One example from one of his games. Basically does what Xavi does passing the ball around. Still can not do what Iniesta does. And he is always unmarked. Have you seen Iniesta unmarked? I dont understand why he is considered better than these players. Probably childhood nostalgia

Iniesta is not at zidane's level..

All the coaches and players have childhood nostalgia when they say he's one of the greatest players.

You chose a game when Zidane was at the end of his career as an average game lol

In 2005/2006 Zidane was well past 30 years old. I'd like to see how good Iniesta is when he's 34

Interesting thread.

Here is my opinion:

Zidane and any other players from old generations can't be compared with actual players.Football changed a lot, especially from 2008.Now football is based on different tactics, different kind of players, different style of play.

In other words: Zidane was maybe the best in his generation.Now teams have other policy and prefer players with higher sprint speed and acceleration.The rhythm of the game increseas every year.

Zidane grew up in the 90's with other tactics and other strategies.He developed amazing skills which were the best in that years.Maybe with that skills he wouldn't be that appreciated today, but it's not his fault; also we can see it in another way: if he was playing now, he would have had to develop his skills in other way in order to adapt to actual style of football.Now Iniesta has a different style.His acceleration is higher, his ball control improved a lot because he needed to improve it more than Zidane needed.

I am not saying that Zidane didn't have a great control of the ball or that the defenders were weaker, nope...he was a world class player and we should appreciate him as he was in that times.

Zealous wrote:You chose a game when Zidane was at the end of his career as an average game lol

In 2005/2006 Zidane was well past 30 years old. I'd like to see how good Iniesta is when he's 34

but i know zidane he played like this his entire life. if it was his bad game fanboys would not upload this on youtube. even they think it was magical game by zidane

Ok here is younger Zidane (plays in same way, nothing different)

"Younger" Zidane was 30 in 2002.

Despite that Zidane was still a player from out of this world. In terms of career highlights no one even comes close. His style of play was very elegant and calm and the slow pace at which he operated was what people admired about him. Plus if he had the ball you either fouled him or hoped he would miss his pass/shot because you were not taking the ball off him legally.

Zidane has nothing to prove, not with his accomplishments.

I have seen Iniesta unmarked, havent you?

lol

still many varieties affect the outcome

you cant compare anyone to iniesta xavi or any barca player simply because they r in advantage of playing in a team fitting their style.
iniesta might always be marked but he is being revolved by teammates who will react from the way iniesta acts
everything is somewhat predefined.

while you are saying people judge zidane from youtube videos which happen to be his only best moments according to you
you do the same thing posting that video
im sure you didnt follow each of his games, and your opinion is most possibly a conclusion of couple of bad games you happened to see

also legends and so called best players ever are defined by moments, moments that decide glory, zidane happens to have lot of those nationaly as well as for his club.

oh god the obsession

Zealous wrote:"Younger" Zidane was 30 in 2002.
.

Its 29 actually. But dude Zidane's best years started when he was 26-27 years old (after scoring against brazil in 1998). So what you expect? should i put video of 22 years old zidane?

and goallegacy gone wrong again ffs, way to judge a player entire mojo on one or two youtube video. I bet that's the same technique Pep used when recruiting Asexis and Cex

kudos brah

If Iniesta was given the mobility of Zidane he wouldn't be half the player Zizou was.

But mobility is one of Iniesta's traits,and I would say Iniesta plays near or at the level of Zidane.

Still,Zidane >>>>>

Vibe wrote:If Iniesta was given the mobility of Zidane he wouldn't be half the player Zizou was.

But mobility is one of Iniesta's traits,and I would say Iniesta plays near or at the level of Zidane.

Still,Zidane >>>>>

True dat, i wonder how good zidane would have been if he was shorter, with a smaller running step and more acceleration. Couldve been quite something....

If he was shorter his heading ability would have suffered. And we all know he was a threat in the air

Most people here have not seen Zidane outside of highlight clips on Youtube so it's a moot argument anyway.

good god. There are only a handful of people in the history of footy that could control the flow of the game like Zizou. Every legend and current player admits it. Xavi, Pirlo, etc can't get close to him. Why? he was strong, impeccable technique, great vision, scored big goals, played big in big games, etc. Imagine taking Pirlo's pace and vision, Lampard's nose to make a run into the box when he wanted to and Xavi's efficiency... that's Zidane. And he had elegance and balance that nobody has today. Some guys just see the game at a slower speed than everyone else.

And his peak was not started at Juve. He was excellent at Bordeaux. He just didn't get the hype there. There was no internet to help him lol.

Zealous wrote:If he was shorter his heading ability would have suffered. And we all know he was a threat in the air

Also if he was shorter he couldn't have hit Materazzi with his head in the chest.

Zealous wrote:If he was shorter his heading ability would have suffered. And we all know he was a threat in the air

Yeah,especially to chest cavities If he was shorter Materazzi would be sterile...

I think if Zidane played today, everyone would marvel about how fantastic he is with the ball, how he is one of a kind and players like him are so rare.

However, there would be no nostalgia and people would comment about his lack of consistency and how he coasts in the smaller games. They would probably note his lack of work rate too.

But, yeah, I dont really understand the question in this thread. Is there one?

Is it to compare him to Iniesta? He is better than Iniesta, it is what is is. But it is much closer than what this forum as a whole probably thinks. Iniesta is like a smaller version of him, he lacks of strength and size but is a bit quicker and more consistent while being just as great in terms of lifting his game for the big games.

The Franchise wrote:I think if Zidane played today, everyone would marvel about how fantastic he is with the ball, how he is one of a kind and players like him are so rare.

However, there would be no nostalgia and people would comment about his lack of consistency and how he coasts in the smaller games. They would probably note his lack of work rate too.

But, yeah, I dont really understand the question in this thread. Is there one?

Is it to compare him to Iniesta? He is better than Iniesta, it is what is is. But it is much closer than what this forum as a whole probably thinks. Iniesta is like a smaller version of him, he lacks of strength and size but is a bit quicker and more consistent while being just as great in terms of lifting his game for the big games.

Yea,

I agree with this. I always wonder though , how he would do in a team that so completely and stoically embraced his style, he was on teams where the players didn't fully embrace his style and there was less collectivism than what Iniesta plays in.

I'm actually thinking the only thing that prevents people from saying Iniesta is near him is the fact that he was more of a leader , a talisman of that sort....I think Iniesta would've been that if not for Messi.

Personally I have them on the same tier, same tier as Xavi though I know people (Alex) disagree.

My favorite player of all time stylistically though.

He has over Iniesta : Strength, leadership, balance, aerial ability, long shots, and he was ambidextruos + he was a set-piece master. I remember a left-footed free kick of him. And probably, a slighty better first-touch.

Iniesta is quicker.

I hope that Ozil will reach that level.

Kizu wrote:He has over Iniesta : Strength, leadership, balance, aerial ability, long shots, and he was ambidextruos + he was a set-piece master. I remember a left-footed free kick of him. And probably, a slighty better first-touch.

Iniesta is quicker.

I hope that Ozil will reach that level.

I understand your hopefulness but it is never gonna happen .Zidane is unique in every possible way.

Intresting point Le Sam. I once said, if we didnt have Messi, Iniesta would be our "star" player. That said, I still think Xavi is better. But there is a difference between "star" and what Xavi is.

Xavi cannot be your star, thats not what is he is about. Iniesta has that different sort of game where you would consider him the "star" of a team. If that all makes sense.

In terms of comparing him with Iniesta, forget things like balance and leadership. They are nothing points.

How was Zidane a leader? He barely spoke on the pitch (anyone seen that thing where they hooked him up to a mic during a game) and he never gave teammates directions or guided them though anything. I imagine Iniesta is very much the same. If either are leaders, its though actions. So its a useless point when comparing.

Balance? Have you ever watched Iniesta and thought, well if he had Zidane's balance he would be the best? No, he has all the balance required for his style.