I had this argument with some drafters a long time ago. Giggs was great on the left for his entire career. Rivaldo is clearly the better player though. Giggs never won a Balon d'Or while playing on the left like Rivaldo did.
Rivaldo is the better player, but Giggs is the better winger imo, and arguably had a better season that Rivaldo in 1999. I think none of our players won the 99 Ballon D'Or simply because they were all amazing.
@MullereD @King_Kenny @Ollie @The Red Viper @Adam @StillHurts31 @Joga bonito Do you see what this goober just said?
Rivaldo had a higher peak level but Giggs was at his peak for much longer and is an underrated player.
A 4-4-2 formation is the only time I'd consider Giggsy anywhere near Rivaldo. In a 4-2-3-1 its Rivaldo every time!
I would have categorised Rivaldo as an attacking midfielder rather than a left winger. His best attributes aren't really used in that role. Also I don't think playing on the left of a front three makes you a "winger" necessarily. Ronaldinho played the exact same role for the exact same club and I've never seen him described as a winger.
I understand that name is only to have a reference not to speak of a specific position. I really like the terminology in english because it refers to the main function and certainly there are many different players for the sides. side-midfielder = David Beckham, Mauro Camoranesi, Robert Pirés, Fredrik Ljungberg ... wing = Stanley Matthews, Ryan Giggs, Francisco Gento, Luis Figo, Joaquín ... wing-forward = Garrincha, George Best, Jairzinho, Dragan Dzajic, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery ... side-forward = Cristiano Ronaldo, Hristo Stoichkov, Omar Sívori, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Allan Simonsen, when Rummenigge, Henry, Villa, Mandzukic played by the sides. side-attacking midfielder = Pavel Nedved, also Ljungberg, when Isco plays by the sides, Zinedine Zidane in Real Madrid from 2002-2005 ... side-mediapunta/trequartista = Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Zbigniew Boniek, when James, Juan Mata, Henrik Mkhitaryan play by the side, Marco Reus.. In my opinion the side midfielders, wings and wing-forwards I include them in a general category of wingers ... the side-forward in the category of forwards. By the way ... CR7 played as wing from 2002-2007, as wing-forward from 2007-2009, as side-forward from 2009-2013. Lionel Messi played as wing-forward from 2006-2008, as side-forward from 2008-2010 and from 2015 until today he has played as side-mediapunta/trequartista and side-attacking midfielder.
