Does Cristiano Ronaldo have a place among the top ten greatest players to have ever graced the Premier League?
Former top-flight striker and eSPORTY host Gabby Agbonlahor doesn’t think so…
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After the news broke of Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, Agbonlahor put the Egyptian in his list.
But in somewhat of a shock, he snubbed Ronaldo, who scored over 100 league goals and won three titles for Manchester United.
Agbonlahor made the claim after being told of Jamie Carragher’s recent comments on Salah’s legacy in England.
Carragher wrote that the Reds legend will leave the Premier League ahead of Ronaldo in the ‘pantheon of greats’.
And when told what Carragher said, Agbonlahor backed him.
The Breakfast co-host simply agreed: “Oh, definitely.”
He then added: “Obviously not Ronaldo over his whole career, but definitely in the Premier League, I agree.
“Ronaldo wouldn’t get into my Premier League greats.”
Gabby’s top ten Premier League players ever
Agbonlahor would later go on to select his top ten players that he has ever seen in the Premier League over the years.
And as he said, Ronaldo didn’t make it, with another exclusive group of superstars having the privilege of being selected.
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Before announcing his top ten, the ex-Aston Villa forward clarified: “This is not about Premier League titles, this is not about goals scored or xG or how many passes were played forward, this is my top ten from watching players and how I enjoyed watching them.”
Agbonlahor then revealed, in no particular order: “Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Mohamed Salah, Steven Gerrard, Patrick Vieira, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Frank Lampard…
“And, he didn’t win anything at his club, but when he was at his best that season for Spurs, Gareth Bale, he was unbelievable.”
After declaring his selections, co-host Ally McCoist jumped in to say: “Nobody will have any argument with seven of your ten.
“You might have one or two that are your own favourites that you enjoy watching, but Henry, Shearer, absolutely different level.
“Rooney, Salah, Gerrard and Lampard are absolutely in the equation.
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Gabby’s Premier League Top 10
- Thierry Henry
- Alan Shearer
- Wayne Rooney
- Mohamed Salah
- Steven Gerrard
- Patrick Vieira
- Kevin De Bruyne
- Frank Lampard
- Sergio Aguero
- Gareth Bale
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“But the two I’d look at it is I don’t see Harry Kane, I don’t see Ryan Giggs.. .you don’t have Roy Keane in there.”
Agbonlahor replied: “Kane was unbelievable, but playing against Bale that season, every touch to the side, the way he ran past players.
“I’m on about that sort of play being hard to forget.
“I think I’d have to go Henry first, just behind him Shearer, then Rooney third and Salah in fourth, I’m putting him ahead of Giggs.
“Giggs has scored 109 goals in 632 games, Salah 191 in 323 games…bit of recency bias as well, but I’m going attacking-wise there.
“I’m going off attackers I loved to watch, as I was one myself.”
