{"id":99413,"date":"2023-09-28T18:06:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T18:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebritycovernews.com\/?p=99413"},"modified":"2023-09-28T18:06:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T18:06:00","slug":"holland-legend-marco-van-basten-reveals-his-best-three-footballers-of-all-time-but-theres-no-place-for-lionel-messi-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebritycovernews.com\/sport\/holland-legend-marco-van-basten-reveals-his-best-three-footballers-of-all-time-but-theres-no-place-for-lionel-messi-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Holland legend Marco van Basten reveals his best three footballers of all time.. but there's no place for Lionel Messi | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
HOLLAND legend Marco van Basten has named his three best footballers in history.<\/strong><\/p>\n But there\u2019s no place for seven-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n Van Basten, 58, is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation.<\/p>\n The Dutchman scored 283 goals in 379 games for Ajax and AC Milan, winning six league titles, five domestic cups and six European trophies in the process.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Van Basten also led Holland to the 1988 Euros and was named the Ballon d\u2019Or winner three times.<\/p>\n He has now lifted the lid on his own favourite players, revealing the names of three stars revered by lovers of the beautiful game around the world.<\/p>\n Van Basten, now a technical director at Fifa, selected three-time World Cup winner and Brazil legend Pele, who died in December, as his No1 player.<\/p>\n Argentina icon Maradona, who passed away in 2020, was No2 on the list.<\/p>\n And third was Dutch master Johan Cruyff, who died in 2016.<\/p>\n Van Basten admits Messi was close to making the list, but missed out due to his lack of leadership.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS<\/strong><\/p>\n While there were honourable mentions for Cristiano Ronaldo, Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane.<\/p>\n Van Basten, who played his last game in 1993 aged 28 due to injury, told France Football: \u201cPele, Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff are, for me, the three greatest players in history.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a child, I wanted to be like Cruyff. He was my friend, I miss him. Pele and Maradona were also incredible.<\/p>\n \u201cMessi is also a magnificent player, but Maradona has always had more personality in a team.<\/p>\n \u201cMessi is not the one who gets in front to go to war.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t forget Cristiano Ronaldo, Michel Platini or Zinedine Zidane.\u201d<\/p>\n
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