World's All-Time Greatest Footballers

Update for 2022 World Cup

Retrospectively, Football sports was created in the 1860s and it has been reformed and developed for more than the Century. Era over era, there are so many superstars and legends being created chronologically. I'm proud to propose the list of "The Greatest Footballers of All-Time" in complete version. The main ranking is primarily established based on total performance in overall career and is considered based on competition level. The conditional margin which includes Highest State, Lowest State of Performance and Total Ability is the additional factor value. Ability is main tool to reduce the difference variance of the comparison between positions, is a combination set of main football function are, Physical, Defensive and/or Offensive. Ability is the internal potential of footballer by no application to football role while Skill is set level of importance base on the role. However, there are some exceptional cases of player that cannot take place just from their total performance and their greatness to impact history of their club or nation is regarded as Bonus in addition to the basic rating. Supplementally, the minor categorized lists of greatest ever are also provided. The overall method of rating can be found in the historical rating methodology.    

Table of Content

-        World’s Best Players by Era
-        The Greatest Players Ever By Specific Skill
-        The Highest Potential Players Ever
-        The Most Completed Players Ever
-        The Most Sustainable Performers Ever
-        The Highest Peak Performers Ever

*Please see The Scorecard in "Footballer Evalution Result"





50. Uwe Seeler

Date Of Birth  :  5 November 1936
Nation : Germany, Caps : 72 Games (43 Goals)
Height : 170 cm, Position : Fast Striker, Major Club : Hamburg
World Cup Participation : 1958,1962,1966,1970 (21 Games /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
2 Times German Championship 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-Stars Team
1968 Cup Winners Cup Top Scorer
Hamburg All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever
German Sports Hall of Fame

“Uns Uwe” Uwe Seeler is one of the most consistent strikers of all-time as well as one of the best players to have never won Ballon'Dor. Seeler is full of atheletic characteristic, He was energetic and effective goalscorer with considerable technique, working to score inside or outside the penalty area. He was also very creative and was renowned for his overhead-kick and back-heading and even got deep to midfield to win the ball from opponent. He was rated by kicker in 7.5 World-Class seasons and also 7.5 seasons of international-class which is the second best only to Beckenbauer. Note that his career was achieved the peak prior to the Bundesliga era. According to German footballer of the year voting, he was German forward of the year for 7 times. He prominently won his third German footballer of the year at his 34 years old.Seeler was also a tremendously popular player due to his fairness, modesty, and kindness. The DFB made him the second honorary captain of the German national team in 1972. In 2003 he became honorary citizen of his hometown Hamburg, the first time the honor was bestowed on a sportsman.

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49. Luis Suarez Miramontes

Date Of Birth  :   2 May 1935
Nation   :  Spain, Caps  :  32 Games (14 Goals)
Height :  175 cm, Position   :  Playmaker
Major Club   :  Barcelona, Inter Milan
World Cup Participation  :   1962, 1966 (4 Games)
Club Honours  :   3 Times Italian Series A
 2 Times Spanish League, 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 Winner
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

"The Architect" Luis Suarez Miramontes is regarded as the greatest Spanish footballer of all-time and the best European midfielder in the early 1960s, is one of the greatest midfielders in history of European Cup. Luis Suarez is also one of the best passers ever. He was the great organizers of the classic era. Not content to direct from a distance, he help modernized the forward-looking more free-ranging creative midfielder and known as his elegant movement. He was also noted for his perceptive passing and explosive shot. Suárez first played as an inside left for Barcelona and in 1960 he became the only Spanish-born player to date to have won Ballon D’or awards. In 1961 Suárez became the world's most expensive footballer when Barcelona sold him to Inter Milan where he was an equally prominent member of the legendary Great Inter side of the 1960s as a deep-lying playmaker. He retired as a player after the last three seasons at Sampdoria. Luis Suarez also finished fourth place Ballon'Dor in 1959.

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48. Robert Lewandowski


Date Of Birth  :  21 August 1988
Nation : Poland, Caps  :  152 Games (83 Goals)
Height :  185 cm, Position :  Target Striker
Major Club  : Borrusia Dortmund, Bayern Munich
World Cup Participation  : None
Professional Scores Record : 563 Goals/ 776 Games
Club Honours : 10 Times Bundesliga, 1 Time Polish League
4 Times DFB-Pokal, 1 Time Polish Cup
2020 UEFA Champion League Winner
2013 UEFA Champion League Runner-Up
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement  : 10 Times Polish Player of the Year
1 Time Polish Top Scorer, 7 Times Bundesliga Top Scorer
2 Times European Golden Shoe (2021, 2022)
3 Times Eastern European Footballer of the Year (2013,2015,2019)
2015 IFFHS World Top Scorer of the Year
3 Times Polish Sports Personality of The Year
                                                          2 Times Bundesliga Best Player of the Season
                                                           2017 Bundesliga Player of the Year
                                                           2018 World Cup UEFA Zone Qualification Top Scorer         
                                                           2020 UEFA Champion League Top Scorer/Top Assist Provider
                                                           2020 FIFA Best Men Player
                                                           2020 European Sportsperson of the Year
                                                           IFFHS World Team of The Decade 2010s
                                                           Poland All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever   

Robert Lewandowski is the greatest Eastern European player during the 2010s and is regarded as the best target striker in Bundesliga over four decades after era of Gerd Muller. He became Polish star when playing for Lech Poznan and moved for Dortmund where he led the club finish runner-up in UEFA Champion League and finally reached his peak career with Bayern Munich. He made a miracle moment  scoring 5 goals in only 9 minutes un match against Wolfburg in 2015 Bundesliga.U nfortunately, he always failed in major international tournament particularly Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018. An accurate and efficient finisher with his head and both feet, A well-rounded forward, he possess almost all the necessary qualities of a traditional number nine: height, strength, balance, pace, intelligent movement and proficiency with both feet. He primarily operates as a goal-poacher in the penalty area, due to his positional sense, ability to shoot first time, and strength in the air, his excellent technical skills, quick feet, vision, and physique also enable him capable of dropping into deeper roles on the pitch, in order to create space for teammates with his movement. He is rated by kicker in 5 World-Class and 6 International-Class seasons and also finished 4th at 2015 Ballon'Dor. In 2020, He led Bayern won triple champion.

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47. Neymar


Date Of Birth  : 5 February 1992
Position  :  Left Side-Forward
Height : 176 cm, Caps : 128 Games (79 Goals/59 Assists)
Professional Score Record : 356 Goal/217 Assists/575 Games
Major Club : Santos, Barcelona, World Cup Participation : 2014,2018
Club Honours : 3 Times Brazil State Championship
1 Time French Cup, 1 Time French Ligue
1 Time Spanish La Liga, 1 Time Brazil Cup, 1 Time Copa Del Rey
2011 Copa Libertadores Cup, 2015 UEFA Champion League, 2020 Runner-Up
International Honours : 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup

Individual Achievement : 5 Times Best Brazilian Footballer in Europe
2011 Brazilian League Footballer of the Year
3 Times Brazilian League Top Scorers
2 Times South American Footballer of the Year (2011, 2012)
2011 Copa Libertadores Cup Most Valuable Player
2012 Copa Libertadores Cup Top Scorer
2013 FIFA Confederation Cup Golden Ball
                                                        2015 UEFA Champion League Top Scorer
                                                        2015 Bronze Ball FIFA Ballon'Dor
                                                   2 Times UEFA Champion League Top Assist Provider (2016, 2017)
                                                        2017 Bronze Ball Ballon'Dor, FIFA World Player of the Year
                                                        2021 Copa America Team of the Tournament
                                                        Brazil All-Time Top Scorer

Neymar is the greatest Brazilian player during the 2010s and is considered as one of the greatest players in the World in the mid-2010s. He debuted international game at his only 18 years old when he just first play his first professional season and achieved as a top scorer immediately. He is considered as one of the best youngest players ever when he was awarded South American footballer of the year at his 20 years old. Neymar developed his early career with Santos and moved to Barcelona where he has been overshadowed by Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and later his career was spent with tremendous injury with Paris-Saint Germain but he still superbly perform and is regarded as the highest peak performer in history of Ligue I. He is always an indispensable player for Brazil national team during its dark era. A prolific scorer and also famous for his dribbling ability with an incredible quick step. Although he could play as a deep-lying forward, Neymar's best position is a side forward that allowed him to utilize his speed to score by himself or creates assists. He holds the record all-time most assists and top scorer for Brazil national team. Aside from 2015 and 2017 that he finished third place in FIFA Ballon'Dor, he also finished at 5th twice, was named in 2018 ESM team of the year and 2020 UEFA Team of the year.



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46. Jozef Bozsik


Date Of Birth  :  28 November 1925
Nation  : Hungary, Caps  : 101 Games (11 Goals)
Position : Defensive Holding Midfielder
Height  : 173 cm, Major Club :  Kispest Honved
World Cup Participation : 1954, 1958 (8 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Times Hungarian League
1959 Mitropa Cup
International Honours : 1952 Olympic Game Gold Medal
1953 Central European Champion
1954 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1954 FIFA World Cup All-Stars Team
1952 Hungarian Football Federation Player of the Year
Skills: Def B,Str B,Rapid C,Pass A-,Create A-,Shot C,Drib B+,Tech A-
Performance: Domestic Club A-,International Club A-,National Team A-

“Cucu” Jozsef Bozsik is regarded as the greatest deep-lying playmaker in history of European football and was the best midfielder in the World during the mid-50s, was one of World-Class players but was overshadowed by the gifted attackers “The Magic Magyars” The Hungary Golden team. He was known for his flawless technique, flair, tactical nous, passing accuracy in both short and long range with the right moment, reliable ball possession with very difficult to lose the ball and control the game with ease, although he suffered from a lack of pace. He was an extremely intelligent player and was often used as a deep lying playmaker where his tackling ability was also helpful. He holds the record most Caps and most consecutive years of Caps for Hungary national team.Throughout his career, Bozsik won many honours. Bozsik was voted 6th European footballer of the year in the first year of this award. Besides, He was voted the third place Hungary’s player of century by IFFHS’s poll.
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45. Dino Zoff

Date Of Birth  :  28 February 1942
Nation    :  Italy  , Caps   :  112 Games
Height:  183 cm, Major Club   :  Juventus
World Cup Participation  : 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982 ( 17 Games )
Club Honours   : 6 Times Italian Series A, 2 Times Coppa Italia
1977 UEFA Cup, 2 Times European Cup Runner-Up (1973, 1983)
International Honours    :  1968 European Championship Winners
1982 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1982 FIFA World Cup’s Best Goalkeeper
1973 Silver Ball European Football Of The Year
Italian Series A All-Time Most Clean Sheets
2000 FIFA World Goalkeeper Of Century
UEFA Jubilee Award (Golden Player Of Italy)
2 Times European Goalkeeper Of The Year (1980, 1981)
2 Times European Championship Best Goalkeeper (1968, 1980)
1999 IFFHS Italy Goalkeeper of The Century


Dino Zoff is one of the best goalkeepers the world has ever seen. He has set lots of records in Italian and world football. He debuted his international game in the 1968 UEFA Euro at his 26 years old and is the oldest player to win the World Cup. In 1982 at the age of 40 he could collect the trophy as captain of Italy's team. And he is also the goalkeeper to have kept a clean sheet the longest time, from September 1972 to June 1974 (consecutive 1142 minutes or 12 Matches) was unbeaten and also own the Juventus record longest streak without conceding a goal in the intersected period with 903 minutes. According to being main pillar of Italy national team over decade, He became the most iconic player of his nation. Zoff was medium in stature but quick on his feet and excellent positioning and shot-stopping skills. He was a level-headed goalkeeper, capable of staying calm during the toughest and the most exhilarating moments. He always held back both out of modesty and respect for his opponents. Zoff made 360 clean sheets from 720 first-level club games or 50 %. He was voted in 11th, 6th and 8th Ballon'Dor in 1980, 1981 and 1982. Zoff was finished 5th in UEFA Jubilee Poll as the best European footballer in the last 50 years.
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44. Sandor Kocsis

Date Of Birth  :  21 September 1929
Nation    :  Hungary, Caps  :  68 Games (75 Goals)
Height   :  177 cm,  Position :  Target Striker
Major Club :  Budapest Honved
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 and World League Top Scorer (1952, 1954)
1954 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe - Best Player
All-Time Highest NT Scorer In A Single Year (23 Goals)


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 first half 1950s, is one of the greatest aerial scorers ever, is believed to be the best player in the World in 1954. 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 the best players ever as heading 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 played irregularly due to injury. 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 scorers ever in national team career, registered hat-trick for Hungary for seven times. Kocsis scored 47 hat-tricks and 2 double-hat-tricks in his whole career. 

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43. Michael Laudrup

Date Of Birth : 15 June 1964
Nation : Denmark,Caps : 104 Games (37 Goals)
Position : Playmaking-Attacking Midfielder
Height : 178 cm, Major Club: Juventus, Barcelona
World Cup Participation : 1986, 1998 (9 Games/3 Assists)
Club Honours : 1 Time Italian Series A
5 Times Spanish La Liga, 1 Time Spanish Cup
1 Time Dutch Champion, 1 Time Dutch Cup
1985 Intercontinental Cup, 1992 European Cup Winner
International Honors : 1995 FIFA Confederation Cup
Individual Achievement :  UEFA Jubilee Award (Denmark)
2 Times Danish Player of The Year (1982,1985)
1992 Spanish La Liga Best Player
1999 IFFHS Denmark Player of The Century
Best Foreign Player in Spanish Football the last 25 years (1974-1999)
Danish Footballer Hall Of Fame, Order of The Dannebrog

Michael Laudrup is the greatest Scandinavian footballer of all-time, and is one of the best players to have never won BallonD'or. A play-making midfielder, He was known as one of the most effective passers, as well as one of the most skillful and elegant players in history of the game and is still popular among fans. Laudrup was considered by many as one of the most technically accomplished players ever, only lamenting his lack of selfishness causing him to score too few goals. He plays like a dream, a magic illusion, determined to show his new team his extreme abilities. However, he could not reach his highest potential and failed to reach international-class for many seasons in Italian Series A. He reached his prime in Spanish La Liga in the early 1990s. Michael did not play in the victory champion Denmark team in Euro 92 due to political differences with Richard Møller Nielsen. He finished 4th and 5th place in 1985 and 1993 Ballon'Dor, respectively and was also voted in top ten World Soccer Player of the Year three times in 1986, 1989 and 1993.
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42Giacinto Facchetti

Date Of Birth  : 18 July 1942
Height  : 191 cm , Nation  : Italy, Caps :  94 Games
Position : Left-Back, Major Club  :  Inter Milan
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 Winner
1970 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1970 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
1965 Silver Ball European Footballer Of The Year
1968 European Championship Team Of Tournament
2 Times European Defender of The Year (1965, 1968)

Facchetti is best remembered as the greatest wing-back ever in history of the European football. He primarily played as wing-back in club career, would make marauding run upfield using his wonderful running, dribbling and crossing, even sometimes done well as left-winger to make scores. When switch to play for Italy, Facchetti stayed deeper position as a full-back and in the late career he could also play as center-back which his tackling was used great effect, possessed excellent stamina, great leadership and scored important goals. He is compared by some as “Beckenbauer in version of side-back” for his leadership and technical ability. He was one of the Le Grande Inter which was notable with completely defensive game and the club was successful to reach three European Cup Final matches. 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 one of the greatest players n history of the club and played 634 official games with scoring 75 goals.

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41. Xavi Hernandez


Date Of Birth : 25 January 1980

Height : 170 cm, Nation :  Spain, Caps :133 Games
Position : Central Holding Midfielder, Major Club :  Barcelona
World Cup Participation : 2002,2006,2010,2014 (17 Games/2 Assists)
Club Honours  : 7 Times Spanish La Liga, 1 Time Copa Del Rey
3 Times UEFA Champion League (2006, 2009, 2011)
2 Time FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2012)
International Honours : 2 Times UEFA Euro (2008, 2012)
2010 FIFA World Cup Champion
Individual Achievement : 1999 La  Liga Young Player Of The Year
2005 Spanish Player Of The Year, 2008 UEFA Euro Best Player
4 Times IFFHS World Best Playmaker, 2009 UEFA Club Best Midfielder
2009 Spanish National Sportsman of The Year
2009 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
2009 Bronze Ball Ballon’ Dor, FIFA World Player of The Year
                                                        2010 FIFA World Cup All-Stars Team
                                                      2 Times Bronze Ball FIFA Ballon'Dor (2010, 2011)  
                                                        2021 IFFHS All-Time World Dream Team             



A Puppet Master" Xavi Hernandez is one of the most team decorated footballers of all-time and was one of the most valuable players in history of Spanish football, was the best midfielder in the World in the very late 2000s to the beginning 2010s. He is a key man of the achievement for Barcelona and Spain that meet their golden era, has made more than 180 assists for his club. Xavi is not a style of spectacular and all-round player style but full of intelligent and effectiveness in central midfield area as an indispensable organisor with reliable ball controlling and his ability to find and exploit spaces and made very accurate short passing as an embodiment of Tiki-Taka tactical strategy, having assisted to a lot goals. Xavi won the best player of Euro 2008 tournament plus man of the match in 2009 UEFA Champion league final round.Xavi holds the record most appearances in UEFA Champion League. Xavi was named in UEFA Team of the year five times and FIFPro World XI six times In 2008, Xavi was also voted 5th European footballer of the year. Xavi made around 180 assists in overall career.

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40. Bobby Moore

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

Bobby Moore is  the most iconic English footballers ever and is one of the greatest international defenders 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 the best defender in English league four times according to reader;s poll of the 1960s and analysis of performance in the 1970s. Moore is known as a true leader and gentleman with his fair play. His greatness as captain leading England to be champion of world cup could lead him to be ranked among the best. In 1966, He was voted as the fourth best of Ballon D’or and was also voted in top ten Ballon D'or in 1971 and 1972 and he was voted seventh place the best player in history of World Cup by France Football Moore also finished third place BBC Sports Personality of The Year in 1970.
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39. Romario

Date Of Birth  :  29 January 1966
Nation : Brazil, Position   :  Fast Striker
Height  :  169 cm, Major Club :  Flamengo, Vasco Da Gama
Caps  :  70 Games (55 Goals/11 Assists)
World Cup Participation  :   1990, 1994 (8 Games with 5 Goals)
Professional Score Record  :  697 Goals/ 905 Games
Club Honours   :   4 Times Brazil State Championship
1 Times Brazil National Championship, 1 Time Spanish La Liga
International Honours    :   1988 Olympic Game Silver Medal
2 Times Copa America Winners (1989, 1997)
1994 FIFA World Cup Champion, 1997 FIFA Confederation Cup
Individual Achievement   1984 Bravo Award
7 Times Brazil State Championship Top Scorer
3 Times Brazil National Championship Top Scorer
3 Times Dutch League Top Scorer,
2 Times European Cup Top Scorer (1990, 1993)
1993 Silver Ball FIFA World Player of The Year, 1994 Spanish League Top Scorer
1994 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year, 1994 L'Equippe Sports Personality of The Year
1994 FIFA World Player of The Year, 1997 FIFA Confederation Cup Top Scorer
2000 Brazilian Footballer of The Year, South American Footballer of The Year
2001 Bronze Ball South American Footballer of The Year, PSV Eindhoven Greatest Player Ever

"O Baixinho" Romario the greatest players in the World during the mid-90s, is one of the most prolific goalscorers in history of the game. He scored more than 1,000 goals during his career including unofficial matches. He is one of the greatest first touch goal-getters of all-time, processed great shooting and dribbling technique. While Romario was sometimes criticized for “Disappearing” during games, he would then crop up and score one or more goals. A Master of Zen-like “no-play,” He would let the action sweep around him until it was his time to strike. When man-marked, He often stopped moving, reasoning that his marker’s natural tendency was to move rather than stand still. After his markers moved, He was off in the other direction for a pass or goal opportunity. Because of his freedom style of attitude, He played for Barcelona for twice seasons and back to play in Brazil in the rest of his career. Romario also achieved Brasil Cup all-time top scorer and was also voted in top ten World Soccer Player of the Year twice in the late 1980s. He holds the record most goals in a single season in history Brazilian football league with 70 goals in 2000. 

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38. Andres Iniesta

Date Of Birth  :  11 May 1984
Nation  : Spain, Caps : 111 Games
Height : 170 cm, Position : Left-Playmaker
Major Club  :  Barcelona
World Cup Participation  : 2006,10, 14, 18 (14 Games)
Club Honours : 9 Times Spanish La Liga, 6 Time Copa Del Rey
4 Times UEFA Champion League (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015)
3 Times FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2011, 2015)
International Honours  : 2010 FIFA World Cup Champion
2 Times European Championship Winners (2008, 2012)
Individual Achievement  :  2009 Spanish Footballer of The Year
2 Times UEFA Euro Bext XI (2008, 2012), 2012 Best Player
2010 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
2010 Silver Ball, 2012 Bronze Ball FIFA Ballon’Dor
2011 - 2012 UEFA Best Player In Europe

The Illusionist" Andreas Iniesta is one of the most team decorated footballers of all-time and is one of the best midfielders in the World between the late 2000s to early 2010s, is one of a prominent members of Barcelona and national team in their glory years. Iniesta is a productive player from Barcelona Youth team. He is a remarkably intelligent midfielder with a valuable set of dribble and inventive skill combine with physical balance, agile ability and work ethic. Although he scored average number of goals in overall career, he is best remembered as the winning scorer in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final match. He is also a versatile player, originally started as defensive midfielder, is sometimes switched to play as left-winger if essential. Iniesta was rated by kicker as the best layer of the 2010 World Cup tournament and the man of the match in the 2015 UEFA Champion Leageu final match,  is also voted 4th place in the 2009 Ballon'Dor and the 2011 UEFA Best Player In Europe Award and is consecutively selected four times in UEFA and five times FIFPro XI. He also finished 6th in the 2014 FIFA Ballon'Dor.


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37. Rivaldo

Date Of Birth  :  19 April 1972, Height  :  186 cm
Nation  :  Brazil, Caps   :  74 Games (34 Goals/15 Assists)
Position :  Second Striker, Major Club  :  Barcelona
World Cup Participation  :   1998, 2002 (14 Games / 8 Goals)
Copa America Score Record :  1 Tournament (5 Games / 5 Goals)
Professional Score Record  :  297 Goals/ 564 Games
Club Honours  :  2 Times Spanish La Liga, 1 Time Copa Del Rey
1 Time Brazil National League, 2 Times Brazil State League
1 Time Copa Italia, 2003 UEFA Champion League
International Honours : 1999 Copa America Winner                     
2002 FIFA World Cup Champion,1998 Runner-Up
Individual Achievement  :  1998 La Liga Best Foreign Player
1999 Copa America Top Scorer, Most Valuable Player
1999 Ballon’Dor, World Soccer, FIFA World Player of The Year
2000 European Cup Top Scorer, Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame
2000 Bronze Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
                                                     2000 IFFHS International Top Scorer
                                                     2 Times FIFA World Cup All-Stars Team (1998,2002)


Rivaldo is regarded as the the greatest player in the World during late 1990s. He played in the area between attacking midfielder and deep-lying forward but he was more exerting as scorer than creator. Rivaldo could dribble, shot and pass with the best. Especially, His shooting was combined with powerful and precision. He was renown of his superb by-cycle kicking. After his glory years in Barcelona, he was transferred to AC Milan. His time in Milan proved a mutually disappointing affair, was a starter through the first season but he didn’t play even a game in the next one partially due to injury problems. Within 5 seasons in Spain, he was named La Liga team of the season four times. He was voted as the 5th and 4th best player of the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup tournament, respectively. Rivaldo is named in ESM team of the month 14 times and team of the year 2 times, was also voted in fifth place Ballon'Dor in 1998 and fifth place in FIFA World Player of the Year twice in 2001 and 2002.

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36. Gyorgi Sarosi

Date Of Birth  :  5 August 1912
Nation   :  Hungary, Caps  :  61 Games (42 Goals)
Position :   Defensive Midfielder, Forward
Height   : 186 cm, Major Club : Ferencvaros
World Cup Participation  :   1934, 1938 (5 Games with 6 Goals)
Professional Score Record  :  420 Goals/ 450 Games
Club Honours    :   5 Times Hungarian League
4 Times Hungarian Cup, 1937 Mitropa Cup
International Honours  : 1938 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement  :  
3 Times Hungarian League Top Scorer
2 Times Mitropa Cup Topscorer, Mitropa Cup 
All-Time Top Scorer         
2 Times Central European International Cup Top Scorer (1935,1937)
European International Cup All-Time Top Scorer
Ferencvaros All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever
1938 FIFA World Cup All Stars Team    

Gyorgi Sarosi is one of the symbolic Hungarian legends, was the greatest footballer in the Europe during the second half 1930s. He is one of the most completed footballers of all-time, played in several positions for Ferencváros and Hungary. Essentially an inside-forward and center-forward, he could also operate in midfield as a world-class center-half or even an international-class central defender, played these role in the early and the late career. Sarosi was an extraordinary dribbler and scorer with aggressive character, had got great physical option as a true leadership and very good teamwork ability. Sarosi is one of the best players in history of Mitropa Cup, was a superstar and reached four final matches. He captained Hungary to the 1938 FIFA World Cup finals and scored five goals. Sarosi made phenomenon record in the 1935 -1936 season, scored 36 goals in 20 league games. In the 1937 international club, he scored seven goals in single match against Czechoslovakia. For his role as a forward, he scored 331 goals in 317 league games, 49 goals in 43 Mitropa cup games and approximately scored 40 goals in 40 national team games. Sarosi scored 54 hat-tricks and 4 double-hat-tricks in his whole career.


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35. Rivelino

Date Of Birth  :   1 January 1946
Nation : Brazil, Caps : 92 Games (26 Goals/14 Assists)
Position :  Playmaking-Attacking Midfielder
Height  : 173 cm, Major Club : Corinthians, Fluminese
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 South American Footballer of The Year (1973,1976)
Corinthians Greatest Player Ever
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

"Kinglet Park" Rivelino is widely regarded as one of the most skillful-graceful footballers ever, was the greatest South American footballer in the first half 1970s and is also one of the most underrated players in football history. 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 invented a football move called the "Elastico", also known as "flip flap", famously copied by Ronaldinho and C.Ronaldo in recent years. Rivelino played for Corinthians during the most troubled periods in the history of the club, didn’t win any state trophy 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 twice times during the 1970s. Aside from the year he was named in top three South American footballer of the year, he was named in top ten three times. He is selected in FIFA All-Time South America team of the Century in 1998.                                

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34. Gianluigi Buffon

Date Of Birth  :  28 January 1978
Nation : Italy, Caps : 168 Games (65 Clean Sheets)
Height  :  191 cm, Major Club  : Juventus
World Cup Participation  : 2002, 2006, 2010,2014 (13 Games)
Club Honours  :  10 Times Italian Series A
1999 UEFA Cup, 4 Times Coppa Italia
International Honours   : 2006 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement :  1999 Bravo Award
2003 UEFA Club Goalkeeper Of The Year
2003 UEFA Champion League Most Valuable Player
11 Times Series A Goalkeeper Of The Year, 2006 Yashin Award
4 Times European Goalkeeper Of The Year (2003, 2004, 2007,2016)
4 Times IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007)
6 Times 2nd Place IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper (05,08,12,13,15,16)
Series A Goalkeeper of The Decade, 2006 Silver Ball Ballon'Dor

Gigi Buffon is the greatest goalkeeper in the World in the 2000s and is considered by many Italian journalists in www.channel4.com in 2010 as the greatest goalkeeper ever in history of Italian series A. He is also the only goalkeeper to win UEFA club footballer of the Year. Buffon has gotten very good shape for being goalkeeper, very agile, perfectly reading the game and becoming one of the most consistency keepers ever. He unbelievably became the long-period first choice GK of Parma at 1996 which he was just 17 year olds. He still holds the most expensive goalkeeper record for moving to Juventus. He had to play in Italian Series B one season because of  punishment to Juventus for match fix scandal. In world cup 2006, He kept consecutive five matches clean sheets in addition to 453 minute scoreless. He never won UEFA Champion League and finished runner-up 3 times. Buffon has made 18 consecutive years of international appearances and holds the record all-time most caps for Italy. He is named in UEFA team of the year only three times and was named in UEFA Euro All-Time XI in 2016. He has made around 350 clean sheets in first-level matches of all competitions or 42 % approximately. 
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33. Franco Baresi

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

“Piscinin” Franco Baresi is acknowledged as the greatest center-back in history of 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. In spite of his world-class performance, He was just a starter of Italy national team after departure of Gaetano Scirea. His undesirable remembering is a mistake in penalty shootout in world cup 1994 final match leading Italy lost Brazil finally. Bares. i is considered as the best defender in series A four times (1989 - 1992 and 1994)He was also voted in 6th, 5th and 8th Ballon D'or in 1988, 1990 and 1993, respectively and was voted in top ten FIFA World Player of the year in other three different years (1991, 1992 and 1994). 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.
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32. George Best

Date Of Birth  :  22 May 1946
Nation  :  Northern Ireland
Position : Left-Winger, Caps  :  37 Games (9 Goals)
Height  :  175 cm, Major Club : Manchester United
Professional Score Record  : 204 Goals/ 579 Games
World Cup Participation, International Honours  :  None  
Club Honours  : 2 Times English Top Division
1968 European Cup Winner
Individual Achievement : 1968 FWA Footballer Of The Year
1968 European 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
English Top League, Manchester United Greatest Player Ever
BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement 
PFA Special Merit Award, UEFA Jubilee Award (Northern Ireland)

“Dangerous Divine” 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 finished second place BBC Sports Personality of The Year in 1971 and third place in 1969. According to Ballon'Dor ranking, Best is the greatest European winger three times. He was voted 8th,12th and 16th World player of the century by World Soccer, France Football and IFFHS’s poll, respectively.

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31. Roberto Baggio

Date Of Birth  :  18 February 1967
Nation  :   Italy, Caps   :  56 Games (27 Goals)
Position   :  Forward, Height   :  174 cm
Major Club   :   Fiorentina, Juventus
Professional Score Record  :  292 Goals/ 637 Games
World Cup Participation : 1990,1994,1998 (16 Games/9 Goals)
Club Honours  : 2 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Copa Italia, 1993 UEFA Cup Winner
International Honours  :  1990 FIFA World Cup Third Place
1994 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement  :  1990 Bravo Award
1989 Cuo Winners Cup Top Scorer
1993 European Footballer of The Year, 1994 Silver Ball
1993 FIFA World Player of The Year, 1994 Bronze Ball
1993 World Soccer Player of The Year, 1994 Silver Ball
1994 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball - All Star Team 
                                                    2001 Guerin Italian Footballer of The Year                             

“The Divine Ponytail” Roberto Baggio is one of the most popular footballers of all-time, is the most talent Italian player ever. He played as a creative forward and is one of the best technical players in history of the game. 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 phenomenon 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. In Series A, he made 26 % assists and 36.5 % penalty goals per total games played and 46 % of his series A goals were decisive goals. He was also voted as the fifth best in 1995 FIFA World Player of the year. 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.

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30. Frank Rijkaard

Date Of Birth  :  30 September 1962, Height :  190 cm
Nation : Netherlands,   Caps   :  73 Games (10 Goals)
Position   :  Defensive Holding Midfielder
Major Club  :  AC Milan, Ajax Amsterdam
World Cup Participation  :   1990, 1994 (8 Games)
Club Honours  :   5 Times Eredivisie, 3 Times Dutch Cups
2 Times Italian Series A, 1987 UEFA Cup Winners Cup
3 Times European Cup (1989, 1990, 1995), 1993 Runner-Up
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1989, 1990)
International Honours  :  1988 European Championship Winners
Individual Achievement :  2 Times Dutch Golden Shoe (1985, 1987)
2 Times Bronze Ball European Footballer Of The Year (1988, 1989)
1988 European Championship Team Of Tournament
1992 Guerin Italian Series A Footballer Of The Year

Frank Rijkaard is the greatest defensive midfielder of all-time, is the best defensive midfielder in history of European Cup. His primitive race is Suriname. He started his professional career as central defender but he was transformed into a world-class holding midfielder at AC Milan and became an indispensable player alongside his comrades like Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten to build their glory year. Rijkaard basically played as man’s marker for Netherlands national team. He possessed tremendous determination and excellent technique, both of which served him well in controlling the middle of the field. His vision and ability to advance forward also made him a formidable defensive force. Rijkaard was remembered of his unsuitable behavior spat in Voller’s hair. This led him to be sent off and Holland finally lost to West Germany. He ended his career with a luxury scene winning the first UEFA Champion League in 1995. In spite of a defensive player, He scored more than 100 goals in all club competition. Rijkaard was also voted in top ten World Soccer Player of the Year twice in the early 1990s.

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29. Marco Van Basten

Date Of Birth  :  31 October 1964, Height  :  188 cm
Nation : Netherlands, Position : Striker
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 Winner
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Series A Top Scorer (1990,1992)
4 Times Dutch League Top Scorer, 1985 Dutch Footballer of The Year
1986 European Golden Boot, World League Top Scorer
1987 Bravo Award, 1989 European Cup Top Scorer
1988 UEFA Euro Top Scorer, 1988 UEFA Euro Best Player
                                                    1988, 1992 World Soccer Player of The Year, 1989 Silver,1987 Bronze        
                                                   3 Times Ballon'Dor (1988,1989,1992), 1992 FIFA World Player of The Year
                                                   2 Times IFFHS World Best Player of the Year (1988, 1989)                         

"Killer of Ghost Whisper" Marco Van Basten is the greatest striker in the World during the lately 1980s, is the greatest striker in history of Italian Series A, is one of the most completed strikers ever. He was two foots grace with close control, quick on the turn, excellent in the air and even capable to make accuracy assist in long-range. He scored Spectacular goals for club and country. He was best remembered with his winning goal in Euro 1988 final. He shot from a seemingly impossible angle. The shearing audacity and technique of that strike showed his supreme class. Van Basten was very success in his career with AC Milan despite playing in highest standard ever of the league due to appearances of many World-Class defenders. On the other hand, Van Basten failed to prove himself in World Cup tournament that he could not score even a goal. He played well in the 1992 UEFA Euro but failed to score once again. He was gotten big injury at age of 29 and decided to retire in next two years. he was also voted 5th place in the 1991 FIFA World Player of the Year. 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.
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28. Ronaldinho

Date Of Birth :  21 March 1980
Nation : Brazil, Caps :   97 Games (33 Goals)
Position : Left-Winger/ Attacking Midfielder
Height  :  182 cm, Major Club  :  Barcelona
World Cup Participation : 2002, 2006 (10 Games)
Club Honors  : 3 Times Brazil State League, 2 Times La Liga
2006 UEFA Champion League, 2013 Copa Libertadores Cup
International Honours  :  1999 Copa America Winners
2002 FIFA World Cup Champion, 2005 FIFA Confederation Cup
Individual Achievement : 1999 FIFA Confederation Cup Golden Ball
2002 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
European Footballer of The Year : 2005 Gold, 2004 Bronze
2 Times Best Foreign Player of Spanish La Liga (2004, 2006)
2005 UEFA Club Best Forward, Brazil Football Museum Hall Of Fame
2 Times World Soccer, FIFA World Player of The Year (2004, 2005)
2006 UEFA Champion League Most Valuable Player
2006 Bronze Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
2012 Brazilian League Footballer of The Year,2013 South American Footballer of The Year
FIFA Confederation Cup Greatest Player Ever
                               
Ronaldinho is widely regarded as one of the most talented footballers of all-time. He was famous for his exciting technical abilities especially dribbling, agility and making score. Ronaldinho was known as a versatile attacker but he always base on the left-side of the field as a midfielder. He started his career with Gremio before moved to Europe to play for Paris Saint-Germain. After he could do his performance in World Cup 2002 impressively, He was wanted by many big club in Europe. Ronaldinho decided to join with Barcelona and he finally became the best player in the world during the middle of the 2000s, won so many individual awards in that time, was expected to become a top world-legend in the future. On the other hand, His legend status such incredibly failed down that becoming an average international footballer because of his unprofessional attitude as athletic. He also finished fifth place FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007. He totally scored about 54 free-kick goals. He is named in ESM team of the month 20 times and team of the year three time. Ronaldinho was named in UEFA Team of the year and FIFPro World XI three times.
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27. Lev Yashin

Date Of Birth  :  22 October 1929
Nation :  Russia, Position : Goalkeeper
Height   :  189 cm, Caps :  78 Games
Major Club :  Dynamo Moscow
World Cup Participation  : 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 ( 12 Games )
Club Honours  : 5 Times Soviet Championship, 3 Times Soviet Cup
International Honours  :  1956 Olympic Games Gold Medal
1960 European Nation’s Cup Winner, 1964 Runner-Up
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 European Championship Best Goalkeeper (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, Soviet Top League Greatest Player Ever

“Black Octopus” Lev Yashin is the greatest goalkeeper 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. He kept 24 clean sheets for Soviet Union. Moreover, Yashin won 270 clean sheets from approximately 420 career games played or almost 65 percent. Yashin is five times Soviet goalkeeper based on analysis and the 1960s awards. He was also voted in top five in Ballon d’Or 3 times aside from the 1963 that he won the first place. 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. A Bronze statue of Lev Yashin was erected at the Dynamo Stadium in Moscow.

         
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26. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Date Of Birth  :  25 September 1955, Height : 182 cm
Nation  : Germany, Caps  :  95 Games (45 Goals)
Position : Free-Role Forward, Major Club :  Bayern Munich
World Cup Participation : 1978, 1982, 1986 (19 Games / 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
1980 UEFA Euro Best XI, 1980 German Footballer of The Year
1981 European Cup Top Scorer
2 Times Ballon'Dor (1980,1981),1979 Silver Ball
1982 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball - All Star Team
1982 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
     
"King Kalle" Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is the greatest footballer in the world 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. Rummenigge is a top scorer in both 1982 World Cup qualifying round and 1984 UEFA Euro qualification. He was rated by Kicker Ranking in 3 World-Class seasons plus 5 seasons of International-Class during ten seasons in Bundesliga. According to German footballer of the year voting, he was German forward of the year three times. He was appeared in Bundesliga team of the season seven times and was the most weekly appearances in twice seasons (1981 and 1983). Afterwards, He moved to play for Inter Milan 3 seasons and achieved one more world-class season in Series A. In 1980, he won Ballon'Dor as the most unanimous votes in history of the awards with 1st votes from 24 persons from total 25. In 2005, He was voted in all-time Bayern XI.
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25. Jose Manuel Moreno

Date Of Birth  :  3 August 1916
Nation  : Argentina, Caps  : 33 Games (20 Goals)
Position :  Second Striker
Height :  187 cm, Major Club  :  River Plate
World Cup Participation  :   None
South American Championsip Score Record : 
3 Tournaments (16 Games / 13 Goals)
Professional Score Record  :  224 Goals/ 489 Games
Club Honours : 1 Time Mexican League, 1 Time Chilean League
5 Times Argentinian League, 2 Times Colombian League
International Honors : 2 Times Copa America Winners (1941,1947)
Individual Achievement : 1942 Copa America Top Scorer
1947 Copa America Best Player, River Plate Greatest Player Ever
Argentine League Greatest Player Ever

“El Charro” Jose Manuel Moreno is the greatest footballer in the World in the early 1940s and is one of the most completed footballers of all-time. He has been regarded by Argentinean old-timers to be a better player than Alfredo Di Stefano who ever mentioned by himself that there are many greater footballers than him in Argentina during his era but they was not lucky to get opportunity to play in Europe, A few football fans around the World have ever heard his name because he never participated in World Cup due to the disappearance of tournament during the war-time and 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 is the first team to play. Moreno was a superb technical player, was a world-class creator, passer and dribbler and scored many career goals by header. However, he is also known for his unprofessional attitude, often missed the training and smoking. 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.

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24. Gianni Rivera

Date Of Birth  :   18 August 1943 
Nation : Italy, Caps  :  60 Games (14 Goals) 
Height :  175 cm , Position  :   Playmaker
Major Club   :   AC Milan
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 Honour : 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 footballers of all-time and is one of the greatest-youngest player ever. He was an advance creative midfielder with offensive ideas and statistics showed he is one of the most effective chances creation to the goals in three consecutive World Cup, 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. His passing ability was very top-class of the world. Rivera could play well as both of deep-lying playmaker or free-role playmaker. His talent in the only season with his first team Alessandria led him to be transferred to Milan and become a starter of the team immediately at his only 18 year olds. He gradually proved himself until being a famous legend of the club after the consistency performance for two decades in Italian Series A. Unfortunately, he played in the same era as Sandro Mazzola and sharing of playing time led to discontinuity and finally failed to became a legend in any major international tournament. Aside from 1963 and 1969, he was voted in top ten Ballon D'or in five times.

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23. Zizinho

Date Of Birth  :   14 September 1921
Nation  :  Brazil, Position :  Attacking Midfielder
Height  :   172 cm, Major Club  :  Flamengo
Caps   :   53 Games (30 Goals/15 Assists)
World Cup Participation  :    1950 (4 Games)
Club Honours   :   3 Times Brazil State Champions
International Honours   :  1949 Copa America Winner
4 Times Copa America Runner-Up (1945, 1946, 1953, 1957)
1950 FIFA World Cup Winner
Individual Achievement : 1950 FIFA World Cup Best Midfielder
1950 FIFA World Cup All Stars Team
2 Times South American Championship Best XI (1949, 1953)
Copa America All-Time Top Scorer 
Copa America Greatest Player Ever
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

"Master Ziza" Zizinho was the greatest South American footballer in the late 1940s and is the most complete South American midfielder of all-time. He played as an inside-right but could operate his game in central midfield with his stamina to help defensive game and he was equally comfortable playing in the wing, is noted for his combination of shooting and passing ability and also a good crosser of the ball, fantastic dribbling skills and great pace. He mostly spent his career with Flamengo at his prime and moved to Bangu in his second part career during the 1950s in three second division seasons of paulista and still capped until 1957. In overall club career, he scored 338 goals in 718 games. In the 1950 World Cup he came to international prominence and 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." Zizinho holds the record most appearances in history of South American Championship-Copa America with 28. He came in 4th place in the IFFHS Brazilian Player and 10th place South American player of the 20th Century.

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22. Ruud Gullit

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

"The Black Tulip" Ruud Gullit is the most versatile and completed footballers of all-time, renowned as one of the soldiers of AC Milan and Holland alongside Frank Rijkaard and Marco Van Basten. He could play in all attacking positions very well primarily as attacking midfielder and occasionally switched to winger area and even performed as sweeper in his late career impressively. His primitive race was Suriname. Gullit epitomized 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. In the eye of media rating, Gullit's best season is the 1993 - 1994 as one of the highest rates in history of magazine.

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21. Didi

Date Of Birth  :  8 October 1929
Nation : Brazil, Height : 174 cm, 
Position :  Central Holding Midfielder
Major Club : Botafogo
Caps : 68 Games (20 Goals/13 Assists)
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)
Individual Achievement : 1958 FIFA World Cup Best Player
Brazil Football Museum Hall Of Fame
                                      
"The Prince of Ethiopian" Valdir Pereira “Didi” is considered as the greatest south american central midfielders ever and was the best midfielder in the World in the late 1950s. 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 his performance is considered as the best central midfielder ever 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.
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20. Paolo Maldini

Date Of Birth : 29 June 1968, Height : 187 cm
Nation : Italy, Position : Left-Back/ Center-Back
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 UEFA Euro Best XI (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
2004 Series A Defender Of The Year, UCL Best Defender
                                                   4 Times European Defender of The Year (1994,1995,2003,2005)

Paolo Maldini is 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 where he holds the record all-time most appearances with totally playing 902 matches for 25 seasons and also holds all-time record most appearance in European Cup with 139 games. In total career games, he made more than 1020 appearances. 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 (7th), 1995 (7th), 2000 (10th) and 2005 (6th), also being voted in top ten FIFA World Player Of The Year in 1994 (5th), 1996 (7th) and 2005 (9th). Maldini is a modern defender with considerable technique and vision, solid defensively, quick and with excellent recuperation skills. He is the best defender in series A four times according to media rating (1998, 1993, 1995 and 2004). 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.
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19. Raymond Kopa

Date Of Birth : 13 October 1931, Height : 169 cm
Nation : France, Position : Attacking Midfielder/Right-Winger          
Major Club  : Stade Reims, Real Madrid
Caps  : 45 Games (18 Goals/20 Assists)
World Cup Participation : 1954, 1958 (8 Games)
Club Honours :  4 Times French League, 2 Times 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 All-Stars 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
FIFA World Cup All-Time Top Assister, Most Assists Ever

Raymond Kopa is the great legendary French footballer who is regarded as the finest playmaker in the World during the second half 1950s and is one of the most successful international footballers ever. Kopa was the progeny of a Polish immigrant family. He was a free-role playmaker who ran to many areas in attacking line, 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 primarily as right-winger and fortunately won European Cup all seasons. Kopa was an important key player as attacking midfielder 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 eight seasons. Kopa holds the record all-time most assists in one single World Cup tournament with nine in 1958. 
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18. Bobby Charlton

Date Of Birth  :   11 October 1937
Nation : England, Position  :  Playmaking-Attacking Midfielder
Height : 173 cm, Major Club : Manchester United
Caps   :   106 Games (49 Goals)
Professional Score Record  : 277 Goals/ 834 Games
World Cup Participation  : 1958196219661970 (12 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times English Top Division
1 Time FA Cup, 1968 European Cup
International Honours  : 1966 FIFA World Cup Champion
Individual Achievement : 1966 FIFA World Cup Best Midfielder
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (19661970)
1966 FWA Footballer of The Year, 1966 Ballon'Dor
2 Times Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year (19671968)
1974 PFA Merit Award, 1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement
2007 PFA Team of The Century, IFFHS England Player of The Century
                                                       Manchester United All-Time Top Scorer

Bobby Charlton is the greatest English footballer of all-time and was the greatest midfielders in the World during the mid-1960s. Although his talent was not among the best ever, his consistency in effectiveness through his career is marked as a spiritual athleticism. In his early year, he primarily performed as left-side midfielder before switched to his best position later. Charlton was one of a few survivors from Munich Disaster and incredibly recovered his condition in a short time, was named as a runner-up in BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1958 and 1959. He was a speedy withdrawn attacking midfielder with excellent close control and he combined those attributes as a devastating dribbler in the open field and was known for his uncompromising attitude. He packed considerable power with either foot and use it to score many spectacular goals and even had a high quality in defensive game. Charlton also finished fifth place Ballon'Dor in 1965 and finished 10th, 12th and 14th place in IFFHS, World Soccer and UEFA Jubilee poll, respectively.

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17. Giuseppe Meazza

Date Of Birth  :  23 August 1910
Nation : Italy, Caps  :  53 Games (33 Goals)
Height : 176 cm, Position :  Forward
Major Club  :  Inter Milan
Professional Score Record  : 305 Goals/ 477 Games
World Cup Participation  :   1934, 1938 (9 Games with 3 goals)
Club Honours  :  3 Times Italian Series A, 1 Time Copa Italia
International Honours : 2 Times FIFA World Cup Winners (1934,1938)
Individual Achievement  :   3 Times Italian Series A Top Scorer
3 Times Mitropa Cup Top Scorer
1934 FIFA World Cup Best Player
Inter Milan All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever          
2008 FIGC Greatest Italian Player of All-Time

“Il Balilla” Giuseppe Meazza is still considered by many as the greatest Italian player of all-time as well as the best player in the world of the entire pre-war era. 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 a true leader and superstar in World Cup 1934. In the 1938 tournament, he was a captain of Italy and became more an assister than a scorer. 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 of inter Milan, was named in honour of him.
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16. Eusebio

Date Of Birth  :  25 January 1942
Nation : Portugal, Caps :  64 Games (41 Goals)
Position  :  Forward, Height :  177 cm, Major Club : Benfica
World Cup Participation : 1966 (6 Games / 9 Goals)
Professional Score Record  :  511 Goals/ 554 Games
Club Honours :  11 Times Portuguese League
5 Times Portuguese Cup, 1962 European Cup Winners
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
1965 Ballon'Dor, 2 Times Silver Ball (1962,1966)
1966 BBC Oversea Sports Personality of The Year
1966 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe, Best Player
3 Times European Cup Top Scorer (1965,1966,1968)
2 Times European Golden Shoe, World League Top Scorer (1968,1973)
2 Times Portuguese Athletic of The Year (1970, 1973)
Benfica Greatest Player Ever - All-Time Top Scorer
Portuguese League Greatest Player Ever
Portuguese Cup All-Time Top Scorer
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 nationality 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. He made total 34 hat-tricks in the whole career. 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.
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15. Lothar Matthaeus


Date Of Birth  :  21 March 1961
Nation : Germany, Caps : 150 Games (23 Goals)
Position : Box-To-Box Midfielder, Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Inter Milan,Bayern Munich
World Cup Participation : 1982,1986,1990,1994,1998 (25 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time Italian Series A
7 Times Bundesliga Champions, 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 Champion
1986 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1978 Bravo Award
1988 UEFA Euro Best XI, 1990 European Footballer Of The Year
1991 FIFA World Player Of The Year
1990 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball, 1991 Silver Ball Ballon'Dor
                                                        1990 World Soccer/IFFHS World Best Player of the Year
                                                    2 Times German Footballer Of The Year (1990, 1999)

“The Superman” Lothar Matthaus is the greatest central midfielder of all-time, was 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 four tournaments. He is the most capped German player of all time with 150. The first half of his career was performed as a box-to-box midfielder. Kicker Magazine rated him as a world-class player in World Cup 1986, 1990 and 7.5 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 in 1989. 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. According to German Footballer of the year voting, He also finished second place three times, was German defender of the year three times and German midfielder of the year four times and was most appeared in Bundesliga team of the week in twice seasons in 1985 and 1994. 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.

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14. Gerd Muller


Date Of Birth  :  3 November 1945
Position   :  Target Striker, Height  : 176 cm
Major Club  :  Bayern Munich, Caps  :  62 Games (68 Goals)
World Cup Participation  :   1970, 1974 (13 Games / 14 Goals)
Professional Score Record  :  572 Goals/87 Assists/669 Games
Club Honours   :   4 Times German Champions, 4 Times DFB-Pokal
1967 European Cup Winners’ Cup, 1976 Intercontinental Cup
3 Times European Cup (1974,1975,1976)
International Honours   :   1972 European Championship Winner
1974 FIFA World Cup Champion
Individual Achievement : Bundesliga All-Time Most Top Scorers (7)
2 Times German Footballer of The Year (1967, 1969)
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)
                                                  European Cup All-Time Most Top Scorers (1973, 1974, 1975, 1977)
                                                  1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe - All-Stars Team
                                                  1970 European Footballer of The Year, 1972 Silver Ball
                                                  1972 UEFA Euro Top Scoer, 1972 UEFA Euro Top Scorer
                                                  Bundesliga and DFB Pokal All-Time Top Scorer
                                                  Bundesliga Most Consecutive Games 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. 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. He is also a top scorer in both 1970 World Cup qualifying round in UEFA zone and 1972 UEFA Euro qualification. Muller was rated by kicker just 4.5 world-class seasons and 5.5 international-class seasons is underrated according footballer of the year awards. According to German footballer of the year voting, he was German forward of the year for six times and was named in Bundesliga team of the season five times. Muller made 56 hat-tricks totally in first level matches, made seven hat-tricks for West Germany. Muller was rated 10th, 13th and 15th place greatest ever in France Football, IFFHS and World Soccer, respectively. He was also voted 5th the best player in history of World Cup by France Football.
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13. Ronaldo

Date Of Birth  :  22 September 1976
Height : 183 cm, Position : Fast Striker
Nation : Brazil, Caps  :  97 Games (62 Goals/26 Assists)
Major Club :  Barcelona, Real Madrid
World Cup Participation : 1994,1998,2002,2006 (19 Games/ 15 Goals)
Copa America Score Record : 3 Tournaments (10 Goals/ 13 Games)
Professional Score Record : 340 Goals/87 Assists/484 Games
Club Honours : 2 Times Brazil State, 2 Times Brazil Cup
1 Time Spanish La Liga, 1 Time Copa Del Rey, 1 Time Dutch Cup
1997 Cup Winners’ Cup, 1998 UEFA Cup, 2002 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : 1997 FIFA Confederation Cup
2 Times Copa America Winners (1994, 2002), 1998 Runner-Up
2002 FIFA World Cup Champion, 1998 Runner-Up



                                                                 Individual Achievement 

                                                   3 Times Bravo Awards (1995, 1997, 1998)
                                                        1 Time Dutch League Top Scorer
                                                     2 Times Spanish La Liga Top Scorer 
                                                           1997 European Golden Boot
                                                        1997 La Liga Player of The Year
                                     2006 CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup Qualification Top Scorer
                                                       1997 IFFHS International Top Scorer
                                                 1998 Italian Series A Footballer of The Year
                                    1998 UEFA Club Most Valuable Player And Best Forward
                               FIFA World Cup : 1998 Golden Ball, 2002 Silver Ball - Golden Shoe
                                          Copa America : 1997 Best Player, 1999 Top Scorer
                                            2002 BBC Oversea Sports  Personality of The Year                               
                    European Footballer of The Year : 1997 and 2002 Gold, 1996 and 1998 Silver
                     World Soccer Player of The Year : Gold (1996, 1997, 2002), 1998 Bronze
             FIFA World Player of The Year : Gold (1996, 1997, 2002), 1998 Silver, 2003 Bronze
                                                       France Football All-Time World XI
                                                    Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

“The Phenomenon” Ronaldo Luis Nazario De Lima is regarded as one of the greatest footballers' primes of all-time. 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 famous for his scoring a large number of goals by only his ability 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.  Ronaldo is named in ESM team of the month 23 times and team of the year 2 times
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12. Garrincha


Date Of Birth  :  28 October 1933
Nation   :  Brazil
Position  :   Right-Winger
Height    :  169 cm
Major Club  :   Botafogo
Caps  :   50 Games (12 Goals/13 Assists)
Professional Score Record  : 239 Goals/ 616 Games
World Cup Participation : 1958, 1962, 1966 (12 Games)
Club Honours  :  3 Times Campeonato Carioca
2 Times Brazil National Championship
2 Times Rio Sao-Paulo Tournaments
1963 Paris Intercontinental Tournament
International Honours : 2 Times FIFA World Cup Winners (1958,1962) 
                
               Individual Achievement

                                                       3 Times Campeonato Carioca Best Player
                                                   1959 South American Championship Best XI
                                                  1962 Brazil National Championship Best Player
                                                 1962 FIFA World Cup Best Player - 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. 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, is regarded as one of the greatest individual performers in histroy of World Cup. 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. 
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11. Zico


Date Of Birth  :   3 March 1953
Nation  :  Brazil
Position :   Attacking Midfielder
Height  :   172 cm
Major Club  :   Flamengo
Caps :   72 Games (52 Goals/18 Assists)
Professional Score Record  : 476 Goals/ 696 Games
World Cup Participation  :  1978, 1982, 1986 (13 Games)
Club Honours  :  7 Times Brazil State Championship
4 Times Brazil National Championship
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
South American Footballer of The Year : Gold (1977,1981,1982), Silver (1976,1980)
1982 FIFA World Cup All Stars Team
World Soccer Player of The Year : 1983 Gold, 1984 Bronze
Flamengo's All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever
Campeonato Carioca All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

"Rooster of Quintinho" Zico is commonly considered as one of the most skilled dribblers and finishers ever and was the world's best player of the early 80's. 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 spectacular 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, scoring around 100 FK goals in his career. 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. He was voted 5th place best player of the tournament in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Despite Zico is one of the best players the world has ever seen but he was not ranked in top 10 the greatest footballer ever in many polls due to his unsuccessful in World Cup. But still, He was finished 9th the greatest player ever by France football’s poll.
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10. Ferenc Puskas

Date Of Birth  :  2 April 1927
Nation : Hungary, Caps :  85 Games (84 Goals)
Height :  174 cm, Position : Forward
Major Club   :  Budapest Honved, Real Madrid
Professional Score Record : 662 Goals/ 669 Games
World Cup Participation  : 1954 (6 Games / 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
3 Times European Cup Top Scorer (1960, 1962, 1964)
1948 European League - World League Top Scorer
1953 Central European International Cup Top Scorer
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
Hungarian League Greatest Player Ever
Hungary All-Time Top Scorer
UEFA Jubilee Awards (Hungary)



"The Galloping Major" 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 performed a formidable ball control to the nearby penalty box area and shot by himself or assist to his teammate. He was also known for his professionalism, is one of the most consistency footballers, is one of the best players in the world at the highest age at 33 years old in 1960 and remained making scores until retirement at 39 years old. He was both a prominent member and captain of the legendary Hungarian national team, known as the Mighty Magyars. However, he was injury and played only twice games in the 1954 World Cup First Round. Puskas prominently scored consecutive 13 games and scored seven goals in a single match in the 1949 NB I. In 1958, two years after the Hungarian Revolution, he emigrated to Spain where he played for the legendary Real Madrid team and went on to play for Spain for four games. Puskas scored four goals against Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup final match Puskas which is the record for the final game. He made one of the most hat-tricks in first level matches in Europe with 61. Puskas was voted 6th the greatest player of the century by IFFHS’s poll and 7th by World Soccer and France Football’s poll. 

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9. Zinedine Zidane


Date Of Birth  :   23 June 1972
Nation : France, Caps  : 108 Games (31 Goals/23 Assists)
Height :  185 cm , Position : Playmaker      
Major Club  : Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid
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)
2002 UEFA Champion League, 2 Times Runner-Up (1997, 1998)
International Honours : 1998 FIFA World Cup Champion
2000 European Championship Winner
2006 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up


                                   Individual Achievement 


                                                                            2 Times French Player of The Year (98,02)
                                              French Ligue : 1994 Best Young Player, 1996 Player of The Year
2002 Spanish La Liga Foreign Player of The Year
2001 Italian Series A Footballer of The Year
2 Times Italian Series A Foreign Footballer of The Year (97,01)
UEFA Champion League : 1998 Best Midfielder, 2002 Most Valuable Player
FIFA World Cup : 1998 All Stars Team, 2006 Golden Ball
2000 UEFA Euro Player of The Tournament
European Footballer of The Year : 1998 Gold, 2000 Silver, 1997 Bronze
World Soccer Player of The Year : 1998 Gold, 2000 Silver Ball
FIFA World Player of The Year : Gold (1998, 2000, 2003), 2006 Silver, 1997 and 2002 Bronze
2004 UEFA Jubilee Poll Winner, Silver Ball French Player Of The Century


"Zizou" Zinedine Zidane is the greatest footballer in the World during the early 2000s. His primitive race is Algerian. Zidane was expected to be an important role of France after they disqualified for World Cup 1994 in the last minute but 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 didin't win any ball of the tournament. Oppositely, He won FIFA World player of the year. Zidane is rated by media in only one world-class season in Series A. His prime was started after then in his career at Real Madrid. He was voted in top five FIFA World Player of The Year for 9 times during 10 years between 1997 and 2006. Zidane was almost perfect in his role setting organization of the game, superb ball controlling, precision passing combined with great physical option. In 2004, Zidane was finished as the best European footballer in the last 50 years by UEFA Jubilee Poll.
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8. Michel Platini

Date Of Birth  :   21 June 1955
Nation :  France, Caps : 72 Games (41 Goals/20 Assists)
Position :   Playmaking-Attacking Midfielder
Height :   178 cm, Major Club :  Nancy, Juventus
Professional Score Record  : 318 Goals/ 580 Games
World Cup Participation  :    1978, 1982, 1986 (14 Games)
Club Honours   :  1 Time French League, 1 Time French Cup
2 Times Italian Series A, 1 Time Copa Italia
1984 European Cup Winners’ Cup
1985 European Cup Winner, 1983 Runner-Up
1985 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours    :  1984 European Championship Winner
1986 FIFA World Cup Third place


                     Individual Achievement

2 Times French Player of The Year (1976, 1977)
1986 FIFA World Cup All Star Team 
1984 Guerin Italian Series A Player of The Year
1984 European Championship Top Scorer - Best Player
European Footballer of The Year : Gold (1983,1984,1985), 1977 and 1980 Bronze Ball
World Soccer Player of The Year : Gold (1984, 1985), 1983 Silver
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
Juventus' Greatest Player Ever
French Ligue Greatest Ever
European Championship Most Consecutive Games Scorer
European Championship All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever



“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 the greatest passer 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 also finished in 4th to 5th Ballon'Dor three times. He was voted 4th best player of the 1986 FIFA World Cup Tournament. Platini was voted 5th, 5th,7th World’s greatest footballer of all-time by France Football, World Soccer and IFFHS poll, Respectively.
_____________________________________________________

7. Alfredo Di Stefano


Date Of Birth  :  4 July 1926
Nation  :   Argentina, Height : 178 cm
Position  :  Second Striker, Major Club  :  Real Madrid
Caps : 41 Games (29 Goals) (Split Into Argentina,Colombia,Spain)
Copa America Score Record : 1 Tournament (6 Goals/ 5 Game)
Professional Score Record   :  471 Goals/ 639 Games
World Cup Participation  :   1962 (No Game)
Club Honours   :  2 Times Argentinean League
4 Times Colombian League,  1 Time Colombian Cup
8 Times Spanish La Liga, 1 Time Copa Del Rey
1948 South American Club Champion, 2 Times Latin Cup
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 Winner

Individual Achievement

1 Times Argentinean league Top Scorer
2 Times Colombian League Top Scorer
5 Times Spanish La Liga Top Scorer
2 Times European Cup Top Scorer (1958, 1962)
2 Times South American League Top Scorer (1947, 1951)
4 Times Spanish Player of The Year (1957, 1959, 1960, 1964)
European Footballer of The Year : Gold (1957, 1959), 1956 Silver Ball
Real Madrid Greatest Player Ever
European Cup All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
1999 IFFHS Spain Player of The Century
1999 IFFHS Bronze European and South American Player of The Century
UEFA Jubilee Award (Spain)



“Blond Arrow” Alfredo Di Stefano is considered by many experts as the greatest club footballer of all-time and one of the most completed 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 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. Di Stefano scored four goals in twice European Cup quarter-final games between 1957 - 1959. He never played any game in World Cup final due to many reasons such as Argentina refused to participate in the 1950 tournament, is ineligible to play in the 1954 Spain failed to qualify in the 1958 and also getting injury in the 1962. 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. 
____________________________________________________

6. Franz Beckenbauer

Date Of Birth  :  11 September 1945
Nation    :  Germany
Position   :  Advanced Sweeper
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 Pokal
3 Times European Cup (1974, 1975, 1976)
1 Time 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)
3 Times FIFA World Cup Team Of Tournament (1966, 1970, 1974)
2 Times European Championship Team Of Tournament (1972, 1976)
1966 FIFA World Cup Young Player Of Tournament
1974 FIFA World Cup Best Defender
European Footballer Of The Year : Gold (1972, 1976), Silver (1974, 1975), 1966 Bronze
Bayern Munich - Bundesliga Greatest Player Ever
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team Of Century
1999 IFFHS Germany Player of The Century
1999 IFFHS Bronze World Player of The Century



“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 Ballon D’or with 10 times. According to German Footballer of the year voting, he also finished second place for four times, was German defender of the year for eight times and holds the record most appearances in Bundesliga team of the season with 12 and holds the record most seasons with most weekly appearances with 7 and most weekly appearances in a single season with 16. 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 and made 67 assists in his club career. Beckenbauer was voted 3rd, 4th and 6th World player of century from IFFHS, 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.
____________________________________________________

5. Cristiano Ronaldo

Date Of Birth  :  5 February 1985, Height :  186 cm
Nation  : Portugal, Major Club : Manchester United, Real Madrid
Position : Side-Forward, Caps:  212 Games (130 Goals/38 Assists)
World Cup Participation : 2006,10,14,18, 22 (17 Games/6 Goals/2 Assists)
Professional Scores Record :  765 Goals/ 227 assists/1020 Games
Club Honours :  3 Times Premier League
2 Times Spanish La Liga, 1 Time Series A
1 Time FA Cup, 2 Times League Cup, 2 Times Copa Del Rey
5 Times UEFA Champion League (08,14,16,17,18), 2009 Runner-Up
2 Times FIFA Club World Cup (2008, 2014)
International Honours  :  2004 UEFA Euro Runner-Up
2016 UEFA Euro Winner


                           Individual Achievement 

                                  2004 Bravo Award
                                  3 Times La Liga Top Scorer, Portugal All-Time Top Scorer
10 Times Portuguese Footballer of The Year 
4 Times La Liga Player of The Year 
2 Times Seies A Footballer of The Year, 1 Time Top Scorer
2 Times PFA and FWA Player of the Year (2007, 2008)
2008 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, Best Forward 
2013 IFFHS International Top Scorer
UEFA Champion League All-Time Top Assist Provider (42)
UFEA Champion League All-time Most Top Scorers (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016,2017,2018)
UEFA Champion League All-Time Top Scorer
UEFA Champion League All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever
4 Times European Golden Shoe (08, 11, 14, 15), European Golden Shoe Most Winners
3 Times European Footballer of The Year (2008, 2016,2017), 2 Times Silver Ball (2007,2009), 
3 Times UEFA Best Player in Europe (2014, 2016, 2017)
5 Times World Soccer Player of the Year, 4 Times Silver Ball
3 Times FIFA World Player of the Year (2008. 2016, 2017), 2009, 2018 Silver, 2007 and 2019 Bronze
2 Times FIFA Ballon D’or (2013, 2014), Silver : (2011, 2012, 2015)
                                            European Champion Cup All-Time Highest Scorer In A Single Tournament
                                                                European Championship All-Time Top Scorer
     3 Times UEFA Euro Best XI (2004, 2012, 2016)
2 Times Best International Athlete ESPY Awards (2014, 2016)
                                                                   2014 BBC Oversea Sports Personality of The Year
                                                                       Portugal & Real Madrid All-Time Top Scorer
                                                                             All-time Highest International Country goalscorer
World's All-Time Highest Career Goalscorer
                                                                          FPF Portuguese Greatest Player Ever




Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest European footballer in the long run period between the late 2000s to present, is the greatest wing-forward in history of the game and is the greatest Iberian footballer of all-time, holds the distinction of being the most expensive player in football history after having been transferred to Real Madrid. In his prime, he is well-known as a free role player who basically started operating his game on left or right-wing but he often try to run insider to make scores in front of the goal in the central area and has become a prolific scorer in the club level. Ronaldo is a great physical player, very fast and strong to enforce his skillful dribble with his individual technical abilities and possesses a special drive-shoot. Disadvantageously, he has not remarkably impacted his team in creativity and assisting and he is always relied on his scoring effectiveness. C. Ronaldo always had a difficult time under the Portuguese shirt in the World Cup Final Tournaments but successfully led Portugal to win the only major international tournament in its history in Euro 2016 as a captain. He also holds the record most consecutive scorers in UEFA Champion League with 8. He was selected in PFA team of the year in four times, premier league player of the month four times. 
____________________________________________________

4. Johan Cruyff

Date Of Birth  :  25 April 1947
Nation    :   Netherlands, Height :  180 cm
Position  :  Second Striker/ Free-Role Forward
Major Club  :  Ajax Amsterdem, Barcelona
Caps   :   48 Games (33 Goals/26 Assists)
Professional Score Record  :  371 Goals/ 663 Games
World Cup Participation : 1974 (7 Games / 3 goals)
Club Honours   :  9 Times Dutch Champions
1 Time Spanish La Liga, 1 Time Copa Del Rey
6 Times Dutch Cup, 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

1984 Dutch Golden Shoe
1974 FIFA World Cup Best Player
European Footballer of The Year : Gold (1971, 1973, 1974), 1975 Bronze
1977 Spanish La Liga Player of The Year, 1978 Best Foreigner
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
Ajax Amsterdam All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever
Eredivisie Greatest Player Ever
UEFA Jubilee Awards (Netherlands)



"Pythagoras in boots" Johan Cruyff is 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. He 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. He is a top scorer in the 1974 World Cup qualifying round UEFA zone. Cruyff also perfected a move now known as the "Cruyff Turn." He 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 were political reasons given a military dictatorship was in power in Argentina at that time. In 2004, he was finished 3rd the best European footballer in the last 50 years by UEFA Jubilee Poll.

_____________________________________________________

3. Diego Maradona

Date Of Birth  :   30 October 1960
Nation  :  Argentina, Height   : 167 cm  
Caps : 91 Games (34 Goals/28 Assist)  
Position :  Playmaking-Attacking Midfielder    
Major Club  :   Argentinos Junior, Napoli
Professional Score Record  : 310 Goals/208 Assists/588 Games
World Cup Participation : 1982, 1986, 1990 (21 Games/8 Assists)
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


                                                  1988 Italian Series A Top Scorer
                              3 Times Argentinean League Top Scorer (1979, 1980, 1981)
                                           1 Time South American League Top Scorer
4 Times Argentina Footballer of The Year (1979, 1980, 1981, 1986)
6 Times El Mundo South American Footballer of The Year 
(1979,1980,1986,1989,1990,1992),1982 Silver Ball, 1983 Bronze Ball
1985 Guerin Italian Series A Footballer of The Year
FIFA World Cup : 1986 Golden Ball, 1990 Bronze Ball
2 Times Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year (1979, 1986)
World Soccer Player of The Year : 1986 Gold, 1987 Silver, 1985 and 1990 Bronze
1986 United Press International Athletic of The Year
1999 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of The Century
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 Silver South American - Argentinian Player of The Century
2000 FIFA Best Football Player of The Century
2002 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
Napoli - Italian Series A Greatest Player Ever

    



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 technique. 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. Maradona is believed to reach World-Class around 8 seasons in domestic club and the most winners in the distinctive World Player of the Year. His 1984 - 1985 individual season at Napoli is considered as one of the best ever. He finished second place in World Soccer Player of The Century and France Football Player of The Century.
____________________________________________________


2. Pele

Date Of Birth  :  23 October 1940
Nation  :  Brazil, Position   :  Forward
Caps : 92 Games (77 Goals/30 Assists)
Height  :  173 cm, Major Club :  Santos
Professional Score Record : 680 Goals/ 720 Games
World Cup Participation : 1958,1962,1966,1970(14 Games/12 goals)
South American Championsip Score Record : 
1 Tournament (6 Games with 8 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 Winners (1958,1962,1966)


                
                       Individual Achievement

11 Times Brazil State Championship Top Scorer
3 Times Brazil National Championship Top Scorer
1959 South American Championship Best Player
1970 FIFA World Cup Best Player
FIFA World Cup All-Time Top Assister
1970 BBC Oversea Sports Personality of The Year
1973 South American Footballer of The Year
Santos All-Time Top Scorer and Greatest Player Ever
Campeonato Paulista Greatest Player Ever
Brazilian National League Greatest Player Ever
Copa Libertadores Cup Greatest Player Ever
Brazil All-Time Top Scorer
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame
1981 L’ Equipe Athlete of The Century
1994 France Football World Cup Best Player of All-Time
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
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
2005 BBC Sport Personality Lifetime Achievement Awards



“The King of Football” Edson Arantesdo Nascimento “ Pele” is widely regarded as the greatest footballer 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. He holds the record most number of Hat-Trick scorers ever with 92, made seven hat-tricks for Brazil. Pele notably scored 8 goals in a single match against Botafogo in the 1964 Campeonato Paulista as South American record of first-level match. His career goals total of 1,280 in 1,324 games is the third most of all-time.
__________________________________________________

1. Lionel Messi

Date Of Birth  : 24 June 1987
Nation : Argentina, Position  : Second Striker, Height : 169 cm
Major Club : Barcelona, Caps : 187 Games (109 Goals/56 Assists)
Professional Score Record  : 729 Goals/319 Assists/ 882 Games
World Cup Participation : 2006, 10, 14, 18, 22 (26 Games/13 Goals/8 assists)
Club Honours  : 10 Times Spanish La Liga, 6 Times Copa Del Rey
1 Time French League
4 Times UEFA Champion League (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015)
International Honours : 2008 Olympic Game Gold Medal
2021 Cop America Winner, 3 Times Copa America Runner-Up
2014 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
2022 FIFA World Cup Winner

                                Individual Achievement 


                    7 Times Spanish La Liga Top Scorer
            14 Times Argentinean Footballer of The Year
  6 Times European Golden Shoe (2010,2012,2013,2017,2018,2019)
                                                             2 Times IFFHS International Top Scorer (2011, 2012)
                                                    6 Time La Liga Foreign Player of The Year (2009 - 2013, 2015)
                                       6 Times La Liga Player of The Year (2009, 2010, 2011,2012,2013,2015)
                                                  2 Times UEFA Champion League Best Forward and MVP (2009, 2011)
       6 Times UEFA Champion League Top Scorers (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,2015,2019)
2015 UEFA Champion League Top Assist Provider
2021 Copa America Top Scorer, Best PLayer
4 Times Ballon'Dor (2009. 2019, 2021, 2023), 4 Times Silver Ball (2007, 2008, 2016, 2017) 
4 Times FIFA Ballon'Dor (2010 - 2012, 2015), 2 Times Silver Ball (2013, 2014) 
5 Times World Soccer Player of The Year, 4 Times Silver Ball 
4 Times FIFA World Player of The Year (2009, 2019, 2022, 2023), 5 Times Silver Ball (2007, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2021)
2 Times UEFA Best Player In Europe (2011, 2015), 2012 Best International Athlete ESPY Award
2011 Argentine Sportsman of The Year, L’ Equipe World Sportsman of The Year
World All-Time Most Consecutive League Games Scorer
World All-Time Highest Goalscorer In A Single Season - A Year
2014 and 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
Spanish La Liga All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever
Barcelona All-Time Top Scorer - Greatest Player Ever
Argentina All-Time Top Scorer



Lionel Messi is a phenomenon-class player, holds the record most winners in World Player of the year awards, is one of the greatest club players ever and is one of the most completed attackers of all-time, is famous for his superb agility and acceleration, formidable dribbling, unparalleled creativity and is the most prolific scorer in the modern era. He started well-known when he won FIFA World Cup U-20 with Argentina in 2005. Afterwards, He became a brilliant young star of Barcelona as a wing-forward. IN his prime, He played as free role center-forward but always switch to play deeper as attacking midfielder for Argentina. Messi is the most influential players on Barcelona's dominance side as the only club to win the two European Triple Champion. In 2011 - 2012 Season, Messi scored 73 goals in 60 club games, is the highest goalscorer of all-time in a single season. He holds the record most hat-tricks in history of Spanish football club with 32. He also holds the record most goals in a year for Argentina with 12. He also owns the record most hat-tricks scorer in history of European Cup/UEFA Champion League with five. His performance for Argentina national team is often under his standard in comparison to club level and finished runner-up in four major international tournaments with Argentina. However, Messi was awarded as the 2011, 2015, 2016 Copa America Top Assist Provider.
____________________________________________________ 

Special Honourable Mention

Fritz Walter

Date Of Birth  :  31 October 1920
Nation   :  Germany
Position   : Attacking Midfielder/Second Striker
Height  :  174 cm
Major Club  :  Kaiserslautern
Caps   :  61 Games (33 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1954, 1958 (11 Games / 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 Best Midfielder
UEFA Jubilee Award (Germany)
German Sport Personality Hall of Fame

Fritz Walter is historically considered as the greatest personality of the circle of German football. A gifted technician and a great strategist, he was the most influenced player in retrieving Germany from being devastated from the World War II. Walter could score a hat-trick as soon as his debut with the national team. He was drafted into the armed forces in 1942, . Walter was a prolific scorer in his early career during the war-time in German regional league and German national team. However, the end of the war found 24 year old Fritz. He narrowly fortunate survived from that war and suffered from Malaria, finally return to make a large impact level on Kaiserslautern and at his prime, he switched to deeper position as a brilliant playmaker with great ability to read the game and even helped the team in defensive game, finally leading them to win German Championship twice within four finalists. He was recalled to the national team in 1951, and he was named captain and led his country won their first World Cup in 1954 ironically. Walter received his last cap during the 1958 World Cup which Germany won fourth place, and retired from football at age of 39 years old. The Fritz Walter Stadium was named for his honor to be the home of Kaiserslautern.

________________________________________________________________________


Stanley Matthews

Date Of Birth  :  1 February 1915
Nation     :   England
Position   :   Right-Winger
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)
1965 Knight Of Bachelor
1992 FIFA Gold Medal Order  

“The Wizard of The Dribble” Sir Stanley Matthews is the great legend in history of football, is the greatest old footballer ever. 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, holds the record longest span career in history of football with almost 33 years. The Second World War interrupted his prime career. After the war, he fell out with Stoke and was transferred to Blackpool. He won Ballon'Dor at his 40 years old and the second FWA footballer of the year at 48 years old but the awards was given as a special honour. He was famous as one of the most skillful dribblers and one of the most accurate crossers ever. 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. 

__________________________________________________

John Charles

Date Of Birth   :  27 December 1931
Nation  :  Wales, Height   :  188 cm
Position  :  Target Striker/ Center-Back
Major Club    :  Leeds United, Juventus
Caps. :  38 Games (15 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1958 (3 Games With 1 Goal)
Club Honours :  3 Times Italian Series A
2 Times Copa Italia
International Honours  : None
Individual Achievement : 1 Time English Top Division Top Scorer
1 Time Italian Series A Top Scorer
UEFA Jubilee Award (Wales)
IFFHS Wales’ Greatest Player Ever
Azzuri Hall of Fame, Welsh Sports Hall of Fame

Ability : Physical B, Defensive B, Offensive B-, Total Ability : A-

“The Gentle Giant” John Charles is considered by many to have been one of the most all-round players of all-time. He was considered as a world-class performer in both centre-half and centre-forward position. Charles played as center-half in his early career in 2.5 seasons prior to switch to forward permanently. Such was his versatility that he managed to break the Leeds United club scoring record with 38 goals in an English top division season at a time. His accomplishments with Juventus led to him being voted as the greatest foreign player ever in Serie A in 1997. Charles dominate the aerial game and is one of the best ever in this ability. Charles also finish 4th place Ballon'Dor in 1958. In 2001 he became the first non-Italian inducted to the Azzurri Hall of Fame. Charles was the most influential player to lead Wales to qualify for the only World Cup final in its history but the rest of career saw limitation in international opportunity and mostly played in second division for Leeds and Cardiff City around 10 seasons.
_________________________________________________

Statistics (Top 50 )


By Nation

By Decade

      By Position

Brazil : 11
Italy : 8
Germany : 5
Argentina : 4
Netherlands : 4
Hungary : 4
France : 3
Spain : 3
England : 2
Portugal : 2
Poland : 1
Denmark : 1
Soviet Union : 1
Northern Ireland : 1

1930s : 2
1940s : 3
1950s : 7
1960s : 9
1970s : 7
1980s : 8
1990s : 7
2000s : 2.5
2010s : 5
2020s : 0.5

Goalkeeper : 3
Defender : 6
Central Midfielder : 5       
Offensive  Lateral  : 3
Offensive Midfielder : 12
Forward : 14
Striker : 7



CLASSIFICATION



Class : Crown

-

Class : King

Gold

Lionel Messi, Pele, 
Diego Maradona



Silver

Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer,
Cristiano Ronaldo 



Bronze

-
  


Class : Queen

Gold

Alfredo Di Stefano, , Zico, 
Michel Platini, 
Zinedine Zidane, 
Ferenc Puskas, 
Lothar Matthaeus, Gerd Muller,
Bobby Charlton, Garrincha
Ronaldo, Eusebio





Silver

Giuseppe Meazza, 
Ruud Gullit
Lev Yashin, Didi
Paolo Maldini, 
Raymond Kopa, 
Jose Manuel Moreno, 
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, 
Gianni Rivera, Roberto Baggio,
ZizinhoMarco Van Basten


Bronze

George Best, Dino Zoff, 
Fritz Walter, Frank Rijkaard
Franco Baresi, Ronaldinho
Bobby Moore, Gyorgi Sarosi
Matthias Sindelar
Giacinto Facchetti, Rivaldo,
Uwe Seeler, Sandor Kocsis
Gianluigi Buffon, Romario
 Jozsef Bozsik, Rivelino
Luis Suarez Miramontes,
Michael Laudrup, Xavi Hernandez
Andres Iniesta, Robert Lewandowski




World’s Best Players by Era

The 1910s
1.     Imre Schlosser
2. Arthur Friedenreich    
3.     Vaclav Pilat

1st Half 1920s
2nd Half 1920s
        1.     Hector Scarone   
        2.     Gyorgi Orth 
        3.     Arthur Friedenreich
        4.     Alan Morton
        5.     Kalman Konrad

         1.     Jose Leandro Andrade
         2.     Dixie Dean
         3.     Ricardo Zamora
         4.     Jose Nasazzi
         5.     Jimmy Mcgrory

1st Half 1930s
2nd Half 1930s
        1.     Giuseppe Meazza
        2.     Matthias Sindelar
        3.     Luis Monti
        4.     Ricardo Zamora
        5.     Raimundo Orsi

         1.     Gyorgi Sarosi
         2.     Arsenio Erico
         3.     Jose Manuel Moreno
         4.     Antonio Sastre
         5.     Giuseppe Meazza

1st Half 1940s
2nd Half 1940s
        1.     Jose Manuel Moreno
        2.     Adolfo Pedernera
        3.     Josef Bican
        4.     Antonio Sastre
        5.     Domingos Da Guia

         1.     Zizinho
         2.     Valentino Mazzola
         3.     Ferenc Puskas
         4.     Stanley Matthews
         5.     Obdulio Varela

1st Half 1950s
2nd Half 1950s
        1.     Ferenc Puskas
        2.     Alfredo Di Stefano          
        3.     Sandor Kocsis
        4.     Fritz Walter
          5.     Juan Schiaffino

         1.     Alfredo Di Stefano
         2.     Raymond Kopa
            3.     Didi 
         4.     Pele
         5.     Garrincha
1st Half 1960s
2nd Half 1960s
        1.     Pele
        2.     Garrincha
        3.     Luis Suarez Miramontes
        4.     Lev Yashin 
        5.     Omar Sivori

         1.     Eusebio
         2.     George Best
         3.     Pele
         4.     Bobby Charlton
         5.     Franz Beckenbauer
1st Half 1970s
2nd Half 1970s
        1.     Johan Cruff
        2.     Franz Beckenbauer
        3.     Gerd Muller
        4.     Rivelino
        5.     Dino Zoff
         1.     Zico
         2.     Diego Maradona
         3.     Michel Platini
         4.     Daniel Passarella
         5.     Kevin Keegan

1st Half 1980s
2nd Half 1980s
        1.     Zico
        2.     Michel Platini
        3.     Karlheinz Rummenigge
        4.     Diego Maradona
        5.     Falcao

         1.     Diego Maradona
         2.     Marco Van Basten
         3.     Lothar Matthaeus
         4.     Ruud Gullit
         5.     Franco Baresi
1st Half 1990s
2nd Half 1990s
        1.     Roberto Baggio
        2.     Paolo Maldini
        3.     Romario 
        4.     Frank Rijkaard
          5.     Michael Laudrup

        1.     Ronaldo
        2.     Zinedine Zidane
        3.     Rivaldo
        4.     Luis Figo
        5.     Gabriel Batistuta
1st Half 2000s
2nd Half 2000s
        1.     Zinedine Zidane
        2.     Ronaldinho
        3.     Thierry Henry
        4.     Luis Figo
          5.     Ronaldo

        1.     Lionel Messi
        2.     Cristiano Ronaldo
        3.     Kaka
        4.     Xavi Hernandez
        5.     Samuel Eto’o

1st Half 2010s


1. Lionel Messi
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
3. Andres Iniesta
4. Franck Ribery
5. Luis Alberto Suarez

2nd Half 2010s

1. Cristiano Ronaldo
2. Lionel Messi
3. Neymar
4. Luka Modric
5. Luis Alberto Suarez




The Most Completed Footballers Ever

1. Franz Beckenbauer     
2. Lothar Matthaeus       
3. Alfredo Di Stefano
4. Gyorgi Sarosi
5. Ruud Gullit    
6. John Charles
7. Valentino Mazzola
8. Nilton Santos
9. Johan Cruyff
10. Zizinho










The Most Sustainable Players Ever

1. Lionel Messi
2. Alfredo Di Stefano
3. Lothar Matthaeus
4. Ferenc Puskas
5. Pele
6. Franz Beckenbauer
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
8. Paolo Maldini
9. Zinedine Zidane
10. Bobby Charlton


The Highest Peak Performers Ever (Implemented) 

1. Diego Maradona 
2. Johan Cruyff
3. Pele
4. Garrincha 
5. Lionel Messi
6. Ronaldo
7. Eusebio
8. Zico
9. Ronaldinho
10. Ference Puskas

513 comments:

  1. I'd argue that Zico is too high, I'd probably do a straight swap for Zidane in my personal list. Maradona, Pele, Cruyff, Di Stefano, Beckenbauer, Zidane, Platini, Ronaldo, Puskas, Garrincha with Eusebio, Zico, Best and Messi the next 4.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many have not rated Zico in the high place primarily due to Brazil's too early disqualification in the 1982 World Cup even he played very well and an eyes saw his world-class performance there.

      I need to give fairness of players who are rated base on their overall career.
      Zico in his peak was seen as one of the phenomenon performers with spectacular technique and goalscoring. He is far better than Zidane in club career and he is at least not much inferior to Zidane in NT if anyone would rate Zidane higher base on major international tournaments.

      Delete
    2. I disagree Naratorn. Zidane may have had patchy form throughout his club career, but he always turned up on the biggest stage.

      Champions League final, scored the winning goal for Real Madrid with that unprecedented bicycle kick.

      World Cup final 1998, scored 2 goals and was in the all star team for the tournament.

      Euro 2000 received the golden ball as the best player in the tournament and was instrumental to France's victory.

      World Cup 2006, carried an average France side to the World Cup finals and won the golden ball yet again as the player of the tournament.

      World Cup 2002, he was injured, and France got knocked out in the group stage losing to Senegal and Denmark when they still had world class players such as Henry in the side. Zidane was France's key man for the best part of a decade, and imo to not have him in the top 10 greatest players ever is wrong.

      To say Zico's national career comes close to Zidane's is crazy imo. Zico was phenomenal for Brazil, 52 goals in 72 caps from midfield is crazy, but a player's greatness has to be measured in what they won, and at the World Cup, Zico (and by extension Falcao, Socrates and Junior) did not achieve what they should have. It is unfair to suggest that Zico's international career rivals a man who won player of the tournament in 1 WC, 1 Euro Champ and was in the team of the tourny for the other. As WC performances go, Zidane is honestly right up there with Pele, Maradona and Garrincha.

      No arguments that Zico had a far better club career though. He was phenomenal domestically, which is why it is such a shame he never quite hit the heights he should have.

      On pure talent alone Zidane should be right up there anyway, his accomplishments only augment his ranking. If anything, he truly is the best after the big 5 (Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Di Stefano, Beckenbauer). Zico, whilst one of the all time greats, imo, is stealing a position ahead of the likes of Platini, Zidane, Garrincha and Puskas. Talent wise, he is in that company, but achievement wise, he just is not.

      Delete
    3. Let me repeat the way of ranking, I consider base on individual performance not greatness by number of trophy won. For my mention as above "Zico is not far inferior to Zidane in NT" doesn't need to covert the meaning as "Came Close" but just mean not inferior enough to compensate the gap of domestic performance. So when they are equally rated, the side of preference is given to the higher peak player.

      Delete
    4. Yes, I understand, but do you not think that performance at the highest levels of competition e.g. World Cup, Champions League should be considered the most important thing when rating a player's 'greatness'

      Delete
    5. Unquestionably, The proportion of World Cup is set as the highest and Champion League is also set as the higher proportion than the former European Cup and UEFA Champion league but let domestic standard is protected for its significant level.
      Standard of World Cup is also different between the tournaments. I saw the 1982 tournament performed by Zico is more competitive than the 2006 which Zidane is considered as the best. Also, Zidane's performance level in his best player award in the 2002 UCL is depend on his candidates level in which is not always coincided with team performance which is much depend on team work and tactical compatibility. Zico was seen to be much more influential player of Flamengo in the 1981 Copa Libertadores Cup than Zidane in the 2002 UCL. I'm creating standard of international competition tournament by tournament or and era by era to make clearer in standard rating in applying to players' performance level.

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    6. I think its undoubtedly true that in 82, the calibre of football was of a higher quality, but Zico, whilst arguably the best player in the tournament, did not dominate like Zidane did at 06. Zidane was hands down the best player in the tournament when he was supposed to be past his best. His performance in that tournament was up there with Maradona 86 and Garrincha 62.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous6/10/2014

    no Javier Zanetti in - The Greatest Consistency-Longevity Footballers Of All-Time ?

    ReplyDelete
  3. In that list, it is also considered level of ability VS consistency so the place is primarily belonged to the world legends. Anyway Zanetti is rated as one of the greatest old players ever in this link. http://xtralegend.blogspot.com/2013/02/Senior-Junior.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous6/17/2014

    I agree that Pelé deserves the first place in "World's All-Time Greatest Footballers" for his performance and consitency. But why did you put Pelé in the first place in "The Greatest Footballers' Prime Of All-Time"? I think Maradona in his prime was the best footballer of all times.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I forget to update on this point. Both of them could be considered in the same level of peak performance in any specific time but when I need to select the one, I pick Maradona for his better individual World Cup peak performance in which is the highest standard of competition. Honesty, Pele in 1958 and 1970 is below Maradona’class in 1986.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6/17/2014

      I agree with you. I think Maradona was a little more skillful than Pelé. Thanks for answering my question. I admire your work, it's amazing. One of the best sources of the history of football that I've ever seen.

      Delete
    3. Thanks you for your interest and suggestion. Pele is anyway considered as the more complete one so he is advantage in total skills but his injury in 1962 effect negatively to achieve the greatest individual performance ever in history of World Cup.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous6/17/2014

      Of course, I do not expressed correctly. Pelé is more complete (two feet player,aerial scoring), but for me Maradona was more technical and creative. Anyway, I think they are the best players ever. Greetings from Argentina! And I hope we win the World Cup with the help of Messi!

      Delete
    5. Messi is being monitored. His playing in the first game is totally disappointed even being compensated by superb goal. Argentina could just reach semi-final with Messi's world-class performance, he will become one of top ten best ever by then.

      Delete
  5. Naratorn, do you think C. Ronaldo deserves to be bumped after this season? I saw that you ranked him as supreme international class for half of 2014, a class below L. Messi. I think this season C. Ronaldo has been consistently the best player in the world where Messi was from 2010-2013.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In all competition combined (Word Cup is left for final assessment), C.Ronaldo is considered as a better one. But let I separate rating by competition. I didn't watch him in every game in the last domestic season. Anyway, I still see Messi is still advantage in creativity and assisting performance and scoring more important goals while scoring record is closed between the two. Media rating in dbscalcio also rate C.Ronaldo in very low point in which I think way too low. For the last UEFA Champion League season, C.Ronaldo is by far superior to Messi.

      Delete
    2. I see, by the way, excellent work here, this blog is fantastic and really broadened my knowledge of classic football

      Delete
  6. Anonymous8/05/2014

    can you please do a detailed skill comparison between maradona and messi?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure, I'll provide within this week. Please just wait.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8/05/2014

      great, thank you so much, i want to tell you that i really like your work and i have great respect for your expertise

      Delete
    3. Anonymous8/05/2014

      i created a poll to see what people think who is the best player ever, so i would like to ask you to vote and maybe post it on some of your threads

      Delete
    4. Sorry for late replying,

      Rating of Skills Between Messi and Maradona
      Note that they played in different role so comparison in each skill is not effective but total ability without proportional criteria of each skill within a player could be issued.

      Scoring : Messi 9.5 Maradona 8
      Passing : Messi 8.7 Maradona 9.5
      Vision : Messi 9 Maradona 9.5
      Dribbling : Messi 9.3 Maradona 10
      Technique : Messi 9.5 Maradona 9.7
      Speed : Messi 8.5 Maradona 8.5

      Total Ability : Maradona 92.5 , Messi 91

      Delete
    5. Anonymous8/09/2014

      Sorry, maybe i should explain it better, i calculated dribble success in champions league from season 2009/10 onward and in 2014 world cup, and got this, messi 59 matches has 272 successful dribbles and 186 dispossessions, which leads to 59,4% success rate, higher than maradona's in world cup, but than again it's a quite small sample size for maradona. so we should probably say 10 for both of them in dribbling.

      Delete
    6. That is still an interesting stats. As Messi and Maradona was expected too much, when they lost the ball, it could easily disappointment. The skill stats could be varied in specific period. I rate dibbling skill of Messi higher in pre-2011. Then, he developed his positional play as a creative role when dribbling performance was slightly tend down.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous8/10/2014

      Exactly, that is just one more reason i think that he should get 10 for dribbling. For me, Messi, Maradona, and Garrincha are best dribblers and i rate them with 10, and after those 3 i would say Best, Ronaldo fenomeno and Cruyff with 9.5

      Delete
  7. Anonymous8/13/2014

    Have you considered making a list of 100 best players players in their prime or maybe 100 best player seasons ever?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Practically it is still difficult to set player’s performance in the definite class, so compare a large number of players within the similar level is even more difficult and almost impossible to make accuracy. I think top ten is just enough.
      I understand you mean all competitions within a season for a player ? Like the above reason, I also think top ten is enough and it has been available in “World Annual Awards of The Century”

      Delete
  8. Anonymous8/20/2014

    I look at all these choices, and lists of the best players and following with great interest and delight in systematics and quality. For a long time I follow football. At first it was a cheering, today more and more through the analysis of teams and players. I appreciate all the quality football, but I am convinced that a very small number of players entered the ranking "untouchables". And these are the players who invented football, which are played differently than others. Each of them in their period for me was by far the best in the world. I'll dare to mention their names in chronological order: Best, Cruyff, Zico, Platini, Maradona, Michael Laudrup, Bergkamp, Zidane, Ronaldinho and Messi.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For your names contribution, Bergkamp would become the most controversial issue. Technique is always attract football fan because of spectacular seeing and might be rated by many as the most proportion in skill rating but technique is still a minor part of overall players’ ability. Bergkamp was superb in technique and vision but he was rather low in speed in standard of legendary forward, and scored too few goals base on his position in the front area, failed at Inter Milan. He was surely one of the best players in his generation but generally have not been rated in the all-time greatest group.
      Some names in your list seems to me for the peak performance are Ronaldinho and Michael Laudrup. When consistency is one of the most important requirements, both achieved the peak too short.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous8/21/2014

    Can please put your top 100 European players list?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now it is already top 64 European Best Players within the 100 Greatest Footballers of all-time. I'd add another 6 players to conclude top 70.

      65. Nandor Hidegkuti
      66. Xavi Hernandez
      67. Ricardo Zamora
      68. Matthias Sammer
      69. Johan Nesskens
      70. Just Fontaine

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8/23/2014

      Why not post the full top 100? It would be very interesting.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous8/22/2014

    I know that football is not a game for artistic impression. Football is a game for the result. I know you can not win with 11 Ronaldinho. I am very appreciated and players like Passarella, Gentile, Matthaus, Kohler, Davids, Puyol, Maldini ...... These players are also great and necessary. Football is the most popular sport in the world, but does not see it because Maldini (which is surely the best full-back of all time), looking at him because of Ronaldinho and Laudrup. Their performance, their results, their innovations in football, enabled their club trophies, spectacular new permanent football fans around the world. I remember the thoughts that were left waiting for the time when Ronaldinho was brilliant. I just can not get over that Frank Rijkaard, no matter how great a player he may ultimately be better placed than Ronaldinho, Laudrup, and finally Bergkamp.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous8/22/2014

    I know you did not ask me, but here are my 120 best in Europe all the time: 120.Takacs, 119.Buffon, 118.Schnellinger, 117.Overath, 116.Binder, 115.Totti, 114.Nedved, 113.M.Olsen, 112.Savicevic, 111.Tist, 110.Waddle, 109.Dalglish, 108.Brehme, 107.Van Hanegem, 106.Kahn, 105.Cannavaro, 104.Skoglund, 103.Fontaine, 102.Koeman, 101.Nesta, 100.Greaves, 99.Vogts, 98.B.Laudrup, 97.Raul, 96.Breitner, 95.Gentile, 94.Lahm, 93.Boniperti, 92.K.A.Hansen, 91.Keegan, 90.Piola, 89.Deyna, 88.Zoff, 87.X.Alonso, 86.Masopust, 85.Giggs, 84.Elkjaer, 83.Blokhin, 82.Schlosser, 81.Riva, 80.Van Himst, 79.Davids, 78.Scholes, 77.Neuer, 76.Bozsik, 75.Studnicka, 74.Simonsen, 73.Albert, 72.Netzer, 71.S.Ramos, 70.Sammer, 69.Rijkaard, 68.Czibor, 67.Cantona, 66.V.Mazzola, 65.Neeskens, 64.Boniek, 63.Stoichkov, 62.S.Mazzola, 61.Praest, 60.Shevchenko, 59.Desailly, 58.Finney, 57.Dean, 56.Beckham, 55.Gullit, 54.Sarosi, 53.Xavi, 52.Scirea, 51.Schuster, 50.Gento, 49.Villa, 48.Robben, 47.Thuram, 46.Iniesta, 45.Nordahl, 44.Facchetti, 43.Rivera, 42.F.Walter, 41.Baggio, 40.Bergkamp, 39.Seeler, 38.Figo, 37.Puyol, 36.Krol, 35.Hamrin, 34.Kohler, 33.B.Charlton, 32.Kubala, 31.Rummenigge, 30.Schmeichel, 29.Bican, 28.Dzajic, 27.Meazza, 26.Van Basten, 25.C.Ronaldo, 24.Moore, 23.Kopa, 22.Kocsis, 21.Matthews, 20.Liedholm, 19.Baresi, 18.Vukas, 17.Ibrahimovic, 16.G.Muller, 15.Ocwirk, 14.Maldini, 13.Best, 12.Henry, 11.Yashin, 10.Matthaus, 9.L.M.Suarez, 8.Eusebio, 7.Puskas, 6.Platini, 5.M.Laudrup, 4.Beckenbauer, 3.Sindelar, 2.Zidane, 1.CRUYFF.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous8/22/2014

    And I look back on that Rijkaard to Euro 88 anything too seriously is not represented in football. He was an average player a serious club. Since its debut reprezentation until to the Euro 88, when he already had 26 years, amassed a mere twenty appearances for the Netherlands. So it is that Bergkamp did not play well two years at Inter, according to me is not a real argument. Until his 26 years Bergkamp world football has given a lot. So that Rijkaard played seven seasons in the top strong Milan and Ajax, but was never even close to the first player in the club. Gullit, Van Basten, Baresi and Maldini, and later at Ajax and Litamanen, Kluivert, Davids, Seedorf, Overmars were ahead of him. Bergkamp was unlike him nearly 20 years ago played top football and delighted fans around the world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For your sentence, I'd imply that Rijkaard's style of play would be limited in potential. Actually Rijkaard was a true indispensable player of Milan as a main linkage between defensive and midfield line. Maldini in that era was still young and far from Baresi's influence and ability. In DM position, Rijkaard was the best player in his position in some years and is very consistency and for any eyes. Rijkaard is very complete for his role while Bergkamp's basic requirement of forward skill likes speed and scoring is just below legendary average so it is difficult to rate him among the best ever.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous8/23/2014

    What do you consider by technique?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diversity and quality to manage with the ball (first touch, ball controlling, etc).

      Delete
  14. Anonymous8/24/2014

    With all due respect, I continue on. What are the criteria taken to Roberto Baggio placed in 27th place all-time. Baggio was a great player, no doubt. But let's face it, he has won all four trophies throughout his career. UEFA Cup-93, where he was a major player. And won three trophies where it was not even close. 1995 Italian championship (18-7 appearance vital and goals), and the same year, domestic cup and Cup of Italy next year with Milan (28-7 appearances and goals). Comparing it with Bergkamp as far as the players' characteristics (PES classic and my memory) to notice that Bergkamp was the faster player (Bergkamp-83, Baggio-81), more power, better pass game, better techniques of hitting, it was higher team player and a check and a stronger mentality. While Baggio was better at dribbling, of course, free kicks, and was agile. Whatever it takes, Baggio was on top of two years and in those two years he took a trophy (UEFA Cup). After he played great in Bologna for a season, and a good couple of seasons in Brescia. But in the end it can be a great result. These clubs were still without any serious chances and range. Well, well, maybe somehow I managed to convince myself that the difference between Baggio and Bergkamp may be a matter of taste. Can you explain to me how Baggio can be better than Laudrup or Ronaldinho?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Baggio is deserved the best player in the 1994 World Cup instead of Romario of consider how player carried the team and how much support of his teammates. He also played well in the 1990 tournament. Ronaldinho and M.Laudrup is much inferior to elder Laudrup in National team. In the club level, it is debatable, Ronaldinho and M.Laudrup has a higher peak but also lower consistency.
      For your cite to Bergkamp’s ability in comparison to Baggio, Bergkamp played very well in lower standard league and he did not make it the same in Series A. Several timed, ability is seen to be superb but could be overrated if ignore about inferior level of opponnets.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8/24/2014

      So you think that premier league is lower standard league?

      Delete
    3. This is not only my thought but closest to be called as the truth that Premier League in the mid-90s is below standard of Series A in both top level teams and competitive level within the league.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous8/25/2014

    Yes, he was great in this championship in America. But against Norway in the 20th minute after a red card Pagliuca. Outputs Baggio, and there remain Casiraghi and Signori. That was an indispensable aid teammates on the basis of this I do not. You say that Baggio played well at the World Cup in Italy. Yes, he played well, I remember him. Laudrup is therefore played great at Euro in France. I remember that it was Rivelino evaluated as the best player in the first round in Mexico. He was the best player for bad Denmark at Euro in Germany. And in France, was selected in the World Cup in the best team. Laudrup has played six years in Italy, 7 years in Spain and one year at Ajax. In all seasons, had two years at Juventus and one in Barcelona that could be described as stagnant. However, it is dependent not only on him but also on the club. About Ronaldinho have nothing to say, except that convincing in his time was by far the best in the world. For Bergkamp could say that it could have had more. But with great respect to you, I must conclude that there is no realistic chance that Baggio is placed better than Ronaldinho and Laudrup. Looking at the individual quality, trophies, the length of playing at the elite level at top clubs and what they represented their clubs and players with whom they played. Best greetings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Finally it is depend on your definition of all-time greats. In general, all-time greats means legend status which would highly be depend on a large amount of great performance not only height of peak performance. I definite likes this in my list and I see your preference on players’ prime. Hence, you should refer to another list of mine (The greatest prime player ever) but now I’ve provided in only top ten, would interest to expand soon.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8/26/2014

      Yes, please expand it, at least to top 50.

      Delete
    3. Now it is already top 20 (should be enough) but its status is in preliminary developing phase.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous8/26/2014

      Great! I'm looking forward to seeing it.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous8/25/2014

    The fact remains that Baggio throughout his career won only four trophies. Three of them as a secondary player. I loved him as a player, but the fact remains that can not be ranked among the top 50 of all time. There is not any basis to be ahead of Ronaldinho, Laudrup, even Bergkamp or Henry. At the European Championships, never played.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous8/26/2014

    What is prime for you? I mean is it just one season, or two seasons or maybe just one world cup, and how do you compare players in their prime?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rating of Peak Performance is based on skill proportional criteria (You can see in methodology). The criteria is varied according to comparison of different positions. Moreover, peak performance in higher standard of competition is advantageous. In example, I’d consider George Best’s peak is slightly higher profile than Ronaldo because of his more diverse performance.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8/26/2014

      I understand. Thanks.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous8/28/2014

    You should put Messi ahead of Platini. They both have AA- for performance but Messi has A for ability and Platini has A-. I also made a system for evaluating best players ever and Messi is number one and Pele number two .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's appreciated that you know the condition. Let me explain that ability will be a secondary factor to judge. International performance (Int.Club and NT) and lowest performance players are combined as primary condition. Playerd in the same grade (in this case AA for Messi and Platini) also would not be applied to "Complete Equal" but they're rated in the same range, Platini is still considered in a better total career especially his advantage in international career.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8/29/2014

      Ok, thanks.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous8/28/2014

    Messi should be be ahead of Platini, he has better performance. AA for Messi and Platini has AA-

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous8/29/2014

    You know what would be great? You should create a page with detailed ability and skill ranking for their position of these top 100 players. Please do that in recent future!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Could you expand your sentence for me to get clearer understanding ?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8/30/2014

      Well, for example, like you put stats for messi and maradona above in the comments, you should do that for all of these 100 players. Scoring, passing, speed, creativity, crossing, strength, dribbling, tackling. . .

      Delete
    3. I have rated player's skill in credit bond rating within Positional Hall of Fame. I also specified definition of credit bond rating in methodology (likes A = 4.00). In total skill, it is already in the skill ranking in positional hall of fame (minor hall).

      Delete
  21. Anonymous8/29/2014

    Why is beckenbauer ahead of zico when zico's performance is AA+ and beckenbauer's AA? It doesn't say that beckenbauer has some kind of bonus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That must be a forgotten point during updating step.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous9/03/2014

    when can we expect to see top 50 players in their prime?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for asking. Earliest this weekend, latest next weekend

      Delete
  23. Anonymous9/05/2014

    Maybe you should make top 10 flashiest players, those who are the most entertaining to watch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be similar to the greatest dribbler and the most technical players ever, just add a few names in defensive players as the likes of Higuita, Robetor Carlos

      Delete
  24. Anonymous9/07/2014

    so, is prime just one season?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now I’d prefer to expand as top ten best prime by position than top 50 prime footballer as many are too closed in level within the same range of evaluation result and difficult to make such a top 50 by only prime. Scope of prime required at least one season (not take system of competition but players who played in international level or world level would be advantage).

      Delete
    2. I have finished the series of “Top Ten Highest Peaks of Footballer by Position” which can be found in each room of “The Main Hall of Immortal” at Positional Hall of Fame.

      Delete
  25. Anonymous9/08/2014

    Thanks. So prime is at least one season, could be more but a player doesn't have any advantage if he plays 3 great seasons over a player who played just as good but just for one season?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Because I’m talking about highest peak performance so only one best season is required. Prime could be expanded to more seasons varied base on players’ performance characteristic so I think the prime rating has no obvious identity. Anyway, I’m going to add specifying the season sample for each player.

      Delete
    2. Thanks you for initiative idea which helps me to have a plan to add “Peak Performance” in credit bond rating alongside total skill and total performance for all players in major hall of immortal and world’s all-time greatest footballer.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9/08/2014

      Thank you for putting my ideas into work.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous9/10/2014

    I found a few inconsistencies between this ranking and "The Main Hall of Inmortals":
    Beckenbauer Total Performance here: AA+; In "Main Hall": AA
    Garrincha Total Skill here: AA-; In "Main Hall": AA
    Zidane Total Performance here: AA; In "Main Hall": AA-
    George Best Total Performance here: A+: In "Main Hall": AA-
    Yashin Total Skill here: A+ and Total Performance here: A+; In "Main Hall": Total Skill: AA- and Total Performance: AA-
    Meazza Total Performance here: A+; In "Main Hall": AA-
    Didi Total Performance here: A+; In "Main Hall": AA-
    Gullit Total Skill here: A-; In "Main Hall": A
    Maldini Total Skill here: A and Total Performance here: A+; In "Main Hall": Total Skill : A+ and Total Performance : AA-
    Moore Total Performance here: A; In "Main Hall": A+
    Rivera Total Performance here: A; In "Main Hall": A+
    Kocsis Total Performance here: A; In "Main Hall": A+
    Zoff Total Performance here: A; In "Main Hall": A+
    Luis Suarez Total Skill here: A; In "Main Hall": A-
    Passarella Total Performance : A; In "Main Hall": A+
    Ronaldinho Total Skill here: A+ and Total Performance here: A; In "Main Hall": Total Skill : AA- and Total Performance : A+
    Schiaffino Total Skill here: A; In "Main Hall": A-
    Valentino Mazzola Total Skill here: A+ and Total Performance here: A-; In "Main Hall": Total Skill : A and Total Performance : A
    Furthermore, Charlton, Moore and Zoff have a Greatness Bonus here but not in the "Main Hall" (Stanley Matthews also have a Greatness Bonus but is included in the two lists). Also Sárosi is above Cristiano Ronaldo and Sindelar here but in "Forward Main Hall" he is is below them.
    I hope I have helped you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am really appreciated your effort of checking correctness.
      Total Performance is different between here and the main hall because of different group of samples let to different statistical result of credit bond rating. The main hall is tend to have higher rating because of its minor group, However, I need to revise for Beckenbauer, Zidane, etc.

      Total Skill is surely needed to update as it must be equal.

      Delete
    2. Sarosi at here is rated higher than FW list for his world-class in both defensive and offensive position.
      Definition of Greatness bonus between positional list and world list is not quite same.
      World list is more emphasis on greatness bonus as it is much more competitive, without greatness bonus in positional ranking, aforementioned players is still saved their place. In example, if bonus is not applied to Charlton, he is still rated slightly higher than Gullit in AM list but here Charlton would be difficult to beat some attackers without bonus.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9/13/2014

      Thank you for your explanation and your revision.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous9/22/2014

      I found another few inconsistencies in Total Skill:
      Passarella: here A+; in Main Hall A
      Stanley Matthews: here A+; in Main Hall AA-
      Gerd Muller: here A+; in Main Hall A
      Puskás: here AA-; in Main Hall A+

      Delete
    5. Yes, thanks again and have revised.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous9/15/2014

    People present to you facts about dribbling and you still don't have Messi in top 10 dribbling, I could also show you that Messi is not that inferior to Maradona in passing and vision, but it wouldn't change anything. Honestly, you try to present all your lists as objective, but they are all just as subjective as so many other lists.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dear, All Readers

    Recently I was working on peak performance of player and now I've added peak performance credit bond rating in each of players' profile. Note that peak performance rating has been also added in Positional Hall of Fame "The Major Hall of Immortal"

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous9/24/2014

    You should put more exact rankings especially for total skill, not it's A+, AA and so on but i'm sure that you have exact rankings somewhere so why not put them, like 4.8 or 4.6, 4.7 ... it would give a better picture of players skill.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As long as the rating is just best at an approximation, scales of rating must be significantly wide as credit bond rating.

      Delete
  30. Anonymous10/10/2014

    This list is in moderate development, when will it be finalized (i mean for retired players of course) or at least in its advanced development?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The main obstacle is the evidence of rating/other important statistics (such as assists) has not been found in some players especially post-60s players and there are no availability of all full-matches videos of those players to rate by myself and now it is ranked base on studying on impact and remarkable level combined with their skill to estimate class of performance. Hence, I cannot know when I could find more evidences but I always applied to my criteria of rating when I find in a short time. Also, post-60s players is almost called as advanced development, but I need to analysis reliability of media rating more.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10/11/2014

      What do you mean by analysing the reliability of media rating?

      Delete
    3. Consistency of rating must issued. In example, I see media rating in English premier league for the 2009 - 2010 season give significantly higher average points to all players and it is very clear enough until I did not need to make analysis but for other unclear cases, arithmetic mean, median, standard deviation value should be analyzed between seasons and sources.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10/11/2014

      Ok, thanks.

      Delete
  31. Yeah! It is a very good topic to discuss. I completely agree with you my friend. According to me also, there is not as much certainty in media rating results as that we expect. So there becomes a great need to improve the rating system for ranking best soccer players of all time.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous10/17/2014

    if you consider maradona's career only before 83-84 season when he started using drugs where would you rank him at least approximately

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I'd rank Maradona in best ever list in consideration of only pre-1983 season ? It would probably be around mid-twenties in ranking.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10/19/2014

      Ok, thank you.

      Delete
  33. Anonymous10/26/2014

    On best peak players list you should put the season you took in the bracket. I see that you made a fair amount of changes on your list, what are the reasons for that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I’ll add as you request.
      Recently I have a time to review the rankings again between 27th and 33th place. I found it might be unfair to rate Robi Baggio ahead of Rummenigge and C.Ronaldo in overall career although his peak is considered as a slight higher one with superior vision and more effective dribble against tougher defenders in Series A. He assists 118 times in Series A in total 452 games (26 %) while C.Ronaldo (88 assists from 369 league games or 24 %) but if consider number of assists per team goals, Baggio is far more effective.

      Let see in other ways, Baggio achieved as one of the best players in the world in only 1993 and 1994 according to all sources, anyway not said he was not world-class between 1990 and 1992 ( at least goals + assists in 1992 is equal to his 1994 stats) . Rummenigge was one of the best players in the World in four consecutive years (1979 to 1982) although I think it should be clear Baggio’s era is more competitive. Also I think Baggio scored too many goals by penalty (76 penalty goals from total Series A 208 or 36.5 %). In the post-1994, his career was clearly declined.

      Also, I revise criteria to give slightly more proportion in domestic part when I see domestic should be at least not less than international country part when taken number of games played into account. This helped Baresi and C.Ronaldo to be ranked a bit higher. Baresi, he was consecutively world-class in Series A at least 8 years (refer to media rating and Ballon’Dor, FIFA World Player of the year, etc), plus his consistency in four times European Cup finalists, his much longer prime should be enough to rate higher than Baggio.

      Rivera was overlooked by me for his inconsistent appearances in major international tournament due to existence of S.Mazzola. But the statistics of match played proved he was one of the most effective chance creators in three consecutive world cup although played a few games per tournament. This characteristic of player is best at his given opportunity and no failure to be marked.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10/27/2014

      Great, I really appreciate you taking the time to explain it all in detail. But where do you get all these penalty stats and assists can you please give me the source?

      Delete
    3. Now wikipedia is alrerady available in stats.

      Delete
  34. Anonymous10/27/2014

    yes. i know that's where you got baggio's assist stats but where did you get his penalty stats?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous10/27/2014

    oh, i found it, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Recently, Didi and Ronaldinho are moved in ranking for a distance.
    Didi is highly rated by many base on his prolific assists in the 1958 World Cup and 1957 Copa America but now I have three reasons to rate Zizinho ahead of Didi.
    1) In overall statistics provided by Lucas Gomes, it shows Zizinho was more impact on Brazil national team than Didi. Zizinho has 45 goals + assists per 175 team goals or 25.7 % and note that there are three matches stats is unavailable. Didi has only 33 goals + assists per 154 team goals or 21.4 percent.
    2) As footballer list give advantage to all-round player, Zizinho is a much more complete player than Didi as he could perform as winger and central midfielder not significantly different from his main position.
    3) As studying, Zizinho has a longer prime, was one of the best players in the world almost every years in the second half 1940s and include 1950. Didi reached his peak in his late career at 28 years old and was one of the best players in the World between 1956 and 1958. However, Zizinho’s prime era is less competitive.

    Ronaldinho won South American Footballer of the year in his very late career at 34 years old and the bonus of old performance is given to him. Now he is 43th just behind Romario.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous10/28/2014

    messi now has 28 assists in national team, he had one against hong-kong

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous10/28/2014

    i have one question that i want you to answer me honestly. Do you consider this list to be THE BEST LIST. For example if somebody doesn't agree with you do you say: "ok, everybody has their opinion" or do you say: "ok, everybody has their opinion and yours is wrong" Would you say that this is the ultimate list?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It could not be ultimate list as long as football historical evidence is not always completed. WFHC project is best at updating base on the current discovered data.
      It must be depend on the derivation of their opinion. I always adjust my rating after I checked and verified what people gave me a new important info I never got into.
      If it is only personal preference of players style of performance profile (prefer peak or consistency) and cannot inform me about their own methodology (I’ve been never informed), I’d not take any seriousness on this topic.

      Delete
  39. Anonymous10/30/2014

    why is messi's peak only 4th on the list?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Messi played football in much less competitive era than Pele Maradona and Cruyff. The fact that top world-class defender has been extinct in his era, I’d expect him to drib pass players more times during his peak to be considered the best. However, his supremacy in 2012 is fulfilled by his developed positional play, vision and scoring while dribbling is slightly decline from 2009 – 2010 season. Moreover, Messi’s peak is considered to be more dependent on his teammate than Pele and Maradona. The difference between his club and NT performance is an indicator.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10/30/2014

      Well in 2012 he did score 12 goals in 9 games for argentina, and thats a record in single calendar year for argentine NT, and although his dribbling did decline a bit his best dribbling season was 2010-11. In 2012 it was still on VERY HIGH LEVEL, probably still the best in the world. You should check his stats on whoscored.com And for th world class defender argument, well maradona, pele and cruyff didn't play ever game against such players. For a defender to be considered that good he has to be in top 3 players in a year, but 2 of 3 places are always took by Messi and ronaldo so it's hard, that is why i think that todays defenders are not nessesarely that worse. And todays defenses are a lot more sistemathic and better as a whole that is why they are harder to break, that is why there are less goals per game than in 80s (just check champions league goals per game year by year). And maradona scored 17 goals in 36 games, and messi scored 73 in 60 and all that while playing in chamions league, unlike maradona. Messi also had 28 assists that season, i highly dount that maradona could have better assist ratio and even if he could it could not be by much. But lets say that he did and by lot let's say that he has goal + assist ratio is 1 but messi's is 1.683. Do you really think that 'competitivness' makes that much difference. And once again maradona didn't play in europe. And even media and dbs ratong rate messi's season much higher. I hope that you will consider my arguments and make this incredible site even better.

      Delete
    3. Rating in Series A and La Liga is from different sources. Series A media always rated player in much lower point standard. Even Maradona achieve lower assists ratio per game but you have to consider ratio per team's total assists also, Maradona could be better because of his indispensable impact as a creative role.

      At the peak season, this is my comparison result (already consider base on their own position)

      Dribble : Maradona is better
      Scoring : Messi is better
      Creativity : Maradona is better

      Honesty, I admit the best seasonal performers ever list is still at the beginning development and need to watch more and get more info and analysis so I'd not insist you Messi must worse ever but I'd say Maradona is less dependent on his teammate performance than Messi by sure. That let me quite sure Maradona's peak is considered as a better one. When I completed the development of the list, I'll inform again.

      Delete
  40. Anonymous10/30/2014

    do you have maradona's assist stats season by season?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe it should be available at least his series A assists stats but I have not discovered yet.

      Delete
  41. Anonymous10/31/2014

    And one more thing, you still didn't put messi in top 10 dribbling but he should be in front of maradona. Messi from 2009/10 till today in champions league, la liga and world cup has 7.88 dribble attempts per game and 57.9% success rate and if we only consider champions league and world cup its 8.11 attempts and 56.5% success rate. Maradona in world cup has 9 attempts per game and 55.9% success rate. My sources: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/messi-is-better-than-maradona-but-maybe-not-pele/

    http://www.whoscored.com/Players/11119/History/Lionel-Messi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I said, Maradona faced much tougher defender in Series A. If consider only that season, Messi could be rated in top 10 best dribbler ever but let leave him out when all seasons combined. The best example would be the 2011 Copa America, he failed to drib pass defenders several times.

      Delete
  42. Anonymous10/31/2014

    And as you say his dribbling was even better before 2009/10. And one question not related to them: how would you rate these 3 players gascoigne, le tissier, djalminha? they are all very skillful but didn't accomplish a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gascoigne > Djalminha > Le Tissier

      Le Tissier, for me he had enough some chances to prove himself in international level but he was not a good team work player and difficulty to adjust with England's tactic.

      Djalminha : He is also not a great teamwork player but he is more agile and quicker than Le Tissier.

      Delete
  43. Anonymous11/01/2014

    Why aren't you answering?

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous11/02/2014

    I'm planning to start a site of my own like this so i was wondering if you are willing to give me your statistical sources, like player ratings and all that, i would be really thankful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You could participate in Bigsoccer.com where has been available in players' rating evidence.

      Delete
  45. Anonymous11/02/2014

    Do you have accurate scores for all players for all of their seasons and than you calculate for their whole career? For example do you have exact total performance score for all of thede players or is it just estimated by judgement?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm providing specific scores of top 50 best players ever with a full systematic implementation. During this step, I found complexity and difficulty managing with in NT system and the methodology in part of calculation method and criteria of NT part has been improved.
      When it will have been completed, I'll post scorecard here. In positional hall of fame, evidence of rating is not enough to implement. I need to discover more.

      Delete
  46. Anonymous11/02/2014

    Thanks for all the answers. I like your analysis of gascoigne, le tissier, djalminha. I'm looking forward to seeing the scores. As for messi and maradona, i'm not sure if you understood me, that is not dribbling stats for messi's 09/10 season but from that season till TODAY, so that's why messi is a better dribbler. as for the best season, i agree about:
    Dribble : Maradona is better
    Scoring : Messi is better
    Creativity : Maradona is better
    However i think that mearadona is by small margin a better dribbler and creator in his prime and messi is a lot better scorer. I also think that the story about maradona's teammates is too exaggerated, read this article: http://www.averageopposition.com/2012/03/the-myth-of-maradona.html

    But you do make a good point about particiation in team goals, i really hope that you will find his assist stats.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Anonymous11/02/2014

    on dbscalcio they say this on the info page: The data collected by the media described above are suitably processed to make them consistent and allow comparison between individual players and individual teams. when translated from italian
    As for the % of team goals since we don't have assist number for maradona just yet we can only look at the scoring numbers: messi 50/114 43.9% maradona 14/34 41.2%

    ReplyDelete
  48. Anonymous11/06/2014

    I just want to say that i checked what you said about ratings being higher in la liga and i realized that, but i still think that the advantage is too big. When can we expect the scores for top 50 players, and does that mean that positional hall of fame and all the other lists are made by just your judgement using the criteria you provided?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In Series A, 7.00 is maximum for any player to be rated. In the current era of La Liga, Messi now achieved nearly 8.5. The rating is higher because standard of the game is lower.

      The scorecard is being provided and I plan to complete it within this month. I just complete development of methodology for implementation.
      Yes, Positional Hall of Fame and other list is based on my criteria but having not been implemented a full system, just making by comparison technique.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11/06/2014

      Ok, thanks.

      Delete
  49. Anonymous11/07/2014

    Great list! I would make a few changes but it's ok. Where do you get all these assist stats?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, assist stats in world cup can be found in this link
      http://widget.cloud.opta.net/OptaHomepage/World-Cup-Player-Comparison.html?season_p1=35&team_p1=t502&player_p1=&season_p2=23&team_p2=t632&player_p2=8838

      Delete
  50. Anonymous11/08/2014

    Unfortunately it's only for world cup 2010 now, but where did you get for example maradona's NT assist stats, or zico's, or even messi's?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes it seems to be disappeared from the webpage for other tournaments.
      NT total assist stats is collected by experts in bigsoccer.com

      Delete
  51. Anonymous11/09/2014

    I found this for assists for Maradona, but according to this messi in la liga 2012 has 21 assists, but according to opta he has 16, which means that they have loose criteria for assists, they probably include deflections etc.
    http://i39.tinypic.com/21j3lvm.png

    ReplyDelete
  52. Anonymous11/13/2014

    I hope that the stats i provided will be helpful, i was looking for ronaldo stats and found for him, maradona, romario, rivaldo. Messi had a goal and an assist last night vs croatia so you need to update that.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Anonymous11/14/2014

    Why Pelé's ability is higher than Maradona's ability?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pele is more complete player as he was world-class in both playmaker and finisher. When put all ability into the system, calculation result shows Pele is slightly better.

      Delete
  54. Anonymous11/19/2014

    What always interests me about these lists is that you are all in complete denial that there was any football occurring in Britain at almost all times. where are: Hughie Gallacher, Jimmy McGrory, Steve Bloomer, Vivian Woodward, Tommy Lawton.
    Greaves and Dean get a token mention - yet Milan broke the world record transfer fee to buy Greaves (not his fault that he fell out with the Milan management.)
    In more recent times which country won the European cup 7 years out of 8 and then had to be banned to stop the monopoly (for crowd trouble - no, of course there has never been hooliganism in Europe or South America, has there ?) .
    Yet where are mentions in you list for any of the great Liverpool players of the 80s ? Dalglish, Souness, Hansen, Rush, Clemence, Keegan.
    Where also are mentions of : Langarra, Zarra, Leonidas Da Silva, Bobek, Krankl, Toninho Guerreiro, Robert Dienst. Coutinho, Jose Aguas, Just Fontaine, Mendietta, Guardiola, Nedved, Lampard, A. Cole, Scholes, Law, Terry, Larsson, Jim Baxter, Danny McGrain, Bryan Robson, Duncan Edwards, Danny Blanchflower, Glenn Hoddle, Veron, Aimar, Aguero, Ferreyra
    Where would Drogba fit ? not a very prolific scorer (324+ at 0.46) but scored in 9 cup finals for Chelsea and has scored 65 in 104 for Ivory Coast.
    =========
    Henry at 60 - not fit to lace the boots of many of the above
    Baggio at 30, better than Matthews - ha ha
    Zico at 6 about 30 places too high
    Ronaldinho at 43 should be outside top 100 - great for about 5 years, but that does not make him an All Time Great
    C Ronaldo is simply a poser. He is a good, but not great scorer (ave 0.61 /game) which puts him about 150th in all time list. He has not won anything for Portugal and is only interested in himself - not in top 200. Better than Bobby Moore ? perhaps on play station !
    Brazilian Ronaldo - like Ronaldinho, great for 5-6 years, but little longevity (scored 377 at 0.66)
    And finally, Rivaldo - once again 4-5 years as a great player does not make an ATG, and his behaviour in the 02 WC against Turkey must count as one of the worst examples of cheating seen.

    I understand that much information is not available for matches played over 50 years ago, but that should not preclude those players at the expense of more modern ones. Modern players have the benefits of better diet, better physio, better pitches, more protection from fouls, lighter balls etc etc
    Past players may not have been so "skilled" but how would today's players manage with water-logged pitches and leather balls weighing more than a kilo?
    Maradonna may have been kicked a lot, but so were all players until the 80s. It should not confer special status on him. No-one says that Matthews or Finney should be granted special status because defenders tried to kick them out of the game. We need to be careful not to assume that bad conditions only affected certain players.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jimmy Greaves is named in below list of top 100.
      Most of those players are mentioned in a full version of profile, rating of skill and performance and articles in Positional Hall of Fame xtraimmortal.blogspot.com
      And players who is not ranked in positional hall of fame, is still able to be found in International Legendary Museum xtralegend.blogspot.com
      I’d imply you give longevity as a more important profile than peak. Anyway, if longevity is given too much weight, many below world-class players could be ranked ahead of superb players with shorter prime. I have created the method to make divisibility in this issue, could find in Historical Rating Methodology.
      You have a good point to give credit for players in the past 50 years ago and I have neither not ignored it nor consideration of the limitation of circumstance let to lose opportunity of prove themselves enough. As I described in historical rating methodology, Circumstantial prevention has been taken into account in my lists.

      Delete
  55. Anonymous11/27/2014

    in ability list, do you only consider prime?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the true ability and skill is determined in the prime of each ability function. I mean player could have reached his prime in each ability in different period. For instance, I’d rate Messi’s dribbling ability and skill is his prime at 2009 – 2010 season while his scoring ability and skill will belong to 2011 – 2012 season.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11/27/2014

      Oh, i understand, for every segment you take when they were the best at it.

      Delete
  56. Anonymous11/27/2014

    And do you have exact rankings for these ten players in every ability and perhaps for some more players?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I have it in an excel file with systematic implementation but I’d better not show you now because I need to watch more to improve the skill/ability rating. This is a schedule plan for next year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11/27/2014

      Why not? I won't criticize, i promise. I'm really interested :)

      Delete
    3. That is not involved about criticism but I just want to share the best work to reader. The current stats anyway will be obsolete in the next year. Anyway, could you introduce yourself, what country are you from and how you find this blog ?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11/27/2014

      I'm on big soccer, stcv1974, i'm from serbia. I have a question about skill rankings. Does it work with the same principle as ability, taking ratings from different seasons or is it all from one season?

      Delete
    5. Oh dear stvc, I first guess it should be you but I am just not sure because I also guess you are from England. Skill is made from the same sample range as ability (all seasons) because it is a potential in which could be transformed as unsteady performance within the career.
      Are you support Redstar or Partizan or even neither ?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11/27/2014

      Red star, or as we say CRVENA ZVEZDA! But i love Liverpool even more, they are just my favorite club since childhood.

      Delete
  57. this must be a joke, in top10 dribling there is no Pele, in dribling, technique, creativity, passing there is no one who can be claimed to be as good as Pele.(I will share videoes) and in strongness also I think arguably Pele is the best, in speed?! Pele is the best dribler and better than pele and garrincha. I have watched so many videos of Maradona, games of ROnaldos and Messi, footages of Garrincha, Best and e.t.c games of Pele and Crouyf, Pele is the best. now, Pele challenge:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPM5CeL89AU I have yet to see another player who can drible as pele does in the link I have just pasted.
    and more, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebvQ36lnbq4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcvdYj9h9mw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNzr8bG-z5I all of this are parts of dribling of Pele, if there is any player who coyld do this all, share his/her footages please.

    and now on technique:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18JRNjfegko http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcvdYj9h9mw

    I am not going to write point by point, just visit this page: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpJ2a_Xjc4DmlcwXR0zGXNw/videos Pele is the best footballer ever in any offensive criteria and one of the best if not the best in defensive criteria.

    this post must be a joke, I have no doubt, if this is not a joke, then people who wrote this knows nothing about either pele or football.

    I very doubt this post of mine will be approved since it will expose how wrong authors are, I very doubt they will dare to answer and share this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you refer to only the clip, you need to also watch a clip of Pele’s scenes of failure in dribbling. Pele is one of the best dribblers in his era but it would be difficult to rate him among the best ever when consider his dribble performance against less tough defenders in the 1960s. He did not an extreme one-man-show style of player so the scenes he got pass a number of defenders is rarer.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12/21/2014

      Sir Artur, you are so wrong. Pelé was an excellent dribbler, but better than Maradona, Best and Garrincha? No, never. In creativity and technique Maradona is the best without doubt. Did you see matches of Maradona? And in passing, is obviously that Pelé is not one of the top 10 passers of all time. If you think that Pelé was the best player of all time, ok. But Pelé wasn't the best in every aspect of the game, thinking that it's very stupid. If you are a superfan of Pelé, it's your problem, but this post is being realistic, not subjective (by the way, it's one of the best football posts I've ever seen). Please go to watch and learn something about football before saying these things.

      Delete
  58. Anonymous12/26/2014

    What did Ronaldinho do to you. He is viciously underated he is number 8 also Rivaldo and Romario should be higher

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm providing scorecard in this list. It will lead to re-ranking one again and we will see if Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Romario will be raised up.

      Delete
  59. Anonymous12/29/2014

    Cristiano Ronaldo has to be Queen Gold Class now.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Dear, Readers

    As Scorecard of domestic and international country has been completed (please see in competition-based level greatest ever), the ranking has been adjusted. The new comer is Jairzinho in replacement of Valentino Mazzola who got too few opportunity in NT career.

    However, international club is pending and bonus point and conditional point (highest and lowest performance and ability) has not been taken to the scorecard, the ranking will be updated again after completion of scorecard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1/03/2015

      By ability i suppose you mean the same method as in top 10 ability but what do you mean by highest and lowest performance? I assume it's prime and worst season?

      Delete
    2. You are right on ability rating. Yes, it is the best and worst period within a whole season by all competitions.

      Delete
  61. Outstanding work here. Love this stuff. One small quibble. Francesco Totti belongs somewhere in here. I've seen very few with his skills as a complete attacking playmaking mid.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In only pure performance, he is below standard in international games as Roma did not success in Europe and he is known to decline when switch to play for his nation.

      He is also not one of the best ever in any specific skill. Even so, he was great in all offensive skills. As a result of skill level, he is also not one of the great ability possessors.

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the response Nararorn. I understand your position. While it is true Roma's performances in Europe have been mediocre, that's not exclusively Totti's fault or problem. As for the Azzurri, we should treat this carefully as many players in history struggled to perform at the international level and shouldn't necessarily penalize a player for it - for example, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi until recently were heavily criticized for their play in international competition. Totti has a World Cup to his name and played very well for Lippi in 2006. He fulfilled what was asked of him. He also earned a Scudetto. Last, I must respectfully disagree about his skill set. I've been watching soccer since the 1970s and very, very few players have that kind of talent at that position. Totti could play 'trequartista' and False 9 or 10 as well as any player on the planet during that time. Perhaps European titles eludes him, but his play in one of the historically toughest leagues in the world in Serie A counts for much I reckon. He's definitely under rated. Just check him out on youtube. Just my opinion. Cheers!

      Delete

    3. I’m interested you have watched football since the 1970s. Which league or national team did you follow in the 1970s ?
      With Italy, Totti was assigned in an extreme tactical awareness so he attempt to play in simple way and not dare to make spectacular contribution not likes what he made with Roma and he also helped to score too few goals from his position. Surely he is not considered as an failure NT performer but also could not make difference to other superstars in the same era (Raul and Owen performed greater than him in overall NT games)
      You’re right on declining performance from club to NT in general but the top 50 is contained with many great players who successfully performed in NT games in exception of some players who could compensate with his phenomenon club performance likes Ronaldinho and George Best, etc. Totti was very consistent in Series A with 5 - 6 world-class seasons by media rating but never get status of one of the very best players in the World. For my personal assessment, I’d name him nearly outside top 50 best domestic players ever as specified in “Competition-Based Level Greatest Ever

      Delete
  62. UNBELIEVABLE The gift Elias Figueroa not be among the first thirty players.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is named in top 50 domestic player ever in Competition-Based Level Greatest Ever.
      Internationally,he did play well in qualifying or major tournament first round but the limited opportunities in deeper round left him out of the best ever group.

      Delete
    2. I thought it was the 50 best football players of all time, then only it comes to the best competitors in international competitions and not the best. Now I understand why this ranking is not in talent order.

      Delete
  63. Anonymous1/15/2015

    c.ronaldo has received "the greatest portuguese player ever award" from FPF. I think that is the good reason to promote him higher in ranking list

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually he is now at least 17th for my current status of rating but he might be ranked up in maximum one rank when scorecard will have been completed. I also confirm Eusebio is still the best Portuguese player ever based on my rating in this moment and should be until the end of this season at least.

      Delete
  64. Dear, Readers

    As a progression of top 50 player scorecard, Michael Laudrup has replaced Schiaffino by a large margin and most of top 20 has been adjusted but need to confirm final result again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1/26/2015

      I welcome the inclusion of Laudrup in the "best 50". I think this is the logical choice. I also think he deserves better position ....

      Delete
  65. Anonymous1/20/2015

    I think you should read Wikipedia to complete honours, individual and record of each legend so that you can exactly finish the scorecard. Sorry if this opinion annoys you

    ReplyDelete
  66. Anonymous1/26/2015

    Garrincha is in front of Best in best peak list but in scoreboard Garrincha has AAA- and Best has AAA rating for highest performance.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Anonymous1/27/2015

    Laudrup has also been selected in the "World Cup 98 all stars" as Zidane.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The number of players chosen is all-stars team is varied. I’ve select only best XI in each all-stars team and the 1998 World Cup best playmaker must be Zidane.

      Delete
  68. Anonymous1/28/2015

    -You mentioned Moore asthe best defender in English league four times according to reader's poll of the 1960s and analysis of performance in the 1970s. Can you post the exact link to see these ratings.

    --Please post the exact link and how to find the assists for players like Rivelino , Didi , Garrincha , Zizinho and Kopa

    -Also you named in 54 WC Kopa as best young player and Kocsis MVP in the individual achivements. Are these just ur personal opinions or are they warded by a assotiation?If the later , please post the link

    Thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Prior to 1982, there was no official award to players in World Cup. I set the status of the best player of the tournament based on intensive discussion between members in Bigsoccer.com.

      The reference link to Bobby Moore is the same as Gordon Banks. http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/1969-70-british-team-of-the-season.1794502/, http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/team-of-the-season-1970-1980-england-division-one.1820483/

      Assist stats of Brazilian players (NT matches) can be found in http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/brazil-nt-great-players-statistics-and-discussion.1981757/page-3

      Delete
  69. Anonymous1/29/2015

    Maradona a King Gold Class? At the same level as Cruyff? He has to be a Crown Class without doubt, at the same level as Pelé. They are considered the best players ever (and personally, I think Maradona was better).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maradona is much less successful in international club than Pele and a large number of players in history. However, Maradona and Pele are very closed in domestic and international country competition. Aside from 1989 UEFA Cup, Maradona failed to lead Napoli to get deeper round. You can check evaluation result in “Competition Level-Based Greatest Ever”.

      Delete
  70. Dear, Readers

    There is a few adjustment in ranking due to a new criteria of credit bond rating with more frequency of point ranges.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Anonymous2/02/2015

    The Highest Footballers' Peaks Of All-Time does not fit with credit bond rating of highest performance in the table for some players.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2/03/2015

      But on scoreboard G. Best still has AAA and Garrincha AAA-.

      Delete
    2. OK, Even Garrincha performed superbly in all competitions, I'd still stay George Best as a slight more dangerous performer in their peak period.

      Delete
  72. Anonymous2/08/2015

    What criteria did you use to decide the best free-kick specialist? I saw that Mihajlovic was the number one in that list before and now is Zico.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Number of free-kick goals, Zico scored more than Mihajlovic at least 2.5 times. Bigsoccer has a thread in attempt to collect free-kick stats but it is difficult to complete stats for all great players.

      Delete
  73. Dear, Readers

    The most completed player ever list has been added the list of the most completed players by function. It has been also set a new criteria for completion aspect in rating methodology.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2/12/2015

      I have a doubt. Why did you put "pure attacker" and not "forward"? What's the difference?

      Delete
    2. In the aspect of completion, I set only three main sets of position because of multifunctional play requirement. Pure attacker is not include only forward but also trequartista (likes Maradona, etc). So midfielder category would include only all-round midfielder (majority of them are CM but some attacker is qualified such as Gullit, DI Stefano, etc)

      Delete
  74. Anonymous2/16/2015

    Great , great work you have done here. Congratulations! But it's human to make mistakes. I think it's obvious you rank way too low Cristiano Ronaldo. Other than that your ranking is fenomenal. Messi-Ronaldo is the greatest rivalry between to athlets in sports history. I think he should definetly be ranked below Messi(at least considering he is older and has more seasons than the Argentinian). I mean how could Eusebio and Muller be possibly ahead of him? Just beacuse they have better NT performance? You must consider that they have played in better generations than CR (apart maybe from EURO 2004 but he was only 19 then). If you make a seasonal comparasion with any player in history I think only Pele and Maradona are clear winners(with Cruyff and Di Stefano being possibly better awell at the moment).
    He has been arguably best player in 2007 , by far the best in 2008 , 2nd best in 2009 , in 2010 he had a transitional year to Madrid and suffered injury but still managed a goal per game ratio , in 2011 Messi was the best but Goal.com named him no.1 so you could still consider him very very great considering he could have won it in many other years , in 2012 again Messi named the best but CR arguably the best too , in 2013 named the best by all associations , in 2014 again clearly the best(even transcended football and was named the best athlete in all sports on the planet) and he is still having phenomenal period. I think you should rank him at least 7th to being your list more to perfection. All the best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gerd Muller is an opportunistic player and it is easy to imagine how limited was he in case of playing with small nations but not forget in another way that player's great ability of adjustment to the high level divisible team should be creditable. In example, Ibrahimovic met one of his worst seasons in second part of his career with Barca because his style is not very compatible to the team and his adaptability is also an obstacle.

      C.Ronaldo played for smaller nation could be considered in a greater opportunity to contribute the big influence to the team likes Hagi with Romania and Brescia but the fact of matter that C.Ronaldo several times showed his limitation to create opportunity in cooperation with his teammate. What if Zidane played in Premier League ? He is believed by many to be failed because his slow acceleration and I'd not take this advantage to C.Ronaldo who is successful in both league because he is also very fit to the physical emphasis in modern football, would have more limited opportunity to perform greatly if back to play under ultra-defensive circumstance in the 1990s.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2/16/2015

      Thing is , Muller may have had those results because of the legendary German team , but you simply can't rate him even colse to Ronaldo. Muller is the best goalscorer , but CR is aswell a phenomenal goalscorer but in adititon he is lightyears ahead of him in techincal ability and is probably the best athlete of the sport(at least definetly by far batter than Muller). No way Muller is comparable to him. Again , even his namesake is commonly agreed surpassed by CR . He should most surely by already in top 10. Garrincha for that matter is IMO clearly inferior . I rate Garrincha very high(somewhere in top 15) but he's lack of many world-class seasons simply make him uncomparable for CR. Maybe he is comparable with other inconsitent technical players like Ronaldinho.

      Delete
    3. C.Ronaldo’s scoring stats is hidden with high ratio of penalty goals/total scores. I select twice most prolific domestic seasons if Muller and C.Ronaldo as an example.
      Gerd Muller
      The 1969 – 1970 season : Muller scored only 4 penalty goals. If not count penalty he scored 34 goals in 34 games.
      The 1971 – 1972 season : Muller missed many penalty kicks in early seasons and coach decided to switch to assign Roth in this jobs. Subsequently, he scored all goals without penalty (40 goals in 34 games).
      C.Ronaldo
      The 2011 – 2012 season : C.Ronaldo scored 12 penalty goals. If not count penalty, He would have scored only 34 goals in 38 games.
      The 2014 – 2015 season : C.Ronaldo already scored 8 penalty goals. If not count penalty he would have scored 20 goals in 20 games.
      Muller also scored around twice times hat-tricks to C.Ronaldo in all competitions.
      Based on this context, Muller is clearly a superior goalscorer.
      C.Ronaldo also possesses an incomparable greater technique and create chances by his own but when count frequency of missing gold opportunities, C.Ronaldo would have a higher rate as Muller is known as the most effective finishers in football history.
      Anyway, the scoring stats is just a part in comparison. As I said, Gerd Muller is much better than C.Ronaldo in NT career. But still, they are now rated in the same point in scorecard (Muller win by basic point) and if C.Ronaldo could return his great performance, he would surpass Muller in the near future.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous2/17/2015

      You are influenced by the media with the penalty thing. I thin you basically gived Ronaldo another huge advantage over Muller by bringing up how the y score their goals. CR is 10 times a more spectacular goalscorer than Muller and Eusebio for that matter. I really think you should rank him a few places above them. It's basicaly the only thing I found visibly wrong in your list

      Delete
    5. Gerd Muller scoring style is seemingly easy without no spectacular phenomena. He did turn the difficulty of intuitive positioning, movement and synchronization in creating chance of scoring to an easy thing. Rare strikers in history can produce scored as many as him in the similar standard of competition. Therefore, I think this ability should not be overlooked.
      C.Ronaldo scored most of his goals with his powerful drive shot and some of heading, is totally impressive but a large number of forwards have made more spectacular goals than him. I have never seen C.Ronaldo scored a goal by shifting the ball classily as an example.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous2/18/2015

      What do you mean by shifting the ball classy?

      Delete
    7. In example, Totti shifted the ball to the net in penalty shootout in the mach against Holland in the 2000 Euro.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous2/18/2015

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5gDJfFvObg

      Delete
    9. Great to see this scene even finally it was not permitted to a goal and I need to watch more of them to attest he was just not fluke.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous2/19/2015

      The goal wasn't alowed because Nani touched it but from Ronaldo's perspective alone you can consider that a legendary goal. After all , he humiliated one of the geratest teams in history , the Golden Spain. Anyway , I saw you rank players per abilities too , how why isn't he the best ever in shooting ability? For short range I'm sure ur familiar with his hundreds strikes but take alook at his unpreceded greatness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsIEnJm14Aw also you should name him fastest player ever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G09AeI7t2U and apart from that I think you missed Pele and Messi in the dribbling section. Maybe you should wait until Messi retires to be included cause it's tough competition in that department but Pele is obviously top 3.

      Delete
    11. For Messi, I have to stay conservative manner since 2011 he start to decline in his dribbling performance, too often failure in attempt to get pass players especially in the 2011 Copa America and the 2014 World Cup. In Pele's ambiguous dribbling status in history, he should be among the best whereas the players within a group is very closed in level and it is highly depend on circumstantial advantage. I dare to rate Savicevic higher than Pele in pure dribbling ability because Savicevic get pass defenders by slower speed and extremely dependent of his dribbling accuracy.

      Anyway, The list of ability ranking is planed to review again after I have finished the current project (Implementation of Positional Hall of Fame)

      Delete
    12. Anonymous2/19/2015

      Savicevic is no way a better dribbler than Pele. Even Neymar , Di Maria and Iniesta are on par with Savicevic belive me. But you have players like Sivori , Sekuralac , Cruyff , Sindelar who are from Pele's era or even older who are no doubt great dribblers but surely O Rey was better than them. Judging on footage alone he is by far better even than Garrincha but I wouldn't vouch on that cause Garrincha is disadvantaged due to lack of footage. And what do you say about the 2 CR suggestions? I think they are very valid strong points and should be added.

      Delete
  75. Anonymous2/20/2015

    Your statement that Messi had a hard time getting past players in 2014 wc contradicts the facts. He had third most successful dribbles in wc - 46 (since 1966). Only Maradona '86 and Jairzinho in '70 had more, Maradona had 53 and Jairzinho 47. Maradona attempted 90 dribbles which means he had 59% success rate and messi attempted 73 which makes for sky-high 63% success rate, but Jairzinho attempted 70 so he had even higher percentage-67%. So Messi didn't have a hard time getting past players, that is not true.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What source you get it from ? OPTA Stats ? It has been available in Bigsoccer from 1966 to 1986 World Cup but you are seemed to know rating of other tournaments since 1990 ?
      I’m not sure about the count method of this stats and it seems to include getting pass players by pure acceleration ? Messi did get pass opponents many time by dependence of his speed and less in pure dribbling accuracy.

      Delete
    2. Anyway, as reviewed, I need to remove Ronaldinho whom I think he basically got pass player by hi speed and technical ability than his own dribbling accuracy and I have named Pele instead of him. When consider Messi VS Savicevic in dribbling ability, I see Messi drib pass players in dangerous zone more often than Savicevic who was just preferable in isolating on the wing whereas he has wider area to make an amazing dribbling.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2/20/2015

      Yes OPTA: http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/247/Tournaments/36/Seasons/3768/Stages/10274/PlayerStatistics/International-FIFA-World-Cup-2014

      In detailed tab you can see dribbles attepmted and completed but on Opta twitter account they said that this is the third most dribbles and put Jairzinho's and Maradona's numbers. Yes they do include any type of getting past opponent but that's the goal, the way you do it is not important. Maradona and Jairzinho also relied on their speed, Messi and Maradona have very similar style of dribbling so if we are looking for tricks than nobody comes close R9 and Ronaldinho, also you con't really see on TV those little body feints Messi and all best dribblers use, defenders are the only ones who can feel it. Sometimes it looks like Messi just runs past a player but it involes a lot of skill that is the reason why Bale, Walcott and some other players who are a lot faster than Messi can't get past players in tight space and Messi can.

      Delete
  76. Anonymous2/21/2015

    The Romanian player Nicolae Dobrin had no speed and no strenght to contribute to him getting past defenders. It was sheer deribbling accuracy and nothing more. He should be ahead of R9 who buldozed trough defenders many times via speed and strenght(not saying he doesn't have great dribbling but not nearly as good as dobrin).

    ReplyDelete