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The Best Football Players of All Time: Top 10 by the Numbers

There is no official answer to "who is the greatest of all time?", but most critics weigh the same things: major trophies, individual awards, longevity, and influence on the game. Here is our top 10, with numbers updated to October 2026.

WhoBaller a footballer guessing game for iPhoneHow it works
#PlayerNationHighlights
1Lionel MessiArgentina8 Ballon d'Or · 2022 World Cup · 4 Champions Leagues
2PeléBrazil3 World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970)
3Diego MaradonaArgentina1986 World Cup · 2 Serie A titles with Napoli
4Cristiano RonaldoPortugal5 Ballon d'Or · 5 Champions Leagues · Euro 2016
5Johan CruyffNetherlands3 Ballon d'Or · 3 European Cups with Ajax
6Zinedine ZidaneFrance1998 World Cup · Euro 2000 · 1998 Ballon d'Or
7Alfredo Di StéfanoSpain5 straight European Cups with Real Madrid
8Ronaldo NazárioBrazil2002 World Cup · 2 Ballon d'Or
9Franz BeckenbauerGermanyWorld Cup as player and coach
10Michel PlatiniFrance3 straight Ballon d'Or · Euro 1984

Why this order

Lionel Messi leads on awards and longevity: a record eight Ballon d'Or, four Champions Leagues with Barcelona, the 2022 World Cup, and two Copa Américas. Pelé is the only player with three World Cups. Diego Maradona won the 1986 World Cup almost single-handedly and two Serie A titles with Napoli. Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer in men's international football with 146 goals and the Champions League's all-time top scorer.

Johan Cruyff changed how the game is played, first at Ajax and later as Barcelona coach. Zinedine Zidane scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final, and Alfredo Di Stéfano scored in all five of Real Madrid's European Cup final wins from 1956 to 1960. Ronaldo Nazário scored eight goals at the 2002 World Cup, Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup as captain and coach, and Michel Platini scored nine goals at Euro 1984.

Honorable mentions: Ferenc Puskás, Ronaldinho, Kaká, Marco van Basten, Paolo Maldini and Eusébio.

A Photo question in WhoBaller: a player in Argentina’s striped shirt with the captain’s armband and eight letter slots
Diego Maradona in Photo mode: ① in Argentina’s shirt with the captain’s armband ② eight letter slots.
Show the answerDiego Maradona
A Teammates question in WhoBaller: Ronaldinho, Henry, and Ramos under the line “played with all three at club level”
Teammates mode: ① ② ③ three players he played with at club level — find the one link between them.
Show the answerLionel Messi

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FAQ

Who is the best football player of all time?

There is no official answer. Messi (a record 8 Ballon d'Or), Pelé (3 World Cups), Maradona, and Cristiano Ronaldo are the names most often cited.

Who did FIFA name Player of the Century?

In 2000 FIFA split the award: Maradona won the public vote and Pelé the vote of a FIFA committee.

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