Best Footballer You Ever Saw Live

[HomerJSimpson]

OK so who is the best player you've ever seen in a live competitive (not testimonial pre-season) match. I think from an English viewpoint it would have to be Hoddle. His vision and passing were sublime when I saw him in a Spurs game v Everton.

From further afield it is hard but Platini was awesome and I was lucky to see George Best at Fulham. OK he wasn't in his prime but he could still do things with a ball that were worth the admission.

 

[The_Squire]

Zico, saw him play for brazil against England at Wembley ( late 70s) and against Wales at Ninian Park ( prior to 82 world cup).

 

[nomadpaul]

There's only one - Gian Franco Zola......i believe he could still be gracing the premiership to this day. Have you seen his back-heeled goal against Norwich in the FA cup....awesome !!! And a very nice man to boot .

Here's the goal - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ExUSkRKbDzM

Others that stand out - Hoddle/Gullit - Both seemed to have o much time and made the game look remarkably easy .

 

[brendy]

Watched George best in a testimonial match back in the eighties when i was a young lad, he was past his prime but still had the touch and pat jennings was in goal.

 

[ob1]

I saw Cantana at old trafford 6 times...AWESOME, although he wasn't a great team player.

Another one have to be super Becks, I saw him in his debut match (first eleven) and everyone was talking about the wonder boy afterward. I think his crosses were even better than Hoddle's!

 

[bernix]

Diego Maradona, I saw him twice live 1990 in a prep game to the WC at Vienna vs. Austria and at the WC in the quater final game against Yougoslavia.

The best single performance I witnessed were Vincenzo Montella's 4 goals in Roma-Lazio 2003

 

[medwayjon]

For me, it is a choice from bergkamp, ginola, berbatov, anderton (when fit), beckham, ian wright, gus poyet, gianfranco zola and many more.

I have seen an awful lot of footy so could go on forever.

 

[andiritchie]

stuart barlow the wigan years,on a more serious note, henry he just makes it look so easy

 

[vig]

T Francis, Souness, Robson, Rush, Barnes, Grobelaar, Zola, Gullit and many more but i'm afraid to say that C Ronaldo is probably the most talented.

Local hero, Ronnie Glavin

Platini! Great player = arrogant sh!t

Frank Worthington was also a magician

 

[theeaglehunter]

nobody else seen Ronaldo? I don't like him but he is a hell of a footballer at times. Other than that Berbatov and Peter Schmeichel were different class and Ginola, Henry and Torres were all brilliant. As you can tell these are all from the modern era though, so my experience is pretty limited.

 

[rgs]

Has to be Roy Keane-could impose himself and control a game superbly.

But best of all he made it look simple-just won the ball gave the ball to his nearest teammate to continue the movement.

 

[Nico]

Even tho I am Chelsea,it is not Osgood or Cook it is Tony Currie. Why in Gods name did he not play International football for you lot so much more. He was so good it was like cheating!

 

[evita4]

Even tho I am Chelsea,it is not Osgood or Cook it is Tony Currie. Why in Gods name did he not play International football for you lot so much more. He was so good it was like cheating!

Great shout Nico, one of the first players I saw who seemed to have so much more skill and time than everyone else.

 

[dangermouse]

zidane was exceptional - saw him 3 or 4 times, but even he couldn't touch the masterclass provided by an in-form Rivaldo at barcelona. There was simply no way to play him - get tight and his pace and trickery took him round a man, or stand off and watch him dictate the game standing still.

The finest English player I've seen is undoubtedly Scholes - ask any premier league professional or indeed major European this question and the answer is invariably the same. I've heard both Henry and Keown come out to say he's the best they've seen, and having watched about 90% of his games over a 13 year period, have to agree.

 

[level5s]

Henrik Larsson and Brian Laudrup are both world class players that graced the scottish game.
Robert Prosinecki was just something else

 

[USER1999]

Bit of an Arsenal bias here (but since the question was 'seen live' and I only go to the Arse), Bergkamp, Henry and Viera make my list.

 

[Vincent]

Liam Brady

 

[TonyN]

Christiano Ronaldo quite simply the best player I have ever watched.

I have also played with Billy Davenport (ex Man united and England international)

He was managing bangor a couple years ago and came to poach 2 of our strikers.

He ended up signing on for us and played a few games upfront for us. His vision and touch were a different class. Even though he is about 45 you could tell why he was a pro.

 

[vig]

Peter...

 

[Atticus_Finch]

I met Matt Le Tissier in my golf club about a month ago. I think it must have been a Southampton reunion or something because Francis Benali was there as well.
Does that count?