A list of the top ten soccer players is nearly impossible to compile. For starters, what really defines a top soccer player? Is it the number of trophies he’s won? Is it his individual style of play? Is it what a complete player he is? Many players have come and gone and contributed so much to the beautiful game and left us awestruck! Personally, when I witness the exploits of some of the greats of the game today, I am morbidly tempted to drag myself down and have a kick at the game!
Let’s face it. Compiling a list of the top soccer players of all time is impossible. It would reek of bias and favoritism. As will this list! I’m not making this list on any statistics. These are players that I love, or loved to watch, or hated to see retire. Here are, like the UEFA Champions League song says Die Meister, Die Besten…The Champions.
Top 10 Soccer Players
Now, unfortunately this list will not include Pele, supposedly the greatest footballer of all time, for the simple reason that I never saw him play, so unfortunately enough, I cannot pass a judgment on that. These are players I have seen and been mesmerized by. So here we go…
Zinedine Zidane (France; Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid)
Although his wikipedia page calls him an ‘attacking midfielder’, there is really no position that Zizou COULDN’T play in. Zinedine Zidane played forward, right wing… everywhere. If you chose to play him center-back, he would do so with consummate ease and grace which can never be replicated. No point in listing the awards he’s won, or his qualities for that matter. There are too many. His wonder goal for Real Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen will remain immortal in the hearts of fans. Unfortunately, so will his morbid head-butt in the World Cup Final of 2006.
Diego Maradona (Argentina; Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli)
Hardly ever has there been a man who could lift up a team all by himself. Truly one of the greatest players to have graced the game, oppositions feared Diego Maradona like Death itself. It is said that in the 80s, football teams would practice playing with 9 players, because 2 players would be solely dedicated to run around Maradona. If you go on youtube, you will find tonnes of videos of the man foxing the entire opposition team, all by himself. Unfortunately like Zizou, he is best remembered for a negative – the Hand of God against England in WC ’86.
Johan Cruyff (Holland; Ajax, Barcelona)
The total footballer, Johan Cruyff is best known for inventing a revolutionary style of play known as ‘total football’. This meant that all the players in a team should be able to play in another’s position, should one of them move out of position. It gave flexibility and fluidity to the game without changing the playing formation. Cruyff was also a successful manager. Total footballer indeed!
Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany; Bayern Munich, New York Cosmos, Hamburg)
Another revolutionary footballer in his own right was Der Kaiser, Franz Beckenbauer. He is credited with inventing a new defensive style, the sweeper or the libero, which has only one center-back. Of course, only a few defenders could take on a strike-force all by themselves, like Beckenbauer could! As player and manager, he’s won it all. Including the World Cup, as player AND manager.
Paolo Maldini (Italy; AC Milan)
That’s right! Just one club. If you see his enormous trophy studded cabinet, you’ll see only two team names: Italy and AC Milan. Paolo Maldini was an honest player whose head never turned despite heady successes. Unfortunately, he never was never able to see World Cup success with his national side. He, last year, did the AC Milan’s young defenders a favor by retiring and giving them an opportunity to play in the position which he absolutely monopolized with his greatness for 25 years.
Ronaldo (Brazil; Cruziero, PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Milan, Corinthians)
Facing a bit of a downturn in his professional career these days, it is hard to argue the fact that the 90s and the early noughties belonged to Ronaldo. He’s won two World Cups and a host of individual playing honors. Best remembered for his spells at football’s magnate clubs – Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid.
Ronaldinho (Brazil; Gremio, Paris-St Germain, Barcelona, AC Milan)
Just when the rest of the world heaved a sigh of relief at Ronaldo’s apparent downfall, emerged another precociously talented, buck-toothed youngster in that feared yellow shirt. Ronaldinho burst onto the world football scene with a free kick against England in World Cup 2002 which made England’s goalkeeper look pretty silly. He went to Barcelona where he won a host of trophies and was instrumental in making Barcelona one of the most feared forces in club football today. Read on for an article on Ronaldinho named player of the decade.
Thierry Henry (France; Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona)
One of the greatest, most colorful strikers that have graced the game, Theirry Henry is best known for the prolific period he spent at Arsenal under coach Arsene Wenger, who transformed the outcast ex-Juventus man into a star. The defenders hated coming up against a player of Henry’s caliber and the best of them looked like silly novices in front of the French marvel. He was part of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ which went a full season without a defeat. Ironically, he only performed well for Arsenal. His games for other teams (maybe with the exception of Barcelona) are largely forgettable. Especially the infamous hand-ball which took France to the 2010 World Cup.
Lionel Messi (Argentina; Barcelona)
Since Diego Maradona, a host of Argentines have been billed to become his ‘successors’, but one cannot debate the fact that Lionel Messi is the real deal. What he lacks in height, he makes up for with dribbling, passing and finishing. Messi’s swept up pretty much all the individual playing honors this year and was part of the Barcelona team which won every competition it entered in, in the 2008 – 09 season. Read on for Lionel Messi wins the Ballon d-Or.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal; Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid)
Love him or hate him, the gawky, diving youngster that landed in Manchester United in 2003 to replace the supposedly irreplaceable David Beckham went on to become the phenomenon, the toast of the Premier League, till Real Madrid appealed to his material desires to prise him away. But then again, every footballer has his failings. He came to replace Beckham’s free kicks, but ended up hitting them better, harder and more accurately. Still only 24, Cristiano Ronaldo has a long career ahead of him.
I guess 10 is a bit too less. So honorable mentions include Kaka (Brazil), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard (England). Read on for more famous soccer players.
So, here was a list of the top soccer players of all time in no particular order. Except Zizou at number one! Perhaps a bit biased but hey, in these cases, who isn’t?
