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.
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