I never really got the Keith Richard thing. I think he did some cool stuff with the tunings and the style of play that fit the music, but I never thought of him as a groundbreaking guitarist, or one that had much depth or facility. Top 100 sure, not top 10.
EVH changed every guitarist that followed him into the rock/pop world.
When asked about today’s innovative guitarists, Jimmy Page said that Eddie Van Halen had his attention.
Although EVH didn’t invent the hammer technique, he put it on the map with his own style and technical attack.