World Soccer: The Greatest Footballers of All-Time

This is the last thread of the series “The Greatest Footballer of All-Time” After seven positions were established, It’s time to do ranking including all positions. The criteria of this ranking are not the same as previous thread. The greatness became more important factor and overall skills are the less factor to consider. Accordingly, Some player was ranked higher a player in their position can be ranked lower in this thread. Also, Classification shall not the same. Some players were considered in King-class because they were among the greatest player ever in their position but they might be decreased in class if they are goalkeeper or defender. To compare all players with different era and position must be not easy, but I try to consider their believed world-class years and even international-class years as possible. Another important thing is the greatness on their own era. Due to the fact that football has been developing, Many players of the first era will never compete with the current players in this era. So, Comparison will base on how much they did in their time but it has to be unavoidably limited in their disadvantage of era. Additionally, Player is ranked higher the same nationality player not mean they must be ranked higher in the greatest ever of their nation list because this includes overall career. Regarding the main purpose of this series, I desire to do it to recognize that there are many interesting legendary players in history of the game and I try to do it by the lest biased. All of details include from many sources, even some awards such as IFFHS best player of the century in each country, All-time top scorer in each club or league or some interesting awards have added in every players to make their highest profile and the main references both details and photo are listed in bottom side. But still, There are some knowledge from many old-timers in soccerpulse.com and even xtratime.com giving me to do the most suitable ranking and also my own seeing in many VCD or even live program since I first saw football in 1994. Eventually, All ranking are still available to update every time as soon as I found it was more suitable, and some active players would have proved themselves in the future to be ranked higher.

http://www.wikipedia.org
http://www.rsssf.com
http://pesstatsdatabase.com/
http://www.sporting-hero.net
http://www.gettyimages.com
The Book Online “The Global of Art”

Criteria of Class

Crown : The best footballers of all-time
King : The closest footballers to be the best ever
Queen : One of the best footballers in thier era
Prince : The consistency International-Class footballers or a few years of World-Class

*Each class would be devided into 3 level are Gold, Silver and Bronze

Criteria cover these items ;

1. Level of Abilities
2. Consistency, Longevity
3. The Greatness, Awards
4. Standard Competition In Each Era

50. Giacinto Facchetti

Date Of Birth : 18 July 1942
Nation : Italy
Height : 191 cm
Major Club : Inter Milan
Caps : 94 Games
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970, 1974 (12 Games)
Club Honours : 4 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Copa Italia
2 Times European Cup Winners (1964, 1965)
2 Times European Cup Runner-Up (1967, 1972)
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1964, 1965)
International Honours : 1968 European Championship Winners
1970 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1965 Silver Ball European Footballer Of The Year
1968 European Championship Team Of Tournament
1970 FIFA World Cup All-Star

Facchetti is best remembered the greatest wing-back ever in history of the game. He would make marauding run upfield using his wonderful running, dribbling and crossing, even sometimes done well as left-winger to make scores. He could also play as center-back which his tackling was used great effect, possessed excellent stamina, great leadership and scored important goals. Facchetti is compared by some as “Beckenbauer in version of side-back” because of his leadership and technical ability. He was one of the Le Grande Inter which was notable with completely defensive game. He was also voted 5th Ballan D’or in 1968. Facchetti is the only player to be retired number for Inter Milan which he is club’s greatest player ever and played 634 official games with scoring 75 goals.

49. Daniel Passarella

Date Of Birth : 25 May 1953
Nation : Argentina
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : River Plate, Fiorentina
Caps : 70 Games (22 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1978, 1982, 1986 (12 Games)
Club Honours : 4 Times Argentina Champion
International Honours : 1978 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1976 Argentina League Footballer Of The Year
1978 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team

“The Great Captain” Daniel Passarella is the greatest central defender ever to come from the Americas and one of the best defender-scorer in history of the game. His leadership, passion and his organization prowess on the field led him as an outstanding captain leading Argentina to make a victory winning their first World Cup. He was a libero who excellent in the air despite his medium height and often join the attack to make a lot of scores. He was also noted for using his elbows against rivals whilst managing to avoid the referee's gaze. Passarella kept the second best record as top scoring defender only to Ronald Koeman. He scored more than 130 goals in his club career. His wonderful season was 1976 that he incredibly scored 24 goals from 35 matches. Unfortunately, He didn’t play any game in world cup 1986 just because of fractious relationship with Carlos Bilardo and untouchable star “Diego Maradona”.

48. Josef Bican

Date Of Birth : 25 September 1913
Position : Striker
Nation : Austria
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : Slavia Prague
Caps : 35 Games (32 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1934 (4 Games with 1 Goal)
Professional Score Record : 749 Goals/ 482 Games
Club Honours : 3 Times Austrian League
1 Times Czechoslovakian League
1938 Mitropa Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 11 Times Czechoslovakian League Top Scorer
1 Time Austrian League Top Scorer
5 Times European League Top Scorer
5 Times World League Top Scorer
IFFHS Golden Ball The Greatest Goalscorer of The Century

Josef "Pepi" Bican is the most prolific scorer in history of the game. It is estimated by respected footballing statistics page RSSSF that Bican scored around 800 goals in all competitive matches, not including friendly games. Bican had the ability to play with both feet, he also had considerable pace and was able to run 100 metres in 10.2 seconds, which was as fast as many sprinters of the time. Bican was born in Austria and played in his country until 24 year olds before moved to play in Czechoslovakia throughout the World War II, as well as transferring his race to play for Czechoslovakia. But still, He played early played for Austria in World Cup 1934 that he failed to be a superstar of such the great tournament. In 1944, He made his best stat that scored 57 goals in 23 matches. Bican was a special striker, still was a prolific scorer until his retirement at 42 year olds.

47. Dragan Dzajic

Date Of Birth : 30 May 1946
Position : Left-Winger
Nation : Yugoslavia
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : Red Star Belgrade
Caps : 85 Games (23 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 323 Goals/ 671 Games
World Cup Participation : 1974 (5 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Times Yugoslavian League
4 Times Yugoslavian Cup
1968 Mitropa Cup
International Honours : 1968 European Championship Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1968 European Championship Top Scorer
1968 Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year
2 Times European Championship Team of Tournament (1968, 1976)
IFFHS Yugoslavia Player of The Century
UEFA Jubilee Award (Serbia & Montenegro)

Dragan Dzajic is one of the most underrated footballers ever to play the game despite being one of the greatest left-wingers the world has ever produced. Dzajic is also the best player ever to come from Yugoslavia group of nations, renown for his great crosses and passes, unstoppable dribbling with great pace, natural technique and some of the best left footed free kicks ever. His most famous match was likely the 1968 UEFA Euro semifinal against England, in which his lob over goalkeeper Gordon Banks gave Yugoslavia a 1-0 victory against the defending world champion. The British press dubbed him "The Magic Dragan," In that year, Beckenbauer mentioned Dzajic should win Ballon’ Dor instead of George Best without doubt. Pelé was moved to say: "Džajić is the Balkan miracle – a real wizard. I'm just sorry he's not Brazilian because I've never seen such a natural footballer."

46. Gunnar Nordahl

Date Of Birth : 19 October 1921
Position : Striker
Nation : Sweden
Height : 185 cm
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps : 33 Games (43 Goals)
World Cup Participation : None
Professional Score Record : 446 Goals/ 520 Games
Club Honours : 4 Times Swedish League
2 Times Italian Series A
2 Times Swedish Cup
4 Times Copa Italia
International Honours : 1948 Olympic Game Gold Medal
Individual Achievement : 4 Times Swedish League Top Scorer
5 Times Italian Series A Top Scorer
1 Time Olympic Game Top Scorer
AC Milan All-Time Topscorer
IFFHS Sweden Greatest Player of The Century

Gunnar Nordahl is one the greatest Scandinavian footballers of all-time, and the greatest target striker in the world during the early 1950s. He was also one of the most effective striker to play the game. His style of play was base on his enormous strength, pace and remarkable shooting power. Nordahl started out at Hörnefors IF in Sweden before moving to IFK Norrköping. He ever once scored seven goals in one game. During his time in Swedish clubs, Nordahl scored 149 goals in 172 matches. With AC Milan, He would team up with his national team strike partners, Gunnar Gren and Nils Liedholm to form the renowned Gre-No-Li trio. He is still the second-highest Serie A goalscorer of all time, and is the most efficient goalscorer goals in Serie A ever with 0.77 goals per match. Only Silvio Piola scored more than him with his 247 goals in 537 games and 0.46 goals per match. After leaving Milan, Nordahl played for Roma for two seasons. Nordahl's transfer to Milan forced him to retire from the national team, as the rules at the time prevented professionals from the Swedish national team, being not called to 1950 FIFA World Cup.

45. Jairzinho

Date Of Birth : 25 December 1944
Position : Right-Winger
Nation : Brazil
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Botafogo
Caps : 81 Games (33 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 197 Goals/ 441 Games
World Cup Participation : 1974 (16 Games with 9 goals)
Club Honours : 2 Times Campeonato Carioca
1976 Copa Libertadores Cup
International Honours : 1970 FIFA World Cup Champion
Individual Achievement : 1970 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
1972 Bronze Ball South American Footballer of The Year
Brazil Footballer Museum Hall Of Fame

Jairzinho is one of five players in The 1970 World Cup Champion Brazil team which is considered as the greatest team in history of the game. A high speed powerful winger, During World Cup 1970, He scored in every game Brazil played. In doing so, he became one of only 3 players - the others being Alcides Ghiggia and Just Fontaine - in the history of the World Cup to have scored in every game of the tournament. Jairzinho was a worthy successor to Garrincha in both the Botafogo and Brazil team although his style was not elegant but full of his devastating bursts of speed combined with lethal shooting and also superb passing. He never complained and performed his duties impeccably. His scintillating pace turned defenses inside out, exposing the opponent’s goalkeepers. He tied with Dragan Dzajic as the best wingers in the world between lately 60s to early 70s.

44. Rivaldo

Date Of Birth : 19 April 1972
Position : Attacking Midfielder/ Second Striker
Nation : Brazil
Height : 186 cm
Major Club : Barcelona
Caps : 74 Games (34 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1998, 2002 (14 Games with 8 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 297 Goals/ 564 Games
Club Honours : 1 Time Brazil National Championship
2 Times Brazil State Championship
2 Times Spanish La Liga
3 Times Greece League
1 Time Copa Del Rey
1 Time Copa Italia
2 Times Greek Cup
2003 UEFA Champion League
International Honours : 1998 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
2002 FIFA World Cup Champion
Individual Achievement : 1998 Spanish League Best Foreign Player
1999 EFE Trophy
1999 Copa America Top Scorer
1999 Copa America Most Valuable Player
1999 European Footballer of The Year
1999 Onze d’Or
1999 World Soccer Player of The Year
2002 FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1998, 2002)
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

Rivaldo is regarded as the phenomenon-class player in the world during the lately 1990s that he was in his prime. He played in the area between attacking midfielder and deep-lying forward but he was more scorer or assister than creator. Rivaldo could dribble, shot and pass with the best. Especially, His shooting was combined with powerful and precision. His best highlight of the career was in 2001. In the last game of the season, against Valencia, Rivaldo scored a hat-trick to win the game 3-2. His third goal was a bicycle kick from the edge of the area in the 90th minute of the game, and is regarded as one of the greatest goals ever in a combination of importance and skill. The win secured Barcelona a place in the following UEFA Champions League tournament. In next year, He was transferred to AC Milan. His time in Milan proved a mutually disappointing affair, was a starter trough the first season but he didn’t play even a game in the next one partly due to injury problems. Afterwards, He moved to play in Greek with Olympiacos but his performance so much failed down.

43. Adolfo Pedernera

Date Of Birth : 18 November 1918
Nation : Argentina
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : River Plate
Caps : 36 Games (18 Goals)
World Cup Participation : None
Professional Score Record : 167 Goals/ 415 Games
Club Honours : 5 Times Argentina League
4 Times Colombia League
1953 Colombia Cup
International Honours : 2 Times Copa America Winners (1941, 1945)
1942 Copa America Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1946 Copa America Best Player

“The Master” Adolfo Pedernera is considered as one of the greatest legends in history of Argentinean Football. He played as center forward for “La Maquina”. To support “Total Football’ style of play, He always down to operate creativity in the midfield area and create a large number of assists to Angel Labruna who is an all-time top scorer in Argentinena league. Then, Pedernera went forward to make score by his own. His style of play is regarded as the same kind and level of Alfredo Di Stefano. He debuted professional career when he was just 16 year olds. Later then, He joined with Milonarios after spending 13 seasons with River Plate. The press of Bogotá received Pedernera well and commented after his great performance in the first match that "He was "a phenomenon, an artist, a master of passing, and a show of intelligence. After the debut of El Maestro, everything is possible."

42. Tostao

Date Of Birth : 25 January 1947
Position : Forward
Nation : Brazil
Height : 172 cm
Major Club : Cruzeiro
Caps : 54 Games (32 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 (7 Games with 3 Goal)
Professional Score Record : 366 Goals/ 435 Games
Club Honours : 1 Time Brazil National Championship
6 Times Brazil State Championship
International Honours : 1970 FIFA World Cup Champion
Individual Achievement : 1971 South American Footballer of The Year
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

“The Little Coin” Tostao was a dynamic center-forward that when his game was on. He could be as stellar and inventive as Pele. Tostao had incredible technique, could turn and shoot on a dime and had brilliant dribbling skills and cerebral distribution. In his prime, he was one of the best strikers in the world and also contributed with many assists thanks to his great passing and intelligent. He scored 46 goals in just 22 starts for his first club, América MG, and then he joined Cruzeiro where he became a cult hero. After the World Cup, he joined Vasco da Gama, again proving his ability as a prolific striker by netting 71 goals in just 35 matches. Tostão suffered a detached retina in 1969 when he was hit in the face by a ball during a match against Corinthians. This injury almost stopped him playing in the 1970 World Cup, and when he damaged his eye again in 1973 he decided to retire from football at the age of 26.

41. Luis Suarez Miramontes

Date Of Birth : 2 May 1935
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : Spain
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Barcelona, Inter Milan
Caps : 32 Games (14 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Spanish League
3 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Copa Del Rey
2 Times European Cup Winners (1964, 1965)
1967 European Cup Runner-Up
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1964, 1965)
International Honours : 1964 European Championship Winners
Individual Achievement : 1960 European Footballer of The Year
2 Times Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year (1961, 1964)
1964 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1965 Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year

Luis Suarez Miramontes is widely regarded as the greatest Spanish footballer of all-time and one of the most underrated players among the World’s legends. He was one of the great organizing of the modern era. Not content to direct from a distance, he help modernized the forward-looking more free-ranging creative midfielder. Suárez first played as an inside left for Barcelona. He was also noted for his perceptive passing and explosive shot and in 1960 he became the only Spanish-born player to date to be won Ballon d’. In 1961 Suárez became the world's most expensive footballer when FC Barcelona sold him to Inter Milan for £142,000. The move saw him follow his mentor Helenio Herrera. He moved down to play deep-lying playmaker. In 1964 he helped Spain win the European Championship. He was also a prominent member of the successful CF Barcelona team of the 1950s before he joined Inter Milan where he was an equally prominent member of the legendary Great Inter side of the 1960s. He retired as a player in 1973, after three seasons at Sampdoria.

40. Raymond Kopa

Date Of Birth : 13 October 1931
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : France
Height : 169 cm
Major Club : Stade Reims, Real Madrid
Caps : 45 Games (18 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1954, 1958 (8 Games)
Club Honours : 4 Times French League
2 Times Spanish La Liga
1956 European Cup Runner-Up
3 Times European Cup Winners (1957, 1958, 1959)
International Honours : 1958 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1954 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player
2 Times Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year (1956, 1957)
1958 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1958 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1958 European Footballer of The Year
1959 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
Bronze Ball French Player of The Century
Legion De Honours

Raymond Kopa is the great legendary French football who is regarded as the finest playmaker in the World during the lately 1950s. Kopa was the progeny of a Polish immigrant family. He was a free-role playmaker, quick, agile and excellent in dribble combined with playmaking abilities. He played or Stade Reims in his early career during their glory years. After he with the club lost Real Madrid in European Cup final 1956, He was signed to the Santiago Bernabeu, played for them for three seasons and fortunately won European Cup all seasons. Kopa was an important key player to lead France won third place in World Cup 1958 with his many assists to Just Fontaine who overshadowed him by scoring so many goals. Kopa return to play for Stade Reims for 8 seasons.

39. Sandor Kocsis

Date Of Birth : 21 September 1929
Position : Striker
NatioPosition : Hungary
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : Budapest Honved
Caps : 68 Games (75 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1954 (5 Games with 11 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 418 Goals/ 470 Games
Club Honours : 4 Times Hungarian League
2 Times Spanish La Liga
2 Times Copa Del Rey
1960 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
International Honours : 1952 Olympic Game Gold Medal
1953 Central European Champions
1954 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Hungarian League Top Scorer
2 Times European League Top Scorer (1952, 1954)
2 Times World League Top Scorer (1952, 1954)
1954 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
1954 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball
1954 FIFA World Cup All Star Team

Sandor Kocsis is considered as the greatest target striker in history of Eastern European football, and the finest main striker in the world during the early 1950s. He was an all round forward being a magnificent finisher, very strong, great at positioning and most of all brilliant in aerial battle. He is regarded as one the best players ever as aerial scorer. Kocsis was one of the legendary Mighty Magyars. After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution he moved to Spain where he became a prominent member of the successful CF Barcelona team of the late although he was not a prolific scorer that he was in is earlier career. With Hungary, He played as inside-right but his duty was expected as a final finisher. 1954 was his best year that he was a top scorer of league in the world, and was a top scorer in World Cup tournament. Kocsis was one of the most prolific scorer ever in national level with his best average goal per game in history of the game for players caps more than 40 games.

38. Leonidas Da Silva

Date Of Birth : 6 September 1913
Position : Forward
Nation : Brazil
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Flamengo, Sao Paulo
Caps : 37 Games (37 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1934, 1938 (5 Games with 9 Goal)
Professional Score Record : 162 Goals/ 176 Games
Club Honours : 8 Times Brazil State Championships
International Honours : 1938 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1938 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1938 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

“The Black Diamond” Leonidas Da Silva was the greatest South American footballer before the World War II. He was known for his elasticity. He was one of the pioneers of the bicycle kick. Leonidas also played for famous clubs like Penarol, Vasco Da Gama and Botafogo each a year before settle his career down with Flamengo and Sao Paulo. He usually played as inside-forward and sometimes as center-forward. In 1938, he was the World Cup's top scorer with 7 goals, scoring hat-trick in the 6-5 extra time win over Poland. Brazil manager Ademar Pimenta decided to rest him for the semi-final against Italy. The Italians won the game 2-1. Nelson Rodrigues who was playwright ever mentioned “He was a rigorously Brazilian player. Had the fantasy, childhoodness, improvisation and the sensuality from the best Brazilian players"

37. Gianni Rivera

Date Of Birth : 18 August 1943
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : Italy
Height : 175 m
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps : 60 Games (14 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974 (9 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Italian Series A
4 Times Copa Italia
2 Times European Cup (1969, 1969)
2 Times European Cup Winners’ Cup (1968, 1973)
1969 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1968 European Championship Winners
1970 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1963 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1969 European Footballer of The year
1973 Italian Series A Top Scorer
1999 IFFHS Italy Player of The Century

“The Golden Boy of Italy” Gianni Rivera is considered as one of the greatest Italian footballer ever. He was an advance creative midfielder with offensive ideas, often at odds with the proponents of the classic Italian defensive schemes. Rivera had a classy elegant and aesthetic style, impeccable in the dribbling and distribution. He played with Italy in the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Valcareggi, believed that Rivera and his teammate Mazzola could not play together on the same field. Although Rivera was the more famous of the two, Valcareggi elected to start Mazzola. However, by 2nd round, the Italian offense failed to sparkle. Valcareggi devised a solution he called "staffetta" (relay) to play both players. Mazzola would start in the first half while Rivera would come in at halftime. With this strategy, Rivera helped to beat the host Mexico in the quarterfinal and West Germany in the semifinal, in which Rivera played a major role in one of the best matches in World Cup history. However, in the final against Brazil, Valcareggi did not use Rivera until there were only six minutes left in the game, despite Rivera being the hero of the past two matches.

36. Matthias Sindelar

Date Of Birth : 10 February 1903
Position : Forward
Nation : Austria
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Austria Vienna
Caps : 43 Games (27 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1934 (3 Games with 1 Goal)
Professional Score Record : Unavailable
Club Honours : 1 Time Austrian League
5 Times Austrian Cup
2 Times Mitropa Cup (1933, 1936)
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : Austria Sportsman of The Century
1999 IFFHS Austria Player of The Century

“The Mozart of Fooball” Matthias Sindelar is one of the greatest footballers before the World War II. He was a genius footballer who was full of special talent and also was principled individual didn’t compromise or abandoned his moral and ethical beliefs. Sindelar and Austria were especially prominent at the 1934 World Cup. The high point was their defeat of Hungary in quarterfinals, when Sindelar was matched up against centre-half György Sárosi, who would go on to claim a runners-up medal at the following World Cup in France. In a bruising encounter, one Hungarian was sent-off, and Johann Horvath, the Austrian midfielder, was injured and missed the semi-final against Italy. Austria then suffered a controversial defeat to the host nation, with Sindelar affected by the harsh marking of Luis Monti. Sindelar was voted 22nd greatest footballer of the Century by IFFHS’s poll as well as the greatest Austrian player of all-time.

35. Zizinho

Date Of Birth : 14 September 1921
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : Brazil
Height : 172 cm
Major Club : Flamengo
Caps : 53 Games (30 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1950 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Brazil State Champions
International Honours : 1949 Copa America Winners
4 Times Copa America Runner-Up (1945, 1946, 1953, 1957)
1950 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1950 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1950 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
Copa America All-Time Top Scorer (17 Goals)
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

Zizinho was one of the greatest South American footballers in his era. He came to international prominence at the 1950 World Cup, where scored two goals. He played as an inside-right but could operate his game in central midfield with his stamina to help defensive game, is noted for his dribbling skills and pace. Zizinho played for Flamengo, Bangu, São Paulo FC, Audax Italiano of Chile among others teams. He mostly spent his career with Flamengo and scored 146 golas for the club. In the 1950 World Cup he helped Brazil to progress to the final, but their surprise 2-1 defeat to Uruguay tarnished his reputation. Pelé always said that Zizinho was the best player he ever saw. "He was a complete player. He played in midfield, in attack, he scored goals, he could mark, head and cross." He came in 4th place in the IFFHS Brazilian Player and 10th place South American player of the 20th Century.

34. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Date Of Birth : 25 September 1955
Position : Forward
Nation : West Germany
Height : 182 cm
Major Club : Bayern Munich
Caps : 95 Games (45 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1978, 1982, 1986 (19 Games with 9 Goal)
Professional Score Record : 286 Goals/ 574 Games
Club Honours : 2 Times German Champion
2 Times DFB-Pokal
2 Times European Cup (1975, 1976)
1976 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1980 European Championship Winners
2 Times FIFA World Cup Runner-Up (1982, 1986)
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Bundesliga Top Scorer
1 Time Swiss League Top Scorer
1979 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1980 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1980 German Footballer of The Year
2 Times European Footballer of The Year (1980, 1981)
2 Times Onze d’Or (1980, 1981)
1982 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1982 FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe
1982 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1982 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
1983 Bronze Ball Onze d’Or

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is the greatest footballer in the world during the separate period between lately 70’s to early 80’s. He was an athletic all-round forwarder, could play all position in the front line cover winger in both side, second striker and targeted striker, made him as one of the most completed football players the World has ever seen. He always beat opposing defenders with his high speed, physically power and technical abilities. Also, Rummenigge was great in off the ball and finishing. His never-say-die attitude made him a natural captain for his country as 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup finalists. He was rated by Kicker Ranking in 3 World-Class seasons plus 5 seasons of International-Class during ten seasons in Bundesliga. Afterwards, He moved to play for Inter Milan 3 seasons by the time he had failed from his prime. In 2005, He was voted in all-time Bayern XI.

33. Ruud Gullit

Date Of Birth : 1 September 1962
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : Netherlands
Height : 186 cm
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps : 66 Games (17 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 219 Goals/ 542 Games
World Cup Participation : 1990 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Dutch Champions
3 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Dutch Cup
1 Time Copa Italia
2 Times European Cup (1989, 1990)
1993 European Cup Runner-Up
International Honours : 1988 European Championship Winners
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Dutch Footballer of The Year (1984, 1986)
1986 Dutch Golden Shoe Winners
1987 Dutch Sportman of The Year
1987 European Footballer of The Year
2 Times European Championship Team of The Tournament (1988, 1992)
1988 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
2 Times World Soccer Player of The Year (1987, 1989)
2 Times Silver Ball Onze d’Or (1988, 1989)
1993 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year

Ruud Gullit is one of the most completed footballers to play the game, renowned as one of the tiger-soldiers of AC Milan and Holland alongside Frank Rijkaard and Marco Van Basten. His primitive race was Suriname. Gullit epitomised the ethos of Total Football as he was naturally adept in almost every position. His foremost attribute was his athleticism, as he used his strength and speed to great effect, as well as being excellent in the air. Yet unusually for a man of his stature Gullit also possessed outstanding natural balance and poise that gave a graceful style to his game. Gullit thus combined technical ability with physical presence to become an iconic figure in world football. Gullit's brilliance prompted George Best to comment in 1990, "Ruud Gullit is a great player by any standards. He has all the skills. He's not afraid to do things with the ball. And he looks as if he's enjoying every second of it”

32. Roberto Baggio

Date Of Birth : 18 February 1967
Position : Second Striker
Nation : Italy
Height : 174 cm
Major Club : Fiorentina, Juventus
Caps : 56 Games (27 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1990, 1994, 1998 (16 Games with 9 Goal)
Professional Score Record : 292 Goals/ 637 Games
Club Honours : 2 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Copa Italia
1993 UEFA Cup
1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup
International Honours : 1990 FIFA World Cup Third Place
1994 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1990 Bravo Award
1993 European Footballer of The Year
1993 FIFA World Player of The Year
1993 World Soccer Player of The Year
1993 Onze d’Or
1994 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball
1994 FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe
1994 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1994 Bronze Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
1994 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
1994 Bronze Ball Onze d’Or
1995 Silver Ball Onze d’Or
2001 Guerin Italian Footballer of The Year
2002 FIFA Dream Team

“The Golden Braid” Roberto Baggio is the most popular footballer of all-time. He played as a creative forward. An elegant player, was an excellent dribbler and defense infiltrator and free-kick specialist. He was best remembered for his great performance in World Cup 1994. Among the pressured situation of Italy in several matches due to their non-proficient in attacking game, Baggio scored important goals until leading Italy reached final round. However, It is him to miss the final penalty kick affecting Italy lost in that match. Baggio is one of a few players to play for all three famous clubs in Italian series A consist of AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus. He was very consistency trough his career, still had a great form in his late career with Bologna and Brescia until his retirement at 36 year olds. Baggio was voted eighteenth in a poll organised by the French weekly magazine France Football. He is also regarded by some as the best Italian player ever.

31. Uwe Seeler

Date Of Birth : 5 November 1936
Position : Striker
Nation : West Germany
Height : 170 cm
Major Club : Hamburg
Caps : 72 Games (43 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 (21 Games with 9 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 446 Goals/ 520 Games
Club Honours : 1 Time German Champion
1 Time German Cup
International Honours : 1966 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
1970 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1 Times Bundesliga Top Scorer
3 Times German Footballer of The Year (1960, 1964, 1970)
1960 Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year
1966 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
All-Time Hamburg Top Scorer
Hamburg Greatest Player Ever

“Uns Uwe” Uwe Seeler is the most underrated strikers of all-time. He was a top west German striker for more than a decade. He was a technically gifted and effective goalscorer, working to score inside or outside the penalty area. He was also very creative, was renowed for his overhead-kick, once back-heading a goal in world cup game. In Bundesliga Game, He was rated by kicker in 7 seasons and also 7.5 seasons of international-class which is the second best rating in history of Bundesliga game only to Franz Beckenbauer. In spite of this point, He was never voted in top five Ballon d’Or in any year aside from 1960 due to unsuccessful of Hamburg club. Uwe Seeler was also a tremendously popular player due to his fairness, modesty, and kindness. The DFB (German FA) made him the second honorary captain of the German national team in 1972 (the first being Fritz Walter). In 2003 he became honorary citizen of his hometown Hamburg, the first time the honor was bestowed on a sportman.

30. Ladislao Kubala

Date Of Birth : 10 June 1927
Position : Attacking Midfielder/ Second Striker
Nation : Hungary
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : Barcelona
Caps : 28 Games (15 Goals) (Split into Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Spain)
Professional Score Record : 254 Goals/ 391 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 4 Times Spanish La Liga
5 Times Copa Del Rey
2 Times Inter Cities Fair Cup (1958, 1960)
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1999 Barcelona Greatest Player of The Century

Ladislao Kubala is one of the great legends of the World during the golden era of Spanish league. A striker with great passing qualities, Kubala also had an uncommon dribbling ability, combining pace and skill. Kubala's composure in finishing, and power when striking for goal were also highly renowned. Also, he was one of history's greatest free kick specialists, able to bend the ball with pace and accuracy. Kubala was born in Hungary and played in professional career just a season in his country before moved to play in Czechoslovakia. Then he played for Czechoslovakia in the first caps. Nevertheless, Spain is the most caps of his with 19. Consequently, He is the hardest player to find what’s national team he should belong to. As well as playing for three different national teams, Kubala also played for both a Europe XI and the Catalan XI. In 1953, England played a Europe XI at Wembley Stadium to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the FA and Kubala scored twice in the 4-4 draw. He also played 4 games and scored 4 times for the Catalan XI.

29. Franco Baresi

Date Of Birth : 8 May 1960
Position : Sweeper
Nation : Italy
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps : 81
World Cup Participation : 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 (10 Games)
Club Honours : 6 Times Italian Series A
3 Times European Cup (1989, 1990, 1994)
1993 European Cup Runner-Up
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1989, 1990)
1982 Mitropa Cup
International Honours : 1994 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
1990 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1989 Silver Medal European Footballer Of The Year
1990 Guerin Italian Series A Footballer Of The Year
AC Milan Player Of Century
Italian Sportman Of Century
1990 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team

“Piscinin” Franco Baresi is acknowledged as the greatest defender ever to play the game. He perfectly played as sweeper and being the most important role for AC Milan’s famous defensive line which kept record without conceding a goal in consecutive more than 900 minutes. Baresi was honoured to retire number 6 for AC Milan. Even his lower-average tall of his, He still always managed with aerial ball well. Baresi was a footballer leader with excellent technique, vision and courage on the pitch. Baresi was voted as 5th and 6th Ballon D’or in 1990 and 1993, respectively, 6th and 9th FIFA World player of the year in 1991 and 1994, respectively. In spite of his world-class performance, He was just a start of Italy national team because departure of Gaetano Scirea. His undesirable remembering is mistaking in penalty shootout in world cup 1994 final match leading Italy lost Brazil finally. Baresi was voted in top twenty in Europe’s player of century by IFFHS’s poll and in the greatest player of century in World Soccer’s poll.

28. Jose Manuel Moreno

Date Of Birth : 3 August 1916
Position : Second Striker
Nation : Argentina
Height : 187 cm
Major Club : River Plate
Caps : 33 Games (20 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 224 Goals/ 489 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 5 Times Argentinean League
1 Time Mexican League
1 Time Chilean League
2 Times Colombian League
2 Times European Cup Runner-Up (1962, 1964)
3 Times European Cup Winners (1959, 1960, 1966)
1960 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 3 Times Copa America Winners (1941, 1942, 1947)
1942 Copa America Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1942 Copa America Top Scorer

“El Charro” Jose Manuel Moreno is one of the most underrated footballers of all-time. Despite he was regarded by Argentinean old-timers to be a better player than Alfredo Di Stefano and Di Stefano ever mentioned by himself that there are many greater footballers than him in Argentina during his era but they was not lucky like himself getting opportunity to play in Europe, A few football fan around the world have ever heard his name because he never participated in World Cup due to refusing to enter World Cup 1950 by Argentina football association. Moreno is the most outstanding player in the legendary famous team “ La Maquina”. He played as inside-right but sometimes played as attacking midfielder according to “Total Football” Style of play that La Maquina was the first team to play before Holland played this system during the 1970s. Moreno was a superb technical player. He was a world-class creator, passer and dribbler. He was selected among the 25 best players in the world in the 20th century by the IFFHS in 1999. He also ranked as the fifth best player in South America, and as the third best in Argentina, behind Diego Maradona and Alfredo Di Stéfano

27. Roberto Rivelino

Date Of Birth : 1 January 1946
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : Brazil
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Corinthians, Fluminese
Caps : 92 Games (26 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 194 Goals/ 629 Games
World Cup Participation : 1970, 1974, 1978 (15 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Brazil State Championship
International Honours : 1970 FIFA World Cup Winners
1978 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1977 Silver Ball South American Footballer of The Year
2 Times Bronze Ball South American Footballer of The Year (1973, 1976)
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

Roberto Rivelino is one of the most recognized players in the 1970 World Cup Champion Brazil team. He was famous for his extremely potent left-foot shot, thunderous long-range free kicks, excellent long passes, quick thinking, distinct way of handling the ball and large moustache. He also invented a football move called the "Elastico", also known as "flip flap", famously copied by Ronaldinho, Ibrahimović and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years. He is widely regarded as one of the most graceful footballers ever, and is sometimes ranked as the 4th best ever Brazilian, after Pelé, Zico and Garrincha, as well as one of the best midfielders the world has ever seen. Rivelino played for Corinthians during the most troubled periods in the history of the club, didn’t won any state trophy more than two decades and this reason effect him never won first place in any individual awards. He later move on Fluminense and finally won state trophies. He was a key player for Brazil to reach semi-final in World Cup two times during the 1970s. Aside from a few achievement in club level, Rivelino is totally underrated not included in World Cup 1970 all star team.

26. Lothar Matthaus

Date Of Birth : 21 March 1961
Position : Central Midfielder/ Libero
Nation : Germany
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Inter Milan, Bayern Munich
Caps : 150 Games (23 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 (25 Games)
Club Honours : 7 Times Bundesliga Champions
1 Time Italian Series A
2 Times DFB-Pokal
2 Times UEFA Cup (1991, 1996)
2 Times UEFA Champion League Runner-Up (1987, 1999)
International Honours : 1990 FIFA World Cup Winners
1986 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1978 Bravo Award
1990 European Footballer Of The Year
1990 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball
1990 World Soccer Player Of The Year
1990 Onze d’Or
1991 FIFA World Player Of The Year
1991 Silver Ball European Footballer Of The Year
1991 Bronze Ball Onze d’Or
2 Times German Footballer Of The Year (1990, 1999)
1988 European Championship Team Of Tournament

“The Superman” Lothar Matthaus is a powerful dynamo midfielder, has played in five World Cups more than any other outfield player, and holds the record for the most World Cup appearances with 25 games. He also played in Euro 80, 84, 88, and 2000. He is the most capped German player of all time with 150. Maradona said about Matthäus "he is the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him". During his career, he usually played as a box-to-box midfielder which was the centre of the team to operate both defensive and offensive games. Kicker Magazine rated him as a world-class player in World Cup 1986, 1990 and 8 international-class seasons as a midfielder in Bundesliga. However, He also reaches 3 world-class years at Inter Milan where he won many big individual awards. Aside from 1990 and 1991, He won 4th in Ballon’ Dor. Afterwards, He moved down to play as Libero, was rated a half world-class season and 5.5 seasons international-class, noted for his two years injury. He was renowned for his perceptive passing, positional sense, movement, tireless, acceleration and well-timed tackling, as well as his explosive shot. All in all, He played in professional level for 22 seasons. Matthaus was voted 15th World’s player of century in IFFHS’s poll and the same place in UEFA Jubilee’s poll.

25. Didi

Date Of Birth : 8 October 1929
Position : Central Midfielder
Nation : Brazil
Height : 174 cm
Major Club : Botafogo
Caps : 68 Games (20 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1954, 1958, 1962 (15 Games)
Club Honours : 4 Times Campeonato Carioca
International Honours : 2 Times FIFA World Cup Winners (1958, 1962)
3 Times Copa America Runner-Up (1953, 1957, 1959)
1952 Pan American Games
Individual Achievement : 1958 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1958 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
Brazil Football Museum Hall Of Fame

Valdir Pereira “Didi” is considered to be one of the greatest midfielder ever. He had incredibly accurate passing, ball controlling, vision, great stamina and strength. He played as holding creative midfielder and created many of assists to Brazil’s strikers and scored a lot of goals by his own. Didi is credited as the inventor of the unpredictable “Dry Leaf” or “Banana” free-kick technique, where the ball would swerve seemingly downwards at the right time resulting in a goal. Despite his great reputation after the 1958 World Cup which he won player of the tournament, He moved to Real Madrid and played only 19 matches for the Spaniards and often clashed with the team leader Alfredo Di Stéfano, who felt offended by the divide in the fan’s attention with this newcomer; this situation precipitated his exit from the club. Didi was voted 20th World’s player of century by IFFHS’s poll.

24. Fritz Walter

Date Of Birth : 31 October 1920
Position : Second Striker
Nation : Germany
Height : 174 cm
Major Club : Kaiserslautern
Caps : 61 Games (33 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1954, 1958 (11 Games with 3 Goals))
Professional Score Record : 380 Goals/ 411 Games
Club Honours : 2 Times German Champions
International Honours : 1954 Times FIFA World Cup Champions
Individual Achievement : Kaiserslautern All Time Top Scorer
Kaiserslautern Greatest Player Ever
1954 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1954 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
UEFA Jubilee Award (Germany)

Fritz Walter is the greatest personality of the circle of German football. He was a prolific score as well a great assister with his impressive vision, passing and stamina. He was very much to be a part in retrieving Germany from their being devastated from the World War II. Walter could score a hat-trick as soon as his debut with the national team. Walter was drafted into the armed forces in 1942, however, the end of the war found 24 year old Fritz. He narrowly fortunate survived from that war. Walter, who by now suffered from Malaria, again played for Kaiserslautern, leading them to win German league 2 times. Sepp Herberger recalled him to the national team in 1951, and he was named captain and led his country won their first World Cup in 1954. Ironically, that win came over Hungary, and for two years. Walter received his last cap during the 1958 World Cup which Germany won fourth place, suffering an injury which ended his international career, and retired from football at age of 39 year olds. Noted that his goal statistics mostly was done during German league was fail in standard due to the World War II. The Fritz Walter Stadium was named for his honours to be the home of Kaiserslautern.

23. Giuseppe Meazza

Date Of Birth : 23 August 1910
Position : Second Striker
Nation : Italy
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : Barcelona
Caps : 53 Games (33 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1934, 1938 (9 Games with 3 goals)
Professional Score Record : 275 Goals/ 463 Games
Club Honours : 3 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Copa Italia
International Honours : 2 Times FIFA World Cup Champions (1934, 1938)
Individual Achievement : Inter Milan All-Time Top Scorer
Inter Milan Greatest Player Ever
3 Times Italian Series A Top Scorer
1934 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1934 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
2008 FIGC Greatest Italian Player of All-Time

“Il Balilla” Giuseppe Meazza is still considered by many to be one of the greatest Italian players of all-time as well as the finest player in history of Inter Milan club, Additionally, Meazza is considered as the greatest footballer before the World War II. He began his career as all out striker, but showed his skill and ability by also becoming an accomplished midfielder, playing for more than half of his career as inside forward both left and right. He was a great leader with excellent shooting and intoxicating dribbling skill, an eye for the pass and, despite his middle height, an exceptional heading ability. He was a brilliant passer, both-footed, had remarkable field vision and was noted for his turns and spins. He was very much outstanding in World Cup 1934. In World Cup 1938, he was a captain of Italy and became more an assister than a scorer in that tournament. Meazza is a FIFA Hall of Champions Inductee and Italian Hall of Fame Entrant. He was selected by IFFHS as the 2nd Best Italian player and 21st World Player of the Century. The Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, is the home if inter Milan, was named in honour of him.

22. Romario

Date Of Birth : 29 January 1966
Position : Striker
Nation : Brazil
Height : 169 cm
Major Club : Flamengo, Vasco Da Gama
Caps : 70 Games (55 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1990, 1994 (8 Games with 5 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 697 Goals/ 905 Games
Club Honours : 4 Times Brazil State Championship

20. Bobby Moore

Date Of Birth : 12 April 1941
Position : Center-Back
Nation : England
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : West Ham United
Caps : 108 Games
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966. 1970(18 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time FA Cup
1 Time UEFA Cup Winners’s Cup
International Honours : 1966 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1964 FWA Footballer Of The Year
1966 Silver Ball FIFA World Cup
1966 BBC Sports Personality of The Year Winners
UEFA Jubilee Award (Golden Player of England)
English Football Hall of Fame
1967 Award to O.B.E
1968 European Championship Team of Tournament
1970 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1970 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team of Century

Bobby Moore is one of the most iconic English footballers ever. His greatness has been appeared with a statue outside Wembley stadium. Moore was admired for his reading of the game and ability to anticipate opposition movement, played as center-back mostly by his genius positional play, as he had uncanny intuitive sense for where the ball was headed. His timing in the tackle was unmatched, and he was rarely off of his feet while winning the ball back for his team. Moore is known as a true leader and gentleman with his fair play. In 1966, He was voted as the fourth best of Ballon D’or, and he was voted seventh place the best player in history of World Cup by France Football. Although his ability was not the best ever, His greatness as captain leading England to be champion of world cup could lead him to be ranked among the best.

19. Paolo Maldini

Date Of Birth : 29 June 1968
Position : Left-Back/ Center-Back
Nation : Italy
Height : 187 cm
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps : 126 Games
World Cup Participation : 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002(23 Games)
Club Honours : 7 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Copa Italia
5 Times UEFA Champion League (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007)
3 Times UEFA Champion League Runner-Up (1993, 1995, 2005)
International Honours : 1994 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
2000 European Championship Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1989 Bravo Award
2 Times European Championship Team Of Tournament (1996, 2000)
2 Times FIFA World Cup All-Star (1990, 1994)
2 Times Bronze Ball European Footballer Of The Year (1994, 2003)
1994 World Soccer Player Of The Year
1995 Silver Ball FIFA World Player Of The Year
1995 Bronze Ball Onze d’Or
2 Times UEFA Team Of The Year (2003, 2007)
2002 FIFA Dream Team
2004 Series A Defender Of The Year
2005 FIFPro World XI
2007 UEFA Champion League Best Defender

Paolo Maldini is already regarded by so many as the greatest defender of all-time after his retirement at 41 Year olds. He was honoured to retire number 3 for AC Milan which he totally played 902 matches for 25 seasons and alos holds all-time record mosr appearance in European Cup with 139 games. He incredibly debuted in Italian series A at 16 year olds and becoming a world-class defender since his only 20 year olds for AC Milan and Italy and sustain his level through 1990s before switching from left-back to center-back during 2000s which he still reach world-class in some years. He was also voted in top ten Ballon D’or in 1993, 1996, 2000 and 2005, also being voted in top ten FIFA World Player Of The Year in 1996 and 2005. Maldini is a modern defender with considerable technique and vision, solid defensively, quick and with excellent recuperation skills. Maldini holds the all-time world cup record of 2,217 consecutive minutes played and also holds with Francisco Gento of the all-time most appearances in European Cup final with 8. Maldini was finished 10th in UEFA Jubilee Poll as the best European footballer in last 50 years.

18. Stanley Matthews

Date Of Birth : 1 February 1915
Position : Right-Winger
Nation : England
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Stoke City, Blackpool
Caps : 54 Games (11 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1950, 1954 (3 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time FA Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1956 European Footballer Of The Year
2 Times FWA Footballer Of The Year (1948, 1963)
1957 Order Of The British Empire
1965 Knight Of Bachelor
1992 FIFA Gold Medal Order

“The Magician” or “The Wizard of The Dribble” Sir Stanley Matthews is the greatest legend in history of English football. He is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year awards. A vegetarian teetotaller, he kept fit enough to play at the top level until he was 50 years old, the oldest player ever to play in England's top football division. He played his final competitive game in 1970, at the age of 55. The Second World War interrupted his career. After the war, he fell out with Stoke and was transferred to Blackpool at the age of 32. Matthews was a right-side midfielder who assisted many goals after done his great speed, stamina and dribble. He was voted 11th and 17th World player of the century by IFFHS and World Soccer’s poll, respectively.

17. Bobby Charlton

Date Of Birth : 11 October 1937
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : England
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Manchester United
Caps : 106 Games (49 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 277 Goals/ 834 Games
World Cup Participation : 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 (12 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times English Top Division
1 Time FA Cup
1968 European Cup
International Honours 1966 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 2 Times BBC Sport Personality of The Year Award (1958, 1959)
1966 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1966, 1970)
1966 FWA Footballer of The Year
1966 European Footballer of the Year
2 Times Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year (1967, 1968)
1974 Commander of The Order of The British Empire
1974 PFA Merit Award
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
2007 PFA Team of The Century
1999 IFFHS England Player of The Century
England All-Time Top Scorer
Manchester United All-Time Top Scorer
IFFHS England Player of The Century
England All-Time Top Scorer
Manchester United All-Time Top Scorer
Manchester United’s Greatest Player Ever

Bobby Charlton is widely regarded as the greatest British footballer of all-time. Although his talent was not among the best ever but his consistency in effectiveness trough his career was great enough to be ranked from many sources in top 20 greatest footballer of all-time. He had made more appearances for Manchester United than any other player with 758, a record superseded by Ryan Giggs at the Champions League Final in Moscow in 2008. However, Charlton still owns the club record for most league appearances with 606. He was a speedy withdrawn attacking midfielder with excellent close control and he combined those attributes as a devastating dribbler in the open field. He packed considerable power with either foot and use it to score many spectacular goals. Charlton finished 10th, 12th and 14th place in IFFHS, World Soccer and UEFA Jubilee poll, respectively.

16. Marco Van Basten

Date Of Birth : 31 October 1964
Position : Striker
Nation : Netherlands
Height : 188 cm
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps : 58 Games (24 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1966 (4 Games and No Goal)
Professional Score Record : 277 Goals/ 370 Games
Club Honours : 3 Times Dutch League
3 Times Italian Series A
3 Times Dutch Cup
1987 European Cup Winners’ Cup
2 Times European Cup (1989, 1990)
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1989, 1990)
International Honours : 1988 European Championship Winners
Individual Achievement : 4 Times Dutch League Top Scorer
1985 Dutch Footballer of The Year
1986 European Golden Boot
1986 World League Top Scorer
1987 Bravo Award
1987 Silver Ball Onze d’Or
1987 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
1988 European Championship Top Scorer
2 Times European Championship Team of The Tournament (1988, 1992)
1989 European Cup Top Scorer
1989 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
2 Times Italian Series A Top Scorer (1990, 1992)
2 Times Onze d’Or (1988, 1989)
2 Times World Soccer Player of The Year (1988, 1992)
3 Times European Footballer of The Year (1988, 1989, 1992)
1992 Silver Ball Onze d’Or
1992 FIFA World Player of The Year

Marco Van Basten is the greatest striker in the world during the lately 1980s. He was two foots grace with close control, quick on the turn and excellent in the air, He scored Spectacular goals for club and country. He was best remembered with his winning goal in European Championship 1988 final match against Soviet Union. He shot from a seemingly impossible angle. The shear audacity and technique of that strike showed his supreme class. Van Basten was very success in his career with AC Milan, and regarded as the greatest striker in history of Italian Series A. Despite average of score per game in the league was lower than any era due to appearances of many world-class defenders but he still scored 90 goals in 147 games. On the other hand, Van Basten failed to prove himself in World Cup tournament that he could not score even a goal. His states for Holland was also unimpressive as he did it just 0.4 goal per game in average. After he was gotten big injury at age of 29, He could not to play the game anymore and decided to retire in next two years. Van Basten was voted 8th, 9th and 12th the greatest footballer of the century by France Football, World Soccer and IFFHS, respectively, and was voted 4th by UEFA Jubilee poll.

15. George Best

Date Of Birth : 22 May 1946
Position : Left-Winger
Nation : Northern Ireland
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Manchester United
Caps : 37 Games (9 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 204 Goals/ 579 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 2 Times English Top Division
1968 European Cup Winners
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : UEFA Jubilee Award (Northern Ireland)
1968 European Footballer Of The Year
1968 FWA Footballer Of The Year
1968 English Top Division Top Scorer
1971 Bronze Ball European Footballer Of The Year
1999 IFFHS Northern Ireland Player of The Century
PFA Special Merit Award

“Soccer Beatle” George Best is one of the most talent footballers of all-time. If consider only his prime, He would be the greatest player in history of British football without any hesitation but he was known for his unprofessional behavior as an alcoholism effected his career not consistency. George Best was a left-winger who was tremendously skilled an innovative footballer. Unsurpassed on dribble and penetration, would often pass off the score after rather than take the goal himself. He was one of few players with virtually ambidextrous ball control with both feet. Best scored 185 goals in 465 matched for Manchester United. In his native Northern Ireland the admiration for him is summed up by the local saying: "Maradona good; Pelé better; George Best. He was one of the world legends never participated in World Cup. He was voted 8th,12th and 16th World player of the century by World Soccer, France Football and IFFHS’s poll, respectively.

14. Eusebio

Date Of Birth : 25 January 1942
Position : Striker
Nation : Portugal
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : Benfica
Caps : 64 Games (41 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1966 (6 Games with 9 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 511 Goals/ 554 Games
Club Honours : 11 Times Portuguese League
5 Times Portuguese Cup
2 Times European Cup Winners (1961, 1962)
2 Times European Cup Runner-Up (1963, 1965, 1968)
International Honours : 1966 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 7 Times Portuguese Liga Top Scorer
2 Times Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year (1962, 1966)
1965 European Footballer of The Year
1966 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
1966 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1966 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
2 Times European Cup Top Scorer (1966, 1968)
2 Times European Golden Shoe (1968, 1973)
2 Times World League Top Scorer (1968, 1973)
2 Times Portuguese Athletic of The Year (1970, 1973)
Benfica Greatest Player Ever
UEFA Jubilee Award (Portugal)
IFFHS Portugal Player of The Century

“The Black Tiger of Mozambique” Eusebio Ferreira Da Silva is the greatest footballer ever to born in The Africa Continent and the finest player ever to play for Portugal. He was a striker in the center-forward mold. Eusebio was the possessor of one of the most fearsome shots to have graced the planet, powerful stamina and strength, great in air, and also had sublime dribbling and passing skills. Eusebio was born and played football in Mozambique until 18 year olds before moved to play in Portugal, and decided to transfer his race to be Portugal in next year. He played for Benfica in their golden era alongside his famous teammate like Mario Coluna, reached European Cup final for five times, and helped Portugal to win the only medal in their World Cup history. In 1966, He regrettably lost Bobby Charlton just a point to win Ballon d’Or. Aside from years he won medal in this award, He was also voted in top five for three times. He was voted 9th and 10th the greatest footballer of the century BY IFFHS and World Soccer, respectively, and was voted 7th by UEFA Jubilee poll.

13. Gerd Muller

Date Of Birth : 3 November 1945
Position : Striker
Nation : West Germany
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : Bayern Munich
Caps : 62 Games (68 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1970, 1974 (13 Games with 14 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 572 Goals/ 669 Games
Club Honours : 4 Times German Champions
4 Times DFB-Pokal
1967 European Cup Winners’ Cup
3 Times European Cup (1974, 1975, 1976)
1976 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1972 European Championship Winners
1974 FIFA World Cup Champion
Individual Achievement : 2 Times German Footballer of The Year (1967, 1969)
7 Times Bundesliga Top Scorer
2 Times European Golden Shoe (1970, 1972)
2 Time World League Top Scorer (1970, 1972)
2 Times Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year (1969, 1973)
4 Times European Cup Top Scorer (1973, 1974, 1975, 1977)
1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
1970 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1970 European Footballer of The Year
1972 European Championship Top Scoer
1972 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1972 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
All-Time German League Top Scorer
All-Time Germany Top Scorer
2000 World Football's Greatest Goalscorer of All Time

“Der Bomber” Gerd Muller is the greatest goalscorer in history of the game. He was the predominant center forward of the early 1970s. Deceptively quick and able to shoot with little waste motion. Muller was a nightmare for opposing goalkeepers, was the forerunner, whom given the slightest chance, could often find a way to put the ball in the goal that cluded other strikers’ abilities. He was short, squat, awkward-looking and not notably fast; he never fit the conventional idea of a great footballer, but he had lethal acceleration over short distances, a remarkable aerial game, and uncanny goalscoring instincts. His short legs gave him a strangely low center of gravity, so he could turn quickly and with perfect balance in spaces and at speeds that would cause other players to fall over. He also had a knack of scoring in unlikely situations." There are seven seasons Muller could score more than 1.00 goal per game in average. Muller was rated by kicker just 4.5 world-class seasons and 5.5 international-class seasons. That is argued that due to his too easy making score style of play not a wonderful scorer. He was also voted 5th the best player in history of World Cup by France Football.

12. Ronaldo

Date Of Birth : 22 September 1976
Position : Forward
Nation : Brazil
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : Inter Milan, Real Madrid
Caps : 97 Games (62 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 (19 Games with 15 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 340 Goals/ 484 Games
Club Honours : 2 Times Brazil State Champion
1 Time Spanish La Liga
2 Times Brazil Cup
1 Time Dutch Cup
1 Time Copa Del Rey
1997 European Cup Winners’ Cup
1998 UEFA Cup
2002 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 2 Times Copa America Winners (1994, 2002)
1997 FIFA Confederation Cup
1998 Copa America Runner-Up
1998 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
2002 FIFA World Cup Champion
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Bravo Awards (1995, 1997, 1998)
1 Time Dutch League Top Scorer
2 Times Spanish La Liga Top Scorer
1996 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1997 European Golden Boot
1997 Spanish La Liga Foreign Player of The Year
1997 Copa America Most Valuable Player
2 Times EFE Trophy (1997, 2003)
1998 UEFA Club Best Forward
1998 UEFA Club Most Valuable Player
1998 Italian Series A Foreign Footballer of The Year
1998 Italian Series A Footballer of The Year
1998 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1998 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1998 Silver Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
1998 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1998, 2002)
1999 Copa America Top Scorer
2002 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball
2002 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
2002 FIFA Team of The Year
2002 BBC Sport Oversea Personality of The Year
2003 Bronze Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
2 Times Onze d’Or (1997, 2002)
2 Times European Footballer of The Year (1997, 2002)
3 Times World Soccer Player of The Year (1996, 1997, 2002)
3 Times FIFA World Player of The Year (1996, 1997, 2002)
France Football All-Time World XI
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame
FIFA World Cup All-Time Top Scorer

“The Phenomenon” Ronaldo Luis Nazario De Lima is regarded as the one of the greatest footballers of all-time if consider only his prime. He processed great ball control and dribbling skills combined with a powerful physique and could hold off most defenders, and prolific scoring ability. Ronaldo is the youngest player ever to win Ballon d’Or, as he was a world-class player since his 20 year olds. He was famosus for his scoring a large number of goals by only his abilities as the one-man-show. On the other hand, The repeated big injury led him out of the game for two years. Even he could came back to be a world-class player again particularly in World Cup 2002 that he scored 12 goals, He never reached his prime that he could perform any longer. He also never won UEFA Champion League after his transferring to Real Madrid was after their three time UEFA Champion League Winners. In his lately career, He began being unprofessional behavior, allowed himself to be overweight, his speed gradually slow, and not be the remainder of the great footballer anymore.

11. Lev Yashin

Date Of Birth : 22 October 1929
Position : Goalkeeper
Nation : Soviet Union
Height : 189 cm
Major Club : Dynamo Moscow
Caps : 78 Games
World Cup Participation : 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 ( 12 Games )
Club Honours : 5 Times Soviet Championship
3 Times Soviet Cup
International Honours : 1960 European Nation’s Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1963 European Footballer Of The Year
2000 FIFA World Goalkeeper Of Century
IFFHS World’s Goalkeeper of Century
UEFA Jubilee Award (Golden Player Of Russia)
1967 Order Of Lenin
1956 Olympic Gold Medal Football
8 Times European Goalkeeper Of The Year
2 Times EURO ’s Best Goalkeeper Of Tournament ( 1960, 1964)
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
1999 IFFHS Soviet Union Goalkeeper of The Century
2002 FIFA Dream Team

“Black Octopus” Lev Yashin is the greatest goalkeeper ever in history of the game and regarded as Soviet Union ‘s greatest footballer ever. He is the only goalkeeper to win European footballer of the year award. Yashin is known for his superior athleticism, imposing stature, routine amazing reflex saves and inventing the idea of goalkeeper sweeping. During his career, He had stopped around 150 penalty kick which is the best record of all-time. Moreover, Yashin won 480 clean sheets from 812 career games played or almost 60 percent. He is one of the few footballers in history of the game to reach world-class performance for a decade. He was also voted as 5th in Ballon d’Or in 1956 and 1960. In 1994, FIFA established the Lev Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper in world cup final tournament. Yashin was finished 8th in UEFA Jubilee Poll as the best European footballer in the last 50 years. For his outstanding service to the people and to his country, Yashin was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1967, the highest award of the USSR. After retiring from playing Yashin spent almost 20 years in various administrative positions at Dynamo Moscow. A Bronze statue of Lev Yashin was erected at the Dynamo Stadium in Moscow.

10. Zico

Date Of Birth : 3 March 1953
Position : Attacking Midfielder/ Second Striker
Nation : Brazil
Height : 172 cm
Major Club : Flamengo
Caps : 72 Games (52 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 476 Goals/ 696 Games
World Cup Participation : 1978, 1982, 1986
Club Honours : 7 Times Brazil State Championship
4 Times Brazil National Championship
1 Time J League
1981 Copa Libertadores Cup
1981 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1978 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Brazil Footballer of The Year (1974, 1982)
6 Times Brazil State Championship Top Scorer
2 Times Brazil National Championship Top Scorer
2 Times South American Footballer of The Year (1981, 1982)
1982 FIFA World Cup Bronze Shoe
1982 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1983 World Soccer Player of The Year
1984 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

Zico is commonly considered one of the most skilled dribblers and finishers ever and possibly the world's best player of the early 80's and widely regarded as the third best Brazilian footballer of all-time. An excellent organizor and creator, but also the deadly dribbler on the run, Zico was equally proficient finisher. Many of his goals were sudden and unexpected but specular efforts. He was also known as one of history's greatest free kick specialists, able to bend the ball with pace and accuracy as well as having an extremely powerful shot. He holds the record all-time Top Scorer in Flamengo's history and won silver ball Brazilian footballer of the year 5 times. He played for Udinese for 2 seasons. The first one was great done with his 24 goals from 33 games but the injury made him had a hard time in the second season. Despite Zico is one of the best players the world has ever seen but he was not ranked in top 10 the greatest footballer of all-time in most of famous source due to his unsuccessful in World Cup. But still, He was finished 9th the greatest player ever by France football’s poll.

9. Zinedine Zidane

Date Of Birth : 23 June 1972
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : France
Height : 185 cm
Major Club : Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid
Caps : 108 Games (31 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1998, 2002, 2006 (12 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Spanish La Liga
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1996, 2002)
2 Times UEFA Champion League Runner-Up (1997, 1998)
2002 UEFA Champion League
International Honours 1998 FIFA World Cup Winners
2000 European Championship Winners
2006 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1994 French League Best Young Player
1996 French League Player of The Year
2 Times French Player of The Year (1998, 2002)
2 Times Series A Foreign Footballer of The Year (1997, 2001)
2001 Series A Footballer of The Year
2002 FIFA Dream Team
3 Times Onze d’Or (1998, 2000, 2001)
3 Times Silver Ball Onze d’Or (1997, 2002, 2003)
1999 Bronze Ball Onze d”Or
1997 Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year
1998 UEFA Champion League Best Midfielder
1998 European Footballer of The Year
1998 World Soccer Player of The Year
2 Times European Championship Team of The Tournament (2000, 2004)
3 Times UEFA Team of The Year (2001, 2002, 2003)
2000 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
2000 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
2002 Spanish La Liga Foreign Player of The year
2002 UEFA Champion League Most Valuable Player
3 Times FIFA World Player of The Year (1998, 2000, 2003)
2 Times Bronze Ball FIFA World Player of The Year (1997, 2002)
2004 UEFA Jubilee Poll Winners
2006 Silver Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
2006 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
2 Times FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (1998, 2006)
FIFPro World XI (2005, 2006)
Silver Ball French Player Of The Century
Officer Legion De Honours

Zinedine Zidane is the greatest footballer in the world during the early 2000s. His primitive race is Algerian. Zidane was start expected to be an important role of France after they disqualified for World Cup 1994 in the last minute. Nevertheless, He could not be the superstar in EURO 96. Then, He moved to Juventus and helped them reach 2 consecutive UEFA Champion league final but lost all. In World Cup 1998, Zidane was renowned for scoring two goals in the final match with heading but he was not selected even Bronze ball best player of the tournament. Oppositely, He won FIFA World player of the year in that year. He started his real world-class performance after that World Cup especially when he signed for Real Madrid “The Galacticos II”. He was voted in top five FIFA World Player of The Year for 9 times during 10 years between 1997 - 2006. Zidane was perfect in his role setting organization of the game, superb ball controlling, precision passing combined with great physical option. He has already considered by many in top fifteen the greatest footballer of all-time. In 2004, Zidane was finished as the best European footballer in the last 50 years by UEFA Jubilee Poll.

8. Garrincha

Date Of Birth : 28 October 1933
Position : Right-Winger
Nation : Brazil
Height : 169 cm
Major Club : Botafogo
Caps : 50 Games (12 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 239 Goals/ 616 Games
World Cup Participation : 1958, 1962, 1966 (12 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Campeonato Carioca
International Honours : 2 Times FIFA World Cup Champions (1958, 1962)
Individual Achievement : 1962 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1962 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
Brazil Footballer Museum Hall Of Fame

“The Little Bird” Garrincha is regarded as the greatest winger and dribbler the world has ever seen. Many eminent football historians in Brazil and around the world refer to him being at least the equal of Pelé , was rated by many as the second greatest Brazilian footballer of all-time. He grew up in poverty with high right leg 6 cm shorter than the left. Rather than shying away from soccer after a childhood illness left his right leg bowing inward while the left bowed outward, he developed a devastating body swerve that mocked his body’s special anatomy. As a right-winger, He was known for his remarkable ball control, imagination, acceleration, crossing, dribbling skills and ability to create something from nothing, He also possessed a ferocious shot with either foot and was a gifted dead ball specialist known for free kicks and corners taken with the outside of his foot, Garrincha’s best career highlight was happened in World Cup 1962 which he could fulfill Brazilian after Pele was out of tournament because of injury. For his all matches in World Cup, Brazil only lost one match with him on the pitch. He was voted 8th and 20th the greatest footballer of the century from IFFHS and World Soccer’s poll, respectively, was voted 6th the best player in world cup history by France Football.

7. Ferenc Puskas

Date Of Birth : 2 April 1927
Position : Forward
Nation : Hungary
Height : 174 cm
Major Club : Honved, Real Madrid
Caps : 85 Games (84 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 662 Goals/ 669 Games
World Cup Participation : 1954 (6 Games with 4 Goals)
Club Honours : 5 Times Hungarian League
5 Times Spanish La Liga
1 Time Copa Del Rey
2 Times European Cup Runner-Up (1962, 1964)
3 Times European Cup Winners (1959, 1960, 1966)
1960 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1952 Olympic Games Gold Medal
1953 Central European International Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 4 Times Hungarian league Top Scorer
4 Times Spanish La Liga Top Scorer
1948 European League Top Scorer
1948 World League Top Scorer
1953 Central European International Cup Top Scorer
1954 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1954 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
L’Equipe European Footballer of The Century
1960 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1999 IFFHS Hungary Player of The Century
Hungary All-Time Top Scorer
UEFA Jubilee Awards (Hungary)

Ferenc Puskas is rated as the greatest Eastern European footballer of all-time and one of the most prolific scorers ever. He had great striking technique and was a deadly goal finisher with his precision left-foot which is regarded as the greatest ever in this skill. Puskas operated his game as an inside-left and always tried to control the ball until reaching the nearly penalty box line and shot by himself or assist to his teammate. He was also known as his professionalism and this led him as one of the most consistency footballers, remained making scores until retirement at 39 year olds. He was both a prominent member and captain of the legendary Hungarian national team, known as the Mighty Magyars. In 1958, two years after the Hungarian Revolution, he emigrated to Spain where he played for the legendary Real Madrid team that also included Di Stéfano, Gento, Kopa, and Santamaría and went on to play for Spain for four games. Puskas was voted 6th the greatest player of the century by IFFHS’s poll and 7th by World Soccer and France Football’s poll.

6. Michel Platini

Date Of Birth : 21 June 1955
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : France
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : Nancy, Juventus
Caps : 72 Games (41 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 318 Goals/ 580 Games
World Cup Participation : 1978, 1982, 1986 (14 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time French League
2 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Copa De France
1 Time Copa Italia
1983 European Cup Runner-Up
1984 European Cup Winners’ Cup
1985 European Cup Winners
1985 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1984 European Championship Winners
1986 FIFA World Cup Third place
Individual Achievement : 2 Times French Player of The Year (1976, 1977)
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1982, 1986)
1984 Guerin Italian Series A Player of The Year
1984 European Championship Top Scorer
1984 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1977 Silver Ball Onze d’Or
3 Times Onze d’Or
2 Times European Footballer of The Year (1977, 1980)
3 Times European Footballer of The Year (1983, 1984, 1985)
1983 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
2 Times World Soccer Player of The Year (1984, 1985)
France
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
1999 IFFHS France Player of The Century
Golden Ball French Player of The Century
2002 FIFA Dream Team
Officer Legion De Honours

“Napolean of Football” Michel Platini is widely considered as the greatest midfielder in history of European football and the finest footballer in the world during the early 1980s. He was famous as a leader of “The Magic Sqaure” alongside Alain Giresse, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana , the group of midfield players that formed the heart of the French national team throughout the 1980s. He is also widely regarded as one of the best passers in football history as well as one of history's greatest free kick specialists and finishers and also possessed superlative reading the game skill, intelligently movement to score a large number of goals. He holds the record for most goals (9) scored in European Championship final tournaments despite only appearing in one such tournament (1984). Despite being a midfielder, he held the national team top scorer record until striker Thierry Henry surpassed in 2007. Platini was voted 5th, 5th,7th World’s greatest footballer of all-time by France Football, World Soccer and IFFHS poll, Respectively.

5. Alfredo Di Stefano

Date Of Birth : 4 July 1926
Position : Attacking Midfielder/ Second Striker
Nation : Argentina
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : Real Madrid
Caps : 31 Games for Spain (23 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 471 Goals/ 639 Games
World Cup Participation : 1962 (No Game)
Club Honours : 2 Times Argentinean League
4 Times Colombian League
8 Times Spanish La Liga
1948 South American Club Champion
1 Time Copa Colombia
1 Time Copa Del Rey
2 Times European Cup Runner-Up (1962, 1964)
5 Times European Cup Winners (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)
1960 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1947 Copa America Winners
Individual Achievement : 1 Times Argentinean league Top Scorer
2 Time Colombian League Top Scorer
5 Times Spanish La Liga Top Scorer
4 Times Spanish Player of The Year (1957, 1959, 1960, 1964)
2 Times European Footballer of The Year (1957, 1959)
1956 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
1999 IFFHS Spain Player of The Century
UEFA Jubilee Award (Spain)

“Blond Arrow” Alfredo Di Stefano is considered by some experts as the greatest footballers of all-time. He is arguably the modern era’s finest “all-rounder” a player who controlled games from all positions and angles in central midfield area. He was normally lined up as forward but he could be found organizing in midfield or even the defense before advancing to assist or score himself. He was a powerful player with great stamina, tactical versatility, and vision. He is most associated with Real Madrid and was instrumental in their domination of the European Champions' Cup during the 1950s. He is currently the 4th highest scorer in the history of Spain's top division, and Real Madrid's 2nd highest league goalscorer of all time. He never played any game in World Cup final between 1950 to 1962 due to many reasons such as Argentina refused to participate and Spain failed to qualify and also getting injury. Di Stefano was finished 4th the greatest player of the century by IFFHS and France Football’s poll and 6th by World Soccer’s poll. In 2004, Zidane was finished 6th place the best European footballer in the last 50 years by UEFA Jubilee Poll.

4. Franz Beckenbauer

Date Of Birth : 11 September 1945
Position : Libero
Nation : Germany
Height : 181 cm
Major Club : Bayern Munich
Caps : 103 Games (14 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970, 1974(18 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Times Bundesliga
4 Times DFB Cup
3 Times European Cup (1974, 1975, 1976)
1 Time UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup
1976 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1974 FIFA World Cup Winners
1966 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
1972 European Championship Winners
1976 European Championship Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 4 Times German Footballer Of The Year (1966, 1968, 1974, 1976)
2 Times World Soccer Player Of The Year (1972, 1976)
3 Times FIFA World Cup Team Of Tournament
2 Times European Championship Team Of Tournament
1966 FIFA World Cup Young Player Of Tournament
1974 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball
2 Times Silver Ball European Footballer Of The Year (1974, 1975)
2 Times European Footballer Of The Year (1972, 1976)
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team Of Century
1999 IFFHS Germany Player of The Century
1999 Bronze Ball IFFHS World Player of The Century
2002 FIFA Dream Team

“Der Kaiser” Franz Beckenbauer is regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever in history of the game and the greatest German footballer of all-time. He originally started playing as defensive midfielder before moved to attacking libero which he controlled rhythmic in defensive able to advance on offensive mission with his elegant style of play. Beckenbauer was rated for Kicker magazine in 10.5 world-class seasons and 2.5 international-class seasons, This would be according to his record the most appearances in top five of Ballan D’or with 10 times. He was known for his leadership and effectiveness to read the game. Beckenbauer is not the greatest ever as defender but his creativity, passing, long shooting, holding with ball and defensive game led him as one of the most completed footballer the world has ever produced. He scored more than 50 goals for his career in Germany. Beckenbauer was voted 4th and 6th World player of century from World Soccer and France football’s poll, respectively, was voted 3rd the best player in history of World Cup by France Football, was finished 2nd in UEFA Jubilee Poll as the best European footballer in last 50 years.

3. Johan Cruyff

Date Of Birth : 25 April 1947
Position : Attacking Midfielder/ Winger/ Second Striker
Nation : Netherlands
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : Ajax Amsterdem, Barcelona
Caps : 48 Games (33 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 371 Goals/ 663 Games
World Cup Participation : 1974 (7 Games with 3 goals)
Club Honours : 9 Times Dutch Champions
1 Time Spanish La Liga
6 Times Dutch Cup
1 Time Copa Del Rey
1969 European Cup Runner-Up
3 Times European Cup Winners (1971, 1972, 1973)
1972 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1974 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 3 Times European Footballer of The Year (1971, 1973, 1974)
1974 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1974 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1975 Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year
2 Times Spanish La Liga Foreign Player of The Year (1977, 1978)
1984 Dutch Golden Shoe
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
1999 IFFHS Netherlands Player of The Century
1999 Silver Ball IFFHS World Player of The Century
1999 IFFHS European Player of The Century
1999 Bronze Ball France Football’s Football Player of The Century
1999 Bronze Ball World Soccer Greatest Player of The Century
2002 FIFA Dream Team
UEFA Jubilee Awards (Netherlands)

Johan Cruyff is known as the greatest European footballer of all-time and one of the most completed attacking player to ever play the game. Cruyff was the most famous exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, explored by Rinus Michels. He was the key to the execution and refinement of this system. Cruyff played centre forward in this system. But he would drop deep to confuse his markers or suddenly move to the wing with devastating effect. Due to the way Cruyff played his game he is still referred to as "the total footballer.", was known for his technical ability, speed and acceleration, but his greatest quality was vision as an orchestrator of “The Controlled Chaos” of The Orange Machine, based on an acute sense of his team-mates' positions as an attack unfolded. Cruyff also perfected a move now known as the "Cruyff Turn." Cruyff retired from international football in 1977, having helped the national team qualify for the upcoming World Cup. Without him, the Netherlands finished runners-up in the World Cup again. Initially the reason given for missing the 1978 FIFA World Cup were political reasons given a military dictatorship was in power in Argentina at that time. In 2004, Zidane was finished 3rd the best European footballer in the last 50 years by UEFA Jubilee Poll.

2. Diego Maradona

Date Of Birth : 30 October 1960
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation : Argentina
Height : 167 cm
Major Club : Argentinos Junior, Napoli
Caps : 91 Games (34 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 304 Goals/ 583 Games
World Cup Participation : 1998, 2002, 2006 (21 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Argentina Primera Division
1 Time Copa Del Rey
1 Time Copa Italia
1989 UEFA Cup
International Honours 1986 FIFA World Cup Winners
1990 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Argentinean League Top Scorer (1979, 1980, 1981)
4 Times Argentina Footballer of The Year (1979, 1980, 1981, 1986)
2 Times South American Footballer of The Year (1979, 1980)
1985 Guerin Italian Series A Footballer of The Year
1986 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1986 FIFA World Cup Silver Boot
1986 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1986, 1990)
2 Times Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year (1985, 1990)
1986 World Soccer Player of The Year
1986 United Press International Athletic of The Year
1987 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
1988 Italian Series A Top Scorer
2 Times Bronze Ball Onez d’Or (1985, 1988)
2 Times Onze d”Or (1986, 1987)
1990 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1999 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of The Century
2002 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
1999 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Century
1999 Silver Ball France Football’s Footballer of The Century
1999 IFFHS Argentina Player of The Century
2000 FIFA Best football player of The Century
2002 FIFA Dream Team

Diego Maradona is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all-time. A Phenomenon footballer, who led a normal-level team in Italy to be Champion with his own abilities, He was a ball wizard who had incredible touch and control of the ball. His genius was as a creator of opportunities assisted by exceptional passing teachique. His most famous was a wonderful dribbling, several times could get pass defenders easily. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Newell's Old Boys and Napoli, setting world-record contract fees. In his international career, In the World Cup 1986's quarter-final round he scored two goals in a 2-1 victory over England that entered soccer history, though for two very different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handball known as the "Hand of God", while the second goal was a spectacular 60-metre weave through six England players, commonly referred to as "The Goal of the Century". For various reasons, Maradona is considered one of the sport's most controversial and newsworthy figures. He was suspended from football for 15 months in 1991 after failing a doping test for cocaine in Italy, and he was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the USA for using ephedrine. He was finished second place in France Football's World Cup best player of all-time.

1. Pele

Date Of Birth : 23 October 1940
Position : Forward
Nation : Brazil
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Santos
Caps : 92 Games (77 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 707 Goals/ 763 Games
World Cup Participation : 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 (14 Games with 12 goals)
Club Honours : 10 Times Brazil State Championships
5 Times Brazil National Championships
2 Times Copa Libertadores Cup (1962, 1963)
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1962, 1963)
International Honours : 3 Times World Cup Champions (1958, 1962, 1966)
Individual Achievement : 11 Times Brazil State Championship Top Scorer
1958 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball
1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1958, 1970)
1970 BBC Sport Oversea Personality of The Year
1973 South American Footballer of The Year
1981 L’ Equipe Athlete of The Century
1994 France Football World Cup Best Player of All-Time
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1997 Knight Commander of British Empire
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
1999 Olympic Committee Athlete of The Century
1999 Reuters Athlete of The Century
1999 UNICEF Footballer Player of The Century
1999 France Football’s Football Player of The Century
1999 South American Player of The Century
1999 IFFHS Brazil Player of The Century
1999 IFFHS World Player of The Century
1999 World Soccer Greatest Player of The Century
2000 FIFA Player of The Century
2002 FIFA Dream Team
2005 BBC Sport Personality of The Year Lifetime Achievement Awards
Brazil All-Time Top Scorer
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

“The King of Football” Edson Arantesdo Nascimento “ Pele” is widely regarded as the greatest football in history of the game. Pelé began playing for Santos at 15 and his national team at 16, and won his first World Cup at 17. Despite numerous offers from European clubs, the economic conditions and Brazilian football regulations at the time benefited Santos, thus enabling them to keep him for almost two decades. Pelé played as an inside forward, striker, and what later became known as the playmaker position. Pelé's technique and natural athleticism have been universally praised and during his playing years he was renowned for his excellent dribbling and passing, his pace, powerful shot, exceptional heading ability, and prolific goalscoring. His explosive first step and feinting abilities gave defender nightmares, and his football imagination was equal to his impressive finishing skills. He is the all-time leading scorer of Brazil and is the only footballer to be a part of three World Cup-winning teams. In 1962 he was on the Brazilian squad at the start of the World Cup but because of an injury suffered in the second match, he wasn't able to play the remainder of the tournament. In 2007 FIFA announced that he would be awarded the 1962 medal retroactively. His career goals total of 1,280 in 1,324 games is secondly all-time recod to Arthur Friedenriech.

Category List In Top 50

By Nations

Brazil : 12
Italy : 7
Germany : 6
Argentina : 5
England : 3
France : 3
Netherlands : 3
Hungary : 3
Portugal : 2
Austria : 2
Yugoslavia : 1
Spain : 1
Sweden : 1
Northern Ireland : 1

By Decades

1930s : 3
1940s : 5
1950s : 9
1960s : 8
1970s : 10
1980s : 7
1990s : 7
2000s : 1

By Position

Goalkeeper : 2
Defender : 6
Central Midfielder : 2
Winger : 5
Attacking Midfielder :13
Forward : 13
Striker : 9

CLASSIFICATION

Class : Crown

Pele, Dieg

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