Is Hugo Lloris really a great goalkeeper? Is Romelu Lukaku a flat-track bully? Have your say on the most polarising players in the game today…
Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo – who's better? Everyone's long since taken a side in the most heated debate of the past decade.
One thing everyone can agree on, though, is the pair's shared status as all-time greats. That has to be the starting point, as we're talking about two living legends here. Love them or loathe them, you have to respect their talent and achievements.
However, there are several other high-profile players in the game today who continue to polarise opinions, established stars that supporters, pundits and former pros believe are either overrated or underappreciated.
But what do you think? Have your say in the comment box below after running through GOAL's list of the most divisive players in world football…
GettyThiago Alcantara
For the vast majority of Liverpool fans, the only problem with Thiago Alcantara is he's not always fit to start because of his seemingly incessant injury issues.
With his tenacious tackling and ridiculous range of passing, the Spaniard is considered utterly integral to Jurgen Klopp's game plan.
As assistant coach Pep Lijnders told GOAL back in August, "When Thiago plays, we play."
However, not everyone is as enamoured with the silky-skilled midfielder.
"I don't understand the hype about Thiago," former Liverpool ace Didi Hamann wrote last season. "For me, he is one of the most overrated players in European football.
"When things are going well and you have a lot of possession he's a good player, but when push comes to shove you don't see him."
Do you agree with Didi? We know that Klopp certainly doesn't…
AdvertisementGettyTrent Alexander-Arnold
Ahead of this season's Premier League clash with Brighton, Klopp was asked about Trent Alexander-Arnold's latest England snub. The Liverpool boss replied, "You really want to open this box?!"
Klopp's reaction was understandable. This is the most heated tactical debate in English football since how best to get Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard into the same team!
To quickly sum it up, England boss simply feels that he has better options at right-back, including Reece James and Kyle Walker. Indeed, Alexander-Arnold is only likely to travel to the World Cup in Qatar if one or both of those two players are ruled out through injury.
Klopp, and the likes of Gary Lineker, are in a state of shock, believing it madness to even consider leaving such a gifted attacking outlet at home.
Of course, the counter-argument is that Alexander-Arnold is a liability, with former France centre-back Frank Leboeuf last week claiming that the 23-year-old was "Championship level" from a defensive perspective.
Whatever the truth, this is one argument that is going to run and run until Southgate's squad is announced.
GettyLeonardo Bonucci
Leonardo Bonucci is under fire again from his own fans, with Juventus ultras upset that the centre-back is their club captain: "He has never been a leader, and never will be."
However, there is also a school of thought in Italy that Bonucci has never been a particularly good defender either.
The argument goes that he benefited enormously from Antonio Conte's inspired decision to switch to a back three in 2011, as it meant the ball-playing Bonucci could focus on instigating attacks with his wonderful and wide range of passing, while being carried by the two other famed members of Juventus' 'BBC', Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli, for the best part of a decade.
Certainly, Bonucci has looked a little more exposed with Chiellini and Barzagli now gone, but it does seem a little harsh to completely dismiss the defensive qualities of a centre-back who was named man of the match in the final of Euro 2020, and included in the team of the tournament, more for the dirty work he did in defence than his eye-catching contributions further forward.
GettyOusmane Dembele
Ousmane Dembele joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund five years ago for an initial fee of €105m (£92m/$103m) but very nearly left Barcelona during the summer on a free transfer.
He would have gone down as one of the worst signings in football history. As he said himself, "From 2017 to 2021, I wasted my time enormously."
Now, though, he has a shot at redemption, with the winger showing serious signs of belatedly realising his potential under Xavi.
Will he maintain his new-found professionalism and become a Camp Nou legend? Or will he lose focus once again and end up being remembered as one of the game's great unfulfilled talents?
Based on what we've seen so far from Dembele in his career, it really could go either way.