Tough question. Maybe the two greatest LBS ever. If I have a good defensive team and an average offense I would choose Roberto Carlos. If I have a good offensive team and an average defense I'd choose Maldini.

Technical Ability (ball control, passing) Roberto Carlos.
Tactical Awareness (positioning, game reading) Maldini.
Defensive Qualities (marking, tackling, shielding) Maldini.
Offensive Qualities (goals scored, overlaps, set-pieces) Roberto Carlos.
Physical attributes (pace, balance, strength, stamina) Roberto Carlos.
Character attributes (influence, leadership, composure) Maldini.

 

Technical Ability (ball control, passing) Roberto Carlos.
Tactical Awareness (positioning, game reading) Maldini.
Defensive Qualities (marking, tackling, shielding) Maldini.
Offensive Qualities (goals scored, overlaps, set-pieces) Roberto Carlos.
Physical attributes (pace, balance, strength, stamina) Roberto Carlos.
Character attributes (influence, leadership, composure) Maldini.

Yeah, the same goes here

 

G. Fachetti is superior.

 

Interesting - of the six criteria you give as the basis for comparison, I would give three to Maldini and three to Roberto Carlos. So it's not an easy choice. They are different types and it's horses for courses. Put it this way, it's hard to imagine Maldini playing for Brazil, or Roberto Carlos playing for Italy. On the other hand, as the General implies, Facchetti could have played in any team at any time (as could Djalma and Nilton).

 

Technical Ability (ball control, passing) RC.Not much to comment here.There are few defenders who come close to him in this area
Tactical Awareness (positioning, game reading) Maldini.His strongest area.This is what has made him a legend.He doesn't have to play rough or make crazy tackles.He makes his job with style.
Defensive Qualities (marking, tackling, shielding) Maldini again.
Offensive Qualities (goals scored, overlaps, set-pieces) RC.No other defender can compete with him in this area.
Physical attributes (pace, balance, strength, stamina) Even.Maldini's strength, size and aerial ability gives him an edge in defensive aspect, as RC's pace, stamina and balance are well-suited to his attacking style, making his crazy runs up and down the left wing.
Character attributes (influence, leadership, composure) Maldini wins here, there's no doubt that he is far more influential player in his team than Roberto Carlos in Real.

 

Roberto Carlos - Most overrated players to ever play football. His shooting is abysmal, about one goal every 50 shots, can't really defend, can't cross, can't even see his talent.

Maldini - Total legend, one of greatest players football has ever produced, still performing amazingly at this age, such an inspiration to all.

 

Roberto Carlos - Most overrated players to ever play football. His shooting is abysmal, about one goal every 50 shots, can't really defend, can't cross, can't even see his talent.

Maldini - Total legend, one of greatest players football has ever produced, still performing amazingly at this age, such an inspiration to all.

i agree

 

I think Maldini is better. Mainly because he is a real left back, but he's the best left back there's been in a long time.

 

I'd like to bring out one observation in the technical aspect of Maldini's game that makes him as good as, or even better than Roberto Carlos in that aspect.

Maldini passes with both feet, equally comfortable with both and switches to the other foot immaculately. One thing you will observe abt Maldini's game, whenever he plays, he covers more ground horizontally across the pitch than RC does, regardless if he starts at LB or CB. He would also dirft in the area around the middle of the pitch and come across to the center circle too. When he does that, he's at his most dangerous as he would display his fine game-reading by coming across, his solid defensive qualities by making a timely tackle and then spotting over-the-top long passes (one of his unnoticed quality) to hold possesion/open the game up/switch flanks. And he takes these passes with both feet, displaying his fine technical qualities.

As for the offensive aspect, RC displays more of this than Maldini, but I think in his yonger days, Maldini has done as much as RC did down the left flank, and scored a few himself. Good thing is that, his goals are of a much more variety than RC.

 

As for the offensive aspect, RC displays more of this than Maldini, but I think in his yonger days, Maldini has done as much as RC did down the left flank, and scored a few himself. Good thing is that, his goals are of a much more variety than RC.

RC attacking skills are very overrated. He can't cross a ball, so he's pretty useless in that regard, his shots are not that good. Maldini in his prime offered more going forward, as well as (and this bit is the key here), being able to defend to a world class level.

 

RC attacking skills are very overrated. He can't cross a ball, so he's pretty useless in that regard, his shots are not that good. Maldini in his prime offered more going forward, as well as (and this bit is the key here), being able to defend to a world class level.

I don't really share that sentiment, although I am one of those who says his free kicks are over-rated.

What I meant by that was, if a team has RC on it, they can effectively spare an extra player in attack, midfield or defense. This was how Del bosque managed to win 5 titles in his short 4 year tenure with Real.

RC covers the whole left flank, using his pace and stamina to go up and down. On the attack, he takes advantage of his pace to get behind the backline and whip in a short cross/cut-back. This allows Zidane to drift inside. Zidane doesn't need to worry abt the left flank coz Makalele has it covered and also, RC can run back to the center of the pitch from his previous attacking position quickly. On the counter attack, RC will go down the flank with pace, he has good enough ball control to not lose the ball on the run. This factor (pace and stamina) alone, with good tactical arragements, makes RC a very dangerous player offensively. As an individual he does not offer much offensively - I agree - , but when played in a proper system, he can be very lethal.

He may not be as clinical as many of us would want/expect, but those shots are unpredictable and could end up to be crucial sometimes.

 

maldini, carlos gets ahead of himself. he goes up to attack etc, tries to do fancy stuff and sometimes that can backfire.

 

Maldini - Total legend, one of greatest players football has ever produced, still performing amazingly at this age, such an inspiration to all.

:kiss:

 

I would take Paolo Maldini. I believe he is a more complete player all round. He can do all the jobs a left-back needs to. Roberto Carlos however, is not good at the back. He is a wingback or even a winger who plays at left-back.

 

ROBERTO CARLOS, without a doubt.

 

PAOLO MALDINI, without a doubt.

 

Maldini.

Roberto Carlos has pace...nothing more.

 

Maldini.

Roberto Carlos has pace...nothing more.

Summed up nicely, i don't really see why people think R.Carlos is better than Maldini, its a joke to even compare them.

 

What's wrong comparing two great leftbacks? Maldini is greater in your opinion depor but what's wrong in discussing why is one better than the other?

As much as Maldini is better in tackling, RC still has the pace over him. As much as Maldini is assured in possesion with both feet, RC displays more of his technical abilities in a match. with good application (except the stupid overhead clearance, LOL that was one of the stupidest football goof ever).

Here we discuss, we don't really decide, so everybody knows as much as everbody else's does.

And in case you wondering, I'm for Maldini.

 

Bobby Carlos for me, he attacks more

 

This is a better debate rather than cole one :rollani:

Maldini - Total legend, one of greatest players football has ever produced, still performing amazingly at this age, such an inspiration to all.

:thmbup:

 

Maldini.

Roberto Carlos has pace...nothing more.

bingo! :heart:

if roberto carlos weren't brazilian, nobody would rate him that high

 

bingo! :heart:

if roberto carlos weren't brazilian, nobody would rate him that high

that's silly p

 

Technical Ability (ball control, passing) Carlos
Tactical Awareness (positioning, game reading) Maldini
Defensive Qualities (marking, tackling, shielding) Maldini
Offensive Qualities (goals scored, overlaps, set-pieces) Carlos, although maldini has scored some beuties in his time.
Physical attributes (pace, balance, strength, stamina) Maldini
Character attributes (influence, leadership, composure) Maldini

Maldini!

 

On the physical attributes aspect, I'd say both of them are equal.

For Maldini's strength and large physique, Carlos has higher stamina and pace. Both have equal balance IMO. Focusing on Carlos's pace without giving him the credit that his balance and stamina deserves is unfair. You say Maldini doesn't attack as much, but he can attack as much too. But then you won't say Carlos does defend sometimes, and take it as a fact that he CAN'T defend. As much as Carlos needs Maldin's defending abilities, Maldini needs Carlos's pace too.

Here's an interesting scenario. Let's say your team are being caught on the break, and you two centrebacks are on their asses falling down to the tricks of the opponents wingers. Who would be able to track back quickly and provide some emergency cover to your exposed keeper, Carlos or Maldini?