Who is the Greatest Football Player of All Time? Top 10 Greatest Football Players of All Time Ranked

The ingenuity and fervour that define “the beautiful game” of football would elevate it to the status of an art form. Football stands out from most other sports because players express themselves freely. Footballers can shoot, pass, tackle, or dribble the ball in a number of ways while baseballers and cricketers aren’t able to do so. Allowing the most gifted players to reach the pinnacle of the game. Football, the most popular sport in the world, has produced some great heroes who have gone above and beyond the requirements of the game to leave a lasting impression on football supporters. Only a select few players in the lengthy and illustrious annals of football history can assert to have made a really irrevocable impact on the game with their sheer ability on the pitch. Here are the best football players in the world of all time.

Top 10 Best football players in the world of all time

S. No.	Player Name	Nation
1	Pele	Brazil
2	Diego Maradona	Argentina
3	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal
4	Lionel Messi	Argentina
5	Johan Cruyff	Netherlands
6	Zinedine Zidane	France
7	Ronaldo Nazario	Brazil
8	Alfredo Di Stefano	Argentina
9	Garrincha	Brazil
10	Michel Platini	France

10. Greatest Footballer of All Time: Michel Platini

Michel Platini is the number 10 on this list. One of the best football players of all time, Michel Platini may very well be regarded as France’s greatest player. However, Platini was another excellent playmaker for Les Bleus before the Real Madrid star worked his magic. The small playmaker had a long and successful career for both club and country and is credited for turning France into a global giant in football. As a number 10, Platini frequently saved his best for the most important games and contributed to several pivotal goals throughout his career. The three-time Ballon d’Or winner (1983, 1984, 1985), a Frenchman. He reached the pinnacle of his abilities in 1984 when he led France to the European Championship title.

Michel Platini Career Statistics

Full name: Michel François Platini

Age: 68 years, 21 June 1955

Height: 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)

Playing position: Midfielder

With AS Nancy in 1973, Platini made his French first-division debut. He was a productive offensive midfielder who helped the team win the French Cup in 1978. Before joining Saint-Étienne the following year. In 1981, he assisted his new team in capturing the league championship, and in 1982. He moved on to the Italian club Juventus.

Platini became a global sensation while playing for Juventus and one of the best football players. And then guiding them to the European Cup final in 1983 (which they lost) and the European Cup title in 1985. During Platini’s time at Juventus, which lasted from 1984 to 1987. The team also won two league titles (1984, 1986), a UEFA Super Cup (1984), and a European Cup Winners’ Cup (1984).

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Michel Platini Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Nancy	1972–73	Division 1	4	2	–		–		4	2
	1973–74	Division 1	21	2	3	0	–		24	2
	1974–75	Division 2	32	17	6	13	–		38	30
	1975–76	Division 1	31	22	7	6	–		38	28
	1976–77	Division 1	38	25	1	0	–		39	25
	1977–78	Division 1	36	18	10	7	–		46	25
	1978–79	Division 1	19	12	5	3	–		24	15
	Total		181	98	32	29	–		213	127
Saint-Étienne	1979–80	Division 1	33	16	7	5	7	5	47	26
	1980–81	Division 1	35	20	10	5	7	4	52	29
	1981–82	Division 1	36	22	8	5	2	0	46	27
	Total		104	58	25	15	16	9	145	82
Juventus	1982–83	Serie A	30	16	9	7	9	5	48	28
	1983–84	Serie A	28	20	7	3	8	2	43	25
	1984–85	Serie A	30	18	9	4	9	7	48	29
	1985–86	Serie A	30	12	6	1	6	3	42	16
	1986–87	Serie A	29	2	8	1	4	2	41	5
	Total		147	68	39	16	36	19	222	103
Career total			432	224	96	60	52	28	580	312

Michel Platini Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
France	1976	5	4
	1977	7	2
	1978	6	4
	1979	4	2
	1980	6	5
	1981	4	2
	1982	10	4
	1983	4	1
	1984	10	13
	1985	6	2
	1986	9	2
	1987	1	0
	Total	72	41
Kuwait	1988	1	0
	Total	1	0
Career total		73	41

Michel was known for his goal-scoring and leadership skills, this nicknamed him ‘Le Roi’ (The King).

The iconic lines said by Michel Platini are,

“The street is the best way to become a good footballer.”

“A football team represents a way of being, a culture.”

9. Best Football Players in the World: Garrincha

Garrincha, who won two World Cups, is regarded as one of the greatest players ever. He was a recognisable number 7 for both Brazil and his club team Botafogo. From 1953 to 1965, Garrincha delighted Brazilian fans with his prowess, gimmicks, and skills. Frequently making them laugh out loud with his distinct style of football. In 1958, Garrincha made his World Cup debut for Brazil. From that point on, he quickly rose to become one of the best football players in the world. Scoring and setting up numerous goals for teammates like Vava and Pele. Even in the championship game, the renowned genius picked up two assists and won man-of-the-match honours for his outstanding effort.

Garrincha Career statistics

Full name: Manuel Francisco dos Santos

Age: 28 October 1933 – 20 January 1983 (aged 49)

Height: 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)

Playing position: Right winger

His brother gave him the nickname Garrincha (Spanish for “Little Bird”) because of the way his polio-related malformed legs looked. He played for Serrano, Corinthians, Flamengo, Bangu, Portuguesa Santista, Sao Cristovao, and Colombia’s Atletico Junior. Before making his professional debut in 1947 with Pau Grande. His best years were spent (1957–1962) with Botafogo. Which he guided to three Brazilian league titles and the earning the title of one of the best football players.

He participated in three World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1966) and played 60 times for Brazil. The Brazilian was a standout performer in the 1962 competition. He scored two goals against England in the quarterfinals and two more against Chile in the semifinals. Garrincha was a talented but erratic forward who frequently infuriated coaches and rivals. But was adored by fans who were entranced by his skill. His legs started to fail, and it was the end of his career as becoming one of the best football players.

Garrincha Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Botafogo	1953	Campeonato Carioca	26	20					0	0	26	20
	1954	Campeonato Carioca	27	1					9	8	36	9
	1955	Campeonato Carioca	19	3					9	2	28	5
	1956	Campeonato Carioca	20	5					0	0	20	5
	1957	Campeonato Carioca	21	6					9	2	30	8
	1958	Campeonato Carioca	26	9					9	1	35	10
	1959	Campeonato Carioca	24	9					5	3	29	12
	1960	Campeonato Carioca	21	9					9	1	30	10
	1961	Campeonato Carioca	21	6					11	2	32	8
	1962	Campeonato Carioca / Taça Brasil	20 / 5	8 / 0					7	2	32	10
	1963	Campeonato Carioca	3	1			2	0	1	0	7	1
	1964	Campeonato Carioca	4	0					7	3	11	3
	1965	Campeonato Carioca	1	0					7	0	8	0
	Total		238	84			2	0	83	17	323	101
Corinthians	1966	Campeonato Paulista	4	0					6	1	10	1
Atlético Junior	1968	Categoría Primera A	1	0					–	–	1	0
Flamengo	1968	Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa	1	0							1	0
	1969	Campeonato Carioca	4	0							4	0
	Total		5	0							5	0
Olaria	1972	Campeonato Carioca	6	0							6	0
Career total			254	84			2	0	89	18	345	102

Garrincha Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Brazil	1955	1	0
	1956	0	0
	1957	6	0
	1958	5	0
	1959	4	0
	1960	5	2
	1961	4	1
	1962	12	6
	1963	0	0
	1964	0	0
	1965	6	0
	1966	7	3
Total		50	12

He is one of the most loved players in Brazilian football history. He was nicknamed as, ‘The Little Bird’ because of his great dribbling skills.

“In the entire history of football, no one made more people happy. When he was out there, the pitch was a circus ring, the ball a tamed animal, the match a party invitation.”

8. Best Football Players in the World: Alfredo Di Stefano

Alfredo Di Stefano, the finest player for Real Madrid ever and a key component of their success in the 1950s. He had a successful 20-year career during which he consistently ranked among the best players in the world. Di Stefano is best renowned for his accomplishments with Real Madrid. Where he made an amazing 307 goals in 396 games. And took home 15 major awards, including five consecutive European Championships.

Di Stefano was always at his best during the big games. Whether he was playing as a supporting striker or as an offensive midfielder with Puskas and Gento. He retains the record for being the only player to score in five European Cup finals. But he wasn’t your typical attacker; he was everywhere on the pitch, tackling, passing and controlling play. The most complete player to ever grace the game, he was one of the best football players.

Di Stéfano won five European Cups with Real Madrid, scoring in each of the championship games. In his career (1945–1966), he won 13 league championships. Despite winning a Copa América with Argentina, his international record is dismal because he did not play in a World Cup.

Alfredo Di Stefano Career statistics

Full name: Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé

Age: 4 July 1926 – 7 July 2014 (aged 88)

Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Playing position: Forward, Attacking Midfielder

For the Buenos Aires team River Plate, Di Stéfano made his first-division debut in 1944. When the team won the first-division title in 1947, he was the league’s leading scorer in Argentina with 27 goals. Di Stéfano joined the Millonarios in 1949, a club in Bogotá that competes in a lucrative professional league in Colombia. While there, he won four league championships (1949, 1951–53) and was twice the league’s leading scorer (1951–52). He participated in six matches for Argentina’s national team in 1947, assisting it in capturing the South American Championship.

When Di Stéfano joined Real Madrid in 1953. He formed a forward partnership with players like Ferenc Puskas, Raymond Kopa, and Gento. Di Stéfano spent his entire 11-year career in Madrid, becoming one of the best football players. Where he helped the team win eight first-division championships (1954–55, 1957–58, 1961–64), the Spanish Cup (1962), five European Cups (1956–60). And the inaugural Intercontinental Cup (1960) while also leading the league in scoring four consecutive seasons (1956–59).

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
River Plate	1945	Argentine Primera División	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Huracán (loan)	1946	Argentine Primera División	25	10	2	0	0	0	27	10
River Plate	1947	Argentine Primera División	30	27	0	0	2	1	32	28
	1948	Argentine Primera División	23	13	1	1	6	4	30	18
	1949	Argentine Primera División	12	9	0	0	0	0	12	9
	Total		66	49	1	1	8	5	75	55
Millonarios	1949	Campeonato Profesional	15	15	0	0	0	0	14	14
	1950	Campeonato Profesional	29	23	2	1	0	0	31	24
	1951	Campeonato Profesional	34	31	0	0	0	0	34	31
	1952	Campeonato Profesional	24	19	8	5	0	0	32	24
	Total		102	88	10	6	0	0	111	93
Real Madrid	1953–54	La Liga	28	27	0	0	0	0	28	27
	1954–55	La Liga	30	25	0	0	2	0	32	25
	1955–56	La Liga	30	24	0	0	7	5	37	29
	1956–57	La Liga	30	31	3	3	10	9	43	43
	1957–58	La Liga	30	19	7	7	7	10	44	36
	1958–59	La Liga	28	23	8	5	7	6	43	34
	1959–60	La Liga	23	12	5	3	6	8	34	23
	1960–61	La Liga	23	21	9	8	4	1	36	30
	1961–62	La Liga	23	11	8	4	10	7	41	22
	1962–63	La Liga	13	12	9	9	2	1	24	22
	1963–64	La Liga	24	11	1	1	9	5	34	17
	Total		282	216	50	40	64	52	396	308
Espanyol	1964–65	La Liga	24	7	3	2	0	0	27	9
	1965–66	La Liga	23	4	4	1	6	0	33	5
	Total		47	11	7	3	6	0	60	14
Career totals			521	373	70	50	78	57	669	480

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Argentina	1947	6	6
	Total	6	6
Spain	1957	7	7
	1958	4	1
	1959	5	6
	1960	8	6
	1961	7	3
	Total	31	23
Career total		37	29

Alfredo Di Stefano was nicknamed “Saeta rubia” (“Blond Arrow”) since back his club days in Argentina.

The most iconic quotes said by Alfredo Di Stefano was,

“No one player is as good as the sum of a team“

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7. Best Football Player in the world: Ronaldo Nazario

You can tell a player is extraordinary when he competes for Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and AC Milan and still has no haters. The best striker to ever play the game is undoubtedly Ronaldo Nazario. Also referred to as “O Fenomeno.” and is know as one of the best football players to ever kicked the ball.

There is no denying that Ronaldo, a Brazilian forward, was destined to succeed. In the game ever since he made his debut as a gifted 17-year-old at Cruzeiro. Ronaldo had the most outstanding season of his career at Barcelona. Where he solidified his reputation as one of the best football players the game has ever seen, after sweeping Europe with PSV.

It was a special year, 2002. Ronaldo shocked everyone by scoring an incredible eight goals. He then won the Golden Boot at the World Cup after only recently recovering from an injury. The renowned striker helped Brazil win the World Cup an astonishing five times. He was composed and merciless in front of goal, scoring in all the crucial matches, including the title game.

Ronaldo Nazario Career statistics

Full name: Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima

Age: 18 September 1976 (age 46)

Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)

Playing position: Striker

The 20-year-old with a bald head and gapped teeth received his first FIFA World Player of the Year title in 1996. He then went on to win the honour three times. Winning the Ballon d’Or twice, and become the World Cup’s top scorer in 2006 with his 15th goal. Like no other before or since, the Brazilian great had quickness and power in the ideal proportion.

Simply put, he was wealthy. Physical dominance, an abundance of technical skill. And a predatory sense that allowed him to always be in the right place at the right moment to time his deadly runs making him one of the best football players.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State league		National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cruzeiro	1993	Série A	14	12	2	0	—		4	8	1	0	21	20
	1994	Série A	—		18	22	—		8	2	—		26	24
	Total		14	12	20	22	—		12	10	1	0	47	44
PSV	1994–95	Eredivisie	33	30	—		1	2	2	3	—		36	35
	1995–96	Eredivisie	13	12	—		3	1	5	6	—		21	19
	Total		46	42	—		4	3	7	9	—		57	54
Barcelona	1996–97	La Liga	37	34	—		4	6	7	5	1	2	49	47
Inter Milan	1997–98	Serie A	32	25	—		4	3	11	6	—		47	34
	1998–99	Serie A	19	14	—		2	0	6	1	1	0	28	15
	1999–2000	Serie A	7	3	—		1	0	—		—		8	3
	2000–01	Serie A	0	0	—		0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2001–02	Serie A	10	7	—		1	0	5	0	—		16	7
	Total		68	49	—		8	3	22	7	1	0	99	59
Real Madrid	2002–03	La Liga	31	23	—		1	0	1	6	1	1	44	30
	2003–04	La Liga	32	24	—		5	2	9	4	2	1	48	31
	2004–05	La Liga	34	21	—		1	0	10	3	—		45	24
	2005–06	La Liga	23	14	—		2	1	2	0	—		27	15
	2006–07	La Liga	7	1	—		2	1	4	2	—		13	4
	Total		127	83	—		11	4	36	15	3	2	177	104
AC Milan	2006–07	Serie A	14	7	—		—		—		—		14	7
	2007–08	Serie A	6	2	—		—		—		—		6	2
	Total		20	9	—		—		—		—		20	9
Corinthians	2009	Série A	20	12	10	8	8	3	—		—		38	23
	2010	Série A	11	6	9	3	—		7	3	—		27	12
	2011	Série A	—		2	0	—		2	0	—		4	0
	Total		31	18	21	11	8	3	9	3	—		69	35
Career total			343	247	41	33	35	19	93	49	6	4	518	352

Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition

Team	Year	Competitive		Friendly		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Brazil	1994	—		4	1	4	1
	1995	1	0	5	3	6	3
	1996	—		4	5	4	5
	1997	11	9	9	6	20	15
	1998	7	4	3	1	10	5
	1999	6	5	4	2	10	7
	2000	—		—		—
	2001	—		—		—
	2002	7	8	5	3	12	11
	2003	4	3	4	0	8	3
	2004	7	6	4	0	11	6
	2005	4	1	1	0	5	1
	2006	5	3	2	2	8	5
	2007	—		—		—
	2008	—		—		—
	2009	—		—		—
	2010	—		—		—
	2011	—		1	0	1	0
Total		52	39	46	23	98	62

He was known O Fenômeno (‘The Phenomenon’)  because of his football skills. He was also known “O Bruxo” (“The Wizard”).

The famous quotes said by Ronaldo Nazario were,

“It will take time for us all to understand what has happened to us, but it is a joy to be surrounded by such happiness.”

“Goals are always in demand. There will always be a market for a striker who is fast, scores goals regularly and is strong. I’ve scored more than 100 goals and people know what they are buying.”

6. Greatest Footballer of all time: Zinedine Zidane

Zidane stands out as the perfect complete midfielder if Ronaldo was the best complete striker. The Frenchman displayed an unbelievable degree of technical skill together with the elegance and grace you wouldn’t anticipate from a six feet tall man . Zidane touch felt otherworldly, just like the grass he strolled across. His mastery of the ball was mesmerising and his ability to change gears. And turn a routine reception into the beginning of a bloody drive is amazing and is know as one of the best football players.

Best Football players often have the misconception that artistic talent also tends to be less effective. That style comes at the expense of steel. It is what the concept of the luxury player is made up of. A heady concoction of technique, grace, competitiveness, and the amazing ability to pick his moments with aplomb. Zidane was the most opulent player imaginable while combining it with towering levels of competitive resolve.

Zinedine Zidane Career statistics

Full name: Zinedine Yazid Zidane

Date of birth: June 23, 1972

Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)

Playing position: Attacking midfielder

Real Madrid won the Champions League and the European Super Cup after Zidane joined the club in 2001. Three times—in 1998, 2000, and 2003—the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) named Zidane the World Player of the Year. Additionally successful in international competition was Zidane.

Zidane, the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner, enjoyed a tremendously fruitful career with both Juventus and Real Madrid. However, it was Zidane’s performance against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final. That initially cemented his reputation as a player of the highest calibre. Zidane became an instant hero and idol when he scored a couple of headed goals in the championship match. Which gave France their long-awaited first World Cup victory over the odds-on favourites Brazil. His subsequent performance at Euro 2000. Which France once again won, earned him the title of tournament player and now recognised as one of the best football players.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cannes	1988–89	Division 1	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	1989–90	Division 1	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	1990–91	Division 1	28	1	3	0	—		—		31	1
	1991–92	Division 1	31	5	3	0	4	0	—		38	5
	Totals		61	6	6	0	4	0	0	0	71	6
Bordeaux	1992–93	Division 1	35	10	4	1	—		—		39	11
	1993–94	Division 1	34	6	3	0	6	2	—		43	8
	1994–95	Division 1	37	6	5	1	4	1	—		46	8
	1995–96	Division 1	33	6	3	0	15	6	—		51	12
	Totals		139	28	15	2	25	9	0	0	179	39
Juventus	1996–97	Serie A	29	5	2	0	10	2	3	0	44	7
	1997–98	Serie A	32	7	5	1	11	3	1	0	49	11
	1998–99	Serie A	25	2	5	0	10	0	1	0	41	2
	1999–2000	Serie A	32	4	3	1	6	0	—		41	5
	2000–01	Serie A	33	6	2	0	4	0	—		39	6
	Totals		151	24	17	2	41	5	5	0	214	31
Real Madrid	2001–02	La Liga	31	7	9	2	9	3	2	0	51	12
	2002–03	La Liga	33	9	1	0	14	3	2	0	50	12
	2003–04	La Liga	33	6	7	1	10	3	2	0	52	10
	2004–05	La Liga	29	6	1	0	10	0	—		40	6
	2005–06	La Liga	29	9	5	0	4	0	—		38	9
	Total		155	37	23	3	47	9	6	0	230	49
Career total			506	95	61	7	117	23	11	0	695	125

Appearances and goals by year and competition

Team	Year	Competitive		Friendly		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
France	1994	1	0	1	2	2	2
	1995	5	2	1	0	6	2
	1996	5	0	7	1	12	1
	1997	—		8	1	8	1
	1998	8	2	7	3	15	5
	1999	3	1	3	0	6	1
	2000	5	2	8	2	13	4
	2001	—		8	2	8	2
	2002	4	0	5	1	9	1
	2003	4	3	3	0	7	3
	2004	4	3	3	1	7	4
	2005	4	1	1	1	5	2
	2006	6	3	4	0	10	3
Total		49	17	59	14	108	31

Zidane was 1^st called as ‘Zizou’ by one of his friend, which later turned out to be his nickname. He was also called, ‘Zee’ and Ziddy’.

The most famous quote said by Zinedine Zidane was,

“life is full of regrets, but it doesn’t pay to look back”

“If you are determined and confident, there is nothing in this great existence that can stop you from achieving what you want.”

5. Greatest Footballer of all time: Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff has had the greatest impact on the sport in history, more so than any other player or individual. Cruyff was a pioneer who introduced the brilliant concept of “total football” to Ajax, Barcelona, and the Netherlands national team. He also had a storied career for both his clubs and his country, playing some exquisite football in the process hence becoming one of the best football players.

Cruyff, who won the Ballon d’Or three times throughout his remarkable career (1971, 1973, and 1974) first established his legacy at Ajax, where he played a crucial part. And served as the team’s inspirational captain as they won three astonishing European Championships. Cruyff, though, is best known in the modern period for the changes he brought to Barcelona.

Johann Cruyff possessed the strength, talent, and ball control of Zinedine Zidane as well as the dribbling and speed of George Best. He was the epitome of a football player, possessing a perfect grace, a clinical aptitude, and calculating intelligence. In 710 games as an attacking midfielder, Cruyff scored 401 goals, making him a prolific goalscorer as well. He won 10 league championships and three European Cups, but he was unable to win an international medal.

Johan Cruyff Career statistics

Full name: Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (internationally spelled Cruyff)

Life: April 25, 1947–March 24, 2016

Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Playing positions: Forward, attacking midfielder

Cruyff first encountered former PE instructor Rinus Michels two months after making his first team debut. Total Football was created by the duo collectively. The center-forward, who was typically Cruyff, was free to roam as Michels’ on-field conductor. Wingers and overlapping full-backs kept the field wide. And defenders were encouraged to carry the ball out from the back (if a midfielder dropped to cover the space).

It succeeded. Cruyff won 20 prestigious awards before being exiled to Barcelona. As a result of a player uprising, which included three straight European Cups from 1971 to 1973. El Salvador (the salvation), not happy with just revolutionising one club. He did it once again by leading the Catalans to their first Liga championship in 14 years. His speed, vision, and eye for goal were unmatched and is regarded as one of the best football players.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ajax	1964–65	Eredivisie	10	4	0	0	—		—		10	4
	1965–66		19	16	4	9	—		—		23	25
	1966–67		30	33	5	5	6	3	—		41	41
	1967–68		33	27	5	6	2	1	—		40	34
	1968–69		29	24	3	3	10	6	1	1	43	34
	1969–70		33	23	5	6	8	4	—		46	33
	1970–71		25	21	6	5	6	1	—		37	27
	1971–72		32	25	4	3	9	5	—		45	33
	1972–73		32	17	0	0	6	3	4	3	42	23
	1973–74		2	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3
	Total		245	193	32	37	47	23	5	4	329	257
Barcelona	1973–74	La Liga	26	16	12	8	0	0	—		38	24
	1974–75		30	7	12	7	8	0	—		50	14
	1975–76		29	6	10	3	9	2	—		48	11
	1976–77		30	14	9	6	7	5	—		46	25
	1977–78		28	5	7	1	10	5	—		45	11
	Total		143	48	50	25	34	12	—		227	85
Los Angeles Aztecs	1979	NASL	22	14	—		—		4	1	26	15
Washington Diplomats	1980	NASL	24	10	—		—		2	0	26	10
Levante	1980–81	Segunda División	10	2	0	0	—		—		10	2
Washington Diplomats	1981	NASL	5	2	—		—		—		5	2
Ajax	1981–82	Eredivisie	15	7	1	0	0	0	—		16	7
	1982–83		21	7	7	2	2	0	—		30	9
	Total		36	14	8	2	2	0	—		46	16
Feyenoord	1983–84	Eredivisie	33	11	7	1	4	1	—		44	13
Career total			518	294	97	65	87	36	11	5	713	400

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Netherlands	1966	2	1
	1967	3	1
	1968	1	0
	1969	3	1
	1970	2	2
	1971	4	6
	1972	5	5
	1973	6	6
	1974	12	8
	1975	2	0
	1976	4	2
	1977	4	1
Total		48	33

Johan is famous for bringing Barcelona back to lime light. He was nicknames ‘El Salvador’ which means ‘Saviour’. He was also known as, ‘Number 14’ as he chose no. 14 for his jersey.

Most iconic quotes by Johan Cruyff were,

“You have got to shoot, otherwise you can’t score”

“The most difficult thing about an easy match is to make a weak opponent play bad football.”

 “To win you have to score one more goal than your opponent.”

 “Choose the best player for every position, and you’ll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1’s.”

As we are talking about the best Footballer in the world, who have earned the most in this world. Here is the list of 10 Richest Footballers in the World | Net Worth, Salary 2021.

4. Best Football Players in the World: Lionel Messi

Along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona star Lionel Messi is unquestionably one of the finest players of our generation. Messi first established himself as one of the best football players who has forever graced the game under the guidance of Frank Rijkaard. And then, more importantly, under Pep Guardiola.

Messi, a young prodigy and one of the best football players, took over as Barcelona’s primary man after Ronaldinho left. And was the highlight of Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona team in 2008–09. Messi struggled when representing Argentina, despite scoring in numerous crucial club games including Clasicos versus Real Madrid, Champions League finals, semi-finals, and Copa del Rey finals.

There isn’t much that can be said about Lionel Messi than has not already been said. He has a remarkable touch, giving each delicate tap the right amount of force. Just like a fine artist would while creating a masterpiece. Under his influence, the ball clings to his foot, and his precise passing technique is unquestionably the best of all time. Like Lionel Messi, no one has ever or will ever successfully split a defence

Lionel Messi Career statistics

Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi

Date of birth: June 24, 1987

Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)

Playing position: Forward, winger

Messi is known for his lightning-quick feet, agility, strength (despite having a small body), acceleration, and propensity to dribble past opponents. Apart from heading, Messi possesses all the necessary offensive tools. Including a precise shot, the ability to take free kicks and penalties and the initiative to combine plays and provide assists.

Messi has over 800 goals in his career, including over 100 for Argentina (a record). When he won the 2022 World Cup at the age of 35. He also set a new record for Argentina’s World Cup goals scored (13). Capping off a remarkable career that included what might be its pinnacle achievement. Along with winning the Copa América in 2021 and making the World Cup final in 2014. Messi has achieved success on the international stage and hence becoming one of the best football players.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Barcelona C	2003–04	Tercera División	10	5	—		—		—		10	5
Barcelona B	2003–04	Segunda División B	5	0	—		—		—		5	0
	2004–05	Segunda División B	17	6	—		—		—		17	6
	Total		22	6	—		—		—		22	6
Barcelona	2004–05	La Liga	7	1	1	0	1	0	—		9	1
	2005–06	La Liga	17	6	2	1	6	1	0	0	25	8
	2006–07	La Liga	26	14	2	2	5	1	3	0	36	17
	2007–08	La Liga	28	10	3	0	9	6	—		40	16
	2008–09	La Liga	31	23	8	6	12	9	—		51	38
	2009–10	La Liga	35	34	3	1	11	8	4	4	53	47
	2010–11	La Liga	33	31	7	7	13	12	2	3	55	53
	2011–12	La Liga	37	50	7	3	11	14	5	6	60	73
	2012–13	La Liga	32	46	5	4	11	8	2	2	50	60
	2013–14	La Liga	31	28	6	5	7	8	2	0	46	41
	2014–15	La Liga	38	43	6	5	13	10	—		57	58
	2015–16	La Liga	33	26	5	5	7	6	4	4	49	41
	2016–17	La Liga	34	37	7	5	9	11	2	1	52	54
	2017–18	La Liga	36	34	6	4	10	6	2	1	54	45
	2018–19	La Liga	34	36	5	3	10	12	1	0	50	51
	2019–20	La Liga	33	25	2	2	8	3	1	1	44	31
	2020–21	La Liga	35	30	5	3	6	5	1	0	47	38
	Total		520	474	80	56	149	120	29	22	778	672
Paris Saint-Germain	2021–22	Ligue 1	26	6	1	0	7	5	—		34	11
	2022–23	Ligue 1	32	16	1	0	7	4		1	41	21
	Total		58	22	2	0	14	9	1	1	75	32
Inter Miami	2023	MLS	0	0	0	0	—		4	7	4	7
Career total			610	507	82	56	163	129	33	28	889	722

Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition

Team	Year	Competitive		Friendly		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Argentina U20	2004	—		2	3	2	3
	2005	16	11	—		16	11
	Total	16	11	2	3	18	14
Argentina U23	2008	5	2	—		5	2
	Total	5	2	0	0	5	2
Argentina	2005	3	0	2	0	5	0
	2006	3	1	4	1	7	2
	2007	10	4	4	2	14	6
	2008	6	1	2	1	8	2
	2009	8	1	2	2	10	3
	2010	5	0	5	2	10	2
	2011	8	2	5	2	13	4
	2012	5	5	4	7	9	12
	2013	5	3	2	3	7	6
	2014	7	4	7	4	14	8
	2015	6	1	2	3	8	4
	2016	10	8	1	0	11	8
	2017	5	4	2	0	7	4
	2018	4	1	1	3	5	4
	2019	6	1	4	4	10	5
	2020	4	1	0	0	4	1
	2021	16	9	0	0	16	9
	2022	10	8	4	10	14	18
	2023	0	0	3	5	3	5
	Total	121	54	54	49	175	103
Career total		142	67	55	51	198	119

Messi is famously called as, “La Pulga” which means “Little Flea.” He is also nicknamed as “The Little Magician” because of his body structure.

Most iconic quotes said by Lionel Messi are,

“You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.”

“Sometimes you have to accept you can’t win all the time.”

3. Greatest Footballer of all time: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo was found by Sir Alex Ferguson while a precociously gifted youngster at Sporting CP. It was at Manchester United that the Portuguese superstar initially began his reputation as one of the finest players of our generation. Ronaldo has a great will to excel and, along with his exceptional talent and grit. He has made himself one of the most well-known figures in sports and one of the best football players ever to step up in the field.

He gained notoriety as a world-renowned superstar while playing for Manchester United, but it was with Real Madrid that he solidified his position as an all-time great. Ronaldo has consistently made the right decision, whether it was hitting the winning penalty in the Champions League final penalty shootout or scoring an important goal in the Euro 2016 semi-final.

With well over 800 goals for club and country, Ronaldo is known as one of the best football players in official matches. During that period, he has also made nearly 1,200 career appearances and won 32 trophies. The legendary Portuguese player has won five Champions League titles, seven league titles in three separate nations, and has coached his nation to victories at Euro 2016 and the first Nations League.

Cristiano Ronaldo Career statistics

Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro

Date of birth: February 5, 1985

Height: 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)

Playing position: Striker, winger

Ronaldo has dominated the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, winning the domestic championship and cup in each league. He has won five Champions League championships with two different teams and the European Championship with Portugal. Throughout his illustrious career, Ronaldo has won five Ballons d’Or, placed second on another six occasions, and won four European Golden Shoes and becoming one of the best football players.

A winning masterclass has been provided by Ronaldo’s career. At his peak, he was unplayable in his never-say-die attitude and matchday mentality. It should not be taken off that the 37-year-old will be known as one of the best football players in Europe of all time despite his inability to age gracefully despite two decades of accumulating evidence to the contrary.

Speaking of his accomplishments abroad, Ronaldo currently holds the record for both the most international appearances (196), as well as the most international goals (118), among all active players.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sporting CP B	2002–03	Segunda Divisão B	2	0	—		—		—		—		2	0
Sporting CP	2002–03	Primeira Liga	25	3	3	2	—		3	0	0	0	31	5
Manchester United	2003–04	Premier League	29	4	5	2	1	0	5	0	0	0	40	6
	2004–05	Premier League	33	5	7	4	2	0	8	0	0	0	50	9
	2005–06	Premier League	33	9	2	0	4	2	8	1	—		47	12
	2006–07	Premier League	34	17	7	3	1	0	11	3	—		53	23
	2007–08	Premier League	34	31	3	3	0	0	11	8	1	0	49	42
	2008–09	Premier League	33	18	2	1	4	2	12	4	2	1	53	26
	Total		196	84	26	13	12	4	55	16	3	1	292	118
Real Madrid	2009–10	La Liga	29	26	0	0	—		6	7	—		35	33
	2010–11	La Liga	34	40[e]	8	7	—		12	6	—		54	53
	2011–12	La Liga	38	46	5	3	—		10	10	2	1	55	60
	2012–13	La Liga	34	34	7	7	—		12	12	2	2	55	55
	2013–14	La Liga	30	31	6	3	—		11	17	—		47	51
	2014–15	La Liga	35	48	2	1	—		12	10	5	2	54	61
	2015–16	La Liga	36	35	0	0	—		12	16	—		48	51
	2016–17	La Liga	29	25	2	1	—		13	12	2	4	46	42
	2017–18	La Liga	27	26	0	0	—		13	15	4	3	44	44
	Total		292	311	30	22	—		101	105	15	12	438	450
Juventus	2018–19	Serie A	31	21	2	0	—		9	6	1	1	43	28
	2019–20	Serie A	33	31	4	2	—		8	4	1	0	46	37
	2020–21	Serie A	33	29	4	2	—		6	4	1	1	44	36
	2021–22	Serie A	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		98	81	10	4	—		23	14	3	2	134	101
Manchester United	2021–22	Premier League	30	18	1	0	0	0	7	6	—		38	24
	2022–23	Premier League	10	1	0	0	0	0	6	2	—		16	3
	Total		40	19	1	0	0	0	13	8	—		54	27
Al Nassr	2022–23	Saudi Pro League	16	14	2	0	—		—		1	0	19	14
	2023–24	Saudi Pro League	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	5	4	5	4
	Total		16	14	2	0	—		0	0	6	4	24	18
Career total			669	512	72	41	12	4	195	143	27	19	975	719

Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition

Team	Year	Competitive		Friendly		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Portugal U15	2001	2	1	7	6	9	7
Portugal U17	2001	—		3	2	3	2
	2002	4	3	0	0	4	3
	Total	4	3	3	2	7	5
Portugal U20	2003	—		5	1	5	1
Portugal U21	2002	0	0	1	1	1	1
	2003	7	2	2	0	9	2
	Total	7	2	3	1	10	3
Portugal U23	2004	2	1	1	1	3	2
Portugal	2003	—		2	0	2	0
	2004	11	7	5	0	16	7
	2005	7	2	4	0	11	2
	2006	10	4	4	2	14	6
	2007	9	5	1	0	10	5
	2008	5	1	3	0	8	1
	2009	5	0	2	1	7	1
	2010	6	3	5	0	11	3
	2011	6	5	2	2	8	7
	2012	9	4	4	1	13	5
	2013	6	7	3	3	9	10
	2014	5	3	4	2	9	5
	2015	4	3	1	0	5	3
	2016	10	10	3	3	13	13
	2017	10	10	1	1	11	11
	2018	4	4	3	2	7	6
	2019	10	14	—		10	14
	2020	4	2	2	1	6	3
	2021	11	11	3	2	14	13
	2022	12	3	0	0	12	3
	2023	4	5	0	0	4	5
	Total	148	103	52	20	200	123
Career total		163	110	71	31	234	141

Ronaldo is someone who made the jersey no. 7 famous. He is nicknamed as, “Cr7.” He is also called as, “GOAT” which means, “Greatest Of All Time.”

The most famous quotes of Cristiano Ronaldo are,

“Dedication, hard work all the time, and belief. If you think you’re perfect already, then you never will be.”

“Dreams are not what you see in your sleep, dreams are things which do not let you sleep.”

“Your love makes me strong. Your hate makes me unstoppable.”

2. Bestest Footballer of all time: Diego Maradona

The 1986 World Cup encounter against England against perhaps represented Diego Maradona’s full demeanour as a player and person. The Argentine maestro was a clever genius who scored the greatest goals in history by tying up the English defence. Diego Maradona was a football wizard with superhuman talent who could perform feats with the ball that mere mortals could only imagine. El Diego always played to win and wasn’t hesitant to break the rules if it made sense. He was without a doubt the star of Argentina’s epic victory in 1986 and also one of the best football players.

Rarely is a player revered by supporters on both sides of the Atlantic as much as Maradona has been. While the streets of Naples, Italy continue to be flooded with Maradona-ism in remembrance of their icon, their legend, and their saint, Argentina is saturated with homage to their greatest son.

The small Argentine forward had a low centre of gravity, incredible technical skill, and the ability to evade defenders in an unstoppable manner. Maradona was a threat to anyone who dared to oppose him because to his passion and direct running style. In addition to inspiring dread in the hearts of the opposition, this intensity inspired players around him to step up their game, much like an army general in the thick of battle taking the crown of one of the best football players.

Diego Maradona Career statistics

Full name: Diego Armando Maradona

Life: 30 October, 1960 – 25 November, 2020

Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)

Playing positions: Attacking midfielder, second striker

El Pibe de Oro, who is only 5 feet 5 inches tall, nutmegged an opponent with his first touch on his Argentinos Juniors debut when he was 15 years old, captivating a generation with his dribbling prowess. After joining Boca, he scored 116 goals in 166 appearances, and a single goal against rival River Plate helped Boca win the league and became one of the best football players.

He had a significantly more challenging career than Pelé, but he managed to win the 1986 World Cup with Argentina, three national titles, and a UEFA Cup with Napoli. Diego Maradona scored one of the all-time great goals in the match against England. Napoli and Argentine football were drastically changed by Maradona’s famed dribbling abilities, vision, marksman-like passing ability, and unbridled passion to win. He pulled them, kicking and screaming, to victory. an army of one.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Argentinos Juniors	1976	Argentine Primera División	11	2	–		–		–		11	2
	1977	Argentine Primera División	49	19	–		–		–		49	19
	1978	Argentine Primera División	35	26	–		–		–		35	26
	1979	Argentine Primera División	26	26	–		–		–		26	26
	1980	Argentine Primera División	45	43	–		–		–		45	43
	Total		166	116	–		–		–		166	116
Boca Juniors	1981	Argentine Primera División	40	28	–		–		–		40	28
Barcelona	1982–83	La Liga	20	11	5	3	4	5	6	4	35	23
	1983–84	La Liga	16	11	4	1	3	3	–		23	15
	Total		36	22	9	4	7	8	6	4	58	38
Napoli	1984–85	Serie A	30	14	6	3	–		–		36	17
	1985–86	Serie A	29	11	2	2	–		–		31	13
	1986–87	Serie A	29	10	10	7	2	0	–		41	17
	1987–88	Serie A	28	15	9	6	2	0	–		39	21
	1988–89	Serie A	26	9	12	7	12	3	–		50	19
	1989–90	Serie A	28	16	3	2	5	0	–		36	18
	1990–91	Serie A	18	6	3	2	4	2	1	0	26	10
	Total		188	81	45	29	25	5	1	0	259	115
Sevilla	1992–93	La Liga	26	5	4	2	–		–		30	7
Newell’s Old Boys	1993–94	Argentine Primera División	5	0	–		–		–		5	0
Boca Juniors	1995–96	Argentine Primera División	24	5	–		–		–		24	5
	1996–97	Argentine Primera División	1	0	–		–		1	0	2	0
	1997–98	Argentine Primera División	5	2	–		–		–		5	2
	Total		70	35	–		–		1	0	71	35
Career total			491	259	58	35	32	13	8	4	589	311

Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition

Team	Year	Competitive		Friendly		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Argentina U20	1977	3	0	–		3	0
	1978	–		–		–
	1979	11	7	1	1	12	8
	Total	14	7	1	1	15	8
Argentina	1977	–		3	0	3	0
	1978	–		1	0	1	0
	1979	2	1	6	2	8	3
	1980	–		10	7	10	7
	1981	2	1	–		2	1
	1982	5	2	5	0	10	2
	1983	–		–		–
	1984	–		–		–
	1985	6	3	4	3	10	6
	1986	7	5	3	2	10	7
	1987	4	3	2	1	6	4
	1988	2	1	1	0	3	1
	1989	6	0	1	0	7	0
	1990	7	0	3	1	10	1
	1991	–		–		–
	1992	–		–		–
	1993	3	0	1	0	4	0
	1994	2	1	5	1	7	2
	Total	46	17	45	17	91	34
Career total		60	24	46	18	106	42

Maradona was an inspiration for short people as he himself was short. He was nicknamed as, “The Fuzz (El Pelusa).” He was also called “D1OS” after hsi name Diego and also Dios means “God.”Maradona’s famous quotes are,

“To see the ball, to run after it, makes me the happiest man in the world.”

“I made mistakes, and I paid for them. But the ball is still pure.”

“I am Maradona, who makes goals, who makes mistakes.”

1. Greatest Footballer of all time: Pele

Pele, a football hero from Brazil, is largely known as the best player to ever play the game. The fact that he has won more World Cups than any other player should be sufficient evidence to place the Brazilian at the top of this list. Pele was the best goal scorer in history and the centre of the attack for both club and nation. He is the only player with more than 1200 senior goals, which speaks much about his outstanding goal-scoring statistics.

In his home Brazil, Pelé was the ultimate goal-scoring machine, and many people consider him to be the greatest athlete to ever play the game. He played in 1,366 games, including friendly, and scored an amazing 1,282 goals. He was able to score any type of goal for fun thanks to his incredible strength, speed, and dribbling skills. According to the Ballon d’Or committee, if non-Europeans had been given the award before 1995, Pelé would have received it seven times, matching Messi’s total.

Pele Career statistics

Full name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento

Life: October 23, 1940 – 29 December 2022 (aged 82)

Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)

Playing positions: Forward, attacking midfielder

Pele, a Brazilian superstar, is widely known as the greatest footballer of all time. if you’re still wondering who the best player in football history is. The fact that he has won more World Cups than any other player is sufficient evidence to place the Brazilian on this list. Pele made history in 1958 by playing in a World Cup final at the age of 17. In Sweden, he scored six times, including a hat-trick in the semifinal and two more in the championship game. As a response to the tears he watched streaming down his father’s face, he would bring back three World Cup medals.

The fact that he never played frequently in Europe is sometimes used as a tool to criticise Pele, yet his record internationally says a lot about his talent regardless of the situation. in the time, some of the best defences in the world just couldn’t handle his devastating pace and deadly accurate finishing, and he still would in his peak.

Club Santos FC records

Club	Season	Campeonato Paulista		Rio-São Paulo		Campeonato Brasileiro Série A		Domestic competitions Sub-total			International competitions				Total
											Copa Libertadores		Intercontinental Cup
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Santos	1956	0*	0*					1	1						1	1
	1957	14+15*	19+17*	9	5			38*	41*						38*	41*
	1958	38	58	8	8			46	66						46*	66*
	1959	32	45	7	6	4*	2*	39	51						43*	53*
	1960	30	33	3	0	0	0	33	33		0	0	0	0	33*	33*
	1961	26	47	7	8	5*	7	33	55		0	0	0	0	38*	62*
	1962	26	37	0	0	5*	2*	26	37		4*	4*	2	5	37*	48*
	1963	19	22	8	14	4*	8	27	36		4*	5*	1	2	36	51*
	1964	21	34	4	3	6*	7	25	37		0*	0*	0	0	31*	44*
	1965	28	49	7	5	4*	2*	39	54		7*	8	0	0	46*	64*
	1966	14	13	0*	0*	5*	2*	14*	13*		0	0	0	0	19*	15*
	1967	18	17			14*	9*	32*	26*		0	0	0	0	32*	26*
	1968	21	17			17*	12*	38*	28*		0	0	5	1	43*	30*
	1969	25	26			12*	12*	37*	38*		0	0	0	0	37*	38*
	1970	15	7			13*	4*	28*	11*		0	0	0	0	28*	11*
	1971	19	6			21	1	40	7		0	0	0	0	40	7
	1972	20	9			16	5	36	14		0	0	0	0	36	14
	1973	19	11			30	19	49	30		0	0	0	0	49	30
	1974	10	1			17	9	27	10		0	0	0	0	27	10
	Total	410	468	53	49	173*	101*	636*	618*		15	17	8	8	659	643

International records

Team	Year	Apps	Goals	Goal average
Brazil	1957	2	2	1.00
	1958	7	9	1.28
	1959	9	11	1.22
	1960	6	4	0.67
	1961	0	0	—
	1962	8	8	1.00
	1963	7	7	1.00
	1964	3	2	0.67
	1965	8	9	1.12
	1966	9	5	0.55
	1967	0	0	—
	1968	7	4	0.57
	1969	9	7	0.77
	1970	15	8	0.53
	1971	2	1	0.50
Total		92	77	0.84

Pele became the youngest player to win FIFA World cups in 1958, 1962 and 1970. he was 17 years old. The following tournament of 1958 he was nicknames as, “The King (O Rei).”

Pele’s famous quote is,

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

Some Frequently Asked Questions