General Football Thread

[TCO]

How many games did Iker Casillas actually play in 2013? How can you be considered in the top 5 keepers in the world when you're not the best at your club?

I'd have Brad Guzan in there before him!

[MDK]

No David Mooney? Rubbish.

[EddieG]

Not the #1 at the club, but #1 at the defending World and European Champions. :/

[TCO]

Not the #1 at the club, but #1 at the defending World and European Champions. :/

That'd make it about 5 competitive games where he's been the clear cut number one in 2013 so. Best in the world. :/

[METALMAN]

They call that a short list? I'd hate to see their long list.

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

55 players isn't exactly short, I agree.

Think I'm more shocked 20 of them are defenders.

[EddieG]

55 out of how many professional players? Pretty short list.

[METALMAN]

Do you always have to be such a needlessly contrary divot? :/

[EddieG]

Yes.

[stokeriño]

I suppose if they were choosing a single player's award, a shortlist of five would be decent.

Choosing eleven players' awards, therefore...

(Said pattern appears to fit throughout if they're applying a 4-3-3 formation)

[MDK]

[maurosdelca]

R.I.P. Eusébio.

[Johnny Latino Heat]

I just woke up to this, and it's awful. Benfica has lost its greatest symbol and Portugal (and I dare say the world) one of the greatest players that ever stepped foot on the field. His health had been getting worse since 2012 and I guess it was a matter of time, but it's still awful

RIP "Pantera Negra", you'll never be forgotten.

[Lineker]

Sad news. RIP.

[GoN_]

Club Sporting de Lourenço Marques

• Campeonato Provincial de Moçambique (1): 1960
• Campeonato Distrital de Lourenço Marques (1): 1960

Benfica

• Primeira Liga (11): 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75
• Taça de Portugal (5): 1961–62, 1963–64, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72
• European Cup (1): 1961–62

Runner-up 1962–63, 1964–65, 1967–68,

• Taça Ribeiro dos Reis (3): 1963–64, 1965–66, 1970–71
• Taça de Honra (9): 1962–63, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75

Toronto Metros-Croatia

• NASL (1): 1976

National team Portugal

• FIFA World Cup: Third place in 1966

Individual

• European Footballer of the Year (1): 1965
• Silver European Footballer of the Year (2): 1962, 1966
• European Golden Boot (2): 1968, 1973
• Bola de Prata (7): 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1973
• European Cup top scorer (3): 1965, 1966, 1968
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot (1): 1966
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball (1): 1966
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (1): 1966
• Portuguese Footballer of the Year (2): 1970, 1973
• BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year (1): 1966

Special awards

• Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique
• Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Mérito
• Portuguese Golden Ball career award
• FIFA International Football Hall of Champions
• PFA Merit Award
• FIFA 100
• UEFA Jubilee Awards
• UEFA President's Award
• France Football's World Cup Top-100
• Planète Foot's 50 Meilleurs Joueurs du Monde
• Voetbal International's Wereldsterren
• Guerin Sportivo's I 50 Grandi del Secolo
• World Soccer's Selection of the 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time
• Placar's 100 Craques do Século
• Venerdì's 100 Magnifici
• IFFHS' World Players of the Century (Top-10)
• The Best of The Best – Players of the Century: Top 10

[Liam]

RIP Eusebio

[Colly]

Club Sporting de Lourenço Marques

• Campeonato Provincial de Moçambique (1): 1960
• Campeonato Distrital de Lourenço Marques (1): 1960

Benfica

• Primeira Liga (11): 196061, 196263, 196364, 196465, 196667, 196768, 196869, 197071, 197172, 197273, 197475
• Taça de Portugal (5): 196162, 196364, 196869, 196970, 197172
• European Cup (1): 196162

Runner-up 196263, 196465, 196768,

• Taça Ribeiro dos Reis (3): 196364, 196566, 197071
• Taça de Honra (9): 196263, 196465, 196667, 196768, 196869, 197172, 197273, 197374, 197475

Toronto Metros-Croatia

• NASL (1): 1976

National team Portugal

• FIFA World Cup: Third place in 1966

Individual

• European Footballer of the Year (1): 1965
• Silver European Footballer of the Year (2): 1962, 1966
• European Golden Boot (2): 1968, 1973
• Bola de Prata (7): 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1973
• European Cup top scorer (3): 1965, 1966, 1968
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot (1): 1966
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball (1): 1966
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (1): 1966
• Portuguese Footballer of the Year (2): 1970, 1973
• BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year (1): 1966

Special awards

• Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique
• Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Mérito
• Portuguese Golden Ball career award
• FIFA International Football Hall of Champions
• PFA Merit Award
• FIFA 100
• UEFA Jubilee Awards
• UEFA President's Award
• France Football's World Cup Top-100
• Planète Foot's 50 Meilleurs Joueurs du Monde
• Voetbal International's Wereldsterren
• Guerin Sportivo's I 50 Grandi del Secolo
• World Soccer's Selection of the 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time
• Placar's 100 Craques do Século
• Venerdì's 100 Magnifici
• IFFHS' World Players of the Century (Top-10)
• The Best of The Best Players of the Century: Top 10

He's no Brad Guzan though.

[Adam]

Tremendous player by all accounts, watching him you could see he was a very progressive footballer. Just watched highlights of the Portugal 5-3 comeback win over North Korea in the 1966 World Cup, some tremendous goals from the man in there and a great window into a distant past in the sport.

[MDK]

Ah, but could he do it on a rainy day in Liverpool?

Oh, yes, apparently.

[Colossus]

I woke up and he was all over the television, I knew right away.

He was one of the best ever, just so powerful an overwhelming. He will be sorely missed