To attain the mythic title of ‘the world’s greatest footballer’, a player has to do more than top score in their league, they have to do more than win the odd domestic cup, they have to do more than bring home the league crown and individual baubles such as the FIFA World Player of the Year – they have to transcend the game. For those of us lucky enough to watch the Barclays Premier League each week, we maybe witnessing just such an event!

Since I’ve been watching football, as far as I’m concerned, the title of world’s greatest player has gone in this order. Attached to the player’s names are the honors that have established their pedigree.

Bobby Charlton: World Cup 1966, European Cup 1968

Pele: World Cups, 1958 & 1970, Copa Libertadores 1962 & ‘63

Johan Cruyff: European Cups, 1971, ’72 & ‘73

Franz Beckenbauer: European Championship 1972, World Cup 1974 & European Cup 1974, ’75 & ‘76

Michel Platini: European Championship 1984, European Cup 1985

Diego Maradona: World Cup 1986, UEFA Cup 1989

Ronaldo: World Cup 2002, UEFA Cup 1998

Zinedine Zidane: World Cup 1998, European Championship 2000 & European Cup 2002

Obviously the theme to greatness is winning either the World Cup/European Championship and a major European or South American club trophy. Sure all of these legends have won domestic leagues and cups but that does not and will never signify elevation to the highest level. What this exclusive list says to me is that we’re now in the midst of a six-year drought.

This weekend in Manchester though, Cristiano Ronaldo put together a performance of such dazzling splendor that I believe we have a serious contender for the title of ‘world’s greatest footballer’. 

Of course the stakes are high for Ronaldo and the probability of joining the gods of the game, long (that’s why there are so few names) but when you look at the next few months facing the twenty-three-year-old immortality surely beckons.

Sure Manchester United are a slam-dunk to win the league but as mentioned above that’s not good enough for this exclusive club. What Ronaldo does have on the horizon is a possible Champions League and European Championship.

According to the bookmakers who should know a thing or two about predicting winners, United, are favorites to win the Champions League while Portugal are third favorites to lift Euro 2008.

If United and Portugal make it all the way to their respective ‘promised lands’ and Ronaldo features prominently in each match the doors to football heaven will be opened.

Four years ago in Portugal, Ronaldo was too young to accept the invitation as his country lost to Greece in the final of Euro 2004. Even last year, the maturity wasn’t yet there as AC Milan’s, Kaka (who is surely destined to join Ronaldo on the above list) showed him in the UEFA Champions League semi-final that substance trumps style in the matches that matter most but this year…

This year we have been privileged to witness someone invent a new level of how football is played. In a way it reminds me something I heard about Barry Bonds during his pomp earlier in the decade. A reporter said that Bonds had mastered the impossible ‘the art of hitting’. I feel that Ronaldo has mastered football – he is unstoppable.

And yet if United and Portugal do fail this season, the tag of ‘world’s greatest footballer’ will allude him, perhaps temporarily or maybe even forever however don’t feel too sorry for the lad from Madeira, after all, he is only twenty-three – still plenty of time to join the giants of the game.

Until then, I’ll see you at the far post.

It is widely acknowledged that if you want to be ‘the man’ and take the belt off the champion, you’ve got to knock them out - grinding out a points victory just won’t be enough to impress the judges and get you the decision.

Using that criterion, there can be no arguments that Manchester United is still ‘the man’ then after their epic clash with Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday. The Gunners though showed that they are worthy challengers. They also demonstrated that they have a granite chin as they climbed off the canvas twice to bloody the nose of the current champions in a pulsating two-two draw. 

Staying with the boxing analogy, this match was dominated by the current two best European players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo and Cesc Fabregas. There is no doubt in my mind that this rivalry has all the potential to be one of the best English or world football for that matter has ever seen - it’s Ali-Frazier, Tyson-Holyfield…and with luck we’ll witness their battles for many more seasons to come.

One doesn’t like to boil down an epic match between two players because as the LA Galaxy have found out it’s not about one player but it is hard to look beyond the current players & writer’s player of the year against his apparent heir in waiting.

Looking back at the ninety minutes from North London, Fabregas was the guv’nor when it came to running the show. If United could’ve stopped him perhaps they would’ve left with the three points but they couldn’t. Ronaldo on the other hand was largely anonymous and yet still had a massive say in the result with a goal and assist.

So just who is the best player from the Iberian Peninsula - let’s look at the tale of the tape.

Cesc Fabregas   Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 20                       Age: 22
Fee: $0                       Fee: $24 million
Premiership Apps: 99  Premiership Apps: 103
All Competitions: 141  All Competitions: 153
Goals: 13                    Goals: 57
Goals this season: 10  Goals this season: 7
International Apps: 2  International Apps: 36

That’s the raw data but what of the intangibles…

Flair & Skill (Ronaldo)

Unless you live on Mars this category would have to go to the Portuguese flyer. Ronaldo has more tricks than David Copperfield and isn’t shy about demonstrating them.

Consistency (Fabregas)

The Spaniard brings it every single game. For sure he’s more involved in the center of the park but you hardly ever see him having an off game.

Goal Scoring (Ronaldo)

Fabregas is in the richest scoring vein of his career but he doesn’t hold a candle to Ronaldo who has the full locker.

Toughness (Ronaldo)

Both players are incredibly durable however I feel that Ronaldo takes more of a beating while Fabregas is in the habit of dealing out the pain.

Discipline (Fabregas)

Over the course of their careers, Ronaldo has seen red three times to one by Fabregas. The Arsenal player definitely picks up more yellow cards but Ronaldo is the more hot headed and has actually missed more games through suspension than his rival.

Versatility (Ronaldo)

Ronaldo can play anywhere across the front line, tuck in behind the strikers or create from midfield. Fabregas is more limited and specializes in his midfield role.

Determination (Fabregas)

A very hard category to judge as both players are warriors however the Gunner has demonstrated an unquenchable thirst over the last couple of campaigns.

Leadership (Fabregas)

Fabregas will lead Arsenal for years to come and his teammates will run through a brick wall for him. Ronaldo tends to disappear at times and you can’t have that from you focal and vocal point.

International Appeal (Ronaldo)

You only had to be in Germany and see girls swooning everywhere that the Red Devil heartthrob would have no trouble picking up a modeling career once he can’t play football anymore.

Value (Ronaldo)

In 2001 Zinedine Zidane moved from Juventus to Real Madrid for a staggering $94 million. Is Ronaldo worth that much…not yet but I’m sure Sir Alex Ferguson would want in the $60-70 million range for his superstar. Arsene Wenger would probably want the same kind of fee for his protégé however until Fabregas scores goals on a more consistent basis, Ronaldo, will command the bigger money.

It’s almost to close to call isn’t. On current form if I was going to build a team around either one, I would have to pick Fabregas. Just look at the supporting cast the Spaniard has at the Emirates compared to the riches that surround Ronaldo at Old Trafford but if I had a must win game to play then Ronaldo would get the nod. Either way this a rivalry that hasn’t even matured yet and it’s impossible to take your eyes from it.

Until then, get the beers in.

Last week in London the annual PFA (Professional Footballers Association) team of the year was announced. Incredibly in the internet age, ballots are still collected months before the season ends which in this case have led to a team that contains players who have not played for months - this voting system must be re-addressed as I believe many deserving individuals have been ignored.

Manchester United dominates the team which is as follows:

Edwin van der Sar (United), Garry Neville (United), Nemanja Vidic (United), Rio Ferdinand (United), Patrice Evra (United), Ryan Giggs (United), Paul Scholes (United), Cristiano Ronaldo (United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and Dimitar Berbatov (Spurs).

I know United have been great this season but this is ridiculous and I find it very hard to believe that the pros really think that eight Red Devils deserve to be in the team. Perhaps they haven’t watched as many matches as me as this following XI should’ve been honored in my book.

Goalkeeper: Tim Howard (Everton) After being cast aside by United, Howard has seen his career reborn at Goodison Park. Thirteen clean sheets in all competitions is a testament to not only his back four but the renewed commitment to the art of goalkeeping. Howard now has a presence that was lacking at Old Trafford and he’ll eventually take the torch from Brad Friedel at Ewood Park.

Right Back: Steve Finnan (Liverpool) The shocking omission of Finnan simply blows me away. According to the EPL web site actim stats he is the best defender in the Premiership however I didn’t need stats to tell me that. He is simply the most consistent full back in the country and the fact that he regularly starts for a Liverpool side that changes faster than English weather tells you all you need to know.

Center Back: Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) Love him or hate him, Carvalho is different gravy and stands head and shoulders above anybody else in this position. Personally, I can’t stand him as at times his cynical professionalism drives me crazy however I admire his immaculate reading of the game. He reminds me of Bobby Moore in that he’s not the quickest but his mind is razor sharp.

Center Back: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) What does Carragher have to do to be recognized as one of the greatest defenders of his generation? It seems to me that he’s destined to play the bridesmaid role behind Ferdinand and Terry, which doesn’t seem right when you consider how he brings it each and every single game – plus he versatile and can play anywhere.

Left Back: Mathew Taylor (Portsmouth) C’mon Steve McClaren what are you waiting for! The most attack minded defender in the EPL has scored nine goals, that right, nine goals this season and almost every one of them has been a goal of the season candidate. At 25 years-of-age, he’s just about to enter his prime.

Right Midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) The Players Player of the Year is playing a different game to everybody else – he is the Tiger Woods of football and there aren’t enough superlatives to describe. Ronaldo in full flow is the greatest sight in football.

Center Midfield: Paul Scholes (Manchester United) After missing half of last season through blurred vision the ‘Ginger Prince’ has driven United forward with consummate skill. Please, the next time you watch Scholes play just see how many times he gives the ball away – no matter what kind of pass he plays it always finds the right target. His decision making is second to none and if I were Steve McClaren, I’d get down on hands and knees and beg him to come back to the national team.

Center Midfield: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)  

Cesc turns 20 next week and incredibly he already has 124 1st team appearances to his name. Have any of us ever seen a player with so much maturity? He makes that Arsenal machine tick along playing a game of football that at times defies belief. If Arsene Wenger can give him the surrounding cast, Cesc will become the most valuable maestro in all of football.

Left Midfield: Mikel Arteta (Everton) David Moyes will be fighting tooth and nail to hold onto the Spanish gem in the off-season. Eight goals combined with eleven assists makes, Arteta an automatic the my EPL XI. Here is a player who can do it all and for him to be overlooked is a staggering oversight by his fellow pros – there are other teams than United.

Center Forward: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) Ronaldo’s only competition for the PFA award was the Ivorian who has plundered 31 goals to date in all competitions. I really admire how Drogba has handled himself this season as he’s slowly eradicated the gamesmanship that defined his game the previous two seasons. He leads the line superbly while taking a fearful battering and rightly takes his place amongst the best in the game.

 Center Forward: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) The bargain of the season at five million dollars – Benni has scored 21 goals, lies third in the Golden Boot race and is regularly ignored because he plays in the backwater of Ewood Park. Pace, power and craft are the tools of a quality striker and McCarthy has the full set.

I believe that this is the team that best reflects the Premiership this season and would suggest that in the next term the players be allowed to vote towards the end of the campaign. To earn all-EPL honors a body of work should be looked at, not just the first five months.

Until then, get the beers in.