but my point is... being the best and being regarded as the best are two different things
if you want to be regarded as the best then you'll measure yourself against others who have been regarded as the best.
if you're not bothered about being regarded as the best then you wont care BUT that doesnt mean you aren't amongst the best.
if you quietly go about your business at a very high standard then others will want to play with you too.
swings and roundabouts but essentailly i'm saying you dont need to play for Real, United, Milan etc to be the best footballer
being the best and most decorated are two very different things too
So Mathew Le Tissier was World Class then, he fits the criteria you have just explained, he scored loads of goals against the very best clubs United, Liverpool, Arsenal e.t.c. and stayed with the Saints because he did'nt worry about being the best. Mathew Le Tissier WORLD CLASS.
