Greatest Soccer Players of All Time
Identifying the greatest soccer players of all time is a fool’s errand. Emotions and passions run high among serious football aficiandos. Nationalist bias and prejudice can rear their ugly head. A continental divide exists between Europe and South America. Plus, it is ultra challenging to directly compare players from different eras. Style and pace of play has changed enormously, coaching and pregame preparation has dramatically improved, equipment and playing conditions are superior and world class and highly compensated athletes operate at peak performance levels after rigorous conditioning and training. The overall landscape has changed-mostly for the better- particularly for the players. Selecting the all time greats is still fun though! Let the debate and dialogue begin here.
I arbitrarily establish some ground rules. You can only select players you have actually seen in action - in person, on TV or on tape. This should impact the teams substantially based on your age and when you became a true fan. Second, you must select a full side of 11 and are permitted 7 substitutes. For the starting squad, 1 goalkeeper, 3 defenders, 4 midfielders and 3 forwards. For substitutes, 1 goalkeeper, 2 defenders, 2 midfielders and 2 forwards. There is invariably some poetic license in defining these positions and assigning a player to a particular role since nomenclature and alignments have changed regularly over the decades. Defenders can include sweepers, sidekicks, fullbacks, central backs and wingbacks. Midfielders include Wingers, Playmakers, Advanced Midfielders and Defensive Midfielders. Forwards are attacking forwards or strikers.
I am joined in this initial endeavour by Paul Hahn, age 75, an excellent German professional footballer. He knows the game cold from the mid 1950s. He will provide a “senior” perspective. I represent the middle ground with my soccer viewing experience commencing in the mid 1970s. Finally, Chris Hahn (I think a Generation X dude) who has religiously watched the soccer gods since the mid 1990s.
Don’t shoot us- hold the brickbats and catcalls to a minimum. Input welcome- be civil and constructive.
1.PAUL HAHN SENIORS SQUAD:
Goalkeeper: Lev Yashin.
Defender: Carlos Alberto Torres.
Defender: Franz Beckenbauer.
Defender: Paolo Maldini.
Midfielder: Bobby Charlton.
Midfielder: Lothar Matthaus.
Midfielder: Lionel Messi.
Midfielder: Pele.
Forward: George Best.
Forward: Christiano Ronaldo.
Forward: Gerd Muller.
Substitutes: Gianluigi Buffon(G); Roberto Carlos(D); Andreas Brehme(D); Johan Cruyff (M); Diego Maradona (M); Alfredo Di Stefano (F); Ferenc Puskas(F);
2. WILLIAM MAHONEY DREAM TEAM:
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer.
Defender: Paolo Maldini.
Defender: Franz Beckenbauer.
Defender: Franco Baresi.
Midfielder: Diego Maradona.
Midfielder: Lothar Matthaus.
Midfielder: Zinedine Zidane.
Midfielder: Michel Platini.
Forward: Pele.
Forward: Christiano Ronaldo.
Forward: Lionel Messi.
Substitutes: Iker Casillas (G); Roberto Carlos (D); Lilian Thurman (D); Johan Cruyff (M); Zico (M): Neymar (F); Zlatan Ibraminovic (F);
3.CHRIS HAHN FANTASTIC FOOTBALLERS.
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer.
Defender: Paolo Maldini.
Defender: Franz Beckenbauer.
Defender: Sergio Ramos.
Midfielder: Ronaldinho.
Midfielder:Diego Maradona.
Midfielder: Lothar Matthaus.
Midfielder: Zinedine Zidane.
Forward: Ronaldo.
Forward: Christiano Ronaldo.
Forward: Lionel Messi.
Substitutes: Giancarlo Buffon (G): Cafu (D): Roberto Carlos (D): Toni Kroos (M): Johan Cruyff (M); Pele (F); Neymar (F).
