Table of Contents
The greatest footballers of all time is a debate that never truly settles. Comparing stars across eras is impossible to do perfectly, since the game itself has changed so dramatically.
Numbers give one view, but flair, leadership, and cultural impact matter just as much. This list blends statistics and stories to celebrate the ten careers that define football greatness.
Quick Reference Table
| Rank | Player | Defining Achievement |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Eight Ballon d’Ors, World Cup winner in 2022 |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Five Ballon d’Ors, six World Cups, all-time European scoring record |
| 3 | Pele | Only player to win three World Cups |
| 4 | Diego Maradona | Single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup |
| 5 | Johan Cruyff | Architect of Total Football |
| 6 | Zinedine Zidane | 1998 World Cup final double, three FIFA World Player awards |
| 7 | Franz Beckenbauer | Won World Cup as player and coach |
| 8 | Ronaldo Nazario | Redefined the modern centre forward |
| 9 | Michel Platini | Three consecutive Ballon d’Ors |
| 10 | Alfredo Di Stefano | Five straight European Cups with Real Madrid |
1. Lionel Messi, The Complete Artist
Balance, vision, and finishing that redefined what football could look like.
In 2011-12, Messi scored 73 goals in a single season, breaking Gerd Müller’s long-standing record.
He became Barcelona’s all-time top scorer and set numerous La Liga and Champions League records along the way. With Argentina, he finally won the World Cup in 2022, scoring twice in the final, before returning at 39 in 2026 to reach a second consecutive final.
He briefly became the outright all-time leading World Cup scorer before Kylian Mbappe overtook him days later.
8 Ballon d’Ors and a World Cup title place him first on most current lists of the greatest footballers of all time.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo, A Record-Breaking Machine
Five Ballon d’Ors. Six World Cups. A career built on obsession as much as talent.
His work discipline and athleticism made him a statistical sensation, becoming Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer and the only player to win the Champions League 5 times.
Internationally, he is Europe’s all-time leader in both caps and goals, led Portugal to Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles, and became the first player in history to score in six different World Cups at the 2026 tournament, ending his career as Portugal’s all-time World Cup top scorer.
His sheer longevity and refusal to slow down make his case among the greatest footballers of all time a genuinely difficult one to dismiss.
He is currently the all-time highest goalscorer in football history, with all of his goals officially recognized.
3. Pele, Football’s First Global Superstar
At 17, he scored a hat trick in a World Cup semifinal. He was only getting started.
Pele’s unique talent made him the first true global football icon, scoring twice in the 1958 final as the youngest player ever to do so.
He remains the only man to win 3 World Cups, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and scored over 1,000 career goals, including 643 for Santos.
His agility, improvisation, and finishing inspired generations of players who came after him.
Read More About: Which Country Has Won the Most World Cups?
4. Diego Maradona, The Divine Dribbler
One World Cup. One player. One of the most complete individual tournament performances the sport has ever seen.
Maradona’s career mixed genius and controversy in equal measure.
At the 1986 World Cup, he captained Argentina to the title and produced two iconic goals against England in the same match, the Hand of God and a 60-metre solo run.
With Napoli, he won two Serie A titles and a UEFA Cup, turning a mid-table club into champions through pure will.
5. Johan Cruyff, Architect of Total Football
The man who taught football how to think, not just how to run.
Cruyff is the mind behind Total Football, leading Ajax to 3 straight European Cups and 8 Dutch titles.
He won 3 Ballons d’Or and starred at the 1974 World Cup, introducing the famous Cruyff turn along the way.
At Barcelona, he later returned as coach to shape the possession-based style the club still plays today.
6. Zinedine Zidane, A Magician in Midfield
Even a red card in his final match couldn’t take the shine off his genius.
Zidane’s elegance and clutch play defined an era of playmaking.
He scored twice in France’s 1998 World Cup final win and led their Euro 2000 triumph as player of the tournament.
He won FIFA World Player of the Year 3 times and lifted the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2002.
7. Franz Beckenbauer, The Kaiser Who Redefined Defending
Nobody made defending look this elegant before, or since.
Beckenbauer led Bayern Munich to four Bundesliga titles and 3 straight European Cups, and captained West Germany to both Euro 1972 and the 1974 World Cup.
He later coached Germany to the 1990 title, becoming one of only three men to win the World Cup as both player and coach.
8. Ronaldo Nazario, The Phenomenon
Explosive, unstoppable, and gone too soon from injuries that never let him reach his ceiling.
Ronaldo redefined the centre forward role with his acceleration, close control and dribbling.
He became the first player to win FIFA World Player of the Year in consecutive seasons, and after recovering from serious knee injuries, scored 8 goals to lead Brazil to their fifth World Cup title in 2002.
9. Michel Platini, Midfield Artistry and a Goalscorer’s Instinct
3 straight Ballon d’Ors. A career cut short, but never forgotten.
Platini’s brilliance led France to the Euro 1984 title with 9 goals, winning the tournament’s best player award along the way.
He won 3 consecutive Ballons d’Or between 1983 and 1985 and remains on FIFA’s Player of the Century list.
10. Alfredo Di Stefano, Real Madrid’s Tactical Chameleon
The blueprint for the modern false nine, decades before anyone had a name for it.
Di Stefano was the heartbeat of Real Madrid’s 1950s era, scoring 308 goals in 396 official games and leading Los Blancos to 5 consecutive European Cup titles.
He won the Ballon d’Or in 1957 and 1959. His ability to play in both midfield and attack helped Real Madrid become the best team in Europe.
He is the only player ever honored with the Super Ballon d’Or.
The Challenge of Comparing Eras of Greatest Footballers of All Time
Comparing players from different eras is never easy, because football itself has changed so much.
Di Stefano and Pele played with heavier balls, rougher pitches, and no substitutes to lean on. Today’s players have better coaching, science, and training than anyone from those decades could have imagined.
That’s why a real list of the greatest footballers of all time can’t just be about goals and trophies.
Style matters too. So does the mark a player leaves on the game itself.
That’s exactly why this argument never really ends, and honestly, why we love having it.
Read More About: Top 10 Most World Cup Red Cards Ever
FAQs:
Who are the greatest footballers of all time?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely considered the greatest footballers of all time.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo better than Messi?
Ronaldo has more World Cup appearances at six and a higher career goal tally, but most current rankings place Messi first due to his 2022 World Cup win.
Who has won the most World Cups as a player?
Pele is the only player in history to win three World Cups, achieving the feat in 1958, 1962 and 1970 with Brazil.
Who is considered the greatest World Cup performer of all time?
Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup campaign, where he carried Argentina to the title almost single-handedly, is widely regarded as the greatest individual tournament performance in World Cup history.
Who invented Total Football?
Johan Cruyff is credited as the architect of Total Football, the tactical philosophy he helped develop at Ajax in the 1970s.
How many goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored in his career?
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored over 900 official goals across his club and international career, the most of any footballer in history.
Who is the greatest World Cup goalscorer of all time?
Kylian Mbappe finished as the all time leading World Cup goalscorer after the 2026 tournament, with 22 career goals, one ahead of Lionel Messi’s 21.
Text is in ENGLISH, in SPANISH, and in PORTUGUESE (at the bottom)
N.B.: MY APOLOGIES, YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY SEEN THIS MESSAGE and this text might have also been sent to the other social media account(s)
Title: The best football (soccer) player in history = “El mejor futbolista de la historia”
(IN ENGLISH)
–
The greatest football (soccer) player of all time
Football (video) Maradona’s father speaks about Pele.
Watch the 4 following videos on YouTube
and
forward/send them to other people:
(copy and paste if necessary)
Rem.: ask if you need help with translation
Watch video 1: “Entre Maradona y Messi, el Papa Francisco elige a Pele”
(Pope Francis, from Argentina, answers when asked who is the greatest between Maradona and Messi – he chooses Pele instead as the best in history)
https://youtube.com/shorts/REZTcxwYHKw?si=kmtABzdtygqsXXXA
⛪ Entre Maradona y Messi, el Papa Francisco elige a Pelé – YouTube
Watch video 2: “El padre de Maradona hablando sobre Pele”
(Maradona’s father speaking about Pele)
“Reconocer que otro jugador fue mejor que tu hijo sólo alguien con mucha honestidad e integridad es capaz de hacerlo, grande y sabio Don …”
=
Only someone with a lot of honesty and integrity is capable of recognizing that another player was better than your son, great and wise Don…
El padre de Maradona hablando sobre Pelé
https://youtube.com/shorts/kqvKdz1Ru7I?si=WiCsiBCFCeYvkBwS
El padre de Maradona hablando sobre Pelé
Watch video 3: “Argentinos reaccionan a Pele for primera vez Homenaje Al Rey Pele”
(Argentines watching Pele for the first time)
N.B.: bear in mind that it has been mentioned that around 71% of Pele’s play has never been recorded
https://youtu.be/yVjvaTgXX5g?si=CgNvysJ3ELZp3b3Z
ARGENTINOS REACCIONAN A PELE POR PRIMERA VEZ 🇦🇷 | Homenaje Al Rey Pelé 👑🏆⚽
ARGENTINOS REACCIONAN A PELE POR PRIMERA VEZ 🇦🇷 | Homenaje Al Rey Pelé…
Watch video 4: “Pele el mejor de la HISTORIA
Que dicen los argentinos”
(Argentines who say Pele is the greatest)
https://youtu.be/uPHzLOPXvek?si=42COAxfE5sQ_Nc9W
Title: Argentina managers and players say Pele is the G.O.A.T.
In recent times there have been many debates on:
Maradona vs Messi, who is the greatest?
More comments are below the video
PELÉ el MEJOR de la HISTORIA 🥇 🏆 ⚽ 🇧…
Que dicen los argentinos
Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi may be more similar that we think
Maradona & Messi (& C. Ronaldo) are wonderful players that we want in our team
but remember football is a TEAM sport
Without Messi:
* Barcelona won the 2006 Champions League final – injured
* Argentina won the 2024 Copa America final – substituted, injured
Without Maradona, Argentina won:
* The 1978 World Cup – left out of the squad
* 2 Copa America (1991 & 1993) – during his international break
Something Diego couldn’t do (1987 & 1989)
Without Pele:
* Brazil won the major part of the 1962 World Cup – injured
* Santos won 2 games of the 1963 Intercontinental Cup final – injured
Without C. Ronaldo:
* Portugal won the Euro 2016 final – substituted, injured
* Man Utd won the 2023 League Cup – after leaving the club
Great players have very good teammates around them
The same applies to the World Cup
It is said that Maradona and Messi won the World Cup ‘single handedly’
However, in Qatar 2022, Messi won the trophy alongside top players (Alvarez, Di Maria, Martinez, etc …)
and it seems that
In Mexico 1986, Maradona’s teammates (Burruchaga, Ruggeri, Valdano, etc …) were a bit better
and in the most important match, the World Cup final, Diego, had a quieter game
because of the marking by West Germans, notably Matthaus.
This is when Maradona’s teammates stepped in & helped him achieve his dream of winning the World Cup.
All this shows the complexity of the subject
Perhaps people who have seen all the great players can have a good opinion on who is the best.
In this video, Argentines debate:
Menotti, Bilardo, and Basile (the managers of Argentina when Maradona was playing) say Pele is the best football player of all time
They played against Pele, managed Maradona, and watched Messi (and C. Ronaldo) – Basile also coached Messi
and Argentina players (like Bochini, Kempes, Passarella, and others) named Pele as the greatest ever
They may rank Messi higher now, but they still all cite Pele as the greatest, despite the arch rivalry with Brazil
N.B.: The video link is above
Regards,
PELÉ el MEJOR de la HISTORIA 🥇 🏆 ⚽ 🇧🇷 . Qué dicen los argentinos❓ 🇦🇷 – YouTubeideo) MaradonSorry, if llowing video
–
(IN SPANISH)
–
DISCULPAS POR PUBLICAR ESTOS COMENTARIOS CONSTANTEMENTE
El mejor futbolista de todos los tiempos
Fútbol (video) El padre de Maradona habla de Pelé.
Mira los 4 siguientes vídeos en YouTube
y
reenviarlos/enviarlos a otras personas:
(copia y pega si es necesario)
Rem.: pregunta si necesitas ayuda con la traducción.
Ver vídeo 1: “Entre Maradona y Messi, el Papa Francisco elige a Pelé”
(El Papa Francisco, de Argentina, responde a la pregunta de quién es el más grande entre Maradona y Messi; elige a Pelé como el mejor de la historia)
https://youtube.com/shorts/REZTcxwYHKw?si=kmtABzdtygqsXXXA
⛪ Entre Maradona y Messi, el Papa Francisco elige a Pelé – YouTube
Ver vídeo 2: “El padre de Maradona hablando sobre Pelé”
(El padre de Maradona hablando de Pelé)
“Reconocer que otro jugador fue mejor que tu hijo sólo alguien con mucha honestidad e integridad es capaz de hacerlo, grande y sabio Don …”
=
Sólo alguien con mucha honestidad e integridad es capaz de reconocer que otro jugador fue mejor que tu hijo, grande y sabio Don…
El padre de Maradona hablando de Pelé
https://youtube.com/shorts/kqvKdz1Ru7I?si=WiCsiBCFCeYvkBwS
El padre de Maradona hablando de Pelé
Ver video 3: “Argentinos reaccionan a Pelé por primera vez Homenaje Al Rey Pele”
(Argentinos viendo a Pelé por primera vez)
N.B.: tenga en cuenta que se ha mencionado que alrededor del 71% de las jugadas de Pelé nunca han sido grabadas.
https://youtu.be/yVjvaTgXX5g?si=CgNvysJ3ELZp3b3Z
ARGENTINOS REACCIONAN A PELE POR PRIMERA VEZ 🇦🇷 | Homenaje al Rey Pelé 👑🏆⚽
ARGENTINOS REACCIONAN A PELE POR PRIMERA VEZ 🇦🇷 | Homenaje al Rey Pelé…
Ver video 4: “Pelé el mejor de la HISTORIA
Que dicen los argentinos”
https://youtu.be/uPHzLOPXvek?si=42COAxfE5sQ_Nc9W
Rem.: Disculpas si ya viste este video y el comentario anterior.
Título: Los entrenadores y jugadores argentinos dicen que Pelé es el mejor.
Últimamente se han generado muchos debates sobre:
Maradona vs. Messi, ¿quién es el mejor?
Más comentarios debajo del video
PELÉ el MEJOR de la HISTORIA 🥇 🏆 ⚽ 🇧…
¿Qué dicen los argentinos?
Diego Maradona y Lionel Messi pueden ser más parecidos de lo que pensamos.
Maradona y Messi (y C. Ronaldo) son jugadores maravillosos que queremos en nuestro equipo.
Pero recuerda que el fútbol es un deporte de EQUIPO.
Sin Messi:
* El Barcelona ganó la final de la Champions League de 2006 (lesionado).
* Argentina ganó la final de la Copa América de 2024 (sustituido, lesionado).
Sin Maradona, Argentina ganó:
* El Mundial de 1978 (fue excluido de la convocatoria).
* 2 Copas América (1991 y 1993) (durante su parón internacional).
Algo que Diego no pudo hacer (1987 y 1989).
Sin Pelé:
* Brasil ganó la mayor parte del Mundial de 1962 (lesionado).
* Santos ganó 2 partidos de la Final de la Copa Intercontinental de 1963 – lesionado
Sin C. Ronaldo:
* Portugal ganó la final de la Eurocopa 2016 – sustituido, lesionado
* El Manchester United ganó la Copa de la Liga 2023 – tras dejar el club
Los grandes jugadores tienen muy buenos compañeros a su alrededor
Lo mismo ocurre con el Mundial
Se dice que Maradona y Messi ganaron el Mundial “sin ayuda de nadie”
Sin embargo, en Catar 2022, Messi ganó el trofeo junto a jugadores de élite (Álvarez, Di María, Martínez, etc.)
y parece que
En México 1986, los compañeros de Maradona (Burruchaga, Ruggeri, Valdano, etc.) fueron algo mejores
y en el partido más importante, la final del Mundial, Diego tuvo un partido más tranquilo
debido al marcaje de los alemanes occidentales, especialmente de Matthaus.
Fue entonces cuando los compañeros de Maradona intervinieron y lo ayudaron a lograr su sueño de ganar el Mundial. Todo esto demuestra la complejidad del tema.
Quizás quienes han visto a todos los grandes jugadores puedan tener una buena opinión sobre quién es el mejor.
En este video, los argentinos debaten:
Menotti, Bilardo y Basile (los entrenadores de Argentina cuando Maradona jugaba) dicen que Pelé es el mejor futbolista de todos los tiempos.
Jugaron contra Pelé, dirigieron a Maradona y vieron a Messi (y a C. Ronaldo); Basile también entrenó a Messi.
Y jugadores argentinos (como Bochini, Kempes, Passarella y otros) nombraron a Pelé como el mejor de la historia.
Puede que ahora le den a Messi una clasificación más alta, pero todos siguen citando a Pelé como el mejor, a pesar de la gran rivalidad con Brasil.
Nota: El enlace del video está abajo.
Saludos,
PELÉ el MEJOR de la HISTORIA 🥇 🏆 ⚽ 🇧🇷 . Qué dicen los argentinos❓ 🇦🇷 – YouTubeideo) MaradonLo siento, si estoy viendo videos
(IN PORTUGUESE)
Peço desculpa por publicar estes comentários com tanta frequência.
O maior jogador de futebol de todos os tempos.
Futebol (vídeo): O pai de Maradona fala sobre Pelé.
Veja os 4 vídeos a seguir no YouTube
e
reencaminhe/envie-os para outras pessoas:
(copie e cole se necessário)
Rem.: pergunte se precisa de ajuda com tradução
Veja o vídeo 1: “Entre Maradona y Messi, el Papa Francisco elege a Pelé”
(O Papa Francisco, da Argentina, responde quando questionado sobre quem é o maior entre Maradona e Messi – elege Pelé como o melhor da história)
https://youtube.com/shorts/REZTcxwYHKw?si=kmtABzdtygqsXXXA
⛪ Entre Maradona e Messi, o Papa Francisco elege a Pelé – YouTube
Veja o vídeo 2: “El padre de Maradona a falar sobre Pelé”
(Pai de Maradona a falar sobre Pelé)
“Reconhecer que outro jogador foi melhor que o seu filho só alguém com muita honestidade e integridade é capaz de o fazer, grande e sábio Don…”
=
Só alguém com muita honestidade e integridade é capaz de reconhecer que outro jogador foi melhor que o seu filho, o grande e sábio Don…
O padre de Maradona a falar sobre Pelé
https://youtube.com/shorts/kqvKdz1Ru7I?si=WiCsiBCFCeYvkBwS
O padre de Maradona a falar sobre Pelé
Veja o vídeo 3: “Argentinos reaccionan a Pelé pela primeira vez Homenaje Al Rey Pele”
(Argentinos a ver Pelé pela primeira vez)
N.B.: recorde-se que foi referido que cerca de 71% das jogadas de Pelé nunca foram gravadas
https://youtu.be/yVjvaTgXX5g?si=CgNvysJ3ELZp3b3Z
ARGENTINOS REACCIONAN A PELE POR PRIMERA VEZ 🇦🇷 | Homenagem ao Rei Pelé 👑🏆⚽
ARGENTINOS REACCIONAN A PELÉ PELA PRIMEIRA VEZ 🇦🇷 | Homenagem ao Rei Pelé…
Veja o vídeo 4: “Pelé é o melhor da HISTÓRIA
Que dizem os argentinos”
(Argentinos que dizem que Pelé é o maior)
https://youtu.be/uPHzLOPXvek?si=42COAxfE5sQ_Nc9W
Nota: Pedimos desculpa se já viu este vídeo e o comentário anterior.
Título: Técnicos e jogadores da Argentina dizem que Pelé é o melhor de todos os tempos.
Nos últimos tempos, têm surgido muitos debates sobre:
Maradona vs Messi, quem é o maior?
Mais comentários abaixo do vídeo
PELÉ, o MELHOR da HISTÓRIA 🥇 🏆 ⚽ 🇧…
Que dizem os argentinos
Diego Maradona e Lionel Messi podem ser mais parecidos do que pensamos
Maradona e Messi (e Cristiano Ronaldo) são jogadores maravilhosos que gostaríamos de ter na nossa equipa
mas lembre-se, o futebol é um desporto COLETIVO
Sem Messi:
* Barcelona venceu a final da Liga dos Campeões de 2006 – lesionado
* A Argentina venceu a final da Copa América 2024 – substituído, lesionado
Sem Maradona, a Argentina venceu:
* O Mundial de 1978 – ficou de fora da seleção
* 2 Copas América (1991 e 1993) – durante a sua pausa para jogos internacionais
Algo que Diego não conseguiu (1987 e 1989)
Sem Pelé:
* Brasil venceu a maior parte do Campeonato do Mundo de 1962 – lesionado
* Santos venceu 2 jogos do Mundial de 1963 Final da Taça Intercontinental – lesionado
Sem Cristiano Ronaldo:
* Portugal venceu a final do Euro 2016 – entrou em campo, lesionado
* O Manchester United venceu a Taça da Liga Inglesa de 2023 – após deixar o clube
Os grandes jogadores têm grandes companheiros de equipa ao seu redor
O mesmo se aplica ao Campeonato do Mundo
Diz-se que Maradona e Messi conquistaram o Mundial “sozinhos”
No entanto, no Qatar 2022, Messi conquistou o troféu ao lado de estrelas (Álvarez, Di María, Martínez, etc…)
e parece que
No México 1986, os companheiros de Maradona (Burruchaga, Ruggeri, Valdano, etc…) estavam um pouco melhor
e na partida mais importante, a final do Mundial, Diego teve um jogo mais discreto
devido à marcação dos alemães ocidentais, principalmente de Matthäus.
Foi aí que os companheiros de Maradona entraram em ação e o ajudaram a realizar o sonho de vencer o Mundial.
Tudo isto demonstra a complexidade do assunto.
Talvez quem tenha visto todos os grandes jogadores possa ter uma boa opinião sobre quem é o melhor.
Neste vídeo, os argentinos debatem:
Menotti, Bilardo e Basile (os treinadores da Argentina no tempo de Maradona) afirmam que Pelé é o melhor jogador de futebol de todos os tempos.
Jogaram contra Pelé, treinaram Maradona e viram Messi (e Cristiano Ronaldo) – Basile também treinou Messi.
E jogadores argentinos (como Bochini, Kempes, Passarella e outros) consideram Pelé o maior de todos os tempos.
Até podem classificar Messi acima deles agora, mas ainda assim todos citam Pelé como o maior, apesar da grande rivalidade com o Brasil.
Obs.: O link do vídeo está abaixo.
Atenciosamente,
PELÉ, o MELHOR da HISTÓRIA 🥇 🏆 ⚽ 🇧🇷 Qué dicen los argentinos❓ 🇦🇷 – YouTubeideo) MaradonDesculpem, se estão a seguir o vídeo=