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Ranked! The 100 best football players in the world
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Ranked! The 50 best managers in the world
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Ranked! The 100 best football managers of all time (Mixed)
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🏆 Ranked! The 100 best football players of all time (FourFourTwo)

1
Lionel Messi
Argentina Lionel Messi
Argentina
2003-

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1
Lionel Messi
Argentina Lionel Messi
Argentina
-
2003-
2
Pelé
Brazil Pelé
Brazil
1956-1977

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2
Pelé
Brazil Pelé
Brazil
-
1956-1977
3
Diego Maradona
Argentina Diego Maradona
Argentina
1976-1997

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3
Diego Maradona
Argentina Diego Maradona
Argentina
-
1976-1997
4
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
2002-

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4
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
-
2002-
5
Johan Cruyff
Netherlands Johan Cruyff
Netherlands
1964-1984

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5
Johan Cruyff
Netherlands Johan Cruyff
Netherlands
-
1964-1984
6
Zinédine Zidane
France Zinédine Zidane
France
1989-2006

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6
Zinédine Zidane
France Zinédine Zidane
France
-
1989-2006
7
Franz Beckenbauer
West Germany Franz Beckenbauer
West Germany
1964-1983

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7
Franz Beckenbauer
West Germany Franz Beckenbauer
West Germany
-
1964-1983
8
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Spain Alfredo Di Stéfano
Spain
1945-1966

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8
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Spain Alfredo Di Stéfano
Spain
-
1945-1966
9
Ronaldo Nazario
Brazil Ronaldo Nazario
Brazil
1993-2011

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9
Ronaldo Nazario
Brazil Ronaldo Nazario
Brazil
-
1993-2011
10
George Best
Northern Ireland George Best
Northern Ireland
1963-1984

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10
George Best
Northern Ireland George Best
Northern Ireland
-
1963-1984
11
Gerd Müller
West Germany Gerd Müller
West Germany
1963-1981

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11
Gerd Müller
West Germany Gerd Müller
West Germany
-
1963-1981
12
Ferenc Puskás
Hungary Ferenc Puskás
Hungary
1943-1966

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12
Ferenc Puskás
Hungary Ferenc Puskás
Hungary
-
1943-1966
13
Michel Platini
France Michel Platini
France
1972-1987

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13
Michel Platini
France Michel Platini
France
-
1972-1987
14
Marco van Basten
Netherlands Marco van Basten
Netherlands
1981-1995

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14
Marco van Basten
Netherlands Marco van Basten
Netherlands
-
1981-1995
15
Zico
Brazil Zico
Brazil
1971-1994

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15
Zico
Brazil Zico
Brazil
-
1971-1994
16
Eusébio
Portugal Eusébio
Portugal
1957-1980

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16
Eusébio
Portugal Eusébio
Portugal
-
1957-1980
17
Garrincha
Brazil Garrincha
Brazil
1951-1972

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17
Garrincha
Brazil Garrincha
Brazil
-
1951-1972
18
Bobby Charlton
England Bobby Charlton
England
1956-1980

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18
Bobby Charlton
England Bobby Charlton
England
-
1956-1980
19
Paolo Maldini
Italy Paolo Maldini
Italy
1984-2009

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19
Paolo Maldini
Italy Paolo Maldini
Italy
-
1984-2009
20
Giuseppe Meazza
Italy Giuseppe Meazza
Italy
1927-1947

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20
Giuseppe Meazza
Italy Giuseppe Meazza
Italy
-
1927-1947
21
Ronaldinho
Brazil Ronaldinho
Brazil
1998-2015

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21
Ronaldinho
Brazil Ronaldinho
Brazil
-
1998-2015
22
Lev Yashin
Soviet Union Lev Yashin
Soviet Union
1950-1970

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22
Lev Yashin
Soviet Union Lev Yashin
Soviet Union
-
1950-1970
23
Xavi
Spain Xavi
Spain
1997-2019

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23
Xavi
Spain Xavi
Spain
-
1997-2019
24
Andrés Iniesta
Spain Andrés Iniesta
Spain
2000-2023

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24
Andrés Iniesta
Spain Andrés Iniesta
Spain
-
2000-2023
25
Franco Baresi
Italy Franco Baresi
Italy
1977-1997

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25
Franco Baresi
Italy Franco Baresi
Italy
-
1977-1997
26
Carlos Alberto Torres
Brazil Carlos Alberto Torres
Brazil
1963-1982

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26
Carlos Alberto Torres
Brazil Carlos Alberto Torres
Brazil
-
1963-1982
27
Roberto Baggio
Italy Roberto Baggio
Italy
1982-2004

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27
Roberto Baggio
Italy Roberto Baggio
Italy
-
1982-2004
28
Luka Modrić
Croatia Luka Modrić
Croatia
2003-

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28
Luka Modrić
Croatia Luka Modrić
Croatia
-
2003-
29
Thierry Henry
France Thierry Henry
France
1994-2012

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29
Thierry Henry
France Thierry Henry
France
-
1994-2012
30
Ruud Gullit
Netherlands Ruud Gullit
Netherlands
1979-1998

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30
Ruud Gullit
Netherlands Ruud Gullit
Netherlands
-
1979-1998
31
Manuel Neuer
Germany Manuel Neuer
Germany
2004-

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31
Manuel Neuer
Germany Manuel Neuer
Germany
-
2004-
32
Sócrates
Brazil Sócrates
Brazil
1973-2004

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32
Sócrates
Brazil Sócrates
Brazil
-
1973-2004
33
Lothar Matthäus
Germany Lothar Matthäus
Germany
1978-2000

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33
Lothar Matthäus
Germany Lothar Matthäus
Germany
-
1978-2000
34
Raymond Kopa
France Raymond Kopa
France
1949-1967

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34
Raymond Kopa
France Raymond Kopa
France
-
1949-1967
35
Rivaldo
Brazil Rivaldo
Brazil
1991-2015

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35
Rivaldo
Brazil Rivaldo
Brazil
-
1991-2015
36
Stanley Matthews
England Stanley Matthews
England
1932-1965

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36
Stanley Matthews
England Stanley Matthews
England
-
1932-1965
37
Valentino Mazzola
Italy Valentino Mazzola
Italy
1936-1949

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37
Valentino Mazzola
Italy Valentino Mazzola
Italy
-
1936-1949
38
Matthias Sindelar
Austria Matthias Sindelar
Austria
1921-1939

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38
Matthias Sindelar
Austria Matthias Sindelar
Austria
-
1921-1939
39
Romário
Brazil Romário
Brazil
1985-2006

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39
Romário
Brazil Romário
Brazil
-
1985-2006
40
Luis Suárez
Spain Luis Suárez
Spain
1953-1973

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40
Luis Suárez
Spain Luis Suárez
Spain
-
1953-1973
41
Paco Gento
Spain Paco Gento
Spain
1952-1971

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41
Paco Gento
Spain Paco Gento
Spain
-
1952-1971
42
Bobby Moore
England Bobby Moore
England
1958-1978

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42
Bobby Moore
England Bobby Moore
England
-
1958-1978
43
Michael Laudrup
Denmark Michael Laudrup
Denmark
1981-1998

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43
Michael Laudrup
Denmark Michael Laudrup
Denmark
-
1981-1998
44
Kenny Dalglish
Scotland Kenny Dalglish
Scotland
1969-1984

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44
Kenny Dalglish
Scotland Kenny Dalglish
Scotland
-
1969-1984
45
Kylian Mbappé
France Kylian Mbappé
France
2015-

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45
Kylian Mbappé
France Kylian Mbappé
France
-
2015-
46
Paolo Rossi
Italy Paolo Rossi
Italy
1973-1987

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46
Paolo Rossi
Italy Paolo Rossi
Italy
-
1973-1987
47
Günter Netzer
West Germany Günter Netzer
West Germany
1963-1977

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47
Günter Netzer
West Germany Günter Netzer
West Germany
-
1963-1977
48
Gianluigi Buffon
Italy Gianluigi Buffon
Italy
1995-2023

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48
Gianluigi Buffon
Italy Gianluigi Buffon
Italy
-
1995-2023
49
Didi
Brazil Didi
Brazil
1947-1962

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49
Didi
Brazil Didi
Brazil
-
1947-1962
50
Robert Lewandowski
Poland Robert Lewandowski
Poland
2005-

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50
Robert Lewandowski
Poland Robert Lewandowski
Poland
-
2005-
51
José Manuel Moreno
Argentina José Manuel Moreno
Argentina
1935-1961

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51
José Manuel Moreno
Argentina José Manuel Moreno
Argentina
-
1935-1961
52
Kevin Keegan
England Kevin Keegan
England
1968-1985

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52
Kevin Keegan
England Kevin Keegan
England
-
1968-1985
53
Jairzinho
Brazil Jairzinho
Brazil
1960-1982

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53
Jairzinho
Brazil Jairzinho
Brazil
-
1960-1982
54
Gaetano Scirea
Italy Gaetano Scirea
Italy
1972-1988

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54
Gaetano Scirea
Italy Gaetano Scirea
Italy
-
1972-1988
55
Dino Zoff
Italy Dino Zoff
Italy
1961-1983

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55
Dino Zoff
Italy Dino Zoff
Italy
-
1961-1983
56
Juan Alberto Schiaffino
Uruguay Juan Alberto Schiaffino
Uruguay
1943-1962

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56
Juan Alberto Schiaffino
Uruguay Juan Alberto Schiaffino
Uruguay
-
1943-1962
57
Fritz Walter
Germany Fritz Walter
Germany
1978-1999

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57
Fritz Walter
Germany Fritz Walter
Germany
-
1978-1999
58
Daniel Passarella
Argentina Daniel Passarella
Argentina
1971-1989

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58
Daniel Passarella
Argentina Daniel Passarella
Argentina
-
1971-1989
59
Gordon Banks
England Gordon Banks
England
1958-1977

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59
Gordon Banks
England Gordon Banks
England
-
1958-1977
60
Gianni Rivera
Italy Gianni Rivera
Italy
1959-1979

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60
Gianni Rivera
Italy Gianni Rivera
Italy
-
1959-1979
61
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
West Germany Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
West Germany
1974-1989

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61
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
West Germany Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
West Germany
-
1974-1989
62
John Charles
Wales John Charles
Wales
1949-1967

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62
John Charles
Wales John Charles
Wales
-
1949-1967
63
Dixie Dean
England Dixie Dean
England
1923-1940

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63
Dixie Dean
England Dixie Dean
England
-
1923-1940
64
Gunnar Nordahl
Sweden Gunnar Nordahl
Sweden
1937-1958

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64
Gunnar Nordahl
Sweden Gunnar Nordahl
Sweden
-
1937-1958
65
Johan Neeskens
Netherlands Johan Neeskens
Netherlands
1968-1991

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65
Johan Neeskens
Netherlands Johan Neeskens
Netherlands
-
1968-1991
66
Denis Law
Scotland Denis Law
Scotland
1956-1974

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66
Denis Law
Scotland Denis Law
Scotland
-
1956-1974
67
Sandro Mazzola
Italy Sandro Mazzola
Italy
1960-1977

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67
Sandro Mazzola
Italy Sandro Mazzola
Italy
-
1960-1977
68
Dennis Bergkamp
Netherlands Dennis Bergkamp
Netherlands
1986-2006

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68
Dennis Bergkamp
Netherlands Dennis Bergkamp
Netherlands
-
1986-2006
69
Jimmy Johnstone
Scotland Jimmy Johnstone
Scotland
1962-1979

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69
Jimmy Johnstone
Scotland Jimmy Johnstone
Scotland
-
1962-1979
70
Ronald Koeman
Netherlands Ronald Koeman
Netherlands
1980-1997

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70
Ronald Koeman
Netherlands Ronald Koeman
Netherlands
-
1980-1997
71
Omar Sívori
Italy Omar Sívori
Italy
1954-1969

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71
Omar Sívori
Italy Omar Sívori
Italy
-
1954-1969
72
Teófilo Cubillas
Peru Teófilo Cubillas
Peru
1966-1988

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72
Teófilo Cubillas
Peru Teófilo Cubillas
Peru
-
1966-1988
73
Dani Alves
Brazil Dani Alves
Brazil
2001-2023

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73
Dani Alves
Brazil Dani Alves
Brazil
-
2001-2023
74
Eric Cantona
France Eric Cantona
France
1983-997

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74
Eric Cantona
France Eric Cantona
France
-
1983-997
75
José Leandro Andrade
Uruguay José Leandro Andrade
Uruguay
1921-1934

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75
José Leandro Andrade
Uruguay José Leandro Andrade
Uruguay
-
1921-1934
76
Cafu
Brazil Cafu
Brazil
1989-2008

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76
Cafu
Brazil Cafu
Brazil
-
1989-2008
77
Frank Rijkaard
Netherlands Frank Rijkaard
Netherlands
1980-1995

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77
Frank Rijkaard
Netherlands Frank Rijkaard
Netherlands
-
1980-1995
78
Flórián Albert
Hungary Flórián Albert
Hungary
1958-1974

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78
Flórián Albert
Hungary Flórián Albert
Hungary
-
1958-1974
79
Rivellino
Brazil Rivellino
Brazil
1965-1981

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79
Rivellino
Brazil Rivellino
Brazil
-
1965-1981
80
Just Fontaine
France Just Fontaine
France
1950-1962

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80
Just Fontaine
France Just Fontaine
France
-
1950-1962
81
Josef Masopust
Czech Josef Masopust
Czech
1958-1970

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81
Josef Masopust
Czech Josef Masopust
Czech
-
1958-1970
82
Jimmy Greaves
England Jimmy Greaves
England
1957-1980

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82
Jimmy Greaves
England Jimmy Greaves
England
-
1957-1980
83
Hugo Sánchez
Mexico Hugo Sánchez
Mexico
1976-1997

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83
Hugo Sánchez
Mexico Hugo Sánchez
Mexico
-
1976-1997
84
Wayne Rooney
England Wayne Rooney
England
2002-2021

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84
Wayne Rooney
England Wayne Rooney
England
-
2002-2021
85
Philipp Lahm
Germany Philipp Lahm
Germany
2001-2017

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85
Philipp Lahm
Germany Philipp Lahm
Germany
-
2001-2017
86
Alan Shearer
England Alan Shearer
England
1988-2006

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86
Alan Shearer
England Alan Shearer
England
-
1988-2006
87
Allan Simonsen
Denmark Allan Simonsen
Denmark
1971-1989

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87
Allan Simonsen
Denmark Allan Simonsen
Denmark
-
1971-1989
88
Sergio Busquets
Spain Sergio Busquets
Spain
2007-

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88
Sergio Busquets
Spain Sergio Busquets
Spain
-
2007-
89
Hristo Stoichkov
Bulgaria Hristo Stoichkov
Bulgaria
1981-2003

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89
Hristo Stoichkov
Bulgaria Hristo Stoichkov
Bulgaria
-
1981-2003
90
Roberto Carlos
Brazil Roberto Carlos
Brazil
1991-2012

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90
Roberto Carlos
Brazil Roberto Carlos
Brazil
-
1991-2012
91
Giacinto Facchetti
Italy Giacinto Facchetti
Italy
1960-1978

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91
Giacinto Facchetti
Italy Giacinto Facchetti
Italy
-
1960-1978
92
Peter Schmeichel
Denmark Peter Schmeichel
Denmark
1981-2003

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92
Peter Schmeichel
Denmark Peter Schmeichel
Denmark
-
1981-2003
93
Sándor Kocsis
Hungary Sándor Kocsis
Hungary
1946-1965

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93
Sándor Kocsis
Hungary Sándor Kocsis
Hungary
-
1946-1965
94
Luís Figo
Portugal Luís Figo
Portugal
1989-2009

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94
Luís Figo
Portugal Luís Figo
Portugal
-
1989-2009
95
Djalma Santos
Brazil Djalma Santos
Brazil
1948-1970

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95
Djalma Santos
Brazil Djalma Santos
Brazil
-
1948-1970
96
Javier Zanetti
Argentina Javier Zanetti
Argentina
1992-2014

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96
Javier Zanetti
Argentina Javier Zanetti
Argentina
-
1992-2014
97
George Weah
Liberia George Weah
Liberia
1984-2003

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97
George Weah
Liberia George Weah
Liberia
-
1984-2003
98
Kaká
Brazil Kaká
Brazil
2000-2017

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98
Kaká
Brazil Kaká
Brazil
-
2000-2017
99
Mario Kempes
Argentina Mario Kempes
Argentina
1970-1994

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99
Mario Kempes
Argentina Mario Kempes
Argentina
-
1970-1994
100
Gheorge Hagi
Romania Gheorge Hagi
Romania
1982-2001

▤ History Video Search Videos

100
Gheorge Hagi
Romania Gheorge Hagi
Romania
-
1982-2001

Summary

The 100 best football players who have ever lived: from Messi to Maradona, Cristiano to Cruyff and everyone in between. Of the 100 best football players of all time, fewer and fewer are still galloping at full tilt in the glare of the European game. In fact, two of our top 10 have left the continent in the last 12 months.

With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo riding off into the sunset of warmer climes, it's easy to become misty-eyed about the good old days; of how we'll never see another pair quite like those again. But when they do eventually call it a day, their absence will leave no void: it's just the turning of a page. Football is cyclical: nothing is new and in a century and a half of the beautiful game, we've seen just about everything possible. The rise of dynasties, the fall of gods, the unexpected and scripts we all saw coming.

This is the complete compendium of characters who played the heroes and villains along the way. Every man who held GOAT status in the eye of any beholder: the definitive century of the greatest footballers to ever grace the grass. Don't agree? Of course, you don't!

FourFourTwo

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