The top ten football players in history
We learn about the greatest number 10 football players of all time here. The players that wore this number are renowned for their amazing skills, wizardry, and playmaking abilities.
Not people who simply wore the number, but rather inventors and magicians who perform seemingly impossible tricks. Chevaliers are adept at spotting the run, the pass, lowering a shoulder, and making quick turns. The moments you tried to reenact as a child on the playground, the events you would have paid good money to witness in person.
10. Michel Platini
Attacking midfielder Michel Platini played 652 games and scored 353 goals. He was a fantastic creator and free-kick taker, but he was also a natural goal scorer. He nearly single-handedly guided France to the 1984 European Championships while also tallying nine goals. During his time at Juventus, he won three league championships and the European Cup.
9. Zico
Football prowess was never in question for Zico. In addition to scoring 527 goals in 769 games, he was a brilliant goal-creator with a deft touch and the capacity to create uncommon shoots and talents. He became one of the all-time most comprehensive offensive players by combining his strengths as an attacking midfielder with his ability to head the ball and his free-kick expertise.
He made the storied Liverpool squad of the 1980s appear amateurish in the 1981 Intercontinental Cup. Along with four league victories, he also won the Copa Libertadores, South America’s version of the European Cup.
8. George Best
George Best’s alcoholism ruined his career, yet his intelligence was nearly unmatched. He was well-known for his dribbling and won two league championships with Manchester United in addition to the 1968 European Cup.
After making 579 appearances as an offensive midfielder and scoring 205 goals, he was named the Ballon d’Or winner in 1968. His career was ended at the age of 28 due to intoxication, and he never lived up to his promise of skill.
7. Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane excelled at both Juventus and Real Madrid during his distinguished career and won the Ballon d’Or in 1998. He is one of the top five soccer players of all time according to our list. But Zidane’s performance against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final cemented his status as a true player of the highest calibre.
Prior to his retirement in 2006, Zinedine Zidane was regarded as one of the best footballers in the world. The French icon is a true star on the biggest stage, except from his terrible header in the 2006 World Cup final.
6. Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho always played with a lyrical appeal, despite the demands of being Barcelona’s No. 10. The Brazilian was arguably the game’s last standout performer, captivating defenders with his exceptional samba skills and end product, which was occasionally overshadowed by his acrobatics and flips. For Brazil, Ronnie finally donned the number 10, and he looked great in it.
5. Alfredo Di Stéfano
With Real Madrid, Alfredo Di Stéfano was a productive striker who made 702 appearances and scored 511 goals. But he wasn’t your usual attacker; he was active all over the field, making tackles, passing, and calling plays. He was the game’s most complete player to date.
With Real Madrid, he captured five European Cups, scoring in each of the five championship games. He won 13 league championships between 1945 and 1966. Despite not playing in a World Cup, he had a poor record internationally. However, he and Argentina did win the Copa America.
4. Johan Cruyff
In 1971, 1973, and 1974, Cruyff named the greatest soccer player of all time. During this time, he was the Ballon d’Or winner three times. The most well-known adherent of Rinus Michels’ Total Football philosophy is Johan Cruyff.
One of the most significant figures in football history, Cruyff has influenced managers and players alike with his style of play and football philosophy. Two teams, Ajax and Barcelona, have established young academies based on Johan Cruyff’s coaching philosophies.
3. Pelé
In his native Brazil, Pelé was a goal-scoring machine and is occasionally recognised as the best player in the history of the game. He scored an astonishing 1,282 goals in 1,366 games. His physical size, quickness, and dribbling prowess allowed him to score a variety of goals for fun.
He continued to score goals at the World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970, assisting Brazil to three championships. In addition, he captured two Copa Libertadores and five league crowns. He participated in teams that won these victories with players like Carlos Alberto and Garrincha. He became a representative of these teams, and he frequently receives sole credit.
2. Diego Maradona
The best skill in football history is without a doubt that of Diego Maradona. His brilliant dribbling, distinct and clinical scoring ability, and ability to execute flawless passes and crosses have all led to him collecting multiple assists throughout his career. In 680 games as an offensive midfielder, he scored 345 goals.
He had a far tougher career than Pelé, yet he still won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina, three national championships, and a UEFA Cup with Napoli. Against the UK football team , Diego Maradona scored one of the greatest goals in soccer history.
1. Lionel Messi
If Lionel Messi is recognised as the most creative attacking player of all time in 20 to 30 years, nobody will object. When compared to all the players that came before him, Messi has completely rewritten Barcelona’s record books, becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer at the age of 24.
The fact that he holds the La Liga record for most assists is even more amazing. He’ll always find a way to score, but never at his teammates’ behest. He would drop back, get the ball, and initiate the majority of Barcelona’s attacks even as a “False 9.”
At 32 years old, he already has more records than Madonna and has won eleven league championships, four Champions League trophies, seven Ballon d’Or awards, and more.
