Soccer formally known as football in my states considered as one of the most played and watchable game all across the globe and no doubt football has witnessed some of the legendary athletes over the last few decades. Here you can get all details and information regarding to the top 10 greatest footballers of all times. But before we begin our countdown for greatest footballers here are few things which are considered to be very necessary for any footballer in order to deliver true spirit of game.
| NO# | PLAYER | POINTS |
| 1 | Pele |
47 |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | 47 |
| 3 | Diego Maradona | 45 |
| 4 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 45 |
| 5 | Zinedine Zidane | 44 |
| 6 | Franz Beckenbauer | 44 |
| 7 | Alfredo di Stefano | 41 |
| 8 | Johan Cruyff | 40 |
| 9 | Michel Platini | 40 |
| 10 | Xavi Hernandez | 38 |
Here we have gathered 5 different factors before lining up top 10 footballers of all time and players are enlisted after analyzing the existence of these factors in them.
Talent/Ability: The very 1st thing to analyze the greatest footballer is the talent a player posses. A purely talented player is always remained ahead for others and only talent puts the player on the pitch of success. A player having talent remained useless if he did not able to deliver it on right time.
Success/Trophies The other important factor is success rate within a team as a player participate in crucial matches and perform during difficulty situations for his team considered as more skilled and talented then other players.
Longevity: Another crucial factor for assessment of a great player is how long he play football for his team and how high level they achieved during their professional career. Like Ronaldinho no doubt is a top ranked footballer but he failed to put up his professional career on elite level.
Fear Factor: An average or good players seems more uncomfortable and tense especially in big matches but a great footballer always plays their natural game regardless of that how major or big competition is going on and they always impact when it really matters for their team.
Individual Brilliance: Along with other specialties great footballers holds ability to win any kind of matches on their own and their individual performances put greater impact on their team. The presence of such players impacts a lot on their opposition and put them under pressure throughout any game.
Article Inlcudes
#1 Pele
Pele is known as one of the greatest footballer of the century as the superstar remained the part of Brazilian football team and played vital role in winning World Cup for his team back in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Pele is no doubt true legend of football and FIFA awarded him as the best footballer of the 20th Century. Pele although achieved countless famous during his international career but his club success did not put him on upper ranks as he mostly took part in American League which is not considered as competent football tournament. According to the unofficial statistics Pele during his overall career scored 1281 goals in 1363 games but the amazing thing is that Pele scored more than 100 goals in a year. Pele never played for European football clubs due to which his professional career is still debatable.
#2 Lionel Messi
Well, most of the football fans consider Messi as the greatest footballer of all the times and each time Messi came out to play his fans might enjoy his play more than anything else. Messi in currently season succeed to score 53 goals for his team. Lionel Messi at the age of 13 joined Barcelona and made his 1st professional debut at the age of 17. Messi performed crucial role in the success of Barcelona for many years due to win his home team succeed to won European Cup for the 3 times. Lionel Messi scored 585 goals in 727 games and he is still the leading goal scorer for Barcelona and also leading scorer in Spanish League with more than 300 goals. Messi international career boosted up in World Cup 2014 when his good performance helped his team to reach finals and he was awarded with Golden Ball in that world cup 2014.
#3 Diego Maradona:
Diego Maradona probably the legendary footballer world have ever witnessed in the history of football. Diego who lead the ordinary Argentina football as the winner of FIFA World Cup 1986 and also scored two of the best ever goals in the history of football during this world cup. Maradona name is also mentioned along with Pele as both these greatest footballers belongs to same period of time. But Maradona opposite to Pele played for different football clubs of Europe including Barcelona and Napoli. Maradona while charged world record transfer fee when he was transferred to Barcelona and but his career with Barcelona was not too good but he managed to woin a Copa Del Rel trophy with Barcelona. Maradona also performed really well for Napoli during Serie A in 1987 and 1990. Maradona during the end of his professional career remained under controversies due to drugs, abuse and overweight.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo also grabbed his position on the list of greatest footballers of team. The 32 years old footballer still looks enough young and powerful for this game. Ronaldo started his professional career in Portugese team and due to brilliant skills he was signed up by Manchester United for the 1st time and Ronaldo performed really outstandingly and graced the Premier League season in 2003. Ronaldo after displayed his professional talent and skills become top notched player for Manchester United. Ronaldo was the part of United in the era when the football club won three Premier League titles in a row and also won Champions League final in 2008. In 2009 Ronaldo was signed up by Real Madrid for the record fee of $ 100 Million. While with Spanish team Ronaldo won his 2nd Champions League title followed by victory in La Liga Finals back in 2012-13.
#5 Zinedine Zidane
The famous French footballer known for his amazing control over football also placed in the list of greatest footballers of all the times. Zidane started his career with Bordeaux where he spent 4 years and then he made his contract with Juventus back in 1996 where his professional career boosted up like a rocket. Zidane scored two goals in 1998 world cup against hardcore Brazil and helped his team to won FIFA World Cup for the 1st time in history. Zidane in that competition won the title of player of tournament. Zidane also played for Real Madrid and won the UEFA Champions League. Zidane put real impact of his performance on national team of France and performed crucial role in the victory of his national team in UEFA Euro 2000.
#6 Franz Beckenbauer
Franz is one of the most successful and graceful footballer of all the times as he was not full of talent but also helped the game of football to stand on revolutionary foundations. Franz often played as centre back and his ability to take out ball out of defense into attacker zone is just amazing. He had enjoyed hugely successful professional career not only for his national team but also for club teams. Franz started his career as youth for SC Munchen team and then joined Bayern in 1958 and rest is present in history. He became individual tycoon in Bayern and helped his team won three back to back titles of European Cup back in 1974-76. Franz career of success and he was also part of his national team during the victory of his team in FIFA World Cup 1974.
#7 Alfredo Di Stefano
Stefano the all times shining star for Real Madrid as he scored goals in 5 consecutive European Cup Finals for Real Madrid and won all these 5 tournaments for his team in that era. Stefano was born in Argentina but his professional career is divided while playing for three national teams including Argentina, Spain and Colombia. He scored 35 goals in 43 matches in his international career. Stefano scored 216 goals in just 282 matches for Real Madrid and remained top scorer for this team and also scored 49 goals in just 58 matches of the European Cups.
#8 Johan Cruyff
Cruyff more than player is the legend for the upcoming generation as the stylish Dutch footballer was one of the best attacking midfielder. Cruyff started off his professional training from Ajax Academy and helped Ajax to win 7 Dutch League titles and 3 European Cups. He scored 190 goals in 240 matches before moving to Barcelona. Cruyff did not remained successful with Barcelona. In 1976 World Cup Cruyff lead his team into finals where they lost their match against Germany but he stunned the world with his extraordinary football skill. He also scored 33 goals in 48 international matches.
#9 Michel Platini
Platini is one of the greatest French player in the history of football and he played as attacking midfielder for Nancy, Saint Etienne and Juventus during his 15 years professional career. He played 432 games and scored 224 goals. In 1985 Platini was the part of Juventus and this team won the Eurpean Cup and he was the only player who won Ballon d OR award for the three times in a row back in 1983,84, and 85. Platini was also remained the captain of France during the European Championship 1984 and his team won that major trophy for the 1st time in history.
#10 Xavi Hernandez
It is going to be very interesting to watch Xavi Hernandez name on the list of the greatest footballers of all the times but its true as Hernandez is one of the most successful footballer with FC Barcelona and Spain. While starting his professional career in Barcelona youth team back in 1998 and become part of the main stream team of Barcelona in 2002 and his brilliant defensive and midfielder playing strategies impressed the management of his team and he became the most standing player for Barcelona. Hernandez was also signed by the national football of Spain. During his presence his Spanish team won La Liga for the 8 teams and he was also the part of team during the victory in Finals of UEFA Champions League.