Tony Adams forged a career envied by many. He rose through the ranks at Arsenal, established himself as a regular in senior proceedings and went on to become a four-time champion of England – and the central defender once claimed that a 6ft 3in line-leader was better than Diego Maradona.
Having enjoyed a 19-year career, Adams endured battles with some of the finest centre-forwards to ever grace the beautiful game, including the aforementioned Maradona, but there is another striker who he believes was far superior.
And that’s despite the Argentine’s slight frame and enviable ability to evade pressure. Adams also faced the likes of Mark Hughes and Alan Shearer – but alongside Thierry Henry, there was another ex-striker whom he named in his all-time footballing XI.
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Adams Named 6ft 3in Striker Better than Maradona
Arsenal legend faced the centre-forward just once
That was none other than three-time Ballon d’Or winner Marco van Basten. Despite his stature, Van Basten – known for being the complete package – couldn’t half shift and Adams spoke ever so glowingly about the Utrecht-born star’s well-rounded skill set.
The two, Adams and Van Basten, faced one another just once. England played the eventual winners, the Netherlands, in the Euro 1988 group stage – and the latter bagged a hat-trick. When you take that into consideration, it’s no surprise to learn that Adams was (and still is!) a keen admirer of the Dutchman.
Watch Van Basten score three against England with frightening ease:
Adams waxed poetic about the do-it-all marksman by saying: “He’s the quickest 6ft 3in centre-forward I’ve ever seen! Just awesome. He was as quick as Ian Wright, as good in the air as Joe Jordan and he held the ball up better than Alan Smith.”
In comparison to Maradona, Adams said that, although the Napoli icon was technically proficient, Van Basten’s ability to do everything required of a centre-forward in the 1980s and early 90s, with such poise, made him the better footballer.
“I put him in front of Maradona. Technically, Maradona was brilliant, and he had amazing feet, but Van Basten could head, volley – he had power and strength.”
Monikered ‘San Marco’ by those of an AC Milan persuasion, the mercurial Dutchman – widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in football history – scored goals as if they were going out of fashion. In his 373-game career, he chalked up 277 strikes.
The fact Van Basten, a prestigious and proud alumnus of the celebrated Ajax academy, had to retire at the age of 28 by virtue of his ever-growing injury issues is a crying shame; he was an instinctive finisher, he had magic in his boots. He was Van Basten.
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Van Basten was appreciated by his teammates, too. Ahead of Oranje’s Euro 1988, Ruud Gullit said that he was their most potent threat. “Van Basten could be our greatest weapon,” the midfielder said. He has a special ability to see goals and make space when there appears to be none. After missing most of the season, he is so determined.”
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