Football or soccer is the most famous sport in the world.
The sport has produced some unprecedented heroes who have transformed the sport itself and have soldered heritage in the memories of soccer fans for a lifetime.
So deciding about the best soccer player of all time is even possible?
It is not an easy task to do. But based on three leading factors namely—
the ability to win matches independently, spell and perform under pressure, some names have been suggested.
1. Pele
Brazilian player Pelenick named” Black Pearl” is considered one of the most extraordinary football players of all time.
He has won the most number of world cups than any other player. A supreme goalscorer, he was also the main point of attack for the club he played as well as the country.
The number of goals he has scored is merely magnificent– the only player to score more than 1200 goals.
Apart from all these, he also came out with flying colors when needed the most, in times of pressure. He was also the youngest-ever player to score in the world cup(17 years and 249 days).
Pele scored goals 2 times in the 1958 final against Sweden.
The Brazilian player is regarded as an all-time unprecedented player and his capacity to score goals will stay undefeated for years to come.
2. Diego Maradona
Extremely talented and with magic in his feet, Maradona was capable of doing things with a football that nobody could think of doing.
Diego was not afraid of contorting the rules if it suited him as he always played to win the match and, without any doubt, was Argentina’s star player.
He was the one who was credited for Argentina’s famous triumph in 1986. Deigo Maradona’s whole character as a person and player was undoubtedly expressed in this most famous match.
A crafty mastermind, he puzzled the English defense to score the most distinguished goals ever.
Apart from making the most for Argentina, he also played for various clubs in Europe like Barcelona and Napoli.
However, he won only a Copa del Rey and Supercopa Espana when playing at Barcelona.
But he played some magical game to get a standing ovation from Santiago Bernabeu’s crowd famous for being hostile.
While playing at Napoli, Maradona pulled the team to the Serie A title twice. The wonder player was at his detrimental best at that time and the people of Naples looked at him as their Lord.
For Maradona, every game was so important and he always set an example on the field.
Maradona is still the champion of the people of Naples and is globally recognized as the greatest player to ever play in Europe.
Maradona left for his heavenly abode in 2020 as a result of a cardiac arrest.
3. Lionel Messi
Messi, without any doubt, is one of the reigning stars of football at present time beside Cristiano Ronaldo.
Coming into the scene in 2005, Messi, first under the guidance of Frank Rijkaard, and then Pep Guardiola, proved himself as one of the most celebrated players of the game.
Lionel Messi, a child genius, very soon became Barcelona’s head player after Ronaldinho’s, left the game and also became the star of the Barcelona team in 2008-09.
Despite scoring in all kinds of club matches like the Champions League finals, semi-finals, Copa del Rey Finals, and Clasicos against Real Madrid,
he struggled at the time of playing for Argentina. Three successive defeats with the national team even forced him to take brief retirement of 2 months.
And then he came back one final time to have a hand at worldwide fame. He at last was able to put an end to his hunger for trophies with the national team of Argentina by winning the Copa America in 2021.
Messi was again in his best form after an upsetting season of 2021-22, as he scored 12 goals and fixed more than 14 in 19 matches.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
A supremely talented child, he is the discovery of Sir Alex Ferguson. He proved himself as one of the finest players of our time at Manchester United.
With an aggressive approach to proving himself as the best, Ronaldo, along with his spirit, dedication and great talent has proved himself a prominent player in the world of soccer.
He became famous at manchester united but it was actually at Real Madrid where he affixed his picture as a great player of all time.
Ronaldo has shown his worth by stepping up when it was needed the most and displaying to the world his capability of doing wonders.
Ronaldo recently proved his worth by becoming the highest goal scorer in pro football (807) along with a hat-trick against Tottenham.
5. Zinedine Zidane
This wonder player came to the limelight as a top-class player with his game against Brazil in the 1998 world cup.
Zidane had a highly accomplished career at Juventus and Real Madrid winning Ballon d’Or in 1998.
At the 1998 world cup, with his brilliant approach, he took the team France to victory against Brazil proving himself a hero and icon.
He again proved his worth in Euro 2000, taking the team to victory and getting the player of the tournament award.
The 2001-02 championship got the most memorable moment for him wherein he scored a masterstroke goal from outside the box, perhaps one of the most historic goals in the game of the Champions League.
He at the time proved that he can be relied upon to play tactfully at the most wanting times.
Except for his, ill-famed headbutt during the 2006 world cup till his retirement in 2006,
Zidane was considered the best player in the world for his exceptional performances in the 1998 world cup final, Euro 2000, and 2000 champions league.
Except for his, ill-famed headbutt during the 2006 world cup.
