50 of the most renowned football players
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Writer AndyKim
Hit 3,470 Hits
Date 25-01-17 23:19
Content
Here is a list of 50 of the most renowned football players in history, along with brief descriptions of their careers and achievements:
1. **Pelé**: A Brazilian forward widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Pelé won three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and scored over 1,000 career goals.
2. **Diego Maradona**: An Argentine attacking midfielder known for his exceptional dribbling skills, Maradona led Argentina to a World Cup victory in 1986, highlighted by his famous "Hand of God" goal.
3. **Lionel Messi**: An Argentine forward celebrated for his playmaking and goal-scoring abilities, Messi has won multiple Ballon d'Or awards and led Argentina to a FIFA World Cup victory in 2022.
4. **Cristiano Ronaldo**: A Portuguese forward known for his athleticism and goal-scoring prowess, Ronaldo has won multiple Ballon d'Or awards and has been a top scorer in several leagues.
5. **Johan Cruyff**: A Dutch forward and a pioneer of the "Total Football" philosophy, Cruyff was a three-time Ballon d'Or winner and influential both as a player and coach.
6. **Franz Beckenbauer**: A German defender and midfielder, nicknamed "Der Kaiser," Beckenbauer won the World Cup as both a player (1974) and a manager (1990).
7. **Zinedine Zidane**: A French attacking midfielder known for his elegance and vision, Zidane led France to a World Cup win in 1998 and later achieved success as a manager.
8. **Ronaldo Nazário (Ronaldo)**: A Brazilian striker renowned for his explosive pace and finishing, Ronaldo won two World Cups (1994, 2002) and three FIFA World Player of the Year awards.
9. **Michel Platini**: A French attacking midfielder, Platini won three consecutive Ballon d'Or awards (1983-1985) and led France to European Championship victory in 1984.
10. **Alfredo Di Stéfano**: An Argentine-Spanish forward, Di Stéfano was instrumental in Real Madrid's dominance in the 1950s, winning five consecutive European Cups.
11. **Garrincha**: A Brazilian winger known for his dribbling skills, Garrincha won two World Cups (1958, 1962) and is considered one of the greatest dribblers in football history.
12. **Ferenc Puskás**: A Hungarian forward, Puskás was a prolific goal scorer for both Hungary and Real Madrid, known for his powerful left foot.
13. **Gerd Müller**: A German striker nicknamed "Der Bomber," Müller was known for his incredible goal-scoring record, including the winning goal in the 1974 World Cup final.
14. **Paolo Maldini**: An Italian defender, Maldini spent his entire career at AC Milan, known for his defensive prowess and longevity in the game.
15. **George Best**: A Northern Irish winger, Best was known for his flair and skill, becoming a Manchester United legend in the 1960s.
16. **Eusébio**: A Portuguese forward, Eusébio was known for his speed and powerful shots, leading Portugal to a third-place finish in the 1966 World Cup.
17. **Bobby Charlton**: An English midfielder, Charlton was a key figure in England's 1966 World Cup victory and Manchester United's European success.
18. **Ronaldinho**: A Brazilian attacking midfielder known for his creativity and technical skills, Ronaldinho won the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and the Ballon d'Or in 2005.
19. **Lothar Matthäus**: A German midfielder and defender, Matthäus captained West Germany to World Cup victory in 1990 and won the Ballon d'Or the same year.
20. **Roberto Baggio**: An Italian forward known as "Il Divin Codino," Baggio was renowned for his skill and playmaking abilities, leading Italy to the 1994 World Cup final.
21. **Zico**: A Brazilian attacking midfielder, Zico was known for his playmaking and free-kick abilities, often referred to as the "White Pelé."
22. **Lev Yashin**: A Soviet goalkeeper, nicknamed the "Black Spider," Yashin is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history.
23. **Andrés Iniesta**: A Spanish midfielder, Iniesta was crucial in Spain's consecutive Euro (2008, 2012) and World Cup (2010) victories, known for his dribbling and passing.
24. **Xavi Hernández**: A Spanish midfielder, Xavi was known for his precise passing and control, playing a key role in Spain's and Barcelona's successes.
25. **Gianluigi Buffon**: An Italian goalkeeper, Buffon is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all time, winning the World Cup in 2006.
26. **George Weah**: A Liberian forward, Weah won the Ballon d'Or in 1995 and is the only African player to have received the award.
27. **Ruud Gullit**: A Dutch midfielder and forward, Gullit was known for his versatility and physical presence, winning the Ballon d'Or in 1987.
28. **Sergio Ramos**: A Spanish defender, Ramos is known for his leadership and goal-scoring ability as a defender, winning multiple Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
29. **Thierry Henry**: A French forward, Henry was known for his pace and finishing, becoming Arsenal's all-time leading scorer and winning the 1998 World Cup.
1. **Pelé**: A Brazilian forward widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Pelé won three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and scored over 1,000 career goals.
2. **Diego Maradona**: An Argentine attacking midfielder known for his exceptional dribbling skills, Maradona led Argentina to a World Cup victory in 1986, highlighted by his famous "Hand of God" goal.
3. **Lionel Messi**: An Argentine forward celebrated for his playmaking and goal-scoring abilities, Messi has won multiple Ballon d'Or awards and led Argentina to a FIFA World Cup victory in 2022.
4. **Cristiano Ronaldo**: A Portuguese forward known for his athleticism and goal-scoring prowess, Ronaldo has won multiple Ballon d'Or awards and has been a top scorer in several leagues.
5. **Johan Cruyff**: A Dutch forward and a pioneer of the "Total Football" philosophy, Cruyff was a three-time Ballon d'Or winner and influential both as a player and coach.
6. **Franz Beckenbauer**: A German defender and midfielder, nicknamed "Der Kaiser," Beckenbauer won the World Cup as both a player (1974) and a manager (1990).
7. **Zinedine Zidane**: A French attacking midfielder known for his elegance and vision, Zidane led France to a World Cup win in 1998 and later achieved success as a manager.
8. **Ronaldo Nazário (Ronaldo)**: A Brazilian striker renowned for his explosive pace and finishing, Ronaldo won two World Cups (1994, 2002) and three FIFA World Player of the Year awards.
9. **Michel Platini**: A French attacking midfielder, Platini won three consecutive Ballon d'Or awards (1983-1985) and led France to European Championship victory in 1984.
10. **Alfredo Di Stéfano**: An Argentine-Spanish forward, Di Stéfano was instrumental in Real Madrid's dominance in the 1950s, winning five consecutive European Cups.
11. **Garrincha**: A Brazilian winger known for his dribbling skills, Garrincha won two World Cups (1958, 1962) and is considered one of the greatest dribblers in football history.
12. **Ferenc Puskás**: A Hungarian forward, Puskás was a prolific goal scorer for both Hungary and Real Madrid, known for his powerful left foot.
13. **Gerd Müller**: A German striker nicknamed "Der Bomber," Müller was known for his incredible goal-scoring record, including the winning goal in the 1974 World Cup final.
14. **Paolo Maldini**: An Italian defender, Maldini spent his entire career at AC Milan, known for his defensive prowess and longevity in the game.
15. **George Best**: A Northern Irish winger, Best was known for his flair and skill, becoming a Manchester United legend in the 1960s.
16. **Eusébio**: A Portuguese forward, Eusébio was known for his speed and powerful shots, leading Portugal to a third-place finish in the 1966 World Cup.
17. **Bobby Charlton**: An English midfielder, Charlton was a key figure in England's 1966 World Cup victory and Manchester United's European success.
18. **Ronaldinho**: A Brazilian attacking midfielder known for his creativity and technical skills, Ronaldinho won the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and the Ballon d'Or in 2005.
19. **Lothar Matthäus**: A German midfielder and defender, Matthäus captained West Germany to World Cup victory in 1990 and won the Ballon d'Or the same year.
20. **Roberto Baggio**: An Italian forward known as "Il Divin Codino," Baggio was renowned for his skill and playmaking abilities, leading Italy to the 1994 World Cup final.
21. **Zico**: A Brazilian attacking midfielder, Zico was known for his playmaking and free-kick abilities, often referred to as the "White Pelé."
22. **Lev Yashin**: A Soviet goalkeeper, nicknamed the "Black Spider," Yashin is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history.
23. **Andrés Iniesta**: A Spanish midfielder, Iniesta was crucial in Spain's consecutive Euro (2008, 2012) and World Cup (2010) victories, known for his dribbling and passing.
24. **Xavi Hernández**: A Spanish midfielder, Xavi was known for his precise passing and control, playing a key role in Spain's and Barcelona's successes.
25. **Gianluigi Buffon**: An Italian goalkeeper, Buffon is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all time, winning the World Cup in 2006.
26. **George Weah**: A Liberian forward, Weah won the Ballon d'Or in 1995 and is the only African player to have received the award.
27. **Ruud Gullit**: A Dutch midfielder and forward, Gullit was known for his versatility and physical presence, winning the Ballon d'Or in 1987.
28. **Sergio Ramos**: A Spanish defender, Ramos is known for his leadership and goal-scoring ability as a defender, winning multiple Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
29. **Thierry Henry**: A French forward, Henry was known for his pace and finishing, becoming Arsenal's all-time leading scorer and winning the 1998 World Cup.