MOT forum best left winger poll round 2
Officially the greatest goalscorer in football history,and the 3rd highest appearence maker in football history. Cristiano Ronaldo is in his 25th season as a professional footballer and shows no signs of stopping. He is now more known for his goals as a striker but in his prime he was a pacey, step over king of a winger with bags of tricks and flicks and a rocket powered shot. He has won 7 league titles in 3 of the top 5 major leagues and is a 4 time Champions League winner. He is the all time international goalscorer, the all time Real Madrid top goalscorer and the all time Champions League goalscorer. He is a FIFA World Player of the Year and a 5 time Ballon d'Or winner and to give him his credit in terms of dedication probably one of the most career driven players ever.
Francisco Gento
An unfamiliar name to many but Francisco "Paco" Gento is a legend of Spanish football and of the most successful club side in the world Real Madrid. Held in such high esteem that following the death of Alfredo Di Stéfano it was Francisco Gento who was made Honorary President of Real Madrid. He represented Real Madrid for 18 seasons, is 9th in the all time appearence maker and is considered a link between the Legendary Di Stefano and Puskas side of the 1950s and the multi time La Liga winning and 1965 European Cup winning side known as the "Ye Ye" team of the 1960s which he Captained. In total he holds the record for most La Liga titles won, joint most European Cup finals played in and joint most European Cup/Champions League wins. He was a lightening fast, old fashioned winger nicknamed the "Gale of the Cantabrian Sea" who IFFHS voted the Greatest Spanish player of the 20th century. He is an often forgotten name now but is one of the most Iconic names at the most famous club in the world.
Thierry Henry
A Premier League legend with over 400 career goals and 200 career assists Thierry Henry is one of the best known players in Premier League history. A former winger in his youth who Arsene Wenger famously changed to a striker at Arsenal, Henry reverted back to a wide player during his time at Barcelona. However he was never a traditional number 9 and often would drift left anyway as he preferred the space. A very well rounded player Henry was very quick, strong, excellent close control, a lethal finisher and chance creator. He was for over a decade his countries top scorer and is still Arsenal's. He is a 6 time League Champion, a Champions League winner, a World Cup and European Championship winner. 2 time Fifa World Player of the Year runner up, Ballon d'Or runner up and multiple time Premier league player of the year.
Piet Keizer
Though eventually overshadowed by a now more globally famous teammate Dutch winger and member of the pioneering Total football Ajax side of the 60s and 70s Piet Keizer was at one time and still by some in Holland considered the greatest player they have had. He was Cruyff before Cruyff and, whilst the 2 did have a complicated relationship (a fall out over who should be club Captain lead to Cruyff leaving Ajax) the Dutch legend did include his former teammate in his greatest ever 11. Keizer remained loyal to Ajax his whole career, scoring over 180 goals and getting over 160 assists. He was known as a well rounded and unselfish winger with excellent pace and dribbling skills and a ferocious shot, but with the vision and passing of a more classic 10 type which allowed him to create almost as many as he scored. He won 6 league titles and 3 European Cups and was a member of the 1974 runner up Dutch World Cup squad
Pavel Nedved
One of the greatest players in Serie A during the during the mid 90s and early 00s. In a 13 year stay in Serie A Nedved became one of the best foreign imports of the time. Regarded as one of the greatest Czech players ever Nedved was famously a member of the 1996 European Championship runner up Czech Republic side. This lead to a move to Lazio and a spell of 7 trophies including a Serie A title. A move to Juventus saw even more trophies, 2 Serie A titles included and more individual recognition. By this point Nedved was considered one of the best players in the world and in 2003 it became official as he was named Ballon d'Or winner in 2003. A more traditional winger generally Nedved was known for his pace, dribbling and crossing skills as well as his powerful shots. He scored over 150 goals and got over 120 assists in his career and as well as the Ballon d'Or he was a multiple time Czech Player of the Year and Serie A player of the year.
Chris Waddle
Nicknamed "Magic Chris" in France Chris Waddle is probably more appreciated in France than he is in England. During a near 20 year playing career Waddle experienced his greatest success in France at Marseille where he was a 3 time League title winner and a European Cup runner up. He was for a time the 3rd most expensive player ever. In Marseille history a fan vote was held to find the best player in history for them and only Ballon d'Or winning striker Jean Pierre Papin beat Waddle who came 2nd. Waddle was known for his dribbling, close control, work rate and passing ability and during a near 20 year career he scores over 150 goals and got nearly 100 assists. Player such as Gary Linekar, Didier Deschamps and Papin himself have praised Waddle as one of the best they've ever played with. He is a double Onze d'Or winner.
Franck Ribéry
For many the man who was robbed of the 2013 Ballon d'Or. During the Messi/Ronaldo dominated award period Ribery has a genuine claim to being a victim of politics as many felt he was the best player that year. What isn't in doubt is for a number of years Ribery was one of the best players in the world and of his generation. Ribery played 23 seasons as a professional footballer, he won trophies in 3 different countries and 25 in total including 10 league titles with Bayern Munich and a Champions League. He was also a World Cup runner up in 2006. A very well rounded player Ribery was an exceptional dribbler with electric pace and close control but with the vision and touch more associated with a natural 10. 3 time French player of the Year, Germany Footballer of the Year, UEFA Best player in Europe winner as well as others. He scored over 160 goals and got over 240 assists.