Top 10 Greatest Footballers in History

Michel Platini is another football legend from France. As an attacking midfielder, he scored 353 goals in 652 appearances. Known as 'Platoche,' Platini was renowned for his finesse with the ball and his sharp footballing intelligence. He was not only a brilliant passer and free-kick specialist, but he also possessed a ruthless goal-scoring instinct. Platini won three consecutive Ballon d'Or awards, leading Saint-Etienne and Juventus to multiple championships. He almost single-handedly propelled France to the European Championship title in 1984, scoring nine goals along the way. Platini also lifted the European Cup with Juventus and secured three league titles throughout his club career. Unfortunately, his impeccable reputation was marred when he became UEFA president, following an investigation into illicit payments that led to a lengthy ban from football in 2015.

Full Name: Michel François Platini
Born: 1955
Height: 1.79m
Position: Attacking Midfielder

Winning the Ballon d'Or in 1998, Zinedine Zidane had an incredibly successful career with both Juventus and Real Madrid. He is considered one of the top 5 footballers of all time. However, Zidane truly made his mark on the world stage during the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil. His performances in key moments, often when it mattered the most, revealed a level of composure and skill that set him apart from many other athletes.

What made Zidane stand out was his exceptional individual skill, ball control, stamina, and passing ability. Even until his retirement in 2006, Zidane was still one of the best in the world. Despite the infamous headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final, the French legend was a dazzling performer on the biggest stages. As a central midfielder, he scored 159 goals in 789 matches. With France, Zidane won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship. At club level, he secured three domestic league titles and one European Cup with Juventus and Real Madrid. After retiring, Zidane transitioned to management, leading Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles.

Full Name: Zinedine Yazid Zidane
Born: 1972
Height: 1.85m
Position: Attacking Midfielder

The first forward on our list is Alfredo Di Stéfano. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Di Stéfano is often considered to have surpassed his Argentine compatriots, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. With 511 goals in 702 matches, he remains the top scorer in Real Madrid's history. However, Di Stéfano was no ordinary forward; he was a complete player who appeared all over the field, tackling, passing, and orchestrating the game.

Though Alfredo Di Stéfano won 12 championships in South America, it was his time at Real Madrid that cemented his legendary status. With the Spanish giants, he won five European Cups, scoring in every final. Over 11 seasons, aside from his Champions League titles, he helped Real Madrid win 8 league titles and the Copa del Rey. He netted 308 goals in 396 appearances for Los Blancos. Throughout his career (1945–1966), Di Stéfano claimed 13 major trophies. His international career was limited by not competing in a World Cup, although he did win the Copa América with Argentina.

Full Name: Alfredo Stefano Di Stéfano Laule.
Born: 1926 - Died: 2014
Height: 1.76m
Position: Forward

Franz Beckenbauer was a sweeper (a defender who contributes to attacking play), but that didn’t stop him from scoring 111 goals in 776 appearances for Germany and Bayern Munich. Known as 'Der Kaiser,' he is the only player to have captained and managed his national team to a World Cup victory. In the 1970s, the Germans revolutionized their style of play by shifting from central midfield to attacking full-back, a role in which Beckenbauer would control the game from the back, dribbling the ball forward. He won the 1974 World Cup, the 1972 European Championship, as well as three European Cups and eight domestic titles during his club career.

Like Di Stéfano, Franz Beckenbauer never held a fixed position on the field; he was everywhere at once, orchestrating play, influencing the game, and 'sweeping' away opposition attacks that threatened the defense. Beckenbauer enjoyed his best years at Bayern Munich, where he won 5 Bundesliga titles and 3 European Cups, but he also had a spell at New York Cosmos alongside Pele. As a captain, he was exceptional, and combined with his dribbling, passing, and all-around technique, he remains one of the greatest players of all time.

Full Name: Franz Anton Beckenbauer.
Born: 1945
Height: 1.81m
Position: Sweeper

As the most iconic figure of Hungary's famous 1950s national team, Ferenc Puskas enjoyed a glittering career, winning 10 league titles and 3 European Cups. Perhaps the most accurate goal scorer of all time, Puskas combined his finishing ability with a sharp footballing mind and an innovation for creating new techniques. Over his career (1943–1966), he scored a staggering 700 goals in 705 appearances.

At Real Madrid, Ferenc Puskas won 3 European Cups and 5 league titles. Back in Hungary, he claimed an additional 5 national titles. On the international stage, he led Hungary to the 1954 World Cup final. Puskas also scored four goals in the European Cup final at Hampden Park against Eintracht Frankfurt. He later guided his country to the 1954 World Cup final, where he scored the opening goal, but Hungary was defeated 3-2.

Full Name: Ferenc Purczeld
Born: 1927 - Died: 2006
Height: 1.72m
Position: Forward

In the history of football, Gerd Muller stands out as one of the few players to be universally recognized as the best in the world. Muller scored an astonishing 68 goals in just 62 international appearances for Germany, a record that remains unbeaten. Known as "Der Bomber," he is undoubtedly one of the greatest strikers both in Germany and internationally. His incredible ability to turn and shoot quickly, coupled with an impeccable goal-scoring record, made him a true phenomenon.

Indeed, the peak of his career came in the early to mid-1970s, when he was in dazzling form for both his club and the national team. By the time Gerd Muller retired, his goal-scoring average was an impressive 1.1 goals per game—an incredible achievement at the time. Muller became the first German to win the European Footballer of the Year award in 1970. He was also named West Germany's Footballer of the Year in 1967 and 1969. During his 14 years at Bayern Munich, Muller helped the club secure three UEFA Champions League titles, four Bundesliga titles, and four German Cups.

Full Name: Gerhard “Gerd” Muller.
Born: 1945
Height: 1.76m
Position: Forward

With his unmatched dribbling ability, instinctive goal-scoring prowess, and lightning speed, George Best was one of the most naturally gifted footballers of all time. Despite his career being marred by personal struggles with alcohol, his talent was undeniable. Best became a football legend, known for his dazzling footwork, as he led Manchester United to a European Cup win in 1968 and won two league titles during his time at the club.

As an attacking midfielder, he scored 205 goals in 579 appearances and was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1968. That same year, he was named European Footballer of the Year and was later ranked the 16th greatest player of the 20th century by the IFFHS in 1999. With his long hair, perfect style, and pop-star looks, Best became one of the first global football superstars, frequently featured in tabloid media. He earned the deep respect of his peers. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated due to his alcohol addiction, and after retiring from football, Best passed away in 2005 at the age of 59 from multi-organ failure.

Full Name: George Best
Born: 1946 - Died: 2005
Height: 1.75m
Position: Attacking Midfielder, Winger

Undoubtedly, the talent of Diego Maradona stands as one of the greatest ever witnessed in football. His dribbling was mesmerizing, his goal-scoring abilities unmatched, and his precise passing made him one of the most prolific playmakers throughout his career. Maradona claimed numerous titles with Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona, and SSC Napoli. As an attacking midfielder, he netted 345 goals in 680 appearances.

Maradona's diminutive stature, combined with his strength and stamina, made him a force to be reckoned with. His low center of gravity and strong legs provided him with exceptional balance, allowing him to excel in tight spaces and during explosive sprints. His two iconic goals against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup are a testament to his quick-footed brilliance. One of his signature moves involved sprinting down the left wing and delivering pinpoint crosses to his teammates. Despite facing a more challenging career than Pelé, Maradona led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup and secured three domestic titles and a UEFA Cup with Napoli. His legendary 'Hand of God' goal and another memorable strike against England in that tournament remain etched in football history.

Full Name: Diego Armando Maradona
Born: 1960
Height: 1.65m
Position: Attacking Midfielder, Second Striker

If you're still wondering who the greatest footballer of all time is, then the Brazilian legend Pele is widely regarded as the greatest to have ever played the game. No player has won more World Cups than him, and that alone is enough to secure his place on this list. A goal-scoring machine, Pele was also the focal point of both his club and national team. His goal tally is simply astonishing, being the only player to score over 1,200 goals, specifically 1,282 goals from 1,366 appearances. His absolute power, strength, speed, and dribbling ability made him a constant threat and led to some truly spectacular goals throughout his career.

Pele is regarded as the finest goal-scorer in his home country of Brazil, and he is frequently ranked as the greatest player the sport has ever seen. Pele, whose brilliance often surpassed that of other footballing legends on this list, always delivered when it mattered the most. As the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup (17 years and 249 days), Pele netted a brace in the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden. He went on to score in World Cup victories for Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970.

Full Name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Born: 1940
Height: 1.73m
Position: Forward, Attacking Midfielder

In the years 1971, 1973, and 1974, when the greatest football players of all time are discussed, Johan Cruyff is always a name that comes up. During these years, Cruyff won the Ballon d'Or three times. He became the most prominent figure in the football philosophy known as 'Total Football,' a revolutionary concept first introduced by Rinus Michels. This groundbreaking approach had never been seen before, and no one embodied it better than Cruyff. While officially a center-forward, Cruyff was often seen everywhere on the pitch, switching roles as needed whenever his team required it.

Johan Cruyff is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of modern football, and his playing style and footballing philosophy have had a massive impact on both managers and players. Ajax and Barcelona are two clubs that developed youth academies based on Cruyff's coaching methods. After retiring as a player, Cruyff proved himself to be a highly successful manager, and both Ajax and Barcelona still maintain his footballing principles today. Johan Cruyff remains one of the greatest players to ever grace the planet.

Full Name: Hendrik Johannes Cruijff
Born: 1947 – Died: 2016
Height: 1.78m
Position: Forward, Attacking Midfielder