Last update 3 May, 2026 by Alberto Llopis

who are the best players in history?

Updated April 2026.

Choosing the best players in the history of football is one of the most exciting debates in this sport. From Pelé and Maradona to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, This ranking brings together the footballers who have marked an era and have changed the history of football forever.

Whenever I publish a ranking they ask me "objectivity". It does not exist to 100%, but yes a method. I speak like coach, Content creator and football fan since he was a child at the end of the 80. That gives some perspective to compare peaks, longevity and how they changed (or not) The big games.

The fact that defines the best in history

Great players not only stand out for their numbers, but for its impact at key moments: finales, titles and historical matches.

That's why, names like Pelé, Maradona, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo dominate any global ranking.

Who is the best player in history?

The debate usually focuses on different names, here we leave a small sample:

• Skin: the only one with three World Cups
• Maradona: the most decisive player in a World Cup
• Messi: the most complete and constant talent
• Cristiano Ronaldo: the most decisive player in the Champions League
• Johan Cruyff: for many, the man who changed football from on and off the field
• Alfredo Di Stefano: ahead of his time
• Ronaldo Nazario: for many, he ,Best striker in history
• Franz Beckenbauer: reinvented the concept of defense

Each one masters a different aspect of the game, which makes a definitive answer impossible. And the list could be much longer..

Who is the best player in the history of football?

The debate about the best player in the history of football does not have a single answer. Throughout the decades, different generations have had dominant figures who marked an era.

These are some of the biggest names in the GOAT discussion (Greatest Of All Time):

• Skin: only player with 3 World Cups
• Diego Maradona: the greatest individual impact in a World Cup
• Lionel Messi: total talent, records and world 2022
• Cristiano Ronaldo: top scorer in history
• Johan Cruyff: revolutionized modern football
• Alfredo Di Stefano: He dominated Europe with Real Madrid
• Zinedine Zidane: decisive in finals and titles
• Ronaldo Nazario: the most decisive forward of his era
• Michael Platini: absolute dominance in the years 80
• Franz Beckenbauer: legend as a player and leader

However, Soccer has been so rich in talent that there are dozens of players who could enter any historical ranking.

1. How I compare, positions and styles (My method in 5 criteria)

Orientative weighting

• Titles and influence on large matches (25%): World Cups, Continental, Champions/European Cup and strong glasses; No high trophies "in gross", value real weight on decisive nights.

• Tactical impact and mastery of the game (25%): How his presence altered rival plans; and They created archetypes (free modern, false 9, Control interior ...).

• Performance peak (20%): that stage in which they were unstoppable.

• Longevity and consistency (20%): years in the elite keeping standard.

• Legacy and Inspiración (10%): Cultural footprint, leadership, School of players that generated.

I compare for positions (goalkeepers and defenses are not measured only by goals) y Therefore (rules, footballs, fields, Physical preparation). My first World Cup was Italia 90, The first that I really enjoyed was USA 94; Since then I try not to mix churras with merina: and 9 of the 60 Another football lived than one end of 2010.

2. The historical top (40→1) With mini-fists (pico, Achievements, legacy)

#40–31: Great soccer players

40. Kylian Mbappé — Pico: speed and definition in transitions. Achievements: national titles, International endings. Legacy: candidate to mark there next decade; still writing.
39. Neymar — Pico: 1V1 imbalance and creativity. Achievements: diseases, Champions, SUCCESSES WITH THE SELECTION. Legacy: Technical icon of your generation, irregularity lowers positions.
38. Pavel Nedvěd — Pico: motor box-to-box con gol. Achievements: Top Ligas, Europa. Legacy: Total competitive midfielder at the highest level. Pavel Nedved He is the best Czech player in history.
37. Andrea Pirlo — Pico: Metronome and long surgical pass. Achievements: Club and Selection Titles. Legacy: redefined the modern regist.
36. Michael Laudrup — Pico: supernatural vision; Yeah, The passes looking at the stands. Achievements: diseases, Europa. Legacy: one of the ones that fell in love most for its reading of space; It does not always appear on lists, but its intelligence He puts it here. He Best player in Denmark.
35. Sergio Ramos — Pico: Decisive central in areas. Achievements: Title collections. Legacy: leadership, Gol in the end, Competitive aggressiveness.
34. Francesco Totti — Pico: 10/9, last club emperor. Achievements: diseases, International tournaments. Legacy: Symbol of loyalty and pure technique. One of the One Club Man more famous in history.
33. Bobby Moore — Pico: legendary defensive timing. Achievements: glory with your selection. Legacy: class and placement, Central School.
32. Didi — Pico: Temple in the crescent. Achievements: world successes. Legacy: Pass teacher and pause.
31. Lev Yashin — Pico: The goalkeeper who made the goal a stage. Achievements: Titles and Top Awards. Legacy: Modern goalkeeper paradigm. The ‘Black Spider’.

#30–21: The elite that touched the Olympus

30. Lothar Matthäus — Pico: SUVs with Zancada and Arrival. Achievements: Club and Selection Titles. Legacy: fierce longevity.
29. Ruud Gullit — Pico: power + technique. Achievements: Europe and selection. Legacy: period versatility.
28. Marco van Basten — Pico: One of the finest definitions; If it weren't for injuries .... Achievements: Leagues and Europe. Legacy: lethal elegance in the area.
27. Luka Modric — Pico: Rhythms and solutions control under pressure. Achievements: Champions, successes with your selection. Legacy: Control interior that dominates qualifiers.
26. Franco Baresi — Pico: Online reading and leadership. Achievements: Europe with historical teams. Legacy: Tactical Central Manual.
25. George Best — Pico: Gambeta and charisma. Achievements: Leagues and Europe. Legacy: Football Pop Myth.
24. Thierry Henry — Pico: amplitude, Diagonal unchecking and definition. Achievements: diseases, Europa, selection. Legacy: modern winger-winger.
23. Kaka — Pico: Impossible start by central lane. Achievements: Europe and Leagues. Legacy: 10/Transitional medium.
22. Robert Carlos — Pico: Side-Extermo with comic firing. Achievements: Europe and selection. Legacy: raised the offensive bar of the left side.
21. Cafu — Pico: I inexhaustible right highway. Achievements: Europe and selection. Legacy: Reference right side for years.

#20–11: Absolute legends

20. Eusebius — Pico: Shorter with a dock. Achievements: Europe and selection. Legacy: Panther who took his club to the top.
19. Gerd Müller — Pico: instinct within the area like nobody. Achievements: Europe and selection. Legacy: redefined the "9" auctioneer.
18. Garrincha — Pico: Hypnotic dribble, one against one eternal. Achievements: world successes. Legacy: Soccer as popular art.
17. Michael Platini — Pico: reading, Goal and command. Achievements: ownership Continental. Legacy: school brain medium.
16. Paolo Maldini — Pico: Excellence without stridency. Achievements: Europa, elite longevity. Legacy: Defensive class standard.
15. Xavi — Pico: pass, Pause and geometry. Achievements: Europe and selection. Legacy: The "Control Interior" by Antonomasia.
14. Andres Iniesta — Pico: giro, Short driving and appearance in the party that defines races. Achievements: Europe and selection. Legacy: Useful poetry; I have seen its live reading and TV does not do justice.
13. Roberto Baggio — Pico: delicacy and last pass. Achievements: Leagues and prominence in large tournaments. Legacy: aesthetics and efficacy.
12. Romário — Pico: First control = goal. Achievements: continental and world successes. Legacy: he 9 small and unstoppable.
11. Zico — Pico: gol, pass and hit excellent. Achievements: Domain in clubs and selection. Legacy: "Pelé Blanco" by influence and technique.

#10–1: The untouchables (With Goat comparisons)

10. Ronaldinho — Pico: The highest magic peak I remember: unpredictable, Happy and devastating. Achievements: Europe and selection. Legacy: inspired an entire generation.
9. Ferenc Puskás — Pico: left -handed cannon and leadership. Achievements: Europa, successes with your selection. Legacy: His name is a goal synonymous.
8. Franz Beckenbauer — Pico: invented the modern figure of Lebero. Achievements: Europe and selection. Legacy: put order from behind; Colossal tactical influence.
7. Ronaldo Nazario — Pico: Front more indefensible What I saw; torn, Waist and definition. Achievements: Titles in Clubs and Selection. Legacy: molded to 9 total.
6. Alfredo Di Stefano — Pico: omnipresence; I played all over the field. Achievements: European domain of your club. Legacy: Modern Club Soccer Base.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo — Pico: Inacabable productivity; Air game, uncheck, decisive foot. Achievements: Collection of titles and records. Legacy: professional obsession that raised the competitive standard.
4. Johan Cruyff — Pico: brain total football. Achievements: Europe and Leadership in Selection/Club. Legacy: ideologist; coach-player as a historical figure.
3. Diego Maradona — Pico: emotional leadership and lightning legs. Achievements: Titles with Club and Selection, Eternal nights. Legacy: Cultural Football Myth.
2. Skin — Pico: Athlete-artist with area reading. Achievements: world successes and with your club. Legacy: The Supercrack Mold.
1. Lionel Messi — Pico: Resolution in minimal spaces, lethal pass, Huge regularity. Achievements: He won practically everything. Legacy: redefined what a 10/false 9 For more than a decade. Confession: live I have seen rivals plan entire matches to not let him receive from his back.

Personal note: Laudrup It does not usually enter all top-10, but its Vision changed me The way of understanding the game: The pass that invite to the race. That idea appears in several of these cracks, But few embodied her with so elegance.

Gold balls added to the historical top (40→1)

Format: Player - Golden Balls (years). And “0 (Not eligible)”, It is for the regulations of your time.

40. Kylian Mbappé - 0
39. Neymar — 0
38. Pavel Nedvěd - 1 (2003)
37. Andrea Pirlo - 0
36. Michael Laudrup - 0
35. Sergio Ramos - 0
34. Francesco Totti - 0
33. Bobby Moore — 0
32. Didi — 0 (Not eligible)
31. Lev Yashin - 1 (1963)

30. Lothar Matthäus - 1 (1990)
29. Ruud Listing — 1 (1987)
28. Marco van Basten - 3 (1988, 1989, 1992)
27. Luka Modric - 1 (2018)
26. Franco Baresi - 0
25. George Best — 1 (1968)
24. Thierry Henry — 0
23. Kaka - 1 (2007)
22. Roberto Carlos - 0
21. Cafu - 0

20. EUSÉBIO - 1 (1965)
19. Gerd Müller - 1 (1970)
18. Garrincha - 0 (Not eligible)
17. Michel Platini - 3 (1983, 1984, 1985)
16. Paolo Maldini - 0
15. Xavi — 0
14. Andrés Iniesta - 0
13. Roberto Baggio - 1 (1993)
12. Romário - 0 (Not eligible in 1994)
11. Zico — 0 (Not eligible)

10. Ronaldinho — 1 (2005)
9. Francis Puskás - 0
8. Franz Beckenbauer - 2 (1972, 1976)
7. Ronaldo Nazario - 2 (1997, 2002)
6. Alfredo di Stéfano - 2 (1957, 1959)
5. Cristiano Ronaldo - 5 (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
4. Johan Cruyff - 3 (1971, 1973, 1974)
3. Diego Maradona - 0 (honorific 1995)
2. Skin - 0 (honorific 2013)
1. Lionel Messi - 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Top of more golden balls inside this ranking

• Lionel Messi - 8

• Cristiano Ronaldo - 5

• Cruyff / Platinum / Van Basten - 3

• Beckenbauer / Ronaldo Nazario / Say Stefano — 2

• Lightning / Best / Eusebius / Gerd Müller / Baggio / Gullit / Matthew / Nedvěd / Kaka / Ronaldinho — 1

3. Key comparisons: Messi vs Maradona vs Pelé vs Cristiano (What weighs more and why)

• Pico vs longevity: Maradona had a unique emotional-technical peak; Messi maintains a high level for many years; Cristiano, Competitive longevity with finishing elite; Pelé dominated his era with forcefulness and versatility.

• Tactical impact: Cruyff and Di Stéfano change game ideas; Messi and Cristiano change as It is competed every weekend.

• Great matches: I evaluate leadership, Previous influence and "hinge moments" (goals/Aseis in final phases).

• Context of era: Pelé and Di Stéfano played with rules, different balls and rhythms; That is why I normalize with the relative weight In his time.

In my coach notebook, If weigh Titles and Impact + pico + longevity, Messi is first for global balance, Maradona and Pelé tied in "epic and peak", And Cristiano is the productivity standard that forces others to persecute him.

4. The context matters: eras, rules and tactics that molded each star

• Rules and arbitration: more allowed contact in past decades; Today there is VAR and tactical surveillance.

• Physical preparation: Today is played faster; Before there were more spaces, But less substitutions and less protection.

• Positional evolution: of the libero (Beckenbauer) al Control interior (Xavi/Modric), of the classic end (Garrincha) al scorer extreme (Cristiano/Henry).

• Calendar: Now the density punishes longevity; That is why I even value the consistency of those who endure up.

Myself, Seeing Live Leagues of Maximum Level, I have learned to look at Details without ball: How Iniesta is emerging to receive, How Maldini deactivates al 9 Only with the position, or how a laudrup pass accelerate A play without physically touching the ball (Yeah, It happens).

5. Honorary mentions (And why Laudrup deserves to be in conversation)

They stay one step away from 40: Dino Zoff, Rivaldo, Rivelino, Matthias Sammer, Socrates, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Ask, Rich, Sergio Busquets. If you wonder why Laudrup Yes enter: There are lists that underestimate the Creation of invisible advantages; In my ranking the Reading and Timing They tell.

6. Frequent questions to close the debate without dogmas

What weighs the most: World, Champions The Oro Balón?
It depends on as: I prefer a player who dominates the Champions League and Selections Tournaments with real influence to whom Trophies as a passenger.

How do I value goalkeepers and defenses?
More for Errors avoided and control of areas that by highlights. That is why Yashin and Maldini appear above without goals.

Ronaldo Nazario O Ronaldinho?
Ronaldo was the 9 impossible; Ronaldinho, The magician. Pico for Dinho, 9 total for R9. In total, I get R9 by impact on area.

Why Xavi and Iniesta so high?
Why changed how they win: control, break, Third man. It is not aesthetics, es Functional dominance.

¿Messi, Maradona O Pelé?
If you prioritize pico + epic, Maybe Diego; If you go to era + World(es), Skin; If you are looking for Total balance (pico, longevity, titles, Numbers and game), I put a Messi.

So who are the best players in history?

A good ranking is not a sum of chromos; is a History of the game counted through its archetypes. That's why they live di Stéfano (Modern Club Architect), Cruyff (ideologist), Beckenbauer (Defensive syntax), Ronaldo (unstoppable peak) y Messi (Total balance). Y, Yeah, There is room to defend Laudrup: Rarely I saw someone invite to football like him, With a pass that seemed to look at the future.