Without Lionel Messi: Man United legend reveals the three greatest soccer players in history

The debate over who is the greatest soccer player in history is a common topic among fans and analysts alike. Whether it’s Pelé from the 1960s, Diego Maradona from the 1980s, Lionel Messi, or Cristiano Ronaldo from recent decades, opinions vary widely.

Manchester United icon Roy Keane weighed in on the discussion, sharing his top three players of all time during an 2022 appearance on Sky Sports. Surprisingly, the former United captain left both Messi and Pelé off his list. “[Diego] Maradona has to be up there,” Keane said. “Cristiano Ronaldo as well, and I’d put Zinedine Zidane,” he continued, rounding out his top three.

Keane, who played nearly 500 matches, won 17 titles, and captained United during much of the Sir Alex Ferguson tenure, elaborated on why Zidane made his list.

“[Zidane] was incredible. I had the pleasure of playing against him. A brilliant player, disgustingly good. He scored goals, won big trophies—you couldn’t compete with him,” Keane explained.

Zinedine Zidane uses his skill to take the ball past Roy Keane during a UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Manchester United. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Jamie Carragher offers a different take

Keane’s comments came during a conversation with fellow pundit and former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher. Carragher, however, had a different view, including Lionel Messi in his own top three.

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“In mine, it has to be [Lionel] Messi,” Carragher said. “[Diego] Maradona, for what he did in ’86. I was a kid, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” he continued. Carragher then agreed with Keane on one point: “I have to agree with Roy—I’d put [Zinedine] Zidane in there too”.

Carragher went on to praise Zidane for his ability to deliver in high-pressure moments. “There are plenty of players from the modern era I think about, but Zidane, for what he did in big moments—the World Cup finals, his goal in the Champions League final, his performance at Euro 2000—he was special,” Carragher concluded.

The endless debate

Notably absent from both lists were legends like Johan Cruyff, Ronaldo Nazário, and Pelé. But the differing opinions from Keane and Carragher highlight that the question of soccer’s greatest is deeply subjective, shaped by personal experiences and what individuals value most in the game.