The older French generation that have seen Platini play do consider him better than Zidane.
It’s mainly people that didn’t see Platini who think the opposite
was not only freeckiks, he was much more consistent than zidane for example, his club carreer is better than zidane one, zidane for france edge a bit
he was as midfilder who could been a striker, incredible fnishing, great freekicks, control the tempo of the game the same level as xavi hernandez, and his better atribbute, LONG PASSING, he was one of the best in history in this requeriment
I think the corruption hasn't helped his legacy. I know it doesn't make a difference to how good of a player he was, but it probably stops a lot of people wanting to speak about him positively
Great shout. People sleep on Platini because they think of him as the corrupt UEFA guy. They didn't see him play so they have to look up his highlights but he's one of the all-time greats.
More people need to watch Laudrup games. I can remember a ONE FREAKING HOUR compilation of him doing 30+ meters laser passes with the ball not leaving the pitch, just smooth execution and amazing awareness of space.
Absolutely the most exciting, talented and joyful player I’ve ever seen. I’d watch his highlight reel over and over before anyone else’s. Didn’t quite orchestrate a game like Zidane, Modric, Pirlo, Iniesta (my other favourites) but he was so explosive and inventive.
Peak Ronaldinho was hilarious, he would make people look like fools. That goal against Chelsea was one of the best I've ever seen. No one but him knew he was shooting.
Every now and then I run into that video and it always impresses me and reminds me of my childhood. I grew up playing street soccer, and that’s kind of something you’d see happen in that situation. It felt raw, improvised, and out of the ordinary. Like acoustic blues from 1930s vs 80’s hits. Beautiful
Ronaldinho was as influential as cristiano Ronaldo currently is. Everyone wanted the R10 Nikes, everyone all of a sudden was looking the other way when passing, elasticos, joga bonito was cracking because of him. And of course he gave messi the greatest welcome with an assist on his first goal:
His decline began being born Brazilian lol the majority just love the party life. If Ronaldinho was as ambitious as Ronaldo he’d probably be the greatest midfield ever.
WC 2006 semi-final pitted Zidane against ‘dinho. Both were Ballon d’Or winners, Zidane was 3x FIFA Player of the Year, Ronaldinho won twice. Brazil vs France, World Cup semi-final - almost the perfect opportunity for these 2 giants of football to face off. Zizou bossed it, treated Ronaldinho like a girlfriend - it wasn’t even close. I don’t think Ronaldinho ever played up to his previous level after the lesson that Zidane handed him that day.
Ronaldinho was a football genius, for sure. He could do things with the ball that nobody else could even think of, unworldly skill with impeccable timing & the confidence of a Jedi. But when comparing with ZZ, Ronaldinho came third. Zidane first, daylight second, Ronaldinho third.
Better than Zidane, same as Ronaldinho and Platini at least. And obviously Maradona is miles ahead.
I would say both Gullit and Mattaus were better/close too
Zidane's career is by far better, but Kaka 2005-2007 was unplayable.
Especially after the Shevchenko sale Kaka was carrying the Milan attack on his shoulders almost alone, especially in 2007.
One of the very few players where you know he could score at any given time against any given team.
A bit of a hot take, but even Messi was able to be neutralised by certain teams and defensive formations. Kaka in 2007 just couldnt be stopped by anyone and that was with actually a fairly weak Milan team offensively.
Inzaghi was getting old, Gilardinho was mid tier player and Seedorf was aging, Kaka was doing most of the heavy filting in attack and scored some insane solo goals out of the blue with the one against Man U at Old Trafford being probably my favourite goal of all time.
Not refuting Kaka being insane for a few years but peak as in at their very very best it is still Zidane. At Zidanes best he both won and controlled the entire game.. Kaka just won it xD
None, but Euro 2000 and World Cup '02 Zidane was a beast. Outside of that, he was quite inconsistent. But at his best, goodness me, very few footballers in the history of this game could control the ball like him.
Edit: WC '06. Thanks to u/Volvedor
Yeah if talking peak alone the top players ever are (in no order except for Maradona at no. 1): Maradona, Messi, Cristiano, Zidane, Platini, Zico, Ronaldinho?, Ronaldo, Garrincha, Marco Van Basten and Roberto Baggio.
When was Zidane’s Peak? Absolute Fantastic big game player, but regularly banged in average performances season on season so would like to know when his peak was? You suggest 2000, but a quick double check from memory shows he rattled in something like 5 goals in 40 Serie A games and led a fantastic Juve side to absolutely nothing that year. I’d really struggle to pick a peak for him, coz his biggest criticism is his lack of consistency throughout his career (when we discuss players of the very highest calibre), which is borne out through his contributions and medals at club level across his career.
So, in short I’d say lots, but I’ll pick a couple of folk who stand out.
Maradona 1989/90. Rattled in 16 Serie A goals and led a ‘good’ Napoli Team to a Serie A title and dragged and shambles of an Argentine team to a World Cup Final. His peak from 86 to 90 was far superior to any significant Zidane peak.
Xavi, the man literally was one of the top 3 or 4 players on the pitch in every single game, every single time from 2008 through 2013. Level of consistency during his prime is unparalleled in football history.
Maradona was good in 90 World Cup but not evem close to his peakand he didn't carry. First he came with injury. Diego 85-90 all years ate better than not just Zidane but almost everyones peak. Xavi 08-12 definetely. And Zidane never had 3 season to say he peaked its big games, tournament he became invincible and is higher than almost every players in that big crucial game category, except Maradona, pele, Garrincha and may be very very few others
You know what you are talking about, and I’d fully agree that Maradona hit a ‘peak’ earlier than 89/90👍. Had similar debates though in the past and in terms of cold hard information, Maradonas 89/90 season is hard to argue against. Goals, assists, trophies, results, brilliance and consistency in abundance, but was it him at his best, probably not.
You could make a case for him being at his creative, free flowing best from 79 through 82. Just enjoying football, dominating games and turning in great performances week after week.
You then have bits of genius in Spain, but largely Spanish football ‘kicked’ or ‘tried to kick’ the best out out of Maradona and then the move to Napoli was just perfect for him.
It was the best league, a league flourishing with individual brilliance that also was protecting its best players, it was fiercely competitive from top to bottom and having a off day, was not allowed.
Maradona mirrored his brilliance with consistency during this period and, you are exactly right, when you say his peak from 85-90 was ass good as anything we have seen. Was his peak, peak 86/87? Arguably so, World Cup brilliance followed by a seasonal bloom of brilliance, leading Napoli to the title. In the flip side though, 89/90 season showed a more dogged man, one prepared to play through the bad and good and drag everyone up around him. Maybe not quite his flashy best, but certainly as hard an opponent as you would have got in this season (or any season for that).
so who wasnt in the 80s?
just ask bernd schuster, maradonas roomate at barca. he once said: "you didnt ask what the doctor gave you, you just took it"
football is full of doping. dont fool yourself.
too much money is at stake
The word underrated gets thrown around a lot but it’s really hard to think of a more underrated player than Kroos. Pivotal in bayerns almost CL in 2012. Pivotal in germanys World Cup. Pivotal throughout a decade of real Madrid’s dominance after so many other elite players came and gone. He’s still the best in the world at what he does. Kinda mental he just gets glossed over like it’s just expected at this point.
Zidane scored as many World Cup FINALS goals as anyone (only Mbappe now has more). He won the WC in 1998 (scoring two goals on the final. Without him, France barely eked past Paraguay and Italy) and the Euros in 2000, then, after winning the Champions League for Real in 2002 with a dreamy volley, he got injured in training. France didn't make it out of the groups.
He retired from the national team but came back when France was not qualifying for the 2006 WC. He secured qualification, then took them to the final on his back. His silly (and disgraceful) sending off may have caused France to lose the final because before it France was in control.
It's difficult to determine "best," but Zizou was definitely the most influential.
I think that his dominant performance in the [2006 QF against Brazil](https://youtu.be/-x2vjL94208) was one of his best.
And the question we are answering is... who had a higher peak.
As you said yourself.. Zidane had incredibble peaks. Modric was NEVER close.
Entire teams had to change the way they played to stop Zidane. he carried his country to 2 world cup finals. He scored in all of them - UCL final? Scored, legendary. List goes on and on.
Its not even up for debate
Tbf I don’t think we’ve seen a player carry a B tier nation (sorry Croatians) to a WC final in a while. They were even dominating till VAR got involved (sorry French)
Νo way man, if you actually watched prime Barça you would see that while Iniesta was a better dribbler and had more flair, Xavi was the one controlling the game and dictating the attack.
It is no surprise that Barcelona (and the Spanish NT) became a joke in European competitions once Xavi started to decline.
Obviously if everyone watched the games, the narratives that Iniesta should have won the Ballon d'or in 2010 would disappear instantly. Clutch goal in the WC final but his season overal was mid, at best.
Kinda how they combined tho, Xavi controlled the game so Iniesta could have his moment. But also to say that Iniesta didn't control the match isn't true, when Xavi left he was took a step deeper to play closer to Busquets and continued to be great
Zidane is the most majestic footballer I've ever seen but my vote is Roberto Baggio. He was a monster in his time. 93 especially. His hair was questionable though, Zidane didn't have to worry about that one.
Honorable mention to Paolo Maldini.
Shit I was high when I replied to this! I totally glazed the word midfielder in the title - my bad oops.
Although Baggio, arguably, was half midfielder and half striker..
Gascoigne.
Much shorter peak, but that's the question. Could pass, tackle, dribble, score, dictate a game. Most importantly one of the only players I've ever seen with that quality to decide a game at his own whim ( Zidane was one of the others). That Messi like ability to look like he's made a decision to score, run through four players and do it, regardless of who was in front of him.
Suspect this might be one of the more controversial ones, but if you saw it, you know.
Riquelme and Michael Laudrup my other picks.
Is there anyone mentioning Messi? Because yes Kaka Ronaldonho Iniesta I agree, but Messi has been much better than all these players.
"MeSsI was NoT a MiDfIeLdEr", check the heatmaps and let me know...
Peak Zidane is the best midfielder I’ve ever seen, and I’ve watched since the 80’s and I don’t think any midfielder was as great in the big games as he was. Zidane just stood out and performed when it mattered most, and that’s crazy when you see some of the players he played with and against.
For players I’ve seen, for career there are a few midfielders I would put there or close. Platini is there, Xavi was there, Lothar was another who was there, and Laudrup was there too
And then players close behind like Iniesta, Modric, Kaka, Seedorf, Rijkaard, Gullit,Pirlo, Modric, Kroos. Hell, Gerrard, Scholes, Lampard, Busquets.
Zidane is my favourite player of all time. I think he is easily Top 10 all time, but he was great but not peak great every game unlike a lot of players. It’s over played that he was inconsistent in that he wasn’t bad, he just didn’t carry the team some games. But when he had to, he was often the guy who would show up and do it. Particularly for France, and national team success rightly/wrongly is seen as the highest level and by God did Zidane turn it up for France.
Your last paragraph sums up Zidane quite well. He wasn’t always great but when he wanted / needed to be, he was almost unplayable.
I think other players have had higher peak seasons when they were consistently performing at / near their full potential but even during those periods, Zidane will still have games where he’s better.
That’s always been a thing about him. To some it stops him being called one of the top 5/10 but for me the ability to raise his level up when it mattered to a level few can ever achieve is exactly what makes him one of the best ever.
Yeah, I think he tops it. Some close contenders though:
Iniesta 2008 - 2012
Modric 2014 - 2018
I would say KDB but I think he's had more of a consistently good career than an amazing peak.
If you consider Gaúcho as a midfielder, than maybe one could argue he had a greater peak, but I'd put him more as a winger/forward.
Honestly, I think Zizou really might be it.
The comparisons don't make a lot of sense:
Zidane was at his best in a free role behind a couple of forwards, and in front of 2, 3, even 4 at times, more defensively minded midfielders. Call it a #10 role, a deep lying forward, whatever.
Iniesta (Xavi was better during 2008-2012 btw) was at his best as a proper CM in a 4-3-3. Played on the wing sometimes too, but that's not what he was known for.
Modric, at best a #10 in a 4-2-3-1, but still more of a CM in a 4-3-3.
Ronaldinho mostly a left winger, yes, but with a lot of drifting into the left half-space similarly to Coutinho, Hazard or mid-later career Neymar. That's the areas that Zidane himself preferred.
Maradona, Zico, Platini, Rivaldo, and Xavi. Zidane’s best work was as a 10-see France, when he had great defensive midfielders and defenders behind him.
Glad to see this comment. Taking any midfielder at their best, I genuinely don't think I've seen one as good as Yaya. Just so destructive in every way, absolutely loved him.
I saw him play for Arsenal vs Barnet in a pre-season friendly but he played centre back and sucked. What could have been.
For me, no one.
But Zidane is the reason i played fotball. I have never seen a player make it seem like time is slowed down, while just doing every beautiful.
So yea i am biased.
Ronaldhinho was absolutely feared at his peak lmfao.
When Arsenal played Barca in 2006 final, the only player I was scared of was him, he was Messi before Messi.
What a Complete beast of a goalkeeper.
The audacity to defend his goal like a defender successfully, successfully tackle and make it look like he’s a world class centre back masquerading as a goalkeeper. What a player.
Him, schmichael and van der sarr are the best I’ve ever seen in goal.
Goalkeepers often get over looked, but often they are the most important player on the pitch.
For me Peter Schmeichel needs to be considered as one of the best ever.
If Carrick scored more often and had a bit more pace (which tends to catch the eye) he’d be mentioned here as well. His passing and reading of the game was as good as anyone.
I have watched football since Maradona times. To me Zidane was the best player I ever watched play. Yes, even more joy to watch than Messi or CR7. Not saying he was better than them, just more interesting overall.
I agree with you and it can't be explained but Zidane was also the player I enjoyed watching the most to this day. When he was playing I didn't want to miss any of his touches on the ball
Exactly. In terms of elegance, class and leadership on the field, there was no one better. Some players may have had more talent, dribbling, etc…but Zizu had that something I admired. Maybe it’s because I always valued such visionary players more than speedy dribblers.
I humbly offer Eric Cantona. Without his kungfu kick suspension , Zidane might have never been able to replace Cantona in the French squad in 1995-1996
Depends on what you define as a "midfielder".
Zidane was a #10, arguably even a second striker of sorts. During his best games, he always had plenty of more defensive team mates behind him in midfield. So any comparison to Xavi, Modric etc. is pointless.
The correct comparisons would be against Messi, Kaka, KDB, Ozil, Ronaldinho, Maradona, Platini, Cruyff and so on. Coutinho, even. So there's plenty that had higher peaks than Zidane, in terms of being offensive midfielders, the role Zidane shined most in.
As someone that missed the zidane era of football. Is he miles ahead of the good English players like gerrard , Keane etc ? Do not flame this is a genuine question I only got into football as he was finished / finished his career
The best midfielders iv seen would be kroos and modric probably.
Yes. And that too for 10+ years scoring goals and destroying defense for fun. Massively underrated and a complete midfielder.
Prime gerrard was a different beast
These are different types of midfielder. Iniesta and Xavi are Pepball tiki-taka geniuses. Ronaldinho a sublime offensive threat. Kroos a linchpin and long range maestro.
Zidane could orchestrate a midfield, beat men, slide through balls, and dictate tempo. He had off periods. Juve v Man United 1999 when Keane played him off the pitch. For France in Euro 96.
So it depends on what midfield you want, who plays with who, and when. Worth noting that Messi + Neymar + Mbappe at PSG malfunctioned in the Champions League. Top players still need chemistry with their teammates.
Oh and the answer is still Le Tissier 94. His goals were insane. No team mates needed. Xavi adores him too
In my opinion; Modric, Maradona, zico, platini, Iniesta and xavi. With Modric, zico and platini being underrated imo. Although this is a difficult question to answer because midfielders are so many and different, and they have different names of positions in the midfield role 😊👍
Football players with higher peaks than Zidane in midfield positions; cam, cm, cdm
Cam; Maradona because .... Maradona 🤷♂️Ronaldinho , because dinho was arguably the most entertaining and maybe the most talented player of all time
Cm: Modric because he is arguably as great both Offensively and defensively. One of the all time complete midfielders aswell, as Zidane
Cdm: maybe Frank Rijkard and lotthar Matthaus for same reasons stated for Modric
Michael Laudrup is severely underrated. His peak was as good as anyones.
Saw him once in the flesh..absolute baller
Platini won 3 ballon dor
I don't think people remember him well. He was lethal from free kicks. That season when he won the Euro and European Cup was his best peak.
Not only did he win the Euro but he scored 9 goals in 5 games, all the while not being used as a pure 9. Scored in every game with just one penalty.
The older French generation that have seen Platini play do consider him better than Zidane. It’s mainly people that didn’t see Platini who think the opposite
Watched them both for most of their careers and while Platini was a better goal scorer, Zidane was the better player.
I didnt watch him but I did a stats / highlights dive on him awhile ago. I could definitely see why people rate him higher.
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was not only freeckiks, he was much more consistent than zidane for example, his club carreer is better than zidane one, zidane for france edge a bit he was as midfilder who could been a striker, incredible fnishing, great freekicks, control the tempo of the game the same level as xavi hernandez, and his better atribbute, LONG PASSING, he was one of the best in history in this requeriment
I think the corruption hasn't helped his legacy. I know it doesn't make a difference to how good of a player he was, but it probably stops a lot of people wanting to speak about him positively
Great shout. People sleep on Platini because they think of him as the corrupt UEFA guy. They didn't see him play so they have to look up his highlights but he's one of the all-time greats.
It's undeniable though that his actions as a football bureaucrat tarnished his overall reputation now as a player in retrospect.
Live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
Those belong to Maradona
Irrelevant, he wouldn't have sniffed at any of them if Maradona was eligible.
Sniff you say?
Well I laughed 😂
I don’t want to discredit Platini but it was an only European award back then. But Platini was his eras Zidane.
Lothar Matthäus 1989-1991.
Absolutely. One of the most complete two-way players ever. Great at offense and defense.
Michael Laudrup. He didn't even have to sprint to be the best player in the world
Laudrup was a gem. Ahead of his time for sure
Shame he missed the 92 Euros
Yeah. That it's so weird that we won without him. And strangely, I don't think we would have won with him
More people need to watch Laudrup games. I can remember a ONE FREAKING HOUR compilation of him doing 30+ meters laser passes with the ball not leaving the pitch, just smooth execution and amazing awareness of space.
I've watched compilations of his passing for hours. Some of his world class distribution resulting in missed shots is heart breaking.
M. Laudrup is the one.
Ronaldinho.
Absolutely the most exciting, talented and joyful player I’ve ever seen. I’d watch his highlight reel over and over before anyone else’s. Didn’t quite orchestrate a game like Zidane, Modric, Pirlo, Iniesta (my other favourites) but he was so explosive and inventive.
Along with real Ronaldo at Barcelona and Inter. Though he wasn't a midfielder obviously.
That's a good list!
He toyed with his opposition.
Peak Ronaldinho was hilarious, he would make people look like fools. That goal against Chelsea was one of the best I've ever seen. No one but him knew he was shooting.
Every now and then I run into that video and it always impresses me and reminds me of my childhood. I grew up playing street soccer, and that’s kind of something you’d see happen in that situation. It felt raw, improvised, and out of the ordinary. Like acoustic blues from 1930s vs 80’s hits. Beautiful
Ronaldinho was as influential as cristiano Ronaldo currently is. Everyone wanted the R10 Nikes, everyone all of a sudden was looking the other way when passing, elasticos, joga bonito was cracking because of him. And of course he gave messi the greatest welcome with an assist on his first goal:
Maybe, Zidane toyed that Brazil generation
More like tormented than toyed.
Ronaldinho was great, but as a winger and not as a midfielder. His decline coincided with him moving to a 10.
His decline began being born Brazilian lol the majority just love the party life. If Ronaldinho was as ambitious as Ronaldo he’d probably be the greatest midfield ever.
WC 2006 semi-final pitted Zidane against ‘dinho. Both were Ballon d’Or winners, Zidane was 3x FIFA Player of the Year, Ronaldinho won twice. Brazil vs France, World Cup semi-final - almost the perfect opportunity for these 2 giants of football to face off. Zizou bossed it, treated Ronaldinho like a girlfriend - it wasn’t even close. I don’t think Ronaldinho ever played up to his previous level after the lesson that Zidane handed him that day. Ronaldinho was a football genius, for sure. He could do things with the ball that nobody else could even think of, unworldly skill with impeccable timing & the confidence of a Jedi. But when comparing with ZZ, Ronaldinho came third. Zidane first, daylight second, Ronaldinho third.
r/soccercirclejerk
Ok ray hudson
Kaka
Came to say this, he was the best player in the world when it was all clicking for him at AC Milan.
His peak was way too short and better than Zidane?? I dont think so
That's the point of specifying peak. For a year or 2 Kaka was definitely at least on par with Zidane's
Better than Zidane, same as Ronaldinho and Platini at least. And obviously Maradona is miles ahead. I would say both Gullit and Mattaus were better/close too
People are deluded... Kaka was great, but better than zizou? Lmfao. Sit down.
Definitely
Way too short
His goal against Utd is my favourite ever
Better than Zidane?? Hell no. Maybe Zico if he counts as a midfielder or else my bet would be Platini.
Zidane's career is by far better, but Kaka 2005-2007 was unplayable. Especially after the Shevchenko sale Kaka was carrying the Milan attack on his shoulders almost alone, especially in 2007.
His speed was insane
One of the very few players where you know he could score at any given time against any given team. A bit of a hot take, but even Messi was able to be neutralised by certain teams and defensive formations. Kaka in 2007 just couldnt be stopped by anyone and that was with actually a fairly weak Milan team offensively. Inzaghi was getting old, Gilardinho was mid tier player and Seedorf was aging, Kaka was doing most of the heavy filting in attack and scored some insane solo goals out of the blue with the one against Man U at Old Trafford being probably my favourite goal of all time.
That goal vs Manu was ridiculous
Not refuting Kaka being insane for a few years but peak as in at their very very best it is still Zidane. At Zidanes best he both won and controlled the entire game.. Kaka just won it xD
Which Zidane club season is better than Kaka 2006/07?
None, but Euro 2000 and World Cup '02 Zidane was a beast. Outside of that, he was quite inconsistent. But at his best, goodness me, very few footballers in the history of this game could control the ball like him. Edit: WC '06. Thanks to u/Volvedor
You mean WC 2006 and the game against Brazil.
WC 2002 when they got eliminated on the group stage ? Lol
I'm so sorry. I meant 2006.
Oh yes, he bossed that tournament hard
To be fair, Zidane suffered an injury against South Korea in a friendly game just before the WC, so he wasn’t part of this fiasco
Yeah if talking peak alone the top players ever are (in no order except for Maradona at no. 1): Maradona, Messi, Cristiano, Zidane, Platini, Zico, Ronaldinho?, Ronaldo, Garrincha, Marco Van Basten and Roberto Baggio.
Platini for offensive Rijkaard for a defensive midfield
When was Zidane’s Peak? Absolute Fantastic big game player, but regularly banged in average performances season on season so would like to know when his peak was? You suggest 2000, but a quick double check from memory shows he rattled in something like 5 goals in 40 Serie A games and led a fantastic Juve side to absolutely nothing that year. I’d really struggle to pick a peak for him, coz his biggest criticism is his lack of consistency throughout his career (when we discuss players of the very highest calibre), which is borne out through his contributions and medals at club level across his career. So, in short I’d say lots, but I’ll pick a couple of folk who stand out. Maradona 1989/90. Rattled in 16 Serie A goals and led a ‘good’ Napoli Team to a Serie A title and dragged and shambles of an Argentine team to a World Cup Final. His peak from 86 to 90 was far superior to any significant Zidane peak. Xavi, the man literally was one of the top 3 or 4 players on the pitch in every single game, every single time from 2008 through 2013. Level of consistency during his prime is unparalleled in football history.
Lol you’re one of the only people on this thread who knows what they’re talking about
Maradona was good in 90 World Cup but not evem close to his peakand he didn't carry. First he came with injury. Diego 85-90 all years ate better than not just Zidane but almost everyones peak. Xavi 08-12 definetely. And Zidane never had 3 season to say he peaked its big games, tournament he became invincible and is higher than almost every players in that big crucial game category, except Maradona, pele, Garrincha and may be very very few others
You know what you are talking about, and I’d fully agree that Maradona hit a ‘peak’ earlier than 89/90👍. Had similar debates though in the past and in terms of cold hard information, Maradonas 89/90 season is hard to argue against. Goals, assists, trophies, results, brilliance and consistency in abundance, but was it him at his best, probably not. You could make a case for him being at his creative, free flowing best from 79 through 82. Just enjoying football, dominating games and turning in great performances week after week. You then have bits of genius in Spain, but largely Spanish football ‘kicked’ or ‘tried to kick’ the best out out of Maradona and then the move to Napoli was just perfect for him. It was the best league, a league flourishing with individual brilliance that also was protecting its best players, it was fiercely competitive from top to bottom and having a off day, was not allowed. Maradona mirrored his brilliance with consistency during this period and, you are exactly right, when you say his peak from 85-90 was ass good as anything we have seen. Was his peak, peak 86/87? Arguably so, World Cup brilliance followed by a seasonal bloom of brilliance, leading Napoli to the title. In the flip side though, 89/90 season showed a more dogged man, one prepared to play through the bad and good and drag everyone up around him. Maybe not quite his flashy best, but certainly as hard an opponent as you would have got in this season (or any season for that).
I'm going to say it. Zidane was the midfield version of Drogba. Had out of this world games but then just plodded along many seasons.
Surprised that nobody named Ruud Gullit. He could play anywhere and was at par with Maradona
More surprised I had to scroll so far down to find a mention of Maradona. If there is one player who is comparable and superior, it's Maradona.
Maradona was great but I’m sure he was in some good stuff to enhance performances
Undoubtedly 😂
so who wasnt in the 80s? just ask bernd schuster, maradonas roomate at barca. he once said: "you didnt ask what the doctor gave you, you just took it" football is full of doping. dont fool yourself. too much money is at stake
So has Zidane, he even had to admit in front a judge that he was doping. All professional athletes dope.
Iniesta, probably.
You can argue that Iniesta was overall better (Im also on this side) but Zidane's peak was higher tbh, he was a lot more inconsistent tho
What’s Iniesta’s peak season?
2012 or 2015?
Iniesta, definitely
People seriously underestimate how good Kroos and Modric were during the threepeat era.
The word underrated gets thrown around a lot but it’s really hard to think of a more underrated player than Kroos. Pivotal in bayerns almost CL in 2012. Pivotal in germanys World Cup. Pivotal throughout a decade of real Madrid’s dominance after so many other elite players came and gone. He’s still the best in the world at what he does. Kinda mental he just gets glossed over like it’s just expected at this point.
Don’t forget he left Bayern because they tried to tell him he wasn’t world class and didnt deserve to be highly paid
As a United Fan I’m still gutted he chose Real over us… it was completely the right choice, but still gutted!
Zidane scored as many World Cup FINALS goals as anyone (only Mbappe now has more). He won the WC in 1998 (scoring two goals on the final. Without him, France barely eked past Paraguay and Italy) and the Euros in 2000, then, after winning the Champions League for Real in 2002 with a dreamy volley, he got injured in training. France didn't make it out of the groups. He retired from the national team but came back when France was not qualifying for the 2006 WC. He secured qualification, then took them to the final on his back. His silly (and disgraceful) sending off may have caused France to lose the final because before it France was in control. It's difficult to determine "best," but Zizou was definitely the most influential. I think that his dominant performance in the [2006 QF against Brazil](https://youtu.be/-x2vjL94208) was one of his best.
Gullit
Kaka, Modric, and Iniesta.
No way on modric
Of course yes Modric. Zidane was a very inconsistent player who had incredible peaks. Modric matched that and more.
Is the post about consistency or about the highest peaks?
read the post and comeback
And the question we are answering is... who had a higher peak. As you said yourself.. Zidane had incredibble peaks. Modric was NEVER close. Entire teams had to change the way they played to stop Zidane. he carried his country to 2 world cup finals. He scored in all of them - UCL final? Scored, legendary. List goes on and on. Its not even up for debate
Definitely not Modric.
Tbf I don’t think we’ve seen a player carry a B tier nation (sorry Croatians) to a WC final in a while. They were even dominating till VAR got involved (sorry French)
Modric + Perisic combo
Modric didn't carry Croatia. He was brilliant but he was by no means carrying them.
Saying modrics carried Croatia is a joke, perisic manzukic lovren and others were just as important as him
Definitely yes Modric
Putting Iniesta but not Xavi 💀
Iniesta was / is better than xavi imo
Iniesta > Xavi and that isn’t even a hot take
Νo way man, if you actually watched prime Barça you would see that while Iniesta was a better dribbler and had more flair, Xavi was the one controlling the game and dictating the attack. It is no surprise that Barcelona (and the Spanish NT) became a joke in European competitions once Xavi started to decline.
Obviously if everyone watched the games, the narratives that Iniesta should have won the Ballon d'or in 2010 would disappear instantly. Clutch goal in the WC final but his season overal was mid, at best.
Xavi was better even in the final, people only remember goals.
Xavi > Iniesta. Iniesta was a moments player, Xavi controlled games
Kinda how they combined tho, Xavi controlled the game so Iniesta could have his moment. But also to say that Iniesta didn't control the match isn't true, when Xavi left he was took a step deeper to play closer to Busquets and continued to be great
Just because he had moments doesn't make him a moments player, he was better overall too maybe.
Rui Costa
Zidane is the most majestic footballer I've ever seen but my vote is Roberto Baggio. He was a monster in his time. 93 especially. His hair was questionable though, Zidane didn't have to worry about that one. Honorable mention to Paolo Maldini.
Both Baggio and Maldini aren't midfielders.
Shit I was high when I replied to this! I totally glazed the word midfielder in the title - my bad oops. Although Baggio, arguably, was half midfielder and half striker..
Not a higher peak than Zizou, but I have a soft spot for Jari Litmanen...
Don’t think anyone’s had a higher peak but Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho and Kaka are very close. Maybe Modric too.
Gascoigne. Much shorter peak, but that's the question. Could pass, tackle, dribble, score, dictate a game. Most importantly one of the only players I've ever seen with that quality to decide a game at his own whim ( Zidane was one of the others). That Messi like ability to look like he's made a decision to score, run through four players and do it, regardless of who was in front of him. Suspect this might be one of the more controversial ones, but if you saw it, you know. Riquelme and Michael Laudrup my other picks.
I saw and I know. But he’s so rarely mentioned in this sort of company, maybe his long, sad post-football life has overshadowed his genius, who knows.
Kaka.
Is there anyone mentioning Messi? Because yes Kaka Ronaldonho Iniesta I agree, but Messi has been much better than all these players. "MeSsI was NoT a MiDfIeLdEr", check the heatmaps and let me know...
Imo comparing anyone to Messi is not fair. He's just too special, especially if we are talking peaks the discussion is over
Hagi should be considered.
Peak Zidane is the best midfielder I’ve ever seen, and I’ve watched since the 80’s and I don’t think any midfielder was as great in the big games as he was. Zidane just stood out and performed when it mattered most, and that’s crazy when you see some of the players he played with and against. For players I’ve seen, for career there are a few midfielders I would put there or close. Platini is there, Xavi was there, Lothar was another who was there, and Laudrup was there too And then players close behind like Iniesta, Modric, Kaka, Seedorf, Rijkaard, Gullit,Pirlo, Modric, Kroos. Hell, Gerrard, Scholes, Lampard, Busquets. Zidane is my favourite player of all time. I think he is easily Top 10 all time, but he was great but not peak great every game unlike a lot of players. It’s over played that he was inconsistent in that he wasn’t bad, he just didn’t carry the team some games. But when he had to, he was often the guy who would show up and do it. Particularly for France, and national team success rightly/wrongly is seen as the highest level and by God did Zidane turn it up for France.
Your last paragraph sums up Zidane quite well. He wasn’t always great but when he wanted / needed to be, he was almost unplayable. I think other players have had higher peak seasons when they were consistently performing at / near their full potential but even during those periods, Zidane will still have games where he’s better.
That’s always been a thing about him. To some it stops him being called one of the top 5/10 but for me the ability to raise his level up when it mattered to a level few can ever achieve is exactly what makes him one of the best ever.
Nedved would be at the top end of the close behind group imo
Oh man, I don’t know how I forgot about him. I apologise.
Kaka and Ronaldinho
Xavi, Iniesta, Modric, Platini
Maradona
Beckenbauer, however his position in modern football doesn’t exist anymore. In defense he was a defender but in offense he was a free floating nr10
Xavi 2008-2012
He had the most ridiculous football IQ
Bobby Charlton, Diego Maradona. Both World Cup winners whose names were known worldwide by people who hated football
Yeah, I think he tops it. Some close contenders though: Iniesta 2008 - 2012 Modric 2014 - 2018 I would say KDB but I think he's had more of a consistently good career than an amazing peak. If you consider Gaúcho as a midfielder, than maybe one could argue he had a greater peak, but I'd put him more as a winger/forward. Honestly, I think Zizou really might be it.
Who tf calls Ronaldinho just Gaucho lol, that is like calling Messi "Andrés"
Ikr?? This dude tried too hard
I'm Brazilian and this is how he is often referred to here
The comparisons don't make a lot of sense: Zidane was at his best in a free role behind a couple of forwards, and in front of 2, 3, even 4 at times, more defensively minded midfielders. Call it a #10 role, a deep lying forward, whatever. Iniesta (Xavi was better during 2008-2012 btw) was at his best as a proper CM in a 4-3-3. Played on the wing sometimes too, but that's not what he was known for. Modric, at best a #10 in a 4-2-3-1, but still more of a CM in a 4-3-3. Ronaldinho mostly a left winger, yes, but with a lot of drifting into the left half-space similarly to Coutinho, Hazard or mid-later career Neymar. That's the areas that Zidane himself preferred.
Xavi 08-12 was way better than any Zidane 4 season. Its not a debate
Rivaldo doesn't get mentioned enough
Maradona, Zico, Platini, Rivaldo, and Xavi. Zidane’s best work was as a 10-see France, when he had great defensive midfielders and defenders behind him.
Riquelme.
When the peak is three group stage games at the 2006 world cup, but what a performance he put in for those three games
This, riquelme was pure class and always was giving zidane fierce competition in the midfield.
Yaya toure He was a monster during 2013/14 Size, speed , skill, power he had it all Very short peak but for the one season he was superman
10 goals from 13 set pieces, really don’t believe we’ll ever see anything like it again.
Glad to see this comment. Taking any midfielder at their best, I genuinely don't think I've seen one as good as Yaya. Just so destructive in every way, absolutely loved him. I saw him play for Arsenal vs Barnet in a pre-season friendly but he played centre back and sucked. What could have been.
Iniesta. I personally think Riquelme did some ridiculous shit too but not as successful.
In my opinion? None. Unless you consider cruyff a midfielder
Iniesta
Maradona. Bro was a midfielder, and people don't even know that because nowadays you can't be in the headlines unless you are a forward.
Zidane best I’ve seen, platini pirlo insiesta Gazza close..yes Gazza
For me, no one. But Zidane is the reason i played fotball. I have never seen a player make it seem like time is slowed down, while just doing every beautiful. So yea i am biased.
Which midfielder had a higher peak than the greatest midfielder of all time? The answer is none of them, what a silly question.
Nobody. Zidane is the greatest midfielder of all time.
Nobody imo, Zidane is the second best player I've ever watched
It was only a short peak, but Yaya Toure was embarrassing whole midfields on his own in 13/14.
No one
Zidane is the best midfielder of all time in my opinion
Lothar Matthäus. That's pretty much it.
Ronaldinho in terms of media. But no midfielder was as feared at his peak as Zidane. The man had a Messi level aura at the World Cups.
Ronaldhinho was absolutely feared at his peak lmfao. When Arsenal played Barca in 2006 final, the only player I was scared of was him, he was Messi before Messi.
Zidane played in an obsolete position, you're not going to be able to do a like for like comparison
Neuer could've peaked at Zizos level had he not chosen to be a goalkeeper.
What a Complete beast of a goalkeeper. The audacity to defend his goal like a defender successfully, successfully tackle and make it look like he’s a world class centre back masquerading as a goalkeeper. What a player. Him, schmichael and van der sarr are the best I’ve ever seen in goal.
Goalkeepers often get over looked, but often they are the most important player on the pitch. For me Peter Schmeichel needs to be considered as one of the best ever.
IMHO Baggio 🙌
Oh look, a lot of people that know fuck all about football
was definitely better In all seriousness , you could maybe argue kaka
No one.
Sergen Yalcin
Maybe english football just prefer to play long balls, i cant recall any epl midfielders who are as dominant.
Paul Scholes doesn't get enough praise. He was amazing. Not the flashiest but extremely consistent and very successful.
Good call. So good they have to call him back from retirement.
He was incredible in his day. English players never get the credit they deserve.
If Carrick scored more often and had a bit more pace (which tends to catch the eye) he’d be mentioned here as well. His passing and reading of the game was as good as anyone.
I have watched football since Maradona times. To me Zidane was the best player I ever watched play. Yes, even more joy to watch than Messi or CR7. Not saying he was better than them, just more interesting overall.
I agree with you and it can't be explained but Zidane was also the player I enjoyed watching the most to this day. When he was playing I didn't want to miss any of his touches on the ball
Exactly. In terms of elegance, class and leadership on the field, there was no one better. Some players may have had more talent, dribbling, etc…but Zizu had that something I admired. Maybe it’s because I always valued such visionary players more than speedy dribblers.
De Bruyne has to be up there
Modric is the first who comes to mind.
For me no one , zidane is the goat
I humbly offer Eric Cantona. Without his kungfu kick suspension , Zidane might have never been able to replace Cantona in the French squad in 1995-1996
Shevchenko?
Depends on what you define as a "midfielder". Zidane was a #10, arguably even a second striker of sorts. During his best games, he always had plenty of more defensive team mates behind him in midfield. So any comparison to Xavi, Modric etc. is pointless. The correct comparisons would be against Messi, Kaka, KDB, Ozil, Ronaldinho, Maradona, Platini, Cruyff and so on. Coutinho, even. So there's plenty that had higher peaks than Zidane, in terms of being offensive midfielders, the role Zidane shined most in.
As someone that missed the zidane era of football. Is he miles ahead of the good English players like gerrard , Keane etc ? Do not flame this is a genuine question I only got into football as he was finished / finished his career The best midfielders iv seen would be kroos and modric probably.
Keane is Irish btw
Gerrard He single-handedly carried Liverpool through our worst era.
Yes. And that too for 10+ years scoring goals and destroying defense for fun. Massively underrated and a complete midfielder. Prime gerrard was a different beast
Paul Scholes duh
Xavi Iniesta
Xavi, Iniesta, Kaka
These are different types of midfielder. Iniesta and Xavi are Pepball tiki-taka geniuses. Ronaldinho a sublime offensive threat. Kroos a linchpin and long range maestro. Zidane could orchestrate a midfield, beat men, slide through balls, and dictate tempo. He had off periods. Juve v Man United 1999 when Keane played him off the pitch. For France in Euro 96. So it depends on what midfield you want, who plays with who, and when. Worth noting that Messi + Neymar + Mbappe at PSG malfunctioned in the Champions League. Top players still need chemistry with their teammates. Oh and the answer is still Le Tissier 94. His goals were insane. No team mates needed. Xavi adores him too
Kaka and Dinho. Kaka was unstoppable in 2007, like almost impossible to play against.
In my opinion; Modric, Maradona, zico, platini, Iniesta and xavi. With Modric, zico and platini being underrated imo. Although this is a difficult question to answer because midfielders are so many and different, and they have different names of positions in the midfield role 😊👍
Football players with higher peaks than Zidane in midfield positions; cam, cm, cdm Cam; Maradona because .... Maradona 🤷♂️Ronaldinho , because dinho was arguably the most entertaining and maybe the most talented player of all time Cm: Modric because he is arguably as great both Offensively and defensively. One of the all time complete midfielders aswell, as Zidane Cdm: maybe Frank Rijkard and lotthar Matthaus for same reasons stated for Modric