Some of the greatest athletes in history came from the sport of football, also known as soccer. These athletes, who are frequently referred to as football legends, have accomplished incredible feats both on their own and as a team. They are now well-known figures who have influenced both football players and fans for generations.
Millions of football players have participated in the “beautiful game” since the introduction of modern football to Europe in the 19th century. These football players have enriched the sport and will keep doing so with their artistry, cunning, and technicality. Some of these players’ accomplishments were so extraordinary that even while they were still playing, some of them were already regarded as football legends.
Generations of football players and fans have been motivated by these players, who have all made noteworthy contributions to the game. Football legends have transcended their on-field accomplishments to become cultural icons who have influenced everything from politics and diplomacy to fashion, music, and art.
There is little to no disagreement about who football legends are and the criteria that are used to classify them as such, even though there may always be a debate about the greatest player (footballer) of all time. Ranking the top 10 football legends of all time is a difficult task, however, as millions of people have played the game.
Football is a team sport, so there isn’t a fair system to rank players, so while the accomplishments of many active and retired players who are considered football legends are timeless and highly regarded, their classification is subject to interpretation. As a result, the top 10 football legends listed in this article were also chosen arbitrarily based on the players’ skills and performances.
Let’s look at 10 of these legends who have inspired and enthralled audiences all over the world and still do.
10 greatest football figures
Since there have been so many outstanding players throughout the history of the game, selecting a definitive top 10 football legend list can be difficult. But here is a list of 10 football greats who are generally regarded as some of the best ever:
Pelé
One of the greatest football players of all time is widely regarded to be Pelé, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento. He was born in Brazil in 1940, and from a young age, he started playing football.
At the age of 15, Pelé made his professional debut for Santos and quickly made a name for himself as a prolific scorer. With Santos, he went on to win numerous regional, national, and international championships. He also helped Brazil win three World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
On the field, Pelé was renowned for his incredible speed as well as his deft dribbling and shooting. He was a charismatic person who contributed to the globalization of football.
In 1977, Pelé gave up playing football and became the sport’s international spokesman. He is regarded as a true legend of the game and has received numerous honors, including the FIFA Player of the Century award in 2000.
On December 29, 2022, Pelé, who was 82 years old, passed away from multiple organ failure, which was caused by colon cancer.
José Maradona
Football legend from Argentina named Diego Maradona is regarded as one of the all-time greats. He was born in 1960, and at the age of 16, he signed a professional contract with Argentinos Juniors.
Maradona is perhaps best remembered for his World Cup performance in 1986, when he helped the Argentine team win and scored two of the most illustrious goals in football history. The first was the infamous “Hand of God” goal in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal match against England, where he used his hand to punch the ball into the net. The second occurred in the same match and was an incredible solo effort that has been dubbed the “Goal of the Century.”
Maradona was renowned for his superb dribbling abilities, his field vision, and his capacity to both set up and score goals throughout the course of his career. Throughout his playing career, he represented a number of elite clubs, including Boca Juniors, Barcelona, and Napoli, where he helped the latter team win two Serie A championships in 1987 and 1990.
Maradona battled addiction and health problems his entire life, and his life off the field was frequently turbulent. At the age of 60, he passed away in November 2020, but his reputation as one of the greatest football players in history endures.
Lionel Messi
The best player of his generation and one of the greatest players of all time is Lionel Messi, an Argentine football player. He was born in 1987, and at the age of 17, he signed a professional contract with Barcelona.
Messi is renowned for his superb ball handling abilities, his keen field vision, and his versatility in front of goal. Throughout his career, he has received numerous individual honors, including a record seven Ballons d’Or, which are given annually to the world’s best player by the French football magazine, France Football.
Messi has also achieved great success with Barcelona, helping the team win numerous national and international championships, including four Champions League titles and ten La Liga championships. He is the all-time leading scorer for Barcelona with more than 700 goals.
After helping Argentina win the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and the Copa America in 2021, Messi has also enjoyed success with the Argentine national team. He has participated in five World Cups and been named the Argentine Footballer of the Year 15 times.
Messi has a devoted following all over the world and has cemented his status as one of the best players in football history. If you want to read more about Messi, read this article over at LordPing.co.uk.
Jesus Christ Ronaldo
Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats. He was born in 1985, and at the age of 16, he signed a professional contract with Sporting CP in Portugal.
Ronaldo is renowned for his extraordinary speed, agility, and ability to score goals. Throughout his career, he has received numerous individual honors, including five Ballon d’Or titles.
Throughout his career, Ronaldo has represented a number of elite teams, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. With these clubs, he has won numerous national and international championships, including four Ballon d’Or awards and five Champions League titles while playing for Real Madrid.
With the Portuguese national team, Ronaldo has also enjoyed success. He assisted the group in winning the Nations League in 2019 and the European Championship in 2016.
Ronaldo is renowned for his charitable work off the field and has won numerous awards as the world’s most charitable athlete. He has endorsement deals with many different brands and is a significant commercial figure.
Ronaldo has a devoted following all over the world thanks to his extraordinary talent and success on the field. In Saudi Arabia, he is currently a player for Al- Nassr FC.
Zidane Zinedine
Former French footballer Zinedine Zidane is regarded as one of the game’s all-time greats. He was born in Marseille in 1972, and at the age of 17, he started working for Cannes.
Zidane is renowned for his extraordinary ball-handling ability, keen field vision, and capacity to exert decisive influence from midfield. Throughout his career, he has received numerous individual honors, including the 1998 Ballon d’Or.
Throughout his career, Zidane has represented a number of elite teams, including Juventus and Real Madrid. Before transferring to Real Madrid in 2001, he won two Serie A championships and a Champions League crown with Juventus.
As a coach at Real Madrid from 2016 to 2018, Zidane helped the team win three straight Champions League championships. He also won the competition as a player in 2002. After the 2006 World Cup, where he was famously kicked out of the game for headbutting an opponent in the final, he decided to stop playing.
Zidane has received praise for his leadership and coaching abilities off the field. He coached Real Madrid from 2016 to 2018, came back in 2019 and left in 2022. La Liga and the Club World Cup are just a couple of the many titles he has won for them.
Jacques Cruyff
Johan Cruyff, a Dutch football player, is regarded as one of the sport’s most skilled and intelligent players ever. He was born in Amsterdam in 1947, and at the age of 17, he signed on with Ajax to start his professional career.
Cruyff was a master at handling the ball, and his field vision and capacity to command play from midfield were unmatched. Between 1971 and 1973, he assisted in leading Ajax to three straight European Cup victories and won the Ballon d’Or three times.
Cruyff was a member of the Barcelona team as well as a coach in 1992, when the club won its first European Cup. He is credited with creating the “Total Football” system of play, which places a premium on brisk passing and field movement.
Cruyff was well-known for his charitable work off the field and established the Cruyff Foundation to support young athletes with disabilities. His legacy as one of the greatest football players and coaches of all time lives on despite his passing in 2016 at the age of 68.
Beckenbauer, Franz
Former German football player Franz Beckenbauer, also known as “Der Kaiser,” is regarded as one of the best defenders of all time. He was born in Munich, Germany, in 1945, and started his professional career there in 1964.
Beckenbauer competed for both Bayern Munich and the German national team, the latter of which he assisted in winning numerous championships, including the World Cup in 1974, which he participated in as both a player and coach, and the European Championship in 1972.
Beckenbauer was renowned for his outstanding versatility, technical skill, and leadership abilities on the field. He was one of the first defenders to actively contribute to the attack by moving forward frequently and using his passing and dribbling skills to help the attack.
Beckenbauer won numerous championships as a coach with Bayern Munich and the German national team after retiring from playing. Additionally, he presided over the group that planned the 2006 World Cup, which was held in Germany.
Theodore Di Stefano
Argentine-born footballer Alfredo Di Stefano played for Real Madrid in the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Buenos Aires in 1926, and River Plate in Argentina was where he made his professional debut.
Di Stefano is frequently given credit for making Real Madrid into a footballing powerhouse and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. From 1956 to 1960, he helped the team win five straight European Cups while scoring in each championship game.
Di Stefano excelled at playing in a variety of positions, including forward, midfielder, and even defender, making him a popular choice among coaches and players. Throughout his career, he received many individual honors, including the Ballon d’Or in 1957 and 1959.
Off the field, Di Stefano was a well-respected coach who later in his career led Real Madrid and other elite teams. Although he passed away in 2014 at the age of 88, his reputation as one of the greatest football players ever still endures.
Ronaldo de Araujo
Former Brazilian football player Ronaldo Lus Nazario de Lima, also known as Ronaldo or Ronaldo Nazario, is regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greatest strikers. He started his professional career with Cruzeiro in Brazil after being born in Rio de Janeiro in 1976.
Ronaldo is renowned for his lightning-quick reflexes, deft touch, and precise finishing in front of goal. With the Brazilian national team, he won two World Cup championships in 1994 and 2002. His total of 15 goals in World Cup competitions ranks second all-time.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and other elite European clubs were among those Ronaldo represented during his career. With these clubs, he received numerous team and individual trophies, including three FIFA World Player of the Year and two Ballon d’Or awards.
Despite sustaining numerous severe knee injuries over the course of his career, Ronaldo was able to make a number of comebacks and keep up his high caliber of play. One of the greatest football players of all time, he retired in 2011 at the age of 34.
Ronaldo has established himself as one of the greatest footballers of all time thanks to his extraordinary speed, skill, and goal-scoring prowess as well as his resilience in the face of adversity and ability to recover from injuries.
Philippe Platini
Former French football player Michel Platini is regarded as one of the game’s greatest midfielders ever. He was born in France’s Joeuf in 1955, and in 1972 he started his professional career with Nancy.
Platini is renowned for his superb ball handling skills, keen field awareness, and goal-scoring prowess from midfield. From 1983 to 1985, he received three consecutive Ballon d’Or awards, which are given each year to the world’s top player.
Platini was a player for Juventus as well, where he assisted in the team’s triumphs in the Serie A, Coppa Italia, and European Cup Winners’ Cup. He was an important member of the French national team, helping them reach the World Cup semifinals in 1982 and 1986.
Platini, who stopped playing after his playing career, rose to prominence as a coach and led France from 1988 to 1992. Later, from 2007 to 2015, he served as the president of UEFA, the organization that oversees European football.
However, a corruption scandal involving FIFA and UEFA damaged Platini’s reputation and resulted in a multi-year football ban.
