Zizou, can't believe this is even being argued.

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Xavi followed by iniesta

Then probably Zidane

Then scholes.

In levels of greatness: Zidane and xavi by some distance.

Pirlo


Then way down the ranks, the likes of Gerrard, lampard & Scholes

LDS

Where do you rank Iniesta?

Best midfielder; Zidane

Best English midfielder; Scholes

Don't think zidane was that far ahead of the others as people are making out, as for who i'd rather watch?....riquelme, may not have got the plaudits but was a sublime footballer.

Xavi.

Got to be Zidane although my personal favourite player when i was growing up as a youngster was Hirsto Stoichkov. I honestly think if he was playing for a better footballing nation ie Italy or Brazil, he would be regarded as one of the worlds greats. He was a superb footballer with unreal ability on the ball.

Zidane is the best of all time.

Lots of players are blessed with a nice touch, but Zidane could have trapped a frisbee in a pair of flippers and then still skinned a couple of, at the time, highly regarded defenders with it.

I know you can't get a picture of a players entire career from youtube videos, but some of the compilations of his close control and inventiveness on the ball are just surreal.

Zidane is a fair bit better than all of them and in my opinion Pirolo is better than Xavi

*Pirlo

zidane
makalele
iniesta
xavi
pirlo

as good as some british & irish players have been (Gerrard, Keane, Scholes, Lampard) they're just that tier below. Which is still class but not quite the level of the 'greatest'

Zidane and then Xavi. Although very different players. Would love to have seen them in the same side, look how good Xavi has made Iniesta look, Zidane would have been even better playing in front of him.

I despair that not one person has mentioned Rui Costa on this article, absolutely sublime player.

Zidane could turn the magic on and swing big games on his own like no other.
Xavi and Pirlo in terms of consistently putting in top drawer performances for the team.

I'd take Zidane for sheer entertainment value.

entertainment value it's Ronaldinho by a mile

even above Zidane

Different kinds of entertainer imo TKT. I'd liken Dinho to a street artist and ZZ to a theatre performer, with the utmost respect for both art forms.

Pirlo isn't above Scholes, in my opinion. Pirlo has had the benefit on a good international team, but in terms og attributes and all round performance I'd take Scholes.

IOAG, I guess that would make Steven Gerrard a busker.

I like Zidane more

But no other player was a showman like Ronaldinho

People overrate longevity and consistency IMO

That's good for the club on a business level and squad 'servantness' but it's meaningless to everyone else.

Ronaldinho's 3-4 year peak elevates him to legend IMO. He was the pinnacle of outrageous talent.

Zidane the pinnacle of sublime skill.

Agree on Ronaldinho, Kaiser. Genius.

I'd agree with that, TKT.

Kagawa, as much as I like Scholes I believe Pirlo to be the superior footballer.

That said, Veron was better than the pair of them.

Fair enough. Not for me.

I think Pirlo was afforded luxuries Scholes never had. Good international set ups, slower league, centre of attention etc. I think Scholes' goal haul, his finishing, his awareness and the range and consistency of his passing nab it for me.

Can't agree on Veron, mind. Could he do more things with a football? Possibly. But this is where longevity and consistency do come into play. Pirlo and Scholes have done it for two of the biggest clubs in Europe for over two decades. Takes some beating.

Fair play, Kagawa. I cannot fault your logic on the players.

Scholes and Pirlo may have had the better careers, but I've alwas felt that Veron was the superior footballer. Especially before he came to England.

I'm in agreement with TKT that longevity is often overplayed. I'm not knocking it, but I rate Veron at his peak as the superior player.