When you think of Canadian sports history, you probably think about hockey and basketball players because these are some of the most popular disciplines in the country. However, the truth is that Canada is home to many other elite athletes and that includes soccer players as well.
Although you can hardly remember their names, some football players from Canada actually represent the pinnacle of the sport. Our job is to help you remember them, so keep reading to see the best Canadian soccer players of all time.
1. Owen Hargreaves
The first position on our list goes to a player from England! If you are wondering why, here’s the thing – Owen Hargreaves is actually born in Calgary and he has a Canadian passport, too. Hargreaves used to be one of the elite midfielders in the early 21st century as he won the Premier League and the Champions League with Manchester United.
2. Alphonso Davies
Alphonso Davis is still a young soccer player, but he deserved a place on the list thanks to his superior performances in Bayern Munich. The left winger is as fast as the same day withdrawal online casinos, which helped him become an important member of the best German football club in history. Davies already won Bundesliga and Champions League with Bayern.
3. Julian De Guzman
Julian De Guzman is a true legend of Canadian soccer because he played the most matches for the national team (89). Fans also recognize him as the first Canadian who ever played in La Liga in Spain. De Guzman was one of the best players in Deportivo La Coruna.
4. Scott Arfield
Do you know that Scott Arfield played for Scotland’s U21 national team? That’s right, the now captain of the Canadian national team started his career abroad, but that didn’t stop him from becoming the most notable face of Canadian football in the 2020s.
5. Craig Forrest
Soccer fans usually don’t prefer goalkeepers, but this one is very special! Craig Forrest led Canada to the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup when he saved two penalty kicks. Forrest, a former player of Chelsea, Ipswich Town, and West Ham United, conceded only three goals during the Gold Cup tournament and it cemented his status as one of the most notable soccer players in Canada.
6. Randy Samuel
No one remembers Randy Samuel by gentle appearance and delicate touch because his strengths are hidden in different bushes. We adore Samuel for his fighting spirit and readiness to do all it takes to help Canada win a soccer match. The Trinidad-born defender wore the national team jersey on 82 occasions.
7. Junior Hoilett
Junior Hoilett is another active player who earned a place on our top 10 list. The winger has collected around 200 appearances in the English Premier League playing mostly for Cardiff City, Queens Park Rangers, and Blackburn Rovers.
8. Patrice Bernier
Patrice Bernier is a former captain of the Canadian national team. The midfielder played from 2000 to 2017 for Montreal Impact and several international teams, including German Kaiserslautern. He captained the national team in 2017 at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
9. Fernando Aguiar
Fernando Aguiar is yet another legend of soccer in Canada, but here’s a tweak – he also played for Portugal. Born in 1972, Aguiar has dual citizenship. He was a fierce defensive midfielder and it earned him appearances in numerous teams in both Canada and Portugal. Aguiar‘s most important seasons came from 2002 to 2004 when he played for Benfica.
10. Atiba Hutchinson
Atiba Hutchinson ends our list of the best Canadian soccer players. He played for PSV, Copenhagen, Besiktas, and other teams. Most notably, Atiba has been awarded the Canadian Men’s Player of the Year award in 2021.
Canada is the land of Wayne Gretzky, Steve Nash, and Donovan Bailey, but they aren’t the only ones who make this country proud. On the contrary, many soccer players from Canada are elite athletes who play for the finest clubs internationally.
In this post, we showed you the best Canadian soccer players of all time. Do you think we got it right? Would you prefer to see some other names on our list? Let us know in the comments section!