In every sports discipline, there are dedicated individuals who push to the best levels expected of the creme de le creme generally referred to as the GOATs. It is perhaps useful to start arguing with reference to NBA basketball and its most prominent icons – Michael Jordan and LeBron James; or tennis where people such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal rule.
Soccer is the number one sport on the planet, and the world reveres its heroes, starting from Pelé and Diego Maradona up to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. These players rose to even higher stak, and both themselves and their teams claimed many individuals trophies.
In this article we are able to list down 50 all time legends of football and pay respect to legends who made football what it is today.
50. Robert Lewandowski
He is one of the best strikers of the present generation with the best of goalscoring feat credited to him. Polish forward has been proving himself nationally and globally especially to clubs like Bayern Munich in the bundesliga football. Accurate in anticipation, devastating in front of the goal – whether with a header, a volley or a first touch from a defender’s cross – Lewandowski has claimed his FIFA Best Men’s Player Award. His goal-scoring prowess in the Lion enclosure has assured him a place amongst total footballers who can perform at the highest level.
49. Didi
See Didi, the recognized midfielder of Brazilian team, who show the combination of elegance and accuracy. He played for Brazil during the 1958 and 1962 world cup and perhaps the best example of ball control and an appreciation of the tactical chess match on the football pitch. Sadly, this rather ingenious footballer who developed his famous “folha seca”, free-kicks is one of the greatest playmakers of all time.
48. Gianluigi Buffon
Known among goalkeepers the legend of his kind of football, the sign of reliability and the quality that distinguish Gianluigi Buffon. For the past more than one and a half decade now, Buffon has had his hands on many trophy cabinets, he has won Serie A with Juve and also the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Italy. His agility, captaincy, and capability to embark match-winning saves have earned him a recognition and a lifelong reputation of a goal-king that has helped generations of goalkeepers.
47. Günter Netzer
In the 1970s Günter Netzer was Germany’s magician. He was the most imaginative and skillful of the West German team that triumphed in the 1972 European Championship in Belgium to end a debate which had raged for many years as to the identity of the world’s greatest playmaker.
46. Paolo Rossi
Paolo Rossi’s legend was made during the 1982 FIFA World Cup. By scoring six goals, of which he scored three against Brazil Italy emerged winners and was at awarded the golden boot and the ball. Rossi got lucky and his natural goal scoring ability made him deadly as well as a hero in Italy.
45. Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé is arguably one of soccer’s most popular players even at a youthful age, and it is merely the beginning. The French forward broke into the limelight with his time at AS Monaco and later become the main weapon for PSG. Mbappé has been instrumental in helping France to claim the World Cup in 2018, and scoring at the final, he became only the second teenager to do so – the first being an iconic Pele.
44. Kenny Dalglish
A Scottish legend, Kenny Dalglish had perhaps one of the most successful spells at both Celtic and Liverpool football clubs. Nicknamed ‘king’ Kenny Dalglish was one of the finest finishers Liverpool has produced, he defined the team during its successful era of the 1970s and 1980s with league titles and European cups. It premeditated him for becoming one of the most outstanding player-manager Britain has ever produced.
43. Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup is always described as one of the football players with great technical style. He was an excellent dribbler as well as a superb innovator and a club like Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid benefited from his talent. Laudrup’s clear foresight to see situations and openings on the pitch meant the Dane was loved by fans and despised by defenders during a career that will be fondly remembered by those with love for football history.
42. Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore, the captain of the English national team, having captured his country’s solitary World Cup victory a year later in 1966. Moore became highly acclaimed due to his timely nay, composure and ability to direct a defense well. He has undoubtedly made one of the best defensive performances in football to date during the 1966 final.
41. Francisco ‘Paco’ Gento
Out of all La Liga legends Francisco ‘Paco’ Gento of Real Madrid stands tall for tallying six titles in the European Cup. He was a bad boy for defenders, and a real menace in the Spanish side due to his speed, close control and accurate crossing. Real name: Michale Gento Real was an important component of the Real Madrid team in the twentieth century and was one among the legends of world football.
40. Luis Suárez Miramontes
39. Romário
An impressive Brazilian attacker, Romário was a deadly finisher and a close control master who can trouble defences. He played for Brazil national team and he was part of Brazil team that won the 1994 World Cup where he won the golden ball award. About 700 goal contributions in a professional footballer’s career make Romário one of the all-time great scorers.
38. Matthias Sindelar
Sindelar was called “The Mozart of Football” a playmaker with the famous Austria Wunderteam team of the 1930s. Sindelar is remembered for the elegance, creativity and the speciality for goals from tactical rooftopping of the goals.
37. Valentino Mazzola
From the famous Torino team of the early forties, Mazzola was a very economic and influential midfielder of his time. Sadly, he did not leave behind as long a playing or managerial career as he might have wished given that his life was ended in the Superga air disaster, but those few years remain remembered to this day.
36. Stanley Matthews
Better known as “The Wizard of the Dribble” Matthews was one of the best wingers who ever lived. Stunning ball control and high durability was involved which made him to play beyond 50s. He was also the footballer who was knighted while still in active service on the football pitch.
35. Rivaldo
Rivaldo was elegant and creative, good skills and a powerful left foot were his main assets. He was the Ballon d’Or winner in 1999 and played a significant role in Brazil’s win in the 2002 World Cup and also had many good years with Barça.
34. Raymond Kopa
Kopa was an inventor and an important player in Real Madrid side which dominated Europe in the fifties to win three European cups. Counter-passing, creativity and play-making vision helped the Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or, in 1958.
33. Lothar Matthäus
The ex German International and Bayern München player, and possibly the best in the 1990s was a great holding midfielder which led West Germany to the 1990 FIFA WORLD CUP title. He has trained and excelled in fitness, organiztion, and talent; and stands as the only outfield player to have played five World Cup.
32. Sócrates
One of the best playmakers of his time, Sócrates was the anchorman of Brazilian team during the 1982 FIFA World Cup which many consider as one of the finest teams which never won the event. On the social front, he was a Brazilian democracy campaigner.
31. Manuel Neuer
The German goalkeeper not only came up with the most different playing style known as the sweeper keeper. Neuer, who also excels in shot-stopping, reflexes, and playing the ball out of the back has redefined how a modern goalkeeper must be like. He played an important role in hosting nation Germany win the 2014 FIFA world Cup and was also awarded the Golden gloves.
30. Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit who was one of the greatest Dutch football players in his generation used his strengths and prowess in wherever he played. Gullit is known as a great and a very strong all-rounder player, he contributed a lot along with being captain for the Dutch side and 1988 winning the European Championship and also scoring in the finals. He could swap from the midfield line to the attacking line without any bothers thus making him a rare finds on the football pitch. Gullit made his career at AC Milan, which became endemic winning different championships of Serie A and two Cups of Europe.
29. Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry is certainly included in the list of the top-strikers of all time. The French forward was well noted for the features such as; speed, dribble and his ability to score goals. Whilst at Arsenal his finest moment was during 2003/04 season when the team went through the entire Premier League season without losing any match. Great for his dribbles and finesse goals, Henry also shined at Barcelona when he clinched the Champions League trophy.
28. Luka Modrić
Luka Modrić is a Croatian midfielder well known for vision, passing and overall control. The key player of Real Madrid he has contributed to helping the club win multiple Champions League crowns. His last great triumph was in 2018 when he was named Ballon d’Or winner and reached the World Cup final with Croatia. Croatia’s Modrić is one of football’s great midfield generals due to his reliability and capability to control play in central area.
27. Roberto Baggio
Another legend gifted and talented Italian footballer was Giancarlo Zammaeto nicknamed Toto, Robet Baggio highly skillful, imaginative footballer with elegance, agility and grace was another famous Italian football sensation. As a forward who loved scoring mouth watering goals, Baggio was a master of style most of the times. If referred to as the man who missed the penalty in the 1994 world cup final, although he was much more than that for the Italian football, which means he is one of the legendary footballers ever.
26. Carlos Alberto
Carlos Alberto, a famous footballer from Brazil is particularly remembered by his leadership in Brazil’s 1970 World Cup triumph. He was a right full back with good attacking movements which were showcased in goal in the World Cup final against Italy. Probably one of the most loved captains in football history for his defensive strategies and playmakingitical genius.
25. Franco Baresi
Some of the worlds’ finest football players include those namely, Franco Baresi who was a marvelous defender. A quintessential minded Italian center back, his forte were anticipation, tackling, and over all defensive strategy. Baresi played his whole soccer career for AC Milan and he won many Serie A championships and champions League cups. Virtually invincible at the back and cool as cucumber during pressure in Italian football, he left a legendary mark.
24. Andrés Iniesta
Andrés Iniesta is arguably one of the best players ever to wear the midfield players jersey. Iniesta was exceptional when it came to creativity, witch for Barcelona and Spain, he was capable of producing the spectacular moments. Football head-injection in the 2010 Earth Cup final won spain its first ever name, his contributions similar to Barcelona make the club conquer European football for more than ten years.
23. Xavi
Xavi Hernández has been regarded to have been one of the most famous central midfield in football history. Xavi was the heart of Barcelona and Spain who impressed with advanced play-making, exceptional passing and excellent game-regulation senses. One of the great players to play his early career in the golden age of Spanish football, Xavi contributed to helping his nation succeed in two European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in addition to numerous championships with Barcelona.
22. Lev Yashin
Lev Yashin known as the ‘Black Spider’ could be viewed as the best goalkeeper that ever lived. The Soviet legend was a goalpost specialist with respect to his shot-stopping ability and great reflex and authority with the ball at his feet in the box. To this date, he is the only goalkeeper that has been awarded the Ballon d’Or again proving how vital he was to the team.
21. Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho is also one of the favorite football stars, the creative, skillful footballer with a great presentation of himself. Kaka was a Brazilian dribbler and playmaker par excellence – easily able to dazzle audiences with his creativity and skills. His best years at C.F. Barcelona include the Ballon d’Or in the year 2005 and the champions league titles. Some people also said that Ronaldinho practically enjoyed the game, which is why he was an icon of football.
20. Giuseppe Meazza
Although only an averaging-sized man, the slim, elusive Giuseppe Meazza has to be among the all-time greats in Italian football; this world-class inside forward made his name for his fairly unique talents for dribbling the ball, placing it into goal, and scoring winning goals. An important player of Italia, Meazza played for Italy in World Cup, which Italy won in 1934 and 1938. He has left a mark on Italian football that is immeasurable, and the San Siro is named in his honour, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Meazza has counted himself among the greatest football players of all time as a forward.
19. Paolo Maldini
Maldini widely can be referred to as one of the best defenders that ever lived football. Playing his whole career for AC Milan, Maldini was often used as both left back and center back holder and he collected many Scudetto’s and champions league medals. Well-known for tactics in positioning and timing Maldini stay [sic] abreast as a top performer in his playing career followed by recognition from the fans and players.
18. Bobby Charlton
The great Bob, who passed away, was an English football hero of the 1966 world cup soccer team. Manchester united benefited from Charlton as he was a great goal scorer and a great visionary midfielder. Boasting of some of the most devastating right-footed strikes and play maker, Charlton’s contribution to football has earned him a clear place in the hall of fame of legends of the game.
17. Garrincha
Garrincha is one of the greatest football players ever: His real name was Manuel Francisco dos Santos. One of the greatest dribbler was a few years ago the Brazilian winger, unique in creativity and finesse. He was one of Brazil’s most important players when the team won consecutive World Cups in 1958 and 1962.
16. Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira widely known as the Black Panther, is among some of the most decorated Portuguese footballers. Eusébio was fast, had knockout punches and astonishing goal per match average that made Benfica the team to beat in the sixties. Eusebio became the most famous Portuguese footballer of all time thanks to his good years in 1976 World cup when he was awarded the golden boot.
15. Zico
“One of the greatest playmakers of all time” also known as ‘The White Pele’ Zico. The Brazilian midfielder possessed great vision of the pitch, excellent ball distribution and decent freedom kicks at that time. A product of Flamengo and the Brazilian national team, Zico was also one of the era’s most talented creatives of goals.
14. Marco van Basten
I can say that Van Basten is one of the most eligible strikers in football history. His fore was the Dutchman who skills included technique, goal poacher and the spectacular goals. Van Basten’s taste of fame was in the 1988 European Championship final where he performed a final volley. Even though he retired from the game early because of injury, he made his mark on football as no one else can.
13. Michel Platini
It is pertinent to mention that Michel Platini also hall of famed French footballer. As a playmaker, Platini was an excellent tackler, Creator of chances, and an excellent goal scorer. As the French captain that led France through to be European champions in 1984, Platini was also an excellent tactician, and he won three Ballon d’Or awards in a row to qualify as one of the best players in the history of soccer.
12. Ferenc Puskás
An important talent that almost characterized the Hungarian team is really great goal scorer Ferenc Puskás has achieved over 800 goals for the duration of his illustrious career. Famous for his skillful shooting ability Puskas contributed heavily to Real Madrid team as well as Hungarian National team in the 50s and 60s. He has extensive records of his performance and what he has accomplished puts him among the best forwards in football history.
11. Gerd Müller
Blood and thunder man, Gerd Müller, with the nickname of “Der Bomber” is arguably one of the world’s all time highest goals scorer. The German forward was considered as the player who possessed the good finishing skills, good positioning and he was also a great moment maker. Müller is a legend of Bayern Munich and Germany’s national team; his goals helped Germany win the 1974 FIFA Cup. The record breaking performances are still evidence of his excellence this date.
10. George Best
This paper aims at looking at the unparalleled talent that characterized George Best as one of the greatest footballers of all time. This Northern Irish winger left fans enthralled by his close control and dribbling, back flips and acrobatic strikes. Best witnessed and indeed played a significant part during the golden period of Manchester United in the 1960s particularly the 1968 UEFA Champions Cup. His off-field problems meant that his on-field skills of agility, imagination and sheer panache changed the face of football for which he is still a hero.
9. Ronaldo (O Fenômeno)
Football is all about strikers those players cannot get over the line and Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima also known as "O Fenômeno" amongst his peers is the greatest striker of all time. Consistently known as a fast player with good dribble and accurate shooting skill, Ronaldo had significant accomplishment win clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid Club. These penalties besides constant injury mishaps made him the most reliable goal scorer and an unequalled talent maker of record.
8. Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Di Stéfano is considered one of the football players with the highest level of analyzed thinking. An outstanding and hardworking striker, the Argentine took Real Madrid to win the European Cup for five successive seasons during the 1950s and the 1960s. Although real Madrid were already a successful side Di Stéfano helped put them in the stratosphere of football, this triple threat of scoring, creating and leading the game was a major key factor.
7. Franz Beckenbauer
Also known as “Der Kaiser” Franz Beckenbauer is one of the world’s most prolific defenders. Beckanbauer is a play maker recognized for his graceful movements and impeccable skills as a leader on the pitch and as a tactician . Bundesliga title, six European Cups between 1974 to 1982, four Champions Club titles 1975 to 1981, he was the skipper of Bayern Munich as well as the German Play Maker, and the German pool of talents that won the 1974 World Cup.
6. Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff was one of the greatest players of all time and played the role of a revolutionary player. The Dutch midfielder was one of the most creative players with excellent vision, dribbling ability which helped him grab many domestic and international titles for Ajax and Barcelona. Cruyff also introduced what can be called “Total Football tactical approach ‘that revolutionalised modern football while in the field as a player and after his playing carreer as the coach.
5. Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane, or popular as “Zizou” is one of the most skilful footballer the game has ever seen. He was described and branded as the French midfielder, in particular, for his creative ability, ability to read the moment, and the match respectively. Some of his exhilarating scenes are the 1998 world cup tour for France and the 2002 champions league for Real Madrid through the volley.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Honestly, Cristiano Ronaldo is among those legends that are honored to wear the football boots in the pitch. The top-notch goalscorer, a fantastic athlete, and an elegant machine, the Portuguese hitman has taken quite a fair share of titles – both domestic and international – whereas sharing the field with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr. For instance, Ronaldo is a five times Ballon d’Or winner and his determined effort over the years makes him one of the best football players.
3. Pelé
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Some people all over the world know him as one of the most gifted and victorious Brazilian football players. The Brazilian product is also the only player to have clinched three world cups (1958, 1962, 1970). He is remembered as one of the most creative, goal-poacher players, and a charming personality, Pelé is one of football of football’s trump cards to date.
2. Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona was quite possibly the most magnificent yet problematic character in football history. The number 10 led Argentina, the football world, and the football fans, through dance and dives with his dribbling skills, foresight and match winning mentality. The world saw the greatest side of Maradona during the 1986 football world cup in Mexico where he took Argentina to victory and scored two of the most memorable goals; the ‘Hand of God’ against England and the stunning second goal that followed.
1. Lionel Messi
According to most people, Lionel Messi is the best footballer that has ever lived. Considered one of the most technologically gifted players having near perfect dribbling, vision and a deadly finish, Messi has shattered records and picked up numerous laureates, most importantly being a record seven time Ballon d’Or winner. Barcelona born and bred Messi has been one of the brightest stars in football and the World Cup win in 2022 in rather fitting to complete his journey with the Argentine side.