Soccer Player Evaluation: Fill & Download for Free

Bouncer (the top) and Rowdy (on the bottom) had been a team long before they moved into our house. They were both over five when they checked out the yard, evaluated our kibble choice, and decided to move in for the duration.Rowdy had always been the alpha of the team and came up with ideas. Usually the ideas had to do with food, meeting female dogs in the park, and sneaking off the furniture before he got caught on the sofa.Our backyard marries up to a public park. Specifically, our backyard is right next to the soccer field. On the weekends from sunup until the park is closed the games are just about nonstop. The fence is cyclone and there is a kneeling wall that a lot of people rest their bones on.After about two weeks, they decided this was their new territory and that only those invited to their backyard were invited near their backyard. They both approved of Chihuahuas, no other breed need apply to be near their yard.Hard telling which team was playing soccer, what they were smoking, or how long they had been there.Rowdy took a good look at his fence, gave a subtle woof, and assumed they would scram. They didn’t. In fact, the team chose to mock the dogs and promptly not move.With no more of a glance between the dogs, they split the fence line in two. Each took a side, they ran and hit the cyclone. It made a terrific zing. Right before the players stood to see what had caused the sound and the vibration, both dogs raised their hind legs and watered all of the soccer players. There were at least ten of them.The Rotties repeated their play every weekend for a month. Then the lesson was learned. The soccer players started to bring their own chairs and sit closer to the field than our yard.

Because the white guys DEFINED confidence and lured/forced us to follow their lead. Time to wake up. Who the hell can play a game better than its inventors? Why should we play that game to begin with? Can you ever evaluate a soccer player by his ability to play basketball?You guys should know that modesty is considered confidence in Asia. Show-offs are considered cowards. I'll be interested to see how Americans score under our system.

Soccer (or “football”), as Daniel Agnew noted, constantly evolves. Players’ technique, physique, conditioning, etc. continuously improve, similar to most athletes of various sports. A question such as this is all-encompassing, which require us to analyze players holistically. The best footballer must not only be perceived as one who is extremely talented (as several talented players have graced and continue to grace the sport), but must also be evaluated as someone who led his team(s) to major victories and won prestigious trophies. Such accolades can include team-oriented victories such as the World Cup, the Champions League, domestic league titles, etc; as well as individual awards, which can include the Ballon d’Or, Golden Boot, etc.Taking these criteria into consideration, the player who I would vote for as the best player in the history of soccer would be Diego Maradona. He was a player that possessed incredible talent, vision, technique, goal scoring abilities, and leadership. He helped lead his teams, which were arguably much weaker on paper than their competitors, to several major victories. The ability to essentially win games on his own, or be the deciding factor of various significant games, sets him apart from the rest, which would of course include the likes of: Pele, Zidane, Cruyeff, Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, Paulo Maldini, Platini, Roberto Baggio, etc. These aforementioned players were/are incredible talents that have graced the sport. Maradona, however, possessed something different. He was in a different class. He was consistently a deciding factor in games, and didn't have as strong a supporting cast as other champions did.Maradona’s highlights on the club level:After a bit of a turbulent tenure at Barcelona - he helped Barcelona win the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, but was marred with injuries and hepatitis - Maradona was transferred to Napoli, leading the Italian club to what became its most successful era in history. Napoli, with Maradona’s leadership, won the following:· The Serie A league titles in 1986-1987 and 1989-1990 (Napoli’s only league titles)· The Coppa Italia in 1987· The UEFA Cup in 1989· The Italian SuperCup in 1990Maradona was also the top scorer of Serie A during the 1987-1988 season.He is the only player in football history who set world-record contracts fees twice (first when transferred to Barcelona for a then world record, and when he was later transferred to Napoli from Barcelona for another record).Maradona’s highlights on the international level:Maradona played his first World Cup in 1982 and was never substituted. In 1986, he captained the national team to a World Cup victory, defeating West Germany in the final. During the tournament, he again played every minute of Argentina’s games, and scored his legendary goal against England that consisted of him dribbling from his own half of the field and past half the English team before scoring. Please see goal below:He also again helped Argentina reach the World Cup Final in 1990, but was this time defeated by West Germany 1-0. An ankle injury unfortunately impacted Maradona's performance.Individual accolades:· Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1979· Argentine league Top Scorer: 1979, 1980, 1981· Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1986· South American Footballer of the Year: (official award) 1979, 1980· Olimpia de Oro: 1979, 1986· Italian Guerin d'Oro: 1985· Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA World Cup: 1986· L'Équipe Champion of Champions – 1986· Best Footballer in the World Onze d'Or: 1986, 1987· World Player of the Year: 1979 (Guerin Sportivo), 1986 (World Soccer Magazine)· Capocannoniere (Serie A top scorer): 1987–88· Number 10 retired by Napoli football team as a recognition to his contribution to the club: 2000· "FIFA Goal of the Century" (1986 (2–1) v. England; second goal): 2002· FIFA Player of the Century: 2000Maradona’s unfortunate blatant negative aspect that marred his career and life was his battle with drugs. Pele outshone Maradona in terms of off-field conduct and lack of controversy. Nonetheless, in terms of sheer footballing criteria, Maradona, in my opinion, is unrivaled. Messi, however, continues to make an extremely strong case to overthrow Maradona as the king of football. Interestingly enough, Messi scored a very similar goal to that of Maradona’s goal against England. Comparison of the goals is below: