We are living through the golden generations of sports and we don’t even know it

[Overrated]

Is that because there were actually more stars, or because Messi and Ronaldo have made the rest of the star players from this generation look worse in comparison?

They played in a high scoring era like Gretzky did in the NHL. Compare scoring to the 80s and 90s Serie A. Also CR7 was and still is a notorious stat padder. Top teams are also way more overpowered nowadays. I don't think it's comparable. When I look at peak skill and ability CR7 isn't better than R9 or Maradona.

 

[admiralcadillac]

There’s always a goat

 

[westc2]

the best modern athletes will always be the current GOATS in the majority of sports. It's more about how much better they are than their peers.

 

[End on a Hinote]

That sad reality is that nostalgia takes over a lot of us and we won't appreciate what we have now until 20 years after it's gone.

 

[tarheelhockey]

They played in a high scoring era like Gretzky did in the NHL. Compare scoring to the 80s and 90s Serie A. Also CR7 was and still is a notorious stat padder. Top teams are also way more overpowered nowadays. I don't think it's comparable. When I look at peak skill and ability CR7 isn't better than R9 or Maradona.

I am out of my depth in this argument, but I would offer this — Gretzky also played in a high scoring era, on an overpowered team, and was accused of being a stat padder. In spite of all that, he was still the best player ever.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

I am out of my depth in this argument, but I would offer this — Gretzky also played in a high scoring era, on an overpowered team, and was accused of being a stat padder. In spite of all that, he was still the best player ever.

Cristiano Ronaldo is not even top 5 ever (though he certainly has by a long shot the best hype machine in the history of maybe any sport). The hockey comparison to Ronaldo is a shoot-first winger like Ovechkin. And their overall historical ranking probably isn't actually that far apart.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Cristiano Ronaldo is not even top 5 ever (though he certainly has by a long shot the best hype machine in the history of maybe any sport). The hockey comparison to Ronaldo is a shoot-first winger like Ovechkin. And their overall historical ranking probably isn't actually that far apart.

That just supports my point, as Ovechkin is prepared to overtake Gretzky’s position as the GOAT of hockey within the next year or two.



(I’m just throwing shit at the wall, I didn’t really have a point beyond that one observation)

 

[daver]

Sorry, any age where sports gambling took over the interests of pro sports is not eligible for "Golden Age".

 

[TruKnyte]

Cristiano Ronaldo is not even top 5 ever (though he certainly has by a long shot the best hype machine in the history of maybe any sport). The hockey comparison to Ronaldo is a shoot-first winger like Ovechkin. And their overall historical ranking probably isn't actually that far apart.

I'm not even a Ronaldo fan, but you'd be hard pressed to find any top 5 lists that don't have him on it.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Cristiano Ronaldo is not even top 5 ever (though he certainly has by a long shot the best hype machine in the history of maybe any sport). The hockey comparison to Ronaldo is a shoot-first winger like Ovechkin. And their overall historical ranking probably isn't actually that far apart.

That’s actually crazy and I hate Ronaldo

 

[Kranix]

Incredible list. I'd extend a bit, and include ancient olympian runners like Leonidas of Rhodes. We are truly in an incredible era as humanity