Who was the best ever footballer when playing in their prime?

Ronaldo DE lima ...

And Lionel Messi

Gareth Bale? Come on. Where’s Johan Cruyff on your list?

I would vote for him or ZZ , both played brilliantly for both club and country, most of the others have been good for one but hardly outstanding for the other.

I saw George Best play, in his prime. No contest.

Messi,,,  we should judge him as a good and polite guy,,,  

2011-2012 Messi was the greatest to ever play the game in my opinion.

Tie between Messi and Cristiano. This is coming from an American who have literally NEVER watched a single minute of soccer in my life! lol. I've never even heard of the others you've mentioned.

Difficult one. All on the pitch from their prime now using modern equipment and modern standards. I'd say Messi or Ronaldo. Though if you put them on the pitch in the 60's, I don't think Messi or Ronaldo would be on the pitch 20 minutes, they'd be stretchered off injured and their finesse with the old style boots and balls would not work.

With the greatest of all time debate I look at how much of an impact they had on the game at the time they were around. And arguably for this Pele is the most important player in the history of the game. He was the first truly global superstar, he changed the way football players were perceived, he helped usher in this celebrity aspect of players and he really began to make the game global. Also another key, virtually everyone was in agreement that at the time he was the best. With the rest, you put 100 people in a room and there would be disagreements over who was.

This for me makes Pele the best ever.

I would choose Pele as the best of all times.

Pele is still the all time best. 

I would have to say Cristiano Ronaldo. Controversial maybe, but if they were all playing now, I don’t think the others would come close