Watch the Dutch genius and admire one of the most complete players of all time. Johan Cruyff- world’s best footballer ever? You decide.

Johan Cruyff is perhaps the football player most synonymous with the total football system of playing which was developed in the Netherlands in the 1970′s. We will explore the part he played in its development later on but let’s take a look at how this most complete footballer started his career.

Whilst it has become common in recent years for footballing prodigies to be recognised and signed up by professional clubs at a tender age, it was less so in the 1970′s, but Cruyff was signed up by Ajax of Amsterdam when he was twelve years old. He made his professional debut for Ajax in 1964, aged 17. After a fairly inauspicious start to his career, he showed his developing potential in the 1965/66 season scoring 25 goals in 23 games, winning the first of his 8 Eredivisie Championship winning medals. Ajax asserted their dominance of Dutch club football the following season with Cruyff helping them to win the league and cup double; a feat Cruyff was to repeat 3 more times in 1970, 1972 and 1983.

On the European stage, Cruyff won a hat-trick of European Cup winners medals in 3 successive seasons with Ajax in 1971, 1972 and 1973. By the Summer of 1973, Barcelona had been admiring Cruyff’s footballing prowess for some time and signed him. Cruyff helped Barcelona to win their first La Liga championship in 14 years. He concluded his 5 season spell at Barcelona with a Copa del Rey winners medal in 1978.

Like many of the world’s best footballers in the late 1970′s and early 80′s, Cruyff played in the North American Soccer League for 2 seasons before returning for a brief spell to Spain to play for Levante in the 2nd division. A return to Ajax followed before playing his final season in club football with Feyenoord of Rotterdam where he won yet another league and cup double in 1984.

At international level, Cruyff’s career was less remarkable, but he scored 33 goals in 48 matches and Holland never lost a match in which he scored. He appeared in just one World Cup Final in 1974, picking up a runners-up medal.

On a personal level, Cruyff was named Dutch Footballer of the Year 4 times and Dutch Sportsman of the Year twice. He was also awarded the Ballon D’Or 3 times.

An examination of Cruyff’s playing style tells us much about what made him one of the greatest footballers of all time. He was an early exponent of the Total Football philosophy and whilst Cruyff was a centre-forward, he was adept at dropping deep, playing wide or in midfield. He was a powerful athlete, with speed and acceleration. His close ball control and dribbling were breathtaking and perhaps above all, his ability to read the game and his positional awareness and precision passing all contributed to make him the very finest footballer of his generation.

It’s not just Brazilian men who turn into world-beating footballers. Watch and admire the skills of this very gifted female footballer.

Marta Vieira da Silva (better known by the abbreviated Marta) stands peerless at the top of the women’s game. One may debate about who is the very best in the men’s game but there is little argument that Marta is the best female footballer in the world. Let’s take a closer look at her and see what sets her apart from the rest.

Marta started her footballing career in 2000 at Vasco da Gama before moving to Europe in 2004 when she signed for Umeå IK. Marta made an instant impression and her goal-scoring prowess helped her club to win the Women’s UEFA Cup in her first season. The following season, Umeå IK won the league championship undefeated and Marta scored 21 goals during the season. Remarkably, Umeå IK remained undefeated again the following season winning the league championship and a goal tally by Marta of 21 goals made her the leading scorer in the Swedish women’s league. Having suffered Swedish cup final losses three times in a row, Marta helped Umeå IK to a league and cup double in 2006/7 and Marta amassed a total of 25 goals. A further league championship winners medal followed for Marta in the 2007/8 season which brought an end to her career in Sweden.

A move to the United States followed where she signed for Los Angelese Sol. The signing was announced on the day she was awarded the title of World Footballer of the Year. She finished the season as the league’s top scorer and with a championship wining medal.

Following an off-season loan spell at Santos, Marta signed for Californian side FC Gold Pride where she won yet another championship winning medal. Another brief spell at Santos was followed by a move to Western New York Flash. Marta is presently back in Sweden playing for Tyresö FF enjoying a reported annual salary in the region of $400,000.

At international level, Marta was the driving force in Brazil winning the Pan American Games in 2007 and she helped Brazil to a Final appearance in the World Cup in 2007 where she was the winner of both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot award. Individually, Marta has also been FIFA World Player of the Year 5 times.

At only 26 years old there is still a lot more to come from this fine female footballer. As women’s football gains in popularity, all aspiring young female footballers have the perfect role model in Marta Vieira da Silva.

Here you have it; the best goalkeeper in history. If you disagree with me then let’s have an argument!