Top 50 Greatest Footballers of All Time & Top 50 Modern Best Players

Here’s an expanded Top 100 list of the greatest and most popular football players of all time and today.

Top 50 Greatest Footballers of All Time

(Ranked based on career achievements, impact, and legacy)

  1. Pelé (Brazil)

  2. Diego Maradona (Argentina)

  3. Lionel Messi (Argentina)

  4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

  5. Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)

  6. Zinedine Zidane (France)

  7. Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil)

  8. Michel Platini (France)

  9. Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)

  10. Ronaldinho (Brazil)

  1. George Best (Northern Ireland)

  2. Alfredo Di Stéfano (Argentina/Spain)

  3. Paolo Maldini (Italy)

  4. Garrincha (Brazil)

  5. Xavi Hernandez (Spain)

  6. Andrés Iniesta (Spain)

  7. Marco van Basten (Netherlands)

  8. Roberto Baggio (Italy)

  9. Gerd Müller (Germany)

  10. Lev Yashin (Russia)

  1. Eusébio (Portugal)

  2. Lothar Matthäus (Germany)

  3. Thierry Henry (France)

  4. Roberto Carlos (Brazil)

  5. Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)

  6. Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)

  7. Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands)

  8. Franco Baresi (Italy)

  9. Sergio Ramos (Spain)

  10. David Beckham (England)

  1. Kaka (Brazil)

  2. Rivaldo (Brazil)

  3. Zico (Brazil)

  4. Neymar Jr. (Brazil)

  5. Luis Suárez (Uruguay)

  6. Raúl González (Spain)

  7. Clarence Seedorf (Netherlands)

  8. Patrick Vieira (France)

  9. Dino Zoff (Italy)

  10. Iker Casillas (Spain)

  1. Wayne Rooney (England)

  2. Fernando Torres (Spain)

  3. Bobby Charlton (England)

  4. Andrea Pirlo (Italy)

  5. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

  6. Luka Modric (Croatia)

  7. Pavel Nedvěd (Czech Republic)

  8. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

  9. Arjen Robben (Netherlands)

  10. Ryan Giggs (Wales)

Top 50 Best & Most Popular Current Players (2025)

(Ranked based on recent form, talent, and popularity)

1-10 (Elite Superstars)

  1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami & Argentina)

  2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr & Portugal)

  3. Kylian Mbappé (PSG & France)

  4. Erling Haaland (Manchester City & Norway)

  5. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid & England)

  6. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid & Brazil)

  7. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt)

  8. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City & Belgium)

  9. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona & Poland)

  10. Neymar Jr. (Al-Hilal & Brazil)

11-20 (Top Midfielders & Attackers)

  1. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal & England)

  2. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)

  3. Rodri (Manchester City & Spain)

  4. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United & Portugal)

  5. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli & Georgia)

  6. Federico Chiesa (Juventus & Italy)

  7. Victor Osimhen (Napoli & Nigeria)

  8. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City & Portugal)

  9. Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid & France)

  10. Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan & Argentina)

21-30 (Defensive Superstars & Goalkeepers)

  1. Alisson Becker (Liverpool & Brazil)

  2. Ederson Moraes (Manchester City & Brazil)

  3. Mike Maignan (AC Milan & France)

  4. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid & Belgium)

  5. Achraf Hakimi (PSG & Morocco)

  6. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool & England)

  7. João Cancelo (Barcelona & Portugal)

  8. Rúben Dias (Manchester City & Portugal)

  9. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool & Netherlands)

  10. Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City & Croatia)

31-40 (Rising Stars & Established Performers)

  1. Declan Rice (Arsenal & England)

  2. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal & Norway)

  3. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich & Germany)

  4. Pedri (Barcelona & Spain)

  5. Gavi (Barcelona & Spain)

  6. Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid & France)

  7. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United & England)

  8. Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea & France)

  9. Rafael Leão (AC Milan & Portugal)

  10. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen & Germany)

41-50 (Future Greats & Versatile Players)

  1. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City & Belgium)

  2. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal & Brazil)

  3. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United & Argentina)

  4. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)

  5. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool & Hungary)

  6. William Saliba (Arsenal & France)

  7. Josip Šutalo (Ajax & Croatia)

  8. Youssoufa Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund & Germany)

  9. Endrick Felipe (Palmeiras & Brazil - joining Real Madrid in 2024)

  10. Benjamin Šeško (RB Leipzig & Slovenia)


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