As I have been studying and researching of players and legends' level of status in football history, I'd like to list the most overrated and underrated players in accordance with these items ;
1) Reputation
2) Awards
3) Regard of Rating
The Most Overrated Players of All-Time
1. Stanley Matthews (Award and Regard of Rating) :
His name has usually been appeared in top 20 best ever. He is not overrated in term of reputation as his remakable characteristic in football history as the greatest-oldest footballer of all-time after recovery a status of footballer from the WW II. In term of ability, he is one of the greatest dribblers and crossers ever but these level of potential finally could be not very highly performed in high standard of competition like major international tournament. His scoring ability is failed for winger role as the secondary responsibility. So many times that winger has a chance to do score in the side area in the appropiated situtation to be better in decision of shooting than crossing. During the 3 seasons between 1949 - 1952, he scored just a goal in 87 domestic club competition games and scored no goal for 21 games in row in seven years with England between 1949 - 1955. It is argue that his best period was the first half 1950s but he was between 35 - 40 years old in referred period that his speed must be much reduced and there were too many world-class candidates for him to be properly considered as the best player of the World in any year. Among top legendary players in the World, he is by far out of standard in term of achievement. 1956 Ballon'Dor give to him for his honor not the best performance in that year. He won his second FWA footballer of the year at 38 years old. This is really suspect that players could reach level the best player of the league in that age.
2. Roger Milla (Regard of Rating)
He is regarded by so many as the third best African players of all-time to Weah and Eto'o and was even appeared in IFFHS World top 50 players of the century. It is as if performance in World Cup is everything for footballer and club career is nothing for this rating. His performance in World Cup was so great but was done against a same level team. I can list at least 10 African players in recent generations better than him in reality, are Weah, Eto'o, Drogba, Yeboah, Essein, Abedi Pele, Okocha, Adebayor, Kanu, Yaya Toure.
3. Arthur Friedenreich (Reputation, Regard of Rating)
The large number of goalscoring statistic in amatuer era is possibly far to be accepted to compare with the professional standard. Friedenreich was too slim for being beleived as a great sporstman. His weight around 52 kg with 170 cm can be imagined that he was not ready to stand the distance in the heavy game. In reality, he may not be good enough in top 50 striker of all-time. The reason I rate him in top 30 because I have no evidence to see his footage to support my idea from assumption to be tangible matter.
4. Carlos Valderrama (Reputation and Regard of Rating)
You can imagine if he would have played football in England. His too bad physical option is a main obstacle for his status level as athlete. His style of play is too limited just base on central midfield area to create short passing. He could not much help the team in defensive game and also not capable to support to score in second attacking line. He was only so good in vision and pass accuracy. Valderrama was also not successful enough in club career to be reasonably regarded in high status. His worldwide reputation is a lot over than his real ability and also acheivement.
5. Kevin Keegan (Award)
I can list at least 50 players having never won Ballon'Dor but better than him and Keegan even won twice and one runner-up. Keegan was a good player but his prime ability is not spectacular as most Ballon'Dor winners posssesses. In 1978, it was not one of his best years but he won Ballon'Dor that is arguable being to compensate 1977 which he finish second place.
Reserved Group
Dino Zoff
Eric Cantona
George Best
Gyula Grosics
The Most Underrated Footballers of All-Time
1) Gaetano Scirea (Award, Reputation)
One of the most popular discussions in history group is "Scirea is better than Baresi". Scirea is close to Baresi in defensive level of ability but is significantly better in offensive skill. However, Scirea never reached any top ten Ballon'Dor and never been selected in any World Cup All-Stars team. Baresi is seemingly a must in top 50 best ever for many while Scirea doesn't get a place.
2) Rivelino (Award)
Rivelino is one of the best technical players of all-time. His level of ability even can raise to be among the best ever. Contrary to his skill, he increadibly won just few trophy in his club career that is a main reason why he never won South American footballer of the year and never been selected in any World Cup all-stars team.
3) Dragan Dzajic (Regard of Rating, Reputation)
If yous have ever seen him played in some record of matches at his prime, there would be so many spectacular scence performed by him. A superb technique and all-round wingers, was one of the best crossers ever and close to be one of the best driblblers ever and also a prolific scorer as a winger, could be considered as a contemporary player with Garrincha as the most completed winger of all-time. Beckenbauer ever said it is unfair selection that Dzajic didn't win Ballon'Dor in 1968, On the other hand, So many football fan in the worldwide even never heard about his name.
4) Michael Laudrup (Award, Regard of Rating)
He is well-known as one of most talent playmakers of all-time but being not fulfilled his supreme level of potential. His performance in Italian Series A seems to fail to international-class for most seasons according to Guerin Sportivo rating. It is partly because of his style of play, was too wide mind to do passing in many situations that can score himself. He reached World-Class performance in la liga during the early 1990s and the level of class should be good enough to be rated in top 3 Ballon D'or in 1992 that he was also great in European Cup. Unfortunately, he didn't play in the 92 Euro which Denmark win the trophy. Otherwise, he would win Ballon'Dor easily.
5. Uwe Seeler (Reputation, Regard of Rating)
He is one of the best examples as one of the least decorative top-class footballers. His performance in Domestic German Competition was rated in around 7 World-Class seasons plus 7 international-class seasons. However, he played many regional games that the standard of competition is a lot lower than Bundesliga. Due to the few trophy in his overall club career, Seeler is always underrated in legendary status.
Reserved Group
Omar Corbatta
Luis Suarez Miramontes
Willem Van Hanegem
Paul Scholes
1) Reputation
2) Awards
3) Regard of Rating
The Most Overrated Players of All-Time
1. Stanley Matthews (Award and Regard of Rating) :
His name has usually been appeared in top 20 best ever. He is not overrated in term of reputation as his remakable characteristic in football history as the greatest-oldest footballer of all-time after recovery a status of footballer from the WW II. In term of ability, he is one of the greatest dribblers and crossers ever but these level of potential finally could be not very highly performed in high standard of competition like major international tournament. His scoring ability is failed for winger role as the secondary responsibility. So many times that winger has a chance to do score in the side area in the appropiated situtation to be better in decision of shooting than crossing. During the 3 seasons between 1949 - 1952, he scored just a goal in 87 domestic club competition games and scored no goal for 21 games in row in seven years with England between 1949 - 1955. It is argue that his best period was the first half 1950s but he was between 35 - 40 years old in referred period that his speed must be much reduced and there were too many world-class candidates for him to be properly considered as the best player of the World in any year. Among top legendary players in the World, he is by far out of standard in term of achievement. 1956 Ballon'Dor give to him for his honor not the best performance in that year. He won his second FWA footballer of the year at 38 years old. This is really suspect that players could reach level the best player of the league in that age.
2. Roger Milla (Regard of Rating)
He is regarded by so many as the third best African players of all-time to Weah and Eto'o and was even appeared in IFFHS World top 50 players of the century. It is as if performance in World Cup is everything for footballer and club career is nothing for this rating. His performance in World Cup was so great but was done against a same level team. I can list at least 10 African players in recent generations better than him in reality, are Weah, Eto'o, Drogba, Yeboah, Essein, Abedi Pele, Okocha, Adebayor, Kanu, Yaya Toure.
3. Arthur Friedenreich (Reputation, Regard of Rating)
The large number of goalscoring statistic in amatuer era is possibly far to be accepted to compare with the professional standard. Friedenreich was too slim for being beleived as a great sporstman. His weight around 52 kg with 170 cm can be imagined that he was not ready to stand the distance in the heavy game. In reality, he may not be good enough in top 50 striker of all-time. The reason I rate him in top 30 because I have no evidence to see his footage to support my idea from assumption to be tangible matter.
4. Carlos Valderrama (Reputation and Regard of Rating)
You can imagine if he would have played football in England. His too bad physical option is a main obstacle for his status level as athlete. His style of play is too limited just base on central midfield area to create short passing. He could not much help the team in defensive game and also not capable to support to score in second attacking line. He was only so good in vision and pass accuracy. Valderrama was also not successful enough in club career to be reasonably regarded in high status. His worldwide reputation is a lot over than his real ability and also acheivement.
5. Kevin Keegan (Award)
I can list at least 50 players having never won Ballon'Dor but better than him and Keegan even won twice and one runner-up. Keegan was a good player but his prime ability is not spectacular as most Ballon'Dor winners posssesses. In 1978, it was not one of his best years but he won Ballon'Dor that is arguable being to compensate 1977 which he finish second place.
Reserved Group
Dino Zoff
Eric Cantona
George Best
Gyula Grosics
The Most Underrated Footballers of All-Time
1) Gaetano Scirea (Award, Reputation)
One of the most popular discussions in history group is "Scirea is better than Baresi". Scirea is close to Baresi in defensive level of ability but is significantly better in offensive skill. However, Scirea never reached any top ten Ballon'Dor and never been selected in any World Cup All-Stars team. Baresi is seemingly a must in top 50 best ever for many while Scirea doesn't get a place.
2) Rivelino (Award)
Rivelino is one of the best technical players of all-time. His level of ability even can raise to be among the best ever. Contrary to his skill, he increadibly won just few trophy in his club career that is a main reason why he never won South American footballer of the year and never been selected in any World Cup all-stars team.
3) Dragan Dzajic (Regard of Rating, Reputation)
If yous have ever seen him played in some record of matches at his prime, there would be so many spectacular scence performed by him. A superb technique and all-round wingers, was one of the best crossers ever and close to be one of the best driblblers ever and also a prolific scorer as a winger, could be considered as a contemporary player with Garrincha as the most completed winger of all-time. Beckenbauer ever said it is unfair selection that Dzajic didn't win Ballon'Dor in 1968, On the other hand, So many football fan in the worldwide even never heard about his name.
4) Michael Laudrup (Award, Regard of Rating)
He is well-known as one of most talent playmakers of all-time but being not fulfilled his supreme level of potential. His performance in Italian Series A seems to fail to international-class for most seasons according to Guerin Sportivo rating. It is partly because of his style of play, was too wide mind to do passing in many situations that can score himself. He reached World-Class performance in la liga during the early 1990s and the level of class should be good enough to be rated in top 3 Ballon D'or in 1992 that he was also great in European Cup. Unfortunately, he didn't play in the 92 Euro which Denmark win the trophy. Otherwise, he would win Ballon'Dor easily.
5. Uwe Seeler (Reputation, Regard of Rating)
He is one of the best examples as one of the least decorative top-class footballers. His performance in Domestic German Competition was rated in around 7 World-Class seasons plus 7 international-class seasons. However, he played many regional games that the standard of competition is a lot lower than Bundesliga. Due to the few trophy in his overall club career, Seeler is always underrated in legendary status.
Reserved Group
Omar Corbatta
Luis Suarez Miramontes
Willem Van Hanegem
Paul Scholes
