• Home
• Football
• Top 10 Greatest Soccer Players | All Time Best Footballers

Top 10 Greatest Soccer Players | All Time Best Footballers

May 30, 2021 By Sourav

---

This sport has seen some greatest players who dominated the sport during their Careers. Let's have a look at the top 10 greatest soccer players of all time and see who are the best soccer players in the world.

 

Greatest Soccer Players | All Time Ranking

 

10. Eusebio - Historic Soccer Player
9. Gerd Muller - Greatest German Soccer Player
8. Franz Beckenbauer - Oldest Superstars In Soccer
7. Alfredo Di Stefano - Classic Soccer Player
6. Johan Cruyff - Greatest Football Superstar
5. Zinedine Zidane - Most Famous Soccer Players
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - Greatest Soccer Player of All Time
3. Diego Maradona - Best Soccer Player of All Time
2. Lionel Messi - Best Soccer Player Ever
1. Pele - Greatest Football Player of All Time

• Honorable Mentions

Soccer/Football is one of the highest paying sports, also holds the place as the most popular sports in the world. It has a huge fan following and has quite a great fame attached to it.

 

10. Eusebio – Among The Greatest Historic Soccer Players

Country: Portugal
Position: Striker
Club Goals: 424 (436 Matches)
International Goals: 41 (64 Matches)

He was born on 25 January in the year 1942 and is a retired Portuguese football forward player. Fans still consider him one of the best football players of all time. He has scored 53 goals in UEFA club competitions, the 9th highest of all time.

Eusebio also holds his place as the 8th highest goal scorer in UEFA champions league history. He definitely deserves his place among the greatest soccer players of all time.

 

9. Gerd Muller - Legendary Soccer Player From Germany

Country: West Germany
Position: Striker
Club Goals: 487 (555 Matches)
International Goals: 68 (62 Matches)

Gerd Müller is the 9th on the list of highest international goalscorers of all time despite playing lesser matches than others on the list. Fans nicknamed him 'Bomber der Nation' due to his amazing scoring abilities. Müller won the European Footballer of the Year title in 1970.

He received the Golden Boot scoring 10 goals at the 1970 FIFA World Cup for West Germany. He also held the all-time highest goal-scoring record in the World Cup with 14 goals until it was broken by Ronaldo [Brazil] at the 2006 World Cup.

Müller was ranked 9th in the European player of the Century by the IFFHS in 1999. He was voted thirteenth in the World Player of the Century by IFFHS in the same year. He was also inducted into the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players by Pelé in 2004. He is also among the highest goalscorers in the Bundesliga.

 

8. Franz Beckenbauer – One Of The Old Soccer Players Still Remembered

Country: West Germany
Position: Central Defender
Club Goals: 79 (560 Matches)
International Goals: 14 (103 Matches)

Fans often dubbed Beckenbauer as one of the greatest soccer players ever produced in Germany. He was born on 11th September 1945. He previously coached the German team and also quite famous as the manager and a former player.

Fans still regard him as the best German football player of all time. He was a versatile player with the best soccer skills. he was selected the European Footballer of the Year twice in his career.

 

7. Alfredo Di Stefano – Best Among The Classic Soccer Players

Country: Argentina / Columbia / Spain
Position: Forward
Club Goals: 376 (521 Matches)
International Goals: 29 (41 Matches)

Born in Argentina to Italian immigrants, but playing internationally for three different teams, Di Stéfano's achievement of scoring in 5 consecutive European Cup finals is unlikely to ever be matched. Di Stéfano's career was nothing if not cosmopolitan.

A player with exceptional fitness levels, the Saeta Rubia (blond arrow) was instrumental in Real Madrid's dominance in the 1950s, although the history books could defiantly tell a very different story if he had joined Barcelona instead of the Merengues in 1943.

 

6. Johan Cruyff – Greatest Football Superstars

Country: Netherlands
Position: Forward / Attacking Midfielder
Club Goals: 291 (514 Matches)
International Goals: 33 (48 Matches)

The outspoken Dutchman excelled for Ajax and Barcelona in the 1960s and 1970s and is considered by many experts to be Europe’s best player of all time. He was also named in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players by Pelé in 2004. He was included on the World Team of the 20th Century in 1998, and the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2002.

His name was synonymous with Rinus Michels’ "Total Football" movement whereby players interchanged the positions. Cruyff was equally effective in both wide and central positions and was famous for his ability to turn players.

Winner of three Ballon D'Ors (European Player of the Year awards), Cruyff won 8 Dutch titles and also three European Cups with Ajax. Cruyff also made a controversial move to bitter rivals Feyenoord. Sadly never fell agonizingly short of winning the World Cup. 

 

5. Zinedine Zidane – The Most Famous Soccer Player

Country: France
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Club Goals: 95 (506 Matches)
International Goals: 31 (108 Matches)

Born on 23 June 1972, Zinedine Zidane still noted as one of the greatest soccer players and one of the greatest Muslim athletes. The legendary retired footballer used to play as a midfielder for the France team.

He also received the crown as the finest European footballer of all time as well. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year three times in his career. Besides, he also won the Ballon d'Or once.

No hesitation whatsoever to include this super-star into the best soccer players' list. His head-butt to Italy’s Marco Materazzi in World Cup 2006 still considered one of the most remembered moments in football history.

 

4. Cristiano Ronaldo – The Greatest Soccer Player Of All Time

Country: Portugal
Position: Forward
Jersey Number: 7 (club & Country)
Ballon d’Or: 5

One of the greatest soccer players, Cristiano Ronaldo, currently plays for Serie A club Juventus. Besides, he also captains the Portugal national team. He was born on 5 February 1985.

He was the most expensive football player in the year 2009 when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid. But in 2013, Gareth Bale broke the record when he took his transfer to Real Madrid for €100 million.

Cristiano Ronaldo again created a record when he took his transfer to Juventus in 2018. He also recently won his fifth Ballon d'Or in 2017, the same as his arch-rival Lionel Messi. Ronaldo also considered the most handsome footballer on earth.

 

3. Diego Maradona – The Best Soccer Player Of All Time     

Country: Argentina
Position: Attacking Midfielder / Second Striker
Club Goals: 259 (491 Matches)
International Goals: 34 (91 Matches)

One of the greatest soccer players, Diego Maradona, still noted as the greatest Argentine footballer. He was the only one who has set the transfer fees record twice.

Maradona has played and outshined in many tournaments during his lifetime. He was born on the 30th of October in the year 1960. The prince of football died on 25th November 2020.

His infamous "Hand of God" goal was one of the biggest sports scandals of all time. He became the joint FIFA Player of the 20th Century along with Pele. Without any doubt, Maradona definitely deserves his place on the list.

 

2. Lionel Messi – The Best Soccer Player Ever

Country: Argentina
Position: Forward
Jersey Number: 10 (club & Country)
Ballon d’Or: 6

Born on 24th June 1987, Lionel Messi currently plays for the La Liga club FC Barcelona as a forward. and he is an all-time scorer in La Liga. Besides, he also captains the Argentine national team.

The world and also the football pundits consider him as one of the best soccer players ever in the history of the game. He also became the top-score in four consecutive Champions League campaigns.

Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or five times till now, same as Cristiano Ronaldo. He also holds his place as the youngest footballer ever to score 200 La Liga goals. Besides being the best football player, he also holds his place as one of the highest-paid sportsmen in the World.

 

1. Pele - World's Greatest Football Player 

Country: Brazil
Position: Forward / Attacking Midfielder
Club Goals: 541 (560 Matches)
International Goals: 77 (92 Matches)

Retired Brazilian football player Pele still considered one of the greatest soccer players ever. Born on 21st October 1940, Pele still regarded by many football pundits as the greatest footballer ever to born on planet earth. During his heydays, he also became reputed as the highest-paid footballer.

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics named him the World Player of the Century. And without any doubt, he deserves the top spot in the list of the best soccer players.

 

Honorable Mentions:

The list of greatest soccer players of all time is truly incomplete without mentioning some of the football's greats like Ferenc Puskas, Lothar Matthäus, Michel Platini, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho. And don't forget to send us your opinion about this ranking in the comment box below.

 

FAQ Regarding Footbsll's Greatests

Q. Who is the greatest soccer player of all time?

Talking about the all-time official stats, Brazilian legend Pele is the greatest soccer player of all time. However, several fans of modern football also believe that both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the current greatest soccer players.

Q. Who are the most famous soccer players of all time?

There are several best soccer players in history who are equally famous for their dazzling look, chiseled physique, and charming persona. Right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is the most famous soccer player. But historically speaking, players like Kaka, Beckham, and Maradona were equally famous during their heydays.

Q. Who are the top 10 best soccer players of all time?

We have already updates our ranking of the top 10 soccer players of all time, do check it out! But yes, no one can miss Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Pele, and Diego Maradona from the all-time greatest list.

Q. Who is the No 1 player in football history?

Pele is the No. 1 player in the history of football. Statistically speaking, he is currently the highest goalscorer according to the official data by FIFA. However, both CR7 and Messi are now equally famous and revered in the current football scenario.

Q. Is Ronaldo better than Messi?

There is a never-ending debate on this topic. If you compare the personal accolades, Messi achieved more Ballon d’Ors than Cristiano Ronaldo. However, CR7 achieved a higher number of team rewards and trophies than his Argentine counterpart. Statistically saying, both of these GOATs are equally great in their own terms.