Top 100 Most Popular Football Players (1960–2020)

Football (soccer) has been home to some of the most legendary athletes in the world. From iconic World Cup winners to mesmerizing club heroes, the beautiful game has witnessed countless stars who have shaped the sport across generations. In this post, we rank the Top 100 Most Popular Football Players from 1960 to 2020—players who captured hearts, headlines, and history.

Whether you're a lifelong supporter or new to football culture, this list celebrates legends whose names still echo in stadiums and fan chants around the world.

🏆 The Ultimate Top 100 Football Players (1960–2020)

🌍 Global Legends – Top 1–25

These footballers redefined the game and became global icons.

Pelé – Brazil
Diego Maradona – Argentina
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Johan Cruyff – Netherlands
Zinedine Zidane – France
Ronaldinho – Brazil
Franz Beckenbauer – Germany
Michel Platini – France
George Best – Northern Ireland
Ronaldo Nazário – Brazil
Paolo Maldini – Italy
Xavi Hernández – Spain
Andrés Iniesta – Spain
Lev Yashin – USSR
Roberto Baggio – Italy
Thierry Henry – France
Marco van Basten – Netherlands
David Beckham – England
Alfredo Di Stéfano – Argentina/Spain
Bobby Charlton – England
Ferenc Puskás – Hungary
Garrincha – Brazil
Neymar Jr. – Brazil
Luis Suárez – Uruguay

⚽ Fan Favorites & Club Legends – Top 26–50

Eric Cantona – France
Kenny Dalglish – Scotland
Raúl González – Spain
Ryan Giggs – Wales
Andrea Pirlo – Italy
Lothar Matthäus – Germany
Gerd Müller – Germany
Carlos Valderrama – Colombia
Kaka – Brazil
Zlatan Ibrahimović – Sweden
Alan Shearer – England
Steven Gerrard – England
Frank Lampard – England
Pavel Nedvěd – Czech Republic
Carlos Tevez – Argentina
Roberto Carlos – Brazil
Sergio Ramos – Spain
Philipp Lahm – Germany
Didier Drogba – Ivory Coast
Fernando Torres – Spain
Mesut Özil – Germany
Gianluigi Buffon – Italy
Wayne Rooney – England
Samuel Eto’o – Cameroon
Hristo Stoichkov – Bulgaria

🧠 Technicians & Tacticians – Top 51–75

Clarence Seedorf – Netherlands
Dennis Bergkamp – Netherlands
Claude Makélélé – France
Patrick Vieira – France
Jay-Jay Okocha – Nigeria
Socrates – Brazil
Jean Tigana – France
Fernando Redondo – Argentina
Xabi Alonso – Spain
Deco – Portugal
Rivaldo – Brazil
Andriy Shevchenko – Ukraine
Michael Laudrup – Denmark
Hugo Sánchez – Mexico
Ruud Gullit – Netherlands
Giuseppe Meazza – Italy
Jairzinho – Brazil
Tostão – Brazil
Dunga – Brazil
Clint Dempsey – USA
Brian Laudrup – Denmark
Gary Lineker – England
Mario Kempes – Argentina
Oleg Blokhin – Ukraine/USSR
Jean-Pierre Papin – France

🚀 Modern Stars & Underrated Icons – Top 76–100

Mohamed Salah – Egypt
Sadio Mané – Senegal
Luka Modrić – Croatia
Toni Kroos – Germany
Edinson Cavani – Uruguay
Arjen Robben – Netherlands
Franck Ribéry – France
Pierre Littbarski – Germany
Cafu – Brazil
Javier Zanetti – Argentina
Hernán Crespo – Argentina
Park Ji-sung – South Korea
Michael Owen – England
Paul Scholes – England
Dani Alves – Brazil
Nemanja Vidić – Serbia
John Terry – England
Riyad Mahrez – Algeria
Christian Vieri – Italy
Antoine Griezmann – France
Kylian Mbappé – France (rising during the late 2010s)
Edgar Davids – Netherlands
Freddie Ljungberg – Sweden
George Weah – Liberia
Jürgen Klinsmann – Germany

This list highlights the greatest footballers across six decades—not just by stats, but also by influence, charisma, and popularity. From Pelé’s first World Cup win to Messi and Ronaldo's global dominance, each player left a unique mark.

For fans of football fashion, classic football culture, or modern streetwear inspired by legends of the pitch, these names are timeless. Whether you're repping a vintage jersey or designing hoodies for icons, this list is your ultimate guide to the most beloved players of the game.