Top 10 Best Soccer Players of all Time

More than 1.5 billion people tuned in to find out who is going to be world champion in 2018. As a fan, the excitement of such a once-in-a-lifetime match cannot even be beaten by a big win at the Gates of Olympus Slot. In soccer, there is a lot of rivalry between teams, cities, players, and among fans of course. One subject that almost certainly leads to a never-ending debate is: Who are the greatest soccer players of all time

There are undoubtedly a lot of factors that can influence what answer to this question is given. One’s personal favorite player, for example, one’s favorite team or even one’s nationality. There are however certain factors that can’t be argued about. Such cold hard facts as appearances for a certain national team, World Cup wins, UEFA Champions League wins or national league title wins. We dug deep into the sport’s history to find out who the top 10 best soccer players of all time are.

Top 10 best soccer players of all time list

10. David Beckham – A soccer popstar who dominated Europe in 1999 with Manchester United

Full Name: David Robert Joseph Beckham

Date of Birth: 05.02.1975

Birthplace: London

Nationality: United Kingdom

Position: Right Midfielder

Titles won: 22

Career matches played: 839

Goals scored: 127

National team appearances: 115

David Beckham is sometimes wrongfully seen more as a popstar or model rather than a soccer player. On the pitch, however, he was undoubtedly an incredible player especially his free kicks were unmatched. He was a typical right winger and in this position, he was one of the top soccer players in the world. Born in Leytonstone in northern London both his parents were passionate Manchester United supporters.

He joined Manchester United early on and helped to shape the most successful time United ever had. Beckham won four Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League title as well as two English Cups and four Supercups with United alone. Later in his career, Beckham moved to Real Madrid where he became a Galactico. In Madrid, he played with Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, Roberto Carlos and many more top players.

9. Zinedine Zidane – An artist with an incredible touch

Full Name: Zinedine Yazid Zidane

Date of Birth: 06.23.1972

Birthplace: Marseille

Nationality: France

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Titles won: 22

Career matches played: 797

Goals scored: 156

National team appearances: 108

The French superstar Zinedine Zidane was born and raised in Marseille, France as a son of Algerian immigrants. He was what is called a street soccer player learning skills and teaching himself new ones while playing in Marseille’s streets. Zidane’s career leaves little doubt that he is one of the top 10 world best soccer players of all time. He wore the jerseys of Italian champions Juventus Turin as well as Real Madrid. 

Additionally, Zidane won it all! He is a world champion as well as a European champion with France. He was deemed Ballon d’Or winner in 1998 and Europe’s best player in 2002. He’s also a UEFA Champions League winner as well as a champion of Spain and Italy and won the world club trophy too. But Zidane wasn’t done with the sport just yet. He started a coaching career and returned twice to Real Madrid. During those years he collected thirteen more titles including winning the UEFA Champions League three times in a row!

8. Ronaldo Nazario – Two times World Cup winner

Full Name: Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima

Date of Birth: 09.18.1976

Birthplace: Itaguaí

Nationality: Brazil

Position: Striker

Titles won: 32

Career matches played: 560

Goals scored: 365

National team appearances: 105

There is more than one Ronaldo and both are among the top 10 soccer players of all time. The Brazilian Ronaldo was at that time probably in a class of his own. His immense talent was first spotted by Dutch scouts from PSV Eindhoven who brought this young Brazilian kid to Europe. Only two years after this move, he already played for FC Barcelona and then moved on to Inter Milan.

This Inter Milan team dominated the sport back then and Ronaldo played a crucial part in this dominance. It wasn’t therefore too surprising that Ronaldo ended up playing for Real Madrid. He is one of only a few top players in the world who managed to win the World Cup twice. Ronaldo also stroked twice in collecting the award of Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo took over the Spanish club Real Valladolid owning shares of about 51 %.

7. Iker Casillas – One World Cup and two UEFA Euro titles represent the unbeatable Spanish team

Full Name: Iker Casillas Fernández

Date of Birth: 05.20.1981

Birthplace: Móstoles

Nationality: Spain

Position: Goalkeeper

Titles won: 26

Career matches played: 1088

Goals scored: 0

National team appearances: 207

When we are looking for the top 10 best soccer players of all time, then such a list cannot be complete without a goalkeeper on it. With goalkeepers, it is particularly difficult to choose but ultimately, we decided that the Spanish superstar Iker Casillas must be it. He was so good that he already started playing for Spain’s U15 team and rose through the ranks at Real Madrid becoming a leader of the biggest team worldwide. Casillas played for Real Madrid for almost 20 years.

He was among the unbeatable Spanish national team, who dominated not only European but world soccer for years. With Spain, he won the UEFA European Championship twice and the FIFA World Cup as well. With Real Madrid Casillas collected trophy after trophy and even at FC Porto his last club as a professional Casillas won Portugal’s league.

6. Gerd Muller – A striker who scored more goals for his national team than he played games

Full Name: Gerhard Müller

Date of Birth: 11.03.1945

Birthplace: Nördlingen

Nationality: Germany

Position: Striker

Titles won: 35

Career matches played: 674

Goals scored: 637

National team appearances: 63

Unfortunately, Gerd Muller is often not even looked at when people are searching for the top 10 best soccer players of all time. That might be because he spent most of his time in Germany and only moved to a US club towards the end of his career. In Germany, Muller was a hero that has been awarded the nickname “Bomber of the Nation”. A reference to his incredible breathtaking stats.

There are not many players who scored more goals than they played matches for their national team. In fact, Muller scored so many goals that his statistics show almost one goal per match. During his career Gerd Muller won 17 titles for most goals scored during competition. He is also a World Champion and won one Ballon d’Or. Unfortunately, Muller is no longer with us. He passed away on August 15th 2021.

5. Diego Maradona – Napoli’s hero who won the Seria A twice

Full Name: Diego Armando Maradona

Date of Birth: 10.30.1960

Birthplace: Lanús 

Nationality: Argentina

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Titles won: 21

Career matches played: 460

Goals scored: 208

National team appearances: 116

Diego Armando Maradona is a true soccer legend and undoubtedly one of the top 10 world best soccer players of all time. Maradona started conquering European soccer when he moved to FC Barcelona in 1982. After two years in Spain Maradona agreed to a deal with Napoli in Italy’s Serie A. At that time Italy was considered to be the best league in the world. Diego Maradona stayed with SSC Napoli for roughly seven years.

During those years Diego quickly became a legend and to this very day is considered a hero among Napoli fans. That is because he made Napoli champions of Italy again. Something Napoli fans have desired for 37 years. Maradona also won a World Cup with Argentina in 1986. After he died in 2020 once again Napoli fans stood by their legend and changed the name of Napoli’s soccer stadium to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

4. Franz Beckenbauer – Germany’s Kaiser redefined defending and became a World Cup winner as a player and as a coach

Full Name: Franz Anton Beckenbauer

Date of Birth: 09.11.1945

Birthplace: Munich 

Nationality: Germany

Position: Defender

Titles won: 25

Career matches played: 729

Goals scored: 91

National team appearances: 109

There are of course some extraordinary defenders we have to mention as well, when we are answering our main question, who are the top 10 best soccer players of all time? Franz Beckenbauer certainly wasn’t just another defender. No, he was a player, who redefined soccer defense by creating an entirely new position which was called “free man”. This free man was primarily a center-back defender but would also help out in the offense once ball possession was won.

By doing this Beckenbauer could put his goal-scoring skills into the game. Overall, he was so successful that he helped put his home club Bayern Munich on the international map. With Bayern Beckenbauer won every national and international title one can win in soccer. After finishing his career with Cosmos New York in America he came back to soccer as a coach. With him Germany's national team became World Champions in Italy 1990 making Beckenbauer one of only three people worldwide who won this particular title as a player and as a coach.

3. Pelé  - Brazilian goal-scoring machine and FIFA Player of the Year

Full Name: Edson Arantes do Asimento

Date of Birth: 10.23.1940

Birthplace: Trés Coraçoes 

Nationality: Brazil

Position: Center Forward

Titles won: 19

Career matches played: 738

Goals scored: 684

National team appearances: 92

Brazil is home to many famous soccer stars who are more than just good soccer players. A lot of them stood out like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Neymar Jr. etc. But none did like Pelé did. Just like Gerd Muller Pelé averaged almost one goal per match but additionally, he had a unique playing style. An ice-cold striker who also had incredible skills to stop, pass and move with the ball in a way nobody else could.

Pelé is a three-time World Cup winner with Brazil and even managed to defend this title in 1962. Just like Beckenbauer Pelé went to Cosmos New York as his career was coming to an end. His home however was FC Santos in Brazil. Pelé passed away in 2020 in his Brazilian home in Santos Sao Paulo. 

2. Cristiano Ronaldo - A kid from Madeira writing soccer history in Portugal

Full Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro

Date of Birth: 02.05.1985

Birthplace: Funchal 

Nationality: Portugal

Position: Center Forward

Titles won: 79

Career matches played: 1229

Goals scored: 885

National team appearances: 239

Portugal’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is a real phenomenon. Even now at age 38 he is still playing professional soccer and is still selected for Portugal’s national team. His talent showed already when he was a young player at Sporting Lissabon. Scouts of Manchester United urged Alex Ferguson to sign him and he joined United in 2003. Just like David Beckham, his next step was the mighty Estadio Bernabeu in Madrid.

With Real Madrid, he undoubtedly had his most successful years which secured him his spot among the top 10 best soccer players of all time. Ronaldo won the UEFA Champions League four times with Real alone. Cristiano was also a part, when Portugal’s soccer history was written. When Portugal won the UEFA Euro 2016 they were able to celebrate their first international title ever. Additionally, Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

1. Lionel Messi – Record Ballon d’Or winner

Full Name: Lionel Andrés Messi

Date of Birth: 06.24.1987

Birthplace: Rosario

Nationality: Argentina

Position: Center Forward, Winger

Titles won: 75

Career matches played: 1090

Goals scored: 840

National team appearances: 201

If we had started our top 10 best soccer players of all time in order 1-10, Messi would be on top instead down here. For years soccer fans worldwide could watch in awe the intense rivalry between Messi and FC Barcelona and Ronaldo and Real Madrid. There have been endless debates about which one of those two is better.

Lionel Messi is the record winner of the Ballon d’Or having won this title now an incredible eight times. For years there was only one cup missing in Messi’s impressive collection. In 2022 during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar Messi finally crowned himself by becoming a World Cup winner with Argentina making him truly one of the top soccer players in the world.