We’re going to take a look at the top 10 football players of all time. Football is the most popular sport in the world, and over the years we have seen some truly incredible athletes grace the pitch, from Leonel Messi to Christiano Ronaldo. These players have left an indelible mark on the sport and will be remembered for generations to come.
So without further ado, let’s get started with our top 10 greatest players in the football world.
1. Leonel Messi
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Leonel Messi is one of the greatest football players of all time, and his entire career is a list of achievements that is nothing short of impressive. As of 2023, Messi has won seven Ballon d’Or Awards, which is a record in the history of football. He has also won four Champions League titles with Barcelona and has scored over 793 career goals.
Messi has won 10 La Liga titles. Seven Copa del Rey titles and three UEFA Super Cups, and his achievements are a testament to his incredible talent and dedication to the sport. During the final match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on December 18th, Messi played in his 26th World Cup final game at Lusail Stadium setting a new record.
In the shootout, he scored Argentina’s first goal, leading them to a four-to-two victory and ending the country’s 36-year drought for the trophy. Messi was awarded the Golden Ball for being the best player in the tournament, making him the first player to win the award twice.
2. Christiano Ronaldo
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Christiano Ronaldo’s football achievements are numerous and impressive. He has won five Ballon d’Or Awards, which are given to the world’s best player each year, and four European Golden Shoes, which are awarded to the leading goal scorer in European Club competition.
Ronaldo has also won the UEFA Champions League five times. Four of them were with Real Madrid and have scored more goals than any other player in the competition’s history. He has won league titles in England, Spain, and Italy, and has been named the UEFA Champions League Best Forward on multiple occasions.
Ronaldo has scored 827 goals in his professional career and is the all-time leading goal scorer in the history of Real Madrid. He has also scored 118 goals for Portugal, helping his team win the 2016 European Championships and reaching the final of the 2019 UEFA Nations League. Ronaldo’s incredible achievements on the field have solidified his legacy as one of the greatest football players in history.
3. Maradona
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Diego Armando Maradona was an Argentine footballer who was widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He led Argentina to World Cup Glory in 1986, scoring one of the most famous goals in world football history, the Hand of God goal in the quarter-final against England. He scored another goal in that match that was later voted as the goal of the century.
Maradona also won numerous domestic and international titles during his club career. Most notably leading Napoli to two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990, the only two league titles in the club’s history. He was awarded the Ballon d’or Award in 1986 and was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996. Maradona was known for his incredible dribbling skills, close control, and ability to score spectacular goals.
He remains an icon of the sport and his impact on football will continue to be felt for generations to come. His achievements, both on and off the pitch, have inspired countless players around the world and his legacy will never be forgotten.
4. Pele
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Edson Arantes do Nascimento better known as Pele, is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. He won three World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970, scoring a total of 12 goals in those tournaments. Pele scored an incredible 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during his career, a record that still stands today. He played for Santos FC in Brazil for most of his career, winning numerous league titles and leading the team to two Copa Libertadores titles and two Intercontinental cups.
Pele also played for the New York Cosmos in the United States towards the end of his career, helping to popularize football in the country. He was the first player to win the Ballon d’or Award for the best player in Europe in 1958, and he won it again in 1962 and 1970. Pele is widely regarded as a national hero in Brazil and his impact on the game of football is immeasurable. He is an inspiration to millions of football fans around the world and remains a true icon of the sport.
5. Ronaldo
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Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, commonly known as Ronaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who was widely considered one of the greatest players of all time.
He won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 1994 in 2002, scoring a total of 15 goals in the tournament, which remains a record. Ronaldo also won the Ballon d’Or three times in 1997, 2002, and 2003. He played for some of the biggest clubs in the world including Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, winning league titles in European cups with several of them.
Ronaldo is particularly remembered for his incredible speed, power, and clinical finishing in front of goal. He scored an astonishing 62 goals in 98 appearances for the Brazilian national team, and he was the all-time top scorer for the national team until surpassed by Neymar in 2021. Overall, Ronaldo’s achievements in football are unparalleled and his incredible skill and talent continue to inspire football fans and players around the world.
6. Alfredo Di Stéfano
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Alfredo Di Stéfano was an Argentine-Spanish footballer who was widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He won the European Cup five times in a row with Real Madrid between 1956 and 1960 scoring in each final, and also won eight league titles with the club.
Di Stéfano scored an incredible 308 goals in 396 appearances for Real Madrid, and he was named European Footballer of the Year twice. He also won the Ballon d’or in 1957 and 1959. Di Stéfano was known for his versatility on the pitch as he could play in almost any position and was equally adept at scoring goals and creating them for his teammates.
His achievements in football have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time, and his influence on the sport will continue to be felt for generations to come.
7. Johan Cruyff
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Johan Cruyff was a Dutch footballer and coach whose impact on the game of football is immeasurable. He won three Ballon d’Or awards in his career and led the Netherlands to the World Cup final in 1974. Cruyff was the star player of the famous total football team Ajax Amsterdam in the 1970s, winning three European cups in a row from 1971 to 1973. He later moved to Barcelona where he won the Spanish League title in 1974 and led the team to their first-ever European Cup victory in 1992.
As a coach, Cruyff’s influence on football tactics and philosophy is legendary, as he pioneered the concept of pressing and developed the Cruyff turn, a skillful dribbling move that is still used by players today. Overall, Johan Cruyff is widely recognized as one of the all-time greatest footballers, and his remarkable contributions as both a player and coach have left a lasting impact on the sport inspiring generations of players and fans alike.
8. Puskas
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Ferenc Puskas was a Hungarian footballer who was widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He led Hungary to Olympic gold in 1952 and was a key player in their famous six-to-three victory over England in 1953. Huska also helped Hungary to reach the final of the 1954 World Cup where they were narrowly beaten by West Germany.
At club level, Puskas won five league titles and three European cups with Real Madrid, where he formed a devastating attacking partnership with Alfredo Di Stéfano. Puskas scored an incredible 242 goals in 262 appearances for Real Madrid and he was named top scorer in La Liga four times. He was also the top scorer in the European Cup three times, and he won the Ballon d’Or in 1958.
Overall, Ferenc Puskas is remembered as one of the greatest goal-scorers in football history, and his achievements on the pitch continue to inspire generations of football fans and players.
9. Ronaldinho
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Ronaldinho is a Brazilian football legend whose achievements on the pitch are truly remarkable. He won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and was a key player in their success scoring two goals in the tournament. Ronaldinho also won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in 2006, where his skillful dribbling and incredible technique earned him the admiration of football fans worldwide.
He won two La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey with Barcelona and also won the Serie A title with AC Milan. Ronaldinho was twice named FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d’Or in 2005. He was also named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 2002 and won the Golden Foot Award in 2009. Ronaldinho’s legacy as one of the greatest football players of all time is secure, and his achievements on the pitch will continue to inspire future generations of footballers.
10. Zinedine Zidane
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Zinedine Zidane’s football achievements are nothing short of remarkable. He led France to their first-ever World Cup victory in 1998 and was instrumental in their run to the final. In 2006, Zidane won the UEFA Champions League three times as a player with Real Madrid, and also one of the three times as a coach with the same team.
He won numerous domestic league titles with clubs like Juventus and Real Madrid and was named the best player in Europe by winning the Ballon d’Or Award in 1998, Zidane won numerous individual awards throughout his career, including the FIFA World Player of the Year Award three times. He was also named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team three times and won the FIFA Gold of the Year Award in 2002 for his famous left-footed volley in the Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Overall Zinedine Zidane is considered one of the greatest football players of all time, and his achievements on the pitch are a testament to his incredible talent and dedication to the sport.
