30 Greatest Football Players Of All Time (2024)

One of the great football topics is back for 2024 and there will be a wide array of differing opinions on the results. Deciding who is the greatest footballer of all time is never easy, particularly as fans biasedly claim their club legend is the best.

It tends to be a common theme that a lot of people consider Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Pele to be the most prominent names in the hat for being the best player to have ever played the game, but always in different orders.

Unsurprisingly, all four of those names make it onto our list, but in what order, only time will tell. So, in the interest of not keeping anyone waiting to find out who the GOAT is, here at GIVEMESPORT, we have ranked the 30 greatest footballers of all time, taking into account the ranking factors below.

Ranking factors

Factors taken into consideration when ranking these players are as follows:

Importance to the team – This can be classed as goals, assists or clean sheets. Yet the more they’ve scored – or defended – the higher they are on the list. You can’t be a legendary striker without scoring hundreds of goals.
Club and international trophies – If a player has played a crucial part in their team winning trophies, they have been ranked higher on this list. The top of professional football is all about winning trophies — and these players epitomised that.
Individual Awards – However, some players stay at teams that don’t compete for major trophies every year, so using individual awards to rank the 25 best is also important. The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious awards in the sport.

#
Name
Appearances

1
Lionel Messi
1094

2
Cristiano Ronaldo
1217

3
Pele
739

4
Diego Maradona
428

5

Johan Cruyff
597

6
Ferenc Puskas
328

7

Franz Beckenbauer
723

8
Zinedine Zidane
797

9
Ronaldo
553

10
Alfredo Di Stefano
454

11
Michel Platini
622

12

Gerd Muller
674

13
Paolo Maldini
785

14

Garrincha
294

15
Franco Baresi
797

16
Eusebio
500

17
Kaka
651

18
Marco van Basten
431

19
Sir Bobby Charlton
789

20
Lev Yashin
432

21
Ronaldinho
643

22
Andres Iniesta
1012

23
Xavi
1060

24
Gareth Bale
665

25
Ruud Gullit
642

26
George Best
694

27
Luka Modric
1077

28
Roberto Baggio
699

29
Romario
983

30
Lothar Matthaus
935

Correct as of 31/05/24

30Lothar Matthaus

Lothar Matthaus never doubted his immense quality. The dynamic central midfielder racked up a glut of trophies for Bayern Munich and the national team yet never felt appreciated by his people. “Germany should be ashamed of the way it treats such an idol,” he fretted long after retirement. Such self-confidence played against Matthaus.

Plenty appreciated his unique blend of skills. Diego Maradona famously hailed the German as the “best rival I had in my whole career”. The pair would overlap in Serie A and clashed in consecutive World Cup finals. Matthaus lifted the global crown in 1990 and earned international acclaim as that year’s Ballon d’Or winner.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Borussia Monchengladbach
1979 – 1984
200
51
1

Bayern Munich
1984 – 1988
152
69
15

Inter Milan
1988 – 1992
154
53
11

Bayern Munich
1992 – 2000
258
31
35

MetroStars
2000
21
0
1

West Germany/Germany
1980 – 2000
150
23
17

29Romario

If Romario had been in charge of this list, he would have been far closer to its summit. The outspoken Brazilian striker claimed that only two players in the history of the game – Pele and Maradona – were better than him. While that lofty appraisal may be a stretch, there is some justification for his self-confidence.

A wiry, bandy-legged forward, Romario’s unashamed objection was simple: score. After a career that spanned five continents and more than 750 goals in official competitions, it was certainly mission complete. But to focus solely on numbers – which Romario has gained a reputation for distorting – ignores the impish craft laced throughout his game.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Vasco da Gama
1985 – 1988
142
80
Unknown

PSV
1988 – 1993
148
128
24

Barcelona
1993 – 1995
66
39
11

Flamengo
1995 – 1999
215
187
Unknown

Valencia
1996 – 1997
12
6
0

Vasco da Gama
1999 – 2002
136
131
Unknown

Fluminense
2002 – 2004
75
47
Unknown

Al-Sadd
2003
3
0
Unknown

Vasco da Gama
2005 – 2006
56
41
Unknown

FC Miami
2006
26
19
Unknown

Adelaide United
2006
4
1
Unknown

Vasco da Gama

America FC
2009
1
0
Unknown

Brazil
1987 – 2005
80
68
11

28Roberto Baggio

The enduring appeal of Roberto Baggio is his universality. Despite playing for Italy’s three northern giants – Juventus, Milan and Inter – Baggio is adored by all those fortunate enough to have seen his effortless grace. The ‘Divine Ponytail’ – surely one of the best nicknames in football – saved his best work for those outside Serie A’s established elite and the Italian national team.

Baggio wove the first golden threads of his tapestry at Fiorentina, where his manager Aldo Agroppi gushed: “The angels sing, in his legs.” The ephemeral forward rediscovered his best form during a year at Bologna before bowing out of the game with four glittering seasons in provincial Brescia.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Vicenza
1982 – 1985
47
16
Unknown

Fiorentina
1985 – 1990
136
55
24

Juventus
1990 – 1995
200
115
48

AC Milan
1995 – 1997
67
19
23

Bologna
1997 – 1998
33
23
10

Inter Milan
1998 – 2000
59
17
18

Brescia
2000 – 2004
101
46
29

Italy
1988 – 2004
56
27
14

27Luka Modric

Halfway through his debut campaign at Real Madrid in 2012/13, Luka Modric was voted as the worst signing of the season in a poll conducted by the Spanish publication Marca. Manager Jose Mourinho called for time and patience. “He’s so good that the Santiago Bernabeu will fall in love with his class.” Not for the first time, Mourinho was proven right.

More than a decade spent discovering new passing angles with the outside of his right foot has led to a stack of silverware and widespread acclaim. During Modric’s final years in the Spanish capital, the entire stadium – including away fans – invariably rises in an ovation for the Croatian icon.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Dinamo Zagreb
2003 – 2008
79
24
21

Zrinjski Mostar
2003 – 2004
25
8
Unknown

Inter Zapresic
2004 – 2005
18
4
Unknown

Tottenham
2008 – 2012
160
17
25

Real Madrid
2012 – Present
534
39
86

Croatia
2006 – Present
177
25
29

Correct as of 24/06/24

26George Best

George Best’s peak was painfully brief. The winger with a body feint that could leave defenders with twisted blood led Manchester United to the club’s first European Cup in 1968, scoring his 32nd goal of the season in the final against Benfica a week after his 22nd birthday. He never scored more than 10 goals for a European club after turning 26.

British football’s first celebrity struggled to adjust to the fame he never asked for in an era when no one would have known how to react, least of all a shy kid from Belfast. As Best wryly reflected: “If I’d been born ugly, you’d never have heard of Pele.”

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Manchester United
1963 – 1974
418
158
Unknown

Jewish Guild
1974
5
0
Unknown

Stockport County
1975
3
2
Unknown

Cork City
1975 – 1976
3
0
Unknown

Los Angeles Aztecs
1976
24
15
Unknown

Fulham
1976 – 1977
47
10
Unknown

Los Angeles Aztecs
1977 – 1978
37
14
Unknown

Fort Lauderdale Strikers
1978 – 1979
33
7
Unknown

Hibernian
1979 – 1980
22
3
Unknown

San Jose Earthquakes
1980 – 1981
56
21
Unknown

Bournemouth
1982 – 1983
5
0
Unknown

Brisbane Lions
1983
4
0
Unknown

Northern Ireland
1964 – 1977
37
9
Unknown

25Ruud Gullit

The former AC Milan midfielder makes it into the top 25 and ranks among some of the top players to have played the game in his position. Gullit spent the best years of his career in Italy, where he went on to win three Serie A titles and two European Cups. He was even able to reinvent himself as a top-class centre-back in the latter stages of his career when he signed for Chelsea.

From 1979 up to his retirement, Gullit played for a total of six clubs, scoring a total of 219 goals and providing 100 assists during that time frame. While he was born in Suriname, he opted to represent the Netherlands and played for two of the biggest clubs in the Eredivisie, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven. While the mighty Dutchman might be best known for his unmatched hairstyle and moustache, there is no doubting Gullit’s ability on the pitch.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Haarlem
1979 – 1982
100
36
13

Feyenoord
1982 – 1985
103
41
13

PSV Eindhoven
1985 – 1987
75
53
29

AC Milan
1987 – 1994
171
56
40

Sampdoria
1994 – 1995
63
26
5

Chelsea
1995 – 1998
64
7
0

Netherlands
1981 – 1994
66
17
7

24Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale being on this list might surprise you, particularly when someone like Eden Hazard isn’t. However, he was consistently world-class and epitomised the idea of ‘hard work’. He made a name for himself at Tottenham Hotspur. The Welshman won just one trophy there – the 2008 Carling Cup – but he carried the team on his back. Bale famously broke onto the scene with a hat-trick away to European champions Inter Milan in 2010. He eventually moved to Real Madrid for a world-record fee where he won everything he could. Bale’s overhead kick to win the 2018 Champions League against Liverpool remains one of the greatest goals in the competition’s history.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals

Southampton
2006 – 2007
45
5
12

Tottenham
2007 – 2013
202
55
55

Real Madrid
2013 – 2020
258
106
67

Tottenham
2020 – 2021
34
16
3

LA FC
2022 – 2023
14
3
0

Wales
2006 – 2022
111
40
22

23Xavi

Xavi is one of the greatest midfielders of all time. His ability to dictate matches and play pin-point passes was extraordinary — and something very few midfielders have been able to do. He played a key role in the golden generation at Barcelona, showcased by winning the Champions League in 2009 and 2011 alongside Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi. Both times came against Manchester United, where Xavi dominated the middle of the park. For Spain, he won a World Cup and two European Championships, cementing his status as one of the greatest of all time. His teammate Iniesta was somehow even better, just.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Barcelona
1998 – 2015
767
85
185

Al-Sadd
2015 – 2019
99
23
30

Spain
2000 – 2014
133
12
25

22Andres Iniesta

Xavi and Andres Iniesta were like ‘two peas in a pod’. They coupled each other perfectly in the middle of the park, allowing Barcelona to dominate European football. It led to success year after year, with Guardiola incredibly complimentary of the Spaniards. Over his 12 years at Barcelona – and more at the academy – Iniesta played over 674 matches, assisting over 130 goals. His work for Spain was just impressive, controlling matches effortlessly. Due to the dominance of Ronaldo and Messi, he never had the opportunity to compete for the Ballon d’Or, but – if the legendary duo didn’t exist – Iniesta would surely have won it.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Barcelona
2002 – 2018
674
57
136

Vissel Kobe
2018 – 2023
134
26
25

Emirates
2023 – Present
23
5
1

Spain
2006 – 2018
134
14
Unknown

Correct as of 24/06/24

21Ronaldinho

However, the Barcelona legends don’t stop there. Slightly earlier than Xavi and Iniesta, Ronaldinho shocked fans with his ability to dominate matches from the flank. He glided past opponents, created skill moves out of nothing and acted as if it was a kick around in the park. His best spell at Barcelona saw him score 90 goals and earn 70 assists in just 207 matches, whilst he also won the World Cup and Champions League throughout his career. His career took a sour turn at the end — and post-retirement — but he is still considered one of the most naturally gifted players of all time.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Gremio
1998 – 2001
10
1
1

PSG
2001 – 2003
77
25
17

Barcelona
2003 – 2008
207
94
70

AC Milan
2008 – 2011
95
26
29

Flamengo
2011 – 2012
44
19
13

Atletico Mineiro
2012 – 2014
73
24
28

Queretaro
2014 – 2015
30
8
8

Fluminense
2015
9
0
0

Brazil
1999 – 2013
97
33
Unknown

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20Lev Yashin

Lev Yashin is the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d’Or, whilst he now has an award named after him – the Yashin Trophy – which is given to the best goalkeeper each year. His individual qualities were spectacular, particularly on the international stage, but he also stayed at one club for his entire career – Dynamic Moscow. In total, he made 358 appearances for Dynamo Moscow from 1950-1970 which saw him win eight major trophies. Yashin amazed people with his ability to save shots, which were once deemed impossible to save. Between the sticks, he is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, even winning the European Championships with the Soviet Union. Greatness epitomised.

Team
Years
Appearances

Dynamo Moscow
1950 – 1970
358

Soviet Union
1954 – 1970
74

19Sir Bobby Charlton

One of only four Englishmen to have won the prestigious individual award, which is the Ballon d’Or, the Manchester United icon was given the prize in 1966, after being part of England’s World Cup success earlier in the year. Charlton was Man United’s top goalscorer with a staggering 249 goals until his record was overtaken by Wayne Rooney. Charlton is so iconic for his former club, and for England, that he has been featured in England’s three greatest XIs ever alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Paul Gascoigne – showcasing exactly what sort of impact he had for his country on a football pitch. He sadly passed away in 2023, leaving behind an incredible legacy.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Manchester United
1956 – 1973
686
231
10

England
1958 – 1970
106
49
1

18Marco van Basten

Former Netherlands international – Van Basten – spent his career with two clubs, with the first half being spent with Ajax and the second being with AC Milan. Across both spells, he managed to hit the back of the net 277 times with an additional 82 assists, leaving him not far shy of a goal contribution per game on average. His goal-scoring antics managed to put him among the elite company to have won three Ballon d’Ors. Had injuries not forced Van Basten to retire from football early at the age of 31, there is every chance the Dutch forward would have gone on to receive any more plaudits than he does. He did get to bow out of the game while he was at the top, but a career that looked set to be approaching all-timer status was cut short.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Ajax
1981 – 1987
172
152
34

AC Milan
1987 – 1995
201
125
49

Netherlands
1983 – 1992
58
24
9

17Kaka

Kaka won the Ballon d’Or in 2007 after winning the Champions League with AC Milan. The team and individual achievements solidified his status as one of the greatest players of all time. He also won the World Cup in 2002 in his first year representing his country, highlighting his legendary status at an early stage. For AC Milan, he excelled over six years from 2003-2009, scoring 75 goals in 270 matches. His spell at Real Madrid in the years was not as impressive, but he still managed to score 29 goals in 120 matches. The Brazilian will always be remembered as one of the sport’s best entertainers — and one of the best Brazilians.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Sao Paulo
2000 – 2003
46
19
8

AC Milan
2003 – 2009
270
75
74

Real Madrid
2009 – 2013
120
29
39

AC Milan
2013 – 2014

Orlando City
2014 – 2017
78
25
19

Brazil
2002 – 2016
92
29
Unknown

16Eusebio

Eusebio won the 1965 version of the Ballon d’Or as he dominated Portugal throughout his career with Benfica. The forward had an impeccable knack for finding the back of the net for his club and country. He would have been considered the best Portuguese talent the game has ever seen had it not been for another man that came along quite some time after. Even despite having his legacy as a Portuguese star overtaken by another man on this list, Eusebio remains one of football’s greatest finishers, with the Benfica icon being clinical on either foot and possessing a wide range of finishes in his locker.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Benfica
1961 – 1975
301
317
Unknown

Portugal
1961 – 1973
64
41
Unknown

15Franco Baresi

Italy are well-known for producing some of the most solid defenders the game has ever seen and Baresi is one of the very best. His defensive intelligence was almost unmatched, despite only being the second-highest-ranking Italian centre-back on the list. Baresi came very close to winning the Ballon d’Or as he finished runner-up in 1989, with the award proving very elusive for defenders over the years. A true one-club man, Baresi came through the youth ranks at AC Milan and would spend his entire club career representing the Rossoneri at senior level for a full two decades. The majority of that time was spent as one of the best defenders in the world. Italian players are known to love defending and Baresi was no different.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

AC Milan
1977 – 1997
716
33
24

Italy
1982 – 1994
81
1
Unknown

14Garrincha

Garrincha having such a high-level football career is unbelievable, as the Brazilian was born with one leg being six centimetres longer than the other. His right leg also turned inwards while his left leg turned outwards and Garrincha was certified as crippled by his doctor as a child. To then go on to be such a talented player as an adult and to play until his late 30s is one of the best journeys to the top that any player can brag about. It is unclear how many goals the winger scored throughout his career, so take the stats with a pinch of salt, but it is well known that he was a brilliant player in his time. Mixing the Brazilian flair we have come to associate with the nation, Garrincha had a lot of pace to his game, which made him an exciting player to watch.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Botafogo
1953 – 1965
238
84
Unknown

Brazil
1955 – 1966
50
12
Unknown

13Paolo Maldini

Just like Baresi earlier, Paolo Maldini was a one-club man and was a stalwart of the AC Milan team for 25 years, which is an incredible feat for any player. He managed to achieve this longevity in the game by adapting his game to be world-class at both left-back and centre-back, mastering his trade in two separate roles. The art of defending was made to look effortless and almost easy by the Italian on the way to winning five European Cups and seven Serie A titles. The most dominant spell AC Milan enjoyed during Maldini’s career was under Carlo Ancelotti in the early 2000s, as the Italian club returned to being a European powerhouse. This was in large part due to the leadership qualities of Maldini, going along with his incredible defensive IQ.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

AC Milan
1984 – 2009
647
29
28

Italy
1988 – 2002
138
12
Unknown

12Gerd Muller

There is an array of prestigious honours in Muller’s trophy cabinet, as he won the 1970 Ballon d’Or after securing the Golden Boot at the World Cup earlier in that year. Only four years later, the forward fired his nation to World Cup glory, which is always a dream for any football player. His success in front of goal in Germany speaks for itself with 568 goals in 611 appearances. Muller is still the top Bundesliga goalscorer to this day with a sensational haul of 365 goals, even after Robert Lewandowski’s deadly nature while playing in the division over the past decade or so. This gives even more credibility to the German’s legacy as modern fans of the sport know just how good Lewandowski has been and while the Polish forward is close to Muller’s record, he still falls short.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Bayern Munich
1964 -1979
611
568
102

Germany
1966 – 1974
63
69
Unknown

11Michel Platini

French midfielder, Platini, has three Ballon d’Ors to his name, and they all came in successive years from 1983 to 1985, which goes a long way to show his recognition in the global game. He is the only player with this many Ballons d’Or to not be a forward, although his goalscoring exploits were as effective as clinical talisman. Among his long list of accolades, his 1984 Euro campaign was very impressive, as he was named player of the tournament and also managed to be the top scorer despite being a midfielder. The former UEFA President scored over 200 times in his club career for Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

AS Nancy
1972 – 1979
182
110
Unknown

Saint-Étienne
1979 – 1982
145
83
Unknown

Juventus
1982 – 1987
223
104
49

France
1976 – 1987
72
41
17

10Alfredo di Stefano

Di Stefano was part of a dominant Real Madrid side as the talisman on the way to eight La Liga titles in the space of 10 years. Despite coming second in the Ballon d’Or rankings in 1956, he went on to secure the award the next year as well as another time in 1959. Only three men boast a better goal record for Los Blancos than the man who switched national allegiances during his career to represent both Spain and Argentina at the international level. Di Stefano scored 308 goals for the Spanish side, which made him the top marksman in the prestigious club’s history at the time. Raul Gonzalez, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo are the only men to have scored more in the iconic white shirt.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Millionarios
1949 – 1953
1
2
Unknown

Real Madrid
1953 – 1964
360
276
2

Espanyol
1964 – 1966
56
13
Unknown

Argentina
1947
6
6
Unknown

Spain
1957 – 1961
31
23
Unknown

9Ronaldo

There is no doubt that R9 was an incredibly talented player who suffered from some challenging times throughout his career. Playing for the two biggest clubs in both Italy and Spain and still being universally adored is one of the biggest compliments the football world can pay to the two-time World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner. The high point in Ronaldo’s career came in one of the best World Cup finals of all time as he netted a brace in Brazil’s 2-0 success over Germany in 2002. A glistening career slowed down significantly towards his latter years, wrapping it up after two years back in Brazil with Corinthians.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Cruzeiro
1993 – 1994
10
2
Unknown

PSV Eindhoven
1994 – 1996
57
54
7

Barcelona
1996 – 1997
49
47
13

Inter Milan
1997 – 2002
99
59
10

Real Madrid
2002 – 2007
177
103
35

AC Milan
2007 – 2008
20
9
5

Corinthians
2009 – 2011
42
24
6

Brazil
1994 – 2011
99
62
32

8Zinedine Zidane

Bowing out of the game heartbreakingly with a red card during a World Cup final loss doesn’t tell the story of the career Zidane had at the very top. Even in that game, he showed his brilliance with a panenka to put his side in the lead against Italy. Many regard the powerful and skilful midfielder as the best to have ever played the position and this list goes some way to proving that as the consensus. His top-ten finish on this list makes Zidane the greatest central midfielder to have stepped onto a football pitch. To also be the highest-ranked French player in history is an extremely impressive feat, ranking higher than the likes of Thierry Henry – who doesn’t even make the list.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Cannes
1989 – 1992
71
6
Unknown

Bordeaux

Juventus
1996 – 2001
212
31
50

Real Madrid
2001 – 2006
227
49
68

France
1994 – 2006
108
31
30

7Franz Beckenbauer

Rated higher on this list than any other defender on the planet, Beckenbauer is still the example many point towards when talking about the ideal centre-back, as he had it all. Two Ballon d’Ors for a player in his position is unheard of, with very few defenders ever even getting near one. Add all the domestic and international trophies, and it’s clear to see why he places so high on this list. This also has Beckenbauer ranked as the greatest German player ever ahead of Muller, and with the current plight of the national team, it is unlikely that this will change soon. The defender won league titles everywhere he went including Germany, France and America. He sadly died at the start of 2024, leading to emotional but incredible tributes towards the iconic defender.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Bayern Munich
1964 – 1977
582
74
75

Hamburger SV
1980 – 1982
38
0
0

West Germany
1965 – 1977
103
14
10

6Ferenc Puskás

Puskas is one of the greatest players of all time and, just like Yashin earlier, he also has an award named after him. After a goal-heavy spell in his homeland of Hungary, the prolific striker earned a move to Spanish giants, Real Madrid, where he continued his impressive form in front of goal. He netted 201 goals in 231 games for the La Liga outfit. There are only a handful of strikers in the history of football that are held in higher regard than Puskas. Being born in Hungary, the striker represented the nation for the majority of his career but also made a handful of appearances for Spain at international level. Helping Real Madrid to five La Liga titles, Puskas was the top goalscorer in the division during three of those campaigns, which is no surprise with his goal record. He also had a big part to play in Los Blancos’ three European Cup triumphs during that successful period.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Honved SE
1943 – 1956
6
4
Unknown

Real Madrid
1958 – 1966
231
201
Unknown

Hungary
1945 – 1956
93
88
Unknown

5Johan Cruyff

The creator of the now world-famous ‘Cruyff turn’, the Dutch forward made fans view the game through a different lens with the technical quality he brought to the table. Some players struggle to combine the technical aspect of the game while also being entertaining to watch, but Johan Cruyff had the perfect blend of both worlds. While he never got his hands on the World Cup trophy, he did accumulate many league titles with Ajax and Barcelona. Very few people have shown themselves to have the incredible mind for the game that the Dutch forward had. His transition into management was seamless from being a world-class player, acting as a testament to his understanding of the sport. A genius on the pitch and a genius of it, Cruyff will live on in the mind of everyone he influenced in the world of football, after his tragic passing in 2016.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Ajax
1964 – 1973 and 1981 – 1983
325
227
180

Barcelona
1973 – 1978
180
60
8

Feyenoord
1983 – 1984
44
13
3

Netherlands
1966 – 1977
48
33
30

4Diego Maradona

A significant event took place in December 2022 that will be mentioned very shortly that effectively knocked Maradona off his perch as the greatest player of all time for many. Until the past decade or so, the Argentine was part of a two-man debate with Pele as the best player ever. Another two players came along to throw a spanner in the works, but their success hasn’t taken anything away from the star of his nation’s 1986 World Cup success. Napoli won their first league title since Maradona’s spell with the club in the 2022/23 season and the Italian club have even named their stadium after their former hero. This will help his legacy live on after Maradona passed away in 2020.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Barcelona
1982 – 1984
58
38
23

Napoli
1984 – 1991
257
115
71

Sevilla
1992 – 1993
29
7
10

Argentina
1977 – 1994
84
32
20

3Pele

Pele unfortunately passed away towards the end of 2022, but his legacy within the world of football will live on forever. So many Brazilian players grew up wanting to be like Pele, and that says a lot about the talent produced by that nation. His status as the King in Brazil will be immortalised with his goal-scoring successes at the time being ridiculously impressive.

The waters surrounding Pele’s goal record have been muddied slightly over the years, but what we can tell you is that he scored a sensational amount. Being handed the bronze medal on this occasion, there is still an argument to be had that Pele could be the greatest of all time. The older generation will think so, as his talent on the international stage saw him become the first teenager to score in a World Cup final.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Santos
1956 – 1974
583
569
Unknown

New York Cosmos
1975 – 1877
64
37
Unknown

Brazil
1957 – 1971
92
77
Unknown

3:23

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2Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is still plying his trade in the professional game for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. However, he is already considered one of the greatest players of all time. Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Ors in his illustrious career, which is a record only bettered by a certain Argentine forward. The evolution of the Portuguese superstar has been unfathomable to watch over the past two decades, as he emerged on the scene as a rapid winger with a catalogue of impressive skill moves, before transforming into the most lethal scorer that football has ever seen, with over 800 goals to his name. Winning five Champions Leagues and the 2016 Euros epitomised his importance for club and country.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Sporting CP
2002 – 2003
31
5
6

Manchester United
2003 – 2009
292
118
59

Real Madrid
2009 – 2018
438
450
131

Juventus
2018 – 2021
134
101
22

Manchester United
2021 – 2022
54
27
5

Al-Nassr
2023 – Present
64
58
15

Portugal
2002 – Present
209
130
47

Correct as of 24/06/24

1Lionel Messi

Taking our number one spot Lionel Messi who we believe to be the greatest footballer of all time. The significant event previously mentioned in December 2022 was a World Cup win for Messi and Argentina. It was the one trophy that had eluded the magician throughout his incredible career. Eight Ballon d’Ors, four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles are just some of the accolades he has to his name. For us, the Inter Miami star is the greatest football player of all time, and very few would disagree. There are so many records to have been broken by the Argentine sensation. He netted 91 goals in the calendar year of 2012 – with this perhaps being his most mind-boggling achievement – and we can’t see that record being broken any time soon. His ability to glide past defenders and skip past tackles was spectacular, instantly making people get off their seats in excitement.

Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Assists

Barcelona
2004 – 2021
778
672
303

PSG
2021 – 2023
75
32
35

Inter Miami
2023 – Present
29
25
16

Argentina
2005 – Present
183
108
58