Batistuta was NOT one of the players I commented on. But Sukur (come again, who?), Mijatovic, Kluivert, Ayala, Ortega, Riquelme, Aimar...were. Ronaldo o fenomeno, Pele, Zico, Ronaldinho, Cafu, Roberto Carlos - all players in the top 10 or 20 of all time. The ones I took issue with... not even top 500 or 1000 of all time, imo.
Sukur ranks as second best Turkish player ever. If you don't take an interest in world football that's ok You've missed the point completely imo. BCR listed the best players from countries [off the top of his head] with the idea that article title could be extended.
Ludicrous dig, from smb who had totally missed the fact Odemwingie has had 50 plus caps for Nigeria Btw, jb, I'm curious where do you rank Sukur in the all time greats list? #40-50?
Did the logic pass you by i.e. why do you think I was surprised that Odemwingie was Russian? It couldn't be because, having an African name aside, I knew he played for Nigeria could it
Where do you rank Sukur in the all time greats list, JB? If not between 40 and 50, surely between 50 and 100?
Can we just back up a minute, was BCR referring to Davor Šuker? Which would make more sense as Croatia (not Turkey) were once part of Yugoslavia and would be ranked as one of the best footballers ever. Feel sorry for anyone who hasn't heard of Davor Šuker, not just cause he was a fantastic player, but also cause of his Euro 96 goals against Denmark.
I'm not into ranking, it's spurious at best! I haven't been able to rank my choice of best Brazilians let alone other nationalities I leave that for those who enjoy such pursuits.
Suker yes, he is mentionable. At a level with Prosinecki, Boban. Modric could reach that level for them too. Savicevic (a serb, not a croat) was my favorite of the ex-yugoslavs - a wiley genius, instrumental in Milan's 90s side and esp in the 4-0 CL final demolition of Barca in Cruyff's heyday.
In the twilight of his career, Davor Šuker had a season with Arsenal and then West Ham too. Eleven goals in 39 games for Arsenal and three in thirteen for the Hammers didn't really do him justice though.
Re the Brazilians... Ronaldo, I can now say, was IMO the best striker of all time. A true phenomenon. Below him, I'd have Zico, Pele, Romario, Garrincha, Didi. In the third tier I'd put Ronaldinho, Cafu, Falcao, Roberto Carlos, Kaka (in his prime).
Šuker makes more sense if that's who BCR meant [former Yugoslavia]. I went with Sukur as that's who he said. I'd heard of both.