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- Lionel Messi. Forward. 290,723 votes. Lionel "Leo" Andrés Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team.
- Cristiano Ronaldo. Forward. 249,116 votes. Cristiano Ronaldo, born on February 5, 1985 in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, is a globally recognized football player known for his extraordinary skills and precision on the field.
- Ronaldinho. Attacking Midfielder. 183,204 votes. Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (born 21 March 1980), commonly known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Brazilian Portuguese: [ʁonawˈdʒĩɲu ga'uʃu]) or simply Ronaldinho, is a Brazilian former professional footballer and ambassador for Barcelona.
- Ronaldo. Forward. 147,843 votes. Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (born 18 September 1976), commonly known as Ronaldo or Ronaldo Nazário, is a Brazilian business owner, president of La Liga club Real Valladolid, owner of Brasileiro Série B club Cruzeiro and a retired professional footballer who played as a striker.
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- Giacinto Facchetti. In the 1970 World Cup Final, Brazil saw the future. He was playing at left-back for the opposition, who O Canarinho were busy beating 4-1 at the time.
- Peter Schmeichel. Of all the keepers I have played against, Peter was easily the best. You can't be a great by just being a good shot stopper, you have to have it all – and he did.
- Sandor Kocsis. Arguably the greatest header of a ball ever, Kocsis scored at incredible rate. He found the net 75 times in 68 games for his national side, winning the Olympic tournament in 1952, and averaged more than a goal-per-game in his seven seasons at Honved, winning three league championship titles.
- Luis Figo. MORE ON FIGO. ANDREW MURRAY How the 2000s saved El Clasico – and made Barcelona vs Real Madrid bigger than ever before. One of the most idolised and despised players in history – even by the same set of fans at different points in his timeline.
- Lionel Messi. The history books will laud Messi, and yet their limitations will do him a disservice. In 20 years, young football fans will read about a messianic figure whose brilliance stunned the world, shattered a litany of records and started an era of dominance… but not until they watch the videos will they get an idea of what they have missed.
- Pele. At the age of 17, in 1958, Pele became the youngest player to feature in a World Cup final. He scored six times in Sweden, including a semi-final hat-trick and two more in the final.
- Diego Maradona. How do you separate the three greatest footballers of all time? Any of them would have been worthy winners, but we can only pick one. Longevity, goals and trophies are where Lionel Messi and Pele arguably have the slight edge but, boy, Maradona was exciting.
- Cristiano Ronaldo. When Ronaldo became the first player ever to score in five World Cups, two days after Argentina opened their 2022 campaign with a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia, he hoped it would be the start of his bid to stand above Lionel Messi forever.
- Pele
- Diego Maradona
- Lionel Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Johan Cruyff
- Franz Beckenbauer
- Zinedine Zidane
- Ronaldo de Lima
- Alfredo Di Stefano
- Michel Platini
The first 5 players on this list can all arguably be in the number one spot. But Pele takes this one. The classic number 10 (the number 10 achieved its significance because of Pelè). In his prime, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly called Pele, was the most famous footballer — and athlete — in the world. He was part of the Brazilian national te...
A precocious talent, Diego Maradona was given the nickname “El Pibe de Oro” (“The Golden Boy”). To many, he is the greatest soccer player ever. He won the FIFA World Cup in a way that no one else has ever been capable of doing — single-handedly leading Argentina to the title in 1986. In that same tournament, he scored two of the most significant go...
Regarded by some as the greatest soccer player of all time, Lionel Messi has won a record 7 Ballon d’Or awards and a record 6 European Golden Shoes. The ultimate attacker, Leo’s array of skills made him a prolific goalscorer as well as a creative playmaker. He spent the best part of his career with Barcelona, where he won a club-record 35 trophies....
Cristiano Ronaldo came in the same era as Messi. Thus, soccer fans have been lucky to witness two of the greatest footballers ever at the same time. Ronaldo has won 5 Ballon d’Or awards and 4 European Golden Shoes, the most by a European player. He has won 32 trophies in his career so far. CR7 is the ultimate goal machine! Arguably the greatest goa...
A new mythical figure, Johan Cruyff is arguably the most influential footballer of all time; and one of the most talented too. He was a proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football (Total Football). As a player, Cruyff won the Ballon d’Or 3 times. He was a geniussoccer player. So technically good was he that a unique football skill ...
One of the greatest all-round soccer players in history, Franz Beckenbauer made his name as a central defender. He is often credited as having invented the role of the modern sweeper (libero). Although a defender, Franz can do everything on the pitch, including regularly scoring goals. He won the Ballon d’Or twice. The only defender in football his...
Zinedine Zidane is one of the best playmakers ever. He was renowned for his elegance, vision, passing, ball control, and technique. Zidane also possessed an exceptional first touch, dribbling skills, use of feints, and creativity. He was capable of using either foot, despite being naturally right-footed. His technique and coordination enabled him t...
A complete player, at ease with either foot and has a truly unparalleled ability to finish from every angle possible. Ronaldo Nazário de Lima carved himself a place in the history books as arguably the most effective pure goal scorer of the last 50 years, if not of all time. The awards he won, both personally and collectively, are mind-boggling: Th...
Nicknamed “Saeta Rubia” (“Blond Arrow”), Alfredo Di Stefano is regardedas the most complete footballer in the history of the game. He could play anywhere on the pitch. He was a very strong, quick, skillful, and prolific goalscorer, with great stamina, tactical versatility, creativity, and vision. Di Stefano was most notable for his legacy at Real M...
Nicknamed “Le Roi” (The King), Michel Platini was famous for his technical ability, leadership, and prolific goalscoring. He is one of the best passersand free-kick specialists ever seen. Despite being a midfielder, he is the 4th all-time top scorer for the French national team. This is amazing if you consider the caliber of strikers that have play...
- Lionel Messi. Peak: 2009-12. Major Achievements: 90min's Greatest Footballer of All Time, 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 & 2021 Ballon d'Or, 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year, Barcelona all time top goalscorer, La Liga all time top goalscorer, six-time Pichichi winner, Argentina's all time top goalscorer, most goals scored in a calendar year, 2011 & 2015 UEFA Men's Player of the Year, seven-time La Liga Player of the Year, 2014 & 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, 2005 Young European Footballer of the Year, five-time European Golden Shoe winner, four Champions Leagues, nine La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey, one Copa America.
- Diego Maradona. Peak: 1985-90. Major Achievements: Corriere dello Sport's Best Athlete in History, 1986 FIFA World Cup, 1986 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, 1985 Serie A Footballer of the Year, FIFA World Cup All-Time Team, FIFA Goal of the Century, Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century, two-time South American Footballer of the Year, four-time Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year, two Scudetti, one Coppa Italia, one Copa del Rey, one UEFA Cup.
- Pele. Peak: 1958-64. Major Achievements: FIFA Player of the Century, France Football's greatest FIFA World Cup player, TIME 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century list, Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, Santos' all-time leading goalscorer, youngest FIFA World Cup winner, most assists in FIFA World Cup history, 1958, 1962 & 1970 FIFA World Cup, top goalscorer in FIFA World Cup finals, two Copa Libertadores titles, six Campeonato Brasilerio Serie A titles, two Intercontinental Cups, 1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, 1958 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player, 1970 Bola de Prata.
- Franz Beckenbauer. Peak: 1966-76. Major Achievements: 1972 & 1976 Ballon d'Or, FIFA World Cup All-Time Team, 1966 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award, four-time German Footballer of the Year, 1974 FIFA World Cup, 1972 UEFA European Championships, three European Cups, five Bundesliga titles, four DFB-Pokals, one Intercontinental Cup.
Apr 23, 2021 · Ronaldo, Messi, Maradona, Pele, Zidane, and more legends made this surprising list of the greatest footballers of all-time. The late Diego Maradona has been ranked as the greatest footballer of all-time, with Pele and Lionel Messi completing the top-three.
Jun 12, 2022 · With Lionel Messi winning a record-breaking seventh Ballon d'Or award on Monday, it's time to revisit a familiar question: who is the greatest footballer of all time?
