Determining the greatest football players of all time is subjective and often depends on personal opinions and preferences. However, certain players are widely regarded as among the best in the history of football. Here are some names that are commonly mentioned in discussions about the greatest football players:
- Lionel Messi: The Argentine forward has won multiple FIFA Ballon d’Or awards and has set numerous records throughout his career, primarily with Barcelona.
The talismanic captain has played 178 matches and scored a record 106 goals, 13 of which have been at the World Cup since 2006.
Although a leading player for Argentina, Messi is surpassed by Ronaldo in records for a national team, with 127 goals and 203 matches played.
In Argentina, Messi is followed by Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 56 goals for the Albiceleste. In South America, he leads with 106 goals – the most by any player on the continent.
Here’s what Messi’s achievements with Argentina look like:
- FIFA World Cup 2022
- Olympic gold at Beijing 2008
- All-time leading goal scorer: 106
- Most international caps: 178
- Most goals for a South American nation: 106
- Youngest Argentinian to score at a World Cup: 18 years 357 days
- First player to score in four different World Cup tournaments for Argentina
- Most individual World Cup appearances: 26
- Most Argentina World Cup goals: 13
- Only player to score in World Cup group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final
Individual Awards
- Ballon d’Or: 8
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 7
- La Liga Player of the Year: 9
- European Golden Shoe: 6
- Laureus World Sports Award: 2
- World Cup Golden Ball: 2
- UEFA Men’s Player of the Year: 2
- Copa America Most Valuable Player: 2
Club Records
Messi began his career with FC Barcelona and stayed at the Spanish club until joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021.
After a troubled two-year stint at the French club, he signed for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami in June.
Messi was part of the Inter Miami team that won the 2023 League Cup and the PSG team that won the 2022-23 French Super Cup. But he etched his legacy in club football during his 21-year association with Barcelona.
Over the course of 778 games with the club, Messi scored 672 goals, ahead of Brazil great Pele, who scored 643 goals while playing for Santos. At Barcelona, Messi leads Cesar Rodriguez, who scored 446 goals for the Spanish giants.
- La Liga titles: 10
- Copa del Rey titles: 7
- UEFA Champions League titles: 4
- Most goals for Barcelona: 672
- Most trophies won at Barcelona: 35
- Most games played for Barcelona: 778
- Most goals in La Liga: 474
- Most hat-tricks in La Liga: 36
- Most goals in El Clasico: 26
- Most goals in a La Liga season: 50 [2011-12 season]
- Most goals for club and country in a year [Guinness World Record]: 91 [2012]
- Most goals in the UEFA Champions League with the same team: 120
- Diego Maradona: The Argentine forward is best known for leading his country to victory in the 1986 World Cup and his iconic “Hand of God” goal.
- Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento): The Brazilian forward won three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and scored over 1,000 career goals.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese forward has also won multiple FIFA Ballon d’Or awards and has had successful stints with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
- Johan Cruyff: The Dutch forward and playmaker was a key figure in the development of “Total Football” and had a successful career with Ajax and Barcelona.
- Zinedine Zidane: The French midfielder is known for his elegance on the ball and played a crucial role in France’s 1998 World Cup victory.
- Franz Beckenbauer: The German defender and midfielder won the World Cup as both a player (1974) and a manager (1990).
- Michel Platini: The French midfielder was a three-time Ballon d’Or winner and had a successful career with Juventus.
- Alfredo Di Stéfano: The Argentine forward played a key role for Real Madrid during the club’s dominant era in the 1950s and 1960s.
- George Best: The Northern Irish forward is regarded as one of the most talented players in the history of the sport, known for his skill and flair.
It’s important to note that football is a team sport, and greatness can be subjective based on personal preferences and the era in which players competed. New stars continue to emerge, and opinions on the greatest players may evolve over time.