If it weren’t for the physical setting in which soccer is played, the ingenuity and enthusiasm that characterize “the beautiful game” might make it art just like with the best online casino. Football differs from many other games in that it allows individuals to express themselves freely.
While cricket and baseball players are restricted to certain motions, footballers can dribble, shoot, challenge, or pass the ball in several ways, enabling the best players to reach the highest level of their sport.
This list excludes active talents like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. Once their professions are done, they may be fully appraised. The list contains retired players throughout the contemporary game’s whole recorded existence.
Ways of Selecting the Best Soccer Players
Becoming the best soccer player in the world is a very difficult achievement. In addition to raw talent, it requires years of practice, dedication, and determination. Some players achieve this level of success and become legends in the sport.
If you are looking for the best soccer player in the world, there are a few ways to go about it. One way is to look at international competitions like the World Cup and see who has performed well in those tournaments.
Another way to select the best soccer player in the world is to look at domestic competitions like the UEFA Champions League and see who has performed well in those tournaments.
A third way to select the best soccer player in the world is to look at individual awards like the Ballon d’Or and see who has won those awards.
Some of the best players have helped their teams to win multiple trophies. They have also been consistent over a long period of time.
We’ve researched the 8 best soccer players of all time and here’s who made our list:
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Di Stéfano is the #1 forward on the roster. He was a talented footballer with Real Madrid, scoring 511 goals in 702 appearances. He was just not your typical attacker, though; he was everywhere on the field, directing passing and tackling play. He was perhaps the complete soccer player the game had ever seen.
He received five European Cups with Real Madrid, scoring in each of the five final matches. From 1945 until 1966, he achieved 13 league trophies. He had a dismal international record owing to his lack of participation in the World Cup, yet he won the Copa America with the team Argentina.
Zinedine Zidane
Individual talent, ball handling, physical prowess, and distribution are all qualities of Zidane. His finest games were frequently in the most crucial plays, displaying a mentality rarely seen in several other athletes.
He netted 159 goals throughout 789 appearances as a center midfielder; He clinched the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championships for France. He took home one European cup and three league titles with Juventus and Real Madrid and Juventus.
After retirement, Zidane returned to club management, carrying Real Madrid to three straight European Cups. He later resigned for personal reasons.
Ronaldo
Ronaldo, nicknamed “O Fenomeno,” was a striker who played for Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, and Inter Milan before joining Real Madrid. He was the leading goal scorer in Spanish football during his first year with Madrid.
Altogether, he played in 9 seasons for Madrid and netted 311 goals in 292 appearances. That’s a goal every 0.85 games, which is an astounding statistic.
He was a member of the Brazilian national team that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. He also helped Brazil to a third-place finish in the 1998 World Cup. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times and is widely regarded as one of the legends.
George Best
George Best’s tenure was marred by alcoholism, yet his brilliance was nearly unrivaled. Known for his dribbling skills, he won the European Trophy in 1968 and two league trophies at Manchester United. He received the Ballon d’Or in 1968 after scoring 205 goals from 579 appearances as a midfield player.
He barely made an impression on the international level since Northern Ireland was never a powerhouse in football. His drunkenness ruined his career at 28 years, so he never lived up to the potential of his abilities.
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was perhaps the most accurate goalkeeper in history. He scored 700 goals from 705 games throughout his career (1943 to 1966), blending his finishing power with his overall intellect and skills to devise new talents.
He won five league trophies and three European Cups with Real Madrid. He also won five more league trophies in Hungary. He guided Hungary to the 1954 World Cup Final in the world arena.
Johann Cruyff
Johann Cruyff possessed Zidane’s technique, control, strength, and George Best’s speed and dribbling; He was the complete footballer with supreme elegance, clinical skill, and calculated intellect.
Cruyff was also a proven goalscorer, with 401 goals from 710 games as an attacking midfielder. He achieved ten league championships and three European Cups but no international medals.
Pele
Pelé was such a goal-scoring powerhouse in his home Brazil, and he is sometimes regarded as the greatest player in soccer’s history. In 1,366 games, he tallied an astounding 1,282 goals. His strength, speed, and dribbling skill allowed him to score a wide range of goals for enjoyment.
He carried his goal-scoring skills to the 1958, 1962, and 1970 World Cups, helping Brazil win the championship three times. He also won 5 league trophies and two Copa Libertadores. He was part of squads that included players like Carlos Alberto and Garrincha in these triumphs. He was a symbol for all these clubs, and he is frequently attributed with all the glory.
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona had, without question, the best football skill ever seen. His footwork was captivating, his scoring was distinct and lethal, and his crossing and passing were precise, garnering several assists during his tenure. In 680 appearances, he netted 345 goals from midfield.
Despite having a far more challenging career, unlike Pelé, he captured the 1986 World trophy with Argentina, three league titles, and one Champions League with Napoli. He struck one of several best goals in history against England.