Image: ivalladt via flickr Creative Commons
The debate over the world’s greatest player will always exist – the difference in generations, leagues, positions and nationalities means it’s ultimately unsolvable. Who is to say that it requires less skill being a defender than by being a striker? None can say for sure, yet Fabio Cannavaro is the only defender to have won the Ballon D’or in this century. In this random meandering of thoughts, I will propose a different player to the usual Messi, Maradona, Pele debate. Bare with me, make some tea, and don’t judge me quite yet – I think the greatest player who has ever lived is Zinedine Zidane.
Now most of you would probably say that whilst you acknowledge Zidane was a great player, he isn’t comparable to those three footballing gods. The problem however is that the regular judgements made are based on goals and assists. If you look at what a footballer is judged on ultimately though, Zidane’s achievements, but more his performances especially in the key matches, provide (I hope!) a compelling argument for his rightful place on top of the footballing world.
The importance of this second factor cannot be overestimated – the ability to play well and dictate the big matches is something that only the very best players can do. Leagues and trophies are decided on the big matches. It was Zidane’s ability to dominate in these games which makes him so exceptional – even in a match against the world’s best, he would be a class above. Look at the World Cup finals in 1998 and 2006, the 2001 Champions League final, the quarter final against Brazil in 2006 against the tournament favourites and defending champions, and numerous others besides.
Amongst the many adulating quotes about Zidane, one stands out. Not just because of who said it, but also because what they said emphasises exactly his memorising ability to stand out amongst the world’s best, and inspire his team – “Zidane was from another planet. When Zidane stepped onto the pitch, the 10 other guys just got suddenly better. It is that simple” (Zlatan Ibrahimovic). Zidane, perhaps more than any other player, performed on the big occasion, and that is the mark of the greatest player.
Aside from this ability to dominate in big games, there is another string to my argument. Zidane was also the only player who has achieved the greatest success possible on both the club and national level, something that neither Messi, Ronaldo, Pele nor Maradona did.
It is unquestionable that Zidane achieved huge success on the international stage having been the fulcrum of the greatest French side in history. The success of the team between 1998 and 2006 was spearheaded and created by Zidane, the epitome of French flair on the pitch; the best description from his teammates -“In France, everybody realized that God exists, and that he is back in the French international team” (Thierry Henry). Prepare yourself for a barrage of examples, and if you don’t think they show a great international career, just give up.
In the 1998 World Cup final, Zidane was man of the match, player of the tournament, and scored twice. In Euro 2000, Zidane scored an exquisite freekick in the quarter final and the winning golden goal in the semi final, before being named player of the tournament again. Whilst injury prevented full participation in the 2002 World Cup, in Euro 2004 he saved his side in the opening match with a brace against England and they went on to reach the quarter finals. Finally, in the 2006 World Cup, Zidane scored goals in the last 16, semi final, and final, and was again named player of the tournament.
Leaving behind what can only be described as a breathtaking international career making him an icon throughout his nation, Zidane’s ability in the domestic game was equally entrancing. Zidane is rightly revered as a real Madrid legend, having signed for the world record fee of £42m before making 225 appearances for the club. As the face of the infamous Galacticos, Zidane showed his ability in the big games yet again with a spectacular goal in the 2001 Champions League final. The stunning volley with his wrong foot personified Zidane’s ability – a glorious piece of skill, based on phenomenal natural ability but crucially delivered on the biggest stage in club football.
On a small sidenote, another argument for Zidane’s status as the world’s best is his performances in different leagues. He won trophies in France, Italy and Spain – best known as the face of Madrid for six years, Zidane had before won World Player of the Year at Juventus alongside two Scudetto’s and two Champions League finals.
It is worth noting in the furore following Messi’s fourth straight Ballon D’or, (which Ronaldo should have won!), that Zidane not only won three World Player of the Year awards but has appeared on the shortlist more times than any other player (three wins, one second place, two third places). This signifies Zidane’s greatest quality – his consistent ability to perform in the biggest matches every year. Standing out amongst the best is what defined Zidane, crucially on the club and international level. This is the crux of my argument, what I have been sliding my way slowly towards, the final rationale – Zidane, unlike Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo or Messi, achieved the ultimate success on both the club and the international level.
His ability is comparable to the greats listed above, but his big game mentality sets him apart. There are numerous great strikers, who could be on this list, but Zidane was something else – the one player you wanted in the big game. That quality, that rarity, makes him special. If (like me), you value that natural gift, then it’s simple – Zizou simply was the greatest ever.
29 Jan ’13 at 1:25 pm
Hmmmm says:
“Aside from this ability to dominate in big games, there is another string to my argument. Zidane was also the only player who has achieved the greatest success possible on both the club and national level, something that neither Messi, Ronaldo, Pele nor Maradona did.”
I have to strongly, strongly dispute your assertion that Pele and Maradona did not achieve both club and international success. With Napoli, Maradona transformed them into a mediocre mid table team to a team that won two leagues, placed second twice and won the UEFA cup, which was a very big deal back then.
Likewise with Pele, he achieved some extraordinary feats with Santos and this was back in the day when the Brazilian league was pretty much the best in the world. He won the Intercontinental Cup, numerous league titles and a few cups as well. That’s with a goalscoring record of over 1.5 per match for his first seven seasons there.
29 Jan ’13 at 4:04 pm
Jules says:
Pele played in the Brazilian league and the American simultaneously, at a time when the game was far less competitive at club level. Also, the Brazilian league being the strongest would be hotly disputed especially by the Italian and Spanish leagues, whose sides regularly showed they were the greatest of their generations.
As for Maradona, he sparkled for Napoli certainly, but he didnt excel (by his international standards) for his other clubs, especially Barcelona. If Maradona had shown that ability for his entire club career, I would place him as possibly the greatest ever.
Thanks for commenting.
29 Jan ’13 at 4:47 pm
rohan john says:
it only affirms my belief that Zidane was and will be the greatest player of all time not because he won cups but because once in decades comes a man who plays a game so beautifully and so elegantly that you just cannot stop noticing. just like federer was and will be the most elegant player to have ever embraced a tennis court ever. The lavers, nadals, bjorgs etc deserve to be called legends but Fed is class apart, likewise Zidane is something different. There is no player today whose first touch is as silky as Zidane’s.
Fed and Zidane’s game can be captured in this statement “Poetry in Motion”
29 Jan ’13 at 8:54 pm
Robin says:
The “greatest player” could mean different things to different people. To some it could be “most dangerous”, and hence Messi and Ronaldo could be the ones. To some it could mean the most skillful and hence Maradona. To me Zidane is the greatest because he was the “most complete player”.
By “complete player”, I mean technical completeness-the ability to shoot with both feet, heading, passing, dribbling, control, volley. He had it all in the right proportion. He is a poster for anyone learning to play complete soccer.
29 Jan ’13 at 9:49 pm
Hmmmm says:
@Jules
Maradona did succeed at Barcelona. Won a Copa Del Rey and a Spanish Supercup with them as well as scoring more goals than anyone else during his time. He was plagued by injury during his time there as well as getting into unnecessary disputes with the board but that doesn’t lessen his achievements. At Boca Juniors, he lit up their side by all counts. During his peak years, he succeeded at every single club he went to. Perhaps even more so than Zidane.
And Pele didn’t play the American and Brazilian leagues at the same time. There was 2 years between him leaving Santos and joining New York. And the Brazilian league had guys like Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto, Edu, Felix, Rivelino etc etc. This was a time before the majority of footballers left their clubs to go to Europe. You look at what Pele did and there is nothing more he could have done at the club than what he did.
That Santos team of the early 1960′s was a great one in the same way Barcelona is today and Pele was the lynchpin behind that. For me, still the greatest ever player of all time with Maradona and Messi second and then Zidane.
30 Jan ’13 at 6:51 am
Halim says:
I am glad to see that I am not the only who believes Zidane is the greatest player of all times. As one reader stated, Zidane’s game can be described as “Poetry In Motion”. No one who loves football can deny Zidane’s skills. His goals were magical, his ball control was breath-taking, and his passes were killer. As Ibrahimovic said, the other ten players suddenly improved when Zidane was there. Zizou won it all, done it all…he truly deserves to be called the greatest.
31 Jan ’13 at 10:42 pm
Jacob says:
Zidane could make you fall in love with football. Period.
10 Feb ’13 at 5:01 pm
Bill says:
You can make the same arguments for Iniesta as for Zidane, e.g. big game player, ridiculously successful at both international and domestic level, brilliant touch and vision. What a player.
Does that mean he is better than Messi, Maradona etc? No. The same with Zidane.
25 Apr ’13 at 11:04 am
Gundo says:
Zidane is beyond legend. No one can be compared to him, his style of play and inspiration on the pitch. Pele, Marado, Mess etc may have great acheivements but they are not in the same class with Zidane.