Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (foto: /)
In a move that has set the football world abuzz, Argentine journalist Diego del Bario recently unveiled his list of the "100 Greatest Footballers in History" on his website, "Gol del Corazon."
While the top five names—Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, Diego Maradona, and Alfredo di Stefano—have largely escaped scrutiny, the rest of the list has ignited a firestorm of debate and criticism.
Among the most contentious placements is Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez, who surprisingly ranks sixth, ahead of football greats like Johan Cruyff and Ronaldo. Another eyebrow-raising choice is Argentine Angel di Maria, who sits at 17th place, followed closely by Croatian captain Luka Modrić at 19th. Andres Iniesta and Ronaldinho also make the top 25, but their positions at 20th and 21st respectively have left fans puzzled.
The British tabloid "The Sun" expressed shock at the absence of Wayne Rooney from the list. Additionally, the rankings of Radamel Falcao (74), Sergio Aguero (90), and Karim Benzema (85) have raised questions, especially when Arturo Vidal (80) is ranked higher than Ruud Gullit (81), Steven Gerrard (82), and Frank Lampard (83).
The list has been met with widespread derision on social media platforms. Comments range from "This is awful" to "The worst list of the top 100 ever made." The placement of Thierry Henry at 58th has also been a particular point of contention, with fans questioning the credibility of the list.
While lists like these are often subjective and open to interpretation, del Bario's choices have clearly struck a nerve in the global football community. The debate it has sparked serves as a testament to the passion and opinions that football evokes, and it's likely that this list will be a talking point for some time to come.