Was Arjen Robben underrated? | Match of the Day: Top 10 

Arjen Robben one of the greatest of this generation. For a long time the 3rd highest rated player in the world after Messi and Ronaldo, later that spot was taken over by Neymar from around 16/17.

The most beautiful thing I’ve seen is, Robben being the absolute very best player of the world in 2014. That World Cup campaign he absolutely destroyed every opponent, became an even better player, didnt’t get injured, knew exactly how to treat his body, became the most effective leader of the Dutch National team and even showed he had the potential to play and have more impact on the game than the assumed best players of all times at that moment. During that World Cup 2014, Robben showed absolute world class level on and off the pitch!

At times Robben was the best player in the world. The way he personally crushed Barcelona in UCL and world champion Spain, for example, my god, even Messi would be jealous of that speed and control.

As I Dutchman I say that Arjen Robben was the best dutch player in his generation.

What people rarely mention is that Arjen Robben was the ultimate football partner. His partnerships were legendary: Robben and Kezman, Robben and Duff, Robben and Higuaín, Robben and Van Persie. During his last preseason with Real Madrid, he also formed an amazing partnership with Kaká and Benzema. And, of course, there was "Robbery" - his iconic duo with Franck Ribéry.

If he hadn't been plagued by injuries, Arjen Robben would undoubtedly be considered one of the top 3 players. Despite enduring over 400 injuries throughout his career, he consistently returned to the field in peak condition. Many players struggle to recover from a single injury, but Robben demonstrated remarkable resilience, bouncing back time and again. His speed and agility were extraordinary, complemented by his smart dribbling and exceptional off-the-ball movement. Robben could easily play 90 minutes, maintaining an intense pace throughout. His solo goal against Schalke, starting from his own half, and his memorable goal against Spain, showcase his incredible work rate and endurance. He epitomized the perfect athlete and professional but was undeniably unlucky in some respects. It’s fitting to place him in the "unlucky" category, alongside legends like Michael Ballack and Johan Cruyff.

Arjen Robben was criminally underrated. He was so elite that the only thing that hampered him we're injuries...but even though, he was just underneath the Messi Ronaldo level

As a Dutchman, and Ajax fan we had Sneijder and vd Vaart. Feyenoord had v Persie. Robben came out of Groningen and went to PSV. But he’s my favourite Dutch player after 2000. His style and impact was unique. And he even made it as a topplayer with all those injuries and won Bayern the Champions league.

Remember that 2014 WC campaign where Messi was struggling but Robben was playing like a champ alongside Van Persie. it wasn't the best Dutch team but them 2 were brilliant.

If Robben made that goal against spain in the final and the Dutch would have won, He would be in conversation for the best dutch player ever.

In my opinion, Robben was the second best left footed player of his era after Messi. That's enough said I think.

Obviously not premier league but Recoba had 1 of the best left foots I've ever seen

Laurent Robert! Up there with my favourite players ever

thanks for giving robben attention and credit.. kisses from our small country of the netherlands. factory of great footballers. Bergkamp my fave

Robben was something else, the amount of times he was injured but came back on the highest level every time. Definitely top 5 of most professional players of all time.

People can say whatever they want… Robben was THE REASON Chelsea won those first Two Leagues… Not that overrated Lampard or Terry. He was terrifying and as Arsenal fan, I was always shook when he played against us.

I don't know how Ryan Giggs didn't get a mention here in a debate on left footers. 13 premier league titles and one of the best wingers in the premier league era and played professionally from the age of 17-40

When Robben wasn't injured and in form, he was only slightly below the level of Messi and Ronaldo in my opinion. Sadly injuries pretty much guaranteed he was out half a season, but even then, how many players are worth keeping that are only able to play half the season? And his ability to fight back after every injury was impressive as well.

The problem with Arjan is that every time when he had a great run he got injured, over and over again. His body couldn’t cary his talent

Good job MR has a good sense of humour, with the amount of stick these two give him.

He would be the greatest if he wasn't injured all the time.

LET IT GO ALAN ahahah this guy cracks me up

2010/11/12 he sure was ballon d'or material

watch van Hanegem at WC 1974 ( some say he was at that tournament even better than Cruyff)

To me if i would make a dream team, i would rather have Robben on the right wing than Messi. I think robben was the most lethal player in the world when he was 100% fit.

From ChatGPT: "The prevalence of right-handedness in humans is a topic that has intrigued scientists for many years. Several theories have been proposed to explain why about 90% of the human population is right-handed. Here are some of the leading explanations: Genetic Factors: Genetic Theories: One of the most prominent theories suggests that right-handedness is genetically inherited. Some researchers propose that there might be specific genes that influence hand preference. For example, the "right-shift theory" posits that there is a gene that biases individuals towards right-handedness, although this gene does not act alone and interacts with environmental factors. Brain Lateralization: Hemisphere Specialization: Human brains are highly lateralized, meaning that the two hemispheres have specialized functions. The left hemisphere, which controls the right hand, is typically responsible for language and fine motor skills. This specialization might have led to a preference for using the right hand for tasks requiring precision and coordination. Efficiency: Using one hand predominantly for tasks can create neural efficiencies, as the brain develops stronger connections and more refined motor skills on one side. Evolutionary Advantages: Tool Use and Communication: Early humans who used tools and engaged in complex activities might have benefited from having a dominant hand. Right-handed individuals may have had advantages in terms of tool use and social cooperation, which could be linked to brain lateralization. Social and Cooperative Behavior: Being able to predict others' hand movements could have facilitated cooperation and communication, offering evolutionary advantages to right-handedness as a social norm. Cultural and Environmental Influences: Cultural Reinforcement: Throughout history, many cultures have favored right-handedness, sometimes even discouraging or correcting left-handedness. This cultural bias can reinforce and perpetuate the prevalence of right-handedness. Learning and Imitation: Children often imitate adults, and in a predominantly right-handed society, they are more likely to learn right-handed behaviors. Developmental Factors: Prenatal Development: Hand preference can be observed as early as in the womb, where fetuses might show a preference for moving one hand over the other. This early development might be influenced by genetic and hormonal factors. Overall, the predominance of right-handedness is likely due to a complex interplay of genetic, neurological, evolutionary, and cultural factors. No single theory fully explains the phenomenon, and ongoing research continues to explore the underlying reasons for this widespread trait."

Messi , Adriano Inter Milan , Maradona , Recoba , Mihajlovic , Roberto Carlos , Giggs , Di Maria , Robben ,

A German commentary said everybody knows what he's gone do and still we no one to stop him.

My dog is called ROBBEN. Brilliant left foot and right foot as well.

Chemistry between these is great 😂

Robben was the best winger, the best cut in, the best dribble in open spaces never losing the ball, best tempo creation. Messi was more complete as he was better in central positions. But Robben was bringing in more energy, more meters. In the 2014 WC Robben was the best player. In Barcelona the team was a bit build around Messi, in Bayern, Robben had to do so much himself. Robben created a scoring chance for every 11 minutes played in Bayern, it was unreal. Robben was not a brilliant player like is said here, he was more than that. His injuries played a huge role in every season Robben played in.

Robeen rarely Cross a ball. He always get it & hits it😀

No. Everyone who knows football, knows he was a world class player. Among the very best.

Robben wasn't underrated. One of the best players of his generation. From the north of the Netherlands, Groningen, just like myself. Never met him in person, but saw him once, driving around, with his then girlfriend, in an old car, his hometown Bedum. And my dad served him a meatball with mustard at our local football club, when the team of his mates played one of our teams. He was playing at either Chelsea or Real then.

Underrated?! I will never get this question with players, who where cleary everything, but underrated...

Easily top 5 right wingers of the century. Messi isn't a pure winger and there's guys like Bale, Salah and Figo who got a case for them. I can't name another one better than Robben.

Best left footed player I ever seen was Recoba

The interesting thing is that a lot of the best left footers are right handed. Not the best left footer ever but Frank de Boer is left footed and right handed, and his twin brother Ronald is right footed and left handed.

Arjen Robben was a great player who could have been far greater still had he not been made out of glass.

Underrated as soccer player NO , underrated as a diver YES

Without injuries and with a good right foot as well, he would be the goat beyond Messi and Ronaldo.

Robben was one of the Most skilfull bt he was so selfish who rarely give assist. His Skills,control was insane 💥 Also he was so fast💥 for his selfish attitude didn’t get enough credit

1:04 Couldn't disagree more. How does never using your other foot look anything other than annoying?? Left-footers are traditionally very 1 footed and they waste several opportunities per game to do the right pass, cross, shot etc...with their right foot.

I don't think he was underrated. He always got a lot of acclaim amongst the press and media, during his spell at Chelsea. Damien Duff was underrated,

You're the biggest lefty of them all Gary. Or at least you pretend to be. I remember your banter on They Think It's All Over.

because of the gravity mate

People forget how short a time Robben was in the Premier League. He really didn't have an amazing Premier League career because it was so short.

Underrated nah everyone who mentions robben talks about how great he was.

Yes

He was amazing but unfortunately very injury prone. I guess that’s why he’s a bit underrated.

Robben was a good player for Chelsea but he became world-class after.

He was too good for the premier league.

People who are lefthanded - footed are known to be more creative type of people.

Because their parent will train them to use right if they are lefty same in asia

He was ridiculous. I don't think he was underrated

Rivaldo

I also remember a lot of matches of holland where he underperformed

Why premier league only, whats the point of that? Is this show only about the Premier league or just this top 10?

The left footed obsession is always crazy, i've always never thought of them differently but the lads are always salivating over the "left footedness" of it. Personally either you can play of you can't, I never scream "left foot" when a left footer does anything good

No he wasn't underrated. He was rated as an exceptionally good player who at times attempted to score a goal in a very low chance situation rather than to pass the ball to a team mate in a situation with a significant better chance of scoring. And that rating was spot on.

err Ryan Giggs? you're talking about the premier league. If not because of his off field issues he should have been the first person in the Premier League hall of fame

He certainly did not uderrate himself but above all, he's an aswhole....too bad no one ever beat him up during a game. Greetings from Netherlands. Wishing you luck, win the cup 💂‍♀

😂

He was horrible in the world cup final south africa. Missed a few good chances

Shearer overrated. Give me inzaghi