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The term “generational talent” is one that is used ever so often in football. It is one that has never had a generally accepted definition.
However, for the purpose of this article, we will define a generational talent as a player who dominates/has dominated an era.
Sociologists have defined a generation as a period of ten years (20 years in some cases). Therefore, in football, a generational talent is usually ascribed to a player who stays at the top of the game for ten plus years.
Several players have been relevant within a ten-year time frame. However, not all these players qualify for the “generational talent” tag.
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To qualify to be a generational talent, a player must have been at the very top of the game for a long period.
This talent must have been obvious from a very young age with the player in question going on to do great things in his career.
A few players in the younger generation; Kylian Mbappe, for instance, has been referred to as a generational talent.
However, it is still too early to say which of these young men will get to the very lofty heights of being universally acknowledged as a generational talent.
Here is a look at 5 of the greatest in football history:
#5. Diego Maradona
Right from when he was just a lad kicking a ball on the streets of Buenos Aires, the petite magician was already attracting attention.
He used to entertain fans at half-time with his wizardry while playing for Los Cebollitas (The Little Onions) as Argentinos Juniors’ youth team were called.
From those early days, Maradona became a marked man as people in Argentina started taking notice of the young chap who had a magic wand of a left foot.
He was famously left out of the Albiceleste side that won the 1978 World Cup on home soil for being too young by coach Luis Menotti. Maradona emerged as the star of the 1979 U-20 World Cup winning the Golden Ball award as he led the team to win the trophy.
Between 1981-1991, there was no better player in the world than the eccentric Argentine genius who brilliantly captained his nation to win the World Cup in 1986.
At club level, his greatest feat remains leading unfancied Napoli to win their first ever Serie A title in 1987 amongst other trophies in the club’s golden era.
He remains revered universally despite retiring in 1997 and till date, is always in the conversation whenever the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) arguments come up.
Also See : Durand Cup, Durand Cup Schedule, Calcutta Football League
#4. Paolo Maldini
The period between 1980-2000 was a golden age for football in terms of the quality of stars. From Africa (George Weah and co.) to South America (Ronaldo de Lima amongst others), a host of legendary players were active in this era.
As far as defenders are concerned, one name continues to tower above all others; that of the charming, devilishly handsome son of Cesare Maldini.
One of a very select few footballing sons who went on to be better than their fathers, the younger Maldini has come to be known as the S.I unit for measuring elite fullbacks in football.
Rugged, strong in the tackle and blessed with intelligence, stamina and technical skills, Paolo was the quintessential “he had it all” footballer.
A one-club man, he wore the black and red colors of AC Milan throughout his storied career casting a very long shadow over his successors.
He was majestic for the Italian national team as well during his 22-year-career where he won everything at club level (at least twice) but was so unlucky at the national level.
Lots of great defenders during the 1989-2007 years staked a claim for being legitimate greats but none came close to the genius that was the Rossoneri and Azzurri legend.
#3. Cristiano Ronaldo
In any other era competing with any other player, the Portuguese superstar would be the undoubted king of world football.
Such has been the consistent excellence of the kid from Madeira that he has unlocked God-levels wherever he has played his football.
Fiercely competitive, super-fit and obsessive about achievements to the point of paranoia, Cristiano has become the gold standard for everything good a modern footballer is supposed to be.
Starting out his career as a winger, his flicks, tricks, pace, and devilry excited everyone at Sporting Lisbon’s famed academy. He had scarcely become established before Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson pounced to whisk him away to Old Trafford in 2003 for £12.24m (a then world record for a teenager).
He shone brightly at Old Trafford becoming the first Premier League-based player to win the World Footballer of the Year title since the league rebranded in 1992.
His records at Real Madrid (for a world record fee) was even more breath-taking, winning UCL titles and other trophies with reckless abandon before another big-money move to Juventus last summer.
He has emerged as Portugal’s leader, record goalscorer and record appearance maker since he made his debut for A Seleção das Quinas (Selection of the Quinas) in 2003.
His rivalry with Lionel Messi has defined the period; 2008 – till date and will probably go down as probably the greatest individual rivalry in the history of the game.
#2. Johan Cryuff
One of a very select few of men who have dominated the global game as player and coach, the late Dutch master was in a league of his own.
A leader of men, scorer of great goals and a very stylish bloke whose name has become synonymous with beautiful football, Cruyff’s stardom is beyond questioning/reproach.
The biggest name of an era that featured many a great star (1964-1978), he shone above other greats like Gerd Muller, Mario Kempes, Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, Sir Jack Charlton amongst others.
Skillful on the ball with a devil-may-cry attitude, his ability to pick a pass, position himself to score and lead from the front saw him front and center for the legendary Ajax and Oranje teams of that era.
With him as the leader, Ajax aped the achievements of Real Madrid by winning the-then European Cup (now UEFA Champions League) thrice in a row (1971-1973).
Under the guidance of legendary manager, Rinus Michels, Cruyff led the Dutch national side that was by far the best team at the 1974 World Cup to the final. However, over-confidence saw them lose to a less technical but more committed West German side by 2-1.
He was also wildly successful as a manager and created the movement that has led to the emergence of superstar coaches like Pep Guardiola.
#1. Lionel Messi
Whenever the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) conversations are being had, Messi's name is always in the mix. This is because, minus Maradona, the world has never seen a player like him before. La Pulga Atomica has become a part of highlight reels across the globe and a symbol for a generation of footballers and fans.
From the moment he began to kick a ball back home in hilly Rosario, the special nature of little Leo had caught the local community’s attention.
His health issues have turned out to be a blessing in disguise for himself, his family and FC Barcelona.
A one-club man like Maldini, an Argentine hero like Maradona and Ronaldo’s fierce rival, it is easier to mention what he has not won at club level as listing what he has won will take considerable time
At this juncture, it is safe to say that by the time he retires (hopefully not until he is 60), he would have become the greatest footballer in the storied history of the Blaugrana.
His rivalry with Ronaldo is one that has held the world spellbound over the last decade. It has redefined what it means to score goals with 50+ seasons the standard by which players (not just strikers) are now judged.
Like Maldini, he has been desperately unlucky in terms of winning trophies at the national level. Three final appearances in three consecutive tournaments ending in tears and misery.
