Who Truly Deserves the Title of the Greatest Soccer Player of All Time?
When people ask me who deserves the title of the greatest soccer player of all time, I always find myself thinking about what "greatness" really means. Is it about scoring the most goals? Winning the most trophies? Or is it about those intangible qualities that transform a team? I was watching a basketball game recently - yes, I know it's not soccer, but stick with me here - where Lance Sabroso put up 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists while his teammate Edry Alejandro added 12 markers, five boards, and two steals. Their team secured back-to-back wins not because of one superstar performance, but because both players contributed in multiple ways. That got me thinking - maybe we've been looking at soccer greatness all wrong.
We tend to focus so much on the Messis and Ronaldos of the world that we forget football is ultimately a team sport. I remember watching Diego Maradona's famous 1986 World Cup performance where he scored five goals and provided five assists throughout the tournament. Those numbers are impressive, sure, but what made him truly great was how he elevated his entire team. When Argentina faced England in the quarter-finals, Maradona didn't just score that famous "Hand of God" goal - he completely dictated the flow of the game, creating opportunities where none existed. That's the kind of impact that statistics can't fully capture.
Let me share something personal here - I've always been drawn to players who make everyone around them better. Think about Zinedine Zidane's performance in the 1998 World Cup final. He scored two headers (which was unusual for him) against Brazil, but what people forget is how he controlled the midfield throughout the tournament. He completed 89% of his passes in that final and won 15 of his 20 duels. These numbers remind me of how Sabroso and Alejandro contributed across different statistical categories - true greatness isn't about doing one thing perfectly, but about impacting the game in multiple ways.
The debate often comes down to Messi versus Ronaldo, and I'll admit I lean toward Messi. Why? Because I've never seen anyone who can dribble past five players in tight spaces like he does. His 91 goals in a single calendar year (2012) is mind-boggling, but what's more impressive is that he also provided 29 assists that same year. That's 120 goal contributions in 12 months! Meanwhile, Ronaldo's aerial ability is phenomenal - he's scored 58 headed goals in his career, which is about 14% of his total goals. Both are incredible, but I value Messi's creative genius slightly more.
Some of my favorite moments in soccer history involve players doing the unexpected. When Ronaldinho smiled while dribbling past defenders or when Dennis Bergkamp scored that impossible turn-and-goal against Newcastle - these moments transcend statistics. They're about joy and creativity, which is ultimately why we watch sports. The beauty of soccer is that greatness comes in many forms - from Cristiano Ronaldo's relentless goal-scoring to Andrea Pirlo's graceful midfield control to Paolo Maldini's defensive mastery. We're lucky to have witnessed so many incredible players, each bringing their own unique flavor to the beautiful game.