why on earth do people think we never produced a world class player.ave you forgotten names like these and so called world called name
tijani babangida[/b] was once called the fastest man in the world
[b]finidi george was once called the best right winger in the world
kanu don't bother yourselves is bin a world class from japan 93 uptill today
okocha recognition all over the world

ayusco:

interesting topic! on the drogba issue he's a category 2 world class player. he's won a couple of domestic trophies with chelsea but thats it. uefa cup?, chmp lge? nada! with CIV as this is their golden generation he has not won jack! thats y kanu, jj, & finidi r beta than him in my own estimation. E'too is on d other hand is light years ahead of drogba Category 1 world class (take that to the bank & cash it!)

Really,none of our guys can be termed World class.
None makes the shortlist for Ballon D'Or/Player of the year,
None commands world-class fees in the transfer market.
None,save Kanu/Finidi played at the highest level (90's Champions league)
The standard for world class in my opinion-Zidane,Ronaldo de Lima,Figo,Raul,Weah,Maldini,Gullit,van Basten,Matthaus,Laudrup Brothers,Romario.
Can our best rub shoulders with these?I doubt seriously

Jarus:

oga, after reluctantly admitting something, why the anger!!!

tkb,
Laugh in Fulani for all I care.
Has any of our players met the criteria?
Read my post.
It's only Kanu and Finidi that come close to that category.
The players you listed cannot come close to the ones I listed.Maybe standards have fallen,because I'm yet to see what the players you mentioned have done to be titled World-class.Apart from maybe their transfer fees.
And I maintain.Kanu cannot rub shoulders with Zizou and co.But he is a great player.His trophy cabinet speaks for itself.

Taribo?At best he was efficient.
Oliseh?Maybe we could make a case for him.
Okocha?Enough said on him.


Being world class makes it an elite group.Stop adding every johhny-come-lately to it

[b]ill expect you to be scientific with arguements next time you want to respond to this arguement.[/b]Why shift the goal posts? one, you can make a case for some, Finidi came close, Kanu came close, Okocha?, they commanded huge transfer fees!!! what are you now talking about?

u said i should look at your criteria? why should i use ur criteria? why not mine? ur criteria are the ones from FIFA abi or UEFA?
think through before u send stuffs.

If those guys are not world class, then like i said Ballack isnt a world class player and anyone who says Ballack isnt a world class player should be quarantined from any soccer forum

zizou? what are u talking about? how many players can rub shoulders with Zizou? even Messi cannot so what are u driving at?
in Zizous time only Ronaldo and Ronaldinho can rival him means we had no world class players in that era?

I'm lost here. stop forming unnecessary definitions of world class players, i have listened to many top notch commentators and football afficionados that call the likes of Drogba, Kanu and co world class. ur definition will not count anyway, that was just ur opinion i guess

guy,
what has ballack done to warrant him that title?
I'm not shifting any goalposts.It's my opinion so stop ranting through your anus.
Maybe Ballack now is world-class,to you,but to me,I'm not yet impressed at him.
Like it or not,I won't follow the bandwagon of calling Okocha world-class,just because he dribbled his senses out in France 98.Oliseh was decent,decent enough to get into any team,but world class for his is an overstatement.
Finidi & Kanu are the closest to world class we've seen but will they make an all-time first eleven?Probably,but then probably not too.

Men stop this your approach.If you cared to read through my original post,you would see I was expressing my own opinion.Don't force yours through to me.
Call everybody world class,even you, and that's your problem.I know for a fact that that list is few,and only for an elite gruop.

U don't have to win Ballon d'Or to be a world class player.
Batistuta, Vieira, Raul, Roy Keane, Henry never won the Ballon d'Or. . . . .So it means they are now world class??
How daft can some people be?

right on spot!!

Ruud, Berbatov, Gerrard, Mascherano, Drogba, Scholes and co are world class players!!!!
how are they different from Kanu, Okocha, Finidi and co?
u guys just form unnecessary definitions everytime. Thats Dayos AOC
rubbish definitions

Kanu is one of the most decorated footballers in Africa, 2 time african footballer of the year, played in world class clubs and yet hes no world class player, its sickening trying to understand the logic behind what eastbay is trying to say

tkb417:

right on spot!!

Ruud, Berbatov, Gerrard, Mascherano, Drogba, Scholes and co are world class players!!!!
how are they different from Kanu, Okocha, Finidi and co?

u guys just form unnecessary definitions everytime. Thats Dayos AOC
rubbish definitions

Kanu is one of the most decorated footballers in Africa, 2 time african footballer of the year, played in world class clubs and yet hes no world class player, its sickening trying to understand the logic behind what eastbay is trying to say

Dayokanu is daft. . . . . . . .It's not surprising he carried over his stupidity of 2008 into 2009.

George Weah is not better than Yekini(in his prime).
The only schitzo here is Yekini never played for a big club(same as Jay Jay Okocha).
Cheese n Rice. . . . . .The media has dubbed Ashley Young(Aston Villa) a world class player.
A. Young does not even possess 10% of Finidi's skillz

kay_pumpin:

The parameters and indices for measuring world class players aint exclusive and if we are to use the Ballon d'Or and other awards as the ONLY yardstick,then a lotta players will not even be mentioned.These awards are most times the opinions of the majority.

dayokanu:

I never get time for all these.

But can anyone tell me any club where Kanu was a regular?

Every sport has its Hall of Fame.Even the clownish WWE does.
Basketball had the Dream Team.There were other star NBA players who couldn't and still wont be able to get into that team.12 of the very best basketball player alive.