Top 10 greatest players of all time

tentan · Jan 11, 2024

1. Messi
2. C.Ronaldo
3. Pele
4. Maradona
5. Cruyff
6. Beckenbauer
7. Di Stefano
8. Charlton
9. Ronaldo
10. Zidane

For you?

Theonas · Jan 11, 2024

1. Messi
2. Pele
3. Maradona
4. Di Stefano
5. Beckenbauer
6. Cruyff
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
8. Garrincha
9. Ronaldo
10. Bobby Charlton

Redplane · Jan 11, 2024

I always struggle with these types of listings because to me the impact of a football player outside of just being a great player are what truly sets them apart for me. That's why people like Pele, Cruyff and Beckenbauer for instance still rank higher to me than even Messi or CR7.

simonhch · Jan 11, 2024

1. Maradona
2. Messi
3. Pele
4. Ronaldo Nazario
5. Cruyff
6. Cristiano Ronaldo
7. Beckenbauer
8. Di Stefano
9. Charlton
10. Ronaldinho

RedRonaldo · Jan 11, 2024

I don’t go with top 10, but rather top 3 tier:

Tier 1
Messi
Pele
C.Ronaldo
Maradona

Tier 2
Di Stefano
Cruyff
Beckenbauer

Tier 3
Platini
Garrincha
Puskas
Charlton
Best
Eusebio
Muller
L.Ronaldo
Zidane

I think these rankings could be subjective if you want to place exact place of each player in terms of ranking system. So it’s better to group them in tier system, which would be much more objective anyway.

Invictus · Jan 11, 2024

Mount Rushmore: Lionel Messi, Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Diego Maradona.
No. 5—7: Alfredo Di Stéfano, Cristiano Ronaldo and Johan Cruyff.
No. 8: Ferenc Puskás. The second greatest footballer of the pre-Pelé era.
Best “Bomber” in football history: Gerd Müller.
No. 10: Xavi Hernández and Michel Platini.
Best Defender in football history, @Šjor Bepo: Paolo Maldini.

Pes6Monster · Jan 11, 2024

If you have Lionel Messi at number one, it's a good indication it's time to leave the internet.

Best for me is Pele. WC at seventeen, in his first, not fifth, attempt. Maradona second though he'd have likely been first if his career did not die out ignominiously. Cruyff/Beckenbauer afterward as both also changed how football is played. Never seen Puskas or di Stefano save for brief highlights.

Don't get me wrong on Messi, he's an absolute legend of the game, but not anywhere near the top.

Please do not argue with me on the basis 'Pele never played in Europe'. It's just silly.

dazjoe · Jan 11, 2024

Maradona
Messi
Pele
Cruyff
De Stefano
Ronaldo
C. Ronaldo
Zidane
Charlton
Platini

AndySmith1990 · Jan 11, 2024

Pes6Monster said:
If you have Lionel Messi at number one, it's a good indication it's time to leave the internet.

Best for me is Pele. WC at seventeen, in his first, not fifth, attempt. Maradona second though he'd have likely been first if his career did not die out ignominiously. Cruyff/Beckenbauer afterward as both also changed how football is played. Never seen Puskas or di Stefano save for brief highlights.

Don't get me wrong on Messi, he's an absolute legend of the game, but not anywhere near the top.

Please do not argue with me on the basis 'Pele never played in Europe'. It's just silly.

Could you be any more obnoxious?

JogaBonitoRooney · Jan 11, 2024

Pes6Monster said:
If you have Lionel Messi at number one, it's a good indication it's time to leave the internet.

Best for me is Pele. WC at seventeen, in his first, not fifth, attempt. Maradona second though he'd have likely been first if his career did not die out ignominiously. Cruyff/Beckenbauer afterward as both also changed how football is played. Never seen Puskas or di Stefano save for brief highlights.

Don't get me wrong on Messi, he's an absolute legend of the game, but not anywhere near the top.

Please do not argue with me on the basis 'Pele never played in Europe'. It's just silly.

Being a too over the top hipster isn't cool and doesn't make you look smart.

The way you speak definitely doesn't sound like you grew up or were an adult in the generation to watch any of the players you listed.

Ole'sgunnarwin · Jan 11, 2024

Pes6Monster said:
If you have Lionel Messi at number one, it's a good indication it's time to leave the internet.

Best for me is Pele. WC at seventeen, in his first, not fifth, attempt. Maradona second though he'd have likely been first if his career did not die out ignominiously. Cruyff/Beckenbauer afterward as both also changed how football is played. Never seen Puskas or di Stefano save for brief highlights.

Don't get me wrong on Messi, he's an absolute legend of the game, but not anywhere near the top.

Please do not argue with me on the basis 'Pele never played in Europe'. It's just silly.

What are you on about? Go on give reasons why Messi is nowhere near the top!

padzilla · Jan 11, 2024

If Messi is the best all of all time because he won the World Cup where does that leave Pele who only won it three times?

Pascal Quiff · Jan 11, 2024

Pes6Monster said:
If you have Lionel Messi at number one, it's a good indication it's time to leave the internet.

Best for me is Pele. WC at seventeen, in his first, not fifth, attempt. Maradona second though he'd have likely been first if his career did not die out ignominiously. Cruyff/Beckenbauer afterward as both also changed how football is played. Never seen Puskas or di Stefano save for brief highlights.

Don't get me wrong on Messi, he's an absolute legend of the game, but not anywhere near the top.

Please do not argue with me on the basis 'Pele never played in Europe'. It's just silly.

Do you have an onlyfans account I can follow?

BootsyCollins · Jan 11, 2024

Pes6Monster said:
If you have Lionel Messi at number one, it's a good indication it's time to leave the internet.

Best for me is Pele. WC at seventeen, in his first, not fifth, attempt. Maradona second though he'd have likely been first if his career did not die out ignominiously. Cruyff/Beckenbauer afterward as both also changed how football is played. Never seen Puskas or di Stefano save for brief highlights.

Don't get me wrong on Messi, he's an absolute legend of the game, but not anywhere near the top.

Please do not argue with me on the basis 'Pele never played in Europe'. It's just silly.

I to wear those little hats, often purple or orange, on the top of my head.

next_number_seven · Jan 11, 2024

I always put Maradona first although realistically it's probably Messi.

After Maradona died someone said "I don't know if he was the best, but his best was the best".

I put Messi and Ronaldo 2nd and 3rd cos they did it so consistently for nearly 20 years and they did it against top class modern athletic footballers.
In the past footballers were smoking and drinking and eating steak and chips.

1) Maradona
2) Messi
3) Ronaldo
4) Pele
5) George Best
6) Cruyff
7) Beckenbauer
8) Puskas
9) Zidane
10) di Stefano

Pes6Monster · Jan 11, 2024

AndySmith1990 said:
Could you be any more obnoxious?

Yes.

JogaBonitoRooney said:
Being a too over the top hipster isn't cool and doesn't make you look smart.

The way you speak definitely doesn't sound like you grew up or were an adult in the generation to watch any of the players you listed.

Right.

Pascal Quiff said:
Do you have an onlyfans account I can follow?

No.

BootsyCollins said:
I to wear those little hats, often purple or orange, on the top of my head.

Good for you.

padzilla said:
If Messi is the best all of all time because he won the World Cup where does that leave Pele who only won it three times?

'Yeah, but Pele never played in Europe, innit?'

As I said, Messi is a quality player but it's extremely tenable if he was the best player in the great Barca sides (was it Xavi or Iniesta?) and his international record contains as many World Cups as Stephane Guivarc'h.

black country red · Jan 11, 2024

So many people on a man united forum not rating George best he was gods gift to football the greatest player to lace a pair of boots packed so much into a regrettable short career but the brightest star always burns out first

Jeppers7 · Jan 11, 2024

Maradona
Messi
Best
CR7
Charlton
Zidane
Ronaldinho
Mattheus
Gullit
Baresi

Ish · Jan 11, 2024

Pes6Monster said:
If you have Lionel Messi at number one, it's a good indication it's time to leave the internet.

Best for me is Pele. WC at seventeen, in his first, not fifth, attempt. Maradona second though he'd have likely been first if his career did not die out ignominiously. Cruyff/Beckenbauer afterward as both also changed how football is played. Never seen Puskas or di Stefano save for brief highlights.

Don't get me wrong on Messi, he's an absolute legend of the game, but not anywhere near the top.

Please do not argue with me on the basis 'Pele never played in Europe'. It's just silly.

TheLiverBird · Jan 11, 2024

padzilla said:
If Messi is the best all of all time because he won the World Cup where does that leave Pele who only won it three times?

Not everyone was waiting for Messi too win a World Cup too be dubbed the GOAT

I had him down as the goat way before he won the WC, as did many.

B20 · Jan 11, 2024

Pes6Monster said:
If you have Lionel Messi at number one, it's a good indication it's time to leave the internet.

Best for me is Pele. WC at seventeen, in his first, not fifth, attempt. Maradona second though he'd have likely been first if his career did not die out ignominiously. Cruyff/Beckenbauer afterward as both also changed how football is played. Never seen Puskas or di Stefano save for brief highlights.

Don't get me wrong on Messi, he's an absolute legend of the game, but not anywhere near the top.

Please do not argue with me on the basis 'Pele never played in Europe'. It's just silly.

Let's not argue with you at all. Jfc.

SilentStrike · Jan 11, 2024

AndySmith1990 said:
Could you be any more obnoxious?

Ole'sgunnarwin said:
What are you on about? Go on give reasons why Messi is nowhere near the top!

He kind of explains it right? Pele and Maradona above Messi, as well as Beckenbauer and Cruyff for their influence on the game.
Attacking him for his opinion because it doesn't align with your own makes you more obnoxious than his post was.

My list:
1) Messi
2) Maradona
3) Pele
4) Cruyff
5) Beckenbauer
6) C Ronaldo
7) Di Stefano
8) G Muller
9) Ronaldinho
10) Puskas

Honorable mentions:
Gullit
Matthaus
L Ronaldo
Zidane
Best
Platini

Ghirahim · Jan 11, 2024

Ronaldo Nazario
Pele
Maradona
Ronaldinho
Zidane
Messi

That's my top 6. I'll do a top 10 later.

JogaBonitoRooney · Jan 11, 2024

padzilla said:
If Messi is the best all of all time because he won the World Cup where does that leave Pele who only won it three times?

It was more 2 times considering he literally didn't even play at all in the 1962 world cup through injury. Was still in the squad and got a medal.

Mart1974 · Jan 11, 2024

AndySmith1990 said:
Could you be any more obnoxious?

Sorry that comeback died with Mathew Perry. Rest in peace brother.

harms · Jan 11, 2024

JogaBonitoRooney said:
It was more 2 times considering he literally didn't even play at all in the 1962 world cup through injury. Was still in the squad and got a medal.

If you're being pedantic (nothing wrong with that), do it properly. Pelé played a full game against Mexico (producing a stupendously good performance that included a goal after dribbling past 4 opponents) and started against Czechoslovakia, only to be substituted after getting an injury.

Revan · Jan 11, 2024

1. Messi
2. Pele
3. C. Ronaldo
4. Maradona
5. Cruyff
6. Di Stefano
7. Beckenbauer
8. Platini
9. Best
10. Puskas

Honorable Mention: Eusebio, Charlton, Zidane, Luis Ronaldo, Xavi, Maldini, Baresi, Garrincha, van Basten.

Oranges038 · Jan 11, 2024

Just going by pure talent on players I've seen play over the last 20-30 odd years. Players who just seemed to always show up and performed at the highest level and will/should always be remembered for it.

In no order.

Messi
Ronaldinho
C. Ronaldo
Mathaus
Zidane
Maldini
Iniesta
F. Ronaldo
Modric
Giggs

If you're going by legacy/ overall lasting impact on the game which transcends what they did on the pitch.

Pele
Maradona
Cruyff
Beckenbauer
Messi
C. Ronaldo
Charlton
Di Stefano
Zidane
Puskas

harms · Jan 11, 2024

T1 Pelé, Messi, Maradona
T2 Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Di Stéfano, Cristiano
T3 L. Ronaldo, Xavi, Puskás,
T3 (continued) Müller, van Basten, Platini, Zico, Ronaldinho, Charlton, Iniesta, Matthäus, Best, Baresi, Moore, Maldini...

Players in tiers themselves are in a more or less free order (although I'd probably put Maradona as the lowest of the first tier due to the relative lack of longevity). Highlighted 3 players in the 3rd tier to technically complete the top-10 but it's very much the flavour of the month thing — there's not much between Ronaldo, Müller & van Basten for example (depends on what do you rate the most — peak, consistency or completeness); Ronaldinho & Best both have reached god-level of peak performance, albeit for a short time; and it's so hard to exclude Platini (or, by extension, Zico, as the two are almost inseparable)...

Acrobat7 · Jan 11, 2024

harms said:
T1 Pelé, Messi, Maradona
T2 Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Di Stéfano, Cristiano
T3 L. Ronaldo, Xavi, Puskás,
T3 (continued) Müller, van Basten, Platini, Zico, Ronaldinho, Charlton, Iniesta, Matthäus, Best, Baresi, Moore, Maldini...

Players in tiers themselves are in a more or less free order (although I'd probably put Maradona as the lowest of the first tier due to the relative lack of longevity). Highlighted 3 players in the 3rd tier to technically complete the top-10 but it's very much the flavour of the month thing — there's not much between Ronaldo, Müller & van Basten for example (depends on what do you rate the most — peak, consistency or completeness); Ronaldinho & Best both have reached god-level of peak performance, albeit for a short time; and it's so hard to exclude Platini (or, by extension, Zico, as the two are almost inseparable)...

I like your approach of a tiered system. Personally I would move C. Ronaldo down to tier 3 and leave T2 to Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Di Stefano, but that is just my opinion.

Righteous Steps · Jan 11, 2024

Pele
Messi
Maradona
Di Stefano
Beckenbauer
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cruyff
R9
Puskas

Son · Jan 11, 2024

1. Messi
2. Maradona
3. Pele
3. Di Steffano
4. C. Ronaldo
5. Cruyff
6. Zidane
7. Beckenbauer
8. Puskas
9. Platini
10. Gerd Muller

One controversial pick.

1. Zidane higher than Platini… Platini was more productive in his career but Zidane on the big occasions was something else.

Zidane I just feel was more unique. Arguably the most unique footballer of all time alongside Ronaldinho.

Zehner · Jan 11, 2024

Maybe something like this?

1. Messi
2. Pelé
3. Maradona
4. R9
5. Cristiano
6. Cruyff
7. Beckenbauer
8. Di Stefano
9. Puskas
10. Zico

Some positions might change and it feels kind of unfair to leave players such as Best, Platini, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Garrincha, Eusebio, etc. out completely.

RedRonaldo · Jan 11, 2024

padzilla said:
If Messi is the best all of all time because he won the World Cup where does that leave Pele who only won it three times?

Jeppers7 said:
Maradona
Messi
Best
CR7
Charlton
Zidane
Ronaldinho
Mattheus
Gullit
Baresi

Find that response very funny.

“If Messi is the best all of all time because he won the World Cup where does that leave Pele who only won it three times?”

Then someone went on to post a list of his top 10 without Pele in it…

Posh Red · Jan 11, 2024

black country red said:
So many people on a man united forum not rating George best he was gods gift to football the greatest player to lace a pair of boots packed so much into a regrettable short career but the brightest star always burns out first

Yeah this is shocking to me. To not be in the top ten!

RoyH1 · Jan 11, 2024

It's impossible to compare across timelines and continents, but taking the playing conditions, training methods, results and legacy/impact into account for me it's something like this.

Tier 1
Maradona
Pelé
Messi

Tier 2
Di Stefano
Cristiano
Cruyff
Beckenbauer

Tier 3
Best
Puskas
R9
Zidane
Giussepe Meazza
Yashin

RedRonaldo · Jan 11, 2024

Son said:
1. Messi
2. Maradona
3. Pele
3. Di Steffano
4. C. Ronaldo
5. Cruyff
6. Zidane
7. Beckenbauer
8. Puskas
9. Platini
10. Gerd Muller

One controversial pick.

1. Zidane higher than Platini… Platini was more productive in his career but Zidane on the big occasions was something else.

Zidane I just feel was more unique. Arguably the most unique footballer of all time alongside Ronaldinho.

Controversial indeed on the fact you have named no.3 twice in your list.

Hernandez - BFA · Jan 11, 2024

Pes6Monster said:
If you have Lionel Messi at number one, it's a good indication it's time to leave the internet.

What an incredibly pompous opening to a post.

Teritus · Jan 11, 2024

harms said:
T1 Pelé, Messi, Maradona
T2 Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Di Stéfano, Cristiano
T3 L. Ronaldo, Xavi, Puskás,
T3 (continued) Müller, van Basten, Platini, Zico, Ronaldinho, Charlton, Iniesta, Matthäus, Best, Baresi, Moore, Maldini...

Players in tiers themselves are in a more or less free order (although I'd probably put Maradona as the lowest of the first tier due to the relative lack of longevity). Highlighted 3 players in the 3rd tier to technically complete the top-10 but it's very much the flavour of the month thing — there's not much between Ronaldo, Müller & van Basten for example (depends on what do you rate the most — peak, consistency or completeness); Ronaldinho & Best both have reached god-level of peak performance, albeit for a short time; and it's so hard to exclude Platini (or, by extension, Zico, as the two are almost inseparable)...

Generally agree with this. Also you know it's something you can trust when the person puts all the diacritics in the correct places.

Josh 76 · Jan 11, 2024

RoyH1 said:
It's impossible to compare across timelines and continents, but taking the playing conditions, training methods, results and legacy/impact into account for me it's something like this.

Tier 1
Maradona
Pelé
Messi

Tier 2
Di Stefano
Cristiano
Cruyff
Beckenbauer

Tier 3
Best
Puskas
R9
Zidane
Giussepe Meazza
Yashin

You have got it about right.
I would like to add Platini, Eusebio, and Henry to Tier 3.

Top 10 greatest players of all time

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