Since the soccer bug has stung very few of you I am going to put together a list of my top 10 favorite footballers to show you some of the beauty that the game brings. These aren't necessarily the "best" players as much as they are my favorites. I am not going back to the days of Pele or Cruiff so no need to look at little shorts and good hair - although George Best is my lifetime player/manager. All of these players you can see today - although I would love to squeeze Beckenbauer in - nothing is better than that Kraut.
We are going to play an old school 4-3-1-2 and starting at left back is my first player:
Roberto Carlos is renowned as one of the greatest free kick takers of all time. He plays for both Brazil in international ball and for Real Madrid in club ball. He is one of only 3 players to play in 100 Champions league games. Left back is naturally a defensive feeding position but Roberto Carlos' speed and power make him one of the most prolific defensive scorers ever. Spotlighted for his scoring Carlos is also a tenacious defender and averages 3 red cards and 10 yellows a year. He has been the spine of the Brazilian team since 1998.
The 2nd "best" goal on the video above is considered by many the greatest free kick ever scored.
So there is my number 1 player that I would build a team around. My left back you say? I'll tell you what - I'll take a player that can shut someone down and score from 30 yards out while running the lines any day over a center half or dominating forward.
Also I'll leave you with one legend for every current player I put up. Today's legend is the amazing fucking Rock n' Roll Irishman (northern) George Best. George Best was so iconic he has an airport named after him in Belfast, the Wedding Present named an album after him, and on the cover of Oasis' first album, Definitely Maybe you can see a picture of George Best (not iconic but it's cool). They say that no one had wept over a sports figure in England the way they wept when George Best passed away. He was one of the working class and suffered from huge problems with drugs and alcohol. He was personable and humble to those around him and like most of the great one's we love so much, he handled fame with confusion, humility and ultimately succumbing to it's weight. He was very human but he was a God on the pitch.
It's set to the Beatles music - so even if you could give a shit at least it plays the Beatles. Watch the move at the 3:40 mark and you'll know why Georgie Best was so loved. Link posted by JVMM : 11:00 AM
