Spent the night on the sofa with my eight-year-old, picking all-time Chelsea and Liverpool elevens on FIFA. What started as banter and a bit of gaming turned into a proper trip down memory lane — loads of YouTube clips, wide-eyed moments and me realising just how fortunate we were to watch that era live.

A night down memory lane

Before long I was showing him Edgar Davids, Ruud Gullit, Zola, Gerrard, Rush, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Pirlo, Baggio, Van Basten, Papin and Mancini. The list goes on. To be fair, every clip reminded me why that period felt so special: genuine personalities on the pitch, players who dared to be different, and moments that still make you smile.

What made that era different

It wasn't just the talent. The game had a different rhythm — proper tackles were part of it, players expressed themselves without fear, and matches felt less interrupted. There was more flair and individuality; you could spot a player from a mile off because of how they moved or the way they carried themselves. Atmospheres in the grounds sounded and felt special too. Supporters and players fed off each other in a way that gave games a proper buzz.

Passing it on

My wee lad's hero is Ronaldo these days — comes from school pals and the modern stars he sees. When he boots up FIFA he always picks Portugal and, annoyingly for me, beats me more often than he should. Still, it was brilliant showing him the old footage and watching him get a kick out of it. You could see the wonder in his face; different generation, same love of the game.

So who from that era would you pay to see one more time? For me there's so many — George Weah, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Jean pier papan, Zidane, Seedorf, Pirlo, Gullit, Batistuta, Romario, Shearer. Truth is, we were lucky to witness those players at their peak. I'd turn back the clock in a heartbeat to appreciate it properly.

Written by Thestigno1: 25 July 2026

Tags: squad