This thing that Platini and Zidane were not really talented... lol

Platini in the Euro tournament he won in 1984 scored 9 goals in 5 games against 5 top teams. It remains one of the most impressive performances I have ever witnessed.

 

I think they are rated quite fairly all-time. It is no European vs South American debate. Winning the WC/multiple CL's undeniably help you to step up into a higher tier of greatness though. I.e Di Stefano is not in the Top 6 without his European Cups.

ZICO had more footy talent in one single solitary pube of his than both Platini and Zidane combined. - FACT!!!
but yet he is considered lesser than the aforementioned pieces of trash!

Between the late-70s and mid-80s, Zico, Platini and Maradona took it in turns in being the best player in the world.

In my personal all-time ranking, Zico is in that bracket of players (alongside Zidane, Platini, Lothar, Muller etc) fighting for a place between positions 8th-15th.

If Zico had won the World Cup in '82 to add to his insane goalscoring/technical ability and club honours, he would be closer to say Di Stefano and Beckenbauer.

FTR, my GOAT tier is (Messi, Pele, Maradona and Cruyff).

but some how some bloody muppets in here rank the Dutch above the Brazilian.

In terms of the greatest strikers it's more clear-cut picture to me.

Tier 1: Ronaldo, Muller
Tier 2: Van Basten, Romario

These are the definitive top 4 strikers of all time for me. An argument can be made for both Van Basten and Romario to lead your attack. Different strengths, different weaknesses, but both extraordinary goalscorers.

 

long summer?

 

Instant repeat:

If we go the Zico route (as in he didn’t win any international trophies)…then Why is MVB ranked higher than Romario? He clearly won the most coveted trophy of all! He netted more goals and played a lot longer?!!!!

 

Do not look at just the numbers, but the weight of the goals too.

Not all goals are created equally.

Van Basten's 90 goals scored in the golden era of Serie A > Romario's 98 goals scored in Holland from the same 88-93* period.

(*Van Basten won the Ballon d'Or 3 times in this era. Look at the quality of the defenders from their respective domestic leagues too.)

Domestic club goals (total value): Van Basten
International career goals (total value): Romario

 

What hurts Romario is that he spent the vast majority of his career playing in Holland and Brazil when both were considered B level leagues. From 1990 - 1998 he should have spent his career in Spain and Italy. What was he thinking?

The Brazilian league during Zico's time was no inferior to the top European Leagues but by the late 80s onwards (Romario's era) the mass exodus of South American players to Europe had started.

 

What hurts Romario is that he spent the vast majority of his career playing in Holland and Brazil when both were considered B level leagues. From 1990 - 1998 he should have spent his career in Spain and Italy. What was he thinking?

 

May as well closed this thread. Everything needed to be said has been.

 

There was plenty of sun sea, chicas and nightclubs in Barcelona, Romario just wanted an easy ride.

 

He fell out with Cryuff. Or Cryuff fell out with everyone.

They could have all waited it out a year and Cryuff would have been sacked.

 

And then he fell out with Valencia

 

Romario was a basketcase

 

No way! He scored more than 3000 goals!

 

Europeons suck at foci. they should stick to transgender ballet dancing.

 

Romario scored 311 league goals.

Only 39 of them were scored in a respected competition.

 

He scored his other 2689 goals on his PlayStation. But they still count.