You Won’t Believe Who Made the Cut in Our List of the Top 25 Football Players Ever

Hey everyone, I recently put together a list of the 25 greatest football players of all time. These are players who have retired, and are remembered for their incredible skill, talent, and impact on the game. I’m excited to share this list with you, so here it goes!

1. Diego Maradona: Maradona is perhaps best known for leading Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup. He was a gifted playmaker and is widely regarded as one of the greatest dribblers in the history of the game. Maradona retired in 1997.
2. Pele: Pele is widely considered to be one of the greatest football players of all time. He won three World Cups with Brazil and is known for his skill, speed, and scoring ability. Pele retired in 1977.
3. Johann Cruyff: Cruyff was a Dutch footballer who is best known for his time with Ajax and Barcelona. He was a master tactician and is credited with revolutionizing the way the game is played. Cruyff retired in 1978.
4. Michel Platini: Platini is a French former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He won the European Cup three times with Juventus and was a key player for the French national team. Platini retired in 1987.
5. Alfredo Di Stefano: Di Stefano was an Argentine-Spanish footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He won five European Cups with Real Madrid and was a key player for the Argentine national team. Di Stefano retired in 1966.
6. Zinedine Zidane: Zidane is a former French footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He won the World Cup with France in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000, and was known for his skill and technical ability on the pitch. Zidane retired in 2006.
7. Franz Beckenbauer: Beckenbauer is a German former footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time. He won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and as a coach in 1990, and was known for his leadership and tactical acumen on the pitch. Beckenbauer retired in 1977.
8. Marco van Basten: Van Basten is a Dutch former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest forwards of all time. He won three Ballon d’Or awards and scored over 300 goals in his career. Van Basten retired in 1995 due to injury.
9. Bobby Moore: Moore was an English footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest defenders of all time. He captained the English national team to victory in the 1966 World Cup and is remembered for his leadership and sportsmanship on and off the pitch. Moore retired in 1978.
10. Lothar Matthaus: Matthaus is a German former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He won the World Cup with Germany in 1990 and is the country’s most-capped player. Matthaus retired in 2000.
11. Paolo Maldini: Maldini is an Italian former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest defenders of all time. He spent his entire career at AC Milan, where he won numerous domestic and international titles. Maldini retired in 2009.
12. Gary Lineker: Lineker is an English former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest forwards of all time. He is the top scorer in the history of the English national team and won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup. Lineker retired in 1994.
13. Ronaldo: Ronaldo is a Brazilian former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and 2002 and is the all-time leading goalscorer for the Brazilian national team. Ronaldo retired in 2011.
14. Eusebio: Eusebio is a Portuguese former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest forwards of all time. He was the top scorer at the 1966 World Cup and won the European Cup with Benfica in 1962. Eusebio retired in 1979.
15. George Best: Best was a Northern Irish footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest forwards of all time. He is known for his skill, speed, and dribbling ability, and is often cited as one of the best players to have never won the World Cup. Best retired in 1984.
16. Ferenc Puskas: Puskas was a Hungarian footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest forwards of all time. He won numerous accolades and titles over the course of his career, including three European Cups with Real Madrid. Puskas retired in 1966.
17. Lev Yashin: Yashin is a Soviet former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He is known for his incredible reflexes and shot-stopping ability, and is the only goalkeeper to have won the Ballon d’Or award. Yashin retired in 1971.
18. Bobby Charlton: Charlton is an English former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He won the World Cup with England in 1966 and is the country’s all-time leading goalscorer. Charlton retired in 1973.
19. Gordon Banks: Banks is an English former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He won the World Cup with England in 1966 and is known for his incredible reflexes and shot-stopping ability. Banks retired in 1973.
20. Mario Kempes: Kempes is an Argentine former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest forwards of all time. He won the World Cup with Argentina in 1978 and is the tournament’s joint top scorer. Kempes retired in 1986.
21. Hristo Stoichkov: Stoichkov is a Bulgarian former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest forwards of all time. He won the European Cup with Barcelona in 1992 and was the top scorer at the 1994 World Cup. Stoichkov retired in 2003.
22. Gheorghe Hagi: Hagi is a Romanian former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He was a key player for the Romanian national team and had a successful club career, winning numerous domestic and international titles. Hagi retired in 2001.
23. Andrea Pirlo: Pirlo is an Italian former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He won numerous titles over the course of his career, including the World Cup and two Champions League titles. Pirlo retired in 2017.
24. Fabio Cannavaro: Cannavaro is an Italian former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest defenders of all time. He won the World Cup with Italy in 2006 and was named the FIFA World Player of the Year that same year. Cannavaro retired in 2011.
25. Andres Iniesta: Iniesta is a Spanish former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He won numerous titles over the course of his career, including the World Cup and nine domestic league titles. Iniesta retired in 2018.

and 5 extra Because why not:) :

Here are five more football players who are widely considered to be some of the greatest of all time and have already retired:

• Xavi: Xavi is a Spanish former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, where he won numerous domestic and international titles. Xavi retired in 2019.
• Ronaldinho: Ronaldinho is a Brazilian former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He is known for his skill, creativity, and flair on the pitch and won numerous accolades over the course of his career, including the 2002 World Cup. Ronaldinho retired in 2018.
• Roberto Baggio: Baggio is an Italian former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest forwards of all time. He won the Ballon d’Or award in 1993 and is the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Italian national team. Baggio retired in 2004.
• Rivaldo: Rivaldo is a Brazilian former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest attacking midfielders of all time. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and is the fifth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Brazilian national team. Rivaldo retired in 2015.
• Pavel Nedved: Nedved is a Czech former footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He won the Ballon d’Or award in 2003 and had a successful club career, winning numerous domestic and international titles. Nedved retired in 2009.

So there you have it, the 25 + 5 greatest football players of all time. These players have truly left their mark on the game, and will be remembered for their incredible achievements and contributions. I hope you enjoyed this list, and maybe even learned something new about some of these legendary players. Until next time, keep on cheering for your favorite teams and players!