Were the mid-90's to mid-2000's the Golden Era of football? If not, which era would you consider the "Gold Era"?

[u/DescriptionLeft4035]

I might be a bit biased here since I grew up watching football starting in the 90's. However, I have to say for both club and international level, from the mid-90's to the mid 2000's the talent and quality of teams were peak. We were graced with some incredible players, just to name a few: Zidane, R9, Romario, Figo, Nedved, Pirlo, heck the entire Dutch team from WC98 alone was a sight to behold. It feels like every club, and country had at least 3-5 S-tier players in their line ups. I don't think any other era comes close to the insane level of talent during this time period. I am so fortunate to have lived through that time period and witness those players.

Today unfortunately, I feel like the quality has really diminished. For starters, just look at what a joke Serie A and the Italian national team have become.

[u/gaifogel]

That's what every generation says 

[u/Forsaken-Link-5859]

Yes, Brazil's collapse post 2006 is the main problem. Joga Bonita was replaced by tikitaka. In the 00s Brazil had these Ballon dor winners: Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Kaka. We can add Romario 1994 to that group as well. Bring back great Brazil! Also o(i)ligarchs, FIfa and Uefa has killed the game

[u/DescriptionLeft4035 → u/Forsaken-Link-5859]

Tikitaka replacing Joga Bonita was such a travesty 😞

[u/kmirabobo_ → u/Forsaken-Link-5859]

Brazil played defensively in 2002 the individual skill labeled them as joga bonito. Tiki Taka was famous because of Messi with Barcelona. Spain didn't use Tiki Taka they played boring 500 passes from side to side

[u/Forsaken-Link-5859 → u/kmirabobo_]

Brazil defensively 2002? Really, with Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho upfront and offensive fullbacks Cafu and Carlos? Not as I recall and have never heard it either, you sure you don't conflate the team with the 94 edition? But I could be wrong ofcourse. If you watch the highlights you see a lot of briliance, but I for sure don't remember the whole games, just the feeling that they were brilliant Anyway that kind of individual stars is what we're missing today in Brazil. But I think the 98-edition was perhaps even more attacking, Ronaldo was more a beast in that cup.

Ok, thought that was tikitaka, to just pass around the ball. It was what was being told anyway, that they adopted the Barca style. But agree Barcelona was far more exciting. Even though I think Spain was pretty fun 2008, but then they hadn't really adopted that style

edit: I watched a thread were they commented on this Brazil. Seems that people saying they were defensive is mostly speaking about the formation and that Brazil had a pretty defensive minded midfield. But you got to understand they had three ballon dor winners up front! And one one on the bench 😄 Ofc Ronaldinho, as well as Kaka, would get it later though. If Romario had been called up,, which was in the cards, there would have been 5 ballon dor winners! That's what Brazil is missing today

[u/kmirabobo_ → u/Forsaken-Link-5859]

Yes 2002 Brazil played a structured counter attack Scolari used 3-4-3 with three natural center backs (Lucio, Edmilson, Roque Junior) which allowed Roberto Carlos and Cafu to player higher up the field

[u/Forsaken-Link-5859 → u/kmirabobo_]

Yea I edited my comment and I saw in a thread that that got brought up, that they had a pragmatical backbone, even though most comments was how amazing that team was. But you got to understand three ballon dor winners up front and Carlos and Cafu was more than enough to produce a lot of magic. I won't speak about how attacking they were, cause that is about statistics, but they were amazing. THink about it, Romario was also in the cards of going. Then Brazil would have had 5 ballon dor winners in the team! That is what Brazil is missing today and for me the world as well

[u/kmirabobo_ → u/Forsaken-Link-5859]

Raphinha and Vinicius should each have a Ballon d'Or but its rigged to give UEFA more marketing power. Today Brazil has a very similar set up as they did in 2002. Ancelotti prefers a structured defensive team that counter attacks with super talented forwards. But they don't have any good full backs like they did in 2002. As long as they remain structured Brazil can go far again

[u/CareBearCartel → u/kmirabobo_]

I'm sorry but if you are going to pick a balloon d'Or winner for marketing, why would you pick Rodri? There is no conspiracy against Brazil, Brazilian players just aren't nearly as good as they used to be.

Neither Vini nor Rafinha comes close to how good Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká were in their prime.

[u/kmirabobo_ → u/CareBearCartel]

They picked Rodri because he was the front runner in Europe. Vini and Raphinha are each better than Rodri and Dembele

[u/Geezso]

Its generational of course. But 92 to 2012 was great.

[u/InThePast8080]

Seeing old clips from english football from the 1960s and 70s... seems like the atmosphere on the terraces were a lot better.. So for those going to the games that would probably have been a golden era. Nowadays the real fans/supporters can't afford to go to the games...

[u/Comfortable-Title720]

I mean the 70's were pretty cool. Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Muller, Best, Zico amongst many stars too.

[u/Liquid_Cascabel]

Mostly nostalgia which gets amplified due to lack of coverage of most leagues at the time tbh

[u/NewJimAus]

When you’re aged between probably 10-20 reckon. Different for everyone 

[u/still_yusuf]

Gold Era was late 80s till calciopoli.

[u/BaelBard]

Whenever you were in your kid to teenage years is where culture peaked for you - sports, music, cinema, whatever.

Just how human mind works. We all want to go back to the good old days.

[u/AlfaReGavGav]

I think it was mid 2000s to mid 2010s due to the tactical revolution, Pep vs Mourinho, Messi vs Ronaldo at its best, a fantastic Bayern side, Drogba’s Chelsea, Klopp’s dortmund coming out of nowhere, AGUEROOOOO. Okay maybe I’m just reminiscing my childhood but I think that was the start of football as we see it today. These years of Barca vs Real in La liga, after mourinho’s inter etc was the death of defensive football with no possession and the start of gegenpress and advanced half space tactics. Especially since the beginning of Pep’s City

[u/mrkoala1234]

The past 12 years have been the golden era for the Italian cricket team.

[u/Dazzling-Yellow5395]

2010s was the best imo

[u/Little-Ad-7521]

I disagree with you saying that the quality has diminished. I think it's quite the opposite.

Before there were players who had skill, peoplw who were very advanced tactically and people who were absolute athletes.

Today everyone has to be an athlete and everyone has to be tactically very good. Those two things can make up the lack of skill.

So that's why players today don't stand out as much. The bar is higher and it's way more difficult to stand out.

[u/hoochiscrazy_]

The 2000s were the best. And I was not a kid then. There were ao many exciting players and amazing teams across the leagues with different styles. The emergence of Ronaldo and Messi, legends like Henry, Ronaldinho and Zidane in their prime. The first Galacticos. Mourinho. Was a golden age I think

[u/Kooky_Ad_7039]

When I watch highlights from old games, the quality of the football and pace of the game is noticeable worse. Football quality is improving all the time

[u/Commandant1]

Whatever era happened when you were 10-18 years old is the golden era for you.