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35 Greatest Football Players Of All Time (2025)

In summary, a list of some of the best players in history, from Europe and beyond, is waiting for you.
Famous players with their own histories and contributions to the game, like Ronaldo (R9), Zidane, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Pele, and Maradona, are on the list.
The top two players on this list are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
For the 2024–2025 season, one of the most exciting football themes will return, and there will be a wide range of divergent views on the outcome. It is never easy to decide who the greatest football player of all time is, especially when supporters vehemently insist that their club icon is the greatest.


A recurring issue is that many people believe that Pele, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Cristiano Ronaldo are the best players to have ever played the game, albeit they are constantly ranked differently.



It should come as no surprise that all four of those names appear on our list of the top 35 football players of all time, but who else does?


Factors that rank
The following factors were taken into account when ranking these players:



Team importance can be categorised as goals, assists, or clean sheets. However, they rank higher on the list the more goals they have scored or defended. You need to score hundreds of goals to be considered a renowned striker.
Club and international trophies: Players are placed higher on this list if they have contributed significantly to their team’s trophy wins. Winning trophies is the main goal of professional football, and these guys embodied that.
Individual honours: Ranking the top 25 players based on individual honours is particularly crucial because some players remain with teams that don’t regularly contend for major prizes. One of the sport’s most coveted honours is the Ballon d’Or.
The All-Time Top 35 Football Players


Rank



Name


Looks

One

Lionel Messi

1116

2.

Ronaldo Cristiano

1268

3.

Pele

739

4.

Maradona, Diego

428

5.

Johan Cruyff 597

6.

Beckenbauer, Franz

723

7.

328 Ferenc Puskas

8.

Zidane Zinedine

797

9.

Ronaldo

553

10.

Di Stefano Alfredo

454

11.

Platini, Michel

622

Twelve

Gerd Muller 674

13.

Maldini Paolo

785

14

Garrincha 294

15.

Baresi, Franco

797

16

Eusebio

500

17

Basten, Marco

431

18

Charlton, Sir Bobby

789

19.

Yashin Lev

432

20

Ronaldo

643

21

Iniesta Andres

1012

22

Romario

983

23

Xavi

1060

24

Modric Luka

1036

25

Matthaus Lothar

935

26

Henry Thierry

917

27

Gullit Ruud

642

28

George Best

694

29

Baggio, Roberto

699

30

Rivaldo

697

31

Kaka

651

32

Alberto Carlos

743

33

Neuer, Manuel

938

34

Bale, Gareth

665

35

Matthews, Sir Stanley

717

accurate as of April 22, 25

In summary, a list of some of the best players in history, from Europe and beyond, is waiting for you.
Famous players with their own histories and contributions to the game, like Ronaldo (R9), Zidane, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Pele, and Maradona, are on the list.
The top two players on this list are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
For the 2024–2025 season, one of the most exciting football themes will return, and there will be a wide range of divergent views on the outcome. It is never easy to decide who the greatest football player of all time is, especially when supporters vehemently insist that their club icon is the greatest.

A recurring issue is that many people believe that Pele, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Cristiano Ronaldo are the best players to have ever played the game, albeit they are constantly ranked differently.

It should come as no surprise that all four of those names appear on our list of the top 35 football players of all time, but who else does?

Factors that rank
The following factors were taken into account when ranking these players:

Team importance can be categorised as goals, assists, or clean sheets. However, they rank higher on the list the more goals they have scored or defended. You need to score hundreds of goals to be considered a renowned striker.
Club and international trophies: Players are placed higher on this list if they have contributed significantly to their team’s trophy wins. Winning trophies is the main goal of professional football, and these guys embodied that.
Individual honours: Ranking the top 25 players based on individual honours is particularly crucial because some players remain with teams that don’t regularly contend for major prizes. One of the sport’s most coveted honours is the Ballon d’Or.
The All-Time Top 35 Football Players

Rank

Name

Looks

One

Lionel Messi

1083

2.

Ronaldo Cristiano

1261

3.

Pele

739

4.

Maradona, Diego

428

5.

Johan Cruyff 597

6.

Puskas Ferenc

328

7.

723 Franz Beckenbauer

8.

Zidane Zinedine

797

9.

Ronaldo

553

10.

Di Stefano Alfredo

454

11.

Platini, Michel

622

Twelve

Gerd Muller 674

13.

Maldini Paolo

785

14

Garrincha 294

15.

Baresi, Franco

797

16

Eusebio

500

17

Kaka

651

18

Basten, Marco

431

19.

Charlton, Sir Bobby

789

20

Yashin Lev

432

21

Ronaldo

643

22

Iniesta Andres

1012

23

Xavi

1060

24

Bale, Gareth

665

25

Gullit Ruud

642

26

George Best

694

27

Modric Luka

1034

28

Baggio, Roberto

699

29

Romario

983

30

Matthaus Lothar

935

31

Henry Thierry

917

32

Alberto Carlos

743

33

Neuer, Manuel

842

34

Rivaldo

697

35

Matthews, Sir Stanley

717

accurate as of May 02, 25

The Greatest Football Players Picture Collection

35Sir Stanley Matthews

Born 1 February 1915. Died 23 February 2000.

One of the greatest English players of all time is Sir Stanley Matthews. For his football accomplishments while still playing for Stoke City, he was knighted in 1965. He is still the first football player to receive a knighthood while still playing. Despite being from Stoke, his greatest accomplishment was winning the FA Cup in 1953 while playing for Blackpool.

He defeated competitors like Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano to win the first Ballon d’Or three years later. Because he played in a top-flight game at the age of fifty, he is also still listed in the English record books.

1934 Rivaldo was born on April 19, 1972.

Rivaldo played for teams like Barcelona, AC Milan, and Olympiacos during his illustrious club and national career. In 1999, he won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year after winning La Liga for Barcelona and guiding Brazil to Copa America glory. With five goals, he tied Ronaldo as the tournament’s leading scorer. He scored two goals in the final versus Uruguay.

The Brazilian forward won the World Cup in Japan and South Korea three years later. With the equaliser in the 45th minute, he was instrumental in their 2-1 quarterfinal victory over England. Domestically, he was equally successful, winning league titles in four different countries and securing the Champions League trophy for Milan in 2003.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

The Santa Cruz

1990–1992

9.

One

0

Mirim Mogi

1992–1994 and 2014–2015

8.

One

0

Corinthians

1993–1994

8.

2.

0

The Palmeiras

1994–1996

9.

5.

0

La Coruna Deportivo

1996–1997

44

22

One

Barcelona

1997 – 2002

235

130

46

Milan

2002 – 2003

40

8.

5.

Cruzeiro

2004

3.

0

1

Olympiacos

2004 – 2007

101

43

23

AEK Athens

2007 – 2008

44

15

15

Bunyodkor

2008 – 2011

34

14

1

Sao Paulo

2011

46

7

3

Kabuscorp

2012

21

11

2

Sao Caetano

2013

19

2

0

Brazil

1993 – 2003

76

35

17

33
Manuel Neuer
Born 27 March 1986

One of the first’modern’ goalkeepers, Manuel Neuer is famous for being incredibly skilled with the ball at his feet and for having played sweeper keeper for many years. For his efforts from 2011 to 2020, he was really given the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) custodian of the decade award in 2020.

In addition, he has won numerous team trophies. Most famously, he and Germany won the 2014 World Cup. He has won the Bundesliga eleven times and the Champions League twice at home; his most recent victories occurred during the 2019–20 season.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Schalke 04 II

2004–2006

26

0

0

Schalke FC

From 2005 to 2011

152

0

0

The Bayern Munich

2011–present

554

0

0

Germany

From 2009 to 2024

124

0

0

accurate as of March 21, 25.

32
Alberto Carlos was born on July 17, 1944. died on October 25, 2016.

Most famously, Carlos Alberto led Brazil to victory in the 1970 World Cup final. Alberto scored the last goal, regarded as one of the greatest goals in football history, as the Selecao defeated Italy 4-1 in the championship match. In front of more than 107,000 spectators at Estadio Azteca, Pele sent the ball to the right-back, who hammered it into the bottom corner after a series of quick passes between the yellow-clad men.

In 1998, Alberto was chosen for the World Team of the 20th Century, a recognition of his accomplishments for both club and nation. Before retiring in 1982, he won 16 domestic trophies with Fluminense, Santos, and the New York Cosmos.

31
Henry Thierry was born on August 17, 1977.

Many people consider Thierry Henry to be among the best Premier League players of all time. He won the league twice in his eight years at Arsenal, from 1999 to 2007, including the 2003–04 season when the Gunners finished the season undefeated. With 175 goals in the English top division, he surpassed Liverpool’s current talisman, Mohamed Salah, by five goals, making him the seventh-highest goalscorer in Premier League history.

Henry lost the 2006 final and failed to win the Champions League in North London. But three years later, he won the trophy for Barcelona, securing the French forward’s illustrious career.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Monaco

1994–1999

141

28

4.

Juventus

1999

20

3.

2.

The Arsenal

1999–2007–2012

377

228

93

Barcelona

From 2007 to 2010

121

49

27

The New York Red Bulls

From 2010 to 2014

135

52

42

France

From 1997 to 2010

123

51

30

Lothar Matthaus was born on March 21, 1961.

Lothar Matthaus never questioned his extraordinary calibre. Despite winning numerous medals for both the national team and Bayern Munich, the powerful centre midfielder never felt valued by his people. Long after he retired, he continued to worry, “Germany should be ashamed of the way it treats such an idol,” This arrogance worked against Matthaus.

Many valued his special combination of abilities. “Best rival I had in my whole career” is how Diego Maradona memorably praised the German. The two would face off in back-to-back World Cup finals and overlap in Serie A. As the 1990 Ballon d’Or winner, Matthaus won the world championship and received praise from people around the world.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Monchengladbach, Borussia

From 1979 to 1984

200

51

One

The Bayern Munich

1984–1988

152

69

15.

Milan Inter

From 1988 to 1992

154

53

11.

The Bayern Munich

1992–2000

258

31

35

The MetroStars

2000

21

0

One

Germany or West Germany

From 1980 to 2000

150

23

17

29 Romeio was born on January 29, 1966.

Romario would have been much closer to the top of this list if he had been in charge of it. The vocal Brazilian striker asserted that he was superior to only two players in the history of the game: Pele and Maradona. There is some basis for his confidence, even though that high estimate might be a stretch.

Romario’s unapologetic protest was straightforward: score. He was a wiry, bandy-legged forward. It was undoubtedly mission accomplished after a career that covered five continents and more than 750 goals in official games. However, concentrating only on the numbers—which Romario has a history of manipulating—ignores the clever strategy woven throughout his game.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Vasco da Gama

1985–1988

142

80

Not sure

PSV

1988–1993

148

128

24

Barcelona

1993–1995

66

39

11.

The Flamengo

1995–1999

215

187

Not sure

Valencia

1996–1997

Twelve

6.

0

Vasco da Gama

From 1999 to 2002

136

131

Not sure

Fluminense

From 2002 to 2004

75

47

Not sure

Al-Sadd

2003

3.

0

Not sure

Vasco da Gama

2005–2006

56

41

Not sure

FC Miami

2006

26

19.

Not sure

Adelaide United

2006

4.

One

Not sure

Vasco da Gama

2007

19.

15.

Not sure

America FC

2009

One

0

Not sure

Brazil

1987 – 2005

80

68

11.

28
Roberto Baggio
Born: 18 February 1967.

Roberto Baggio’s timeless appeal stems from his universality. Baggio is loved by everyone who has had the good fortune to witness his effortless grace, even though he plays for Juventus, Milan, and Inter, the three northern titans of Italy. The ‘Divine Ponytail’, perhaps one of the greatest football nicknames, reserved his finest work for the Italian national team and those outside of Serie A’s established elite.

At Fiorentina, Baggio woven the first golden threads of his tapestry, and his manager, Aldo Agroppi, exclaimed, “The angels sing, in his legs.” Before retiring from the game after four successful seasons in regional Brescia, the ephemeral forward spent a year in Bologna, where he recovered his greatest form.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Vicenza

1982–1985

47

16

Not sure

The Fiorentina

From 1985 to 1990

136

55

24

Juventus

From 1990 to 1995

200

115

48

Milan AC

1995–1997

67

19.

23

Bologna

1997–1998

33

23

10.

Milan Inter

From 1998 to 2000

59

17

18

Brescia

From 2000 to 2004

101

46

29

Italy

From 1988 to 2004

56

27

14

Luka Modric was born on September 9, 1985.

In a survey by the Spanish newspaper Marca, Luka Modric was chosen as the season’s worst acquisition halfway through his first season at Real Madrid in 2012–13. Jose Mourinho, the manager, urged patience and time. “He’s so good that the Santiago Bernabeu will fall in love with his class.” It was not the first time that Mourinho was shown to be correct.

A stack of trophies and universal praise have resulted from more than ten years of using the outside of his right foot to discover new passing angles. The entire stadium, including the away supporters, always rises in applause for the Croatian legend during Modric’s last years in the Spanish city.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Zagreb Dinamo

From 2003 to 2008

79

24

21

Mostar Zrinjski

2003–2004

25

8.

Not sure

Zapresic Inter

2004–2005

18

4.

Not sure

Tottenham

2008–2012

160

17

25

Real Madrid

From 2012 to the present

579

43

93

Croatia

From 2006 to the present

185

27

29

accurate as of March 21, 25

26
George Best
born on May 22, 1946. Date of death: November 25, 2005

George Best’s heyday was very short. The winger, who scored his 32nd goal of the season in the final against Benfica a week after turning 22, helped Manchester United to the club’s first European Cup in 1968. His body feints may leave defenders with twisted blood. After turning 26, he never scored more than ten goals for a European team.

In a time when nobody would have known how to respond, least of all a timid young man from Belfast, British football’s first celebrity found it difficult to cope with the renown he never requested. “If I’d been born ugly, you’d never have heard of Pele,” Best thought cynically.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

United Manchester

From 1963 to 1974

418

158

Not sure

Jewish Guild

1974

5.

0

Not sure

The County of Stockport

1975

3.

2.

Not sure

City of Cork

1975–1976

3.

0

Not sure

Aztecs of Los Angeles

1976

24

15.

Not sure

Fulham

1976–1977

47

10.

Not sure

Aztecs of Los Angeles

1977–1978

37

14

Not sure

The Strikers of Fort Lauderdale

1978–1979

33

7.

Not sure

The Hibernian

1979–1980

22

3.

Not sure

Earthquakes in San Jose

1980–1981

56

21

Not sure

The Bournemouth

1982–1983

5.

0

Not sure

The Brisbane Lions

1983

4.

0

Not sure

Ireland’s northern region

1964–1977

37

9.

Not sure

25 Rudolf Gullit was born on September 1, 1962.

The former AC Milan midfielder rates among the best players to have ever played the game in his position and breaks into the top 25. Gullit, who went on to win three Serie A championships and two European Cups, spent the finest years of his career in Italy. In the later years of his career, when he joined Chelsea, he even managed to recast himself as a premier centre-back.

Gullit played for six different clubs from 1979 until his retirement, during which he scored 219 goals and dishevelled 100 assists. Despite being born in Suriname, he chose to play for Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven, two of the largest teams in the Eredivisie, and represent the Netherlands. There is no denying Gullit’s skill on the field, even though the powerful Dutchman is more recognised for his unrivalled haircut and moustache.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

The Haarlem

1979–1982

One hundred

36

13.

The Feyenoord

1982–1985

103

41

13.

PSV Eindhoven

1985–1987

75

53

29

Milan AC

From 1987 to 1994

171

56

40

The Sampdoria

1994–1995

63

26

5.

Chelsea

1995–1998

64

7.

0

The Netherlands

From 1981 to 1994

66

17

7.

24
Bale, Gareth
Date of birth: July 16, 1989.

You might be surprised to see Gareth Bale on this list, especially because Eden Hazard isn’t. But he was always of the highest calibre and personified the concept of ‘hard labour’. At Tottenham Hotspur, he established himself. The Welshman carried the team on his back despite only winning one prize there, the 2008 Carling Cup. In 2010, Bale made his debut with a hat-trick away to Inter Milan, the European champions. He eventually won everything he could after moving to Real Madrid for a record-breaking sum. One of the best goals in the history of the game is still Bale’s overhead kick to defeat Liverpool and win the 2018 Champions League.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Southampton

2006–2007

45

5.

Twelve

Tottenham

From 2007 to 2013

202

55

55

Real Madrid

From 2013 to 2020

258

106

67

Tottenham

2020–2021

34

16

3.

LA FC

2022–2023

14

3.

0

Wales

From 2006 to 2022

111

40

22

23 Xavi was born on January 25, 1980.

One of the best midfielders of all time is Xavi. He had exceptional ability to control games and make precise passes, which is something that very few midfielders have ever done. He was a vital member of Barcelona’s golden generation, which was demonstrated by their joint Champions League victories in 2009 and 2011 with Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi. Xavi controlled the middle of the park in both of those matches against Manchester United. He became one of the greatest of all time for Spain after winning two European Championships and a World Cup. In some way, his teammate Iniesta was simply superior.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Barcelona

From 1998 to 2015

767

85

185

Al-Sadd

From 2015 to 2019

99

23

30

Spain

From 2000 to 2014

133

Twelve

25

22 On May 11, 1984, Andrés Iniesta was born.

Furthermore, Xavi and Andres Iniesta were ‘two peas in a pod’. Barcelona was able to control European football because they were a perfect match in the middle of the park. Guardiola was quite supportive of the Spaniards, and it resulted in victory year after year. Iniesta participated in 674 games and assisted on 130 goals over his 12 years at Barcelona, as well as additional time at the academy. His work for Spain was just amazing; he managed games with ease. He was never given the chance to compete for the Ballon d’Or because of Ronaldo and Messi’s domination, but Iniesta would have won it without the illustrious pair.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Barcelona

From 2002 to 2018

674

57

136

Kobe, Vissel

2018–2023

134

26

25

The Emirates

2023–2024

23

5.

One

Spain

From 2006 to 2018

134

14

Not sure

21 Ronaldo was born on March 21, 1980.

But the legends of Barcelona don’t end there. Ronaldinho surprised supporters by dominating games from the flank a little before Xavi and Iniesta did. He acted like it was a game of kickaround in the park, sailed past opponents, and made up skill moves out of thin air. He won the World Cup and the Champions League during his career, and in just 207 games during his finest stint with Barcelona, he scored 90 goals and provided 70 assists. Even though his career ended badly at the end and after he retired, he is still regarded as one of the greatest players of all time in terms of natural talent.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Gremio

From 1998 to 2001

10.

One

One

PSG

From 2001 to 2003

77

25

17

Barcelona

From 2003 to 2008

207

94

70

Milan AC

2008–2011

95

26

29

The Flamengo

2011–2012

44

19.

13.

Mineiro Atletico

From 2012 to 2014

73

24

28

Queretaro

2014–2015

30

8.

8.

Fluminense

2015

9.

0

0

Brazil

From 1999 to 2013

97

33

Not sure

20Lev Yashin

Born: 22 October 1929. Died: 20 March 1990.

In addition to being the first goalie to ever win the Ballon d’Or, Lev Yashin is now honoured by the Yashin Trophy, which is presented annually to the finest goalie. He had exceptional individual skills, especially when playing for his country, but he also spent his whole career with Dynamic Moscow. He played 358 games for Dynamo Moscow between 1950 and 1970, winning eight major medals during that time. Yashin’s ability to preserve shots that were previously thought to be unsalvageable astounded onlookers. He even won the European Championships with the Soviet Union, making him one of the best goalkeepers of all time. Magnificence personified.

Group

Years

Looks

Moscow Dynamo

1950–1970

358

The Soviet Union

From 1954 to 1970

74

19.
Charlton, Sir Bobby
born on October 11, 1937. Death date: October 21, 2023.

The Manchester United legend received the coveted Ballon d’Or in 1966 after helping England win the World Cup earlier that year, making him one of just four Englishmen to have won the famous individual award. With an incredible 249 goals, Charlton was Man United’s most scorer until Wayne Rooney surpassed him. Alongside players like Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, and Paul Gascoigne, Charlton is so famous for both his former club and England that he has been included in England’s three best XIs, demonstrating the kind of effect he had on the football pitch. He tragically died in 2023, yet he left behind a remarkable legacy.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

United Manchester

From 1956 to 1973

686

231

10.

England

From 1958 to 1970

106

49

One

18Marco van Basten

Born: 31 October 1964.

Van Basten, a former Netherlands international, played for two clubs during his career: AC Milan for the second half and Ajax for the first half. He was able to score 277 goals and provide 82 assists during both stints, which came just short of his average goal contribution per game. He joined the select few who have won three Ballon d’Ors thanks to his goal-scoring antics. There’s a good probability that the Dutch attacker would have received more accolades than he has now if injuries hadn’t forced him to quit from football early at age 31. A career that appeared to be on the verge of becoming an all-time great was cut short, but he did get to retire from the game while he was at the top.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Ajax

From 1981 to 1987

172

152

34

Milan AC

From 1987 to 1995

201

125

49

The Netherlands

From 1983 to 1992

58

24

9.

17 Kaka was born on April 22, 1982.

After winning the Champions League with AC Milan, Kaka was awarded the 2007 Ballon d’Or. His reputation as one of the greatest players of all time was cemented by his team’s and his own accomplishments. In his first year of playing for his nation, he also won the World Cup in 2002, solidifying his legendary reputation right away. He was a standout player for AC Milan from 2003 until 2009, collecting 75 goals in 270 games. Despite his less than stellar tenure at Real Madrid, he scored 29 goals in 120 games during that time. The Brazilian will go down in history as one of the greatest entertainers in the sport and among the greatest Brazilians.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Brazil’s Sao Paulo

From 2000 to 2003

46

19.

8.

Milan AC

From 2003 to 2009

270

75

74

Real Madrid

From 2009 to 2013

120

29

39

Milan AC

2013–2014

37

9.

7.

Orlando City

2014–2017

78

25

19.

Brazil

From 2002 to 2016

92

29

Not sure

16
Eusebio
Born: January 25, 1942. Date of death: January 5, 2014.

During his time with Benfica, Eusebio ruled Portugal and won the 1965 Ballon d’Or. The forward was incredibly skilled at scoring goals for both his team and his nation. If it weren’t for another man who appeared a while later, he would have been regarded as the greatest Portuguese talent the game has ever seen. Eusebio is still regarded as one of football’s best finishers, despite the fact that another player on this list has eclipsed his history as a Portuguese hero. The Benfica legend is clinical on both feet and has a variety of finishes in his locker.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Benfica

From 1961 to 1975

301

317

Not sure

Portugal

From 1961 to 1973

64

41

Not sure

15Franco Baresi

Born: 8 May 1960

Baresi is among the best defenders the game has ever seen, and Italy is renowned for producing some of the strongest. Even though he was the second-highest ranked Italian centre-back on the list, his defensive acumen was virtually unrivalled. After finishing second in 1989, Baresi came very close to winning the Ballon d’Or, which has proven to be exceedingly difficult for defenders to win over the years. Born and raised in AC Milan’s junior system, Baresi was a real one-club man who would play for the Rossoneri at the senior level for twenty years. Most of that time was spent as one of the world’s top defenders. It is well known that Italian players enjoy playing defence, and Baresi was no exception.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Milan AC

From 1977 to 1997

716

33

24

Italy

From 1982 to 1994

81

One

Not sure

14
The Garrincha
Born: October 28, 1933. died January 20, 1983.

Given that the Brazilian was born with one leg six centimetres longer than the other, Garrincha’s success in football is astounding. As a toddler, Garrincha’s doctor declared him disabled since his right leg went inwards while his left leg turned outwards. One of the greatest ascents to the top that any player can boast about is to become such a gifted player as an adult and to continue playing until his late 30s. It is commonly known that the winger was an exceptional player in his day, but it is unclear how many goals he scored in his career, so don’t take the statistics too seriously. Garrincha was an intriguing player to watch because he mixed the Brazilian flair we have come to associate with the country with a lot of quickness.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Botafogo

1953–1965

238

84

Not sure

Brazil

1955–1966

50

Twelve

Not sure

Paolo Maldini was born on June 26, 1968.

Similar to Baresi before him, Paolo Maldini was a one-club man who played for AC Milan for 25 years, which is an amazing accomplishment for any player. He developed his skills to become a world-class left-back and centre-back, becoming proficient in both positions, which allowed him to play for a long time. The Italian, who won five European Cups and seven Serie A crowns, made the art of defence appear natural and nearly effortless. Under Carlo Ancelotti, AC Milan experienced its most successful period under Maldini’s tenure, as the Italian team regained its position as a major force in Europe in the early 2000s. Maldini’s remarkable defensive IQ and leadership abilities were largely responsible for this.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Milan AC

1984–2009

647

29

28

Italy

From 1988 to 2002

138

Twelve

Not sure

12Gerd Muller

Born: 3 November 1945. Died: 15 August 2021.

Muller’s trophy cabinet is filled with numerous high-profile accolades, including the 1970 Ballon d’Or, which he received after winning the Golden Boot at the World Cup. The attacker led his country to World Cup triumph just four years later, which is always a goal for any football player. With 568 goals in 611 games, his success in front of goal in Germany speaks for itself. Despite Robert Lewandowski’s lethal play in the Bundesliga over the last ten or so years, Muller remains the league’s highest goalscorer with an incredible 365 goals. This lends even more legitimacy to the German’s legacy because contemporary sports fans are aware of Lewandowski’s exceptional play, and although the Polish forward is on par with Muller’s record, he still lacks it.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

The Bayern Munich

1964–1979

611.

568

102

Germany

1966–1974

63

69

Not sure

11 June 21, 1955, was Michel Platini’s birthdate.

The fact that French midfielder Platini has won three Ballon d’Ors in a row, from 1983 to 1985, speaks much about his stature in the world of football. Even if his goal-scoring prowess was as potent as a clinical talisman, he is the only player with this many Ballons d’Or who is not a forward. His 1984 Euro campaign stands out among his many honours because he was voted player of the tournament and, despite being a midfielder, he was the top scorer. During his club career, the former UEFA President scored more than 200 goals for Juventus, Nancy, and Saint-Etienne.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

As Nancy

1972–1979

182

110

Not sure

The Saint-Étienne

1979–1982

145

83

Not sure

Juventus

1982–1987

223

104

49

France

From 1976 to 1987

72

41

17

Alfredo Di Stefano, 10
born on July 4, 1926. died on July 7, 2014.

 

As the talisman, Di Stefano led a dominating Real Madrid team to eight La Liga titles in a ten-year span. Although he finished second in the 1956 Ballon d’Or rankings, he won the prize the following year and again in 1959. The guy who swapped national allegiances during his career to play for both Argentina and Spain at the international level had a better goal total for Los Blancos than only three other men. At the time, Di Stefano was the best shooter in the history of the esteemed club, having scored 308 goals for the Spanish team. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Raul Gonzalez have scored more goals while wearing the recognisable white shirt.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Millions of dollars

1949–1953

One

2.

Not sure

Real Madrid

1953–1964

360 degrees

276

2.

Spanish

1964–1966

56

13.

Not sure

Argentina

1947

6.

6.

Not sure

Spain

1957–1961

31

23

Not sure

9Ronaldo

Born: 18 September 1976.

Without a doubt, R9 was a tremendously gifted player who had some difficult periods during his career. One of the greatest compliments the football world can give the two-time World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner is that he still plays for the two largest clubs in Italy and Spain and is still adored by everyone. Ronaldo’s career peaked in 2002 when he scored two goals in Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Germany in one of the greatest World Cup finals ever. After two years back in Brazil with Corinthians, a glittering career slowed down considerably in his later years.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Cruzeiro

1993–1994

10.

2.

Not sure

PSV Eindhoven

1994–1996

57

54

7.

Barcelona

1996–1997

49

47

13.

Milan Inter

From 1997 to 2002

99

59

10.

Real Madrid

From 2002 to 2007

177

103

35

Milan AC

2007–2008

20

9.

5.

Corinthians

From 2009 to 2011

42

24

6.

Brazil

1994–2011

99

62

32

Eight Zinedine Zidane was born on June 23, 1972.

Zidane’s tragic red card exit during a World Cup final defeat doesn’t adequately capture the essence of his stellar career. He demonstrated his skill in the match as well, scoring a panenka to put his team ahead of Italy.

This list helps to support the general view that the strong and talented midfielder is the greatest player to have ever played the position. Zidane is the best central midfielder to have ever set foot on a football ground because of his top ten ranking on this list. It’s difficult to argue against his ranking on this list given that he has already won a World Cup and a Champions League trophy.

Group

Years

Looks

Objectives

Helps

Cannes

From 1989 to 1992

71

6.

Not sure

Bordeaux

1992–1996

179

39

23

Juventus

From 1996 to 2001

212

31

50

Real Madrid

From 2001 to 2006

227

49

68

France

1994–2006

108

31

30

7 Beckenbauer, Franz
born on September 11, 1945. Death date: January 7, 2024.

 

 



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