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.

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

Pelé, Maradona, Messi, both Ronaldos, and more

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.

2010 World Cup in South Africa: Spain's players celebrating victory

Members of Spain's national football (soccer) team celebrating their victory in the...

Lars Baron/Getty Images

Pelé in action

Pelé in action

Brazilian forward Pelé (third from left) during the 1970 World Cup final match between...

dpa/Alamy

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

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi plays for Argentina's national team at the 2014 World Cup.

© Alexandre Paes Leme Durao/Dreamstime.com

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

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo warms up before playing in a match for the Portuguese national...

© Gints Ivuskans/Dreamstime.com

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.

“Il Fenomeno”

Ronaldo dribbling the ball during a match between Brazil and Croatia at the 2006...

© Tony Marshall—PA Images/Getty Images

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.

Gerd Müller

German footballer Gerd Müller, 1970.

© DPA—Picture Alliance/Getty Images

Hungarian hero

Hungarian hero

Ferenc Puskás (pictured here in 1971) scored 83 goals in 84 games with the Hungarian...

Dutch National Archives, The Hague, Bert Verhoeff—Algemeen Nederlandsch Fotobureau (Anefo), item no. <924-5179> (http://www.gahetna.nl/)

Manchester United great

Manchester United great

George Best is often regarded as one of Manchester United's greatest players.

© Colorsport/Shutterstock.com

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.

World Cup glory

Romário holding the trophy aloft after leading Brazil to victory over Italy in the...

Simon Bruty/Getty Images

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

Thierry Henry

French football player Thierry Henry, 2010.

© Sportgraphic/Shutterstock.com

George Weah of AC Milan, wearing a red and black striped jersey, holds the European Footballer of the Year award trophy on the field alongside an official.

George Weah

George Weah (left), then a footballer for AC Milan and Liberia, became the first...

© Claudio Villa—Grazia Neri/Getty Images

Paolo Rossi of the Italy national football team in a blue jersey during the FIFA World Cup match against the Brazil national football team in Barcelona on July 5, 1982.

Paolo Rossi

Italian forward Paolo Rossi, 1982.

© Mark Leech—Offside/Getty Images

Eusebio of Benfica sprints with the ball past AC Milan's Giovanni Trapatoni during the European Cup final at Wembley Stadium, with spectators in the background.

Eusébio

Portuguese football star Eusébio (left) of Benfica during the European Cup final...

© Central Press—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

German forward Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, 1982.

© Image Photo Agency/Getty Images

Garrincha against Portugal

Garrincha against Portugal

Brazil's Garrincha (left) dribbling the ball in a friendly match in São Paulo against...

Agencia Estado/AP Images

Alfredo Di Stéfano

Alfredo Di Stéfano

One of Real Madrid's greatest players, Alfredo Di Stéfano, controlling the ball in...

AP/REX/Shutterstock.com

Miroslav Klose of Germany, wearing a black and red jersey celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup semifinal against Brazil at Estadio Mineirao on July 8, 2014, in Belo Horizonte.

Miroslav Klose

German footballer Miroslav Klose celebrating a goal against Brazil in the 2014 FIFA...

© Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

German footballer Juergen Klinsmann, wearing jersey number 18, prepares to kick the ball during a match, with the field and blurred spectators in the background.

Jürgen Klinsmann

German footballer Jürgen Klinsmann kicking the ball toward the Croatian goal during...

© Achim Scheidemann—picture alliance/Getty Images

Marco van Basten in an AC Milan jersey holds the Ballon d'Or trophy above his head on the pitch at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, with a crowd and stadium lights in the background.

Dutch dream

Netherlands and AC Milan (at the time) footballer Marco van Basten celebrating after...

© Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

French soccer player Kylian Mbappe, wearing jersey number 10, takes a shot on goal during the FIFA World Cup quarter final against England at Al Bayt Stadium.

Kylian Mbappé at the 2022 World Cup

French forward Kylian Mbappé playing for his national team during the 2022 Qatar...

Jamali Amin—ATP/SPP/Shutterstock.com

Bobby Charlton kneels on a grass soccer field wearing a red jersey and white shorts, holding a vintage brown football with both hands.

Bobby Charlton

English footballer Bobby Charlton in 1959.

Don Morley—Allsport/Getty Images

In control of the football

In control of the football

Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup.

Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock.com

Johan Cruyff of the New York Cosmos in mid-action on the soccer field, about to kick the ball as a goalkeeper dives in front of him.

Dutch wonder

Johan Cruyff playing in the New York Cosmos versus World All-Stars match in East...

© Peter Robinson/EMPICS—PA Images/Getty Images

Zinedine Zidane of France dribbles the ball while being closely pursued by Andrea Pirlo of Italy during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final in Berlin.

World Cup final, 2006

Zinedine Zidane (left) of France being pursued by Andrea Pirlo of Italy during the...

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Sport

Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho celebrates with a Brazil flag draped around his shoulders and a medal, surrounded by photographers after winning the 2002 FIFA World Cup final.

Ronaldinho of Brazil, 2002 FIFA World Cup winner

Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho celebrating after his team defeated Germany 2–0 in...

© Andreas Rentz— Bongarts/Getty Images

Xavi Hernandez of Barcelona, wearing a blue and red jersey, controls a yellow and purple soccer ball during a match at Camp Nou stadium.

La Liga action

Xavi of Barcelona controlling the ball during a La Liga match between Barcelona and...

© Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Andrés Iniesta

Andrés Iniesta

Spain's midfielding talisman Andrés Iniesta (right) against the Netherlands in the...

© Javier Soriano—AFP/Getty Images

Michel Platini in a black and white Juventus jersey holds the Ballon d'Or trophy on the field at Stadio Comunale in Turin, with spectators visible in the background.

French star

Michel Platini, a player for Juventus (at the time) and France, with the Ballon d'Or....

© Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

German powerhouse

German powerhouse

Lothar Matthäus (left) dribbling past an Italian player during a friendly match in...

© Shaun Botterill—Allsport/Getty Images

Socrates of the Brazil national football team stands in line before the FIFA World Cup match against the Spain national football team at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Sócrates

Brazilian midfielder Sócrates, 1986.

© David Cannon—Allsport/Getty Images

Ruud Gullit of the Netherlands national football team runs in an orange jersey with stripes during a football match.

Ruud Gullit

Dutch footballer Ruud Gullit.

© Bongarts/Getty Images

David Beckham of Real Madrid in a white uniform dribbles a soccer ball during a match, with an opposing RCD Espanyol player behind him on the field.

David Beckham

English footballer David Beckham playing for Real Madrid in 2005.

© MaxiSports/Dreamstime.com

Luka Modric of Croatia, wearing a red and white checkered jersey and captain's armband, controls the ball as a Ukrainian player approaches during a World Cup qualifying match.

Luka Modrić

Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić (right) during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match...

© Vladyslav Moskovenko/Dreamstime.com

Franco Baresi of AC Milan, wearing a red and black jersey, runs after the ball during a Serie A match in Italy.

Franco Baresi

Italian defender Franco Baresi in action for AC Milan, 1993.

© Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

Brazil captain Cafu smiles while holding the FIFA World Cup trophy after Brazil victory over Germany in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final.

Cafu

Brazilian captain Cafu holds the World Cup following Brazil's 2-0 victory over Germany...

© Gunnar Berning—Bongarts/Getty Images

Black and white image of Bobby Moore, captain of the England national football team, holding up the Jules Rimet Trophy as he is carried on the shoulders of his teammates after Englands victory over the West Germany national football team in the FIFA World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London on July 30, 1966.

Bobby Moore

English captain Bobby Moore holds the Jules Rimet trophy after England defeated West...

© Evening Standard—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid CF runs in celebration with arms outstretched after scoring his team's first goal in stoppage time during the UEFA Champions League Final against Atletico Madrid at the Estadio da Luz on May 24, 2014, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Sergio Ramos

Spanish defender Sergio Ramos

© Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Fabio Cannavaro, wearing a blue Italy jersey, smiles while holding the World Cup trophy following Italy penalty shootout victory over France in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final in Berlin, Germany.

2006 World Cup

Italy's Fabio Cannavaro holding up the FIFA World Cup trophy following Italy's victory...

© Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Roberto Carlos of the Brazil national football team jumps in celebration after scoring from a free kick.

Roberto Carlos

Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos celebrates after scoring a freekick.

© Tony Marshall/EMPICS—PA Images/Getty Images

Alessandro Nesta of the Italy national football team in a blue jersey during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Group G match against the Ecuador national football team.

Alessandro Nesta

Italian defender Alessandro Nesta, 2002.

© Neal Simpson/EMPICS—PA Images/Getty Images

Lev Yashin holds the Golden Ball trophy above his head while standing with Soviet soccer teammates in uniforms marked CCCP, in a stadium, 1964.

Lev Yashin

Goalkeeper Lev Ivanovich Yashin with the Ballon d'Or trophy he won as the European...

© artnana/Shutterstock.com

Gianluigi Buffon of the Italy national football team gives a thumbs up gesture during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Group E match against the Ghana national football team at the Niedersachsenstadion on June 12, 2006, in Hanover, Germany.

Gianluigi Buffon

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, 2006.

© Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto—Allstar/Getty Images

Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer

German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer making a save, 2016.

© Bruno Fahy—Belga News Agency/Alamy

Iker Casillas, goalkeeper for the Spain national football team, celebrates while holding the FIFA World Cup trophy after the final against the Netherlands national football team at Soccer City in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 11, 2010.

Iker Casillas

Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas lifts the 2010 World Cup trophy.

© Javier Soriano—AFP/Getty Images

Black and white portrait of Gordon Banks, goalkeeper for Stoke City F.C., photographed on December 15, 1969.

Gordon Banks

English goalkeeper Gordon Banks, 1969.

© Central Press—AFP/Getty Images

Dino Zoff, goalkeeper for the Italy national football team, prepares to kick the ball during Italy's 1982 FIFA World Cup Second Round Group C match against the reigning world champions, the Argentina national football team, at the Estadi de Sarria in Barcelona, Spain, on June 29, 1982.

Dino Zoff

Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff, 1982.

© AllsportUK/Getty Images

Oliver Kahn of the Germany national football team in a blue goalkeeper jersey with an intense expression and raised arm during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final match against the Brazil national football team at the International Stadium Yokohama on June 30, 2002, in Yokohama, Japan.

Oliver Kahn

German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, 2002.

© Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto—Allstar/Getty Images

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon dives to his left, fully extended, attempting to save a shot during the 2006 World Cup quarterfinal against Ukraine.

Gianluigi Buffon at the World Cup

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon making a save during the 2006 FIFA World Cup...

© Patrick Stollars—AFP/Getty Images

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