10 All Time Best Footballers; Michel Francois Platini

Michel Francois Platini -The King

10. Michel Francois Platini 

He was nicknamed Le Roi –which means The King– for his leadership skills and is regarded to be one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game. He won the Ballon d’Or three consecutive times in 1983, 1984 and 1985 which is a record which he jointly holds with Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten. Born on 21 June 1955, Michel Francois Platini is regarded to be a prolific goal scorer. He was the record goal scorer of the French National Football team until 2007 when striker Thierry Henry surpassed him. He represented France in 14 matches of three FIFA Football World Cups –from 1978 to an86– in which he scored 5 goals. Platini holds the 10th position in the list of all time best footballers.

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10 All Time Best Footballers; Garrincha

Manuel Francisco dos Santos (Garrincha) -The Bent Legged Angel

9. Manuel Francisco dos Santos (Garrincha) 

He had two famous nicknames in his country; Brazil. One was Alegria do Povo –which means people’s joy– while the other nickname was Anjo de Parnas Tortas –which means Bent-Legged Angel. These two nicknames show how Brazilian people regarded him. He was even believed to be better than Pele by many of football fans. His name was Manuel Francisco dos Santos but he was popularly known as Garricha. He played three FIFA football world cups –from 1958 to 1966– among which two tournaments were won by Brazil. He proved himself to be the best replacement for Pele in 1962 FIFA World Cup when Pele injured out of the tournament and Garrincha led the team not only to victory but also received both the Golden Ball –for being the best player of the tournament– and the Golden Boot –for being the leading goal scorer in the tournament. Interestingly, Brazil never lost a match with both Pele and Garrincha in the field. Born on 28th October, 1933 and died on January 20 1983 at the age 49, Garrincha holds the 9th position in the list of all time best footballers.

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10 All Time Best Footballers; Gerd Muller

Gerd Muller –Der Bomber

8. Gerd Muller 

He was named Bomber der Nation –or simply Der Bomber– which means the nation’s bomber and was described by Helmut Schön, the national manager, as man of the little goals. He was blessed with the talent of scoring goals by which he scored with, almost, every part of his body including back side. He appeared in 13 matches of 2 FIFA World Cups and scored 14 goals just one goal behind Ronaldo. He is the only players –at least in the list of best players– who scored more goals than matches in FIFA World Cups. You have rightly guessed Gerd Muller, the man who holds 8th place in the group of all time best footballers. Born on 3rd November 1945, Muller has represented West Germany in 62 matches and scored 68 goals. Scoring more goals in fewer matches, Gerd Muller holds the 12th position in the list of all time international goals corers however, he has played less matched than every other player in the top 25 of the same list. Due to his skills of goal scoring he was regarded to be one of the greatest goal scorers of all time.

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10 All Time Best Footballers; Lothar Herbert Mattäus

Lothar Herbert Mattäus

7. Lothar Herbert Mattäus 

To realize his greatness Diego Maradona can validly be quoted. “He is the best rival I have ever had. I guess that is enough to define him”, Said Diego Maradona in his autobiography “Yo soy el Deigo”. He holds the world record of being the only single player playing the most matches in football World Cups. He represented his country, West Germany, in five FIFA World Cups –from 1982 to 1998 in which he played 25 matches scoring 5 goals. He is the only German player to receive the award of FIFA World Player of the Year. Yes! You are right, the 7th position in the best ever footballers belongs to Lothar Herbert Mattäus. Born on 21st March 1961, he played 150 International Football matches –among which 83 were for West Germany– for Germany in his long career of 20 years. He scored 23 goals. He led the West Germany to win the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He was a versatile and complete footballer. 1.74 meters tall, he was popularly known for his skills of perceptive passing, positional sense and powerful shooting.

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10 All Time Best Footballers; Hendrik Johannes Cruyff

Hendrik Johannes Cruyff –Johan Cruyff, executing the Cruyff Turn

6. Hendrik Johannes Cruyff –Johan Cruyff 

Until mid 1970s football was in obscurity in Netherlands and then Johan Cruyff entered in the game and Dutch football rose to become powerhouse in the spot. Cruyff led the Dutch football team to the final of FIFA World Cup 1974 in which he very first time executed a feint which made his name immortal as the move –which is one of the commonly used moves in modern day football– is now known to be the Cruyff Turn. Born on 25 April 1947, Johan Cruyff debuted on September 7, 1966 and played 48 matches for his country and scored 33 goals. His team never lost a match in which he scored. He played the only World Cup 1974 in which he scored 3 goals in 7 matches and won the Golden Ball for being the best player of the tournament. He won the Ballon d’Or thrice in 1971, 1973 and 1974. Died on March 24, 2016, this legendary footballer holds the 6th position among the all time best footballers.

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10 All Time Best Footballers; Zinedine Yazid Zidane

Zinedine Yazid Zidane –Zizou

 5. Zinedine Yazid Zidane –Zizou 

The July 12, 1998 was a great day for the football lovers across the globe in general and those in France in particular. This was because on that day the Final of the FIFA World Cup 1998 was being contested between the defending champion Brazil and the host nation France which could reach that level very first time in the history. This was very special day for Zinedine Yazid Zidane the French football superstar who made France enjoy the status of football champion by scoring two goals against Brazil. Born on June 23, 1972 to Algerian immigrant parents Zidane is well known for his elegance, vision, control on the ball and technique. Zidane, who is often known by his nickname “Zizou”, successfully claimed the status of the Player of the Year three times in 1998, 2000 and 2003. Making France proud in 1998, Zidane could not control his anger when Italian footballer Marco Materazzi passed some very harsh comment on his family and religion and hit his head on Materazzi’s chest which led the empire show him a red card. This concluded his appearance in football fields as a player. Zidane is regarded to be one of the best footballers in the history of the game. He represented France in three FIFA World Cups and scored 5 goals in 12 matches. He is the fourth player in football history to score goals in two different World Cup finals. Zizou received Golden Ball in the FIFA World Cup 2006. He was declared to be the best European Footballer of the past 50 years in UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. He has the fifth place in the list of all time best footballers.

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10 All Time Best Footballers; Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima

Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima -The Phenomenon

4. Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima 

Nobody, perhaps, imagined on September 18, 1976 when he was born that one day this kid will be popularly dubbed as “the phenomenon”. He is validly regarded to be one of greatest footballers of all time. He was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame and the Italian Football Hall of Fame. Yes! You are right. This is Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima –commonly known as Ronaldo–, the Brazilian football superstar. Ronaldo represented Brazil in 98 football matches and scored 62 goals –the second highest goals. He played 4 FIFA World Cups of 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. He significantly contributed for Brazil in winning 1994 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He played 19 FIFA World Cup matches and scored 15 goals. He is the top goal scorer in the FIFA World Cups. All these, and many others, enabled Ronado to capture the 4th position of all time best footballers.

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10 All Time Best Footballers; Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona; the Football Controversy King

2. Diego Maradona

June 22nd, 1986 was a big day in the history of the football rivalry between England and Argentina. Both country were facing each other in Mexico City four years after the Falkland War and the match –which was semi final of the FIFA World Cup 1986– was considered not less than a battle between the two countries. The match was won by Argentina by the two famous –one for being the goal of the century and the other for being the controversial Hand of God goal– goals scored by none other than the legendary football controversy king Diego Maradona. The winning team also won the Football world cup of the same year. Despite many controversies, which include the Hand of God goal and drugs abuse, Maradona is considered to follow Pele – if not ahead of him– in the list of All Time Best Footballer. Maradona –who was born on October 30, 1960– scored 34 goals for Argentina in 91 matches. He is the only player in the football history who set the world record in transfer fee twice. He led his national team in the FIFA World Cup 1986 and won the tournament defeating West Germany in the finals. He was awarded the Golden Ball for being the best player of the tournament.

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10 All Time Best Footballers

Being a successful soccer player is perhaps a dream of every growing teen ager. All the successes and joys of life become something very cheap to catch once this dream comes true. Fame and place in the hearts of people across the globe, countless money by which can buy every luxury of life, traveling around the world in the business class of lavish jets, stardom which shines so brightly that dazzles eyes and even brains of the world, leading a healthy life as a sportsman always is healthy and physically fit and occupying the dreams of many young hearts for granted is what a soccer player is bestowed upon with. From the very beginning many people appeared on the stage of football grounds and went after conquering the hearts of fans across the globe and they are living now even after many years of their retirement from the glamorous game. In the following a list, of 10 all time great soccer players, is given. The list is taken from the best 100 all time soccer players prepared by the Guardian.

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10 All Time Best Footballers; Franz Anton Beckenbauer

Franz Anton Beckenbauer -Der Kaiser

 3. Franz Anton Beckenbauer 

He was known by his nick name –Der Kaiser (The Emperor) – in the football fraternity because of his style, leadership skills which he used to show on the fields and dominance nature. To make the nickname suit with him his first name “Franz” also contributed which is reminiscent of the Austrian emperors. He was a versatile footballer who made his way to become a successful central defender after starting his career as midfielder. He was widely regarded to be one of the greatest footballers in the history of this game. By these qualities, Franz Beckenbauer occupies the third position in the list of all time best footballers. Born on September 11, 1945, Beckenbauer appeared in 103 times for West Germany in his football career –which expanded from 1965 to 1977– including three FIFA Football World Cups. He led the World Cup winning team of West Germany in 1974. To mention a glory of Meckenbauer, he was named twice the European Footballer of the Year.

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10 All Time Best Footballers; Edson Arantes do Nascimento -Pele

Edson Arantes do Nascimento -Pele

1. Edson Arantes do Nascimento -Pele

The top position in the list of great footballers is rightly occupied by Edson Arantes do Nascimento who is known commonly as Pele. Born on October 23rd, 1940, this great man is the only football player who won the football world cup thrice in his career. Pele does not enjoy only the status of best footballer in the history; he is also given the title of the Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999. This great man has the unbroken record of total 1281 goals in 1363 football matches. Pele was a perfect football player who possessed the technical and athletic skills, intelligence, speed, precise passing and the amazing technique of scoring goals. It can be safely asserted that during his career –which begins in 1956 and ends in 1977– there was only Pele and Pele in football grounds. Brazil validly is proud of this great man.

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