Ranking the best football players of all time is a subjective task, as comparing a 21st-century athlete to an early 20th-century player is difficult. As the modern game evolves, it’s crucial to identify the benchmark players who set the standard. 2024’s landscape features Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Kevin De Bruyne, and Harry Kane, but who are they chasing at the top?
- Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is a legendary footballer who has scored 816 goals and 357 assists in 1,034 games for both clubs and countries. His exceptional touch, measured passing ability, and ability to turn the world’s greatest defenders inside out have made him a true legend. Messi has shown great selflessness in cutting back the ball with precision or sliding, dinking, or flicking it over the keeper. He gives himself multiple-choice questions about how he would like to score in every great chance he creates, making him the undisputed Greatest of All Time.
2.Diego Maradona
Maradona, an iconic Argentine forward, is revered by fans worldwide. With a low center of gravity and technical ability, he was a formidable opponent. His intensity and direct running made him a formidable force. Despite only winning one league title in Argentina, Maradona’s trophies are remembered. His legendary dribbling skills, vision, and desire to win transformed Napoli and Argentinian football, leading them to victory. His legacy continues to inspire fans and fans worldwide.
- Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo’s career is a testament to his unrivalled talent and never-say-die attitude. He has won multiple domestic titles, including the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, and has won five Champions League titles. His never-say-die mentality and never-say-die attitude have made him the greatest European footballer of all time. Despite his inability to age gracefully, his career is a testament to his unrivalled talent and ability to produce clutch moments of brilliance.
- Pele
Brazilian football is centered around the spirit of Pele, the greatest ever player on the international stage. Pele scored 77 goals for Brazil in 92 games and won three World Cups. His legacy is complex, with some criticizing his claimed 1,281 goals in 1,363 games, but his record excluding exhibition games remains immense. Pele’s devastating pace and accurate finishing were too much for some of the world’s greatest defenses at the time.
- Zinedine Zidane
Cristiano Ronaldo is considered the ultimate complete striker, but Zidane is considered the ultimate complete midfielder due to his technical ability, elegance, and grace. His touch, control over the ball, and intelligence on the ball added to his attacks. Although his trophy cabinet is not as extensive as expected, Zidane’s fear and determination to strike fear into opponents is a hallmark of greatness. His dribbling and clinical decisions have left a lasting impact.
- Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff, a revolutionary figure, played a significant role in the development of ‘tiki-taka football’ nearly 40 years before Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona and the Spanish national team’s dominance between 2008-2014. He led the concept of ‘Total Football’ with Ajax, scoring 257 goals in 329 games. Cruyff believed in winning matches in the ‘right’ way, and his visionary footballing style has influenced modern football.
- Franz Beckenbauer
Beckenbauer, a versatile German defender, excelled in various positions, starting as a midfielder before transitioning to the heart of Bayern Munich’s defense. His exceptional comfort on the ball led to him becoming a box-to-box midfielder. Beckenbauer scored 98 goals in 754 games, including 75 for Bayern Munich, making him a highly sought-after player in the 2010s.
- Alfredo Di Stefano
Real Madrid’s greatest player, Di Stefano, is a striker born in Argentina and played for the club six times before moving to Colombia. He played 31 caps and 23 goals in Spain, with 308 goals in 396 games. Di Stefano was a complete striker with immense strength, pace, endurance, and technical ability.
- Ronaldo
Ronaldo, a legendary footballer, is often overlooked in comparison to his supernatural teammate Iniesta. Ronaldo is considered one of the all-time top centre-forwards in history, with a world-beating, complete No.9. He was the face of a generation, the ultimate all-rounder, and possessed pace, power, technical ability, and a predatory instinct. His performance is considered one of the most intense in football.
- Andres Iniesta
Iniesta’s impact on world football is undeniable, as he was not born at the right time to dominate. His touch, ingenuity, creativity, and vision were unparalleled, making him the second-best Barcelona player of all time. His influence on every team he played in should never be defended, as football isn’t played on a spreadsheet. Iniesta’s contributions to Barcelona and his country’s success are undeniable.
