Ranking the 5 retired players who could have broken Neymar's transfer record

#3 Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff transformed football like no other (Photo: Twitter)

When PSG invested in Neymar, they availed the services of a game-changer, a man who could single-handedly turn the tide of a match when things looked gloomy. Johan Cruyff is the name of the crown jewel who could single-handedly make your team bullet proof, an investment for the team, a gift to the other players.

There is no way a stats reading algorithm would do justice to the greatness of Cruyff. After all, there is no computer that measures greatness in the criteria of creativity, vision and genius. His brilliance echoes in modern football and perhaps he could even have been PSG's player-manager if need be.

The best thing about the Dutch legend was that most things he did on the pitch were spontaneous and natural and one could only marvel. Cruyff was the centerpiece of "Total Football" and it was only possible because there was no one else who could play a multipurpose role to perfection like him.

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner was a creator of space and time, unlike anyone else. As a player, he won 20 major honors, including the three consecutive European Cups from 1971 to 1974. The 'Cruyff turn' immortalized the genius of Johan, forever and ever.

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#2 Diego Maradona

Argentina Press Conference - 2010 FIFA World Cup

Adored and hated, worshiped and despised, tremendous and terrible. Diego Maradona's name often sends one on a bittersweet nostalgia where one juggles between the extremeties of various emotions. He did go ethically wrong on a few occasions in his life, but he would always be known as 'the unapologetic don' on the football pitch.

One could sit down and comprehend the moral complications and repurcussions of what Maradona did to the sport that gave him everything. But the most teasing option was just to witness him do things only he did to a football. An attacking midfielder by trait, the Argentine maestro dropped players for dead with the slickest of shimmies and finished his goals with utmost grace.

There was hardly anyone who impacted a certain team in the manner that he did at Napoli. A team that could only think of winning Serie A in the wildest corners of their dreams, won it twice in 1987 and 1990 and won the UEFA Cup in 1989. 'El Diego' was a phenomenon, due to what he did both on and off the pitch. Paris would have suited Maradona, one would think.

He knew that the 'Hand of God' in the 1986 World Cup would not be allowed so he shouted at his teammates, "Come hug me, or the referee isn’t going to allow it." It was shithousery at its best, it was El Diego at its best.

Five minutes later, he scored what's popularly regarded as the goal of the century. We recommend you watch Victor Hugo Morales' commentary of the goal. Thank us, later.

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#1 Pele

Pele at 2014 FIFA World Cup Final Draw

If your claim to fame is 1281 goals scored in all of your career, including whatever match came your way, you could break any transfer record they ever set. Only one Brazilian could aptly replace the cultural heritage and the vibes of another. So if we are talking of breaking a Brazilian's record, why not choose the greatest Brazilian to play football?

A three-time World Cup winner, Pele was a sensation every time he wore the Brazilian jersey. He represented the Brazilian club Santos, with which he toured the world and later played for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League. He was a fighter from day one, high-spirited, morally upright and eventually detified.

Pele scored 90 hat-tricks across his 18=year career, that's five hat-tricks between every birthday. He was technically gifted, physically intense and mentally resilient. He was the most complete offensive player there was to be. With his sublime feet, he made the ball dance and he struck it at its most venomous when he wished to.

His legend has been etched throughout history and around the world. Pele won 25 honors with Santos and 10 titles with the Brazil national team.