Greatest Futbol Player Ever..?

[AYHJA]

For us budding futbol fans and die hard fans alike...

Who is the greatest soccer player ever, past or present and why..? I am very new to soccer, but since I started coaching it last year, I can see how fun it is, and more importantly, how challenging it is...I totally respect soccer in a way I didn't before, and I really do hope that it becomes a major sport here in the US...I don't know what we'd have to do to make that happen, but I hope it does...

Anyway, I have my ideas about who may be the best, but as I said, I'm not as well versed in soccer as I am say, football or basketball or baseball...

Let the debate begin..!

[Skinny Bastard]

I didn't know you were coaching... that's great! I coach my youngest son's rec team!

I love the beautiful game! ...and picking out a favorite is difficult... my list is constantly changing. But that is the nature of sports, right? In light of your original "who is the Michael Jordan" question, I thought to myself, why Michael Jordan? MJ, in my opinion, changed the face of basketball. He opened up possibilities to younger players of moves and abilities that were unimaginable previously... so in that light, how can you not put Pele at the top?

With that said, here is my current stack ranking of the top players in my opinion:

1) Pele (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) - legendary
2) Ronaldinho - the best active player
3) Diego Armando Maradona - Forget about the drug abuse, the guy played in 4 World Cups and received the FIFA People's Choice "FIFA Player of the Century" award. If you have any doubts, see if you can find a clip of his second goal against England in the quarter-finals of the '86 tournament.... a spectacular weave through six England players commonly referred to as "The Goal of the Century."
4) Enzo Francescoli Uriarte - Brought grace and a fluid style to the pitch few other players can match.
5) Ronaldo (Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima) - Probably the best striker to ever play the game, imho
6) Zinedine Yazid Zidane - Time to get past the headbutt. The guy had a stellar career and is one of only two three-time FIFA World Player of the Year winners (Ronaldo being the other). And while we are on the topic of the headbutt - the guy was defending his sister's honor. Materazzi had been tugging on Zidane's Jersey, which Zidane then offered to him. Materazzi confirmed in an interview that his precise words to Zidane in response to the offer were: "I prefer the whore that is your sister". Enough said
7) Cristiano Ronaldo (Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro) - one of the best "two footed" players I have ever watched. The guy is equally dangerous on the left and the right side of the field.
8) Francesco Totti - envy the guy for his skills, and his beautiful wife.... =p~
9) Steven Gerrard &
10) Thierry Henry - round out my top 10

[1759]

They're too much to mention but I'll leave you with these 3:
Alfredo di Stefano
Eusebio
Socrates

Among current players I like Totti, Messi, Kaka, David Villa and David Beckham (yes i said it!)

[Deepak]

I agree with TT's list on many grounds but disagree to some extent as well.

1. Pele
2. Maradona
3. Gabriel Batistuta
4. Roberto Carlos
5. Dunga
6. Peter Schmeichel
7. Ronaldinho
8. Cristiano Ronaldo
9. Kaka
10. Robihino
11. Raul

[Skinny Bastard]

I assume by "TT" you really meant "st4|k3r".... CDR!

Nice list, by the way... makes me question some of my own choices... Like I said, it is constantly changing. :p~

[AYHJA]

Except for that #1...Soccer is probaby the only sport I can think of where one person is almost universally regarded as the best to play the game...That's pretty impressive...