A Soccer Fan’s Picks for Best Players of All Time

By John Tiberia
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     Few players sleep, breath and eat soccer like these five athletes. The top five soccer players who have ever played the game are Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and, the best, Edson Arantes, also known as Pele. But, what makes these players so talented? 

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          Cristiano Ronaldo: Born and raised in Portugal, Ronaldo was diagnosed with a racing heart at age 15, and he underwent an operation to treat his condition. He began his senior club career playing for Sporting CP before signing with Manchester United at age 18 in 2003. Ronaldo won the Ballon D’or four times; the Ballon D’Or honors the male player deemed to have performed the best over the previous year, and soccer journalists cast the votes. He was considered one of the best players of the century except for his selfishness on the field.  Forwards are always selfish and have to be because their main job is to get the ball and score; however, Ronaldo takes advantage of this position when he is in a foot race with a defender and rather than pass the ball to his teammate, he takes the player on.  This has not stopped him from winning 24 trophies in his career, including five league titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues titles.  He currently plays for Real Madrid and the Portugal National Team as a forward. Ronaldo once stated, “Your love makes me strong, but your hate makes me unstoppable.”  With this mentality, he can accomplish anything. 
     Zinedine Zidane: Zidane is a retired player who is currently the manager for Real Madrid. He played a center offensive midfielder for the French National Team as well as Cannas, Bordeaux, Juventus, and Real Madrid. He was an excellent player who is renowned for his elegance, vision, ball control, and technique. These are all excellent characteristics for a center midfielder. At club level, he won the La Liga title with Real Madrid and two Series A League Championships with Juventus. He and his team won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in the final round himself. He was even named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup. Zidane was also named the FIFA Player of the World three times, in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and won the 1998 Ballon d’Or.  Zinedine Zidane once stated, “I may have a lot of luck in my life, but I still need to find a challenge in the game."

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CNN.com

     Zinedine Zidane: Zidane is a retired player who is currently the manager for Real Madrid. He played a center offensive midfielder for the French National Team as well as Cannas, Bordeaux, Juventus, and Real Madrid. He was an excellent player who is renowned for his elegance, vision, ball control, and technique. These are all excellent characteristics for a center midfielder. At club level, he won the La Liga title with Real Madrid and two Series A League Championships with Juventus. He and his team won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in the final round himself. He was even named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup. Zidane was also named the FIFA Player of the World three times, in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and won the 1998 Ballon d’Or.  Zinedine Zidane once stated, “I may have a lot of luck in my life, but I still need to find a challenge in the game.”

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Famous Birthdays

        Diego Maradona:  Maradona played for the Argentina National Team and Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Servilla, and Newell’s Old Boys.  He was the manager and coach at other clubs as well as the National Team of Argentina.  He is currently the manager for Fujairah. 
There is an attacking move, the Maradona, named after him because he invented it (to do the move, you tap the ball with one foot and then turn and pull the ball with the other foot). Maradona played attacking midfielder for every team he joined.  In most sports, small people are at a disadvantage, but Maradona used his five feet and five inches to his advantage because he had a low center of gravity; therefore, he could maneuver quickly through defenders. And he did! Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where he captained Argentina and led them to victory over West Germany in the final and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. In a Quarter final World Cup, he and his team won 2-1, in which he scored both goals.  Maradona once said, “When you win you don’t get carried away. But if you go step by step you can go far.”

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Somaliland Today

     Lionel Messi: Messi was diagnosed with a growth deficiency at age thirteen, but that did not stop him from achieving his goals. He currently plays for the Argentina National Team and Barcelona, and he is the captain of both teams.  He is the only player to have won five Ballon D’Or awards.  Messi has also won twenty-nine trophies with Barcelona, including eight La Lige for the UEFA champion’s titles. He has the most goals scored in the La Liga (360 goals!)  He is a lefty but still has a rocket on the left foot. At youth level, Messi won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, finishing the tournament with both the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.  His career rival is Christiano Ronaldo. In Argentina’s history, Messi has the most goals scored.  Lionel Messi is a favorite because no matter how hard the circumstances get in a soccer game, he keeps his cool and plays the game.  He also doesn’t fake injuries to get the foul; he is a true soccer player.  Messi once famously stated, “You have to fight to reach your dreams. But you have to sacrifice and work hard for it.” He also expressed, “I don’t need the best hairstyle or body, but give me a soccer ball and I’ll show you what I can do."

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Pinterest

        Pele: Pele is currently retired, but he left an incredible legacy as the best soccer player who has ever lived.  He played for the Brazilian National Team, Bauru, Santos, and New York Cosmos. Pele played attacking midfield and forward, and he has been in numerous World Cups.  He won three World Cups, in fact.  He was also voted Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football (soccer) History in 1999.  In ninety-two games, he scored seventy seven for the Brazil National Team.  He was named Honorary President of the New York Cosmos.  Pele was known for anticipating defenders and opposing players’ movements, and he could also use both feet. Since retiring, he has been a worldwide ambassador for soccer.  His most famous quote is: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all love of what you are doing…”

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     In all, it is not how much money a soccer player makes or what his winning rate is that defines him as a player. It is passion. And all of these players love what they do. But, then again, how can they not?     ​