona talisman, Lionel Messi ahead of arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal.
According to sportbible.com, Diego Maradona has turned 60, but the Argentine idol hasn’t quite got his birthday wish of being crowned the world’s best ever player.
Football magazine FourFourTwo ranked the world’s top 50 players and naturally the elite top 10 provides plenty of debate.
Maradona actually finishes in second place, with FFT assessing: “Just as he inspired Napoli to greatness beyond their natural level, he did so with Argentina at the World Cup in 1986. In retrospect and in truth, most of his teammates were merely adequate.”
Rich praise. Maradona can also take comfort from the fact that he finished one place in front of his long-time rival Pele, who blew out 80 candles on his own birthday cake earlier this month. “The most complete footballer the world has ever produced,” reckon FourFourTwo of the Brazilian icon.
Some might still question his overall impact for national side Argentina, despite his record goal tally. But FFT implore you to ignore the stats and examine the “breathtaking way he controls games. Just watch him: then try to say there’s been someone better.”
Fair enough. His old frenemy Cristiano Ronaldo is in fifth spot, hailed for his unrivalled focus and determination. But is only the second-highest European player on the list after Dutch genius Johan Cruyff.
Overall, Brazilians dominate as you’d expect. Including Pele, there’s 11 in total in the top 50 – enough for a full team (although you’ll have to tell Ronaldinho that he’s got to go in goal).
The highest British player is George Best in 14th, just above his Manchester United teammate: England World Cup winner Bobby Charlton who lands in 19th spot.
There’s also a Scottish star present, a man regarded as Liverpool’s best ever player. No, not Charlie Adam; it’s Kenny Dalglish. Of course it is.
The top 50 is listed below, while you can read FourFourTwo’s full reasoning for each entry here.
Do let us know your thoughts in the comments.
50, Xavi
49, Nilton Santos
48, Michael Laudrup
47, Rivellino
46, Juan Alberto Schiaffino
45, Oleg Blokhin
44, Didi
43, Fritz Walter
42, Matthias Sindelar
41, Gianluigi Buffon
40, Kenny Dalglish
39, Nandor Hidegkuti
38, Gianni Rivera
37, Ruud Gullit
36,Paco Gento
35, Luis Suarez
34, Stanley Matthews
33, Gunter Netzer
32, Paolo Rossi
31, Juan Manuel Moreno
30, Lothar Matthaus
29, Raymond Kopa
28, Socrates
27, Bobby Moore
26, Valentino Mazzola
25, Carlos Alberto
24, Ronaldinho
23, Eusebio
22, Lev Yashin
21, Romario
20, Paolo Maldini
19, Bobby Charlton
18, Giuseppe Meazza
17, Gerd Muller
16, Zico
15, Franco Baresi
14, George Best
13, Marco van Basten
12, Michel Platini
11, Garrincha
10, Ronaldo
9, Ferenc Puskas
8, Zinedine Zidane
7, Franz Beckenbauer
6, Alfredo Di Stefano
5, Cristiano Ronaldo
4, Johan Cruyff
3, Pele
2., Diego Maradona
1, Lionel Messi
