There have been so many, many great players that to pick an outright best would be a monumentally difficult task and unfair to the other players. However here are a few honourable mentions:
Eric Cantona
Thiery Henry
Dennis Bergkamp
Paul Scholes
Alan Shearer
Ryan Giggs
Wayne Rooney
Robin van Persie
Cristiano Ronaldo
Frank Lampard
Didier Drogba
Matt le Tissier
John Terry
Michael Owen
Steven Gerrard
Jamie Carragher
Patrick Viera
Gianfranco Zola
Dwight Yorke
Andy Cole
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Nemanja Vidic
Dimitar Berbatov
Petr Cech
Peter Shmeichel
Edwin van der Sar
Vincent Kompany
Yaya Toure
Gareth Bale
Mesut Ozil
David Silva
Sergio Aguero
Luiz Suarez
I know that some of the last few names haven’t exactly played for long, but they are still world class players, and I don’t believe the premier league has seen the likes of them. The list could go on to include many more names but it is long enough as it is.
The best in my opinion would be Steven Gerrard.
He spent 17 seasons at Anfield, making his debut in 1998, becoming club captain in 2003. He went on to score 186 goals in 708 matches for Liverpool. A one-club man, and a boyhood fan, his devotion to Liverpool was unwavering. He had numerous offers, yet he chose to stay on. He was unlucky not to win a Premier League title. They came close, twice they were runners-up, but it was not to be. He was a leader. He was Liverpool’s first line of defence. He was their captain. He was their play-maker. He was a complete box to box midfielder who could score from 30 yards( when he scored, it was generally a stunner), pick out amazing long balls, and make tackles as if his life depended on it. He was every Liverpudlian’s idol. That night in Istanbul is going to remain imprinted in every Liverpool fan’s memory. And that FA cup final. Here’s what his contemporaries had to say about him:
Zidane-“Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and Ronaldo but yes, I think he just might be. He has great passing ability, can tackle and scores goals, but most importantly he gives the players around him confidence and belief. You can’t learn that – players like him are just born with that presence.”
Danielle de Rossi-“Gerrard has been my idol for 10 years and is one of the best players in the world. He is the example of what all midfield players aspire to. He is always there in the heat of the battle, leading by example. He is everywhere you look – in defense, in the middle of the pitch and in attack. I would love to be close to that level.”
Ronaldinho-“Gerrard is for me, in the position he plays, one of the very best in the world. He has a huge impact. For the job he performs, for me, he is one of the greatest.”