3rd best football player in the last 15 years?

I don't get the Zlatan (or Aguero) shouts. He was a very good player for a number of years but he never threatened to reach the level of Messi & Ronaldo. A few players for the odd year did but imo only Suarez and Neymar were genuinely there or there abouts for a number of years. Suarez's consistency has been better than Neymar's over the entire period however. He'll never get the recognition because of his disciplinary issues but he's the best number 9 there's been since R9. He matches the goal contributions of any other striker but offers so much more to the team on top.
Rroff said:
I can see why you'd say completely lost but I don't think he was unaware of what he was doing there - he often plays slightly out of conventional position, 9 times out of 10 that nothing pass and subsequent penalty wouldn't have come off.

I don't expect people to agree with me, neither do I think he is the most accomplished player in his position, but I have some admiration for his commitment and ability to influence games far more than it seems is generally recognised. Far too many top players don't do half as well when the direction of play isn't in their favour.
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You're right, players can make mistakes and often not get punished but it was the nature of the goal that went against the point you were making. There was 10 seconds of pinball in the middle of the pitch and Trippier got a bit giddy and started to sprint forward when Spurs had no control of the ball and left Mane open and that single moment cost Spurs a chance at winning the CL. It wasn't really the actions of somebody that dealt with the high pressure scenario he was in. He actually gave an interview a little while ago where he spoke about the final, where he said he and Spurs were 100% confident that they were going to win but then also said that the penalty killed them - if conceding after 1 minute killed him/them then you've got to question how strong his mentality is.

And yea, I imagine you didn't expect many people to agree. Lots of players have good, solid careers that go unrecognised but giving them some recognition and putting them in the top 4 players of the past 15 years is some leap. Over this 15 year period there's been dozens and dozens of truly world class players, Trippier's not one of them though. For about half that period he's been a good, PL level fullback and the other half he was nothing more than a journeyman.
 
how is zlatan not a good shout but suarez is?

zlatan was nominated for the ballon dor 11 times

suarez's goalscoring record is no more elite than zlatans :confused:

Zlatan 405 goals 635 apps
Suarez 357 goals 548 apps
 
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The_One said:
how is zlatan not a good shout but suarez is?

suarez's goalscoring record is no more elite than zlatans :confused:

Zlatan 405 goals 635 apps
Suarez 357 goals 548 apps
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Zlatan's a bottle job for a start, regularly flopping in the biggest matches. And Suarez's goal contributions per appearance is better than Zlatan's (688 in 715 games compared to 694 in 815 games) but as I said, what separates Suarez from a number of other forwards with great goals & assists numbers is that he offers for more to the team than just goals and assists.
 
Shamikebab said:
It's a bit of a weird choice, I wouldn't even put him in the top 3 right backs of the last 15 years. Lahm and Daniel Alves are both obvious names ahead of him.
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The problem is Lahm retired over 5 years ago so he's played less than two-thirds of the eligibility period, and he hasn't played international football in over 8 years, i.e. for less than half of the eligibility period.

It's why I put him in the same pot as Xavi, awesome player one of the best of his generation, but just not quite the right fit for the rules laid out in the OP.
 
Zlatan shouldn't be anywhere near this discussion, he's not even won the UCL.

For me it's Iniesta, who's won everything at club and Country level. Even Messi or Ronaldo can't compare with his achievements.
 
You've put the last 15 years as a time period but Ronaldo signed for Man United in 2003. If you'd said the last 20 years, it opens it up a little more. Still though, I don't think there is an easy 3rd place. I think there's several that kind of all take joint 3rd as amazing, but too far away from Ron/Messi and not distinct enough to be classed as above all the other 3rd placers.
 
For attacking-minded player I would say Tevez.

Similar tenacity as Suarez. Did well at multiple clubs. At international level performed really well but got pushed to the side once Messi came along. Was not seen as a prodigy like Messi but could easily have had a squad built around him in a similar way.
 
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