Raees
Pythagoras in Boots
- Joined
- May 16, 2009
- Messages
- 29,553
He looks exactly the same in 1958, when he's almost 36 so it is hard to tell. In general he slowed down to make a pass/dribble but he of course had a much higher sprint speed than his walking dribbles. But he carried Sweden to the 1958 final(Swedens only ever) as a 36 years old and that final had Didi, Garrincha, Pele, Nilton Santos, Djalma Santos, Bellini, Gilmar and Zagallo who are all considered legends.
So if we rate them, we also have to rate Liedholm who far far after his peak was capable of carrying Sweden to the final(and scoring, which took Sweden to the lead after 4 minutes). He receives a ball, dribbles past Bellini, Nilton Santos steps in and Liedholm dribbles past him with ease, Bellini comes in again to close the space but it is too late - Liedholm shoots and scores.
It is not "a goal", it is quite a damn play from a 36 year old. Quite a few people have made that slow dribbling style work well.
It does, did you see the state of those pitches though? It reminded me of my average mid-winter game of rugby in county league pitches. You can hardly stay on your feet and need long studs. Put Messi on that pitch with those boots and ball and he would look equally pedestrian, or spend all game on his arse.
Don't worry it plays no relevance in my vote here, it is just a discussion point. I think I'll rewatch the 1958 final to get a better feel for his movement in a game. Clips don't give the best perspective of the pace of the game.