Ranking The Best Footballers Of All Time

If you are a fan of soccer, you are probably aware that the players are always pretty well skilled. You need to be good with a ball, an excellent communicator, and be swift and speedy on the field.

Great football players are not exactly sparse though, but, the greatest players ever are.

In any sport, having great players on a team totally shifts the sports betting odds. Soccer is just about the most popular sport worldwide, it is incredible just how loved it is. But, we can all agree it truly is the players that make the game so widely loved.

With this in mind, let's take a look at who the best players of all time are in soccer. Let's get to it.

#1. Diego Maradona

Everyone knows it, Diego Maradona is without any shadow of a doubt the best football player of all time. His skill is above and beyond, and he has always been known as being something of a magician with his feet.

He was fearless when it came to rule breaking, especially if it meant getting a win in. He became Argentina's hero in his spectacular win in '86. His vision, control of the pass, dribbling, and passing abilities were all paired up with his shortness.

Being on the shorter side, did mean he had a lower center of gravity, which let him move faster and overall better than a majority of other players on the field.

He was the embodiment of leadership and this had a general impact in the success of his entire squad. Of course, he was and still is regarded as one of the best football players to have ever been in the game.

#2. Pele

While we would argue that Maradona was the best of all time, many would also argue that it was Pele, and we cannot deny, those who argue Pele have a point.

He's a legend, and an incredible Brazilian player. Pele has the image of something like a God in soccer, with no single other player having won nearly as many World Cups as he has.

Pele was a scoring machine, and was a major point of the country and club. Whenever you look at his statistics for scoring, your jaw will drop because it almost seems impossible that one man could do so much.

He is the only player to have ever scored over 1200 goals. He scored twice in the World Cup in '57 against Sweden, which made him the youngest player to ever do this at 17 years and 249 days old.

#3. Lionel Messi

We cannot forget Messi though. He is something of a magician. The former player for Barcelona has achieved an insane amount at light speed, is he even human? He has few records left to break, and he has had a pretty epic career until recently.

He won pretty much everything you could imagine at the club level and at international levels too.

He is still pretty young too. Some would call him the GOAT, which is not surprising since he won a 7 ballon d'or, which is the most by any professional in soccer.

This wizard has made himself well known as being one of the greatest of all time in the world. Thanks to the guidance of Frank Rijkaard and then under Guardiola.

#4. Cristiano Ronaldo

This list would hardly be right without Ronaldo getting onto it somehow. Ronaldo is a legend, something of a pure diamond in soccer. He started his career and was soon noticed by Sir Alex Ferguson as an incredible precocious talent.

He ended up getting his legacy in Manchester United, known as a Portuguese superstar, and becoming a legend of our age.

But, it was with Real Madrid that he really showed his true colors, painting himself as a GOAT. But he never even considered stopping there.

He has always had a very strong mental drive, constantly doing everything he can to be the best of the best, he has probably got the most well known name in soccer to this day.

Of course, this is all thanks to his talent, dedication, and tenacity.

#5. Johan Cruyff

Often forgotten with people like Pele, Ronaldo and Messi in the game, Cruyff is known as being one of the most influential players and managers alike. Something of a soccer-based Picasso.

No one else has had quite the range of influence as Cruff. He was always something of a trailblazer who gave out the concept of 'total football' to Barcelona, Ajax, and the Netherlands.

His career was astounding, for his national teams, and his club, all the while playing some truly immense football.

Though, he is best remembered for bringing about a change that would be revolutionary in Barcelona, which established him and his greatness at this club, in particular his incredible idea of total football.

We cannot deny it, so he deserves a place in our list right here.

#6. Ronaldo Nazario

Nazario was one of the most feared strikers to ever be on the field. No one is ever likely to see a player like him again. He played for many teams and was never hated by any fans. He finished his career as a leading scorer. He was calm, poised, and deadly.