Who is the most complete player in the world?
That for me is a diffucult question to answer
because the answer to this question will
depend on what parameters and measures you
use in measuring the completeness of a
player.
But if you are Mark Doyle of Goal.com that is
not a difficult question to answer after all: it is
Cristiano Ronaldo!
According to Mark Doyle he is probably the
most complete player in history! And this is
based on the fact that he 'has a perfect blend
of physicality and technique'. And much of
Doyle's article pays glowing tribute to
Ronaldo's physicallity and hardwork. Here i
quote Doyle:
" Physically, he is almost beyond compare. At
1.85 centimetres tall and weighing 80
kilograms, he boasts the optimum fusion of
power and speed that comes with the frame of
super-middleweight boxer. His upper-body
strength is such that he only ever goes down
of his own accord, while his sprinter-like
thighs not only generate sufficient force to
strike the ball just as explosively with either
foot, but also provide the springboard for
leaps of astounding height and sustained hang
time. That he is also one of the most
accomplished headers of a ball in world
football is testament to another attribute, and
this time of the mental variety: his dedication
to his profession."
Well said Doyle, but if football is about how
well a player is built i can point to a 1000
players that are equally well built like Ronaldo!
Even the guy who trains behind my
neighbourhood can boast of better physique!
But does that make him the most complete
player in history? Certainly no!
It can be argued however that Ronaldo has
reached the peak of the game and won almost
anything that there is to win, but saying he is
the most complete based on just his physique
is no argument! Am wondering what is the
essence of this well built physique when this
great footballer goes down at the slightest
touch?
Despite his physique Ronaldo is one of the
most 'complete divers' the game has ever
known! I prefer Messi's short physique, not
well built, yes! But even with six players all
around him he still holds on to the ball! Now
that is when your physique counts! Same goes
for Thiery Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic,
Ronaldinho, Brazilian Ronaldo. These are all
great players with great physique but who
unlike CR7 do not easily go down on the ball!
And yet these players exudes far more class,
touch and technique on the ball!
Am not going to talk about the argument on
technique, because the most ardent CR7 fans
knows he isn't the most technical player out
there! No need going into that argument!
The issue at stake here is Doyle has picked the
wrong parameters in declaring Ronaldo the
most complete player in history. It is not
technique, it is not physicallity neither is it
mentality. For in all these categories there are
players who did better than Ronaldo. Pele,
Maradona, Platini, Zidane, Ronaldo De lima,
Ronaldinho and of Lionel Messi are players
that comes to mind. Winning mentality,
unique and unbelievable technique, they have
all got these better than Ronaldo! They may
not be as tall as Ronaldo or maybe of equal
physique like him; but unlike Ronaldo they are
not serial divers! These are not athletes but
football artists who are both good on and off
the ball! And this is where the technique rating
comes to play, all the aforementioned players
are great with the ball. Space or no space
Messi, Maradona, Platini, Henry will create
amazing stuffs and magic! Give these players
space and you have handed them double
advantage!
This is where Ronaldo's game is lacking
technically and cannot compare with these
other greats; Ronaldo is only useful when
there is space to run into! Close the space and
Ronaldo is no better than Usain Bolt- a
sprinter, an athlete!
This is the x factor that his games lacks, that
'little thing/edge' that Messi has that he does
not possess. It is this x factor that makes it
easy for players like Messi, Maradona,
Ronaldinho to shine in games even when they
ain't scoring goals. There superior techniques
on the ball allows them to pick out a pass, an
assist, many dribbles, set up their teammates
even in close spaces! This is what Ronaldo
games lacks and what will always make many
legends,coaches and ex footballer considered
him second rated to Messi and the original
Ronaldo!
If Doyle is looking for a better blend of
technique and physique in action he should
look at the little Argentine goal against Bosnia:
shrugging off defenders in tight spaces,
dribble past a couple, exchange a one two,
and executed a perfect finish! Now that was
technique and physique perfectly blended! Or
betterstill Ronaldinho cheeky goal against
Chelsea at Stamford bridge. Crowded by many
players, but shrugging off them with his
physique and executing a perfect finishing
with his technique, now you cannot get a
better goal!
However you can only find such goals in few
numbers in Ronaldo's archive! Yes you will
see lot of explosive 40yarders and 30yarders,
explosive headers and lot of taps in. Yes these
are great goals that demonstrates Ronaldo's
explosive physicallity on the ball. But plays
and goals that combines both physique and
technique? That you will find in few numbers.
But these kind of goals are the hallmarks of
the careers of players like Messi, Maradona,
Platini, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo De Lima etc(well
a quick trip to youtube will help you verified
this)
Based on Doyle's premise of 'Physicallity and
Technicallity' these are the most complete
players in history and not Ronaldo!
However to the question of who is the most
complete player in history? I believe no one is!
Its like asking the question who is the most
perfect human being on the earth? Am yet to
find one. Am of the opinion players don't have
to be complete to be great footballers and be
successful!
However if we are to measure the most
complete player on the earth i believe there
are better parameters to use than just
technique and physique.
*The most complete player would be a player
who can do what every player can do on the
pitch:
a) Attack. Midfield. Defend. In other words
such a player should be able to play as a
defender, midfielder and attacker. Utility
players are the most complete players out
there. Unfortunately Ronaldo isn't one but
Gullit was, Lothar Mattheus was, Luis Enrique
was also one and host of many players that we
can't possibly list here.
All these players can fill out for different
positions on the pitch whether in attack,
defence or midfield. These are the complete
players.
b) Shoot. Pass. Dribble. This is another way of
looking at the completeness of a player. The
ability to be able to do well all the 3 things a
player is required to do on the pitch. All other
skills in football are secondary for an outfield
player. Every other thing you do on the pitch
only helps you to be able to do these three
well. You can run with the ball but you can't
do this for 90minutes, a point comes where
you either shoot, dribble or pass the ball, its
that simple! Any player who excells at the 3
can be said to be complete!
As such there are many other than Ronaldo
who excels at these and who has won as much
as he had over their careers!
Unfortunately for Ronaldo he is an excellent
shooter of the ball but an average dribbler and
passer! Hence not the most complete.
These parameters above in my opinion and
from the comment of many fans and pundits
over the years on this debate are far more
objective parameters for measuring the
'completeness of a player'; far better than the
argument of scoring with both legs and head.
For all these as wonderful as they are just one
aspect of the game - shooting!
Maybe we should say Ronaldo is the most
complete shooter of the ball, that i will not
argue against!
- PAB