Bharat SainiLast Updated on August 17, 2023 by Bharat Saini
In the realm of soccer, a select few elevate the sport to an art form. These individuals possess not only incredible skill but also an unwavering passion that captures the hearts of fans worldwide. From the graceful genius of Messi to the goal-scoring machine that is Ronaldo, the world’s best soccer players continually redefine the boundaries of the beautiful game. Join us on a journey through the dazzling careers, remarkable achievements, and the indomitable spirit that make these athletes true legends on the global soccer stage.
The best soccer players in the world have a combination of many skills including scoring, dribbling, passing and team play.
Here are the top 10 best soccer players in the world:
1. Pele
The king of football, Pel was great at everything he did on the field. He was a prolific goalscorer for club and country and brought his A-game in the biggest moments.
1. Lionel Messi
Although there are many great players to choose from, it’s hard to imagine anyone else filling the shoes of Lionel Messi. The Barcelona superstar is simply the best player in the world at the moment, and he’s arguably the greatest ever.
Messi was born into a working-class family in Rosario, Argentina, and began playing football at an early age. He joined Grandoli FC and then Newell’s Old Boys before being spotted by Barcelona.
The undersized Messi suffered from growth hormone deficiency as a child but was transformed into international football’s Paul Bunyan by the time he reached his teens. He has won seven Ballons d’Or and conquered nearly every piece of real estate there is to win in soccer. He is the most complete player to ever play the game. And his World Cup final hat-trick against France last year was nothing short of spectacular.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
In the world of soccer, there will always be debates about who is the best player of all time. This is natural for any sport because fans will be partial to players from different eras.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most recognizable names in all of sports. The Portuguese has won an incredible amount of trophies in his career, including four Ballon d’Or awards.
He has also won a number of international tournaments and is the all-time leading scorer for his country.
Ronaldo is known for his great skills, dribbles, and free kicks. He is also a huge goalscorer, with over 130 goals for Manchester United and Real Madrid. He is the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League, with 107 goals in 147 appearances. He is also the all-time top goal scorer in Serie A, with 154 goals in 177 matches.
3. Kylian Mbappe
There is always debate about the best player in any sport, and soccer is no different. With so many legends of the game that have come before us, it is hard to compare players across eras and positions.
But Mbappe has been a revelation this year, dazzling spectators with his speed and dynamic goal scoring. He has already won more trophies in his short career than most players earn in their entire careers, and he has the chance to join Pele, Ronaldo, and Messi in the pantheon of world-class footballers.
Mbappe made his professional debut at the age of 16 for his club Monaco, and he has taken the world by storm ever since. He is a natural playmaker with impressive passing and shooting skills. He has already racked up an impressive number of goals on both the club and international stages.
4. Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez’s guile and trickery made him an instant hit with Uruguayan top-flight club Nacional. He had a wild reputation off the field, headbutting and biting defenders – but on the pitch he was a prolific goalscorer with the Uruguay national team.
Suarez won titles with every club he played for, including a European Golden Boot and multiple LaLiga trophies. The striker is also a two-time winner of the Copa America, and has a number of other individual accolades to his name.
In the modern game, it is rare to find a player who is good in all aspects of the game. But Kevin De Bruyne is exactly that, with incredible technical ability and vision to match his speed and strength. He’s the best playmaker in Premier League history and could even be one of the best players ever to grace a football field.
5. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi’s soaring talent on the football field is renowned around the globe. His ability to mesmerize defenders with his dribbling skills and passing is unmatched by any player in history. He is a complete player who can win games for his club and country with ease.
Messi has won five Ballon d’Or awards and is a legend in the game of soccer. He has a wealth of international trophies and appearances under his belt, as well as many other individual accolades.
The 35-year-old has already scored more than 700 goals in senior club football and is closing in on a host of other major career milestones. He is also Argentina’s highest ever goal-scorer, and has a chance to become the first player to reach 900 appearances in the senior national team. Messi has a bright future ahead of him and can still achieve more in his playing career.
6. Zinedine Zidane
The best player of his generation, Zinedine Zidane is an epitome of elegance and technical skills. He was a natural footballer with astonishing dribbling and ball control. He was a playmaker who could organize the entire team and give brilliant passes to his teammates.
He won the coveted World Cup in 1998 and 2000 as well as the UEFA Champions League twice with Juventus and Real Madrid. He also made a remarkable contribution to the sport by being named the FIFA World Player of the Year on three occasions.
The son of Algerian immigrants, he is a great admirer of his roots and often takes part in charity events. He has been a UN Goodwill Ambassador since 2001. He has a plethora of achievements in his career and has a huge legacy to leave behind. He is a true legend of the game.
7. Michel Platini
Platini is perhaps best known for his skill with free kicks, but the French legend was a true playmaker. He could read the game well and would always put his team into a favorable position with his clever passing.
After starting out his career with Nancy and Saint-Etienne, he moved to Juventus in 1982 and became the club’s most successful player of all time. During his 5-year tenure with the club, Platini won three consecutive Serie A championships and was also part of their 1984 European Cup triumph.
He captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship, and his dazzling free kick was one of the highlights of the tournament. He is a tremendous leader and has the ability to inspire others with his vision and playmaking. He is definitely an all-time great in the world of soccer.
8. Marco van Basten
It’s a truism that you retire when the game is done with you and, sadly for Van Basten, this came at the age of 28. His elegant play style, tenacity and poise will be long remembered, but one can’t help asking “What if?”
At club level, he was a model of consistency winning three Serie A titles with AC Milan while being crowned European Footballer of the Year three times (in 1988, 1989 and 1992) equalling Cruyff and Michel Platini for the most wins.
A superb header and striker, he was deadly in the air and could score from anywhere on the pitch. His volley in the Euro 88 final remains one of the most iconic goals ever scored. It encapsulated everything that was great about Marco Van Basten: power, grace, precision and poise. He was a true legend of the game.
9. Luis Alberto Gonzlez
For years, the debate about the best players in the world has been dominated by the duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But this year, a new crop of stars have entered the tournament with hopes of claiming the top spot.
Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema enjoyed a breakout season in 2021/22 as he led Los Blancos to the La Liga and Champions League double. He is one of the most feared strikers in the game and has the ability to change games on his own.
Mane has a dazzling game and is a Swiss army knife up front who can devastate defences in many ways. He is also a huge factor in England’s chances of success in Russia. His quick feet, precise passing and powerful shot make him a nightmare to defend against. He is also a fantastic finisher.
10. Johan Cruyff
The Dutchman was a master of Total Football – the strategy developed by Ajax coach Rinus Michels which allowed any outfield player to assume a defensive or attacking role as the game required. Cruyff was the embodiment of this philosophy, and led Ajax to Eredivisie titles nine times, KNVB Cups six, and European Cup trophies thrice.
Pele is considered the greatest ever player by many fans and experts, he scored over 1200 goals for club and country and won two World Cups with Brazil. The Brazilian striker was a potent goal-scorer and could play anywhere on the field.
Franz Beckenbauer was the epitome of the modern sweeper and is regarded as one of the best defenders of all time. He also won multiple World Cups and European Champions Cups. Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane and Ferenc Puskas are other great players who missed out on a place in this list.
