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Ale, Kaka or Neymar: Who was the best player in their prime? | ESPN FC Extra Time
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- Published on May 31, 2023 veröffentlicht
- On Monday's edition of ESPN FC Extra Time, the crew discuss:
0:00 Intro
0:21 What countries does Ale support in the World Cup?
3:01 Which ESPN FC member would Dan want to party with?
4:25 Did Frank's move to Qatar affect the way he played?
5:08 After the legends game, do any of the guys think they can still play?
8:31 Ale, Kaka or Neymar: Who was the best player in their prime?
9:56 How much do Robbo, Ale and Frank spend on haircuts?
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Kaka in his prime actually won the Ballon D’or with Messi and CR7, and was the best player on a Champions League winning side.
Ronaldo was 22 and Messi was a teenager when that happened. Neymar in his prime literally broke the transfer market with his 222m euro transfer fee.
Mic drop!
@Shahab Uddin Because PSG was crazy enough to pay that amount of money.
That's because Messi and Ronaldo were still young padawans.
"With Messi and CR7" not really. Cristiano was very young and Messi was a teenager. Messi broke through properly in 2008, which was after Kaka won in 2007 (Messi's first seasons 2005, 2006 and 2007 were very injury prone and he didn't play much, being a teenager - he even missed the 2006 CL final - it was only 2008 he got his injury issues sorted and became regular). I doubt Kaka would have won it had his prime been somewhere between 2008 and 2019.
Kaka was unstoppable fun to watch in his prime and at Milan. His injuries were catching up with him and sadly was never the same at Madrid but he never threw himself always took players on. Great control of the ball. I’d chose kaka over neymar anyday. Plus u can count on him to be there or not get hurt 30% of the game
Kaka > Neymar
You talk about injuries and then say he never got hurt 😂😂
@Ishaan Mattoo you can't be that dense
@Ishaan Mattoo 🤦♂️
Q77
Kaka was terrifying and unplayable when at AcMilan. I remember his performance at old Trafford in tcl.
I’m still trying to forget lol
@Shikaka same 😂😭
table, chairs and ladders?
Evra & Heinze bumped heads. That performance was ridiculously out of this world
Kaka was my favourite player when I was a kid! He was so special! Injuries ruined his final years as a player.
His assist for Crespo in the 2005 final was something else
Mourinho itialian style training
Should have stayed at AC Milan...
A lot of people are using emotions to saying that prime kaka was better than prime Neymar. They were both beast in their primes but Neymar is better than kaka, judging by balon dor doesn't make sense. Kaka won the Balon dor when Ronaldo was 22 and Messi a teenager. Kaka won't have won Balon dor in prime Ronaldo and Messi.
@B C yes, neymar carried the a broken Brazilian team in his shoulder compared to 2002 wc winning team, kaka may have won the wc 2002 but he did nothing he just warmed up the bench
It’s Kaka for me everyday. His pace and shooting just class. He destroyed Man Utd. He won it all at the highest level. In his prime he was an unstoppable CF nutmegs for days.
So did Neymar ??
@Ishaan Mattoo I do agree that Neymar has won some accolades to represent his undeniable skill. But, if we are comparing both which we are. Kaka has more honors and higher value titles. World cup, Champions League and Player of the Year etc. If Neymar stayed at Barca maybe would of carried Messi's mantle for Barca but, I'm not sure because of his character. Kaka is a gentleman of the sport on and off the field.
@Eleazar Navarijo Kaka has never performed in the World Cup like Neymar has. Just because Brazil won it doesn't mean he should be credited with it
Kaka till this day is my ultimate favorite player. He was class on and off the field . He’s performance in the Instabul final was mind blowing.
Kaka's prime was untouchable.
I LOVE the ESPNFC crew. They are so funny. Ale is hilarious. I love the banter. Thanks for making my night every night!
they say that they re just clowns and dont know football
maan for me these are the best out there ... when its too serious it becomes boring
@Faycal Rebbah that's why the show is popular. It's like inside the nba. The sport isn't the most important thing in the show lol. Football sometimes even gets in the way of the fun.
totally agree, found this show youtube 5 months ago, and I cant stop watching
@Sgt.Barnes78 same
As a Barca fan I can honestly say Neymar at one point was performing at the same level as Messi if not better. It’s sad watching him now because I truly believe he would still be that great had he stayed in Barca.
Are you mad? What have you been watching?😂 he had a hot stretch of a couple of weeks where he was up there but that doesn’t mean he was at messis level ... those were mostly rather meaningless league games if I remember correctly
@David Febreeze In my opinion he was up there. 2014-2016 Neymar was incredible.
Kaka still better 🤌
🏊 Divemar
Neymar never performed better than messi's peak in his career.
Yes, in 2015 neymar played some months better than messi. But that was neymar's peak.
If you compare messi's peak with neymar's peak is not even close. Neymar didnt even reach the peak of kaka or even seedorf or pirlo .
Are you 12?
Have to say Kaka, he was a MONSTER at AC Milan, in a time where there were Ronaldinhos, Zidanes, Pirlos, Beckhams, Figos, Ronaldos(original), Robens, Carlos, Cafu, Seadof, MALDINI... THE LIST GOES ON, GET REAL PEOPLE
thing is these neymar fans didn't watch kaka back then they were too young
I remember in the mid 2000s Brazil team..r9 r10 etc but the guy who looked the best in field and threatening was always kaka
@OP TBF, there's really good players about now too, in the vein of those you mention, they're just not retired yet so they're not at that cult / legend / nostalgic aura status yet. Modric, Casemiro, Mbappe (very young), Rakitic, Neymar, Griezman, Benzema, Ozil, KDB. @nsm completely agree. Even in the 2010 WC, after his RM move, everything ran through him. I wish Dunga called R10 for that world cup and I think Brazil could've made that final. Dunga's decision made sence tho as R10 was a bit unmotivated by then haha; he had won everything there was to win
@Frederick Chilton tbh r10 in the year of 2010 was motivated because of the upcoming wc..he rediscovered atleast 75 percent of his form with milan and carried them. Dunga was an idiot because apart from kaka..they didn't have anyone to atleast call from the bench..they had guys like elano and Diego but they were never going to be able to win...I mean he chose to take Fred to the wc and leave r10 while I watched r10 working serie a teams and even giving a alex ferguson utd big problems.
Kaka was so graceful and makes the game look so easy and he was tougher than Neymar mentally
Can’t believe Frank and Ale picked Neymar over Kaka. People have short memories. Kaka was unplayable at times in his prime.
thats why we watch the espn crew to laugh not to get any decent football punditry lol
Neymar is better than Kaka. Stop with the Nostalgia bs.
Neymar was also unplayable in his prime. Sorry but Neymars 14/15 and 15/16 seasons were better than any of Kaka's seasons. I'm not saying it's clear but people seem to forget how Neymar dominated the football world in his prime, if it wasn't for Messi or Ronaldo people would talk very very differently about Neymar and he'd have at least 2 Ballon d'ors, probably more. Compared to Neymar Kaka was lucky that his prime didn't overlap with Messi's & Ronaldo's prime
@Samir Ashur hahaha this guys r clueless
Kaka was a midfielder and Neymar is a winger. Not a fair comparison IMO
Kaka all day. ‘05 to ‘07 Kaka was on another level. The best player in a stacked UCL winning Milan team.
That AC Milan team was my favorite team ever, pure magic.
That Milan team in 2005 is the best team ever on paper
@Gaz B 🤣🤣
Perhaps people have a short memory......Kaka was something absolutely magical to watch
I love how Robbo doesn't support the team he has caps for. Legend!
Where is he from?
@Adam forbes England.
As an American I understand what he means, I almost want the USMNT to fail just so I get to keep complaining about how bad we are. England is like the Manchester United of world football, a team that in every right should be winning matches but can never show when they need to.
🇮🇹
Kaka is a special player, Neymar is a special player too. I will choose Kaka over Neymar when it matters most.
Yeah I like Neymar but he wasn’t as good as kaka in his prime
Special but also made the game look so simple. Thats what made him so extraordinary as well! Yes Kaka has the edge over Neymar.
Yea kaka always even thought I'm a neymar fan now kaka was my # 1 always
Yep, and Kaka won ballon d'Or too
@Irfan Set tea that's right he was my favorite player then after he retired I started supporting neymar but neymar just disappointing at times
Kaka definitely. 2007 Kaka is one of the best players I’ve ever seen. Neymar is his prime hasn’t reached that level
lol that’s hilarious
And when did ya start watchin? 2017?
kaka was one season wonder boy! Except that 2007 AC Milan's champions League trophy winning season, Kaka didn’t achieve much in his career. No wonder, whenever people talk about Kaka, they automatically bring his Balon D'Or achievement of 2007. That's it, nothing else! 🤷🏼♂️
Neymar is clearly the bigger player then overrated kaka
@Julker Taou Is that why Neymar has 0 Ballon d'ors and haven't even reached it's final stage once ?
What has Kaka got over Neymar in his peak? Absolutely nothing
Kaka won a ballon d’or and also he led Milan to champion’s league victory… I remember that semi finale game against Man U oh man it was magic… to me it’s not even close I’ll take Kaka Over Neymar anyday of the week
The Ballon D'Or thing isn't really saying much tbh. Kaka was fortunate that his prime was (narrowly) before the Messi-Ronaldo era. I don't think he would have won had his prime been a bit later. Neymar, meanwhile, had to compete with both Messi and Ronaldo in their prime. He came third in the 2015/16 Balon D'Or ceremony (which is pretty astonishing).
@Economic Erudite Ballon d'Or was well deserved, he was terrific in the UCLs. People forget the beast that was AC Milan a few decades ago tore apart other leagues, not Kaka fault he was older. I'd say kaka is clear, neymar had a chance but he's bad influence overall in the dressing room.
Kaka got pushed out by injuries and mourinho in the end, it took another talented feat by the likes of ozil to replace him.
@Economic Erudite Neymar is a bottler when it really matters and you can't rely on him. He flatters to deceive!!
@Robert Ruddock I don't want to sound like I'm defending Neymar too much because Kaka was one of my favourite players, but Neymar was not a bottler in his prime. Prime Neymar in big games: Multiple El Clasico's where he scored including a 4-0 at the Bernabeu without Messi, Bayern Munich in the UCL semi-final in 2015, Juventus in the UCL final in 2015, Arsenal in the UCL R16 2016, PSG in the UCL R16 2017. These were all huge games where he performed well. Recency bias since Neymar joined PSG is a thing. Prime Neymar at Barcelona was anything but a bottler.
Happen Messi is the greatest player of all time and has monopolised the Ballon D'Or. Kaka never had to compete with anyone like that.
Kaka made football look ridiculously easy...I still cant forget his goal vs manutd where he headed ball away from two defenders and slotted in !!
People who say Neymar, clearly never saw Kaka on his prime. I remember when Deco (one of the best #10 of the 00´s) opted to play with Portugal because he knew he wouldn't have a chance to be a starter with Brazil. He was simply unstoppable.
We won Ballon D'Or, Champions League, multiple league titles in Spain/Italy and even a World Cup (even though he barely played in WC 2002). Can't compare him with Neymar.
Every extra time episode hits different if Ale is there. 😂😂
Different positions, different styles, different systems and different work ethic’s on the field, while Neymar fits modern winger to a T, it would be hard to pass on prime Kaka
Kmt u just saying because u love neymar but he have nothing on kaka he's a Brazilian flap
Man Kaka's runs though...literally fly past half the team from the half way line and score or beautiful assist....
Completely with Robo. Neymar was never the best player but the best showman.
Prime Neymar was as effective as Kaka and to top it off, he was incredibly entertaining. More entertaining than Kaka was, even though at some point Kaka was my favorite before Messi took the over the world. Over the recent years, Neymar's effectiveness has dropped and he has become more of a showman/unnecessary showboating.
Not even close, Kaka. Kaka did not waste time or energy on silly Fifa Street style footwork tricks, he just got his defender to put his weight on one foot, then glided past on that side. Followed it with a perfect shot. The amazing passing tops it all off.
Frank's laughter is just infectious 😂😂
Obviously Kaka, He won the Best player Award “Ballon D’or”
Kaka was the best player in the world for 2-3 years
I remember when Ancelotti used to say that for him Kaka was the best in the world at a time Ronaldinho was still king. He knew kaka's true potential.
Neymar was probably the best player in the world not named Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi between 2015 and 2017 seasons. Given the heights of Cristiano and Messi, that's basically being the best player in the world.
@Antares Ancelotti always say that about his players, and he admit that he is bias.. he recently said benza is the best in the world.
@Dr. Diaz well, he is not wrong. Benzema, Salah and lewwandoski are the best in the world right now. I might even include Mbappe into the list too
@Antares salah? Lol this is between Lewandowski, Messi, Benzema and mbappe.
I actually searched Ale the footballer before watching just to know how good he was then I realised haha
Mid 2000s Kaka = legend
Completely different players Kaka has discipline. For me he is more like an exceptional European player like the Roberto Baggios, Del Pieros etc Neymar is a true Brazilian, the skills, the creativity etc but also the erratic behaviour
Vlahovic has 22 goals in domestic league and champions league, Haaland 19, Ronaldo has 18 and most of them decisive goals, yes in decline but still one of the best in the world
Kaka won ballon d or, was best player, won everything from championships league to world cup. Neymar? Cmon man
I never get the sense Neymar could lead a team to any major trophy. He benefited playing with Messi and Suarez cuz he didn’t have to be the guy. When he had to be the guy, he proved to fold. Kaka was the man among so many strong characters in Milan.
The very best of Kaka was far superior to the best of Neymar. That man was unplayable.
Kaka had that touch of class!
Show Kaka some respect.
Neymar scored more International Goals than R9 and will score more International Goals than Pele but he is not compared to R9 or Pele is because he hasn't won World Cup like those 2 Players.
He hasn’t been compared to them because he’s not better. Pele is miles better, and Ronaldo is much better. And they performed when it mattered the most.
@Steeve Cantave pele played in santos his whole life and is only known for his world cups
Neymar isn't even close to these 2 legends R9 in his prime no better striker in history explosive clinical injuries killed him neymar isn't close to romario never mind pele or R9
@Antony Swift neymar have better ucl stats than r9, he will also have more career goals than r9 , pele will always be Brazils greatest but if neymar won world Cup with Brazil he will be ahed of r9, kaka, ronaldinho because he already have stats to difend him
@sreenjoy Chatterjee You must be one of the very few who thinks Neymar is even in the same galaxy as R9. The only thing he does better are free kicks but in every other department R9 destroys him as a footballer!!
Even Cr7 was starstrucked by Kaka, who are we, Kaka was as elegant as they come.
Neymar the most fun player to watch in highlights and many a times the whole game.
Kaka in Milan is what made me like football
I mean Kaka was absolutely great and Neymar hasn’t quite lived up to the hype but it’s Ale we are talking about here, come on
What hype msn era was that a hype lol
I will say this. Some of ales takes really rubbed me the wrong way. But this past year the whole board is pretty great. More positivity, more banter, great vibes. Real classic television. Great chemistry between the lot 😂
There completely different players but Kaka had much more of an impact in his career than neymar an that's not even a debate neymar for all his ability has massively under achieved
Thanks for the laughs boys. Great show as always.
Love the funny banter its honestly humbling just love it :p keep that part up from you guys always !
Kaka for me all day, I love Neymar but Kaka made me fall in love with football man was efficient
kaka all day every day, just too good
childhood hero along with dinho
Kaka definitely. He almost single handedly led AC Milan to the 2007 champions league title. As opposed to Neymar who has yet to do anything remotely close to that.
It's a difficult one because that AC Milan team was phenomenal. Remember that Neymar pretty much single-handedly led the comeback against PSG in 2017. 4-0 on aggregate with no away goals, PSG score an away goal. 5-3 on aggregate to PSG with the away advantage and only 7 minutes remaining. Neymar scores a brace and provides an assist to make it 6-5 to Barcelona within the final 7 minutes. That's got to compete with Kaka if we're talking about them both in their prime.
@Economic Erudite you're drunk. That Ac Milan team was full of old glories and old players.. kaka was 90% of the reason why they won it.
@Dr. Diaz That squad had Dida, Maldini, Cafu, Nesta, Pirlo, Seedorf, Ronaldo. Kaka was the best for them, but they were hardly a bad team.
@Economic Erudite it was an old squad. You were a child and don't remember much.
@Dr. Diaz I remember it perfectly well. Yes, the squad was old but they were still world class. You don't win Champion's Leagues unless the whole squad is good. Just doesn't happen.
The bald question was gold considering what just happened at the Oscars
Milan Kaka was untouchable
clearly Ale was the best
A true Legend of the Game
3:41 Frank's iconic laughter 😂🤣
Kaka without a doubt , Neymar never lived up to his expectations
KAKA!!! He was a match winner
Most of the Brazilian players have one thing in common. They are at the top for 2-3 seasons, then they make stupid decisions. They stop caring about the game like the used to. We all know how good players Brazilians are, but most of them can't stay fit even before entering their 30s. Most of them hardly make it to 32. In case of Neymar, I think he never entered his prime. He could have been a lot better player then he was between 2014 and 2017, but he went to PSG and ruined his career.
Neymar gets overlooked quite often because of the hate towards him, he also didn't have the luxury of playing in an all star Brazilian team
He may not have had the attacking resources of old Brazilian sides, but he's DEFINITELY had better defensive and midfield resources than Kaká had. Neymar has had Alisson, Ederson, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Maquinhos, Miranda, David Luiz, Dante, Marcelo, Felipe Luis, Fabinho, Fernandinho, Casemiro, Coutinho, Willian... all he really had to do was bear the attacking weight like other great players have and let the rest of the team defend. Similar to what Argentina do with Messi, Portugal did with Ronaldo or France do with Mbappé. However, Neymar never had the ability to carry a team the way other greats can. If you build a defensive system and let Neymar be the protagonist/leader/genius in attack, you won't win any tournaments.
kaka was insane but ppl seem to forget how great neymar was. Literally showed flashes of being the best in the world just sad to see how much he let himself go that it makes people forget
Kaka was Ballon D'Or winner and certainly was x2 of Neymar's worth and ability.
10:09 they had me dead when the cameraman immediately cut to robbo with that question
for a second I thought someone was comparing Ale, Neymar and Kaka LOL
I believe Kaka and Neymar play in different positions. If we are talking about impact Kaka is the best out of the two.
Frank lebouf, is simply hilarious. Makes these videos great
100 % with Robo about the Neymar and Kaka comparison
Kaka easily
Would be crazy if Neymar kept up his potential
Based on that list, Ale.
The phrasing of that tweet is strange lmao
Agreed. Ale for me
I just like the way Frank laughs. It is unintentionally funny.
I think all neymar stands out for is immaculate talent who made the worst transfer in football history that killed his spirit
Kaka by a long shot. Neymar is good but kaka was unstoppable in his prime.
KAKA, do gazelle do brasil, was a master, its no way these other two guys with all the respect be on the same podium
Kaka, without question.
Ale's "Mummy" quote is the best thing ever lmaooo
Kaka was a true champion footballer
AC Milan kaka was a beast...
The last World Cup's (2018 & 2014) were Neymar's best chance to shine. I remember when they said he would be the next Pele or Ronaldo but he never hit top form. Kaka actually reached stardom in 2005 Confederation's Cup and his early days at Milan capturing Ballon D'Or. Sorry Neymar but Kaka is the clear winner.
2014 World Cup i'd say was unfair for Neymar after that injury against Columbia so I wouldn't be too harsh on him for that but yeah gotta go with Kaka
And Kaka only played 1 game that world cup win. He didn't do anything to contribute to Brazil. No goals, no assists, no starts. Doesn't count. Brazil was going to win the world cup if Neymar didn't get injured. And he was doing it single handedly.
Kaka was amazing that AC Milan side was Galactico
The last question was genuinely a violation 😂😂😂😂
Neymar 14/15 and 15/16 seasons were too clutch.
3:42 franks laugh 😂😂
if it wasn't for injuries Kaka would've competed for few more years with Messi and Ronald for Ballon D'or maybe till through 2013-14.
Kaka is a legend
Kaka hands down has won more with less
Ale was the best player in his Prime🥵🥵🥵
Frank is our man!!! 🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪
Neymar has more natural talent than Kaka. Even Kaka himself said he wasn't naturally gifted, but he trained himself incredibly hard
Kaka was being humble saying he wasn't naturally gifted
kaka is better than ney and even ney admitted that kaka is a better player than him
Definitely Kaka 💯
Now this was a great episode
overall career easily Neymar. but best year vs best year I'd give the edge to Kaka. He was simply the best player in the world while Neymar's best year he was the third best player in the world. He was competing vs Messi and CR7 which Kaka had the luck of not being in the same era as. Tough one and very close.
Kaka beat out Cr7 and Messi for Balon D'or although those 2 were still crazy young and not only that he was a still a standout on what I would say was a golden era of football. So no overall career is not easily Neymar but I'm guessing youre young and didnt grow up watching Kaka
kaka won balon d'Or against both of those players. the way i see it it's other way around people like messi are fortunate that they didn't have to play against legendary defenders like maldini nesta baresi etc etc
@whitewolf128 yea when they were both in their late teens hahaha.
Kaka was amazing
Neymar top scorer of Brazil.......in CL too as a Brazilian
These guys are delusional. Prime kaka was a monster. Scored 3 goals against Manchester united
How are we even comparing kaka with Neymar.. not even on the same level. Kaka is legend
Kaka has 2 good seasons. Neymar is better.
Kaka is same level as Neymar.
@GodplaysDice well, first of all the question is asking who was best in their prime. And that's without any shadow of doubt Kaka. Second, Kaka still had a better career despite not having Messi and Ronaldo's longevity.
Neymar been just as good as him if not better
Kaka is a gq model that's it 😜😜😜legend my foot
Thats a tough one two different styles of play.
Kaka!!!! Not doubt about it..
Can't believe Robbo doesn't even favour England. 😂🤣
Despite Neymars shortcoming he has surpassed them both
No doubt Kaka
Kaka literally won Ballon d’Or lol
this is insulting. Kaka is a legend, among the greats to ever play. neymar is very good but nowhere close