Top 10 Best Soccer Players Of All Time

In the soccer world, new bright stars often appear and quickly become famous. However, only a few of them truly shine for a long time and warm our hearts. These wizards of the ball, in the most magical way, stand out dramatically among other soccer players. In addition to individual skill, they possess a special soccer charisma that helps them not only win but also embody the “king of sports.”

Modern soccer history spans almost 150 years. It was that long ago that the first historic international match between England and Scotland was played. Since that fateful day, the world could no longer remain the same. Everyone fell in love with soccer. Millions of boys in every corner of the world kicked leather balls around their neighborhoods, dreaming of becoming the best of the best and playing in front of spectators. AdmiGram.com pays homage to soccer and compiles its ranking of the most outstanding soccer players of our time.

Top 10 best soccer players of all time

How we selected the best soccer players

To objectively determine the best soccer player, we decided to rank them based on five factors, using a 10-point scale. The factors we chose are:

Individual skill: This is what stands out on the field. It’s a crucial trait that allows a player to change the outcome of any match.
Success and trophies: This includes both individual awards and team trophies, cups, and medals won in international competitions.
Longevity: A very important aspect in evaluating players. Not all talented players have managed to dominate throughout their careers, let alone finish at an elite level.
Team play: What differentiates good soccer from truly great soccer. The ability to selflessly work in a team is one of the most important factors for real soccer stars.
Competitive spirit: The ability to dominate on the field, instilling fear in opponents. The ability to fight until the last second, “destroying” the opponent on the field, is not something everyone has.

Combining all these elements, we created our list of top ten players.

10. Xavi Hernandez

Born: January 25, 1980, Terrassa, Spain
Points: 36

Xavi debuted in Barcelona’s youth team at 18. During those times, it was difficult for Barcelona to buy new players, so coaches closely watched the younger generation. Initially, Xavi played in defense before being moved to midfield. His bright playing style and excellent ball control earned him a spot in Barcelona’s main team. Alongside Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez formed the famous golden trio.

9. Michel Platini

Born: June 21, 1955, Joeuf, France
Points: 38

One of the greatest French players, Michel Platini, spent most of his 15-year career in attacking and midfield roles for Nancy, Saint-Etienne, and Juventus. In 432 games, he scored 224 goals. He won the European Cup in 1985 with Juventus, where he played a key role, and became the first and only player to win three consecutive Ballon d’Or awards in 1983, 1984, and 1985. As captain of the French national team in 1984, he helped them win the European Championship, which was France’s first major international soccer trophy.

8. Johan Cruyff

Born: April 25, 1947, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Points: 39

The legendary “Flying Dutchman” was one of the best attacking midfielders of his generation. Raised by Ajax’s academy, he revolutionized the game. As a young player with Ajax, he won seven Dutch league titles and three European Cups, scoring 190 goals in 240 matches. Cruyff was a great player, excelling in all positions on the field at any time. He scored 33 goals in 48 international matches for the Netherlands.

7. Alfredo Di Stefano

Born: July 4, 1926, Barracas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Points: 42

Di Stefano is rightly considered one of the greatest players of all time. His record of 49 goals in 58 international matches was only surpassed by the great Raul in 2005. With Real Madrid in the 1950s, he won the Spanish championship eight times, the European Champions Cup five times, and the Spanish Cup twice. Playing for Real, Di Stefano was considered the best player in Spanish soccer history. Throughout his career, this legendary player won 27 international trophies.

6. Franz Beckenbauer

Born: September 11, 1945, Munich, Germany
Points: 43

This player revolutionized the soccer world. Franz Beckenbauer is one of the most elegant soccer players of all time, who invented the sweeper (libero) role. With Bayern Munich, he shone in the 1970s, helping his team win four championships and four DFB Cups, as well as five prestigious European trophies. Over his soccer career, Beckenbauer played 747 matches, scoring 97 goals.

5. Zinedine Zidane

Born: June 23, 1972, Marseille, France
Points: 44

Zinedine Zidane brought the “golden renaissance” to French soccer. Zidane had a huge influence on French soccer and the entire sport in the early 2000s. His soccer talent was generously recognized by fans and experts alike. Zidane was named the world’s best player three times, and UEFA recognized him as the best player of the 1950-2000 period. Playing for the French national team, he helped them win the European Championship and the World Cup. Throughout his career, Zidane scored 128 goals in 681 matches.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo

Born: February 5, 1985, Funchal, Portugal
Points: 45

Undoubtedly, this player can rise to the highest pedestal in world soccer. Currently, Cristiano Ronaldo is considered the most versatile and complete soccer player in the world. Ronaldo has incredible dribbling skills, allowing him to easily outplay several opponents. When it comes to standard shots on goal, he has a unique strike that is impossible to predict. In his collection, he already has 34 international trophies and has scored 964 goals in 1,378 games.

3. Diego Maradona

Born: October 30, 1960, Lanus, Argentina
Points: 46

Throughout his career, Diego Maradona possessed the most fantastic dribbling ever seen in major soccer. On the field, he was like a small hurricane that was impossible to stop. This player has an incredible number of awards and trophies, about a hundred. With the Argentine national team, Diego Maradona won two World Cups and once became a silver medalist. Throughout his sports career, this player scored 345 goals, including 34 for the national team.

2. Lionel Messi

Born: June 24, 1987, Rosario, Argentina
Points: 47

Lionel Messi is rightfully considered one of the best soccer players in the history of world soccer. The number of records he has set is overwhelming and doesn’t fit within the format of our article. Notably, this phenomenal athlete has 49 international trophies, 57 hat-tricks, 1,210 matches played, and 933 goals. In the 2000-2010 period, Messi embodied the soccer we love and want to see. His unique explosive playing style contributed significantly to the popularity of this sport worldwide.

1. Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele)

Born: October 23, 1940, Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Points: 49

Pele is not just the most famous soccer player in the world; he is an athlete ahead of his time. The legendary Brazilian is the only player in the world to have won three World Cups as a player (in 1958, 1962, and 1970). Pele won everything there was to win with his home club Santos and the Brazilian national team. In the most dramatic moments of a match, he could take responsibility and snatch victory from the opponent. All soccer associations, including FIFA, recognized Pele as the best player of the 20th century. This legendary athlete played 1,120 soccer matches and scored 1,087 goals. An unattainable result even for modern soccer.

image on top: Liam McKay / Unsplash