HIF wrote:As much as this topic annoys me, it's been interesting/sickening to hear the media, commentators and some fans fawn about Messi, Neymar, Mbappe and Ronaldo (okay they haven't fawned about him but they've talked about him a lot). None of those players have been in the best 10 (or 20) players of the tournament.
I'd have to say that goalkeepers and defenders have been significantly better than attacking players and it has made me realise that if you really want to think about the BEST FOOTBALL player then it should be a player who can perform to the best overall standard in whichever position you play them.
This being predominantly a basketball site I make the case of Lebron (whom I dislike) possibly being the greatest of all time because he is able to play all 5 positions and be a top 5 player in the league (even at Centre during his prime years).
If we use this idea in football then you can forget Messi who couldn't play any of the defensive positions and you would end up looking at a modern day CB or goalkeeper. It'd probably be someone like Ederson who with his ball skills, speed and size could probably play any position on the field in a top league.
It seems "goat" in football is always related to being exceptional in an attacking sense whether that person has any defensive ability at all.
It's two different sports lol.