Messi @ Foxborough

[SilverSeven]

Certainly wouldn't put him in my top 5 but Desailly was another player I had tremendous respect for, and whose game one could really appreciate.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Ronaldo Luis Nazario De Lima was the best i ever saw. Combination of speed and strenght. It's too bad injuries crippled his career. He came back and did well with real madrid but he also was out of shape during those years. Second would be messi. It's a shame he hasn't won that world cup yet

 

[AzorianPats]

I would have to rank Paolo Maldini/Allesa dro Nesta as the best defenders I have seen play. They made a huge difference to the whole team.

Nesta was such class also..

Cannavaro was great, but history will favor him because he was a rock for Italy in 2006, but Nesta was the better defender by far.

 

[AzorianPats]

Ronaldo Luis Nazario De Lima was the best i ever saw. Combination of speed and strenght. It's too bad injuries crippled his career. He came back and did well with real madrid but he also was out of shape during those years. Second would be messi. It's a shame he hasn't won that world cup yet

It was the injuries, food, booze, drugs that did him in. When he was right though, unstoppable.

 

[drewskie]

Nesta was such class also..

Cannavaro was great, but history will favor him because he was a rock for Italy in 2006, but Nesta was the better defender by far.

Absolutely, Cannavaro was elite.

Nesta is in the discussion for GOAT center back, along with Franco Baresi. Both fall short of Franz Beckenbauer, at least that is the consensus.

 

[AzorianPats]

Absolutely, Cannavaro was elite.

Nesta is in the discussion for GOAT center back, along with Franco Baresi. Both fall short of Franz Beckenbauer, at least that is the consensus.

No Maldini?

 

[drewskie]

No Maldini?

If you count Maldini as a CB, then for sure he's probably on the top tier (Beckenbauer followed by Baresi/Maldini).

Xtratime.org is probably the best online site for soccer fanatics. Here is their ranking of defenders as a whole:

http://www.xtratime.org/forum/348-history-football/243262-greatest-defenders-all-time.html

 

[FCB02062]

If you count Maldini as a CB, then for sure he's probably on the top tier (Beckenbauer followed by Baresi/Maldini).

Xtratime.org is probably the best online site for soccer fanatics. Here is their ranking of defenders as a whole:

http://www.xtratime.org/forum/348-history-football/243262-greatest-defenders-all-time.html

Looked at that list.... completely forgot about Maicon...he was lethal going forward for Inter....

 

[drewskie]

Looked at that list.... completely forgot about Maicon...he was lethal going forward for Inter....

Brazil has a knack for producing attacking talent from anywhere on the pitch period. They went with too many past their prime big names for the 2006 World Cup when in reality, their 2005 Confederations Cup team had less big names but were actually in their prime.

GK 1 Dida
RB 13 Cicinho

86'
CB 3 Lúcio
CB 4 Roque Júnior
LB 6 Gilberto
DM 5 Emerson
CM 8 Kaká

86'
CM 11 Zé Roberto
AM 10 Ronaldinho (c)

28'
CF 9 Adriano
CF 7 Robinho

90'

Substitutions:
DF 2 Maicon

86'
MF 19 Renato

86'
MF 18 Juninho

In particular, Cicinho should've started ahead of the legend Cafu at RB, and Gilberto ahead of the legend Roberto Carlos at LB. Robinho also offered more movement up front than an overweight Ronaldo.

 

[FCB02062]

Brazil has a knack for producing attacking talent from anywhere on the pitch period. They went with too many past their prime big names for the 2006 World Cup when in reality, their 2005 Confederations Cup team had less big names but were actually in their prime.

GK 1 Dida
RB 13 Cicinho

86'
CB 3 Lúcio
CB 4 Roque Júnior
LB 6 Gilberto
DM 5 Emerson
CM 8 Kaká

86'
CM 11 Zé Roberto
AM 10 Ronaldinho (c)

28'
CF 9 Adriano
CF 7 Robinho

90'

Substitutions:
DF 2 Maicon

86'
MF 19 Renato

86'
MF 18 Juninho

In particular, Cicinho should've started ahead of the legend Cafu at RB, and Gilberto ahead of the legend Roberto Carlos at LB. Robinho also offered more movement up front than an overweight Ronaldo.

Loved Ze Roberto and Lucio at Bayern....

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

Brazil has a knack for producing attacking talent from anywhere on the pitch period. They went with too many past their prime big names for the 2006 World Cup when in reality, their 2005 Confederations Cup team had less big names but were actually in their prime.

GK 1 Dida
RB 13 Cicinho

86'
CB 3 Lúcio
CB 4 Roque Júnior
LB 6 Gilberto
DM 5 Emerson
CM 8 Kaká

86'
CM 11 Zé Roberto
AM 10 Ronaldinho (c)

28'
CF 9 Adriano
CF 7 Robinho

90'

Substitutions:
DF 2 Maicon

86'
MF 19 Renato

86'
MF 18 Juninho

In particular, Cicinho should've started ahead of the legend Cafu at RB, and Gilberto ahead of the legend Roberto Carlos at LB. Robinho also offered more movement up front than an overweight Ronaldo.

Marcos

Maicon
Juan
Lucio
R Carlos

Juninho
Kaka
Alex
Ronaldinho

Ronaldo
Adriano