Is football now missing entertaining players like in the 1990s?

[karthikc]

I started watching the football World Cup from 1990 and since 2002 I feel that the game has missed entertaining players in the biggest tournaments like World Cup.

Just take 1990-1994 we had so many such players.

Higuita
Valderamma
Joe Luis Chilavert
Maradona (okay Messi is there now..but still)
Roberto Baggio
Marco Van Basten/Guillit
Roger Milla

Do you all feel the same (at least those of you who have seen the world cups from 1990)?

The only common entertaining teams are the ones from Africa..

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Every generation thinks the one before had more exciting players. In truth, usually there are only one or two really outstanding players in each one. You had Pele, then Cruyff, Maradonna, then Platini, then Zidane, now we have Messi. It wouldn't take much to think of five really exciting players in every generation.

 

[finalfantasy7]

80s was probably the best for entertainment players as you had the great 82 Brazil squad.

This new generation from 2010- have been poor - realistically since then it has been neymar - who hasn't touched the heights as expected

 

[KingKhanWC]

What do you mean by entertaining? Are you reffering to characters of the game, those with big weird personalities?

You've mentioned him right at the top and I doubt anyone can match this for character on the pitch.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Aye king khan, I remember gazza- but yiu got to remember those days they all messed around and had the freedom to do so.

Now personalities are like balotelli and neymar

 

[Hasan123]

No it isn't missing anyone. There is so much talent in football now.

Y'all shouldn't get so hung up on players.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Not really.

You have players like Modric,Messi,Ronaldo,Buffon,Salah,Neymar,Ramos,Pepe,Griezzman,Kante etc who are all big characters,entertainers and brilliant players.

Firmino,Balotelli,Marcelo,Pique,Sane,Batshuayi,Vidal are some other examples.

We always assume things were better in the last generation(s).

 

[Zahid87]

Its not just because of nostalgia.

Right now we are able to watch anyone and anything. I can watch Ronaldo play at Real Madrid or Messi at Barcelona through the season with a TV subscription. Clips of them are available anytime I want.

In the 90s, you only saw these types of players once in a blue moon, in an occasion like the World Cup. You weren't overexposed. So you look upon them more fondly, and are more in awe of them than you would be for a Messi or a Ronaldo today.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Aye king khan, I remember gazza- but yiu got to remember those days they all messed around and had the freedom to do so.

Now personalities are like balotelli and neymar

Agree bro. Those kind of antics have been repressed in football now. Gazza was a great character which showed in his football too, he wanted to entertain be a star. How can anyone forget his tears in Italia 90? Arguably the most talented player to ever wear the England shirt.

 

[Markhor]

Its not just because of nostalgia.

Right now we are able to watch anyone and anything. I can watch Ronaldo play at Real Madrid or Messi at Barcelona through the season with a TV subscription. Clips of them are available anytime I want.

In the 90s, you only saw these types of players once in a blue moon, in an occasion like the World Cup. You weren't overexposed. So you look upon them more fondly, and are more in awe of them than you would be for a Messi or a Ronaldo today.

Bingo. There was a mystique to foreign football back, especially teams behind the Iron Curtain, in the 80s and 90s before the days of the internet because fans had next to no information on teams and players.

The only time you'd see foreign players is either if they signed for your club (which was unlikely in the pre-Premier League years), during an international tournament, or if you drew a foreign team in the European Cup or UEFA Cup.

And that was just Europe - never mind Africa, Asia or the Americas. Now I can go on YouTube or Google and find out every attribute of a foreign player within seconds. On TV there is so much football that mystique is no longer there.

Aye king khan, I remember gazza- but yiu got to remember those days they all messed around and had the freedom to do so.

Now personalities are like balotelli and neymar

Footballers from the 80s and 90s will be forever grateful social media wasn't around, especially with the drinking culture we know existed.

Now, with how commercialised football is, players are very careful with their words for fear of losing sponsors or creating a media storm. They all come out with the same carefully crafted, PR friendly interviews meaning football has become so sanitised and we lose some of those big personalities.

 

[DeadBall]

What do you mean by entertaining? Are you reffering to characters of the game, those with big weird personalities?

You've mentioned him right at the top and I doubt anyone can match this for character on the pitch.

Another couple of great entertaining goal keepers were Campos "attacking goalkeeper" from Mexico and Chilvaret from Columbia, the specialist free kick taker. Still remember back in the day when the goalkeeper was there in the oppositions penalty box for a corner or a counter attack in the last few minutes if their team was losing, especially Chilavert sprinting back after taking a free kick in the oppositions half.

 

[PakWarrior]

I actually do think that football now is lacking the type of entertaining footballers that we saw in the 80s and 90s. I do agree that social media and YouTube have overdosed us all and as mentioned above the mystique of the 80s and 90s footballer won't be seen again.

Messi and Ronaldo are great. Messi is the last of the true entertainers and I can't see anyone right now who can touch him. Ronaldo relies on his physical attributes and it take a alot of effort for him to take on a player, one on one. It's his speed and power that makes him dangerous along with his sheer athleticism. He's worked really hard on keeping himself fit.

Messi is just so talented. Maradona, Zidane, Brazilian Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Bergkamp......true entertainers. We don't have the likes of these right now. So yes I agree we are missing entertaining players. Apart from Messi (and Ronaldo to an extent), there isn't a wave of footballing entertainers right now. Social media or no social media.

We were spoilt in the 80s and 90s when we witnessed 5 or 6 of the greatest players of all time along with 10 or so awesome, sublimely skilled phenomenal footballers. It's not the same now but who knows what will happen in the next 5 or so years.

In closing I would just like to mention one of the greatest footballers that I've ever seen. A true entertainer. A predator. A killer in front of goal. He's scored some of the most audacious goals I've ever seen and in my opinion the deadliest finisher of all time. Aguero based his style on him.

His name is Romario. I'm sure the older members will know of him.

For the younger lot, read about him and YouTube him. A truly God given talent and a unique personality. He's what you call an entertainer.

 

[DeadBall]

I actually do think that football now is lacking the type of entertaining footballers that we saw in the 80s and 90s. I do agree that social media and YouTube have overdosed us all and as mentioned above the mystique of the 80s and 90s footballer won't be seen again.

Messi and Ronaldo are great. Messi is the last of the true entertainers and I can't see anyone right now who can touch him. Ronaldo relies on his physical attributes and it take a alot of effort for him to take on a player, one on one. It's his speed and power that makes him dangerous along with his sheer athleticism. He's worked really hard on keeping himself fit.

Messi is just so talented. Maradona, Zidane, Brazilian Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Bergkamp......true entertainers. We don't have the likes of these right now. So yes I agree we are missing entertaining players. Apart from Messi (and Ronaldo to an extent), there isn't a wave of footballing entertainers right now. Social media or no social media.

We were spoilt in the 80s and 90s when we witnessed 5 or 6 of the greatest players of all time along with 10 or so awesome, sublimely skilled phenomenal footballers. It's not the same now but who knows what will happen in the next 5 or so years.

In closing I would just like to mention one of the greatest footballers that I've ever seen. A true entertainer. A predator. A killer in front of goal. He's scored some of the most audacious goals I've ever seen and in my opinion the deadliest finisher of all time. Aguero based his style on him.

His name is Romario. I'm sure the older members will know of him.

For the younger lot, read about him and YouTube him. A truly God given talent and a unique personality. He's what you call an entertainer.

The partnership of Ro-Ro was something that occurs very rarely. Add to it that the squad at the time had Cafu, Dunga, Rivaldo, Denilson, Roberto Carlos, Emerson, Bebeto etc makes it just quite ridiculous in terms of collective talent on the field. One of the best teams of all time.

 

[PakLFC]

No! There are plenty even today like Ronaldo, Messi, Salah, Suarez to name a few. Reminiscing is a common human condition

 

[KingKhanWC]

Another couple of great entertaining goal keepers were Campos "attacking goalkeeper" from Mexico and Chilvaret from Columbia, the specialist free kick taker. Still remember back in the day when the goalkeeper was there in the oppositions penalty box for a corner or a counter attack in the last few minutes if their team was losing, especially Chilavert sprinting back after taking a free kick in the oppositions half.

Good call. South Americans have been great characters. You reminded me of Carlos Valderrama, one of the most colourful players you will ever see on a football pitch.

 

[Yossarian]

Fact of the matter is that football has changed. Not just tactics and formations, but through the use of technology with it's ability to analyse every player, their movements, even their body language prior to making a pass or taking a shot, every coach and player knows the strengths and weaknesses of every other player on the field, team-mates as well as opposition players.
Due to that, very few players are able to 'surprise' opponents and do something totally unexpected and 'special'.

 

[DeadBall]

Good call. South Americans have been great characters. You reminded me of Carlos Valderrama, one of the most colourful players you will ever see on a football pitch.

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I wanted to add Valderrama but kept it strictly to goal keepers. There were a lot of PS1 football games (among others) at the time with his name on the title.