Soccer: the world’s greatest footballers (soccer players) of the 20th century
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According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), the greatest footballers of the last century are ordered as follows:
- Pele (Brazil, 3-time World Cup winner, including 2 goals in the 1958 final as a 17 year old - possibly will never be bettered)
- Cruyff (Holland, at the heart of “total football”, Ajax won 3 consecutive European Cups with him)
- Beckenbauer (Germany)
- Di Stefano (Argentina, Real Madrid)
- Maradona (only 5th???)
- Puskas (Hungary, almost invincible in 1954 World Cup, unbeaten for a few years)
- Michel Platini (IMHO, Zidane was better than him)
- Garrincha (Brazil)
- Eusebio (Portugal, better than Figo or Cristiano Ronaldo)
- Bobby Charlton (only Englishman in the top 10)
Honourable mentions: George Best is at 16th [one of the greatest natural talent ever], Gerd Muller 13th [the greatest goalscoring machine ever].
But where’s Zidane??? He’s not anywhere in the whole list.
And the greatest goalkeepers are ordered as follows:
- Lev Yashin (1002 pts)
- Gordon Banks (717 pts - “greatest save ever” - saved Pele’s header)
- Dino Zoff (661 pts)
- Maier
- Zamora
- Chilavert
- Schmeichel
- Shilton
- Planicka
- Carrizo
How did they arrive at these conclusions? By voting of course.
But IMHO, Diego Maradona is the greatest, better than Pele. Because he was the inspiration behind an average Argentinian side in their 1986 triumph and 1990 final apperance. Compare that to Pele’s world class teammates.
Further, according to IFFHS, Cha Bum Kum (Korea) was the greatest ever Asian player, and that Mokhtar Dahari is the only Malaysian non-goalkeeper listed, at joint 30th. Chow Chee Keong is the only Malaysian goalkeeper listed: 10th. Fandi Ahmad (Singapore) is rated better than Mokhtar at 29th.
But I was shocked at seeing the state of Ferenc Puskas, the legendary Hungarian (on left, Hugo Sanchez is on the right)
He’s voted the 6th greatest player of the century, just behind Maradona and rated better than even the likes of Platini, Eusebio and Gerd Muller!
Don’t tell me he can still run for 90 minutes. He should be a sumo wrestler.
Tags: greatest footballers, football, soccer
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Pelé was far way better than Maradona. The thing is, Maradona played in the 80’s, with colour TV and mass-media. Pelé played mainly in the 60’s, played almost his entire carrer in Brazil, and people don’t really see what he did. You should try to see some videos in youtube.
Thanks for your comment. I have seen Pele’s videos. I think it’s all a matter of opinion. At the highest level, the difference between the top players are so slight as to be barely distinguishable.
Hi there
I agree with you, its all always a matter of opinion. I think its extremely difficult as you said, to analyse and judge footballers at the highest competitive level.
I’ll go one step farther and add that it is even more difficult to compare and rate players of differrent eras and players who played in different positions, for example Pele (a striker) Maradona (an attacking midfielder), yes Pele was also a playmaker, and so to Maradona a goal scorer, but we have to be realistic and recognise that each one played in a different position.
I also believe this ranking system should always begin within the context of a list of the best players from each country. I’m more familiar with Argentine football so I will give you the following list of the TOP 30 all time greatest Argentine footballers in roughly the correct order with their professional footballing years active in brackets. You can find more information on some of them on YOUTUBE or wikipedia. NOTE: I did not include goalkeepers I have a separate list for that, ask me if you would like to see it.
1. Diego Armando Maradona [1976 – 1997]
2. Alfredo Di Stefano [1943 – 1966]
3. Jose Manuel Moreno [1935 – 1956]
4. Enrique Omar Sivori (My personal favourite) [1954 – 1971]
5. Adolfo Pedernera [1933 – 1954]
6. Nestor “Pipo” Rossi [1934 – 1951]
7. Humberto Maschio [1953 – 1969]
8. Angel Amadeo Labruna [1939 – 1961]
9. Rene Pontoni [1940 – 1955]
10. Antonio Rattin [1956 – 1970]
11. Jose Maria Minella (Monumental Stadium named after him) [1928 – 1944]
12. Oscar “Pinino” Mas [1964 - 1985]
13. Ricardo Bochini [1971 – 1991]
14. Norberto Alonso [1970 – 1987]
15. Angel “Rojitas” Rojas (The man with the elastic waistline) [1958 – 1975]
16. Bernabe Ferreyra [1926 – 1939]
17. Osvaldo Ardiles [1973 – 1990]
18. Miguel Angel Brindisi [1967 – 1984]
19. Claudio Borghi [1981 – 1999]
20. Alberto Marcico [1979 – 1998]
21. Ernesto Mastrangelo [1968 – 1982]
22. Daniel Passarella [1971 – 1989]
23. Fernando Redondo [1987 – 2003]
24. Silvio Marzolini [1959 – 1972]
25. Ermindo Onega [1957 – 1977]
26. Omar Oreste Corbatta [1955 – 1974]
27. Mario Boye [1941 – 1955]
28. Herminio Massantonio [1931 – 1944]
29. Carlos Peucelle [1925 – 1942]
30. Norberto “Tucho” Mendez [1941 – 1956]
My all time international top 20;
1. Diego Armando Maradona (ARG)
2. Garrincha (BRA)
3. Alfredo Di Stefano (ARG)
4. Pele (BRA)
5. George Best (NIR)
6. Johan Cruyff (HOL)
7. Zico (BRA)
8. Jose Manuel Moreno (ARG)
9. Ferenc Puskas (HUN)
10. Eusebio (POR)
11. Tostao (BRA)
12. Enrique Omar Sivori (ARG)
13. Michel Platini (FRA)
14. Franz Beckenbauer (GER)
15. Sir Stanley Matthews (ENG)
16. Bobby Charlton (ENG)
17. EnzoFrancescoli (URU)
18. Rivelino (BRA)
19. Duncan Edwards (ENG) [this guy would without doubt be top 5 if he hadn't died so young at 21]
20. Gerd Muller (GER)
Matias: Thanks for the comprehensive list, certainly an eye-opener.