Football is both a joyful and depressing activity and a means of escape from life’s challenges. Young supporters will understand what it’s like to hit the top corner of a drawn-on goal in the neighbourhood park and create their beloved football player’s signature celebration. I think of a Gareth Bale Eleven of Hearts or an arm raise by Alan Shearer.
To get to footballing paradise, many of the game’s heroes, both past and current, had to overcome modest beginnings. Among individuals whose backstories and pivotal periods in their careers serve as motivation are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Pele. Some of the greatest of all time have had to overcome numerous obstacles, including tales of bullying, parental death, and poverty.
Considering their upbringing, playing style, unique skills, and achievements, we have ranked the top 10 most inspirational football players in history.
10Steven Gerrard
Career span: 1998–2015
Steven Gerrard’s leadership skills and never-say-die mentality made him the ideal man for the big event. His heroics in the Miracle in Istanbul and his hat-trick in the Merseyside Derby on his 400th Premier League game are just two examples of his career of pulling the rabbit out of the hat for Liverpool.
The former England captain, who has 114 caps, has frequently talked about how playing on the council estate during his early years was “tough,” which contributed to his resilience. On top of that, his father ‘protected him’ even after he joined the Anfield team’s development system at the age of seven.
From an early age, Gerrard’s teachers recognised his potential as the 2005 UEFA Best Player of the Year winner. He would more than meet their expectations, emerging as a legend of the English game and possibly Liverpool’s best player ever.
The Career of Steven Gerrard
Clubs
LA Galaxy and Liverpool
Club statistics
Looks (749) Objectives (191) Helps (170)
Global statistics
Looks (114) Objectives (21) Helps (23)
Successes
Eleven major trophies and three individual awards
9Luka Modric
Career span: 2003 – Present
At Real Madrid, Luka Modric’s superb playmaking continues to turn back the clock. His career has been a dream come true. The Croatian midfielder grew up during the Croatian War of Independence and was the son of two knitwear workers. He is named after his grandfather, Luka, who was tragically killed by Serb insurgents and had his house destroyed by fire.
Modric’s family utilised what little money they had to enrol him in an academy, and he quickly turned to football as a way to escape the horror of his home life. After beginning his professional career with Dinamo Zagreb, the 182-cap Croatian international transferred to Tottenham Hotspur, where he gained further recognition.
After Madrid called in 2012, he has since established himself as a six-time Champions League champion at the Santiago Bernabeu, cementing his place in European football history. A happy ending is necessary for fairy tales, and becoming the first Croat to win the Ballon d’Or in 2018 is an incredible chapter in his story.
The Career of Luka Modric
Clubs
Tottenham, Real Madrid, and Dinamo Zagreb
Club statistics
Looks (791) Objectives (83) Helps (134)
Global statistics
Looks (182) Objectives (27) Helps (29)
Successes
32 major awards and nine individual honours
8George Weah
Career span: 1986–2003
As the only African to win both the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d’Or, George Weah is a household name in African football. Even more remarkable is the fact that he is now a head of state, having been Liberia’s 25th president.
Growing up with his grandmother in Grand Kru County, one of the poorest regions of Liberia, Weah experienced a life of hardship in his early years due to congestion and disease. His parents, a mechanic and a merchant, divorced when he was still a kid.
Weah’s footballing adventures in Europe began when Arsene Wenger saw him playing for a club in Liberia, where he won over supporters. For AS Monaco, PSG, AC Milan, and Man City, the former 75-cap Liberia international was a standout forward who scored numerous memorable goals, including an incredible solo for the Rossoneri against Verona in 1996. Wenger once stated:
“This man’s life is a true movie. It’s unreal. It might be a great movie. When I first saw him in Monaco, he was a little lost, didn’t know anyone, and wasn’t regarded as a good player by anyone. He went on to become the world’s best player in 1995, and is now the president of his nation.
The Career of George Weah
Clubs (Notable)
Chelsea, Manchester City, Monaco, PSG, AC Milan, and Marseille
Club statistics
Looks (478) Objectives (193) Helps (64)
Global statistics
Looks (75) Objectives (18) Helps (0)
Successes
Nine major trophies and five individual honours
7Ronaldo Nazario
Career span: 1993–2011
Every time Ronaldo Nazario stepped onto a football pitch, he inspired young fans everywhere. His trademark No. 9 Brazil uniform, distinctive hairdo from the 2002 World Cup, and unrelenting goal-scoring ability are still highly regarded in football culture today.
The Selecao phenomenon was a striker who may have been the most lethal shooter in history due to his skill in front of goal. During his trophy-filled career, which saw him tear apart teams at Madrid, Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, and Juventus, he was awarded two Ballons d’Or.
Ronaldo’s parents divorced when he was eleven years old, and he grew up in Rio de Janeiro’s impoverished Bento Ribeiro neighbourhood. He claimed that futsal would always be his first love and used it to expand his knowledge of football. The poster boy of Ginga football, which is all about using the ball to express oneself freely, fans look back on his journey to the top of world football with misty eyes.
The Career of Ronaldo Nazario
Clubs (Notable)
Cruzeiro, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan
Club statistics
Looks (481) Objectives (309) Helps (75)
Global statistics
Looks (99) Objectives (62) Helps (32)
Successes
18 major awards and 8 individual honours
6Lev Yashin
Career span: 1953–1971
As the only goalie in history to win the Ballon d’Or, Lev Yashin is undoubtedly the most exceptional goalie to ever grace the game. He was a trailblazer for upcoming generations of goalkeepers, earning the nickname “the Black Spider” for his menacing all-black outfit and daring saves.
The former goalie for Dynamo Moscow, who passed away in March 1990, was compelled to labour in a factory while growing up in Moscow during World War II. After having a psychological breakdown when he was eighteen, he was forced to work in a military plant where he played ice hockey.
Yashin played for a factory team before his exceptional goalkeeping skills were noticed. The Soviet icon won an Olympic gold medal in 1956 and went on to become one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. His outstanding career helped shape today’s sweeper keepers, and the Yashin Trophy, the goalkeeping honour bestowed by French magazine France Football, bears his name.
The Career of Lev Yashin
Clubs
Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Akademia
Club statistics
Clean Sheets (178) Appearances (358)
Global statistics
Looks (99) Objectives (62) Helps (32)
Successes
Nine major trophies and two individual honours
5Johan Cruyff
Career span: 1964–1984
With an emphasis on innovation, adaptability, and all-around skill, Johan Cruyff’s footballing philosophy served as a foundation for the game and contributed to the creation of Total Football. One of the most important players in the game, the Dutch legend’s influence can still be seen today.
The three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or was raised in a working-class area of Amsterdam. Cruyff was encouraged to play football by his father, who passed away when he was twelve. In addition to honouring his father, the Ajax and Barcelona icon changed the game in the process.
In addition to his ideals, Cruyff’s incredible on-field skills have made a lasting impression on the sport. The deft attacking midfielder created a number of breathtaking moments. His ‘impossible’ acrobatic goal for Barcelona against Atletico Madrid in 1974 and the ‘Cruyff Turn’ at the 1974 World Cup were only two of many. Despite his passing in March 2016, the three-time Champions League champion’s legacy endures.
Career of Johan Cruyff
Clubs
Feyenoord, Levante, Barcelona, and Ajax
Club statistics
Looks (579) Objectives (324) Helps (222)
Global statistics
Looks (48) Objectives (33) Helps (30)
Successes
Twenty-two major trophies and three individual awards
4Diego Maradona
Career span: 1976–1997
As a youth, Diego Maradona was surrounded by football, which helped him develop into a once-in-a-lifetime footballing legend. The 1986 World Cup champion for Argentina had the challenges of a low-income childhood, working from a young age to provide for his family by selling garbage and cigarette foil.
The Napoli legend deceived the Argentinos Juniors minor club Los Cebollitas into believing he was older than he actually was when he was eight years old. Before making his senior debut at the age of 16, Maradona led the squad to a 136-game winning streak, so they benefited from his incredible talent.
Fans are inspired by Maradona’s life and legacy, and he is regarded as a pillar of the sport due to his exceptional talent and memorable incidents. His iconic ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in a 2-1 quarterfinal victory in 1986, where he later scored one of the most amazing solo goals in World Cup history, won’t need to be reminded to English supporters. Because of his commitment to football, the entire football community grieved his passing in November 2020.
The Career of Diego Maradona
Clubs
Barcelona, Sevilla, and Napoli
Club statistics
Looks (343) Objectives (159) Helps (105)
Global statistics
Looks (91) Objectives (34) Helps (27)
Successes
Eleven Major Trophies and Four Individual Honours
3Cristiano Ronaldo
Career span: 2002–Present
Cristiano Ronaldo is the best goal scorer in football history, setting club and international goals in a career that many people can only imagine. Despite numerous challenges, including the passing of his father, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner succeeded in realising his aspirations.
Growing up in a modest Madeira home with a tin roof, the mysterious Madrid star’s mother contemplated an abortion because of her poverty, drunkenness, and excessive childbearing. His father, who tragically drank too much and passed away in 2005 while the Portuguese hero’s career was just getting started, encouraged the former Man United player to pursue a career in football.
Ronaldo, who is arguably the most well-known football player in history, more than made his father proud. Having won the Champions League five times, he is accustomed to making history. When he and his beloved Portugal won the European Championship in 2016, fans grinned.
But in April 2022, Ronaldo had to deal with the death of his kid. The football community rallied together to assist him during his time of bereavement, and he received an abundance of such support. A few weeks later, Liverpool supporters set aside their rivalry with the Red Devils to honour them at Anfield. Ronaldo shown tenacity once more and kept setting records, further solidifying his reputation as a global sensation.
The Career of Cristiano Ronaldo
Clubs
Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, Sporting CP, and Al-Nassr
Club statistics
Looks (1024) Objectives (768) Helps (241)
Global statistics
216 appearances Objectives (133) Helps (45)
Successes
33 Large Trophies, 37 Smaller Honours
2Lionel Messi
Career span: 2004 – Present
Many people consider Messi to be the best football player of all time, carrying on Maradona’s legacy. Having won the coveted Ballon d’Or eight times, the Barcelona icon holds the record. He finished a brilliant career by winning the World Cup in 2022, making him the most decorated football player in history.
Messi, who was born in Rosario, Argentina, competed against his brothers as a young football player. At the age of eleven, he was given a setback when it was discovered that he had a hormone deficit, a condition that affects one in three thousand children. That didn’t stop Messi from making a lasting impression on football brilliance during his incredible tenure at Barcelona, where he won the respect of his peers and the admiration of supporters everywhere.
With an endless succession of moments that have had commentators shouting his name in amazement, Messi is the embodiment of inspiration in football. In addition to capturing the interest of football fans, the Inter Miami hero’s heroics in leading his country to World Cup victory in Qatar had everyone on the planet talking.
The Career of Lionel Messi
Clubs
Miami Inter, Barcelona, and PSG
Club statistics
Goals (737) Helps (355) Appearances (889)
Global statistics
Looks (189) Objectives (112) Helps (60)
Successes
Forty-three major trophies and 28 individual titles
1Pele
Career span: 1956–1977
Pele, who elevated football to new heights and established his reputation among football aristocracy both on and off the pitch, is still regarded as a cultural icon. With the ball at his feet, Brazil’s three-time World Cup champion was like an artist and helped raise awareness of poverty in his native country while giving Black people a voice.
Born in impoverished Sao Paulo, the late great Selecao hero learnt football from his father. He couldn’t buy a football, so he had to practise with a sock packed with newspapers. Pele’s adolescent years were filled with an extraordinary ascent; at the age of 16, he was called up to his national team after dominating the Brazilian league in scoring.
The fact that Pele was named a national treasure at this time is a testament to the amount of stardom he attained so quickly. The entire world turned its attention to a footballing superpower who went on to win the World Cup three times, including his first at the age of 17.
“I was born for football, just as Beethoven was born for music – Pele.”
As a football ambassador, the Santos legend’s impact on the game went beyond the pitch. Known as ‘The King’ for good reason, his playing career was a success and contributed to the acceptance of black football players by white people. In December 2022, Pele passed away. He and Maradona shared FIFA’s Player of the Century title. The magnitude of his enduring legacy was demonstrated by the volume of tributes he received from all over the world.
Pele’s Career
Clubs
Santos
Club statistics
Looks (659) Objectives (643) Helps (245)
Global statistics
Looks (92) Objectives (77) Helps (39)
Successes
14 Large Trophies, 11 Smaller Honours
