Zinedine Zidane. For his palmares, but especially for the beauty of his game I never found the same pleasure since he no longer plays. The pleasure it gives me when Barcelona play, Zidane offered it to me alone...
When I saw this question, I was truly stumped. There have been so many wonderful players who've lit up the game and made it magical for kids like me. Of course the first person who comes to mind is Pele, but I think the term "Greatest Player" applies to more than just international recognition and skill. It means, who was that one player who made you want to play football better, who was it that instilled for you that love in the game?
For me this player is none other than Thierry Henry. I remember seeing him in action during the World Cup and just thinking "My God, this is how I want to play - this is beautiful". He was just the fastest winger/striker combo I'd seen at the time and I was in total awe. I still try to base my game off of him today