FUT ICONS PLAYER RATINGS (Part 3) - PUNTAJE DE LAS LEYENDrS (Par j3)

 HERNAN CRESPO

Possibly the most well-rounded Argentine striker in history, Crespo picked up silverware nearly everywhere he went. His complete finishing skill was feared during his many years in Italy’s Serie A, where he scored numerous exciting and important goals. After three World Cups and numerous other matches for Argentina, Crespo ended his international career with the third-most goals in the country’s history.

 JARI LITMANEN

Undoubtedly Finland’s greatest , Litmanen is both the most-capped player and the record goalscorer for his country. As a member of the legendary Ajax squad coached by Louis van Gaal, Litmanen became the first Finnish footballer to win the Champions League trophy as part of the club’s impressive 1995 trophy haul. A true legend of the Amsterdam club, Litmanen’s ability to magically create space for himself earned him the nickname “Merlin” from Ajax fans.

 JAVIER ZANETTI

Known for his class both on and off the pitch, the Argentine fullback has the fifth-most official appearances in all of world football. A mainstay for Inter and the Argentine national team, Zanetti also holds the all-time appearances record for both. Zanetti’s lengthy career was due in part to his seemingly unlimited supply of energy and versatility, but also to his leadership and calmness in almost any situation. Somewhat unusual for a defender, Zanetti only earned two red cards in his 1,114 official matches.

 LAURENT BLANC

After a lengthy stay at his first club Montpelier, the French defender became a journeyman and spent time at clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United. But it was internationally where Blanc truly made his mark. He contributed heavily to France’s 1998 World Cup win, scoring the first golden goal in World Cup history against Paraguay and the winning penalty in the quarterfinal shootout against Italy, as well as helping his country concede only two goals in the entire tournament.

 LOTHAR MATTHÄUS

A complete midfielder with world class passing, shooting, and defensive skill who had few equals, Matthäus won the Ballon d’Or and the very first FIFA World Player of the Year award. He played on the dominant mid-1980s Bayern Munich teams and later helped Giovanni Trapattoni’s Inter Milan earn its first Scudetto in nearly a decade. As significant as his club career was, Matthäus cemented his legendary status with the West Germany (and later, Germany) national team. He is the most-capped player in German history, and played in five World Cups – more than any other outfield player in history.

 LUIS HERNANDEZ

“El Matador,” as Hernandez was dubbed by fans of the Mexico national team, was a ruthless forward whose legacy with El Tri helped define its modern era. Hernandez excelled for teams all over Mexico and a handful of South American clubs, but his status as Mexico’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer truly impacted his iconic status.

 MARC OVERMARS

A core member of the successful Ajax and Arsenal squads of the 1990s, Overmars was the perfect winger for that era. He may not have been the most imposing of players, but Overmars used his blistering speed, uncanny dribbling ability, and pinpoint crosses to terrorize defenses throughout Europe.

 MARCEL DESAILLY

Despite spending much of his career as an imposing center back, Desailly’s ability to keep possession and kick off counters with his passing saw him move into central midfield during his very successful stint with A.C. Milan. Even though Desailly was born in Ghana, he proudly represented France and led Les Bleus to their 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 titles.

 MARCO VAN BASTEN

Prolific at scoring goals in just about every way possible, the Dutch striker’s ability to score acrobatically cemented his place in the legend of the sport. From bicycle kicks to volleys from impossible angles, van Basten’s goals stand out as some of the best ever. Even though he was forced to retire early due to injuries, van Basten picked up many individual honors, including three Ballon d’Or awards.

 MICHAEL LAUDRUP

Picking up league titles in the Eredivisie, Serie A, and La Liga, the Danish midfielder played a crucial role in Johann Cruyff’s Barcelona “Dream Team.” A creative and unselfish presence in midfield, Laudrup’s playmaking abilities put many of his teammates at the top of the scoring charts. Laudrup’s technique and style on the ball was so groundbreaking and unique that it required an entirely new name: croqueta.

 PAOLO MALDINI

By far one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game, Maldini captained both A.C. Milan and Italy to greatness many times over his 25-year career. Maldini’s versatility meant that he played all over the defense through the course of his career, but he spent the most time at left-back before moving to central defense in his final few seasons. Whether it was forcing opponents off the ball with tight marking or inch-perfect tackles that left him with the ball and his opponents in a heap, Maldini excelled in every position and situation.

 PATRICK KLUIVERT

Another world class product of the successful 1990s Ajax teams, Kluivert was also a mainstay of the Dutch national team for a decade. While not as nimble and creative as many of the great Dutch forwards before him, Kluivert was still almost as incredible with the ball at his feet as he was when contesting headers and muscling past defenders. His greatest season was probably in 1998-99 for Barcelona, when he reunited with Louis van Gaal and formed an incredible partnership with Brazilian star Rivaldo en route to the La Liga title.

 RUI COSTA

One of the top playmakers in Portuguese football history, Costa was another member of the strong A.C. Milan teams that dominated the early 2000s in Italy and in the UEFA Champions League. Despite being best in the number 10 role, Costa was versatile enough to be used all over the pitch – he could pull the strings and create goals for teammates from midfield or the wings, but he also had a wicked shot that earned him a number of impressive goals from distance.