The Greatest Footballers Ever To Have Walked Planet Earth

The contemporary history of the world's favorite game spans more than 100 years and it all began in 1863 in England. Since, the game has entertained millions of people across the globe and handpicking a few brilliant footballers is one of the most difficult tasks.

It has been a debate that will never end but it is a debate that will intrigue us forever. Every player who ever took the football field dreams and strives for a place among the best, because it is a fact known: History remembers only the greatest. 

10. George Best

A superb dribbler of the ball, George Best (1946) was probably the most naturally gifted British player ever. A combination of lightning pace, perfect balance, and ability to produce goals with both feet meant that, in his prime, Best was a handful for even the most skilled of defenders. Best's annus mirabilis came in 1968, when he won the European Cup with Manchester United and was voted European Player of the Year. In the years that followed, his performances on the pitch were increasingly eclipsed by his problems with gambling, womanising and drinking. In 1974, Best left Manchester United, effectively ending his career at the highest level at the age of only 27 years old.

9. Michel Platini

Currently the President of the UEFA and probably the most hated man in England, this French footballer was more than a handful. Platini scored 41 goals in his 71 appearances for France. He won the European Championship with Juventus in 1984.

8. Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer (1945), nicknamed ‘der Kaiser,’ was the mainstay of Bayern Munich’s triple European Cup winning team of the mid Seventies. He also captained his country to the 1974 World Cup, held in Germany. An elegant and dynamic player known for his outstanding technique and tactical insight, Beckenbauer single-handedly modernised the role of sweeper.

7. Zinedine Zidane

Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 06: Zinedine Zidane participates in Soccer Aid in aid of UNICEF at Old Trafford on June 6, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images)

Zidane led France to World Cup glory in 1998 and to the European Championship in 2000. He was a superb passer of the ball first and foremost, an outstanding playmaker that fed his forwards with great passes. But Zidane could produce goals himself as well, most notably the winning goals in the 1998 World Cup Final and the 2002 Champion’s League Final. Zidane was named European Footballer of the Year in 1998, and FIFA World Footballer of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003.

6. Romario

One of the most prolific strikers in world football, Romario has the distinction of scoring a thousand goals in his career, drawing comparisons with other greats like Pele. Romario played his football with PSV and Barcelona among other clubs. He was key in Brazil’s 1994 world cup success.

5. Gerd Muller

With a national record of 62 goals in 68 games for Germany, Gerd Muller, nicknamed 'The Bomber,' is certainly one of the best Germany and the world ever saw. He played his club football for Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich. Muller scored an unbelievable ten goals in Germany’s 1970 World Cup campaign, becoming the highest scorer in World Cups at that time with 14 goals. He won the World Cup with Germany in 1974.

4. Alfredo Di Stefano

Two-time European Footballer of the Year, Alfredo Di Stéfano (1926) is believed by many to have been the best all-around player in history. Di Stéfano was a powerful forward blessed with stamina, tactical versatility, and above all, vision. He played for River Plate, Huracán, Millonarios Bogota, but was most successful in his role as conductor of Real's symphony of attacking football. After having almost been signed by FC Barcelona, he led their rivals Real Madrid to five consecutive European Cup victories. Di Stéfano won caps for Argentina, Colombia, and Spain, but never graced a World Cup. He moved to Espanyol in 1964 and played there until hanging up his boots at the age of 40.

3. Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona (1960) won the 1986 World Cup almost single-handedly and and guided Napoli to it's only two Serie A titles. By far the best player of his generation, Maradona's main strength was his incredible technique, which allowed him to move the ball with pin-point accuracy. Maradona was voted best player of all time in an internet poll held by FIFA, much to the chagrin of Pelé-fans, who contended that such a poll was bound to attract voters who had never seen Pelé play. The title of greatest ever footballer is probably a bit too much credit for a player who also had clear shortcomings. Since his retirement from football, Maradona's life has been marred by drug abuse and health issues.

2. Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff (1947) was the star of the exciting 1974 Dutch "Total Football" World Cup team and the Ajax team that won a hat-trick of European Cups in the early Seventies. A three time European footballer of the year, he was by far the most naturally gifted European player of his generation, and probably of all time. His supreme technical skills, speed and acceleration made Cruyff virtually impossible to defend against. He usually played the centre forward position, but would often drop deep or move to the wing to confuse and draw out his markers. His tremendous tactical insight meant that Cruyff was one of the few players in this top 10 that went on to become a world class coach.
 

1. Pele

Obviously Pele (1940) is not the most original choice as greatest ever football player, but there is no denying his pedigree. His deft touch, dribbling skills and tremendous goalscoring ability, would see him notch up more than a thousand goals and play a key role in two of Brazil's first three World Cup victories. He helped his club Santos win the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup twice. His finest hour came in 1970. Playing in perhaps the greatest ever World Cup winning team, Pelé was universally acknowledged as the world's best player.