In brief
Without the influence of numerous important individuals, football would not be where it is now.
With their record-breaking careers, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo transformed the boundaries of what football players could do.
Even though they were highly contentious, individuals like Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter were in positions of authority.
Without a few chosen individuals, the so-called “beautiful game” would not be where it is now. These people either created laws that transformed football, some of the most influential people who put regulations into place and guided the game’s future, or athletes whose legacy extends beyond their stellar careers to include memorable moments that continue to influence the actions of the current generation.
Naturally, these individuals’ status will have evolved throughout time. The officials might have been removed from office, and the players might not be at their best anymore. In terms of who has influenced football the most over the course of its history, however, GIVEMESPORT has put together a list of ten personalities that have influenced the game and are thus worthy of being mentioned among the most significant figures in football history.
The Top 10 Most Important Figures in Football History
One
Cruyff, Johan
2.
Lionel Messi
3.
Bosman, Jean-Marc
4.
Blatter, Sepp
5.
Ronaldo Cristiano
6.
Alex Ferguson, sir
7.
Platini, Michel
8.
Panenka Antonin
9.
Rimet, Jules
10.
Dyke, Greg
10 Greg Dyke Dyke is generally acknowledged as having played a significant role in the Premier League’s rebranding.
Although some people may recognise Greg Dyke as a former FA chairperson, that is not the reason he is on this list. This is because rebranding the Premier League, England’s top division, was his greatest accomplishment.
Dyke was instrumental in the Premier League’s formation, which revolutionised English football. He called a pivotal meeting with representatives from the “Big Five” clubs—Lakers, Arsenal, Everton, Manchester United, and Tottenham—at the conclusion of the 1990–91 season while serving as managing director of London Weekend Television in the early 1990s. In order to enable these best teams to keep a bigger portion of the significantly rising television revenue, Dyke suggested creating a new league.
Their deal changed the financial structure of professional football and resulted in the creation of the Premier League, which was formally started on February 20, 1992. As the world’s most profitable football league, the brand remains as strong as ever.
9Jules Rimet
El 14 de octubre de 1873, nació el dirigente deportivo francés y presidente de FIFA en período 1921-1954, Jules Rimet. pic.twitter.com/BkKMoqr6QI
— SegunElCalendario (@SegunCalendario) October 14, 2024
The Jules Rimet trophy is well-known, but who was the guy who inspired its name? Rimet, who presided over FIFA from 1921 until 1954, is credited with creating the FIFA World Cup, the top international football competition that remains the one that players want to win. In order to fulfil his goal of promoting football globally, he organised the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. It was an immediate success and garnered international attention.
His creation of the competition promoted international competition and unification through sport, elevating football’s stature. In addition, Rimet promoted amateurism in the sport, albeit this viewpoint changed as a result of growing commercial interests. The World Cup trophy was renamed the Jules Rimet Trophy in honour of his efforts.
8. Panenka Antonin
The first person to score the most infamous kind of football penalty
The founder of the World Cup
Not a case of someone altering the sport’s terrain the way Dyke and Rimet did. This time, it’s just a player who achieved something so brilliant and unexpected that people who try to do it will always remember him. The ‘chipped penalty’, which has since resulted in some of the coldest moments in history, was invented by Antolin Panenka.
Panenka’s audacious, beautiful chip shot over the custodian in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final gave Czechoslovakia the victory over West Germany. It became a symbol of great play and has since been imitated by many players worldwide, giving penalty-taking a sense of surprise and flair.
Beyond just her talent, Panenka has had a lasting impact on football players’ approaches to high-pressure circumstances by symbolising the value of ingenuity and psychological strategy. His name has become synonymous with this special penalty technique, solidifying his place in the annals of the sport.
7Michel Platini
Three-time Ballon d’Or winner and former UEFA President
On and off the pitch, Michel Platini had a significant impact. He won three Ballon d’Or trophies as a player and led France to victory in the 1984 Euros. He was renowned for his exceptional vision, passing, and goal-scoring skills. His reputation as an all-time great was cemented by his leadership and playing style, which raised the sport’s profile in France and around the world.
Following his retirement, Platini was president of UEFA from 2007 to 2015, during which time he expanded the European Championship format and instituted financial fair play rules, both of which had a major impact on European football. His term was tainted by controversy, nevertheless, since he was banned from football for unethical behaviour including a $2 million payment from Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA at the time. His accomplishments have been obscured by these controversies, but his overall impact on football is still noteworthy, which is why he is on this list.
6. Alex Ferguson, sir
The legendary manager of Manchester United
Not only the best football coach, but the best coach in all of sports. Prior to the action that would finally solidify his legacy for future generations, Sir Alex Ferguson had already established himself in his home country of Scotland. He led Manchester United to 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League triumphs after taking over in 1986, turning the team back into a major force in English and European football. Ferguson was praised for his talent development, tactical sense, and ability to lead well-known players.
Football has never seen something like this before or after, including longevity and consistent success at a single club. Without the legendary Scot and what he was able to transform United into in the 1990s and 2000s, the Premier League probably would not be where it is today, having worked with some of the greatest in the industry and served as a father figure to many of them.
5Cristiano Ronaldo
Football’s all-time record goalscorer
The greatest goal scorer in history. You deserve a spot on the list if you have the most goals in history, since this is essentially what football is all about. Cristiano Ronaldo is the only guy with more than five Ballons d’Or, yet the Portuguese are so strong and recognisable for reasons other than only his amazing skill on the game.
Ronaldo has done a remarkable job of using his skills as a marketing gimmick, so his name is valuable outside of the football world. His influence is still so strong that, when he decided to play for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, he essentially made a full country’s league famous. That is only the beginning for this man, who possibly has the most amazing rags-to-riches tale in sports history.
4Sepp Blatter
Former FIFA President
FIFA broadened its global reach under Sepp Blatter by expanding the number of World Cup participants and initiating programs to promote football globally. He eventually resigned as a result of the many scandals that plagued his term, which included extensive accusations of bribery, vote-buying, and corruption.
Despite growing criticism, Blatter’s governing style was compared to that of a dictator since it was marked by a firm hold on power and a hesitancy to enact significant reforms. He transformed what was intended to be a non-profit company into a multibillion-pound enterprise that frequently twisted the law to its advantage when it was convenient. His legacy as a divisive character whose reign revolutionised football while also exposing pervasive problems inside its governing body was cemented in 2015 when he was banished from the game for ethical transgressions.
3. Bosman, Jean-Marc
‘Bosman Rule’ creator
A key participant in football history, Jean-Marc Bosman is most remembered for his historic court battle that changed player mobility and transfer laws. A Belgian football player named Bosman contested the restrictive transfer system that forbade players from freely switching teams at the conclusion of their contracts in 1990. Following a protracted legal struggle, the European Court of Justice decided in his favour in 1995, establishing the norm that, after their contracts expired, players could move freely without paying a transfer fee.
In addition to revolutionising player rights, this historic decision gave athletes more negotiating leverage and more career independence. The present era of player contracts was brought about by Bosman’s case, which drastically altered the football transfer scene.
2. Lionel Messi
The exclusion of players like Pele and Diego Maradona from this list is severe. Their abilities went much beyond the time period in which they performed, and they would likely still be considered the best players of all time if it weren’t for the two men who helped to define the contemporary era. Nevertheless, Lionel Messi and Ronaldo currently own that distinction.
Every major team award imaginable for club and nation, along with eight Ballon d’Or victories. To put it simply, this is the person that comes to mind when you think about football. The most technically proficient and terrifying person to ever lace up a pair of boots is this small, unthreatening man. His dominance and unfathomable talent almost placed him at the top, but he just falls short for a very good reason.
1Johan Cruyff
The inventor of ‘Total Football
These days, every team is under pressure to play beautiful and appealing football, regardless of the calibre of their roster. As everyone strives to maintain possession and attack at all costs, route one, direct football is becoming extinct. The Catalan had to take it from someone, and that someone happened to be Johan Cruyff. Some people wrongly attribute this to Pep Guardiola’s success.
The Dutchman is widely credited with creating “total football” and the “Cruyff turn.” This system is characterised by easy positional switching between players, allowing any outfield player to fill in for another, encouraging adaptability and group collaboration. This strategy, which places a strong focus on ball possession, fast passing, and heavy pressing, enables teams to sustain consistent offensive pressure while maintaining a strong defence.
That is the exact model for how football is played in the twenty-first century. Being the one who initiated it all means that you influenced how people perceive the sport. That is deserving of the top spot.
