Top 10 Most Legendary Football (Soccer) Players
Diego Armando Maradona (October 30, 1960 - November 25, 2020) was an Argentine professional footballer. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, he was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award. Maradona was given the nickname "El Pibe de Oro" ("The Golden Boy"). He was known for the "Goal of the Century" and the "Hand of God" goal... read more The American newspaper The Houston Chronicle wrote about Maradona:
To understand the gargantuan shadow Maradona casts over his football-mad homeland, one has to conjure up the athleticism of Michael Jordan, the power of Babe Ruth-and the human fallibility of Mike Tyson. Lump them together in a single barrel-chested man with shaggy black hair and you have El Diego, idol to the millions who call him D10S, a mashup of his playing number and the Spanish word for God.
In Argentina, he is considered a sports hero. On the idolatry that exists in Argentina, former teammate Jorge Valdano said, "At the time that Maradona retired from active football, left traumatized Argentina. Maradona was more than just a great footballer. It was a special compensation factor for a country that in a few years lived several military dictatorships and social frustrations of all kinds".
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as "Pelé", was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward. In 1999 he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in the Time list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. In 2000, Pelé was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), and was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century. He scored 1,284 goals like what the legitimate heck.
Much better than maradona
He is the best
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi was born on June 24, 1987. He is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for the American club, Inter Miami CF, in the MLS. Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. His birthplace is Rosario, Argentina. Amazing technical abilities but not a leader. That's why Argentina lost two Copa America finals and one World Cup final. Maradona is still the God of football for the Argentinians.
Messi the best stupid Ronaldo
Hendrik Johannes "Johan" Cruijff (25 April 1947 – 24 March 2016) was a Dutch professional football player and coach. As a player, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Cruyff was a proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football explored by Rinus Michels, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and the most prolific players in the history of the sport. "He was certainly the best footballer Europe has produced." The words of German great Franz Beckenbauer (2016) serve as a fitting tribute to the influence and impact of Johan Cruyff.
The attacking midfielder/forward enjoyed his biggest successes at club level with Ajax, the club where he made his first-team debut at the tender age of 17. He
would go on to lead Ajax to six Eredivisie titles in the 1960s and early 1970s, while also winning four KNVB Bekers during his first spell with the Amsterdam giants, scoring an amazing 247 goals in 318 appearances.
It was then at the 1974 World Cup that Cruyff confirmed his status as one of the best players the game had ever seen.The Dutch had not appeared at a World Cup since 1938 and had failed to make much of an impact in the years preceding the tournament in West Germany, but Cruyff took his team by the hand till the final.
Underrated in this list, he's still the best European football player ever.
The greatest football player till Pele appeared.
Ferenc Puskás (1 April 1927 – 17 November 2006) was a Hungarian footballer and manager, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and the sport's first international superstar. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, played four international matches for Spain and scored 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became an Olympic champion in 1952 and led his nation to the final of the 1954 World Cup. He won three European Cups (1959, 1960, 1966), 10 national championships (5 Hungarian and 5 Spanish Primera División) and 8 top individual scoring honors. In 1995, he was recognized as the greatest top division scorer of the 20th century ...read more. The football climate of the immediate post-Second World War period can be epitomised by one particular European player.
In 1945 Ferenc Puskás made his debut for the Hungarian national side, a team that across the next decade would eventually be known as the ‘Aranycsapat’; the 'Golden Team', a pride of a nation that would ultimately be destroyed by politics, events from which the sport in Hungary has never recovered.
Puskás only played officially for two clubs, Honved and Real Madrid and won all kind of trophies except a World Cup, like his partnership Alfredo di Stéfano.
Although not so known, he's one of the very close club of the "one thousand goalscorers" (in my opinion six members): at least 1,159 goals in his career seem to be verified with a goal to game rate of 1.09, quite better than Pelé. His name indoctrinated in the annual award for ‘the most beautiful’ goal of the year.
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (born 5 February 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Juventus and captains the Portugal national team. Second best European football player ever.
Zinedine Yazid Zidane, nicknamed "Zizou", (born 23 June 1972) is a is a French former professional football player who played as an attacking midfielder. He received many individual accolades as a player, including being named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and winning the 1998 Ballon d'Or.
He is the current manager of Real Madrid.
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, commonly known as Ronaldo, is a Brazilian business owner, president of La Liga club Real Valladolid, and a retired professional footballer who played as a striker. Popularly dubbed in Portuguese O Fenômeno ("The Phenomenon"), he is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. As a multi-functional striker who brought a new dimension to the position, Ronaldo has been the influence for a generation of strikers that have followed. His individual accolades include being named FIFA World Player of the Year three times, and winning two Ballon d'Or awards. "Ronaldo could start from the halfway line and the whole stadium would ignite. He was the fastest thing I've ever seen running with the ball. Had he managed to stay free of injury, he had every chance of becoming the best footballer ever." - Sir
Bobby Robson.
Ronaldo's consistency and prolific goal-output was a remarkable hallmark of his game. He scored 62 goals in 98 appearances for his country and churned out amazing numbers for all of the clubs that he represented, in total 364 goals in 529 official games (senior career).
He had it all. Pace, power, skill and clinical finishing ability which all combined to make a lethal cocktail and he often made even the most accomplished defenders look like fools.
Franz Anton Beckenbauer (born 11 September 1945, died 7 January 2024) was a German professional footballer and manager. Early in his playing career, he was nicknamed "Der Kaiser" because of his elegant style, dominance, and leadership on the field. His first name "Franz" is reminiscent of the Austrian emperors... read more Best defender ever.
Michel François Platini (born 21 June 1955) is a French football administrator and former player and manager. As the president of UEFA in 2015 he was banned from involvement in football under FIFA's organisation, over ethics violations. The ban will last until 2023. Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Platini won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1983, 1984 and 1985, and came seventh in the FIFA Player of the Century vote. In recognition of his achievements, he was named a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1985 and became an Officier in 1998. ...read more. Michael François Platini is a former French football player.
Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Platini won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1983, 1984 and 1985, and came 6th in the FIFA Player of the Century vote.
He holds the record for most goals (9) scored in the European Championship despite only appearing in the victorious 1984 edition
Manuel Francisco dos Santos, known by the nickname Garrincha, was a Brazilian footballer who played right winger and forward.'El Charro' was the first Argentinian legend. He played in 5 differend countries winning 12 top league championships.
He was elected by IFFHS as the 5th South American football player of the 20th century (after Pele, Maradona, Di Stefano and Garrincha).
Best Italian football player ever, with two World Cups (1934,1938).
Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton is an English football player, regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He was an essential member of the England team that won the World Cup in 1966, the same year he also won the Ballon d'Or.
The "Bomber der Nation" is one of the most decorated players in football history and ranked 13th in the IFFHS 20th century elections.
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira was a Portuguese footballer who played as a striker. Eusébio is considered by many as one of the greatest footballers of all time. During his professional career, he scored 733 goals in 745 matches. One of the greatest football legends, elected 9th best player of the 20th century in the IFFHS century elections.
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore was an English professional footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup.
Marcel "Marco" van Basten is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played for Ajax and Milan, as well as the Netherlands national team, in the 1980s and early '90s as a forward.
Lev Ivanovich Yashin, nicknamed the "Black Spider" or the "Black Panther", was a Soviet-Russian football goalkeeper, considered by many to be the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the game. Yes he is the best goalkeeper of all time better than de gea
Best goalkeeper of all times with no doubt.
The greatest No 1 of all times.
Greatest English football player ever (that's why he's a Sir-the first one).
Paolo Cesare Maldini is a former Italian professional footballer who played as a left back and central defender. Maldini captained Italy for 8 years and AC Milan for 12, and was renowned for his leadership skills, earning him the nickname “Il Capitano”, or ‘The Captain’.
One of the greatest midfielders ever, with exceptional attacking and difensive abilities.