The rankings for the best 50 footballers of all time have been released, and it has certainly got many fans talking, particularly on the placement of Messi and Ronaldo on the list.
It is worth noting that shockingly Brazilian sensation Neymar didn’t make the list! Gobsmacking!
British tabloid Daily Mail prepared and put out the list, which might now have put an end to the “unending” Messi-Ronaldo debate on who is the better player between the pair.
Top 10 best footballers of all time
Anyway, here’s a comprehensive look at the top 10 best footballers of all time according to Daily Mail:
10. Cristiano Ronaldo
Revered by many as the greatest of all time but in a rather surprising fashion, he has been ranked tenth in the list.
Despite his 5 Ballon d’Or awards, and also a very successful career that has stood the test of time, he has been placed in a position shocking to his fans.
Cristiano Ronaldo boasts of an illustrious trophy cabinet, filled with laurels and also lots of records to his name, including being the highest-scoring player ever.
The 39-year-old also has five UEFA Champions League titles in which he was a pivotal player in winning all five UCL tourneys.
Additionally, his records also include the fact that he’s Portugal’s highest goal scorer of all time with 128 goals.
Did Daily Mail really do justice to this? I’ll leave that to you.
9. Zico
Ninth on the list is Brazilian legend, Zico, although he never won the World Cup with the Selecao, his name is still regularly sung amongst Brazil’s best players ever.
The 71-year-old was arguably the world’s best player in the 70s to early 80s. Zico was a fantastic playmaker, and also a specialist when it came to dead-balls.
Zico holds the record for most goals when it comes to direct free-kicks, with a whopping 101 goals.
8. Garrincha
The Samba Boys seem to be predominant on this list of the best footballers of all time, with Garrincha also making an appearance on the all-time rankings.
Garrincha used to be unplayable during his days, and he was a pivotal player in Brazil’s World Cup campaigns, particularly the 1962 World Cup, where football great Pele picked up a major injury.
The former Flamengo winger won the 1958, and 1962 FIFA World Cup with Brazil, and he was sublime in both tournaments.
7. Ronaldo Nazario
Yet again, another Brazilian. Ronaldo Nazario, is one man who could have had a far better career but injuries didn’t make him have a better success story.
Nazario was one of the best strikers during his playing days, and arguably the best ever.
Ronaldo won two Ballon d’Or awards during his playing days and he also led Brazil to a World Cup winning outing in 2002.
6. Alfredo Di Stefano
Alfredo Di Stefano used to be Madrid’s all-time scorer until Cristiano Ronaldo took the mantle. In his days, Di Stefano defined what it meant to be a Madridista.
Although he never won a World Cup, he will forever be regarded as a legend in the game.
The Spanish striker won five European cups during his time at Madrid, and he scored in all the finals they won.
5. Zinedine Zidane
In fifth place comes another Real Madrid legend, Zinedine Zidane, who is one of the best midfielders to ever grace a football field.
Zidane is well known for his sleek ball control and brilliant passes, and the brilliance that he accentuated during his career will never be forgotten.
Zizou helped France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup as well as the European Championship in 2000.
4. Johan Cruyff
The history of Modern football is incomplete without the Dutch magnifico, who narrowly misses out on the top three.
He invented the “beautiful brand” of football played by many top managers in the present time, most notably; Pep Guardiola.
Johan Cruyff won three consecutive European titles for Ajax during his playing days, and he is well known for his mesmeric displays on the field of play.
3. Diego Armando Maradona
Argentine legend Diego Maradona, was one hell of a player during his playing days, helping Argentina to one World Cup title in 1986.
The football icon was known for his dribbling ability, and being able to glide past players easily.
He is easily considered one of the most skillful players to ever play the round leather game.
2. Pele
Brazilian legend, Pele comes in second place, holding the record of the only player to have won 3 World Cup titles.
Pele was a complete striker in his playing days, etching many records into the annals of history.
He was also a part of what has been dubbed by many to be the greatest football team in history – the Brazil side that won the 1970 World Cup.
1. Lionel Andres Messi leads the list of the top 10 best footballers of all time
Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi, the man with the most Balon d’Or awards (8) in history sits on the throne, thumping long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo far behind in tenth.
Lionel Messi has made a name for himself as arguably the greatest player to ever grace the beautiful game of football, winning three UCL titles with Barcelona and also being the all-time top scorer for the club which is his boyhood side.
Messi, who now plies his trade in the MLS for Inter Miami, added an elusive FIFA World Cup title in 2022, and he ended the tournament as the best player.
Lionel Messi’s brilliance over the years has been lauded by many, who sometimes tag him as a football “god” or simply a genius with breathtaking qualities that can leave one spellbound.
