Who's better, Leo Messi or Diego Maradonna? How about Sachin Tendulkar or Don Bradman? Radiohead or Pink Floyd? Daddy or chips?
These kind of debates are had in bars, living rooms and offices around the world. Some Dutch researchers from the University of Amsterdam had the fun job of researching such battles. Their research focused on the so called reminiscence bump, which basically suggests that adults tend to recall events better from the period when they were adolescents.
My dad for instance swears that Fangio is the greatest motor racing champion of all time and scoffs at the mere suggestion that Schumacher might have that mantle. This effect is also evident when you ask people what their favourite music is or their favourite film.
And of course ones favourite footballer. They asked 600 people to list the five best players of all time (in their opinion) from a list of 190 selected by the researchers. They could add their own if the list didn't include their particular favourite. Joe Parkinson for instance seems popular amongst Evertonians. Anyway.
I'm old (kinda) and it's gotta be Messi.
Can't argue with that Nick, although I do have a soft spot for van Basten from my days growing up watching Gazetta Football Italia on a Saturday morning.
Van Basten had it all. Probably my favourite, but didn't do enough to win the accolade of best ever. His Career was cut short, and he didn't lift a world cup, which has certainly got to be one of the major criteria. Pele did it; albeit with good players around him. Maradona did it nearly single handedly twice, and for me Zidane has to be there too!
I do have a soft spot for van Basten, and indeed that whole Milan side, so the likes of Maldini figure highly for me as well.
I'd have to go along with that, although I'm sure there are some quirks that break the rules. For instance, Maradona was at his prime probably when I was in my late teens but you won't catch me choosing him. 🙂
The best player ever is Jackie Swindells isn't it Paul?
Ooops… sorry… I missed this. But yeah… 82 goals in a season is kind of hard to beat. And he was before my days of watching.
Could he do it on a rainy evening in Wigan though?
The kind of research that explains what everyone has always kinda figured anyway. Everything was always better when we were young wasn't it? 🙂
One thing for sure, after the Classico last night the argument between Messi and Ronaldo should be put firmly to bed.
Yes, Ronaldo did have a stinker. Strange how he so often fails to produce in the really big games. Iniesta was superb though I thought.