The crossing part of wingers was very prevalent in PL because of the 4-4-2 formation of them being wide midfielders like todays wingabcks. That is true.

The situation with mosern wingers and old school wingers wasn’t Ronaldo. Sir Ferguson wanted to play Ronaldo closer to goal because of certain attributes that he could offer more than a traditional winger. He was morphed like that from 2006/07 season. For 3 years he was more than a traditional winger. Stereotypically traditional. At that point he was used more like a SS with more freedom.

We did see a similar thing with Henry at Arsenal just as a reminder. Usually that happens with pacy players who are tucked in more when they get tactically ready and get better and better.

They ideolise him for materialistic reasons. There are many people who project what they wanted to be on him. A pretty boy who plays great football, with great physique and who can get whatever girl on the planet.

Figo a cross merchant?! What?!

First of all, not talking with absolutes makes you more big brain.

Dude, saying this as someone who loves him and think that he rightfully deserved the Golden Ball. But this statment is absolute bonkers. In every way you look at this, he wasn’t THE MOST influential player.

About your first paragraph, i 100% agree. I think he was extremely influential towards coaches on how to defend him. Even IF, i think that we have seen similar patterns before with Maradona or R9. Something that you mentioned.

But, THE MOST ONE?! Hard pass for me genuinely.

Disagree, Messi is GOATy, but he isn’t the most influential player in the history of football. That is because there wasn’t a way of playing in that role prior to Messi and post Messi. Maradona did set the same precedent for the small attackers many years before.

R9 is more influential than Messi for example. There was a prior to R9 era where strikers played in one manner. And after R9 era where strikers played differently.

Ibra for example is more influential for the tall/big striker position than Messi for his position. Before Ibra the big CF were asked to keep the ball, fight the defenders and be good at the box. After Ibra, these strikers are asked to do way more, drop deep, progress the ball, set the tempo, be more technically able and so on. Haaland is asked to hold himself to a higher standard because of standards Ibra set to that category for example.

Baresi is also more influential for the CB position, considering his height.

The use of the word “INFLUENTIAL” is used in a wrong manner.

Happens in literally every other league lol.