Who is the Best Player in Football History?

Sports Mole has attempted to rank our top 10 greatest football players from history; this task may prove futile given there are so many deserving contenders.

Johan Cruyff was a master who epitomised ‘Total Football”, making him one of the greatest artists to grace football’s pitch.

1. Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona was an energetic midfielder known for leading his club teams to championship victories across Argentina, Italy and Spain. Dubbed “The God of Football” due to his uncanny ability to dribble, run and score goals he became synonymous with football legend.

He made his name playing for Boca Juniors before moving on to Barcelona, Spain where he won both league title and Copa del Rey. Later he transferred to Italy with Napoli where he led them to league title, two UEFA Cup victories and an Italian Super Cup win.

Personal problems included cocaine abuse and links with Naples crime syndicate Camorra. He was sent home from the 1994 World Cup after failing a drugs test, ending his international career with 91 caps and 34 goals scored over nine seasons with Sevilla in Spain and Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina before suffering heart ailments and diabetes during his last years of play.

2. Pele

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by his nickname Pele, is widely considered the greatest footballer ever. His dazzling performances on the pitch and iconic bicycle kick inspired generations to take up football.

Born October 23 in Tres Coracoes, Brazil, Ribeiro began his professional football career with Santos at an early age before making his national team debut at 16. In 1958 – which Brazil won – he scored both semifinal and final matches during World Cup competition, scoring in both semifinal and final matches respectively.

Pele was an outstanding goal scorer who scored 643 goals for Santos over an extended period. This mark stood as the record until Lionel Messi broke it in 2021. Additionally, Pele scored 77 international goals during first class matches representing Brazil while playing 1,363 first division matches himself. After retiring from soccer he invested heavily in soccer-related businesses while becoming an official UN ambassador.

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3. Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff led the Dutch revolution known as ‘Total Football’ and understood that playing the game should involve more than simply winning; rather it should involve doing things the right way.

Cruyff was an Ajax star, winning three European Cup titles during his time there and being part of a Dutch squad which lost to West Germany in the 1974 World Cup final. Additionally, he twice received European Footballer of the Year recognition.

Criyff then moved to Barcelona for a world-record transfer fee, winning La Liga titles within his first season there. Here he made history when he scored what is known today as ‘Cruyff’s impossible goal’ by leaping in the air and deflecting a cross past goalkeeper Miguel Reina – a feat now widely revered.

After leaving Barcelona, he played in the United States (with Los Angeles Aztecs and Washington Diplomats), before rejoining Ajax for two more seasons before switching teams again and finishing his career at Feyenoord.

4. Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer stands as one of the greatest players in football history. Starting as a midfielder before moving into defensive midfielder at Bayern Munich and often being credited with pioneering what would become known as’sweeper roles’.

He had the ability to control the game from behind the goalline, gracefully drifting forwards for casual passes at any corner of the pitch. A great leader who could lift his team mates to greatness.

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As a player, he won the World Cup with West Germany in 1966 before playing an integral role in their historic 1970s team that won three European Cups consecutively. At Bayern Munich he won four Bundesliga titles and four DFB-Pokals before concluding his playing career with two stints with New York Cosmos of North American Soccer League before retiring as a player altogether in 1983 to focus on coaching.