Big Question: Which World Cup Teams Feature their All-Time Best Player?
For the past month we’ve been asking some of the Big Questions in advance of the World Cup. I think today’s might just be one of the best yet. If you look at all the teams in the tournament this year, which ones feature their country’s all-time greatest player? This rules out teams like Argentina, which have many great players but no one greater than Maradona. England, Brazil, Germany, France and Netherlands are also ruled out. So which teams are left?
Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine – Oleg Blokhin is one of the best ever, but he played for the Soviet Union and never for Ukraine. Shevchenko has to be considered the best in Ukrainian history.
Paulo Wanchope, Costa Rica – He’s the country’s all-time leading goal scorer and one of the few Ticos to make a name internationally. He might not be in his prime anymore, but he is as close to a legend as we can come up with for Costa Rica.
Didier Drogba, Cote d’Ivoire – We admit we aren’t all that familiar with the last 30 years of football in Cote d’Ivoire but we can’t come up with a better player than Drogba.
Al Deayea, Saudi Arabia – The guy has more caps than anyone else and has been a fixture for Saudi Arabia for three World Cup finals.
Pavel Nedved, Czech Republic – There is probably someone better from the Czechoslovakia days, but Nedved is the top cat for independent Czech Republic.
Put on your thinking cap and let me know who is missing or who shouldn’t be here. If you need a little help you can take a glance at the very subjective and somewhat outdated FIFA 100 list of best living player.
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 31 comments.
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By Pedro P | April 6th, 2006 at 6:43 am 
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.
Posted from 
Netherlands
By Ryan | April 6th, 2006 at 7:03 am 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.
Posted from 
Australia
By Mont | April 6th, 2006 at 7:09 am 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.
Posted from 
Mexico
By Mike | April 6th, 2006 at 7:31 am 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.
Posted from 
United States
By Luis Paulo | April 6th, 2006 at 7:59 am I’m not familiar with Iran football history but I don’t remember they having a better player than Ali Karimi.
By Luis Paulo | April 6th, 2006 at 8:02 am 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.
By Bob | April 6th, 2006 at 8:55 am 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.
By Pedro P | April 6th, 2006 at 9:15 am 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?
Posted from Netherlands
By Luis Paulo | April 6th, 2006 at 9:29 am 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.
By Kris | April 6th, 2006 at 9:35 am 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.
Posted from United States
By Kris | April 6th, 2006 at 9:40 am 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)
Posted from United States
By PeterG | April 6th, 2006 at 9:59 am 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?
Posted from United States
By Pedro P | April 6th, 2006 at 10:38 am 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.
Posted from Netherlands
By Luis Carlos | April 6th, 2006 at 1:56 pm 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.
Posted from Mexico
By Greatest All-Time Angola Player? - FIFA World Cup 2006 - Angola World Cup Team Blog | April 6th, 2006 at 2:14 pm [...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Leave aReply [...]
Posted from United States
By Chris | April 6th, 2006 at 4:28 pm 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?
Posted from United States
By Massimo | April 6th, 2006 at 4:52 pm 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).
Posted from United States
By Trev | April 6th, 2006 at 7:00 pm 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.
Posted from Australia
By Winners and Losers of the World Cup Week - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 Blog | April 7th, 2006 at 5:09 pm [...] Fans: This summer we’ll get to see many teams that feature their all-time best player. [...]
Posted from United States
By jonathan | April 7th, 2006 at 8:28 pm Ronaldhino…
He’s much better than Pele.
Posted from United States
By Euler | April 8th, 2006 at 1:49 am 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.
By RONALDINHO | February 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm PELE KAKA RIVALDO RONALDO RONALDHINO PELE ADRIANO ROBINHO ARE THE BEST SOCCER
PLAYER IN THE HISTORY OF FUTBOL
Posted from United States
By RONALDINHO | February 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm IKNOW RONALDINHO IS MUCH BETTER THAN PELE
Posted from United States
By RONALDINHO | February 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm GERMANY SUCKS
Posted from United States
By RONALDINHO | February 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm BRAZIL RULES
Posted from United States
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