[Tennie]

I also watched some tapes and it's not enough. We didn't really saw his best and all aspects of his game like we saw other stars of our time and that's why I don't like to speculate who was the best ever... Besides,you can't compare players from different periods because the game changed so much. You never know what he would be able to do in the today's game. Maybe for example if Ronaldo was playing back then people would also question him and so on...

This is a really interesting discussion.

Misha's quote above got me to thinking. I believe there's general agreement here on the board that Paolo Maldini is an all-time great of both Milan and football in general. Thing is, how many people here really saw Paolo play in his prime (the early-mid 90s)? The tapes one sees occasionally of CL games (v Barca or Madrid, for example) or of Azzurri games don't really do him justice.

As for the Pele part of the discussion, based on tape evidence I think that Garrincha was probably an even greater talent.

[acid911]

Based on talent alone, Garrincha had more resources than even Pele. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) No wonder they rate him as Brazil's second best player ever. But I tend to measure greatness in ways other than talent, skills or success. You've got to be the absolute best role model, one that others strive to be. For me no one cuts it in this measure more than Paolo.

It's easy to get into drugs, or die in a car accident driving drunk. Great ones choose the hard ways. For me players like Maldini, Billy, Rui Costa, Baggio, Zico, etc will always be in another league when it comes to greatness. They are the ones I'd tell my children to become like. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) And Tennie, tapes are just that: tapes. Pele himself said that the greatest goal he scored was not captured on tape, so he had a 3D animation of it made.

As for Paolo (since this is his thread), he tops everything. And not because I'm his biggest fan, but seriously few people manage themselves so well both on and off the field for quarter of a century. Greatness is a word that is so very often thrown around. Pele was not even half a dribbler as Garrincha, and certainly had less natural talent as say Ronaldinho. But if you want an advertisement for football, or a player to represent the game itself you've got your fix in Maldini. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif) Paolo was half a player in the 80s that he is now, not because of skills (he was obviously younger and stronger then), but the respect that he now commands with both fans and opponents alike. Its:

1. Paolo
... and all others.

[vnata001]

great topic. i revere pele as the god of football/founder of jogo bonito.

If you take each and every great player and try and break them down, there is really no universal way to evaluate their greatness. The technique, skills/talent that they all had are somewhat incomparable because they all achieved greatness being effective in their own individual unique ways. Dinho is a trickster. Kaka is direct, not overly fancy. Yet today we sit here and can't necessarily put a finger on who is the "greater" player. We can just accept that it is an ultimate honor to be able to watch them both in their primes before our eyes. People try and compare leo messi to diego? all these comparisons are simple speculation of the level of "greatness" that people predict he will arise to.

However, despite that concession, the reason i place Pele above all else, is because he was the very first to play in the beautiful way which today we recognize as "great". He was the pioneer of the jogo bonito. Pele revolutionized the sport for Brazilians. He played football in the distinct Brazilian manner - quick passing and fancy footwork. He set the bar. Everyone else after Pele took what he started with and ran with it, practiced it as if it was a science..and so for all we know ronaldo IS a greater player than Pele actually was. Maybe Diego was as well..but in terms of revolutionizing the sport, it was Pele who did it first. And that is what makes him the greatest, cuz he set the bar as far as attacking football goes.

Similarly, Paolo is simply so graceful and such a class act, like Pele, he deserves to be recognized as maybe the best defender ever..and therefore that places him on par with absolute greats in their respective positions. Attempting to say a legendary striker is a greater player than a legendary defender, or vice versa is comparing apples and oranges.

[Jack Sparrow]

Attempting to say a legendary striker is a greater player than a legendary defender, or vice versa is comparing apples and oranges.

+1 if you mean footballing wise. Hence, the need to go to his off field behaviour to cement his status as a person.

[dst]

Hey Hey Hey! What is this, huh? What's going on here? You should all be ashamed of yourselves!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

You're talking about how's the best player ever IN THE THREAD OF THE BEST PLAYER OF ALL TIMES!?? You will all die in Via Durini!!

[Jack Sparrow]

Well...erm we were just hypothesizing that even the big daddy of all big daddies would need a daddy of his own right? So urm....yeah...that's how it happened. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nervoussmiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/panicsmiley2.gif)

Waaaaaah....tennie....this greek man scares me.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)

[dst]

I like you Indian guy... but I can't save you. And no fish doll can save you either. It's all up to you... BELIEVE!

[Rossoneri7]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Tennie]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/nervoussmiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nervoussmiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nervoussmiley.gif) The fish doll would never get in the way of a scary avenging Greek bent on punishing the disbelievers!

[acid911]

The fish doll would never get in the way of a scary avenging Greek bent on punishing the disbelievers!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Lucky thing I work at the Maldini temple. Yup, I'm a believer.

[Tennie]

(from acmilan.com. link Their translation)

ALL TOGETHER...

Paolo Maldini calmly analyzed the Rossoneri's summer. The English teams are more in shape, but with the Italian teams there was no difference. Without strikers, also, the team is always under pressure and tends to spread out too much.


MILANELLO - Here are the declarations made by Paolo Maldini to Milan Channel's microphones after the morning training session at the Milanello sporting center:

Paolo, how are you?
"I'm alright, during training there can be some pains, but everything gets resolved quickly."

You are doing a different preparation compared to last season...
"We are working to improve our technique and agility. During the preparations you have to try and recuperate all the things you lose during the summer period. Also, this year we are trying new exercises, some alternatives to avoid it becoming boring. The preparation is an important period, useful also to increase our attention which is never at the maximum at the start, that's the biggest difficulty. Concerning the results of the friendlies we've played, we could have done better, but we also have to consider the team we've played against and the level of preparation.
Against Inter and Juventus the difference wasn't evident, in fact we did better. Certainly we can improve our mental approach to the games. Also we don't have our strikers available, which makes it difficult to score against teams like Chelsea and Manchester City. Without strikers the play changes completely and you are always under pressure. With just Paloschi available it's not easy. Alberto is doing his job well, he didn't go on vacation and he also has a thousand justifications even though he played two good matches. The play is penalised because the midfielders push forward and move away from their positions, everything becomes more difficult."

Paolo, tonight the Champions League preliminary matches... did you think about that?
"Yes, I've thought about it, and I'm sorry, but now it's over, it's an old story."

Yesterday Dario Simic moved to Monaco.
"Dario is a very nice lad, we have won a lot and celebrated together, but it's normal that at his age, with less playing time, he wants to play. Our profession is nice, but if you don't have the satisfaction of playing matches, the trainings and the work don't give you enough satisfaction."

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/96.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/96.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/96.gif) FORZA MALDINI!

[Zed.D]

Paolo, tonight the Champions League preliminary matches... did you think about that?
"Yes, I've thought about it, and I'm sorry, but now it's over, it's an old story."

I still can't believe that defeat to Arsenal was Maldini's last ever CL game... (IMG:http://qsmile.com/qsimages/253.gif)

[Rossoneri7]

Une Capitano il solo Une Capitano ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devilsmiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devilsmiley.gif)

[Bluesummers]

I still can't believe that defeat to Arsenal was Maldini's last ever CL game... (IMG:http://qsmile.com/qsimages/253.gif)

maybe he'll play another year (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Jack Sparrow]

Oh please. If we could play Ba, surely we can play him. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) But he won't. I don't think so. This team better fight like the devil to win the scudetto. I don't care if it's won by one point. Paolo should get that damn trophy this year.

Speaking of which, UEFA cup is onething Paolo hasn't won. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)