Player Comparison

⚽ Champions League news; 8pm BST kick-off (first leg: 2-1) ⚽ Arsenal v Sporting – updates | Live scores | Mail Michael “Yes Neuer is a great keeper, but when you pitch him against Yashin, Banks, you’re really not comparing like with like,” emails Jeremy Boyce. “Chalk and cheese. Yashin, famously, could pick the ball up off the ground with one hand. Banks was a genius, saw him live once, crap match, Everton v Stoke, 0-0, the only moment of magic was a save he made. Neither of these would have been able to ‘play out from the back’ or any of that because it was a different game then. You could still pass back to the keeper! Neuer is great, but really? Up there with those greats from a bygone age? If you’re looking for a great German goalkeeper how about Trautmann as the GGKOAT ? How many others have played on with a broken neck? No doubting that Trautmann is a legend for different reasons but he doesn’t touch Kahn or Sepp Maier, never mind Neuer. However, Jeremy does make a good point in comparing players from such different eras. It’s effectively impossible, as it was a completely different game and is just a subjective choice. But I’d have 1. Yashin 2. Neuer 3. Buffon (for what it’s worth).

Former Italian striker Antonio Cassano argues he was more ‘creative’ than Francesco Totti and had...

Ex AC Milan and Chelsea star Marcel Desailly believes Inter star Alessandro Bastoni has been consistent this season but isn’t half the player Paolo Maldini was. Marcel Desailly argued that Alessandro Bastoni has been consistent this season which is why Inter Milan will win the Serie A. However, the former Marseille star believes that Bastoni […] The post Ex AC Milan & Chelsea Star Desailly: ‘Inter Milan’s Bastoni Consistent But Not Half As Good As Maldini’ appeared first on SempreInter.com.

By: Oliver Fisher AC Milan’s problems when it comes to finding the right striker have been well documented, but the numbers further illuminate the issue. It is no secret that Massimiliano Allegri is pushing hard with the management to bring a quality centre-forward to Milanello who can be decisive in both Serie A and the Champions League. Yet […] The post None since Bacca: Milan’s striker problem brutally exposed in comparison with Inter appeared first on SempreMilan.

L'ex fantasista non ha dubbi nel confronto con tre mostri sacri del calcio italiano: "Più geniale, più fisico, più tutto".

Cristiano Ronaldo finds himself under increasing pressure as the Saudi Pro League season approaches its decisive phase, with Ivan Toney emerging as a dominant force in front of goal. Cristiano Ronaldo finds himself under increasing pressure as the Saudi Pro League season approaches its decisive phase, with Ivan Toney emerging as a dominant force in front of goal. Al-Nassr remains firmly in contention, but the individual race for the Golden Boot has become far more complicated. With rivals Toney and Julian Quinones gaining momentum, the margin for error is shrinking with every passing match. Ivan Toney’s recent performances for Al-Ahli have reshaped the scoring charts and shifted attention away from the usual frontrunners. The striker has surged to the top with 27 goals, placing himself ahead of both Ronaldo and Julian Quinones, while continuing to deliver decisive contributions for his club. His latest goal came in a tightly contested match against Al-Fayha, showcasing the composure and instinct that have defined his season. The clinical and precise finish reflected a player operating at peak confidence during a crucial period. As the season unfolds, the true scale of Toney’s achievements has started to emerge. He has broken two significant goalscoring records in the Saudi Pro League, setting new benchmarks that underline his rapid impact since arriving in the Kingdom. Ivan Toney scores against Al Fayha ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/S3J8FdXyYC — Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) April 8, 2026 These milestones place him in elite company and highlight how quickly he has adapted to a new environment. While comparisons with Ronaldo are inevitable, the English striker’s numbers speak for themselves and continue to draw attention across the league. Which record did Ivan Toney break? On Wednesday, Toney reached 15 league goals faster than any player in the history of the competition, doing it in just 22 matches. No one before him, not even Cristiano Ronaldo, reached 15 goals in so few games. The Englishman also scored 50 goals in only two seasons, making him the quickest foreign player to hit the 50-goal mark after arriving in Saudi Arabia, even faster than Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese eventually scored 100 goals in the region, but Toney reached his first 50 faster than he did. Ivan Toney of Al Ahli celebrates after scoring a goal. Beyond those records, the 29-year-old Al-Ahli star has also matched a long-standing club achievement that further elevates his season. His tally of 27 goals equals the historic single-season record previously held by Omar Al-Somah, a figure widely regarded as one of the league’s great forwards. Is Ronaldo losing ground in Golden Boot race for good? For Ronaldo, the challenge is becoming increasingly clear. He currently sits on 23 goals, trailing the leader by four, with limited matches remaining to close the gap. Current Saudi Pro League Golden Boot standings. pic.twitter.com/83ItylJnOp — The Nassr Tribune™️ (@AlNassrTribune) April 8, 2026 Despite missing games earlier in the season, his efficiency remains impressive, and his ability to deliver in key moments keeps him in the conversation. However, the consistency shown by his rivals means that any slip could prove decisive. Timing often defines title races, and Toney’s form has come at exactly the right moment. Since Ronaldo’s injury setback, both Toney and Quiñones have capitalized, extending their lead and strengthening their positions at the top of the standings.

Italy legend Dino Baggio shared his opinion on why Diego Maradona is considered even better than Lionel Messi. Approaching the end of his professional career, Lionel Messi is regarded by many as the greatest player of all time. However, in that debate, other heavyweights come into play, such as Diego Maradona, whom Italy icon Dino Baggio considered the number one. During an interview with Diario AS, the former Juventus and Parma midfielder was asked about his view of modern soccer, particularly Serie A, comparing it with the 1980s and 1990s. Baggio acknowledged that it was more difficult to play in Italy back then: “Perhaps Messi could have had problems here in his day.” That led the conversation toward the differences in soccer over the years. Dino based his opinion on the fact that a few decades ago referees were more lenient when it came to physical contact, resulting in a harsher sport for talented players. “Today, fouls are called before contact, practically,” Baggio noted, before highlighting who he considered the best player in the world during those years. “Maradona, in modern times, would score a thousand goals per season. You can’t imagine what they would hit him with when he was at Napoli,” said the 1994 FIFA World Cup finalist. Dino Baggio playing for Italy vs England in a World Cup qualifier in 1997. Immediately, Dino Baggio compared the two Argentine superstars and pointed out the difference between them: “Messi, back then, would have been equally brilliant, but completely, absolutely crushed. That’s why I say Diego was the greatest. The God of world soccer.” Comparisons between Messi and Maradona Dino Baggio is not the first to highlight the contrast between the leniency of the past and the extreme caution of modern soccer. This is usually one of the arguments used to place stars from previous decades, like Diego Maradona, Pele, or Alfredo Di Stefano, above modern geniuses like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Some statistics support this view. FIFA shared an analysis on its official website a few years ago regarding the number of fouls committed in each edition of the World Cup (with records starting in Chile 1962) and the players who were most frequently fouled. There is an indisputable leader in the rankings. Diego Maradona is the player who received the most fouls in World Cup history, totaling 152 across his four tournaments (1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994). He doubles the second player on the list, Lionel Messi, who was fouled 75 times across his five tournaments from 2006 onwards. Further down are Brazil’s Jairzinho (64), Neymar (60), and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (58). The most astonishing fact is that Maradona ranks first, second, and third for the most fouls received in a single World Cup. In Mexico 1986, he was fouled 53 times; in Italy 1990, 50 times; and in Spain 1982, 36 times. Only in fourth place does another player appear—curiously also Argentine—Ariel Ortega, with 33 fouls in France 1998.

Max Dowman is a better player than Jude Bellingham was at his age, according to ex-Premier League manager Alan Pardew. The 16-year-old Arsenal star scored a stunning solo goal for England’s U…

Brazilian legend backs his former teammate as debate over football's top player continues Leer

Kylian Mbappé marked his birthday in style, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s best-ever goal tally for Real Madrid in a calendar year. With over 200 more goal involvements than Ronaldo had at the same age, does Mbappé already have a case for being the better player at 27? Gary and Alex also break down Barcelona’s dominant form after their eighth straight win against Villarreal, is there anyone who can actually stop Barça right now? Join The Players Lounge: The official fantasy football club of The Rest Is Football. It’s time to take on Gary, Alan and Micah for the chance to win monthly prizes and shoutouts on the pod. It’s FREE to join and as a member, you’ll get access to exclusive tips from Fantasy Football Hub including AI-powered team ratings, transfer tips, and expert team reveals to help you climb the table - plus access to our private Slack community. Sign up today at therestisfootball.com https://therestisfootball.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_content=link_cta For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cathal is joined by OTB’s Colm Boohig as they try to settle the debate: who is the greatest left-back in Premier League history? He’s also joined by Off The Ball and Today FM’s Phil Egan to break down the current crisis at Liverpool — is Arne’s job already under threat? Plus, the lads preview the biggest games in the Premier League this weekend.

Today’s episode is a trip into the archives, as we look back at a fascinating chat with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. Gary, Alan and Micah hear about which Premier League player is the only one to come close to Lionel Messi and who Thierry thinks is the better manager, Arsene Wenger or Pep Guardiola. The French superstar also discusses Arsenal under Mikel Arteta and whether they can finally go all the way. This interview was originally done with Thierry in October 2023. The Rest Is Football is powered by Fuse Energy. To sign up and for terms and conditions, visit fuseenergy.com/football Join The Players Lounge: The official fantasy football club of The Rest Is Football. It’s time to take on Gary, Alan and Micah for the chance to win monthly prizes and shoutouts on the pod. It’s FREE to join and as a member, you’ll get access to exclusive tips from Fantasy Football Hub including AI-powered team ratings, transfer tips, and expert team reveals to help you climb the table - plus access to our private Slack community. Sign up today at therestisfootball.com. https://therestisfootball.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_content=link_cta For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to The Overlap Fan Debate brought to you by Sky Bet - as Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes discuss all the latest football with fans from up and down the country. Liverpool go 11 points clear, is the title already theirs? And is Mo Salah the best ever to play in the Premier League? We delve into Manchester City’s exit from the Champions League and Arsenal’s shock defeat at the weekend. Plus, who will win the race for Europe - and are things starting to turn around for Tottenham? If you're enjoying The Overlap Fan Debate, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening! 00:00 - Promo 01:38 - Greg Nottingham Forest Quiz 04:31 - Gareth Liverpool Fan & have they won the league? 09:35 - Who is the best Premier League player of all time? 19:34 - James Arsenal Fan & are they out of the title race? 24:55 - Luke Manchester City Fan & will they challenge next season? 33:59 - McKola Manchester United fan on their struggles 49:51 - Rory Chelsea Fan on their decline in form 1:01:08 - Flav Tottenham Hotspur Fan on their recent win 1:04:30 - Sarah Fulham Fan & their positive season 1:07:06 - Lee Newcastle Fan & their weekend’s result 1:11:23 - Greg Nottingham Forest Fan on whether they will make Europe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Which reality TV show would the lads each do best on? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss whether Man Utd should sell off their prime assets to allow for an Amorim rebuild and who gets the ‘Start, Bench, Sell’ treatment out of Pele, Maradona & Messi. Sign up on https://my.guinness.com/ and enter the prize draw to be in with a chance to win 1 of 100 football Guinness glasses. GB only. 18+. Prize draw ends 14th Feb. Please drink responsibly and please do not forward to anyone under the legal purchase age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Messi still the best player in the world? Are referees being unfair to Arsenal? Who are Micah and Alan's favourite bands? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the likelihood of England winning a major tournament under Thomas Tuchel as they answer the best of your questions. Sign up to The Rest Is Football newsletter at therestisfootball.com Guinness makes its own debut as the Official Beer and Non-Alcoholic Beer of the Premier League. 18+ only, please drink responsibly and do not share with anyone under the legal drinking age. Search https://www.guinness.com/en-gb/sport/premier-league today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE FULL SHOW HERE: https://theredmentv.com/bournemouth-1-2-liverpool-the-final-word/ Paul was joined on the couches by Sam Walker and Lewis Aspinall for the Final Word show on Redmen Plus earlier today, after The Reds beat Bournemouth in the League Cup on Wednesday evening! The game saw a sublime winner scored by Darwin Nunez, prompting this panel to ask: Is he the next Suarez? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Athletic's Abi Paterson is in Doha, Qatar at the World Cup and has a few burning questions regarding a player who many consider as the greatest footballer of all time: Lionel Messi. The forward has captained his Argentina side to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, which is widely thought to be his last ever World Cup tournament at 35 years of age. With questions ranging from; is Lionel Messi the greatest? To is he better than fellow Argentine Diego Maradona, or his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo? And has his ambassadorial role with Saudi Arabia effected him? Abi is joined by a host of guests including James Horncastle, Adam Crafton, Felipe Cardenas, Sam Lee, Michael Cox, and a number of other journalists and fans in Qatar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you want to be a better problem solver, therapy can get you there. Visit https://BetterHelp.com/pitch today to get 10% off your first month. Theo Baker is joined by Tom Garratt, Ben Black and Mitch Tucker debating HAALAND vs KANE, is Neymar right in saying football is "BORING" and they make their ULTIMATE North vs South teams! To watch & listen to the FULL podcast check out the links below Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3bVKnoxSY6jwZvwOf1lNu2 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pitch-side/id1586634842 Watch on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjCJ2LaOIsPzOoXUTMDI3wg Join the Pitch Side FPL league for a chance to WIN the signed England shirt! Code: dx4a8d Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pitchsideinstagram Theo: https://youtube.com/c/HiMalfoy https://youtube.com/c/TheoBakerVlogs Ollie: https://youtube.com/c/reev https://youtube.com/c/OllieFletcher Tom Garratt: https://twitter.com/Tgarratt10 Ben Black: https://www.tiktok.com/@benblackfootball?lang=en Mitch Tucker: https://www.tiktok.com/@mitchtucker?lang=en

Reacting to a historic day for English football, Jimbo is joined by Raphael Honigstein, Charlotte Harpur, Daniel Storey and Nick Miller. England are European champions, defeating Germany at Wembley after extra-time. The Lionesses were grafting years before Sunday’s final. Can this be a landmark moment, not just in England but in Germany and around the world? Less significantly, Liverpool claim the Community Shield beating title rivals Man City 3-1. Is Darwin Nuñez more vital to the Reds than Erling Haaland is to City? And might Pep regret letting Raheem Sterling go? Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo is never far away from the headlines as we debate where his next destination might be. Plus the majesty of Musiala and the brilliance of Burnley. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: England win the Euros (01.30) • PART 2a: Liverpool win the Community Shield (26.00) • PART 2b: Bayern win the Super Cup & other Bundesliga goings on (36.00) • PART 3: Ronaldo on his way and the return of the EFL (45.00) SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC TODAY FOR £1 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS • theathletic.com/totally GET IN TOUCH: • follow us on Instagram • find us on Facebook • send us a tweet: @TheTotallyShow READ STUFF ON OUR WEBSITE: • check out thetotallyfootballshow.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suj & James review all the games from Gameweek 12 and the potential implications for FPL managers from a weekend that saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was finally relieved of his duties following Manchester United's catastrophic defeat at Watford. Plus, there's discussion on FPL's defensive Fab 4, short-term FPL management thinking, Kane vs Vardy, what Ronaldo owners may be considering, a surprising winless run is assessed, Newcastle's strategic change & one reason why the 3 best teams in this league are so much better than the rest... ... Coming up on Tuesday, The People's Poll, you can vote for your choice of topic on Twitter up until around 530pm (UK) https://twitter.com/PlanetFPLPod/status/1462747605557993477?s=20 Want to become a member of our FPL community? Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/planetfpl Follow James on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlanetFPLPod Follow Suj on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sujanshah Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/planetfpl Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetfpl Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8043oOKTB4uP8Nq15Kz6bg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yesterday's 'Sixes & Sevens' (s4 ep9) Podcast became a bit of marathon at 1 hour and 51 minutes so as promised Suj & James revisited the questions they received and covered them here as an extension on yesterday's Podcast. Topics include, Liverpool defensively, Son vs Kane, Aston Villa assessed, average goals per game, will it calm down? The story of a 60 point bench, FPL management styles, enjoying the game & plenty more... ____________________________________________ Planet #FPL Podcast mini-league code: a8c1hz Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/planetfpl Web: www.planetfpl.com Twitter: @PlanetFPLPod (James) / @sujanshah (Suj) Facebook: www.facebook.com/PlanetFPL Instagram: @planetfpl You Tube: www.youtube.com/planetfpl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi and Mosse examine the most skillful American players in the State of the Union (3:19). Also, the Champions League group stage draw is explored in Mosse Makes the Case (16:04). Then, the MLS/USMNT relationship, Christian Pulisic vs. Landon Donovan and Alexi's favorite guitars are looked at in Ask Alexi (33:43). Finally, USMNT vs. Mexico, Carli Lloyd and the transfer window closing headline The Back Three (49:18). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 20 of our #30in30 brings the second of our new correspondants, Dan @FPL_LocoLord our new Liverpool correspondant to the show! We talk about defensive pricing, Mane vs Salah and what transfer news we can expect from Merseyside this summer. Our #30in30 is here - 30 podcasts in 30 days, including reviews of the Champions League, Nations League, fixtures when announced and most importantly - interviews with the Planet FPL correspondants and more. You can find more from the Planet #FPL Team here: Website: www.planetfpl.com Twitter: @PlanetFPLPod (James) / @sujanshah (Suj) Facebook: www.facebook.com/PlanetFPL Instagram: @planetfpl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Neil Ashton is joined by the Telegraph's Jason Burt, Alyson Rudd from the Times and the Mirror's John Cross to discuss the latest football news as the panel feel the hard work will start now for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after he was announced as Manchester United's full time manager. Sergio Aguero has now scored the same amount of goals as Thierry Henry did at Arsenal, the trio discuss whether he is the best Premier League striker ever. The Premier League launched their 'No Room for Racism' initiative this week but what is the appropriate punishment for racist abuse? Sunday Supplement is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/sunday-supplement You can listen to Sunday Supplement on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Sunday Supplement". For all the latest football news, head to skysports.com/football For advertising opportunities or to get in touch email: [email protected]

Alexi and Mosse explore Liverpool's rumored interest in Christian Pulisic in the State of the Union (2:14). The careers and accomplishments of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are compared in Mosse Makes the Case (12:43). Also, the guys discuss automatic bids for the 2026 World Cup in Ask Alexi (24:34) and break down Groups D, E and F in the World Cup Update (35:10). Finally, a look at the Champions League and Europa League semifinals headline The Back Three (48:32). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices