Lahm.

Well, he's the first name that occurred to me.

Lizarazu played during the 21st century but I suppose his best years were before then.

 

Lahm.

Well, he's the first name that occurred to me.

Lizarazu played during the 21st century but I suppose his best years were before then.

He was a left back

 

Zanetti for me, than Cafu and than Alves in his prime.

 

for me the choice is between JZ and Lahm...the 2 cool Brazilians Cafu and Alves IMO all in all were not solid enough defensively, i'd take Maicon over them.

 

no Thuram and Puyol as I try to avoid double entries here (they both appeared on CB poll) and they didn't really play that many games on the position, less than 20% of total career matches in both cases...clearly CB being their true calling.

that's too bad because for me, he is the best in that position.

 

cafu easy.

please take daniel alves off, that man is a fraud.

 

Alves was unbelievable for Sevilla and for years at Barcelona, certainly not a fraud

 

Peak-wise, I'd say Maicon was the best. His run in 2009-10 season was great. Historically great, IMO. After Mourinho's departure, he lost his focus sadly.

I don't see a case for Cafu against Zanetti. Zanetti has the advantage in both quailty and steadiness department.

Voted for Zanetti. I don't see why anyone would pick any name over Zanetti with any reason. This one should be like Nesta dominating the CB thread.

 

Surprisingly Cafu had more seasons in this century than I thought. He and Zanetti are tough to argue against. Still Lahm and Alves are generational players. Let me be clear here too, of a different generation for me than the aforementioned Cafu and Zanetti.

Maicon? Shouldn't even be on the list.

 

I saw Maicon at City and can honestly say I'd be more inclined to vote for Sun Jihai than him

 

Lol

 

Lahm played too much on the LB and now even midfield. Gona go with Cafu, longevity and also played always with smile on his face, great attitude and great role model. JZ is of course there as well. Sagnol never established himself for France which puts him below, great club career at Bayern, but also compred to those previous ones he ended career too early/young, of course injury issues also. Ramos plays too much center back to be considered these days. Maicon came and went, flew by, one day up there, next down under a rock. Alves also somewhat inconsistent, degraded a bit during career. Neville had a great career to admire for but i never considered him up there with the very best. Compared to Cafu and JZ he looks meh.

 

Definitely Lahm. Zanetti and Cafu may have had better careers but much of those were in the 90s.

 

Lahm doesnt even play RB these days. Played DM this world cup, plays DM for Bayern under Pep, played LB in 2006 world cup.

Century: 2001-

Lahm only break through 2006.

Cafu and JZ both much in 90s? They were very successful actually in the 00s. Cafu hadnt won anything before 2000 in europe. Likewise with JZ.

 

JZ.

 

1-Cafu
2- Zanetti
3- Lahm
4- Maicon
5- D.Alves

 

I don't think anyone touches peak Alves.

Especially 2006/2007 Alves, utterly immense for Sevilla.

 

Cafu had many more great seasons from Brazil 95 to Roma 01-02 to Milan 04-07
Plus he was key for Brazil 98, 02 and 06

 

You can't look past Zannetti really.

 

Mentioning any seasons from 1995 to 1999 of course isn't relevant.

It's a 21st century poll.

 

That's an "extra" even if you would think Alves ahd anything closer to Cafu and Zanetti in skillset

 

Probably not Zanetti, longevity wise he smashes it and should deservedly win the poll.

Just voted for Alves 'cos at his peak he was my favourite. (and still think peak Alves was the best out of the lot, but he's dipped in the last few years)

Always thought Cafu was over-rated tbh.

 

Probably not Zanetti, longevity wise he smashes it and should deservedly win the poll.

Just voted for Alves 'cos at his peak he was my favourite. (and still think peak Alves was the best out of the lot, but he's dipped in the last few years)

Always thought Cafu was over-rated tbh.

Sorry but your "thought" was not up to reality

FACT,
Alves was not even a sure starter for a weak Brazil teams (2010-now) and Cafu were 4 WC's player + captain to win a WC

Brazil 94-06 >> Brazil 10-15

 

Nothing wrong with that.

Maicon was a top RB in those days, no?

 

Nothing wrong with that.

Maicon was a top RB in those days, no?

well if Alves was that great like you said .. he should be chosen as starter for Brazil ahead of Maicon, no? that's something wrong

 

It should be Zanetti for longevity, and Cafu huge career overall, but I'm going to vote for Alves simply because he impressed me in individual seasons in ways neither of those two did, he absolutely CARRIED Sevilla and Barca from his flank at his height, never seen a fullback dominate as much as he did offensively and dont think I will ever do (his tandem with Messi is AMAZING). It diminishes him that he wasnt that great for Brasil, but seriously, I wont quickly forget around 2005 til he started declined, he absolutely ate up oppositions from his flank:


5W07LUU7izs


If this guy was a better more focused and dedicated model professional (ala Zanetti, Cafu) he would have been even more insane and prolonged his peak even further.

 

Club and NT situations can differ.

If you don't think Alves was an utterly fantastic RB from the mid to late 2000s, then it's your own wrong spastic opinion.

 

you should wonder of your own decision to claim Alves as "best RB" LOL
He was never one ... he was just a very good player who was LUCKY to perform in a greatest Barca team taht's all
He was well exposed in WC14 for Brazil

NT is different from club but it showed a greater talent (at WC level)
Playing for club is MUCH EASIER (practice every week and 40weeks a year)

 

Well, the best Alves i ever saw was with Sevilla.

So his reputation certainly isn't based on being lucky to perform for the greatest Barca of all time, as you put it.

06/07 Alves for Sevilla is still his best version, as Osman says utterly owning the whole of the right-hand on a consistent basis.

 

well then you should go back and watch Cafu with Roma from 01 to 02? and then Milan 04-05

It's so clear no one touched Cafu in right back position (probably only Thuram in late 90s = outside the subject)

 

Small note that really is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, but Ramos should not be in this poll. He should be in the CB poll, but doesn't stand a chance in either.

 

Daniel Alves is The worst Brazilian right back starter that I have had the displeasure to see in my lifetime.

He can't clean Leandro, jorginho, cafu, or Maicon boots

This guy is the biggest fraud ever. Lucky he played in a super team and with messi

 

This guy is the biggest fraud ever. Lucky he played in a super team and with messi

That doesn't explain his superhuman displays for Sevilla in the 06/07 season catapulting them to nearly La Liga champions.

 

Alves I think is not one but two levels inferior to Cafu or Zanetti. He has always been defensively suspect, and his decision making with the ball has constantly been getting worse.

That said, he is also got to be one of the most underrated players alive.

Tons of people just hate him and think he is shit. I really don't get it. Not only in Sevilla was he amazing. I even remember him as captain of some Brazil U-20 team, already looking great in attack. At Barça he was actually instrumental in many ways. Early on he was great at retaining possession and playmaking, and especially during the middle of years of his Barça spell, with the runs. Probably along with Cafú, the best RB at running into space. Lots of perfectly timed runs breaking the offside trap, creating chances, and in generally giving Barça the extra option in attack that was so crucial in creating space in the center for the other players.

 

Alves I think is not one but two levels inferior to Cafu or Zanetti. He has always been defensively suspect, and his decision making with the ball has constantly been getting worse.

That said, he is also got to be one of the most underrated players alive.

Tons of people just hate him and think he is shit. I really don't get it. Not only in Sevilla was he amazing. I even remember him as captain of some Brazil U-20 team, already looking great in attack. At Barça he was actually instrumental in many ways. Early on he was great at retaining possession and playmaking, and especially during the middle of years of his Barça spell, with the runs. Probably along with Cafú, the best RB at running into space. Lots of perfectly timed runs breaking the offside trap, creating chances, and in generally giving Barça the extra option in attack that was so crucial in creating space in the center for the other players.

Well t be fair , in attack (at his best) Alves was not inferior to Cafu and better than Zanetti.
However I agree with you overall (including reading games, defensive skills, awareness and connecting to the team) he was not equal to Cafu Zanetti

 

It's not like Cafu was that great defensively or in reading situations and decision-making. He was considered a defensively suspect right back for most of his career just like Alves. It's just that in the later years there was some kind of myth created around him because of his 142 caps and his World Cup career.

Although he is one of those players who also seemed to get better with age, he looked defensively more solid in some of his Milan seasons than in his 20s-early 30s with Roma.

 

for sure he was better defensively than Alves - no question asked

That was why Maicon was chosen a head of him even at his peak 07-12