Football is one of the most popular games played all over
the world. Every country has its all-time greats who inflamed passions like no
one did. But for all its worth, here is a list of 5 football players like no
other. Necessarily not in the order listed.
# Messi
Scoring the most goals ever in a calendar year (91 goals
in 2012),
catapulted him to a list of legendary players who strike fear in opposition hearts across the globe. The Atomic Flee, as he is lovingly called, is adored by a generation that gets inspired (like one of my friends Harshvardhan Shekhar) to take up footballing boots and imitate his untouchable skills and get overwhelmed by just a single reply to his fans.
catapulted him to a list of legendary players who strike fear in opposition hearts across the globe. The Atomic Flee, as he is lovingly called, is adored by a generation that gets inspired (like one of my friends Harshvardhan Shekhar) to take up footballing boots and imitate his untouchable skills and get overwhelmed by just a single reply to his fans.
# Johan Cruyff
I didn't consider him here, only because of Shantanu
Banerjee (who writes here) who advised me to check his videos on YouTube, did
he make the list. The impact he had on the game with his introduction of Total
Football introduced versatility in the game had never seen before. The control on the ball on a single touch is a
stuff of legends.
# Maradona
He had to be on the list, didn't he? A player who led a
starry life on the field and off it, he inspired the whole world to take up
football when he single-handedly guided Argentina to the Football World Cup.
Maybe the Hand of God is a disgrace, but his exploits had to get a mention.
# Pele
Superlative skills and team work took him to dizzying
heights in the top. A player who not only scored goals but was also an integral
part of their build ups, he was inspirational for both clubs and his national
team. But just as a collection of notes do not make a Beethoven symphony;
statistics cannot capture the majesty of this glorious player. This was
football played to a samba beat. Beautiful skills, astonishing speed and ball
control - and of all those great players in the yellow and green shirts, Pele
was the greatest of them all.
# Baichung Bhutia
An Indian player who is a surprise when compared to other
players on the list, Baichung Bhutia, who remained a crowd puller during an era
when Indian football was in a sorry state, primarily makes the list due to his
contribution to the game in the second most populous country in the world. His
efforts in placing India on the world football map, being the only Indian
player to play in two overseas leagues and winning international accolades with
the team are numerous. It will be great to mention his contribution with his
academy which is trying hard to improve footballing standards in India.
This puts the finishing touches to the top players who have
influenced football in a way others haven’t. Do you think I missed out on someone?
Leave it in the comments section. For a collection of photographs which changed
the world visit here.
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the +1 button would be great.
Loved the entire post and your selection of Photographs, Don't know one thing "where the Hell is CR 7 (Christiano ronaldo) and what the hell is baichung bhutia doing here? anyways loved the other posts, keep up the brilliant work.
ReplyDeleteBaichung Bhutia is a player who is always trying to pioneer a change in a country of 1.02 Billion people with a substandard Football team. What else need we say to justify him here. :)
DeleteCR 7 hasn't changed football as such. he's more of a possession freak, unlike Messi.
What about Zinaden? Ronaldo (Both)? The Kaiser? Bobby Charlton? Five is not enough with such greats in the field ....... twenty would be more suitable ....... the five you listed is OK with me .... if you say Baichung then what about Chuni and PK?
ReplyDeleteI looked across every spectrum and then came down to the list. Zidane was magical on the ball, no doubt but I can't find the reasons strong enough to place him on the list. The same is with both Ronaldo(s). Baichung I feel has contributed in a much bigger way than any other Indian footballer till now. His academies are already being hailed across the country.
DeleteYou couldn't have missed out a player of Zidane's class.
ReplyDeleteFrance already had a rich football culture when Zidane came on the scene.
DeleteHow can you not put greats like Platini and CR 7 there?? I don't know the criteria here as such but still... And who is this Bhutia?? Never heard of him!!
ReplyDeleteBhutia was the captain of the Indian Football Team.
DeleteI was just researching for one of my coming posts when i landed on to this post of yours. Just curious to know - Why don't you have Ronaldo on your list? I mean, Messi v/s Ronaldo is the biggest topic of debate, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIf you look at it, Ronaldo is highly dependent on his team to create opportunities for him. He is a gifted finisher, no doubt, but needs his team to set it up for him. That's not the case with Messi. He's someone who has been doing both by himself for quite sometime now.
Delete