I was watching some all-time XI’s by former footballers and analysists and was asking to myself: “Did football start in the 90’s for these people?”
I understand that people will always be biased towards the players that they got to experience and have an attachment to, but do you think that players from the old era like Eusebio, Rivera, Meazza, Di Stefano, Etc… are underrated compared to modern legends?
There is recency bias and there is also nostalgia bias.
The greatest from the past would still be among the best from today,is also true that even tho old players might be just as good at football itself as the top players from today, it is also true that there have been some very significant improvements, specially in therms of physicality. So, for example, if Man City from today was playing against Brazil from 1970, I would probably bet on Man City beacuse of the higher level of physical strenght nowdays, and if City actually won, it would not mean the City players are better at football then 70’ Brazil. Give the good old players all today’s tech and they would catch up in no time. Also, if you could put any good player from today in the past, they would not necessarily be as good, specially if he is a player that is better at following today’s tatics than He is at playing football itself. So, old players are Just at good at FOOTBALL, and as I said, the best from that time would still most likely be among the best from today, even tho the game itself might be at a higher level overall.