Debates will long continue over whom the best football players of all-time are, as more and more players write their names in history as the years go by - but some are more 'complete' than others, ruling out some of the best the globe has ever seen.
Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the best player the planet has witnessed, has all the technical ability in the world, more than anyone could ask for - but his lack of defensive contributions, even though he is rarely asked to do so, means that he isn't entirely seen as complete.
And an AI bot, ChatGPT, has revealed who it believes to be the most complete 15 players in history - withGIVEMESPORT giving a rundown on each player and why they are on the list.
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Justification on Choosing The 15 Most 'Complete Players'
There isn't a space for Messi, and AI has justified why...
Lionel Messi
Positional Specialization - Messi has played his entire career in the front 'four' positions, never having played in deep midfield or defence or having to utilise himself aerially. He doesn't compare to other players on the list, who excelled in other roles.
Limited Physical Profile - Although he is agile and deceptively strong, Messi lacks aerial dominance, tackling and lung-bursting physical attributes that other players do, in terms of work-rate and tracking back.
Tactical Focus - Messi is the best in the world at dictating games in the final third, though he rarely has to adapt to games outside his domain. Versatility and tactical awareness all over the pitch has rarely been asked of him and so others edge ahead of him in that regard.
1 Johan Cruyff
johan-cruyff-ajax
Cruyff, although somewhat similar to Messi, was the architect of the Netherlands' 'Total Football' tactic, revolutionising football forever.
The Dutchman was adept at playing across attack and in midfield, being a tactical genius, reading and contributing to all phases of play with ease - dribbling, passing, scoring, and also leading teams who have become synonymous with one of football's greatest pioneers, such as Ajax.
2 Franz Beckenbauer
Frank Beckenbauer
The first real 'sweeper' to rise to international fame, 'Der Kaiser' was elegant, commanding, and could play in midfield or defence - controlling the tempo from the back, bursting into midfield with his driving runs and having a fine goalscoring record for a defender.
With 98 goals in 754 games at club level and 14 for West Germany, he had a keen eye for goal which easily puts him onto this list.
3 Lothar Matthaus
Lothar Matthaus in action for West Germany
Beckenbauer's compatriot Matthaus only failed to feature alongside his all-rounder partner by three years, but talk about a like-for-like replacement - this was exactly that.
Lothar Matthäus' career statistics - record by club, all competitions
Club
Monchengladbach
Bayern Munich (first spell)
Inter Milan
Bayern Munich (second spell)
New York MetroStars
Total
Although Matthaus played further forward, the midfielder was the 'ultimate box-to-box' player, according to AI. Another Germany captain, he excelled in defence, midfield and attack - whilst also being strong and intelligent. An easy inclusion on the list for the former Bayern Munich star.
4 Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane captaining France at the 2006 World Cup.
Although not entirely noted for his defensive contributions, Zidane could boast the best of both worlds with his deep-lying playmaking nature, alongside an ability to dribble out wide, impact games from an attacking midfield position and equally score important goals for Real Madrid and France.
There wasn't a position further forward than the defence that he couldn't do, equally dropping back later in his career - and his work in the build-up, the final third and on the counter-attack proved he was a complete player, according to AI.
5 Cristiano Ronaldo
cristiano ronaldo
Some eyebrows may be raised at Ronaldo's inclusion by AI, and Messi's exclusion - especially given that they have largely featured in the same positions throughout their careers in La Liga together.
But Ronaldo's work-rate off the ball, alongside exceptional athleticism and, above all else, aerial power, means that he is seen as complete, enough to come fifth on this list.
6 Michel Platini
Michel Platini captaining France.
The midfield maestro from France, Platini was an exceptional goalscorer throughout his career, with a ratio of at least one goal every two games in club football and for Les Bleus.
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AI notes his scoring instincts, alongside being a gifted playmaker, a set-piece expert and an intelligent leader all in one, which saw him win three major league titles, the European Cup, and the 1984 EURO's with his country - as well as three consecutive Ballon d'Or titles to place him high on the list.
7 Diego Maradona
Maradona
This is an incredibly contentious inclusion, especially with Messi - Maradona's almost career parallel - missing out. But AI has noted that Maradona could dominate a game from any attacking or midfield role, with dribbling, creativity and leadership making him a nuisance from anywhere in the opponent's half, for Barcelona and Napoli especially.
It was his 'grit' and aggression that made Maradona a force everywhere, including deeper parts of the pitch to win turnovers in midfield - something Messi hasn't done that much.
8 Paolo Maldini
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The AC Milan legend, and a one-club man, is generally regarded as one of the most complete defenders of all-time - but he makes his way onto an all-time player's list here.
At the peak of his powers at both left-back and centre-back, he featured consistently at the highest level for an outstanding 23 years in Serie A, racking up 647 games for the Rossoneri in the league alone.
That longevity, as well as being technically superb, tactically perfect and never needing to foul to dominate, sees AI list him as a complete player - and it's hard to argue.
9 Ruud Gullit
ruud gullit chelsea
We're on an AC Milan-clad run here, and another San Siro star in Gullit makes the list. He's the quintessential 'all-rounder', having played in attack, midfield and defence throughout his career - most memorably at AC Milan, but also for Chelsea later in his career and a superb stint in his homeland.
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Athletically tall, powerful, skilled, intelligent - there is nothing that Gullit didn't have on the playing field.
10 Clarence Seedorf
seedorf real madrid
Yet another Rossoneri star arrives on the list in the form of Seedorf - and he is extremely similar to his aforementioned compatriot.
One of the best passing ranges that the world has ever seen, Seedorf played in every midfield role possible with some extremely elite teams throughout the years - Ajax, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and then AC Milan, before retiring at Botafogo where he was still scoring freely.
The only player to win the Champions League with three different clubs, as well as making 125 appearances in the competition, Seedorf went from a pacy, dazzling star, to an all-rounder adept at tackling, before reverting to a quintessential deep-lying playmaker in his twilight years - enough to land him on this list with ease.