My opinions are subjectively based on what I have seen. Believe it or not, I have not seen every match of football history - so there’s room for error.
NEW SERIES ON THIS ACCOUNT
Going to release an analysis of the greatest players ever - and how they scored their goals
I’ve watched every single goal of the leading candidates available on YouTube/Footballia, collected stats on the unavailable ones and did some stat estimates
Look at that level of technical quality
Messi is so good at football, he makes NEYMAR and INIESTA look normal technique wise
NEYMAR is so good at football, he makes SUAREZ look poor technically
These are guys that are the best player of their national team by far
@JuventinaHannah
The way you respond to all my rankings with anger and annoyance as if I’ve blasphemed
And yet you come up with Vidal and Pirlo are better than peak Messi
Ranking of some big name players by number of over the top ball assists
Definition: High balls over the top of the defence that create a 1v1 with the Goalkeeper
How does Lionel Messi score his goals?
Note the high number of one-on-ones, his pace and ability to run in behind defences is super underrated - as are his poacher and finishing instincts - a large, large number of “true goalscorer” goals there
And many, many dribble goals
@Ereh_X_Freedom
Through balls and over top balls certainly ain’t his game
His fans attacked me when I said he was less creative though
Tbf he is still amazing at getting assists - especially with crossing
Ferenc Puskas by popular request
110+ videos available plus data for 270+ goals - estimating <500
Given a large sample size - should be accurate
How did Puskas score his goals?
Any shot, any distance, any angle with the left foot. I’m convinced he’s the best finisher ever!
BONUS Assists round
Lionel Messi (much awaited)
How does Messi get his assists?
Through balls (of course!) and side passes - simply playing it across when he’s through on goal or setting up teammates to shoot from in, around and outside the box, and over top balls (of course!)
From January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2010
Wesley Sneidjer scored 7 club goals
In Serie A - he scored a whopping 2 goals
He got 5 at the World Cup - so did Diego Forlan, David Villa and Thomas Muller
He scored 1 goal in the CL
Is this the best player in the world?
Henry 05/06 season doesn’t get spoken about enough, clearly the second best player in the world after Ronaldinho
🇫🇷 45 Games
⚽️ 33 Goals
🅰️ 10 Assists
Arsenal’s goalscorer and creator en route to a CL Final
@fcbaccurate
We should avoid trying to compare this guy to other players
It makes other legendary players look worse - when they deserve lots of respect
Maybe Pele is the only one who can be compared to Messi without looking weak
But given Leo’s career - one thing is clear - He’s the 🐐
Anyone who doesn’t rate Jude Bellingham is just lying to themselves
This guy is age 20 and already having a season better than any season Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes ever had
He’s essentially peak 04/05 Frank Lampard + 16/17 Dele Alli in aerial ability + tight spaces
Superstar
Alisson is a bit overrated
Yeahh, he’s a phenomenal shot stopper and we all know he’s the best GK itw this season
People act like he’s the best ever though - he’s not - and it’s because he’s got a huge bozo gene
So many games where Alisson randomly does something stupid
@JuventinaHannah
Messi was better in league, better in cup, better in Cl, and better in Copa -and better in the CL final - he meets the criteria more
Either way the award is for best
So if you are doing a football draft in 2015 for your club
And you get first pick - you are picking Vidal ?
Breakdown of Pele’s goals (420 watched) with estimate
What kind of goals did Pele score?
Wondergoals - no one scored more dribble goals
So many one on ones, headers and shots in box show the most complete goalscorer ever
Rapid outlet, box threat, and dribbler
Complete
Mbappe is the greatest volleyer of all time
RVP and Suarez have fantastic volley striking technique, but what separates Mbappe from them is that he’s far better at quickly adjusting his body in the right position to get the volley off
This is the thing KDB lacks - the ability in tight spaces - and it’s a big weakness!
If he could do this as well as get these G/A numbers he does, he would’ve been like Zico/Platini
Apparently KDB is the best midfielder in Premier League history yet he can’t even play out from the back. No wonder Pep doesn’t let him get involved in the build up 🤣🤣🤣
Great playmaking and a strong first half
Failure to score in such a game and inability to get involved in the second half after Liverpools score means I rate this performance harshly
5.5/10
Pep’s legacy at City is going to be immense
He flipped the United-City rivalry on its head, dominated the league tactically and changed a football culture
Also became an icon/meme with his quotes, touchline antics and the whole fraud debate
He’s the true “face of the league”
This is the best player ever at the absolute peak of his powers
These 2 matches are probably both in Messi’s top 8 career matches in terms of footballing level
Unreal levels of dribbling, close control, change of direction, ball progression, ball control, and shooting/passing
One of the funniest things I’ve noticed is that Real Madrid seem to be the most referee-favoured club and the most historic/biggest club in the world
Yet their fans always seem to paint them as some plucky underdog
Contradiction
How does Cristiano Ronaldo score his goals?
Well, mainly penalties, headers and poacher goals - he’s very much a “true centre forward” in the types of goals scored.
I don’t think there’s ever been a player better at scoring headers and goals inside the 6 yard box
Vinicius MOTM
An incredible display, never stopped running, dribbling, creating
Joselu got the 2 goals and gets the hero’s party but Vinicius was at the heart of it. He’s firmly established himself as a top 5 player itw the past 2 seasons
If he steps up in final + Copa…
Maradona’s Goals
~300 goals watched - with remainder extrapolated
How did Maradona score his goals?
Penalties, free kicks, and poacher finishes - not as pretty as you’d expect - very much a functional, practical goalscorer
Lower numbers than the others but a defensive era
Ronaldo Nazario up next
Much anticipated
How did he score his goals?
As you would’ve guessed - one on ones, poacher goals and dribble goals
Not one to shoot to much from in crowded boxes - he forced his way through to close to the goal - either running in behind or dribbles
Gerd Muller
Data for 350+ goals available, and scored extensively in videos matches so accurate estimates enabled for ~250 remaining
How did Gerd Muller score his goals?
Simply. Poacher’s goals and headers dominate. Very little outside the box. A focussed, goal machine
Xavi in the 2011 CL final
1 through ball Assist (BCC)
2 BCC
5 Key Passes
8/8 long balls
141/148 passes (95% accuracy) from 157 touches
And here’s the pass map
Complete midfield dominance by Xavi
My ratings for 🇪🇸 Yamal Euro 2024
🇭🇷 8
🇮🇹 7.5
🇦🇱 7
🇬🇪 8.5
🇩🇪 7.5
🇫🇷 8.5
🏴 7.5
Average rating: 7.79
🇦🇱 late sub, too late but made an impact
🇮🇹 🏴 🇩🇪 Constant creative threat but not goal threat yet
🇭🇷 Higher level of dribbling on top
🇬🇪 🇫🇷 Adds goal threat to his creativity
Zinedine Zidane
How did Zidane score his goals?
Beautifully - a similar number of shots in box, free kicks, headers, one on ones, long shots, and volleys shows a player comfortable scoring in different ways
Not many penalties and poacher goals by him there - he’s a pure 10
@JuventinaHannah
The most dominant Messi is 14/15
08-13 Messi dominated the final third
14/15 Messi dominated the final third PLUS half the middle third too
And yes he quite clearly was - every rating website/app/report has him higher
If you ask Vidal - he would never say what you said
My final ratings for Messi 🇦🇷 2022 World Cup
🇸🇦 6.5/10
🇲🇽 7.5/10
🇵🇱 7.5/10
🇦🇺 8/10
🇳🇱 9/10
🇭🇷 8.5/10
🇫🇷 9/10
🇸🇦: Very Poor second half, strong first
🇲🇽 🇵🇱: good games but not overly dominant
🇦🇺: Dominant game (needed more output)
🇫🇷 🇳🇱: all-timer playmaking
🇭🇷: ^ close level
Peak 🇦🇷
Goalscoring 🇦🇷
Chance creation 🇦🇷
International 🇦🇷
Continental 🇦🇷
League 🇦🇷
Big games 🇦🇷
Strength 🇫🇷
Speed 🇫🇷
Overall 🇦🇷
Mbappe is the better athlete, but football is played with the ball
Fill in Kylian Mbappe🇫🇷 vs Lionel Messi 🇦🇷 using this criteria:
-Peak:
-Goal scoring:
-Chance Creation:
-International:
-Continental:
-League:
-Big Games:
-Strength:
-Speed:
-Overall:
Cristiano Ronaldo has worse ball control than Hazard
Cristiano Ronaldo has better physical abilities than Hazard
As for who was more talented, it depends how much you rate physical and how much you rate technical
Cristiano had better ballstriking and that’s a big talent too
Team of 1990-2000 “peak”
GK 🇩🇰 Schmeichel
LB 🇮🇹 Maldini
CB 🇮🇹 Baresi
CB 🇳🇱 Koeman
RB 🇧🇷 Cafu
DM 🇳🇱 Rijkaard
CM 🇩🇪 Matthaus
AM 🇫🇷 Zidane
AM 🇮🇹 Baggio
ST 🇧🇷 Ronaldo Nazario
ST 🇧🇷 Romario
My final ratings for 🇦🇷 Messi 2014 World Cup
🇧🇦 8/10
🇮🇷 8/10
🇳🇬 9/10
🇨🇭 8.5/10
🇧🇪 6.5/10
🇳🇱 7.5/10
🇩🇪 6/10
🇧🇦 🇮🇷 Decisive when needed, scores
🇳🇬 Classic Messi, great goals
🇨🇭 Classic w/o output
🇧🇪 Good not great, quiet-ish
🇳🇱 Lacks output
🇩🇪 Average
Average Rating: 7.64/10
When you create content on this site - most comments are positive
However, there’s a small minority of people - who will be actively rude and disrespectful - who wouldn’t say the same to you in real life
Consistently rude on this page just because I don’t put Ronaldo number 1
@defence2attack
@KoshurFootball
you honestly didn’t need to do any of that because i guarantee you most stats are available just not public because of pr and fifa wanting active players to look great in stats😭😭😭also no one respects you and i bet all of those people think you have no life and get no bitches👍
Messi compensated for his left-footedness in passing (which limits passing angles compared to right foot) by possessing elite physicality (speed, strength, balance, acceleration) and elite dribbling (evasiveness and verticality) to create the angle he actually wanted to play
Michel Platini
All 41 France goals available, as are all Juventus ones and a good 60 or so for St Etienne/Nancy- estimating ~100 remaining with accuracy
How did Platini score his goals ?
Getting in the box for late runs, one on ones to attack the 6 yard box!
And FKs!
We don’t realise just how crazy that performance against France is
At 17!!!
That’s a hattrick and 6 key passes in a World Cup semi final
Then follows it up with a brace and assist in the final
Winning goal in 1-0 QF too
If a player did this now - £500m transfer minimum
With all due respect, but Speed is an idiot.
He could have actually injured Kaka is a match that is not even an actual competition.
This is not even funny.
Best National Team Generations
1. 🇭🇺 Hungary 1950-1956
2. 🇧🇷 Brazil 1969-1974
3. 🇧🇷 Brazil 1958-1963
4. 🇳🇱 Holland 1974-1978
5. 🇪🇸 Spain 2008-2018
6. 🇧🇷 Brazil 1980-1982
7. 🇫🇷 France 1998-2008
8. 🇩🇪 West Germany 1966-1976
9. 🇫🇷 France 1982-1988
10. 🇩🇪 West Germany 1950-1960
BONUS
One I had made before this thread/project started
Xavi Hernandez’ assists
How did the man create goals?
Mainly through balls and forward passing
For someone who gets (wrongly) accused of being a side-passer, Xavi certainly loved a through ball - not many have more!
If you are 2-0 up against Real Madrid, you feel like they can still score 3 and beat you at any moment
If you are 2-0 down against Barcelona, you feel like you can still score 3 and beat them at any moment
Huge difference in mentality (player quality obviously a factor too!)
Romelu Lukaku is an underrated player
Best striker of the 2018 World Cup
Had a excellent peak season in 20/21 where he leads his team to the title
Unlucky with some bad moves and a bit of a joke personality to be seen as a meme
Top 10 striker of the last decade
Franz Beckenbauer
Estimate needed here but almost half the goals are available (few number)
How did Franz Beckenbauer score his goals?
Didn’t score many but when he did it was beautiful - very much a Number 10 catalogue instead of a CB - dribbles, long shots and one on ones
Messi receiving outlet goals - unreal ability to attack the back line
Perfect understanding of where the space is
A 10 with the brain of a 9 - or a 9 with the brain of a 10 - plus the feet of a winger
@JuventinaHannah
Messi and Ronaldo score 50+ goals a season
I think Modric winning made ppl misunderstand
Modric didn’t win because he won trophies (like Jorginho)
Modric is genuinely top 2 CM ever - all timer in the sport and technical demon
You are putting random names up there w/him
The T5 Football Poachers🥚:
1. Cristiano Ronald🇵🇹
2. Gerd Müller🇩🇪
3. Ference Puskás🇭🇺
4. Gary Lineker🏴
5. Miroslav Klosé🇩🇪
Poaching in big moments is essential for "effective" merchants. Going missing for large parts of a game inessential. It's the poached winner that counts.
@nonewthing
This video is in 2011
Imagine an elite coach calling a player the GOAT at 23 now
Think Messi fans sometimes miss the point - they keep talking about all his achievements and all he’s won
He’s not Haaland or Rodri - you don’t make a case for him to win BDRs
He just is the best
The lack of disrespect that Kylian Mbappe has to endure is beyond comprehension
Easily the best player in the world but not even seen as a top 5 player by many
When Mbappe becomes the GOAT, these casuals will go into hiding, ashamed that they once spoke such clueless blasphemy
Johan Cruyff is next ~ 200 goals watched (remainder estimate)
How did Johan Cruyff score his goals?
Very much like a mini-Messi, he liked one on ones, he could run in behind and he could be a poacher and he could dribble and score out of nothing too
Not many pens/FKs at all
My final ratings for Mbappe 🇫🇷 2022 World Cup
🇦🇺 8/10
🇩🇰 8.5/10
🇹🇳 6.5/10
🇵🇱 9.5/10
🏴 6.5/10
🇲🇦 7.5/10
🇦🇷 9/10
Average rating: 7.93/10
🇦🇺 🇩🇰 : Elite WF play, 2Gv1 for diff
🇵🇱: Sensational goal quality + dribbling
🏴 🇹🇳: Lively without being too dangerous
🇲🇦 Decisive
🇦🇷 Final
Decisive game
2 key moments where he stepped up when it mattered
Can’t complain about this performance at all - looked super dangerous every time he got near the box