On December 11th 2000, FIFA dropped the ball in a manner that only FIFA could and shamelessly named both Pele and Diego Maradona as Co-Players of the Century. Ever since we’ve all taken part in, and been subject to, an absolute litany of banality about who the true greatest is and why one is better than the other. Until recently I still took part in this debate and as most who have debated this long enough, my answer has changed a few times. In attempting to break down the different criteria for what makes up the greatest footballer to ever grace Earth, Uranus, and Saturn, What I came to realize was that not one of those included in the discussion was at the top of each category. So, in my pseudo-utopian mind of smiles, sunshine, and unicorns, I’ve decided that there is not one single greatest player ever, there are 5 who share that distinction and all for different reasons. There will of course be those that disagree with this classification, the debate will inevitably continue for the foreseeable future.
Well then, here we go. In chronological order of playing careers, here are the 5 greatest footballers of all-time:
“The Original”
PELE: Football’s flagship, the sport’s first global icon, the man who if there was a World Football Hall of Fame would be the inaugural inductee. While I do not give as much weight to his reported 1280* career goals, embellished or not, being anywhere in that range during any era is a remarkable tally. The asterix is because that number contains goals from non-competitive club matches including international tours with Santos and the New York Cosmos, and a few games Pelé played in for armed forces teams during his national service in Brazil. For me, what speaks most to how dominating Pele was in his time is that if he played in today’s game, though he would not be as outstanding, would still be what is considered a world class player. To have that said about any player after 35 years of player evolution is extraordinary. The first legend is always going to be in the discussion for greatest ever no matter how much time passes. Edson Arantes do Nascimento better known as Pele will always be a figure sitting on football’s Mount Olympus.
“The Natural”
DIEGO MARADONA: Quite simply the most naturally gifted footballer ever. Period. Not in any way blessed with special physical attributes other than great hair, the game just came so unbelievably easy to him. Playing in the generation just before the financial “Great Leap Forward”, a time where passion and love for the game was paramount to fans and players alike, no player evoked as much raw emotion as Maradona. He was a one man opera. A deity in his own time. The best way to sum up Maradona is the song sung for him by Napoli supporters and even his own teammates at the time: "O mamma mamma mamma, o mamma mamma mamma, sai perché mi batte il corazon? Ho visto Maradona, ho visto Maradona, eh, mammà, innamorato son" which loosely translates to “mama do you know why my heart is beating? I’ve seen Maradona and I’m in love”. Let me reiterate that his own teammates would sing this! Despite his shortcomings as a man, a professional, and a public figure, anyone who saw him play will never forget what they were blessed to witness.
Oh, not to mention that he’s the only player to have a pseudo religion created in his name. Iglesia Maradoniana has a 10 commandments and everything, that has got to count for something.
“The Maestro”
ZINEDINE ZIDANE: Far and away the most graceful player we’ve ever seen. Poetry could be written about the grace at which Zidane painted football pitches throughout his career. Boasting the most well-rounded resume on this list with a World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, a series of League and Cup trophies, and 31 different individual awards including a Ballon D’or and three FIFA World Player of the Year Awards. He was the attacking midfielder for all-time, the number 10 of number 10s. He made every player that played alongside him better for having done it and was the central figure is every trophy for club and country during his career. He played his best on the biggest stage, scoring winning goals in World Cup and Champions League finals. Zinedine Zidane was football’s Beethoven, the ball his baton, his teammates were his orchestra, and we were his privileged audience. A Maestro for the ages.
“The Creator”
RONALDINHO: A close 2nd to Maradona as the most naturally gifted player ever, lacking only the fluidity of “El Pibe”, he is the most creative and innovative player of all-time. In essentially just four years on top of the world, 2003-2007, he won 5 club trophies including a Champions League, as well as 10 individual accolades highlighted by two FIFA World Player of the Year awards. Though he is well past his prime now, at his best he created and improvised on the pitch constantly while maintaining the level of consistency and efficiency to dominate opposition and be the best in the world. His career is will best be defined by his 2005-06 season where he arguably played at the single highest level of football ever seen. There was no player at the time in the same stratosphere as Ronaldinho and nobody who entertained more. Every match was an circus and he was the Ringmaster. Spellbinding technique, the ruthless efficiency of 29 goals and 21 assists, applauded of the pitch by Real Madrid fans in the Santiago Bernabeu (an honour only previously bestowed on Maradona), and a Champions League crown. I firmly believe that had Ronaldinho circa 2006-06 played in the current edition of Barcelona, he would fairly easily score 40-50 goals while putting on more of a show than Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.
“The Fulfilled Prodigy”
LIONEL MESSI: 24 years old. 235 career goals. 34 individual awards. 18 club trophies. An Olympic Gold Medal. Messi is the very definition of efficiency in world sport. Playing in an era where his not yet having won a World Cup is a fruitless argument against him, he is simply too young and has too much of his career left for people to feel comfortable calling him the best ever. He is already Barcelona’s all-time leading goal scorer and is continuously obliterating ever record in his path. He can potentially beat La Liga’s single season goal record this year and as soon as next year hold the Champions League goal record. In theory, he is still three or four years away from his prime, if he can manage to improve at all on the simply stunning performances of the last three years, he will surely break every record available to him. By no means a flashy player, he’s not full of stepovers not does he do many flicks or tricks (unless chipping the keeper). He is as diminutive a figure as it gets, yet he is the crown jewel of the sporting world. The world is very fortunate to witness Messi play, lucky for us all is that barring injury he will be around to entertain for at least another decade. The fact that at 24 years of age he on the precipice of being called the best ever only enhances his legend. When we look back on his career, he will in all likelihood be the first players viewed as the single greatest ever beyond any doubt.
Honorable Mentions
There is a second crop of great players (Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff, George Best) but two specific honorable mentions need to be highlighted:
“El Fenomeno”
RONALDO: His was a career tragically plagued by injury. Ronaldo at 20 years old scored 34 league goals in La Liga for Barcelona; a record that stood for 16 years until Messi broke it this season. Making only 24 appearances in a three year stretch through the prime of his career due to two serious knee injuries robbed him of a career that was on pace to be very, very special. After his return in 2002, he won a World Cup and though noticeably overweight for the remainder of his career, he still maintained a strike rate better than a goal every two matches. One of only three players to be a 3-time World Player of the Year winner (Zidane, Messi), as well as the youngest to do it (20 years old), he remains to date the most incredible balance of power, pace, technique, and natural scoring ability. His nickname, “El Fenomeno” is spot on; he was simply phenomenal. Unfortunately, we will forever look back on his career with the question “What if?”.
“The Poster Boy”
CRISTIANO RONALDO: He is the poster boy for the modern footballer. Tall, good looking, physically impressive, and extremely talented. What’s worse is that he knows it. A Ballon D’or and FIFA World Player of the year winner in 2008, Cristiano lethally mixes flashy skills with the goal scoring efficiency better than anyone in history not named Messi. The sole reason why he is not included in the list of greatest ever is because he is playing in the time of Messi. To be on the list you have to be the best in your generation, and while relatively close, there is no mistaking that Messi is the best. Had he played in any other era, he would have golden idols erected in his image. Much like the great players who fell victim to playing in the same era as Michael Jordan, Cristiano is victim to the prodigious magic that is Lionel Messi.
Without affording the Player of the Century award any validity whatsoever, had FIFA grown a pair and named a singular winner, it would by no means have ended the debate for the greatest ever but it would have at least, as in other sports, given someone that distinction for the time being. There are two lessons to learn from all of this, first it that to date it is futile to try and declare one single greatest footballer. Second, when in doubt, blame FIFA.
