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Best South American players - 2000s

18K views 145 replies 20 participants last post by  Odiseo  
#1 · (Edited)
This thread will be the first of a series of the Best South American players by position in each decade.
South American players - 90s
South American players - 80s
South American players - 70s
South American players - 60s
South American players - 50s
South American Players - prewar era

The general idea will be:
1) Divide each decade into 3 eras: early / mid / late
2) Each role had a long list of +/- 10 players.
3) At least a player nominated should have had a big impact in his local league at that time.
4) Main support to rated players will be individual awards.
Sources and references will be welcome.

So, i'm hoping everyone can enjoy and made insights and suggestions
 
#2 ·
Early 2000s

The list began with the top South American players in the period 2000-02in the most recognized awards worldwide.

Players nominated for FWPY & Ballon d'Or awards

Keepers
Cordoba (Col / Boca)

Right Backs
Cafu (Bra / Roma)

Stoppers

Sweepers/CBs
Lucio (Bra / B.Leverkusen
Edmilson (Bra / Lyon)

Left Backs
Roberto Carlos (Bra / Real Madrid)

Defensive Mids
Simeone (Arg / Lazio)

Center Mids
Veron (Arg / Lazio-Man.Utd)
Redondo (Arg / AC Milan)

Side Mids
Ronaldinho (Bra / PSG)

Attacking Mids
Rivaldo (Bra / Barcelona)
Recoba (Uru / Inter)
Aimar (Arg / Valencia)
Gallardo (Arg / Monaco)

Forwards
C.Lopez (Arg / Lazio)
Saviola (Arg / River-Barcelona)

Strikers
Batistuta (Arg / Roma)
Ronaldo (Bra / Inter)
Crespo (Arg / Lazio)
Jardel (Bra / Galatasaray)
Elber (Bra / B.Munich)
S.Anderson (Bra / Lyon)


Note: Players in bold font had no points in elections
 
#4 · (Edited)
Adding players nominated in elections less recognized.

IFFHS GKs + El Pais rankings + ESM teams

Keepers
Cordoba (Col / Boca)
Chilavert (Par / Strasbourg)
Marcos (Bra / Palmeiras)
Taffarel (Bra / Galatasaray)
Rogerio (Bra / Sao Paulo)
Carini (Uru / Danubio)
Saja (Arg / San Lorenzo)
Helton (Bra / Vasco)

Right Backs
Cafu (Bra / Roma)
Arce (Par / Palmeiras)
Ibarra (Arg / Boca)

Stoppers
Bermudez (Col / Boca)
Samuel (Arg / Roma)
Lembo (Uru / Nacional)
C.Ayala (Par / Velez)
Coloccini (Arg / Alaves)
Juan (Bra / B.Leverkusen)
Junior Baiano (Bra / Vasco)

Sweepers/CBs
Lucio (Bra / B.Leverkusen)
Yepes (Col / River)
Gamarra (Par / Flamengo)
P.Montero (Uru / Juventus)
I.Cordoba (Col / Inter)
G.Milito (Arg / Independiente)
Edmilson (Bra / Lyon)

Left Backs
Roberto Carlos (Bra / Real Madrid)
Zanetti (Arg / Inter)
Sorin (Arg / Cruzeiro)
Serginho (Bra / AC Milan)
Placente (Arg / River)
Athirson (Bra / Flamengo)
F.Dominguez (Arg / Velez)

Defensive Mids
Serna (Col / Boca)
Simeone (Arg / Lazio)
Emerson (Bra / Roma)
JC.Caceres (Par / Olimpia)
Gilberto Silva (Bra / Cruzeiro)
Vampeta (Bra / Corinthians)

Center Mids
Veron (Arg / Lazio-Man.Utd)
Redondo (Arg / AC Milan)
Kleberson (Bra / Paranaense)
JC.Enciso (Par / Olimpia)
Ricardinho (Bra / Corinthians)

Side Mids
Ronaldinho (Bra / Gremio-PSG)
Juninho Paulista (Bra / Vasco)
Ortega (Arg / River)
Orteman (Par / Olimpia)
Denilson (Bra / Betis)
Djalminha (Bra / Depor)
F.Magallanes (Uru / Def.Sporting)
Alex (Bra / Flamengo)
F.Insua (Arg / Independiente)
Romagnoli (Arg / San Lorenzo)
D.Montenegro (Arg / Independiente)

Attacking Mids
Rivaldo (Bra / Barcelona)
Riquelme (Arg / Boca)
Aimar (Arg / River-Valencia)
D'Alessandro (Arg / River)
Kaka (Bra / Sao Paulo)
Recoba (Uru / Inter)
Gallardo (Arg / Monaco)
Grisales (Col / At.Nacional)
Diego (Bra / Santos)

Forwards
Saviola (Arg / River-Barcelona)
C.Lopez (Arg / Lazio)
Robinho (Bra / Sao Paulo)
M.Delgado (Arg / Boca)
Tevez (Arg / Boca)
J.Castillo (Col / Velez)
Abreu (Uru / Cruz Azul)
Silvera (Arg / Independiente)

Strikers
Batistuta (Arg / Roma)
Ronaldo (Bra / Inter)
Crespo (Arg / Lazio)
Romario (Bra / Vasco)
Cardozo (Par / Toluca)
Jardel (Bra / Galatasaray)
Palermo (Arg / Boca)
Elber (Bra / B.Munich)
S.Anderson (Bra / Lyon)


Note: Players added in bold font, doesn't make the top-10 in El Pais election
 
#5 · (Edited)
Adding other cracks, this would be a provisional list for 2000-02:

Keepers
Cordoba (Col / Boca)
Chilavert (Par / Strasbourg)
Marcos (Bra / Palmeiras)
Mondragon (Col / Metz-Galatasaray)
Taffarel (Bra / Galatasaray-Parma)
Rogerio (Bra / Sao Paulo)
Carini (Uru / Danubio)
Saja (Arg / San Lorenzo)
Ibañez (Per / Cienciano)
Calero (Col / Pachuca)

Right Backs
Cafu (Bra / Roma)
Arce (Par / Palmeiras)
Ibarra (Arg / Boca)
De la Cruz (Ecu / LDU-Hibernian)
Vivas (Arg / Arsenal-Inter)
Mancini (Bra / A.Mineiro)

Stoppers
Samuel (Arg / Roma)
Bermudez (Col / Boca)
Lembo (Uru / Nacional)
C.Ayala (Par / Velez)
Coloccini (Arg / Alaves)
Juan (Bra / Flamengo)
Pocchetino (Arg / PSG)
Junior Baiano (Bra / Vasco)
Cris (Bra / Cruzeiro)

Sweepers/CBs
R.Ayala (Arg / Valencia)
Lucio (Bra / B.Leverkusen)
Yepes (Col / River)
Gamarra (Par / Flamengo)
P.Montero (Uru / Juventus)
I.Cordoba (Col / Inter)
G.Milito (Arg / Independiente)
I.Hurtado (Ecu / Tigres-Barcelona)
Rebosio (Per / Cristal-Zaragoza)
Edmilson (Bra / Lyon)

Left Backs
Roberto Carlos (Bra / Real Madrid)
Zanetti (Arg / Inter)
Sorin (Arg / Cruzeiro
Serginho (Bra / AC Milan)
Placente (Arg / River)
Caniza (Par / Lanus-S.Laguna)
Athirson (Bra / Flamengo)
F.Dominguez (Arg / Velez)

Defensive Mids
Serna (Col / Boca)
Simeone (Arg / Lazio)
Emerson (Bra / Roma)
JC.Caceres (Par / Olimpia)
Gilberto Silva (Bra / Cruzeiro)
Vampeta (Bra / Corinthians)
Mauro Silva (Bra / Depor)

Center Mids
Veron (Arg / Lazio-Man.Utd)
Kleberson (Bra / Paranaense)
JC.Enciso (Par / Olimpia)
M.Assuncao (Bra / Roma)
Ricardinho (Bra / Corinthians)
Marcelinho (Bra / S.Paulo-O.Marseille)

Side Mids
Ronaldinho (Bra / Gremio-PSG)
Juninho Paulista (Bra / Vasco)
Solano (Per / Newcastle)
Kily Gonzalez (Arg / Valencia)
D'Alessandro (Arg / River)
Ortega (Arg / River)
Orteman (Par / Olimpia)
Denilson (Bra / Betis)
Ze Roberto (Bra / B.Leverkusen)
Djalminha (Bra / Depor)

Attacking Mids
Rivaldo (Bra / Barcelona)
Riquelme (Arg / Boca)
Aimar (Arg / River-Valencia)
Kaka (Bra / Sao Paulo)
Recoba (Uru / Inter)
Juninho Pernambucano (Bra / Vasco-O.Lyon)
Gallardo (Arg / Monaco)
Grisales (Col / At.Nacional)
Diego (Bra / Santos)
Romagnoli (Arg / San Lorenzo)

Forwards
Saviola (Arg / River-Barcelona)
C.Lopez (Arg / Lazio)
Robinho (Bra / Sao Paulo)
M.Delgado (Arg / Boca)
Tevez (Arg / Boca)
Ailton (Bra / Werder Bremen)
A.Delgado (Ecu / Necaxa)
Angel (Col / River-Aston Villa)
R.Santa Cruz (Par / B.Munich)
J.Castillo (Col / Velez)

Strikers
Batistuta (Arg / Roma)
Ronaldo (Bra / Inter)
Crespo (Arg / Lazio)
Romario (Bra / Vasco)
Cardozo (Par / Toluca)
Jardel (Bra / Galatasaray)
Palermo (Arg / Boca)
Elber (Bra / B.Munich)
Pizarro (Per / Werder Bremen)
S.Anderson (Bra / Lyon)
 
#9 ·
Thanks mate!

Cafu was best south american RB playing overseas & Arce the best playing here. And both were clearly above the rest in SA.

And for Sorin-2001, maybe? But, considering 2000-02 era, R.Carlos was miles above, for sure.

BTW, i feel that i'm missing more class defenders :hopeful:
 
#16 ·
IMO Arce was better than Cafu in that period.. the guy put the ball were he wanted.
But that period was no doubt also the best that Cafu ever played...he was immense for the Roma team that won the Scudetto. Of course also the captain of the WC team...

Although I think Zanetti has overall had the better career, for those first years of the millennium I rank Cafu over him.
 
#11 ·
world class quality in Brazil we din't have many at the time.


You can add Fabio Luciano (corinthians)... but not a world class defender... good and solid and that is about it.

Juan (Flamengo) later would play for Roma. He was already good for Flamengo.

Alex - santos... 2002... would later play for Chelsea. His partner was a bit shacky.... Andre Luiz, but with him they played well together.... the partnership was nicknamed the "twin towers" .

Luisao from Cruzeiro.... played Copa America 01 with Felipao and then really established himself in 2002 to 2003 in Cruzeiro.


Check the Gremio line up from the time... they always have some good defenders.
 
#17 ·
Yes, your probably right Kafka. Cafu had a good scheme and a good team with him in Roma and most of the attacks down the flanks were with him.

Probably making the mistake on the year.... probably 95/96 Arce was the better right back.... not on 2000/2001 which is the period we are talking about.
 
#18 · (Edited)
...honourable mention

Lionel Andrés Messi
Forward
FC Barcelona (Spain)
2007-2012
Argentina

Sergio AgĂĽero
Striker
Atlético Madrid (Spain)
Manchester City F.C. (England)
2007-2012
Argentina

Edinson Cavani
Forward
U.S. CittĂ  di Palermo (Italy)
S.S.C. Napoli (Italy)
2008-2012
Uruguay

Ezequiel Iván Lavezzi
Forward
S.S.C. Napoli (Italy)
2007-2012
Argentina

Dani Alves
Right Back
Sevilla FĂştbol Club S.A.D. (Spain)
FC Barcelona (Spain)
2003-2012
Brazil

Alexsandro de Souza
Attacking Midfielder
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube (Brazil)
Fenerbahçe S.K. (Turkey)
2002-2012
Brazil

Rogério Ceni
Goalkeeper
SĂŁo Paulo Futebol Clube (Brazil)
Brazil

Luis Suárez
Forward
AFC Ajax (Holland)
Liverpool F.C. (England)
2007-2012
Uruguay
 
#22 · (Edited)
Ze, is you're refering to Marcelinho Carioca, he had only 3 caps w/Brazil, that's flawless for him, IMO. He'll compete for a spot w/likes of Djalminha, Alex & F.Magallanes.

About Edilson & Luizao, i really don't know if they were good enough in early 2000s to replaced, let's said Jairo Castillo or Santa Cruz, Roque is in the edge due to his few matches in Bundesliga, but was great at NT.

I think that Jardel deserves to be in, since was in their prime, winnning 2 Golden Boot in Europe and beating foreign goalscoring record in Portuguese league (Cubillas had the old-record if i remember well)

I also doubting to put Vivas, since he passed his prime and was sub in Premiership at that time.
 
#23 ·
Ze, is you're refering to Marcelinho Carioca, he had only 3 caps w/Brazil, that's flawless for him, IMO. He'll compete for a spot w/likes of Djalminha, Alex & F.Magallanes.

About Edilson & Luizao, i really don't know if they were good enough in early 2000s to replaced, let's said Jairo Castillo or Santa Cruz, Roque is in the edge due to his few matches in Bundesliga, but was great at NT.
Don't mind me, but do any of these players have any business being in a best of -list? Djalminha, Alex, and Santa Claus, I guess, but the rest are a bunch of almost-weres, sorta-goods and 15-minuters. Surely South America can do better? If not, maybe the list should be smaller, cuz these guys have no business being in the same list with the truly great names on that list.

Stay cool, Ze. :smileani:
 
#34 ·
Edilson and Luizao are world cup winners.
They are both on the slot of Brazilian players playing in the brazilian league in 2000. I imagine you din't know that, after all your knowledge of Brazilian football is totally based on wikipedia.


harokin, i grew up in Britain dude... been to more premiership games that you have in your lifetime and met many players along the way:thumbsup:

Even been to a quarter final of a CL, something i doubt you have. After all, Finland has no tradition in football.:thumbsup:


Know can oyu please let a SOUTH AMERICAN thread roll..... your fixation with bashing south american players is very irritating to say the least.
 
#35 ·
I forgot about Edilson and his amazing WC-pedigree. Half a game of being the worst player on the pitch against Costa Rica. What a worldbeater. :thumbsup:

Sad to realise your years in Britain didn't give you any insight or respect for the European game. :thmbdown:

BTW, we've been discussing South American players all the time. You're the fool who insists on bringing the amazing Litmanen into every discussion. I've got as much right to bash South American players as you do to bash European players. If that irritates you, you now understand what you look like to the outside world. At least my bashing is based on something besides prejudices.
 
#39 ·
Sorry, I forgot those games. Always the worst player on the pitch. Can't say he's not consistent, at least.

Used a different site than Wikipedia, though. :)


Dude that first goal from Lit Mano was shit, tried to watch the video but its just a collection of penalty kicks :howler: and some long range goals. Not impressed :nono:
Why am I not surprised to see you jump into the defence of your lady love after he's once again made an ass of himself?

Thanks for ruining another thread with nonsense, kids. :thumbsup:
 
#38 ·
Ze, come on...Giggs and George Best aren't worse than, say, Kleberson just because they never played in a World Cup. You know that Litmanen was a brilliant player and somebody playing a handful of minutes in a WC winning team doesn't make him better...
 
#40 ·
Kajoo

Can you delete all posts in this page of the thread after Harokin came in.

The guy basis his footballing opinion on wikipedia of players he has never even seen play.

This thread is too good to be garbaged out like this by someone that is only here to bash south american players.

Thanks
 
#44 · (Edited)
Reviewing Bola de Prata award and line-ups from Copa America 2001. I had make some changes:
- Name in Juninho Pernambucano to Playmakers list.
- Move D'Alessandro to side mids and push Solano up.
- Name out Alex (AM & ST are by far the depth in talent)
- Name in colombian Miguel Calero instead Helton.

I was thinking include some colombian/ecuadorian defender.
 
#45 · (Edited)
msioux

Brazil was awful in that competition.

Alex was very good in 2000.... in his spell in Flamengo he was very bad (as the whole team),

Then in 2002 he was very good also, when he was back in Palmeiras. Even scoring this classic goal.

jdp2qzVGaDc&feature=related

In 2000, he was probably our best player in that historical campaign on the pre-olympic.... scoring beauties against the Argies.


xeu67E6q-Hw

Then in 2003 he had his best year in the Brazilian pitch, with Cruzeiro
> being the main man on the team of Cruzeiro's only Brazilian title
 
#62 ·
It seems that Alex best years were in the late 90s and the mid 2000s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexsandro_de_Souza

BTW, if anybody wants to make room for him in the early 2000s, which player would be out and why?
I never saw Alex's Brazil years, but I would make an argument that for the whole of the past decade Alex has been tremendous, especially from 2004-2008. He captained Brazil to a Copa America title in 2004, led Fenerbahce to the league title in 2005 and 2007 and the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2008. He averaged about 20 goals and 19 assists since he moved to Fener in 2004.
 
#48 · (Edited)
Mid 2000s

This list considered the better South American players for 2003-06 years.

Firstly i named players who were nominated in:
+ Fifa World Player of the Year
+ Balon d'Or
+ IFFHS GKs
+ El Pais rankings
+ ESM teams

Keepers
Dida (Bra / Milan)
Abbondanzieri (Arg / Boca)
Rogerio Ceni (Bra / Sao Paulo)

Right Backs
Cafu (Bra / Milan)
Zanetti (Arg / Inter)
D.Alves (Bra / Sevilla)
Belletti (Bra / Barcelona)

Stoppers
Samuel (Arg / Roma)
Lucio (Bra / B.Munich)
Cris (Bra / O.Lyon)
Alex (Bra / PSV)

Sweepers/CBs
R.Ayala (Arg / Valencia)
Lugano (Uru / S.Paulo)
Naldo (Bra / Werder)
Luisao (Bra / Benfica)

Left Backs
R.Carlos (Bra / R.Madrid)

Defensive Mids
Mascherano (Arg / River)
Emerson (Bra / Roma-Juventus)

Center Mids
Cambiasso (Arg / Inter)
Gago (Arg / Boca)

Side Mids
Ronaldinho (Bra / Barcelona)
Méndez (Ecu / LDU)
Marcelinho Paraiba (Bra / Hertha)
Alex Sousa (Bra / Cruzeiro / Fenerbahce)

Attacking Mids
Kaka (Bra / Milan)
Riquelme (Arg / Villarreal)
Juninho Pernambucano (Bra / O.Lyon)
Aimar (Arg / Valencia)
Diego (Bra / Werder)

Forwards
Tevez (Arg / Boca)
Robinho (Bra / R.Madrid)
AĂ­lton (Bra / Werder B)
Forlán (Uru / Villarreal)
Palacio (Arg / Boca)
Saviola (Arg / Barcelona)
+Messi (Arg / Barcelona)

Strikers
Ronaldo (Bra / R.Madrid)
Adriano (Bra / Inter)
Cardozo (Par / Toluca)
Elber (Bra / B.Munich)
Crespo (Arg / Milan-Inter)
Fred (Bra / O.Lyon)
D.Milito (Arg / Zaragoza)
W.Pandiani (Uru / Depor)


Note: Messi, was class player in 05-06 & 06-07 seasons, but not be considering in final list, due to his lack of matches.
 
#67 ·
This list considered the better South American players for 2003-06 years.

Firstly i named players who were nominated in:
+ Fifa World Player of the Year
+ Balon d'Or
+ IFFHS GKs
+ El Pais rankings
+ ESM teams

Keepers
Dida (Bra / Milan)
Abbondanzieri (Arg / Boca)
Rogerio Ceni (Bra / Sao Paulo)

Right Backs
Cafu (Bra / Milan)
Zanetti (Arg / Inter)
D.Alves (Bra / Sevilla)
Belletti (Bra / Barcelona)

Stoppers
Samuel (Arg / Roma)
Lucio (Bra / B.Munich)
Cris (Bra / O.Lyon)
Alex (Bra / PSV)

Sweepers/CBs
R.Ayala (Arg / Valencia)
Naldo (Bra / Werder)
Luisao (Bra / Benfica)

Left Backs
R.Carlos (Bra / R.Madrid)

Defensive Mids
Emerson (Bra / Roma-Juventus)

Center Mids
Cambiasso (Arg / Inter)

Side Mids
Ronaldinho (Bra / Barcelona)
Méndez (Ecu / LDU)
Marcelinho Paraiba (Bra / Hertha)
Alex Sousa (Bra / Cruzeiro / Fenerbahce)

Attacking Mids
Kaka (Bra / Milan)
Riquelme (Arg / Villarreal)
Juninho Pernambucano (Bra / O.Lyon)
Aimar (Arg / Valencia)
Diego (Bra / Werder)

Forwards
Robinho (Bra / R.Madrid)
AĂ­lton (Bra / Werder B)
Forlán (Uru / Villarreal)
Saviola (Arg / Barcelona)
+Messi (Arg / Barcelona)

Strikers
Ronaldo (Bra / R.Madrid)
Adriano (Bra / Inter)
Elber (Bra / B.Munich)
Crespo (Arg / Milan-Inter)
Fred (Bra / O.Lyon)
D.Milito (Arg / Zaragoza)
W.Pandiani (Uru / Depor)


Note: Messi, was class player in 05-06 & 06-07 seasons, but not be considering in final list, due to his lack of matches.
Cicinho was much better than Beletti and Daniel Alves at the time.