50 Greatest Men’s Football Players: The Ultimate Soccer GOATs

Introduction
Forwards
- Pelé (Brazil)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
- Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil)
- Gerd Müller (West Germany)
- Ferenc Puskás (Hungary)
- George Best (Northern Ireland)
- Romário (Brazil)
- Thierry Henry (France)
- George Weah (Liberia)
- Paolo Rossi (Italy)
- Eusébio (Portugal)
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany)
- Garrincha (Brazil)
- Alfredo Di Stéfano (Argentina and Spain)
- Miroslav Klose (Germany)
- Jürgen Klinsmann (West Germany)
- Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
- Kylian Mbappé (France)
Midfielders
- Bobby Charlton (England)
- Diego Maradona (Argentina)
- Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
- Zinedine Zidane (France)
- Ronaldinho (Brazil)
- Xavi (Spain)
- Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
- Michel Platini (France)
- Lothar Matthäus (West Germany)
- Sócrates (Brazil)
- Zico (Brazil)
- Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)
- David Beckham (England)
- Luka Modrić (Croatia)
Defenders
- Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)
- Paolo Maldini (Italy)
- Franco Baresi (Italy)
- Cafu (Brazil)
- Bobby Moore (England)
- Sergio Ramos (Spain)
- Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
- Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
- Alessandro Nesta (Italy)
- Carles Puyol (Spain)
Goalkeepers
- Lev Ivanovich Yashin (Soviet Union)
- Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
- Manuel Neuer (Germany)
- Iker Casillas (Spain)
- Gordon Banks (England)
- Dino Zoff (Italy)
- Oliver Kahn (Germany)

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Spain's national soccer team celebrates on stage as a player lifts the World Cup trophy, surrounded by teammates in red uniforms and gold confetti, with fans taking photos below.

Lionel Messi dribbling a soccer ball during a World Cup match.

Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a light green Portugal national team training top, jogs on a soccer field before a FIFA 2018 qualification match.

Ronaldo of Brazil, wearing a yellow jersey and blue shorts, runs with the ball during a 2006 FIFA World Cup soccer match against Croatia in Berlin.

Black and white photo of German forward Gerd Muller sliding on the pitch to kick the ball during the 1970 FIFA World Cup match between Germany and Morocco at Guanajuato Stadium in Leon, Mexico, while teammate Uwe Seeler and Moroccan player Mohamed Maaroufi watch in the background.

Manchester United great

Romario of Brazil, wearing a yellow jersey and gold medal, holds the FIFA World Cup trophy above his head on the field after the 1994 final in Los Angeles.

FC Barcelona player Thierry Henry in a red team jacket shakes hands with a teammate before a match at Camp Nou stadium.

Spain's national soccer team celebrates on stage as a player lifts the World Cup trophy, surrounded by teammates in red uniforms and gold confetti, with fans taking photos below. — 2010 World Cup in South Africa: Spain's players celebrating victory Members of Spain's national football (soccer) team celebrating their victory in the FIFA World Cup final, held in Johannesburg, July 11, 2010.

50 Greatest Men’s Football Players: The Ultimate Soccer GOATs

Pelé, Maradona, Messi, both Ronaldos, and more

Written by

Andrew Pereira

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Who is the greatest men’s footballer (soccer player) of all time? Do not be deceived by this seemingly simple question. For decades fans, pundits, casual observers, organizations, and even footballers themselves have been trying to find a definitive answer, but consensus has always been in short supply. The question has generated heated debates and divided generations of fans. Any attempt to pin down the greatest men’s footballer is therefore futile at best and highly subjective...

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