Top 10 Most Over-rated Footballers of All Time

Many believed them to be giants in their time. However, there was little real evidence to support this fact. Despite a few flashes in the pan, most of these players have “looked” better than they actually are. Whether it was the teams they played in, their marketing team or simply their agent, but these players have enjoyed adulation that they don’t truly deserve.

10. Pele

A player who played with a team that would win everything irrespective of whether Pele played or not, Pele has often been criticized, and rightly so, for choosing to play in poor quality leagues. He also played at a time when defenders were more courteous. The only time when defenders actually dished out some real treatment, during the 1966 FIFA World Cup, Pele flopped, and humiliatingly so. However he did score 1281 goals and that does require him to stand in the right position quite a few times.

09. Zinedine Zidane

If ever a footballer has been overrated, it has to be Zinedine Zidane. He was part of the 1998 World Cup winning squad but barring the two goals in the finals, Zidane’s contribution to the team was nothing. At the 2000 European Championship win, Zidane was nothing without the presence of an energetic and sprightly Youri Djorkaeff. Even later, when France were faltering in their run up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, it was Claude Makelele’s return from retirement that aided their revival, more than Zidane’s.

At club level, while Zidane won everything, it has to be said that his frequency of winning international titles was close to disappointing for a player who is said to be one of the best in the world. This despite playing with only the best teams!

08. David Ginola

He looked like a fashion model and despite moments of brilliance every now and then, Ginola played football like one too. When brilliant, Ginola was breathtaking and waltzed past defences. However, if you were to make a highlights’ reel of his entire career, then you would get all of 20 seconds of video.

07. Santiago Solari

Before and after his 2 seasons of glory, Santiago Solari was rubbish! He came to Real Madrid with a lot of promise. However, that promise was quickly squandered with some terrible showings on the pitch. He did, eventually, become a regular part of the first team when everyone else seemed to fall apart. Moving to Inter Milan at a time when he was just beginning to show up for Real Madrid, was a really stupid move. He came and vanished before anyone could figure out what all the hoopla was all about!

06. Christian Karembeu

No one ever knew what Christian Karembu ever did in a football team. He even played for Real Madrid, winning a Champions League winners’ medal as well, however no one really knew the true reason behind his role as a professional footballer. A midfielder who spent more time off of the pitch, than on it, Karembu was probably bought so that team owners could spend time in the VIP box chatting up his wife. There was no footballing reason behind his selection for sure!

05. Rio Ferdinand

He is considered as one of the best defenders of this age and unfortunately for those who do so, they have never met the likes of John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini and so on. There are about a million players better than him, faster than him and better defenders than him. That said, Ferdinand is not all crock and pit! He is a good defender but calling him great is like equating Christian Poulsen with Lothar Matthaus.

04. Cesc Fabregas

The lad has done nothing to show that he is the greatest, except play well in a team that has other novices. In a bid to showcase the talent and leadership skills that he possesses, Fabregas should stay in a club like Arsenal where winning is not important. How else do you explain a defensive midfielder who constantly leaves his post in search of goals or a player who fails to get into the Spanish team because those who are truly great lie ahead of him.

Fabregas still has a long way to go and for us to say that he is a brilliant player is to insult those actually brilliant players around him.

03. Arjen Robben

Yes, he has done great th+ings in his time but think about this – how many times have those things really helped his team come out of trouble? Never has Arjen Robben missed an opportunity to come out of a big, tough game with minor niggles or imaginary injuries. His recoveries have been miraculous and only when the team has found strong footing.

When flying through defences, there is no doubt that Robben is amongst the best there is. However, the chances of him doing that against strong opponents is as much as a goalkeeper scoring a goal in open play.

02. Michael Carrick

What is he good for? Absolutely nothing!

He is supposed to be a holding midfielder but in a search for goals, you hardly ever find him in a holding position. He is also supposed to be someone who holds the team together, i.e. if he can find his bearing himself. That he was paid for as much as he was paid for, is shocking! Imagine the number of poor children who could have been fed for 18 million pounds!

01. David Beckham

As a footballer, Beckham has a good engine and an extremely good pass. He neither has the vision nor the skill to do anything more. He is poor defensively, in offense (for most cases) and with his left foot. There is little he can do in terms of agility and as far as goal scoring is concerned, he is quite limited. However, give him a freekick or a crossing opportunity anywhere on the pitch and it will be perfect. Could have something to do with his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, don’t you think?