So Called World Class Players that you never rated

[Aus Fox]

I’m going to say in a team game Zlatan Ibrahimovic is spoken about at a level he never really reached. Again, no doubt a top player and a good finisher, but never really lasted more than a couple of seasons at a club, no champions league wins, never really did it at a major international tournament, and was probably the best self publicist the game has ever seen.

This isn’t to say he’s not a top striker, he is and has scored some phenomenal goals, but for me never a world class striker and I don’t think there’s been a point in his career where he would get picked for a world class 11.

[BigWesMorgan]

3 hours ago, Silebyfox_89 said:

Won loads of trophies with Spain n Real Madrid but never thought he won games for them. Above average keeper playing in great sides, I'd put him below the following keepers:

Buffon, Neuer, Czech, Van der Sar & Schmichael.

 

The beauty of opinions - I don’t think there’s a greater goalkeeper in history than prime Casillas 

[peach0000]

Rashford I used to always say if he wasn't playing for Man Utd he would be playing in the Championship. I think other people might be seeing it now. 

[Graceroad]

11 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

I increasingly think Kane is very overrated and that his record of never winning a trophy is not some fluke anomaly.

Yep only world class players like Pegguy Arphexed win trophies

[Raj]

Neymar.

Mbappe.

Pogba.

 

Not World Class but vastly overated and  played in the Euros:-

Havertz

Morata

 

 

[SkidsFox]

Kaka. Maximised his earning potential tbf.

[Fox92]

10 hours ago, CWC1983 said:

Antoine Griezmann. I don't watch much La liga, but I've never seen him play well in a tournament for France. 

 

Pogba at Man Utd, definitely, but he was brilliant at Juve and at the Russia World Cup. 

 

Lewandowski. Flat track bully?

 

Griezmann is brilliant, I will defend him all the time, his ability to pick up space is unbelievable. I didn't appreciate how good he was until I saw him live against us for Atletico.

[Samilktray]

I think the Mbappe shouts are harsh but I suppose when you’ve been playing in the French league, regardless of international achievements it’s understandable 

[foxile5]

10 hours ago, Walshy5 said:

I'll go with one that is currently playing. Mbappe.

I’ll echo this.

 

There have been moments of sublime brilliance but I think he’s an engineered talent. He’s very, very good but I don’t think he has ever lived up to the billing of second Messi/Renaldo that the media desperately wants him to.

 

Imagine having a documentary about you ‘becoming Killian’ whilst never having really excelled on the domestic stage. He has won a few French leagues for sure but he’s never come close in the Champions League - despite playing in a front 3 of himself, Messi, and Neymar. There’s a desperation surrounding him to be successful for reasons I’m not certain of. 

 

As a caveat - yes, he’s won the World Cup. Yes, he scored a hat-trick in the final.

 

 

[Chris_OGrady]

Totti

[bovril]

11 minutes ago, Chris_OGrady said:

Totti

I actually think he was underrated like a lot of Italian players. 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

1 hour ago, foxile5 said:

Imagine having a documentary about you ‘becoming Killian’ whilst never having really excelled on the domestic stage.

 

If anything he has excelled himself on the domestic stage, no? The guy has scored the best part of 200 league goals in France.

[Chris_OGrady]

40 minutes ago, bovril said:

I actually think he was underrated like a lot of Italian players. 

This is purely based off the occasions I watched him play for Roma in the Champions League and Italy in major tournaments. He never seemed to have any influence on the games. Most notable moment I remember is him elbowing some Arsenal player in the face for no reason and getting sent off 

 

 

[RoboFox]

Maxim Tsigalko and Freddy Adu. 

[Thefox81]

51 minutes ago, RoboFox said:

Maxim Tsigalko and Freddy Adu. 

If you know you know 

[ramboacdc]

I never got the hype of a past 21 year old Michael Owen to be honest....

[StanSP]

4 hours ago, Chris_OGrady said:

Totti

Obscene. 

[foxile5]

3 hours ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

If anything he has excelled himself on the domestic stage, no? The guy has scored the best part of 200 league goals in France.

Yeah that should read 'broader stage'.

 

The entire conversation is difficult to articulate because it's players who are in the discussion but not quite making it.

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

Scholes was clearly world class imo. Terrible shout.

 

longevity plays a large part in the argument people often under value massively. He did it for 20 years and evolved. Brilliant player.

[Scanchez]

Not sure if anyone thought of him as world class but, Mario Balotelli.

I was always amazed that he played for big teams like Inter, Man City, Liverpool and AC Milan.

 

[Leicesterpool]

22 hours ago, EnderbyFox said:

Neymar for me, not sure if i'm just unlucky but I've never seen him have a game where I thought he was world class 

Yeah Neymar I think would struggle in the premier league, Barcelona he was surrounded by World Class players including being partnered up with Messi. When he arrived at PSG he was like there first big "world class signing" since they he hasn't lived up stature.  

Edited 9 July 2024 by Leicesterpool

[Wycombe Fox]

Yep, Mbappe

[Osavo]

Nemanja Vidic. People laud him as one of the best PL defenders ever, but was just being bailed out by Ferdinand most of the time.

[Leicesterpool]

Kaka at AC Milan was some player swaps Italy for the all white of spains Real Madrid never the same a found out. There was story that Spuds had agreed with Real Madrid that Kaka would he join them on loan. Turned them down saying he would only join a big club 😆

[boots60]

Ali Dia,  George Weah's cousin!