The history of soccer is replete with legends' names who've dazzled fans with their ball skills and prowess. But they don't (or didn't) just dazzle. People say that good players win titles and great players are record-breakers. This article talks about football legends - the players who changed the game, including:
| Rank | Name | Nation | International stats | Years active (int'l) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pelé | Brazil | 92 appearances, 77 goals | 1957-71 |
| 2 | Diego Maradona | Argentina | 106 apps, 42 goals (combined) | 1977-94 |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 198 apps, 119 goals (combined) | 2004-present |
| 4 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 235 apps, 141 goals (combined) | 2001-present |
| 5 | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | 48 apps, 33 goals | 1966-77 |
Here, in Australia, we have our favourite teams and players to root for. They too have learned from the world's soccer masters. So, let's talk about these soccer players and how they earned that credit.
1 - Pelé
Born: October 23, 1930, Brazil
Position(s): Attacking mid-fielder, forward
Foot: Right (mainly)
Ballon d'Or: 7
FIFA World Cup: 3
Ballon d'Or Player of the Century
World Player of the Century
Brazilian Player of the Century
For most soccer fans, Pelé is the God of Football; he called his sport The Beautiful Game. Indeed, he made it so with his equally talented feet, whose power and accuracy made him one of the most prolific goal scorers in the history of soccer.
Pelé scored 1 279 goals across 1 363 appearances
Pelé was at home anywhere on the pitch, though early in his career, he stuck to the penalty area. Over time, he commanded playmaking positions, advancing the ball and involving all of his teammates in the plays. Pelé was fast, creative and technically skilled.
Pelé authored several signature moves, the drible da vaca and paradinha among them. That 'little stop' (paradinha) confounded opponents; they had no idea where he would go or what he would do next. Likewise, his trademark 'cow dribble' let him scoot the ball around opponents as he dodged them.
2 - Diego Maradona
Born: October 30, 1960, Argentina
Position(s): Attacking mid-fielder, (second) striker
Foot: Right
Ballon d'Or: 2
FIFA World Cup: 1
FIFA Player of the Century
Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year: 4
South American Footballer of the Year: 2
Maradona was a free-kick specialist with an unerring aim. During his international career, his 91 earned caps saw him score 34 goals. He played in four FIFA World Cups, one of which earned him the Golden Ball for Best Player in 1986.
He was the team's driving force. Compact, nimble and fast, Maradona lit up the pitch with his moves and antics. One such was his Hand of God, a technically illegal move that scored a goal for Argentina.
In a match that made football history, the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, he dribbled the ball 60 metres, blowing past five England players to score. FIFA fans voted this feat the 'Goal of the Century'.
3 - Lionel Messi
Born: June 24, 1987, Argentina
Position(s): Attacking mid-fielder, forward
Foot: Left
Ballon d'Or: 6
FIFA World Cup: 1
Spanish La Liga: 10
FIFAPro World XI: 14
South American Footballer of the Year: 2
Lionel Messi is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. Indeed, he's in the running for the title of Best Soccer Player of 2023 despite starting off his first Inter Miami season with an injury. Messi's record of perfection on the pitch traces back to his early days of playing in youth leagues.
I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi.
Diego Maradona
Neither the sports world nor football fans can heap enough praise on the man or his game. He is, at times, dubbed Magisterial Messi, and others, The Little Wizard. Many worry that magic may be gone now that he doesn't play opposite of our list's next player. They needn't fret; Messi will continue to dazzle.
4 - Cristiano Ronaldo
Born: February 5, 1985, Portugal
Position(s): winger, striker
Foot: Right
Ballon d'Or: 5
UEFA European Championship: 1
Champions League top scorers: 7
FIFA FIFPro World XI: 14
Portuguese Player of the Year: 6
UEFA Team of the Year: 15
The fan-fuelled Messi-Ronaldo rivalry is often a topic of conversation in sportscasters' booths and football websites. But the truth is that these two soccer legends spurred each other on to their best performances. Besides, rivalry notwithstanding, Cristiano Ronaldo has his own track record of greatness.
With a price tag of £80 million ($155 million), Ronaldo was the most expensive transfer in history (at the time).
He features on every Top-Player list - for number of goals, appearances, awards won and more. He's a soccer-playing machine, though often considered unpolished for his antics on and off the pitch. It's no wonder, then, why Man UTD didn't want to let him go.
5 - Johan Cruyff
Born: April 25, 1947, Netherlands
Position(s): attacking midfielder
Foot: Right
Ballon d'Or: 3
Dutch Eredivisie: 9
KNVB Cup: 6
UEFA Champions League: 3
In this article's introduction, we stated that legends of football change the game. Johan Cruyff was as influential a player as he was a manager. He instilled the Total Football concept Rinus Michels developed. Michels is widely considered one of the sport's all-time greatest managers.
Much of his renown comes from his application of the Total Football philosophy. Why should a footballer play only one position, without developing other football skills? Johan Cruyff is the reason the world's best soccer teams have multi-position players.
Other famous Soccer Player in the World:
Eusébio
Born: January 25, 1942, Mozambique
Position(s): striker
Foot: Right
Ballon d'Or: 1
Portuguese Primeira Liga: 11
Primeira Liga Top Scorer: 7
Taca de Portugal: 5
Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2
European Golden Shoe: 2
Portugal's 'Black Panther' is not the first name one conjures up when thinking of football greats - but it should be. This striker was a goal-scoring machine, claiming 733 goals across 745 games played.
Pelé listed Eusébio among the world's top 125 footballers in his FIFA 100 List (2004).
Throughout his 23-year career, Eusébio scored a total of 582 goals in 577 appearances. Range was no matter to him; his power and ball control were exquisite whether striking from near or far.
Paolo Maldini
Born: June 26, 1968, Italy
Position(s): left back
Foot: left
Italian Serie A: 7
Supercoppa Italiana: 5
UEFA Champions League: 5
UEFA Super Cup: 4
UEFA Team of the Year: 2
Paolo is renowned for staying with one club, AC Milan (Serie A), his entire playing career. His nickname, Il Capitano, pays tribute to his efforts as team captain. He holds the record for the most final appearances in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, jointly with Paco Gento.
Marco van Basten
Born: October 31, 1964, Netherlands
Position(s): striker, mid-fielder
Foot: Right
Ballon d'Or: 3
Dutch Eredivisie: 3
KNVB Cup: 3
UEFA Champions League: 3
Italian Serie A: 4
Supercoppa Italiana: 4
Serie A Golden Boot: 2
Van Basten's skills befuddled many opponents and dazzled fans. He had a knack for playing the ball that left everyone guessing where he'd take it next. Just as you thought he would drive it into the net, he'd pull back and play with it some more. The injury that cut his playing career short caused one of this sport's greatest losses.
Franz Beckenbauer
Born: September 11, 1945, Germany
Position(s): Centreback
Foot: Right
Ballon d'Or: 2
Bundesliga Team of the Season: 12
German Bundesliga: 5
DFB Pokal: 4
German Footballer of the Year: 4
UEFA Champions League: 3
Supercoppa Italiana: 4
Serie A Golden Boot: 2
Beckenbauer was often called 'der Kaiser' - the Emperor of football. He played aggressively when going after the ball, but then, would nearly dance with it across the pitch. He had an uncanny sense of positioning; he was also keen on teamwork to maximise scoring.
Franz often gets credit for establishing the defensive 'sweeper' role.
Gianluigi Buffon
Born: January 28, 1978, Italy
Position(s): goalkeeper
Foot: hands
Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year: 13
Italian Serie A: 10
Supercoppa Italiana: 7
UEFA Team of the Year: 5
UEFA Champions League: 2
UEFA Player of the Year: 2
UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year: 2
Gianluigi - Gigi, as his teammates call him, counts more than 1 100 appearances. In that time, he's blocked some of football's most ardent strikers, including Ronaldo. Throughout his career, Gigi set a number of records, many of which still stand.
Most appearances: Serie A - 657, Juventus - 526, Italian player career club - 975, FIFA World Cup Italy matches - 39, captain for Italy senior team - 80.
Most clean sheets: individual goalkeeper (all-time) - 501
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