Your top 10 players of all time?

After Messi's sensational showing against Bayern in which he scored 5 goals, it begged the question as to wether Messi is the greatest player to have ever lived.

It could be based on ability or acheivements. Your choice. Who do you think are the top ten footballers of all time?

1.Messi
2.Maradona
3.Pele
5.Zidane
5.Cruyff
6.Ronaldo (Brazil)
7.Platini
8.Beckenbaur
9.Ronaldinho
10.Xavi

Dont think its fair to judge on highlights or reputation so I havent put the likes of Pele or Maradona in as I've only seen highlights (was only 10 when Maradona played in WC 86'and can only remember the obvious goals) so this is based on me watching them live in the flesh or full games on TV etc.


In no order:
Messi
Zidane
Barnes
Xavi
Maldini
Bergkamp
Rivaldo
Ronaldo (Brazil)
Van Basten
Ronaldinho

1.Zidane
2.Messi
3.Maradona
4.Pele
5.Ronaldinho
6.C.Ronaldo
7.Ronaldo
8.Cruyff
9.Xavi
10.Rivaldo

1. Pele
2. Maradona
3. Messi
4. Zidane
5. Cruyff
6. Ronaldo (Brazil)
7. Van Basten
8. Platini
9. Beckenbauer
10. Ronaldinho

Shock horror 10 best lists that dont include defenders or keepers (Maldini aside)

Shock horror 10 best lists that dont include defenders or keepers (Maldini aside)

I guess you missed Beckenbaur in the opening post who made his name as a defender.

I'll only comment on the time since I've been watching football (around 1998). Futile for me to try to get before that, even though there are your generally accepted ones.

Zidane
Ronaldinho
Fat Ronaldo
Messi
Henry
Gerrard
Ladyboy Ronaldo
Xavi/Iniesta (they're one person to me)
Pirlo
Kaka

I guess you missed Beckenbaur in the opening post who made his name as a defender.

No seen his name there not really a centre half in my view more of a sweeper, handiest role in football that , not taking away from the man being top top class though.

Pet hate of mine top 10 lists or top 20 lists being nothing but strikers or creative midfielders

I can only say the ones I have seen ..

1. Messi
2. Gerrard
3. Zidane
4. Luiz Ronaldo
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
6. Ronaldinho
7. Kaka
8. Henry
9. Xavi
10. Bergkamp

They are not in order. The numbers are just to make sure there's 10!

No seen his name there not really a centre half in my view more of a sweeper, handiest role in football that , not taking away from the man being top top class though.

Pet hate of mine top 10 lists or top 20 lists being nothing but strikers or creative midfielders

Ahhh, I see. Beckenbaur was still a defensive minded player though. He was an incredible player and the best player playing as a sweeper.

Top 10 in my lifetime watching football (2000 onwards):

1. Messi
2. Gerrard
3. Henry
4. Zidane
5. Xavi
6. C Ronaldo
7. Iniesta
8. Raul
9. Ronaldo
10. Figo

Xavi/Iniesta (they're one person to me)

What like Batman/Bruce Wayne or Ant/Dec 

Messi
Ronaldo (Christiano)
Ronaldo (Real)
Zidane
Ronaldinho
Maradonna
Pele
Cruyf
King Kenny
Michel Platini

Gestano Scirea
Booby Moore (Granddad's choice, always telling me one of the best players ever)
Paolo Maldini
Lothar Matthaus
Pele
Johan Cruyff
Maradona
Lionel Messi
Kenny Dalglish
Pat Jennings

For what its worth only an opinion

Maradonna  simply un playable

Pele just shaded by the above

Messi Has not done it on the biggest stage yet
 
Best   might have been a manc but a magician with the ball
 
Cruyff  magic with the ball

Zidane at the very top in his era made it look easy

Beckenbaur  right out of the top drawer

Ronaldo  the world cups leading goal scorer  enough said

Rummenigge  another top german

Jairzinho  incredible energy and skill to boot.

From players I have actually seen:

Messi, Ronaldo, C. Ronaldo, Gerrard, Xavi, Iniesta, Zidane, Cannavaro, Raul, Henry.

Tough call but I'll have a go, players are in no particular order

1. Messi
2. Shearer
3. Fowler
4. Henry
5. Hyypia
6. Ronaldinho
7. Kanchelskis
8. Gerrard
9. Schmeichel (Pete)
10. Alonso

Tough call but I'll have a go, players are in no particular order

1. Messi
2. Shearer
3. Fowler
4. Henry
5. Hyypia
6. Ronaldinho
7. Kanchelskis
8. Gerrard
9. Schmeichel (Pete)
10. Alonso

Your not biased at all

Your not biased at all

To be fair top 10 is based upon the games I have seen in my generation, that just happens to be a lot of Liverpool games!

From players I've seen watching football about 1988 onwards

1 - Zidane
2 - Henry
3 - Messi
4 - Gerrard
5 - Iniesta (can't believe he's only been mentioned 3 times)
6 - Xavi
7 - Figo
8 - Ronaldinho
9 - Ronaldo (irritating ex Manc one but he's some player)
10 - Baggio

Honourable mentions to Hagi, Stoichkov, Klinsman, Zola, Maldini, Del Pierro, Ronaldo, Romario, Owen, Giggs and Torres (would have him in the top 10 easy if it weren't for the last 2 years)

No Zico?

in the last 10 years or so

Messi
Iniesta
Xavi
Fat Ronaldo
Manc Ronaldo
Bergkamp
Henry
Gerrard
Maldini
Cafu

I haven't seen as much of the pre-90s generation but mine would be:

Messi
Xavi
Ronaldinho
Henry
Bergkamp
Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Zidane
Maradonna
Gerrard