Iniesta is better than Zidane

It struck me during yesterday's game just how similar he is to Zidane, and I wondered why nobody has made this comparison before.

Iniesta has the same elegance, skill, and flair on the ball, getting past his defender with innovative style and tricks, in contrast to the bursts of speed and close control dribbling of Messi/Maradona.

And of course, he has all the passing ability of Zidane (arguably more), and also scores crucial goals in big games (but doesn't score as many overall as Zidane).

I guess the big difference is he doesn't stand out that much, because at Spain and Barça he has other super-talents that share the stage and/or take the limelight. Whereas Zidane was head and shoulders above the rest of his France teammates, and even most of his Galactico teammates at Madrid. So his impact was more noticeable.

So...is Iniesta better than Zidane? Or at least, is he the true "new Zidane"?

Discuss

It is actually not a terrible comparison. They are both somewhat 'art for arts sake' kind of players. Just the way they control the ball is worth watching sometimes. However, Zidane was much better in the air than Iniesta will ever be. And Zidane actually used to do everything that Iniesta does PLUS everything that Xavi does. So nice try but Zizou > Iniesta.

His control at the weekend when he hit the post and Xavi scored was absolutely incredible. Not much was made of it as Messi had scored again but it was a near impossibly good touch.

Yeah he's quite good him.

I'm always tempted to say Iniesta is the best in the world.... then I look at the Goal records of Messi and Ronaldo.

This thread is morally wrong

fcb wrote:It struck me during yesterday's game just how similar he is to Zidane, and I wondered why nobody has made this comparison before.

Iniesta has the same elegance, skill, and flair on the ball, getting past his defender with innovative style and tricks, in contrast to the bursts of speed and close control dribbling of Messi/Maradona.

And of course, he has all the passing ability of Zidane (arguably more), and also scores crucial goals in big games (but doesn't score as many overall as Zidane).

I guess the big difference is he doesn't stand out that much, because at Spain and Barça he has other super-talents that share the stage and/or take the limelight. Whereas Zidane was head and shoulders above the rest of his France teammates, and even most of his Galactico teammates at Madrid. So his impact was more noticeable.

So...is Iniesta better than Zidane? Or at least, is he the true "new Zidane"?

Discuss

Physically they are different. Zidane is much bigger making him stronger on the ball and better in the air (as someone already mentioned), though Iniesta is quite strong for his size.

You're right in that they had the same elegance on the ball and were not reliant on a burst of pace to beat a defender.


I think the difference is that Zidane was pretty much the ultimate big game player.

Iniesta is not even better than Xavi. How dare you compare him to Zizou.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

fcb wrote:It struck me during yesterday's game just how similar he is to Zidane, and I wondered why nobody has made this comparison before.

Iniesta has the same elegance, skill, and flair on the ball, getting past his defender with innovative style and tricks, in contrast to the bursts of speed and close control dribbling of Messi/Maradona.

And of course, he has all the passing ability of Zidane (arguably more), and also scores crucial goals in big games (but doesn't score as many overall as Zidane).

I guess the big difference is he doesn't stand out that much, because at Spain and Barça he has other super-talents that share the stage and/or take the limelight. Whereas Zidane was head and shoulders above the rest of his France teammates, and even most of his Galactico teammates at Madrid. So his impact was more noticeable.

So...is Iniesta better than Zidane? Or at least, is he the true "new Zidane"?

Discuss

Physically they are different. Zidane is much bigger making him stronger on the ball and better in the air (as someone already mentioned), though Iniesta is quite strong for his size.

You're right in that they had the same elegance on the ball and were not reliant on a burst of pace to beat a defender.


I think the difference is that Zidane was pretty much the ultimate big game player.

To be fair Iniesta has come up pretty big in big games...'that' goal against Chelsea in the CL semifinal, the goal in the WC final. That is the part of his game which has really improved. When he first broke on I thought "right, well he's a really good footballer but not terribly decisive" but that's changed really.

But then, is he really even better than David Silva? He's probably more elegant but Silva is f*cking right up there.

Anti-Progress wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

fcb wrote:It struck me during yesterday's game just how similar he is to Zidane, and I wondered why nobody has made this comparison before.

Iniesta has the same elegance, skill, and flair on the ball, getting past his defender with innovative style and tricks, in contrast to the bursts of speed and close control dribbling of Messi/Maradona.

And of course, he has all the passing ability of Zidane (arguably more), and also scores crucial goals in big games (but doesn't score as many overall as Zidane).

I guess the big difference is he doesn't stand out that much, because at Spain and Barça he has other super-talents that share the stage and/or take the limelight. Whereas Zidane was head and shoulders above the rest of his France teammates, and even most of his Galactico teammates at Madrid. So his impact was more noticeable.

So...is Iniesta better than Zidane? Or at least, is he the true "new Zidane"?

Discuss

Physically they are different. Zidane is much bigger making him stronger on the ball and better in the air (as someone already mentioned), though Iniesta is quite strong for his size.

You're right in that they had the same elegance on the ball and were not reliant on a burst of pace to beat a defender.


I think the difference is that Zidane was pretty much the ultimate big game player.

To be fair Iniesta has come up pretty big in big games...'that' goal against Chelsea in the CL semifinal, the goal in the WC final. That is the part of his game which has really improved. When he first broke on I thought "right, well he's a really good footballer but not terribly decisive" but that's changed really.

But then, is he really even better than David Silva? He's probably more elegant but Silva is f*cking right up there.

ok silva is right up there, then half of the german midfielders also right up there

its easy to shine in the EPL, hes probably the last in the league with elegance and vision

and a good game against scotland is not the benchmark

so far he is nothing special in the CL

Kroos wrote:

Anti-Progress wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

fcb wrote:It struck me during yesterday's game just how similar he is to Zidane, and I wondered why nobody has made this comparison before.

Iniesta has the same elegance, skill, and flair on the ball, getting past his defender with innovative style and tricks, in contrast to the bursts of speed and close control dribbling of Messi/Maradona.

And of course, he has all the passing ability of Zidane (arguably more), and also scores crucial goals in big games (but doesn't score as many overall as Zidane).

I guess the big difference is he doesn't stand out that much, because at Spain and Barça he has other super-talents that share the stage and/or take the limelight. Whereas Zidane was head and shoulders above the rest of his France teammates, and even most of his Galactico teammates at Madrid. So his impact was more noticeable.

So...is Iniesta better than Zidane? Or at least, is he the true "new Zidane"?

Discuss

Physically they are different. Zidane is much bigger making him stronger on the ball and better in the air (as someone already mentioned), though Iniesta is quite strong for his size.

You're right in that they had the same elegance on the ball and were not reliant on a burst of pace to beat a defender.


I think the difference is that Zidane was pretty much the ultimate big game player.

To be fair Iniesta has come up pretty big in big games...'that' goal against Chelsea in the CL semifinal, the goal in the WC final. That is the part of his game which has really improved. When he first broke on I thought "right, well he's a really good footballer but not terribly decisive" but that's changed really.

But then, is he really even better than David Silva? He's probably more elegant but Silva is f*cking right up there.

ok silva is right up there, then half of the german midfielders also right up there

its easy to shine in the EPL, hes probably the last in the league with elegance and vision

and a good game against scotland is not the benchmark

so far he is nothing special in the CL

He's played two matches in CL. Give him a minute.

Also...

Khedira > Zidane.

True f*cking story.

I would like to see him delivering more on the big stage and I can remember his performances against the typical strong and defensive sides he looked out of it. He scored a great goal against Chelsea but it was a terrible performance by him and it was hardly the first time under those settings. I also think Jaime is right about Silva being up there. I was never that big a fan of Silva but he has really impressed me in his time in City and especially in his first season where he was playing for a team that was very defensive and he was basically doing it all on his own. Same reason I'm more impressed with Zidane for France than Zidane for Real Madrid. It was obvious watching France that they just relied on him to such a great extent and he thrived with that pressure. Given his past performances I have my doubts that Iniesta would be able to do the same but he certainly has improved his finishing although I don't think he will ever be as decisive as Zidane.

Sure, Iniesta is elegant... and a brilliant player. But he is no where near Zidane in class. Zizou was a genius, u he made us believe that the Trequatista will survive modern football without losing the magic.

Just the fact that you are comparing Iniesta to Zizou makes me wonder whether people are over-rating Iniesta a bit... If Zizou was playing for this Barca, then he would ve made Messi look like a peer, and Xavi look like supporting cast. Thats how good I think Zizou was...

1) i have been saying he is the closet thing to zidane playing today for years
2) he is more consistent than zidane over the course of a season he like xavi is a 7/8 most games and a 9/10 in the others
3) how dear they say he doesn't perform in the big games, what other horse shit.
4) Zidane is the single most overrated players in the history of football IMO, still top 25-20, but not top 5-10 like some people would have you believe, he career is built on a very absolutely amazing moments, but has i said over the course of a season the likes of xavi and iniesta kicks is ass, but they also perform on the big stage as well.

the deification of zidane is truly embarrassing.

did he have more skill than iniesta? no. both men have absurd skills and grace in moving across the pitch.

was he more consistent than iniesta? NO. zidane was as capricious as footballer's come.

has he had more marquee moments than iniesta? yes, one. the CL final goal. iniesta's won a world cup final (in a much much MUCH more clutch scenario than zidane) but has yet to get that CL final goal. although his goal at the bridge was majestic and, again, much more clutch than zizou's final goal.

the argument for zidane isn't based on anything except a sort of accepted dogma that he is one of the greatest ever and surely no one can come close to him. which, sorry, is horseshit. zidane wasn't even the greatest player of his generation (that'd be fat ronaldo).

xavi a different type of player, but he is obviously superior, but I'd put zizou and then iniesta but he will be remember the better player if he continues to play like this

Ps how underrated is seedorf

Anti-Progress wrote:It is actually not a terrible comparison. They are both somewhat 'art for arts sake' kind of players. Just the way they control the ball is worth watching sometimes. However, Zidane was much better in the air than Iniesta will ever be. And Zidane actually used to do everything that Iniesta does PLUS everything that Xavi does. So nice try but Zizou > Iniesta.

Thats a DAMN lie

Deluded F*ck wrote:I'm always tempted to say Iniesta is the best in the world.... then I look at the Goal records of Messi and Ronaldo.

Fuck goal records. I'd rather watch Iniesta play than Messi or C.Ronaldo.

Messiah wrote:
the argument for zidane isn't based on anything except a sort of accepted dogma that he is one of the greatest ever and surely no one can come close to him. which, sorry, is horseshit. zidane wasn't even the greatest player of his generation (that'd be fat ronaldo).

Messiah, thats a flawed arguement, and I suspect you know it. If you want to see what impact Zizou had in his generation, just look at the number of WPOTYs he won... Messi is yet to catch up to Zizou in this regard (though I am sure he will by the time he is through), forget Iniesta... When Iniesta wins 3 WPOTYs, perhaps then we can compare them... otherwise where does this go, Villa better than Van Basten?

Also, lets not forget that some of these Barca players have played with each for a long time, playing in what is perhaps the greatest team in the last few decades, if not more... The whole certainly appears greater than the sum of individual parts in this case, these players may not look so good if they play for another team in another system...

Puyol > Beckenbaur.

bluenine wrote:

Messiah wrote:
the argument for zidane isn't based on anything except a sort of accepted dogma that he is one of the greatest ever and surely no one can come close to him. which, sorry, is horseshit. zidane wasn't even the greatest player of his generation (that'd be fat ronaldo).

Messiah, thats a flawed arguement, and I suspect you know it. If you want to see what impact Zizou had in his generation, just look at the number of WPOTYs he won... Messi is yet to catch up to Zizou in this regard (though I am sure he will by the time he is through), forget Iniesta... When Iniesta wins 3 WPOTYs, perhaps then we can compare them... otherwise where does this go, Villa better than Van Basten?

Also, lets not forget that some of these Barca players have played with each for a long time, playing in what is perhaps the greatest team in the last few decades, if not more... The whole certainly appears greater than the sum of individual parts in this case, these players may not look so good if they play for another team in another system...

1) i like how you have ignored the more substantial part of my argument, I.E is consistency on a game to game basic, which for me is seen in the amount of league title he has won over his career given his greatness, he was a very dominating player and one of the best ever, so i hope people aren't thinking i am saying the man is shit and nor am i saying iniesta he has good or better, but their isn't that much between them.(if he was game by game has consistently good has xavi or iniesta i would say no chance, but these two players are much more consistent do doubt about that)

2) I can't believe you are using the WPOTY thing, so i guess i can go around and say cana is better than Baresi and the 2nd best defender ever, using that to justify which player is best is just the easy way out, has their is little else that one can use to separate the two, which just goes to what i am saying.

3) are you seriously going to use the they he had a good team argument i thought that could only have been used for messi, come(ronaldo) on(Raul) he (figo) had (Del peiro) some (Inzaghi)of the best players of his generation playing with him and one of the best of all time (ronaldo) playing with him.

Besides its not like iniesta was some soft of messenger in this team and its not like he has only won with barca he has done it a the international level has well.

has i said his greatness is based on some sort of accepted dogma that he is one of the greatest ever and surely no one can come close to him.

The thing that i always held against zidane is that while he appears in he "big games", if you watch him over an entire season, day in day out in doesn't produce that same level of performance, game in, game out that iniesta does of that i am sure

Guess he saves it for when the cameras are rolling, that way fickle journalist and fans, are fooled to think he does that on a consistent basis,which explains some man world player awards

for every reason that someone can say zidane pisses on iniesta with the exception of those individual awards, iniesta can come right back and stand on his own.

Neither should be up here with Pele,Maradona,Cryuff,Beckenbaur,di Stefano,Ronaldo,garrincha,puskas(fuck thats a lot of real player) ... and people are actually making it out that the man is of the caliber.

Ps i guess we should hold the fact that pele,cryuff, and becks that they all did their best work for one team too and that the teams were one of the best ever,(just to make it clear not saying iniesta is their), but the thing you people use, that have such a big whole in them, if it rules out one, it rules out many

Iniesta

Barcelona
La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
Copa del Rey: 2008–09
Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009

[edit]Spain
FIFA World Cup 2010
UEFA European Championship 2008

Zidane

Juventus
Serie A:
Winner: 1996–97, 1997–98
Supercoppa Italiana:
Winner: 1997
UEFA Super Cup:
Winner: 1996

Real madrid
La Liga:
Winner: 2002–03
Supercopa de España:
Winner: 2001, 2003
UEFA Champions League:
Winner: 2001–02
UEFA Super Cup:
Winner: 2002

Country
France
FIFA World Cup:
Winner: 1998
Runner-up: 2006
UEFA European Football Championship:
Winner: 2000

again you can't separate the two, so i guess its zidane clutchness that separates them, but but iniesta is mr clutch has well, change the 06 final when he came on the pitch(no one can deny this), scored the goal that sent barca to the CL final, Assisted the game change goal in the Final X2. and scored the world cup winning goal, plus i think the 2nd goal against Chile.

so i put it to anyone with the exception of the dogma, what makes zidane that much of a better player that iniesta?

bluenine wrote:Sure, Iniesta is elegant... and a brilliant player. But he is no where near Zidane in class. Zizou was a genius, u he made us believe that the Trequatista will survive modern football without losing the magic.

Just the fact that you are comparing Iniesta to Zizou makes me wonder whether people are over-rating Iniesta a bit... If Zizou was playing for this Barca, then he would ve made Messi look like a peer, and Xavi look like supporting cast. Thats how good I think Zizou was...

I'm sorry, but to dismiss even the comparison is rubbish. And I love Zidane as much as anyone.

Was it not the Chilean national manager the other week who somewhat amusingly (or worryingly, perhaps) likened watching Iniesta to having an erotic dream; in that you never want it to end. Same could be said for Zidane.

I think it should maybe just be made illegal to compare current players with past players. Add players to the 'who's the best ever' competition when they retired - that gives you complete picture + critical distance.

With current players it's way too easy to be swayed either by amazing current form which is far fresher in the mind than any past player, or by the fact you see them every week, warts and all - and they just can't compare in perfection on a weekly basis to the highlight reel of some retired player.

or that one looks at players in a by done era with rose-tinted glasses, so a lot of what they did was good, but not really that special, so we are only left with the feeling they gave us, but the actually feet isn't all that fresh in the mind

Its all about perception anyways so its a wasted debate, thats why no one will ever be better than pele and maradona, its not that no one is has good, but its just the perception

Posts & entire thread belongs to Barca fans community.


How many creative players Xavi & Iniesta play with, for Spain. Apart from these two, Cesc, Silva, Xabi, Carzola, et al have controlled the game for Spain many many times. OTOH, Zizou-Vieira were alone in carrying the team. Youri, Pires, Wiltord, Malouda, Henry contributed to 'moments', but Z-V controlled the game almost always. That's more consistency.

Zidane is a far more complete player. A model midfielder in physical, technical & tactical terms.

Do I see Zidane being as influential for current Spain? I do.
But would Xavi/Iniesta have guided France in ways that Zidane did? I doubt it.

Spain/Barcelona have multiple no. of players who operate collectively & rhythmically. There's a far more shared responsibility. There's less no. of individual specialists which likes of Jonathan Wilson had written about. It begs the question of the kind of man-marking today. Clearly there's a lack of Luis Enrique, Effenberg, Mauro Silva and Roy Keane today.

And I know who schooled Spain in the last major tournament. Let's cut the bullshit.

Fade out wrote:Posts & entire thread belongs to Barca fans community.


How many creative players Xavi & Iniesta play with, for Spain. Apart from these two, Cesc, Silva, Xabi, Carzola, et al have controlled the game for Spain many many times. OTOH, Zizou-Vieira were alone in carrying the team. Youri, Pires, Wiltord, Malouda, Henry contributed to 'moments', but Z-V controlled the game almost always. That's more consistency.

Zidane is a far more complete player. A model midfielder in physical, technical & tactical terms.

Do I see Zidane being as influential for current Spain? I do.
But would Xavi/Iniesta have guided France in ways that Zidane did? I doubt it.

Spain/Barcelona have multiple no. of players who operate collectively & rhythmically. There's a far more shared responsibility. There's less no. of individual specialists which likes of Jonathan Wilson had written about. It begs the question of the kind of man-marking today. Clearly there's a lack of Luis Enrique, Effenberg, Mauro Silva and Roy Keane today.

And I know who schooled Spain in the last major tournament. Let's cut the bullshit.

I like your style, your attitudes and your points Mr F, but take it your last sentence should read "who the last team/player was to school Spain in a major tournament? Second round '06?

coulda sworn spain were level with them until aragones withdrew raul, who had been dropping deep and marking makelele magnificently. with maka free to direct play, zidane suddenly came to the fore. and thats forgetting henry little show on pique

I tellz yah, people and the crap, especially the whole one man bandstand bullshit, the france team of 98 and 00 were spectacular the france team.

@ iniesta and especially xavi not being help to help that spectacular France team to win what they did

@ comparing Silva,Cesc,Xabi and Carzola to Xavi or iniesta, then in the same sense dis-guarding the likes of henry,perez and fucking youri, but thats not even the worst part, to then go come and say "V and P controlled the game almost always". seriously we are talking about iniesta and to a lesser extent xavi here, seriously thats all i am going to say on that one, SERIOUSLY.

Yeah their is less individualism in today's game, but that has given way to teams playing much better has a unit not only in attack but in defense has well, if you are good enough you will get pass keane and the likes a few times in the game, but i would think its much harder to get pass the entire midfield and defense playing and a proper collective unit.

France
Line-up
[16] Fabien BARTHEZ (GK)
[3] Bixente LIZARAZU
[6] Youri DJORKAEFF (-74')
[7] Didier DESCHAMPS (C)
[8] Marcel DESAILLY
[9] Stephane GUIVARCH (-66')
[10] Zinedine ZIDANE
[15] Lilian THURAM
[17] Emmanuel PETIT
[18] Frank LEBOEUF
[19] Christian KAREMBEU (-57')
Substitute(s)
[1] Bernard LAMA
[2] Vincent CANDELA
[4] Patrick VIEIRA (+74')
[5] Laurent BLANC
[11] Robert PIRES
[12] Thierry HENRY
[13] Bernard DIOMEDE
[14] Alain BOGHOSSIAN (+57')
[20] David TREZEGUET
[21] Christophe DUGARRY (+66')
[22] Lionel CHARBONNIER

98 final squad, what a totally shit team, who could not have won without zidane despite him not scoring and single goal upon till the final

16 Fabien Barthez
3 Bixente Lizarazu
4 Patrick Vieira
5 Laurent Blanc
6 Youri Djorkaeff
7 Didier Deschamps
8 Marcel Desailly
10 Zinédine Zidane
12 Thierry Henry
15 Lilian Thuram
21 Christophe Dugarry
Substitutes
1 Bernard Lama
22 Ulrich Ramé
11 Robert Pirès
13 Sylvain Wiltord
20 David Trezeguet
2 Vincent Candela
9 Nicolas Anelka
14 Johan Micoud
17 Emmanuel Petit
18 Frank Leboeuf
19 Christian Karembeu

euro 2000, yep its a shit team as well, zidane did it all on his own and if you were to replace zidane and vieira with xavi and iniesta they wouldn't even had made it past the last 16, JESUS FUCKING CHRIST

Last edited by Messiah on Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:07 pm; edited 2 times in total

I'll let you edit it 200 times & it'd still be a mess of a post.