Picking the greatest football player of all time is a subjective task, but Lionel Messi’s achievements have made him a strong contender for the title. After winning every possible trophy in his professional career, including the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Messi’s undisputed “GOAT” status has been cemented.
Messi’s performance in the World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball by scoring seven goals and assisting three more, has added to his argument as the greatest footballer ever. With his exceptional skills and ability to score goals, Messi has become a household name in the world of football.
Here is a list of the top 10 footballers of all time, with Lionel Messi taking the top spot:
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi |
| 2 | Pele |
| 3 | Diego Maradona |
| 4 | Johan Cruyff |
| 5 | Franz Beckenbauer |
| 6 | Alfredo Di Stefano |
| 7 | Michel Platini |
| 8 | Zinedine Zidane |
| 9 | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 10 | Ronaldinho |
While there may be disagreement about the ranking of the players on this list, there is no denying the impact that Lionel Messi has had on the sport. His performances on the field have earned him the title of the greatest football player of all time.
Top 10 Football Players of All Time
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 802 goals, 42 trophies
Lionel Messi is one of the greatest football players of all time. He is known for his incredible dribbling skills, control of the ball, and goal-scoring abilities. He started his career at Barcelona and quickly became one of the best players in the world. He won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 and went on to win seven more. He has won the coveted treble twice with Barcelona and finally ended his wait for a major international trophy with the Copa America 2021 and then added the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy to his haul, which also includes an Olympic gold medal from Beijing 2008. He is also the only player in history to win two Golden Balls in World Cups (2014 and 2022).
Now playing in the United States with Inter Miami, Messi has already made an impact by helping the franchise win the Leagues Cup which is the first ever in the history of the franchise. While the Miami outfit is yet to establish itself as a powerhouse in the MLS, many fans of the team and neutrals alike are confident that it is only a matter of time until the team starts competing for the MLS title with the addition of Messi to the squad.
Pele (Brazil) – 767 goals, 26 trophies
Pele is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. He announced his arrival on the global stage with six goals in the 1958 World Cup. He went on to score over 700 goals for club and country, also winning multiple titles with Brazilian club Santos.
Diego Maradona (Argentina) – 353 goals, 12 trophies
Diego Maradona is widely rated by multiple fans and experts as one of the greatest attacking players in football. He won the 1986 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, scoring two goals each in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the tournament. He also drove Napoli to the only two league titles they won in their history.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 819 goals, 34 trophies
Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest goal-scorer in football history and won league titles in three different countries – England, Spain and Italy, over the course of his career. He also won five Champions League titles, four of which came during his iconic spell at Real Madrid. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also scored four goals en route to Portugal’s first-ever major trophy, the UEFA Euro 2012.
Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) – 433 goals, 22 trophies
Johan Cruyff is considered the most influential personality in football history for his contributions as player and manager. He won three consecutive European Cup titles (currently Champions League) with Ajax, also winning the Ballon d’Or three times. With the Netherlands, he reached the FIFA World Cup finals two times in a row in 1974 and 1978.
Zinedine Zidane (France) – 156 Goals, 16 trophies
Zinedine Zidane is one of the greatest football players ever. He was an embodiment of control and technique. He won titles with Juventus and Real Madrid, and helped France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup on home soil and got to the finals again in 2006 where they lost to Italy. He was named the best player in the World in 1998, 2000, and 2003.
Gerd Muller (Germany) – 722 Goals, 16 trophies
Gerd Muller is a German football legend and one of the greatest footballing exports from the European country. He played for a couple of German clubs including Bayern Munich where he made his name. Later on in his career, he moved to the United States where he played for Fort Lauderdale Strikers. On the International scene, he won the European championship with Germany in 1972 and the FIFA World Cup two years later.
Ronaldo Nazario (Brazil) – 414 Goals, 15 trophies
Ronaldo was a prodigy who blossomed early in his career. He began his career at Cruzeiro where he notified the Brazilian public of his goal-scoring instincts, bagging 12 goals in 14 matches. He won the Ballon d’Or twice in his career with a host of major trophies. He scored a total of 414 goals for club and country.
Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentina) – 509 Goals, 26 trophies
Real Madrid and Argentina legend Alfredo Di Stefano is widely regarded as one of the most complete players to grace the beautiful game. He helped the Spanish giants win eight La Liga titles between 1954 and 1964, and another five consecutive European titles between 1955 and 1960.