30 Greatest Football Players Of All Time (2024)

One of the great football topics is back for the 2024/25 season and there will be a wide array of differing opinions on the results. Deciding who is the greatest footballer of all time is never easy, particularly as fans biasedly claim their club legend is the best.

It tends to be a common theme that a lot of people consider Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Pele to be the most prominent names in the hat for being the best player to have ever played the game, but always in different orders.

Unsurprisingly, all four of those names make it onto our list, but who else joins them in a ranking of the 30 greatest footballers of all-time?

Ranking factors

Factors taken into consideration when ranking these players are as follows:

• Importance to the team – This can be classed as goals, assists or clean sheets. Yet the more they’ve scored – or defended – the higher they are on the list. You can’t be a legendary striker without scoring hundreds of goals.
• Club and international trophies – If a player has played a crucial part in their team winning trophies, they have been ranked higher on this list. The top of professional football is all about winning trophies — and these players epitomised that.
• Individual Awards – However, some players stay at teams that don’t compete for major trophies every year, so using individual awards to rank the 25 best is also important. The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious awards in the sport.

30 Lothar Matthaus

Born: 21 March 1961.

Lothar Matthaus never doubted his immense quality. The dynamic central midfielder racked up a glut of trophies for Bayern Munich and the national team yet never felt appreciated by his people. “Germany should be ashamed of the way it treats such an idol,” he fretted long after retirement. Such self-confidence played against Matthaus.

Plenty appreciated his unique blend of skills. Diego Maradona famously hailed the German as the “best rival I had in my whole career”. The pair would overlap in Serie A and clashed in consecutive World Cup finals. Matthaus lifted the global crown in 1990 and earned international acclaim as that year’s Ballon d’Or winner.

29 Romario

Born: 29 January 1966.

If Romario had been in charge of this list, he would have been far closer to its summit. The outspoken Brazilian striker claimed that only two players in the history of the game – Pele and Maradona – were better than him. While that lofty appraisal may be a stretch, there is some justification for his self-confidence.

A wiry, bandy-legged forward, Romario’s unashamed objection was simple: score. After a career that spanned five continents and more than 750 goals in official competitions, it was certainly mission complete. But to focus solely on numbers – which Romario has gained a reputation for distorting – ignores the impish craft laced throughout his game.

28 Roberto Baggio

Born: 18 February 1967.

The enduring appeal of Roberto Baggio is his universality. Despite playing for Italy’s three northern giants – Juventus, Milan and Inter – Baggio is adored by all those fortunate enough to have seen his effortless grace. The ‘Divine Ponytail’ – surely one of the best nicknames in football – saved his best work for those outside Serie A’s established elite and the Italian national team.

Baggio wove the first golden threads of his tapestry at Fiorentina, where his manager Aldo Agroppi gushed: “The angels sing, in his legs.” The ephemeral forward rediscovered his best form during a year at Bologna before bowing out of the game with four glittering seasons in provincial Brescia.

27 Luka Modric

Born: 9 September 1985.

Halfway through his debut campaign at Real Madrid in 2012/13, Luka Modric was voted as the worst signing of the season in a poll conducted by the Spanish publication Marca. Manager Jose Mourinho called for time and patience. “He’s so good that the Santiago Bernabeu will fall in love with his class.” Not for the first time, Mourinho was proven right.

More than a decade spent discovering new passing angles with the outside of his right foot has led to a stack of silverware and widespread acclaim. During Modric’s final years in the Spanish capital, the entire stadium – including away fans – invariably rises in an ovation for the Croatian icon.

26 George Best

Born: 22 May 1946. Died: 25 November 2005

George Best’s peak was painfully brief. The winger with a body feint that could leave defenders with twisted blood led Manchester United to the club’s first European Cup in 1968, scoring his 32nd goal of the season in the final against Benfica a week after his 22nd birthday. He never scored more than 10 goals for a European club after turning 26.

British football’s first celebrity struggled to adjust to the fame he never asked for in an era when no one would have known how to react, least of all a shy kid from Belfast. As Best wryly reflected: “If I’d been born ugly, you’d never have heard of Pele.”

25 Ruud Gullit

Born: 1 September 1962.

The former AC Milan midfielder makes it into the top 25 and ranks among some of the top players to have played the game in his position. Gullit spent the best years of his career in Italy, where he went on to win three Serie A titles and two European Cups. He was even able to reinvent himself as a top-class centre-back in the latter stages of his career when he signed for Chelsea.

From 1979 up to his retirement, Gullit played for a total of six clubs, scoring a total of 219 goals and providing 100 assists during that time frame. While he was born in Suriname, he opted to represent the Netherlands and played for two of the biggest clubs in the Eredivisie, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven. While the mighty Dutchman might be best known for his unmatched hairstyle and moustache, there is no doubting Gullit’s ability on the pitch.

24 Gareth Bale

Born: 16 July 1989.

Gareth Bale being on this list might surprise you, particularly when someone like Eden Hazard isn’t. However, he was consistently world-class and epitomised the idea of ‘hard work’. He made a name for himself at Tottenham Hotspur. The Welshman won just one trophy there – the 2008 Carling Cup – but he carried the team on his back. Bale famously broke onto the scene with a hat-trick away to European champions Inter Milan in 2010. He eventually moved to Real Madrid for a world-record fee where he won everything he could. Bale’s overhead kick to win the 2018 Champions League against Liverpool remains one of the greatest goals in the competition’s history.

23 Xavi

Born: 25 Jan 1980.

Xavi is one of the greatest midfielders of all time. His ability to dictate matches and play pin-point passes was extraordinary — and something very few midfielders have been able to do. He played a key role in the golden generation at Barcelona, showcased by winning the Champions League in 2009 and 2011 alongside Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi. Both times came against Manchester United, where Xavi dominated the middle of the park. For Spain, he won a World Cup and two European Championships, cementing his status as one of the greatest of all time. His teammate Iniesta was somehow even better, just.

22 Andres Iniesta

Born: 11 May 1984.

Xavi and Andres Iniesta were like ‘two peas in a pod’. They coupled each other perfectly in the middle of the park, allowing Barcelona to dominate European football. It led to success year after year, with Guardiola incredibly complimentary of the Spaniards. Over his 12 years at Barcelona – and more at the academy – Iniesta played over 674 matches, assisting over 130 goals. His work for Spain was just impressive, controlling matches effortlessly. Due to the dominance of Ronaldo and Messi, he never had the opportunity to compete for the Ballon d’Or, but – if the legendary duo didn’t exist – Iniesta would surely have won it.

21 Ronaldinho

Born: 21 March 1980.

However, the Barcelona legends don’t stop there. Slightly earlier than Xavi and Iniesta, Ronaldinho shocked fans with his ability to dominate matches from the flank. He glided past opponents, created skill moves out of nothing and acted as if it was a kick around in the park. His best spell at Barcelona saw him score 90 goals and earn 70 assists in just 207 matches, whilst he also won the World Cup and Champions League throughout his career. His career took a sour turn at the end — and post-retirement — but he is still considered one of the most naturally gifted players of all time.

20 Lev Yashin

Born: 22 October 1929. Died: 20 March 1990.

Lev Yashin is the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d’Or, whilst he now has an award named after him – the Yashin Trophy – which is given to the best goalkeeper each year. His individual qualities were spectacular, particularly on the international stage, but he also stayed at one club for his entire career – Dynamic Moscow. In total, he made 358 appearances for Dynamo Moscow from 1950-1970 which saw him win eight major trophies. Yashin amazed people with his ability to save shots, which were once deemed impossible to save. Between the sticks, he is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, even winning the European Championships with the Soviet Union. Greatness epitomised.

19 Sir Bobby Charlton

Born: 11 October 1937. Died: 21 October 2023.

One of only four Englishmen to have won the prestigious individual award, which is the Ballon d’Or, the Manchester United icon was given the prize in 1966, after being part of England’s World Cup success earlier in the year. Charlton was Man United’s top goalscorer with a staggering 249 goals until his record was overtaken by Wayne Rooney. Charlton is so iconic for his former club, and for England, that he has been featured in England’s three greatest XIs ever alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Paul Gascoigne – showcasing exactly what sort of impact he had for his country on a football pitch. He sadly passed away in 2023, leaving behind an incredible legacy.

18 Marco van Basten

Born: 31 October 1964.

Former Netherlands international – Van Basten – spent his career with two clubs, with the first half being spent with Ajax and the second being with AC Milan. Across both spells, he managed to hit the back of the net 277 times with an additional 82 assists, leaving him not far shy of a goal contribution per game on average. His goal-scoring antics managed to put him among the elite company to have won three Ballon d’Ors. Had injuries not forced Van Basten to retire from football early at the age of 31, there is every chance the Dutch forward would have gone on to receive any more plaudits than he does. He did get to bow out of the game while he was at the top, but a career that looked set to be approaching all-timer status was cut short.

17 Kaka

Born: 22 April 1982.

Kaka won the Ballon d’Or in 2007 after winning the Champions League with AC Milan. The team and individual achievements solidified his status as one of the greatest players of all time. He also won the World Cup in 2002 in his first year representing his country, highlighting his legendary status at an early stage. For AC Milan, he excelled over six years from 2003-2009, scoring 75 goals in 270 matches. His spell at Real Madrid in the years was not as impressive, but he still managed to score 29 goals in 120 matches. The Brazilian will always be remembered as one of the sport’s best entertainers — and one of the best Brazilians.

16 Eusebio

Born: 25 January 1942. Died: 5 January 2014.

Eusebio won the 1965 version of the Ballon d’Or as he dominated Portugal throughout his career with Benfica. The forward had an impeccable knack for finding the back of the net for his club and country. He would have been considered the best Portuguese talent the game has ever seen had it not been for another man that came along quite some time after. Even despite having his legacy as a Portuguese star overtaken by another man on this list, Eusebio remains one of football’s greatest finishers, with the Benfica icon being clinical on either foot and possessing a wide range of finishes in his locker.

15 Franco Baresi

Born: 8 May 1960.

Italy are well-known for producing some of the most solid defenders the game has ever seen and Baresi is one of the very best. His defensive intelligence was almost unmatched, despite only being the second-highest-ranking Italian centre-back on the list. Baresi came very close to winning the Ballon d’Or as he finished runner-up in 1989, with the award proving very elusive for defenders over the years. A true one-club man, Baresi came through the youth ranks at AC Milan and would spend his entire club career representing the Rossoneri at senior level for a full two decades. The majority of that time was spent as one of the best defenders in the world. Italian players are known to love defending and Baresi was no different.

14 Garrincha

Born: 28 October 1933. Died: 20 January 1983.

Garrincha having such a high-level football career is unbelievable, as the Brazilian was born with one leg being six centimetres longer than the other. His right leg also turned inwards while his left leg turned outwards and Garrincha was certified as crippled by his doctor as a child. To then go on to be such a talented player as an adult and to play until his late 30s is one of the best journeys to the top that any player can brag about. It is unclear how many goals the winger scored throughout his career, so take the stats with a pinch of salt, but it is well known that he was a brilliant player in his time. Mixing the Brazilian flair we have come to associate with the nation, Garrincha had a lot of pace to his game, which made him an exciting player to watch.

13 Paolo Maldini

Born: 26 June 1968.

Just like Baresi earlier, Paolo Maldini was a one-club man and was a stalwart of the AC Milan team for 25 years, which is an incredible feat for any player. He managed to achieve this longevity in the game by adapting his game to be world-class at both left-back and centre-back, mastering his trade in two separate roles. The art of defending was made to look effortless and almost easy by the Italian on the way to winning five European Cups and seven Serie A titles. The most dominant spell AC Milan enjoyed during Maldini’s career was under Carlo Ancelotti in the early 2000s, as the Italian club returned to being a European powerhouse. This was in large part due to the leadership qualities of Maldini, going along with his incredible defensive IQ.

12 Gerd Muller

Born: 3 November 1945. Died: 15 August 2021.

There is an array of prestigious honours in Muller’s trophy cabinet, as he won the 1970 Ballon d’Or after securing the Golden Boot at the World Cup earlier in that year. Only four years later, the forward fired his nation to World Cup glory, which is always a dream for any football player. His success in front of goal in Germany speaks for itself with 568 goals in 611 appearances. Muller is still the top Bundesliga goalscorer to this day with a sensational haul of 365 goals, even after Robert Lewandowski’s deadly nature while playing in the division over the past decade or so. This gives even more credibility to the German’s legacy as modern fans of the sport know just how good Lewandowski has been and while the Polish forward is close to Muller’s record, he still falls short.

11 Michel Platini

Born: 21 June 1955.

French midfielder, Platini, has three Ballon d’Ors to his name, and they all came in successive years from 1983 to 1985, which goes a long way to show his recognition in the global game. He is the only player with this many Ballons d’Or to not be a forward, although his goalscoring exploits were as effective as clinical talisman. Among his long list of accolades, his 1984 Euro campaign was very impressive, as he was named player of the tournament and also managed to be the top scorer despite being a midfielder. The former UEFA President scored over 200 times in his club career for Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus.