In brief
One of the most vocal figures in British pop culture is Piers Morgan.
Morgan is a close buddy of Cristiano Ronaldo and a fervent supporter of Arsenal.
The TV host listed the top ten players in his life in 2022.
When it comes to Piers Morgan, scandal is one thing that you have to deal with. When it comes to some of his sports commentary, the former journalist turned television host isn’t afraid to say things that could agitate or upset people.
Morgan is a well-known Arsenal supporter and close friend of Cristiano Ronaldo, a legend of Manchester United and Real Madrid. He has leveraged those two facts over the years to irritate and even infuriate others with his views, which are frequently perceived as biassed. But in 2022, the 59-year-old named only one of his favourite Gunners among the top ten players he had ever witnessed in his life.
10Paolo Maldini
AC Milan, Italy
We’ll start with Paolo Maldini, who is perhaps the best defence to have ever played the game. The Italian was a great one-club man who won the European Cup in each of the three decades he played for the Rossoneri. Few could muster the speed, power, or ability to get past the Rolls-Royce defender, whether he was playing as a left-back or in a more centre position, which he switched to as he grew older.
The fact that Maldini can sit alongside the other players on the list and not look out of place is a nice reminder of how outstanding he was, especially since the other players are all attack-minded.
9Zinedine Zidane
Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid, France
Given that many members of Morgan’s generation would probably agree that Zinedine Zidane was an obvious top-five choice, the finest player of the 1990s is surprisingly low on this list. The Frenchman will have to be content with ninth place because the former editor of the News of the World is notoriously critical.
If Zidane’s skill is sufficient to speak for him, maybe reminding Morgan of his bad reputation could help him move up a few spots at the very least. According to Marco Materazzi, he is not a man to be trifled with.
8Thierry Henry
Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona, New York Red Bulls, France
Given how many amazing memories the Arsenal star created at Highbury, Morgan’s emotional tie to him is certain to be tremendous, thus you knew that Thierry Henry would always end up in the top 10. Although many people believe that this man and Dennis Bergkamp are the best Gunners, the broadcaster has made it apparent whose side he supports.
However, once more, Henry’s skill in front of goal and quick speed were insufficient to earn him a higher ranking. As one of the best players to never win the Ballon d’Or, the attacker is, to be honest, accustomed to some brutal scoring from his playing days.
7Pele
Santos, New York Cosmos, Brazil
Morgan would have only been 12 years old when Pele left the professional game. He would have had fewer opportunities to watch him play because of that and the fact that the forward played the majority of his career in his home country of Brazil. It is difficult to dispute, however, that he doesn’t deserve a spot in the majority of top tens.
With his amazing goal total and numerous World Cup victories, the legendary samba expert has more than cemented his place in history. Even if others have since surpassed him, he was acknowledged as the sport’s king from a young age.
6George Best
Manchester United, Los Angeles Aztecs, Fulham, Northern Ireland
Best by nature, George Best by name. The fashionable and flamboyant Irishman was as exquisite and angelic as they came on the pitch, despite having his demons off it. The winger had no difficulty seating defenders on their backsides in the most degrading of ways during a time when football was much tougher than it is today.
“El Beatle” was a member of Manchester United’s Holy Trinity, along with Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, who all won the Ballon d’Or when they were there. Neither of them, however, was close to matching Best’s inherent skill.
5Ronaldo Nazario
Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Corinthians, Brazil
Morgan’s top five begins with Ronaldo Nazario, one of the best number nines in game history. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who had such dominant physical attributes and was able to combine them with the precise traits required to be a top-class finisher. The Brazilian is a two-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Some may question if he could have been the greatest of all time if his injuries had not been as severe. Although he is an even more enthusiastic star, he is still not the highest Brazilian on Morgan’s list.
4Ronaldinho
Gremio, PSG, Barcelona, AC Milan, Brazil
It would be easy for Morgan to harbour some animosity towards Ronaldinho because he was a member of the Barcelona squad that prevented Arsenal from winning the Champions League during their lone final appearance. Fortunately, the reporter is able to see past the sadness and recognise the skill the attacking midfielder has.
The former AC Milan and PSG striker, who never failed to have a smile on his face, is one of the most contagious athletes to watch. You won’t find a player like Ronaldinho very often in a period when strategies and tactics are everything.
3Lionel Messi
Barcelona, PSG, Inter Miami, Argentina
Lionel Messi is regarded by many as the best player to have ever lived. However, Morgan isn’t having any of it and doesn’t see the Argentine in the top two, much less at the top. This could be due to his connections to Ronaldo or simply the fact that he truly feels that way.
“Messi is a genius, no question, but I’ve long suspected he’s what cricket fans would call a ‘flat-track bully,'” Morgan asserted. “For the first 17 years of his career, he only ever played for one club, Barcelona, where he was always surrounded by whole teams of world-class players.”
2Diego Maradona
Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell’s, Argentina
Messi isn’t even the finest player from Argentina, according to Morgan, who gives Diego Maradona that distinction. There is no doubting Maradona’s excellence, even if you don’t think he merits a position above the man who succeeded him as his nation’s prodigal son.
When number 10s were less widespread than they are now, the former Barcelona and Napoli star excelled as an attacking midfielder. It makes sense that he comes in second since his flair and capacity for controversy are the exact combination of things Piers would likely enjoy.
1Cristiano Ronaldo
Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr, Portugal
No one else would ever be it, would they? It appears that Morgan’s devotion to Ronaldo goes beyond a fan appreciating a player’s work to the extent that he may be more devoted to him than anything else in his life. He will so die believing that the Portuguese superstar is the best football kicker of all time.
To a certain degree, it is difficult to dispute. Ronaldo is favoured by the goals, the trophies, the individual honours, and the success in several nations. The obsessive nature of Morgan’s affection for the 40-year-old is what makes it difficult to accept at times. CV
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