Big Question: Which World Cup Teams Feature their All-Time Best Player?

Claudio Reyna — USA

I assume we’re talking field players here, otherwise I’d put Kasey Keller up there too. Say what you want about Walter Bahr or Billy Gonsalves or Freddie Adu, but Claudio Reyna is the greatest American soccer player ever.

Bob,

Well, it ain’t Poland, either, and o how much we’d like Zibi to make a Jordanesque comeback…Although the tournament may settle arguments regarding who the best living Polish goalkeeper is, with the battle for top spot between Boruc (Celtic) and Dudek (Liverpool).

Unfortunately, the FIFA 100 is about to become a bit more outdated as well. Ferenc Puskas of those great 1950s Hungarian teams (and later Real Madrid) has been terminally ill for some time.

I would add either Dwight Yorke or Russel Latapy for Trinidad & Tobago.

How about Daei or Karimi from Iran?

I would also guess that some of the Australian players might be considered the best yet in the country, though I dare not mention names as I don’t know much about the country’s 20th century football history.

Well Mexico has had a lot of good keepers, so with “La tota” Carbajal, who was in 5 world cups, Jorge Campos and el Conejo Perez, I think Oswaldo, as good as he is, won’t make the list.

We also have had a lot of good midfielders and Strikers like: Hugo Sancez, Alberto Garcia Aspe, Luis Hernandez, Luis Garcia, Cuauthemoc Blanco, Raúl Cárdenas, and some more.

So, I know we are talking of the best player, period. I think that Mexico has the all time best defender/midfielder with Rafa Marquez.

I think it is a very close race between Eusebio and Luis Figo and it depends on the performance of the inter star this sommer.

Ronaldinho for brazil, greatest player ever!!! = greatest player for brazil

If Ronaldinho is going, why is Brazil out? They say Pele is not better.

Who’s France’s best? Platini or Zidane?

In this sense, Portugal is also out because nobody hasd yet reached The King’s status.

In any case, Figo has undoubtebly been one of the best of the best (for POR) and it’s good he’ll be there.

Harry Kewell is undoubtedly the finest player Australia has ever produced. The great Johnny Warren (former Socceroo captain and ambassador for Australian football) recognised it and so would most commentators. There would be a few Melbournians who might suggest Mark Viduka is a better player… but either way they’ll both be there, taking Australia through to the Semi Finals.

In fact, I would venture that the current crop of Socceroo stars including Marco Bresciano of Parma (one of the leading goal-scorer midfielders in the Serie A), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesborough’s super consistent keeper), Tim Cahill (Everton’s midfield dynamo), Lucas Neill (Blackburn), Brett Emerton (Blackburn) and Craig Moore (former Rangers captain, now at Newcastle) are all amongst the best players Australia has produced. They are a team who can match anything out there and have the spirit to cause upsets.

I’ll take the 2000 Zidane over the 1982 Platini any day.

I agree with Gus, T&T is bringing their best player ever in York.

I immediately thought of Brazil too. I would think that Ronaldinho is a more complete player. I don’t know if he is better than Pele though.

Why is Pele considered the best? Ronaldo has more World Cup goals…I’m just trying to work up some controversy.

I’m not familiar with Iran football history but I don’t remember they having a better player than Ali Karimi.

Hey Pedro, who says Pelé is not better?

Here in Brazil we don’t even DARE to compare any one to Pelé. We skip him out of compares. And Brazilian consider Garrincha our 2nd best player ever.

Ronaldinho is considered so great that he is among Zico, Rivelino, Romário, Didi but never Pelé.

I had Dwight Yorke on my list but forgot to write about him in the post. Would say he is best ever for T&T.

Karimi is an interesting one. I don’t know enough about Iran’s football history to say for sure he is their best.

That’s what I thought (Pele). But I seem to have read somewhere that the brazillians are +/- giving him the same status. I’m surelly NOT saying Ronaldinho is better than Pele. :-)

What about Angola?

Pedro, there is always someone who says that. They compared Robinho with Pelé before, and Ronaldo and so many others.

But 90% of the brazilian people don’t even pay attention on those things.

True soccer fans from Brazil know in their heart that Ronaldinho is better than Pele they are just afraid to say it since they are still trying to hold in their hearts that Pele is better than Maradona which is also false. If you want to say Ronaldinho might have a chance to be better than Maradona than you have to admit already that he is a better player than Pele hahaha.

Sorry for the double post but I will say it for pedro cuz i know he wants too. In most aspects of the game Ronaldinho is better than Pele… Touch, Passing, Vision, Creativity, Leadership, physical strength to hold off defenders. Shooting might be equal and the only thing I can give Pele over Ronaldinho is Heading the ball. And to all the brazilians out there You may have the “King of Soccer” but remeber who is the “God of soccer” (DiegO)

Definitely Emanuel Adebayor of Togo and Akwa of Angola, maybe also Carlos Gamarra of Paraguay (OK, Chilavert may have been better, but he was a keeper) and Hidetoshi Nakata of Japan?

It’s the same in Portugal with Eusebio. Pauleta broke his goals record, but he could have dubbled it or even trippled it. It wouldn’t matter. He would not get a statue for that. Eusebio did. It takes so much more to become a legend. Even when they (the players) talk about him, a cloud of reverence covers their faces and a smile appears in their eyes, cos the guy is always there giving support.

He also went yesterday to support Benfica against Barcelona.

When you talk of all time best players, you consider their participation and glory in World cups. Last WC Ronaldinho was great, and a big influence in their glory, but was no match to Ronaldo to be considered the best player in the world cup.

Ronaldinho is the best player in the world right now, and is months away to become one of the best ever, after Germany.

I guess we’ll have to wait until after the world cup to start the comparisons between Pele and Ronaldinho.

If things go as everybody expects, and Brasil wins their 6th world cup, then we can talk of good ‘ol Ronaldinho.

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While the current crop of Aussie players have had more international success, what about Craig Johnston? He paved the way for all that followed to Europe. Does that make him the greatest player we’ve ever produced?

Germany has their best player ever, but on the bench as their coach.

As for all those asian teams (except Japan), anyone can gain the reputation as their best player ever as long as they don’t score against themselves, (Goalkeepers could probably allow some own goals and still be in the running for best player ever).

Drogba! baah ha ha ha! my god. the only way the guy scores is if he trips over the ball and the keeper happens to not save it. Kolo Toure is a fair better player then Crapba.

[...] Fans: This summer we’ll get to see many teams that feature their all-time best player. [...]

Ronaldhino…

He’s much better than Pele.

Thank God (the real one) nobody said anything against Kris beliefs. Some things are better left unsaid.

I agree with Luis Carlos, if Brazil wins with Ronaldinho’s talent, Pele’s position will be challenged.

PELE KAKA RIVALDO RONALDO RONALDHINO PELE ADRIANO ROBINHO ARE THE BEST SOCCER
PLAYER IN THE HISTORY OF FUTBOL

IKNOW RONALDINHO IS MUCH BETTER THAN PELE

GERMANY SUCKS

BRAZIL RULES