Heavy reading here. Definition of world class ? Well I'm not sure but I go think the term is over used these days. Some great players like Bale, Rooney, Aguero etc etc playing in the Premier League but to call them world class ok not so sure. If you define world class as people like Pele, Cruyff, Maradona and our own Mr Laudrup the the only two playing today I would define as world class are Ronaldo and Messi. Messi is on another level, I'd happily pay to see that man play, his skills are ridiculous and sometimes I find myself applauding just watching him on TV.
I think the players you can really call world class are the ones that have played consistantly excellent over a long period and who`s names are well known wherever you go around the planet ?
For me, to be able to be called world class you need to be the best player in your position in the world, regardless of what league or team you play in. This really limits it down to 11 world class players at any one time. I think it can be expanded slightly as there are so many good players playing so perhaps 2-3 in each position, after all, everyone has different opinions on a players quality. The main issue I have with 'world class' is that it is so overused the term becomes devalued. Suarez scores a hat-trick against Norwich, suddenly he's world class? No. Rooney world class? Probably not in my opinion but not far off. Bale I would agree with. Who else in the world is better than him on the left wing at this moment in time? Can't think of any personally.
Very true what you say Giggsy, the term is very much over used, and while Rooney is a good player, the myth of him being World class was propagated by the English tabloid, I do consider Gareth Bale to be World class in his position, there's no doubting that had he or Giggsy for that matter been English, they would have walked into the first starting XI!...............
Giggsy in his day was! Still very impressive that he is still going strong after all these years. That goal against Arsenal in the FA cup semis is still my favourite goal ever!
being old (not as some) pele, eusebio, beckenbaeur, cryff, laudrup, banks, it is always too hard to compare between different eras, bergcamp, henry, gasgoine yashin and the list goes on
Gareth Bale is quite obviously world class. Who's better than him at the moment. Messi, Ronaldo and.... he's probably top 10 in the world.
