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The 20 best soccer players of all time

3 years ago
by infotellysports
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best soccer players of all times

If you have participated in sports in any way, the odds are that you have ever considered the absurd question of who are the best soccer players of all time. However, despite all our efforts, no consensus was reached on this issue.

The list looks at best soccer players of all time who have accumulated award after award and major victories along the way. They also contributed to inspiring the next generation of footballers with memorable moments. There are many great footballers, but only about 20 of them.

Here are the 20 best soccer players of all time:
  1. Pele

The first on our list of the best soccer players of all times goes to the king of football, Pelé, is apparently the greatest footballer. At just 17 years of age, he announced his worldwide presence in a fashion that convinced many that he has come to stay. He has continued to impress football fans with his handsome antics and his great scoring skills.

Pelé, in all his 24-year career, has scored more than 1,000 goals. He has won several awards and tournaments with the Brazilian football team, including the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Player of the Century, the FIFA World Cup Best Young Player award, and many more.

Pele his debut in September, scoring the first goal of the 1283 career. Within 10 months he was called up to the national team, and at the age of 17 he scored a hat-trick in the semi-finals of the World Cup and twice in the finals when Brazil lifted their first Jules Rimet trophy.

  1. Diego Maradona

Next on our list of the best soccer players of all time goes to diego maradona. Maradona made his debut for the Argentina Juniors 10 days before his 16th birthday. Five years and 115 goals later, he joined the club he had always wanted to play for, Boca Juniors, led the Xeneizeans and won one trophy in Bombonera before moving to Barcelona after the 1982 World Cup.

A painful two-year career in Catalonia has been marred by illness and injury – and the turmoil in his last game – ended with another departure, this time to Nerie Serie A. Partenopei had never been close to becoming an Italian champion but that was Maradona’s intelligence that led them to two Scudetti and UEFA Cup in Naples.

Just as he encouraged Napoli to do more than their natural state, he did so with Argentina at the 1986 World Cup. Looking back and true, most of his players were enough. There has never been a single person who has dragged a team to such an important achievement through individual ingenuity – and it may never happen again.

  1. Lionel Messi

Messi is the leading scorer in La Liga history, in the Argentine national team and in Barcelona. He scored 91 goals in the 2012 calendar year. He has won a combined record of five Ballons d’Or. So far, he has won 20 major team trophies. This amazing testament is proof of Messi’s greatness, but at the same time a completely unsatisfactory way of trying to summarize his greatness.

He took the goals and put them in new levels, making fun of the old ‘one-in-two’ stick to see if the striker was prolific. But, again, this is not enough. His jaw-dropping intentions are incomparable to the beauty with which he scores, and to the incredible ability he shows with unwavering consistency, and to the remarkable control of the game.

  1. Zinedine Zidane, France

“Gheorghe Hagi vs Zinedine Zidane” by l3o_ is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Zinedine Zidane’s amazing understanding of football, even after his retirement, is a clear indication that he was one of the greatest footballers of his time. Like any great soccer players who have set the stage, Zidane has created a style that is different from his own. On the pitch, Zidane played calmly and with balance and style.

His tactics have worked well for him as he continues to be a fan favorite, even after retirement. Zidane has won the UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, Ballon d’Or and many other awards during his career.

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo

best soccer players of all time

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Europe’s top scorer and five-time Ballon d’Or winner has deserved to be on this list of the best soccer players of all time, he has set enough records to complete the book: scoring more goals for Real Madrid and Portugal, scoring more goals in the Champions League and all five of Europe’s top leagues.

Sir Alex Ferguson said he had never coached a player with more talent, but talent alone did not make Ronaldo unworthy of his position on the list. His mental strength, discipline, intelligence and unparalleled focus elevate him above and beyond the crowd.

Highlights in the career: In 2008, Ronaldo’s header helped Manchester United win the Champions League title, leading to his lifelong goal of being voted the best player in the world.

  1. Ronaldo

One of the greatest strikers, Ronaldo collected numerous awards for his goalscoring prowess. In the late 90s and his early career, Jonathan was at the forefront, winning the FIFA World Player of the Year three times with the Ballon d’Or on two separate occasions. Ronaldo has won two world cups with Brazil. Despite losing the 1998 World Cup Final, Ronaldo won the Golden Ball for his performance.

  1. Johan Cruyff

Winning the Ballon d’Or three times, there were not as many talented players as Johan Cruyff. The attacking midfielder has been particularly dominant in his move with Dutch club Ajax. With Ajax, he won one international cup, 3 european cups and eight eredivise cups. His play puts Dutch football on the map.

Cruyff invented himself on the field. It has brought new movements that no one has ever seen. Cruyff’s was a gamechanger. Not many players would want to move and stick forever in their name. The move continues with FIFA.

  1. Michel Platini

The French-born hosted the European Cup in 1984, leading France to the top while leading the club in scoring. The attacking midfielder holds the record of being the highest scorer in the French national team. Platini won the Ballon d’Or for three consecutive years (1983-85).

Known as the Frenchman Le Roi of The King, Platini was a leading player in the final where he played with the ability to hit and pass with any of his peers. There are not many players who can fit in with a good Platinum style of play.

  1. Franz Beckenbauer

best soccer players of all time

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Going by the German nickname Der Kauer “The Emperor,” Franz Beckenbauer established himself as one of the leading defenders in the history of football. With the 1974 World Cup winner, Beckenbauer was the captain of Bayern Munich, leading the club to three European Champions Clubs Cups and four national titles.

A versatile and unique footballer, the German captain actually changed the position, proving himself as an attacking midfielder with 60 goals in 427 games with Bayern. The most notable moment in his career was playing in the 1970 World Cup with a broken collarbone and arm in a sling. Although his team West Germany lost to Italy 4-3, the performance cemented Beckenbauer as one of the best players.

  1. Roberto Baggio, Italy

best soccer players of all time

“Taffarel vs Roberto Baggio” by l3o_ is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

One of the Italian footballers, Roberto Baggio, was a unique soccer player who attracted fans. Baggio throughout his 30 years made his fans enjoy his unique dribblings that the angels sang on his legs. He was a soccer star who was well versed in the art of curling. Baggio won the World Player of the Year award and the Ballon d’Or in 1993. He also won the Italian Player of the Century in 2000. Baggio is one of the greatest footballers ever.

  1. Alfredo di Stefano

The ability to play anywhere on the field was probably Alfredo di Stefano’s best quality. His versatility as an all-around defensive and goal-scoring player is what made him such a successful athlete in the soccer that started in 1945.

Continuing throughout his professional career, Di Stefano was one of the most important games in football with Real Madrid. He led his team to five consecutive European Cups in the 1950s. His 216 career goals in 282 games with Real Madrid confirmed him as the elitemarksman.

  1. Gerd Muller

All he did was score goals. Muller was not particularly quick and he was not the best professional the game had ever seen, but he was blessed with one of those unspeakable talents – a natural feeling. He scored 365 amazing goals in 427 Bundesliga games, including 40 in 1971/72. He has followed that great season by scoring 67 good goals in 49 games in all subsequent competitions. He has won four Bundesliga titles and netted in two of three European Cup finals that Bayern won between 1974 and 1976.

He was the deadliest man on the international stage, winning the European Championship in 1972 and the World Cup two years later. When he retired from the national team in 1974, he scored 68 goals in 62 games.

Highlights in the field of work: Holland were clearly fit to lift the 1974 World Cup, but Muller scored the only goal in the opener in the final to win it for West Germany.

  1. Eusebio

Eusebio was an outstanding goal scorer with incredible speed and incredible athleticism, Eusebio was a player ahead of his time and is internationally acclaimed as the most African-born soccer player in sports history. He left his home country of Mozambique in the late 1950s and joined Benfica, between 1960 and 1975 winning the European Cup and 11 Premier League games, which averaged more than one goal per six seasons.

He won the Golden Boot at the 1966 World Cup and was undoubtedly the greatest national team player until the rise of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Highlighting of the work: Winning the Ballon d’Or in 1965 before Inter greats Giacinto Facchetti and Luis Suarez.

  1. George Best

best soccer players of all time

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George Best did his best to reach the level of his surname. A strong wing that can be seen doing it all, Best won the European Cup with Manchester United in addition to two league titles and European Footballer of the Year. Best’s career lasted six years week at the top of the game before his exploits took a toll. Best died at the age of 59, after a forced liver transplant caused an infection.

  1. Ferenc Puskas

The Galloping Major enjoyed playing for one of the biggest club teams and one of the biggest national teams ever produced by the game. At club level he played on the winning side for Real Madrid in the 1950s, won three European Cups and five La Liga titles.

Of the leading Hungarian team that won the Olympic gold at the 1952 Games, they stunned England 6-3 at Wembley and reached the finals of the 1954 World Cup, where they were beaten by West Germany in a game known as the Bern Miracle. Puskas was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament.

Highlighting the work: In his last European Cup match, at Hampden Park in 1960, Puskas scored four goals as Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3.

  1. Franco Baresi

Baresi has won six Serie A titles – the first at 18-year-old and the last 36-year-old. He held the excellent side of Arrigo Sacchi in the late 80s and early 90s gaining European trophies one after the other four years later. In one of Europe’s biggest football clubs, fans voted him as their 1999 player of the year. He wore the Milan armband for less than 15 seasons.

His ability to nullify the world’s leading attackers and to move from defense to attack instantly drew comparisons to Franz Beckenbauer. He was argurably part of the best defense the game has ever seen – Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta and Tassotti.

  1. Zico

best soccer players of all time

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This list of the best soccer players of all time wont be complete without Zico flamengo known as the “White Pelé” for his skill, finishing skills and passing quality, Zico’s football direction remains a myth and may be incomparable. Very good curving  free kick and a clever tactic, Zico shone in the early eighties and is often regarded as one of the best soccer players of all time. Never brought to Europe, Zico stayed in Brazil throughout his football career. He would have scored 52 goals in 52 games for Brazil, putting them in three different World Cups, none of which he has won. Due to his lack of trophies, Zico is often regarded as one of the best players in the history of football that he did not win the World Cup. In ’77, he was awarded the South American Player of the Year, and in ’38, he would receive the World Player of the Year.

  1. Bobby Charlton

If Bobby Charlton had not survived the air disaster in Munich, Manchester United would not have been the team they are today. Known for his ambitious plans to attack with long-range bombshells, Charlton collected the World Cup after his performance winning the European Footballer of the Year award and the Golden Ball. Charlton won the English league three times with the Red Devils, and then captained the team to the European Cup in 1968. He is second only to Ryan Giggs in most appearances for United.

  1. Paolo Maldini

best soccer players of all time

“Paolo Maldini” by typomilan is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Paolo Maldini, the son of manager Cesare Maldini, was an extraordinary scion that could surpass my father’s glory. With a comfortable balance to the left and center of defense, Maldini was a cool, smart defender in front of the invincible defense. One club man, Paolo spent 25 seasons in the black and red game of AC Milan, won five Champions Leagues, seven Serie A titles and a trophy. Maldini holds the record for the fastest goal in a UEFA team final (51 seconds), a goal that has made him the oldest player to score in the final. Paolo’s second-choice player in Italian history (126), Paolo won his first cap under his father in 1986 and played worldwide until 2002. Paolo and Cesare are only father’s only son combo winning the European club championship.

  1. Marco Van Basten

best soccer players of all time

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Another football career has been abruptly truncated through injury, in his youth, Marco Van Basten and his Milan played the most impressive football ever recorded. Signed by Silvio Berlusconi for his high volleys, velvet touch and a torrent of goals, Van Basten also won European Footballer of the Year three times (1988, ’89 and ’92) and FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992, scoring three goals. -277 goals in 11 pro years, two of which he completed as capocannoniere. He would be the first player to score four goals in a Champions League match, having won two European Cups in a row and that has earned him a place on this list of the best soccer players of all time.