Football top Players
Major achievements: 10-time champion of LaLiga, seven-time champion of the Copa del Rey, four-time UEFA Champions League winner, six-time UEFA Champions League top scorer, 17-time FIFA FIFPro World XI, World Cup winner, two-time winner of Copa America, two-time FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner, eight-time Ballon d'Or winner (the highest), top goal-scorer for Barcelona – 672 and for Argentina – 109
Perhaps the most gigantic Hollywood finish in football history was Messi winning the 2022 World Cup in Argentina. After losing the 2014 final, there was always the suggestion that this moment would never come for Messi, who had won everything else in the game for club and country; the crowning achievement of his career had finally arrived at 34. He scored twice in the final, which is what he did when Argentina beat France on penalties, sparking emotion and celebrations the world over.
"This guy transcends rivalries -- even between Brazil and Argentina," Brazil legend Ronaldo added. "I saw Brazilians and people all over the world rooting for Messi. It's a fitting finale for a genius who has marked an era." -- Sam Marsden
Messi at Barcelona: The ultimate history
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Key Achievements: Five-time Ballon d'Or winner, five-time Champions League winner, three-time Premier League winner, two-time LaLiga winner, two-time Serie A winner; holds the record for men's international goals with 130.
Cristiano Ronaldo's story describes a supremely talented athlete, matched with drive and will to win. His career is probably best summed up by one of his own quotes, "If you don't believe you are the best, then you will never achieve all that you are capable of," and more often than not, Ronaldo has proved that to be true throughout over two decades at the top of world soccer.
"He is the best," his former Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, said. "I saw Maradona a couple of times. I never saw Pelé. But Cristiano is amazing. This man is the best. Cristiano is a goal machine. There will never be another Ronaldo." -- Rob Dawson
Key successes: winner of the FIFA World Cup, winner of the UEFA European Championship, two-time champion of the English Premier League, winner of LaLiga, two-time winner of the FA Cup, winner of the Champions League, winner of Ligue 1, winner of the Copa del Rey, winner of the Club World Cup
Thierry Henry changed the very idea of what a number 9 could be. He was tall and quick, physical yet smart, with an immense drive, arrogance, and charm, making him the embodiment of the new generation of front men. He is one of the greatest sportsmen of his generation; he has won practically everything, scoring many unforgettable goals throughout his career. But his most amazing feat is undoubtedly going the whole Premier League season unbeaten with Arsenal in 2004. There was imperiousness that campaign in leading his side to such an achievement, never repeated since in modern English football.
'I believe that Thierry was at the same level as Pele, Maradona, without a doubt. More than an exceptional football player, he combined a modern player, huge physical talent, technical talent, but also special intelligence. He is one of the greatest players I ever saw,' said his former coach Arsène Wenger. — Julien Laurens
How does Thierry Henry's legacy fit into the pantheon of French football?
4. Zinedine Zidane
Key achievements: FIFA World Cup winner, UEFA European Championship winner, two-time Serie A winner, Champions League winner, LaLiga winner, Ballon d'Or winner, Intercontinental Cup winner
Zinedine Zidane made soccer an art form. His elegance with the ball, his incredible technical ability, and his skills made him a magician. Of course, he will also be remembered for scoring two goals in the final of the 1998 World Cup, but probably most of all for scoring the most beautiful goal in a Champions League final ever. His volley with Real Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 was the purest you will ever see—and with his weak foot, to boot!
"Playing alongside him was just brilliant. There were games where opponents could not get close to him, could not get the ball off him. The ball used to be glued to his feet. Even at training, he would be unplayable at times!" his former teammate Robert Pires said. -- Laurens
Allez les Bleus! The story of France's 1998 World Cup triumph
5. Luka Modrić
Key Achievements: Ballon d'Or, UCL Winner x6, LaLiga Winner x4, World Cup Runner Up, most capped Player of Croatia, Most trophies won with Real Madrid
"I'd like to ask you not to retire." As questions at a news conference go, it was certainly unusual, but the Italian journalist's plea -- after Modrić and Croatia were eliminated from Euro 2024 -- drew applause, reflecting the sentiment. Everybody loves Modrić. "In addition to being a top player, one of the best in the world, he even more spectacular as a person," Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
More, probably, than any other single player, Modric has been central to the relentless winning culture that Madrid has sustained over the last decade. There is no single standout moment — barring, perhaps, leading underdogs Croatia to a World Cup final in 2018 — but a career of year in, year out excellence. — Alex Kirkland
Luka Modric still Real Madrid's main man at 36. Just ask PSG
6 Kylian Mbappé
World Cup winner and 7-time French Ligue 1 winner, 4-time winner of the French Cup
Arguably the best soccer player in the world right now, Mbappé has followed the path of a prodigy. At the age of 16, he made his professional debut, scored his first goal while 17 years old, and already in the senior national team of France at 18, he won the World Cup at 19! This summer, moving to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, he will reach new heights and further solidify his status as an heir to both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
It was in 2018 that Mbappé got his rise to massive worldwide fame, with him becoming only the second teenager after Pelé ever to score in a World Cup final. In 2022, he made more World Cup history, scoring a hat trick in the final against Argentina. "He is just a phenomenon. He is such a generational talent. You just don't see many players like him. He is only 25, but his career is already amazing," Thierry Henry said about his compatriot. -- Laurens
Au revoir, Kylian Mbappé: How should we judge his PSG legacy?
7. Andrés Iniesta
Key trophies: World Cup, two European Championships, four Champions Leagues, nine La Ligas, and a Ballon d'Or runner-up
On this day in history, July 11, 2010, Iniesta restored Spanish football to its old dazzling way of play. In the 116th minute of this World Cup final in Johannesburg, South Africa, and with the game tied 0-0 going to extra, Iniesta crisply slotted a pass from Cesc Fabregas into the penalty area past all the Dutch defenders and below Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. Cue euphoria. Spain won the game 1-0, lifting the World Cup for the first and only time, and Iniesta instantly became the most popular man in the country.
An elegant, skillful playmaker, he also was a key member of one of the best club sides of the modern era — Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. -- Kirkland
Andrés Iniesta talks Barcelona, Xavi and 1,000 career games
8. Xavi Hernández
Key achievements: World Cup winner, two-time European Championship winner, two-time Champions League winner, eight-time LaLiga winner
Xavi achieved so much in his career that it's nearly impossible to highlight just one. Maybe the famous 6-2 win at their rivals Real Madrid, in which Xavi was directly involved in four of the goals. Or his performance in the 2009 Champions League final, supplying the pass for Lionel Messi's headed opening goal.
You could choose Barcelona's dominant 3-1 win over Manchester United in 2011. For a match that encapsulated an era, you'd hone in on Spain's 4-0 dismantling of Italy at Euro 2012, the epitome of their tiki-taka short-passing style that Xavi personified.
But let's go for an entire season: Xavi's imperial 2008-09, when the midfielder -- probably the best passer in the history of the sport -- racked up an incredible 20 assists in 35 LaLiga matches. -- Kirkland
Xavi's last fight
9. Ronaldo Nazário
Great achievements: FIFA awarder of the World Cup, Golden Ball recipient 1998 World Cup, Golden Boot winner 2002 World Cup
The original Ronaldo probably was the swiftest, most powerful striker running with the ball in the history of the game but also with changes at pace and with the ability to slow down, keep his head still, and shoot at goal with exquisite cool and precision. All of these virtues were best seen in the 20th century but the 21st century came up with the best storyline. Twice his knee gave way under him and he was left there howling in horrid pain; a lot of people thought that the second time he would be out of action.
Before the 2002 World Cup, Inter Milan, the club he played for in Italy, were unable to get him fit. Brazil led his recovery, and from nowhere, Ronaldo stormed through the tournament to carry a side that had come so close to failure in the qualifiers all the way to memorable triumph. One of sport's great comeback stories. -- Tim Vickery
Soccer's all-time Top 20: No. 6 Ronaldo
10. Ronaldinho
Key accomplishments: FIFA World Cup winner, Ballon d'Or winner, Copa América winner, two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, two-time LaLiga winner
If longevity weren't part of what defined the greatest of all time, Ronaldinho would have been in the conversation for his performances during his first three years with Barcelona. There wasn't a better show in soccer from 2003 to 2006. There have been few, if any more talented players in the history of the global game and all too briefly, Ronaldinho captivated with his child-like glee at his own achievements—reminding so many of why it was they fell for the sport in the first place.
A disappointing 2006 World Cup was a turning point, and he seemed to tire of the sacrifices necessary to remain at the top level. But those three years were unforgettable. -- Vickery
Ronaldinho's 'what ifs' are irrelevant, just celebrate one of the greatest ever
11. Zlatan Ibrahimović
Key Achievements: 511 career goals, found a net with minimum of one Champions League goal with six teams, 12 league titles by five clubs, four-time UEFA team of the year, Sweden's career-leading scorer, represented the country at six major tournaments
"I can't help but laugh at how perfect I am." There has never existed an athlete who was as good as Zlatan Ibrahimović said he was, but the 6-foot-5 striker did as well as anyone could -- and for as long as anyone could -- at approaching that level. He was the purest scorer this side of Cristiano Ronaldo. Ibrahimović put the ball in the net at least once in four different decades, and he continued to get better into his 30s. Oh, and he also scored at least 30 goals in all competitions six times between 2011 and 2019, peaking with an incredible 50-goal campaign with Paris Saint-Germain in 2015-16.
Ibrahimović was the personification of artistry and brute force at the same time.
Zlatan's best quotes as 41-year-old retires from football
12. Kevin De Bruyne
Biggest honors: Three-time league player of the season (twice in Premier League, once in Bundesliga), winner of the Champions League, six-time Premier League champion, and seven-time FA Cup or EFL Cup champion
Kevin De Bruyne has been the most consistently brilliant attacker on the most consistently brilliant team in the history of the Premier League. After a frustrating first experience at Chelsea, De Bruyne exploded for 16 goals and 23 assists in all competitions in one season with Wolfsburg, then moved to Manchester City and, after one transitional year, became the main cog in the Pep Guardiola era.
Over nine seasons with City, he has combined for 102 goals and 161 assists in all competitions, been the top table setter in England for most of a decade and, when required, proved more than happy to put the ball in the net himself -- often from significant range. Just a brilliant all-round attacker. -- Connelly
Guardiola: 'Legend' De Bruyne can lead Man City title charge
13. Toni Kroos
Other key achievements: 1x World Cup winner, 6x Champions League winner, 4x LaLiga winner, 3x Bundesliga winner
Kroos superpower? Passing the ball better and more accurately than any other player, and with more frequency. Yet over his 10 seasons in LaLiga, Kroos completed a record 20,780 passes—more than anyone else did—culminating in a league-high completion rate of 93.6% among those who reached 5,000-plus minutes. It might not have been as thrilling as scoring those goals or dribbling through — but if there was a man who set the tone amidst the midfield rarities in this Real Madrid team over the past decade, it was Kroos; just one pass at a time.
His finest work? This through ball for VinÃcius Júnior in last season's Champions League, bisecting Bayern Munich's defence. It was a pass so good, it made teammate Jude Bellingham stop and applaud as the play was unfolding. -- Kirkland
Modric and Kroos are the ageless wonders keeping Real Madrid from ushering in a new era
Key achievements: winner of the World Cup, two-time European Champion, four-time winner of the Champions League, five-time winner of LaLiga, 11-time World 11 nominee by FIFPRO
And if you ask the fans of Real Madrid about their favorite moments of Sergio Ramos, undoubtedly the answer they would pick is surely the 2014 Champions League final — the 93rd-minute equalizer at that moment, the most important goal Real Madrid has had. Real Madrid were seconds away from defeat to arch-rivals Atlético Madrid on club football's grandest stage until a Sergio Ramos header found the net for a 1-1 tie, spurring extra time. Real Madrid went on to win the match, getting their first European Cup in 12 years, sparking off an era of success that has not yet had its match.
"I remember it with a smile," Ramos told UEFA of the goal in 2016. "At the end of the day, that will be the lasting memory. I'll be able to show it to my son, my grandchildren". -- Kirkland
Sergio Ramos 20 years: Trophies, goals and drama
15. Carles Puyol
Key career highlights: FIFA World Cup winner, six-time LaLiga champion, three-time Champions League winner, two-time Club World Cup winner, UEFA European Championship winner
Puyol was not known for scoring goals. He scored three in 100 appearances for Spain. As a centre-back, his forte was keeping them out. One of his three scores, though, was one of the most significant goals in the history of Spanish soccer. Heading highest at a corner, he crunched a header past Manuel Neuer in the 73rd minute, sending Spain to a 1-0 win over Germany in the 2010 World Cup semifinal. It was a goal that showed strength, desire, and commitment to a microcosm—a match that went on to show Spain taking the same traits all the way to an eventual World Cup win in South Africa.
"Puyol puts his face where most would be afraid to put their foot," as one of the great Italian defenders, Franco Baresi, likes to say. That was Puyol, then. -- Marsden
Carles Puyol: The man who inspired his team with his defensive leadership
16. Karim Benzema
Main honours: victor of LaLiga, the Ballon d'Or, UEFA Nations League
From being a wonderkid at Lyon when starting his 17-year career in 2005 to joining Real Madrid at 21 in 2002 and, in 2022, being the best player in the world with almost 20 years in his career, Benzema has been through a lot. He was accused of being at times an inefficient player in front of goal but came around to be a wonderful team player, helping Cristiano Ronaldo in shining and Real Madrid in winning trophies before turning out to be the superstar, post CR7, in the summer of 2019. From 2019 to 2023, he hit the net thirty, twenty-seven, thirty, forty-four, and thirty-one times for a total of twenty-five strikes over the same period. He was relentless and played his best football when he was past 30 years old.
"Like great French wine, Benzema becomes even better with age. He is one of the footballers with the highest IQ and intelligence in the game and an incredible desire to always help his team and be the best," Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. -- Laurens
Karim Benzema fulfills a lifelong dream in winning 2022 Ballon d'Or
17. Sergio Busquets
Key accomplishments: FIFA World Cup winner, Nine La Liga winner, three times Champion's Winner, Club world cup winner- three times UEFA Euro winner
No one put it much better than former Spain coach Vicente del Bosque when he described Busquets not just as the best in his position but the best full stop: "You watch the game, you don't see Busquets. But if you watch Busquets, you see the whole game." While Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, and Lionel Messi got the credit he shared with the first two his status as the most popular answer to the question of who was the best player they had ever played with, they would all say that they would not have been able to do it if it were not for Busquets ahead of them, cleaning up and starting the attacks.
There is no one moment or season but rather sustained excellence over more than a decade. (Although there is his trademark drag back move with the ball at his feet.) In 15 seasons with Barcelona's first team he never played fewer than 40 matches, winning everything there is to win for club and country. -- Marsden
Barcelona's Sergio Busquets holds the key to future midfield
Key successes: UEFA Champions League winner, ten-time Bundesliga champion, LaLiga winner, two-time World Soccer Player of the Year, two-time Ballon d'Or Forward of the Year, UEFA Player of the Year, seven-time top scorers of the Bundesliga, 83 international goals (most for any Polish player, fourth-most for any European man)
Lewandowski is among the most consistent and technically bright forwards of the 21st century, but he is always going to be remembered for the time he made Pep Guardiola smile into his palm like a drunk romantic. Early in the 2015-16 season, trailing 1-0 at Wolfsburg at half-time, Guardiola introduced Lewandowski to the field for the second half and he scored in the 51st minute with his left foot, in the 52nd with his right from outside the box, in the 55th from a rebound, the 57th on a counter-attack and then again in the 60th minute.
And Lewandowski was almost trying to replicate the technique on the last one onto the Bundesliga logo. That kind of sort of makes sense, given he and this Bayern team defined the Bundesliga for his entire eight-year stay in Munich. -- Connelly
Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski among 'footballing gods' - media
19. Kaká
Major achievements: FIFA World Cup winner, Ballon d'Or winner, UEFA Champions League winner, FIFA World Player of the Year (2007), LaLiga winner, Serie A winner
The last Brazilian to be chosen as World Player of the Year is the son of a prominent engineer, and one could say Kaká constructed his career with methodical precision. Kaká was at his best in his first spell with AC Milan from 2003 to 2009, when he excelled as an attacking midfielder with a few number of fripperies, flicks and tricks, but with a burst of acceleration, sustained power, vision, and eye for goal.
Injuries took some of his pace off and induced a relatively early decline, but at his peak, he was an almost unstoppable force whose lack of ornamentation made the game look very simple. -- Vickery
Kaka's spectacular run overshadowed by his successors
20. Neymar
Key achievements: UEFA Champions League winner, two-time LaLiga winner, five-time Ligue 1 winner, FIFA Puskas Award (2011), Brazil's all-time top goal scorer
The boy prince has never quite grown into the king of the game; the World Player of the Year award, always seen as an objective, has proved elusive, and he has yet to win a major title with his country. Neymar also is widely associated with antics and excessive diving. But it would be unwise to write off his career as a complete disappointment. He has scored more goals for Brazil than anyone else -- a mighty achievement -- and he has produced moments of exceptional magic, especially in his time with Barcelona. And there are still further chapters to be written. -- Vickery
Neymar's mixed legacy after 15 years: where do we stand?
Just missed the list
21. Andrea Pirlo
Key achievements: FIFA World Cup winner, UEFA Champions League winner twice, Serie A winner six times, Serie A Footballer of the Year three times
So great was the influence of the Italian maestro on the game that even the "Pirlo role" became a global phenomenon as the position its namesake perfected in picking inch-perfect passes for his teammates with a nonchalance and technique that etched his name among the greatest midfielders to have played the game. -- SherShah Atif
Another architect in Manaus
22. Wayne Rooney
Key Accomplishments: 5× English Premier League champion, 1× winner of the UEFA Champions League, twice PFA Young Player of the Year, 2004 Golden Boy Award winner, inductee of the Premier League Hall of Fame, Manchester United all-time top scorer
The most complete striker to grace modern soccer, and he looked the full package when scoring in his Premiership debut at just 16. Grit, power, and a flair for finishing would characterize his playing reality over a stellar club and international career. -- Atif
Rooney is Man United's all-time leading goal scorer; what is his legacy?
23. Patrick Vieira
Key accomplishments: Winner of the FIFA World Cup, winner of the UEFA European Championship, three-time English Premier League winner, four-time English FA Cup winner, five-time Serie A winner, inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
What characterised the club's unprecedented season in 2003-04 was the very demeanour, leadership, and indomitable spirit of Vieira through his influential captaincy for the Gunners, when "The Invincibles" won the English Premier League title by going undefeated.
What did the 'Invincibles' hold that Arsene Wenger's newer Arsenal lacked?
24. Luis Suárez
Key achievements: UEFA Champions League Winner, Four times La Liga winner, Four times Copa del Rey winner, Winner of the Copa América, all-time top scorer for Uruguay
A prolific striker, Suarez scored goals for fun with both Ajax and Liverpool before moving to Barcelona, then again at Atlético Madrid—surely cementing his reputation as one of the most fearsome attackers in his prime. -- Atif
Portrait of a serial winner
25. Gianluigi Buffon
Major achievements: FIFA World Cup winner, FIFA World Cup Golden Glove Award (2006), 10-time Serie A winner, six-time Coppa Italia winner, 13-time Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award, most appearances in Serie A, most appearances for Italy (160), two-time UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year winner
The talismanic goalkeeper enjoyed a 28-year career, and he is arguably the greatest player at his position following a trophy-laden career. That he was even being mentioned to the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year at 39 years old shows he is of an ageless class. -- Atif
Gianluigi Buffon endors