Top 10 Football Players of All Time

Football, the most popular sport in the world, has produced some great heroes who have gone above and beyond the requirements of the game to leave a lasting impression on football supporters. We tried to select the greatest football players ever in this article. So let's look at the 10 football players of all time.

1. PELE

Source: BusinessInsider

Pele, a football hero from Brazil, is primarily recognized as the best player to ever play the game. The fact that he has won more World Cups than any other player should be sufficient evidence to place the Brazilian at the top of this list. Pele was the best goal-scorer in history and the centre of the attack for both club and the nation. He is the only player with more than 1200 senior goals, which speaks much about his outstanding goal-scoring statistics. More than any other legend on our list, Pele consistently delivered his finest performance when it counted. Pele scored twice in the last game against Sweden in the 1958 World Cup, becoming the player (17 years, 249 days) who scored the most goals in a World Cup.

2. DIEGO MARADONA

Source: NewYorkPost

In that crucial World Cup encounter against England in 1986, Diego Maradona's entire persona—both as a player and as a person—was likely captured. The Argentine maestro was a clever genius who scored the best goals in history by confounding the English defence. Diego Maradona was a football wizard with superhuman talent who could perform feats with the ball that mere mortals could only dream of. El Diego was unquestionably the star of Argentina's illustrious victory in 1986 because he was not hesitant to break the rules when it was in his best interest. El Diego always played to win.

3. LIONEL MESSI

Source: SkySports

Lionel Messi of Barcelona, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, are among our generation's finest players. Beginning his career as a young La Masia child in 2005, Messi quickly rose to become one of the greatest players in the game's history, first under the guidance of Frank Rijkaard and later, more importantly, under Pep Guardiola. After Ronaldinho left, Messi, a young prodigy, took over as Barcelona's top player and led Guardiola's all-conquering Barcelona team in 2008–09.

4. CRISTIANO RONALDO

Source: PixelsTalk

Cristiano Ronaldo was a precociously gifted youngster at Sporting CP when he was discovered by Sir Alex Ferguson. At Manchester United, the Portuguese superstar initially solidified his reputation as one of the finest players of our generation. Ronaldo, with his unwavering will to be the best and his exceptional talent, has emerged as one of the most famous figures in modern sports.

5. ZINEDINE ZIDANE

Source: Britannica

Ballon d'Or winner in 1998, Zinedine Zidane enjoyed a tremendously successful career with both Juventus and Real Madrid. Zidane's performance against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final, however, was what first cemented his reputation as a player of the highest calibre in the public eye. Zidane became an instant hero and idol after scoring a couple of goals with his head to give France their long-awaited first World Cup victory over the favourites Brazil. He followed it up with an outstanding performance at Euro 2000, where France triumphed once more, and he was named player of the competition.

6. GARRINCHA

Source: TheHounds

Garrincha, who won two World Cups and is regarded as one of the greatest players ever, was a recognizable number 7 for Brazil and his club team Botafogo. From 1953 to 1965, Garrincha delighted Brazilian fans with his prowess, gimmicks, and skills, frequently making them laugh out loud with his distinct style of football. In 1958, Garrincha made his World Cup debut for Brazil. From that point on, he quickly rose to become one of the best players in the world, scoring and setting up numerous goals for teammates like Vava and Pele. Even in the championship game, the renowned genius picked up two assists and won man-of-the-match honours for his outstanding effort.

7. ALFREDO DI STEFANO

Source: SkySports

Alfredo Di Stefano, the greatest player for Real Madrid ever and a key component of their success in the 1950s, had a successful 20-year career during which he consistently ranked among the best players in the world. Di Stefano is best renowned for his accomplishments with Real Madrid, where he made an amazing 307 goals in 396 games and took home 15 major awards, including five consecutive European Championships.

8. RONALDO NAZARIO

Source: SkySports

You can tell a player is special when he represents Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and AC Milan without receiving any criticism. Most likely the greatest striker to ever play the game is Ronaldo Nazario, sometimes referred to as "O Fenomeno." There was never any doubt that Ronaldo, a Brazilian striker, was destined to have a successful career in football ever since he made his debut at Cruzeiro as a gifted 17-year-old player. Ronaldo had a career-best season with Barcelona after dominating European football at PSV, when he established himself as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

9. JOHAN CRUYFF

Source: NewYorkTimes

Johan Cruyff has had the greatest impact on the sport in history, more so than any other player or individual. Cruyff was a pioneer who introduced the brilliant concept of "total football" to Ajax, Barcelona, and the Netherlands national team. He also had a storied career for both his clubs and his country, playing some exquisite football in the process.

10. MICHEL PLATINI

Source: Youtube

The three times European Footballer of the Year (1983–85) and former president of the Union of European Football Associations, Michel Platini, is a French professional football (soccer) player and administrator (UEFA; 2007–16). The small playmaker had a long and successful career for both club and country and is credited with turning France into a global giant in football. As a number 10, Platini frequently saved his finest performances for the most important games, scoring several pivotal goals over the course of his career. The three-time Ballon d'Or winner (1983, 1984, 1985), a Frenchman, reached the pinnacle of his abilities in 1984 when he led France to the European Championship victory.

Written by Anusuya Dey