It's good to see some of the modern footballers very high on the list. It seems to be easy to throw on the older generation players for their importance but it's good to see Zidane, Ronaldo and Maldini (err, I guess he's modern) getting their respect.

I agree 100%

Yeah fair enough, his reputation is phenomenal, although I think unfounded. But i've never seen a top 20 without him.
Moore should definetly be higher if you ask me. I think he is the greatest defender ever, providing we are not including Beckenbauer. Although Baresi has won everything, God it's so difficult.

I do think Moore's club career let him down though compared to Baresi.

Yeah that is true, although just from a footballing perspective I think Moore edges it. Baresi has every medal you can get though and was awesome on his day

Muller has played for one of the greatest ever club and national teams, won a frightening amount of top class honours and his goal/games record is possibly the best ofthe last 50 years. I have always been a massive fan of Van Basten and think if his career hadn't been cut short he might have been in the top 10. But might doesn't cut it here as I have been reminded before, therefore I reckon although I love Ronaldo and Van Basten, Muller edges it.

Muller > Van Basten > Ronaldo

Also, re: Moore vs. Baresi.

I don't think Moore's reputation outside the UK is particularly bigger than Baresi's and given their close reputation, Baresi's much more accomplished and successful career has to take it for me.

It's an obvious statement I know, but it really is all a matter of opinion how you judge a player and his greatness. For example Avery you have said how you have placed more emphasis on individual rather than team awards although they are obviously important factors personally they don't sway me too much, neither do other peoples opinions. As much as I totally respect the opinions of ex pro's, journalists and of course the guys on here it doesn't affect me, not much anyway. I prefer to look at the skill level, longevity, awards, trophies etc and his competency in his position.
This brings me to Moore v Baresi. I agree with everything Avery says regarding Baresi and his honours. But I can remember watching Moore play and he was just magnificent, maybe the best tackler I have ever seen and unusually for a Central Defender rarely used dirty tactics, Baresi was of course magnificent and it's very difficult to separate them. Based on skill level and competency I prefer Moore, awards and success goes to Baresi.
Best is another one who is held in the highest regard by everyone including me. I do think he came along at the right time with regards to his playboy image and the swinging sixties, add this to the great Man Utd team he played with and this elevated him to a position in people’s memories which in my opinion is mostly based on the romance that surrounds Man Utd anyway. His skill level was awesome but to be honest Matthews and Johnstone were at least equally as skillful and tricky. Neither played for fashionable teams though or i'm sure they would be regarded even higher.
This reminds me of something I spoke about a while ago regarding players who play for less fashionable teams and thefore are not regarded as being “as great” as other players who played in similar positions for “bigger” teams. A classic example being Hansen v Miller, McLeish, McNeil and Greig. Hansen plays in a great Liverpool team and recieves all sorts of plaudits for being “one of the greatest Scottish/British defenders ever”, yet about 99% of Scottish journalists, punters etc would have him about fifth if he was lucky.
No doubt about it IMO if you play for a more fashionable team in a better known League you have better exposure and subsequently you will be higher up any list.

It just doesn’t sway me, maybe being Scotttish I prefer the underdogs.

Just for a bit of fun as this thread seems to have died a little recently

Top 10 Football Enforcers
I have not included guys like Vinnie Jones, Kevin Muscat or Julian Dicks as in my opinion they were only thugs and very average players who set out to get a “hardman” image.
Besides if you want a true hardman none are harder than Chic Charnley (Partick Thistle) who was sent off about 15/16 times in 20 years. Once he was attacked by 2 men carrying swords in a Glasgow park and apparently chased them away, now that is hard, or nuts.
These guys I have chosen were all genuine class players, mostly internationals and all playing with the top teams of their era. They have all been described by the their fellow pro’s as genuine tough guys who could play too.

1. Claudio Gentile http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvK2z6eUbAE
2. Andoni Goikoetxea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpcBkpOf4z8
3. Stuart Pearce http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bxbgKYdjao
4. Tommy Smith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvNm-kQwJuk
5. Giuseppe Bergomi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg9nsoXqfuw
6. Lionel Sanchez http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOtL1m1o_ok
7. Roy Keane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr45hnkeg6U
8. Willie Woodburn
9. Marco Tardelli http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWB3qFhFvVI
10. Dave MacKay

There are of course loads of other contenders. Any thoughts?

Gattuso.

I didn't know Tardelli was renowned to be a hard man. Obviously being an Italian midfielder he can look after himself, but I never saw him as a real nutter or anything.

Good shout with Gattuso, although I wouldn’t have him in my own personal top10 he is a real hard case and a great player too.

As for Tardelli someone once said “he was responsible for more scar tissue than a hospital”. He was also part of the infamous ’82 Italian triumvirate bad, badder and baddest. Which included him, Bergomi and Gentile.

raymond kopa should be above Fontaine

How come? Fontaine's scoring record at international level is legendary.

Fontaine was the real man of that team. Kopa was awesome as well but Fontaine man... sick career stats.