There are many ways to play a guitar.
The Iron Maiden guitarists, blew away everyone else in the early 1980s with their guitar solos(and playing in harmony). They had mastered pretty much every technique you can use on the electric guitar. Tapping, etc.
Yet, they can not play like Paco De Lucia, who finger picks a nylon stringed guitar. And Paco De Lucia can't play like they can. So who is really best?
There is no best musician. Not just because there are a multitude of different skills that go into it, but also because nobody agrees on what weight to give to each of them or even what they are. This makes it impossible to make an absolute ranking. At best you would get a Pareto front made up of the greatest.
Any time somebody makes a claim that their passionate judgment about a subjective topic is objectively true, that’s a bit-flip moment for me. Doesn’t mean I will ignore them, but we are now having a different conversation. They are a “fan” and discussions with fans are often not that interesting.
And fwiw, Paco De Lucia is technically skilled to a fault, but does very little for me.
"There was mention of Paco de Lucía, who is the greatest, well, if not the greatest ever flamenco guitarist. Many people love him dearly as I do, and if somebody says, 'Can you play like Paco?' I say, 'No, no.' [laughs] So I just jumped on board, and it was wonderful. Very nice people." [1]
Howe made up a flamenco piece on the spot for a Queen song so he was talking about Paco then.
The nod is there by the man himself for the greatest flamenco guitarist.
But if you discuss something that is basically subjective, you still need criteria because if one person is saying oh Paco is the most technically skilled that's one thing. Another would be more akin to how the Decathalon decides the greatest athlete.
I don't know if Howe is the best ever, but if there was a Decathalon equivalent for guitarists, I'd bet Howe would top Paco no problem. And in that event, he'd top Jimi Hendrix and Page too. But that's just my benchmark, having range and full command of the discipline.
Yet, they can not play like Paco De Lucia, who finger picks a nylon stringed guitar. And Paco De Lucia can't play like they can. So who is really best?