Top 100 Soccer Players of All Time (100-76)

Continuing with the topic of soccer, I thought it was fitting to list the greatest players of all time. I've been following world soccer since 1998 and feel I have a pretty solid understanding of the games greatest legends. I've put some careful thought on this list basing it on 3 criteria; the player's team achievements, individual achievements, and overall impact on the game. Several players on the list are still playing in their prime today.


100. Robin Van Persie- Netherlands (2001-present) Forward

• FIFA World Cup: Runner-up 2010; Third Place 2014
• FA Cup: 2004–05 (Arsenal)
• Premier League: 2012–13 (Manchester United)
• Netherlands all-time top scorer
• BBC Goal of the Season (1): 2012-13
• Premier League Golden Boot (2): 2011–12, 2012–13
• PFA Players' Player of the Year (1): 2011–12
• PFA Fans' Player of the Year (1): 2012
• Premier League PFA Team of the Year (2): 2011–12, 2012–13

99. Hidetoshi Nakata- Japan (1995-2006) Midfielder

• Serie A: 2000–01 (Roma)
• Coppa Italia: 2001–02 (Parma)
• J. League All-Star Soccer: 1997
• Japanese Footballer of the Year: 1997
• Asian Footballer of the Year: 1997 1998
• AFC All Star Team: 1997 1998 1999
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002
• FIFA 100

98. Carlos Valderrama- Colombia (1981-2002) Midfiedler

• French Cup: 1990 (Montpellier)
• Colombian Championship: 1993, 1995 (Atletico Junior)
• Copa América MVP: 1987
• South American Footballer of the Year: 1987, 1993
• South American Team of the Year: 1987, 1993, 1996
• FIFA 100
• World Soccer: The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time

97. Diego Forlan- Uruguay (1997-2016) Forward

• FIFA World Cup Fourth Place: 2010
• Copa America: 2011
• Premier League: 2002–03 (Manchester United)
• FA Cup: 2003–04
• Pichichi Trophy: 2004–05, 2008–09
• European Golden Shoe: 2004–05, 2008–09
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2010
• FIFA World Cup Top Scorer: 2010
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2010

96. Rui Costa- Portugal (1990-2008) Attacking Midfielder

• UEFA European Football Championship: Runner-up 2004; 3rd Place 2000
• Primeira Liga:^[37] 1993–94 (Benifca)
• Taça de Portugal:^[37] 1992–93
• Coppa Italia: 1995–96, 2000–01 (Fiorentina)
• Serie A: 2003–04 (AC Milan)
• Coppa Italia: 2002–03
• UEFA Champions League: 2002–03
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1996, 2000
• FIFA XI: 1998
• UEFA Champions League: Top Assists 2002–03
• FIFA 100

95.  Samuel Eto'o- Cameroon (1997-present) Forward

• African Cup of Nations (2): 2000, 2002
• Copa del Rey (1): 2002-03 (Mallorca)
• La Liga (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09 (Barcelona)
• Copa del Rey (1): 2008-09
• Supercopa de España (2): 2005, 2006
• UEFA Champions League (2): 2005–06, 2008–09
• Serie A (1): 2009–10 (Inter Milan)
• Coppa Italia (2): 2009–10, 2010–11
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2009–10
• African Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010^[109]
• FIFPro World XI: 2005,^[111] 2006^[112]
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006^[107]
• 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year – Bronze Award
• African Cup of Nations Top Scorer: 2006, 2008
• Pichichi Trophy: 2006
• Man of the Match: 2006 UEFA Champions League Final
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2006
• Coppa Italia Top-scorer: 2010–11
• Russian Premier League MVP Award: 2012–13
• African Cup of Nations All-Time Top Scorer

94. Djalma Santos- Brazil (1948-1970) Defender

• FIFA World Cup: 1958, 1962
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1960, 1967, 1967, 1969
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1954, 1958, 1962
• World Soccer World XI: 1962, 1963, 1965
• FIFA XI: 1963
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
• FIFA 100

93. Wayne Rooney- England (2002-present) Forward

• Premier League (5): 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
• FA Cup (1): 2015–16
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2007–08
• UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament
• Premier League Player of the Season (1): 2009–10
• England Player of the Year (4): 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015
• FIFA FIFPro World XI (1): 2011

92. Patrick Kluivert- Netherlands (1994-2008) Forward

• FIFA World Cup Fourth place: 1998
• Eredivisie (2): 1994–95, 1995–96 (Ajax)
• UEFA Champions League (1): 1994–95
• La Liga (1): 1998–99 (Barcelona)
• Eredivisie (1): 2006–07 (PSV)
• UEFA Euro 2000 Golden Boot (5 goals)
• UEFA Euro 2000 Team of the Tournament
• FIFA 100

91. Henrik Larrsen- Sweden (1988-2013) Forward

• FIFA World Cup 3rd Place: 1994 
  
• KNVB Cup (2): 1993–94, 1994–95 (Feyenoord)
• Scottish Premier League (4): 1997–98, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04 (Celtic)
• Scottish Cup (2): 2000–01, 2003–04
• La Liga (2): 2004–05, 2005–06 (Barcelona)
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2005–06 
• Premier League (1): 2006–07 (Manchester United)
• Scottish Premier League Top Scorer: 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04
• European Golden Boot: 2001
• UEFA Euro 2004: Team of the Tournament

90. Petr Cech- Czech Republic (1999-present) Goalkeeper

• Premier League (4): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15 (Chelsea)
• FA Cup (4): 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2011–12
• UEFA European Football Championship: Semi-finalist 2004
• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Golden Player (1): 2002
• Best Goalkeeper of French League (1): 2003–04
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (1): 2004
• Premier League Golden Glove (4): 2004–05, 2009–10, 2013–14*, 2015–16
• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper (1): 2005
• UEFA Club Football Awards Best Goalkeeper (3): 2005, 2007, 2008

89. Michael Owen- England (1996-2013) Forward

• FA Cup (1): 2000–01 (Liverpool)
• Premier League (1): 2010–11 (Manchester United)
• Ballon d'Or (1): 2001
• Premier League Golden Boot (2): 1997–98, 1998–99
• Premier League Player of the Season (1): 1997–98
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998
• FIFA 100

88. Hernan Crespo- Argentina (1993-2012) Forward

• Argentine Primera División: 1993 (Apertura), 1994 (Apertura) (River Plate)
• Coppa Italia: 1998–99 (Parma)
• Premier League: 2005–06 (Chelsea)
• Serie A: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09 (Inter Milan)
• Argentine Primera División top scorer: 1994 (with River Plate)
• 1996 Summer Olympics: Top Scorer
• 1999 UEFA Cup Final: Man of the Match
• Coppa Italia Capocannoniere: 1998–99 and 2006–07 with 4 goals in 4 matches
• Serie A Top Scorer: 2000–01
• FIFA 100
• 2006 FIFA World Cup: Silver Boot
• 2006 FIFA World Cup: All-Star Team
• FIFPro World XI Nominee: 2005, 2006

87. Kevin Keegan- England (1965-1985) Forward

• Football League First Division: 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77 (Liverpool)
• FA Cup: 1973-74
• European Cup: 1976-77
• Bundesliga: 1978–79 (Hamburger SV)
• Ballon d'Or: 1978, 1979
• FWA Footballer of the Year: 1976
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1982
• FIFA 100

86. Alessandro Nesta- Italy (1993-2014) Defender

• FIFA World Cup (1): 2006
• UEFA Under-21 European Championship (1): 1996
• UEFA European Championship: Runner-up 2000
• Serie A (1): 1999–2000, Runner-up 1994–95, 1998–99 (Lazio)
• Coppa Italia (2): 1997–98, 1999–2000
• Serie A (2): 2004, 2011 (AC Milan)
• Coppa Italia (1): 2002–03
• UEFA Champions League (2): 2002–03, 2006–07
• Serie A Defender of the Year (4): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
• Serie A Team of the Year (1): 2010–11
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (1): 2000
• UEFA Team of the Year (4): 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007
• FIFPro World XI (2): 2005, 2007
• FIFA 100
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year

85. Frank Lampard- England (1995-present) Midfielder

• FA Premier League (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10
• FA Cup (4): 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2011–12
• FIFA Player of the year Silver Award (1): 2005
• Ballon d'Or Silver Award (1): 2005
• Premier League Player of the Season (2): 2004–05, 2005–06
• FIFPro World XI (2): 2005
• UEFA Midfielder of the year: 2008
• England Player of the Year Award (2): 2004, 2005
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (1): 2004
• FA Cup Final Man of the Match (1): 2007
• Best player of FA Cup: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10

84. Francesco Totti- Italy (1992-present) Attacking Midfielder

• FIFA World Cup: 2006
• Serie A (1): 2000–01 (Roma)
• Coppa Italia (2): 2006–07, 2007–08
• UEFA Euro 2000 Final: Man of the Match
• UEFA Euro 2000: Team of the Tournament
• Serie A Footballer of the Year (2): 2000, 2003
• Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year (5): 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
• FIFA 100
• Serie A Goal of the Year (2): 2005, 2006
• 2006 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
• Serie A Top Scorer: 2006–07
• European Golden Shoe: 2006–07

83. Jose Luiz Chilavert- Paraguay (1982-2004) Goalkeeper

• Equipo Ideal de América: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper: 1995, 1997, 1998
• Footballer of the Year of Argentina: 1996
• South American Footballer of the Year: 1996
• FIFA World Cup: All-star team 1998
• FIFA XI: 2001

82. Roy Keane- Rep of Ireland (1998-2006) Midfielder

• Premier League (7): 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03 (Manchester United)
• FA Community Shield (4): 1993, 1996, 1997, 2003
• FA Cup (4): 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
• UEFA Champions League (1): 1998–99
• Scottish Premier League (1): 2005–06 (Celtic)
• Scottish League Cup (1): 2005–06
• PFA Team of the Year (5): 1992–93, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02
• FWA Footballer of the Year (1): 2000
• PFA Players' Player of the Year (1): 2000
• FIFA 100

81. Robben- Netherlands (2000-present) Winger

• FIFA World Cup: Runner-up 2010; Third Place 2014
• Eredivisie: 2002–03 (PSV)
• Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06 (Chelsea)
• FA Cup: 2006–07
• La Liga: 2007–08 (Real Madrid)
• Bundesliga: 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 (Bayern Munich)
• DFB-Pokal: 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
• UEFA Champions League: 2012–13
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2011, 2014
• UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 2013 (4th place)
• UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 2014 (3rd place)
• UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2013
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2013–14
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 2014
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2014
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2014
• FIFA Ballon d'Or: 4th place 2014

80. David Trezeguet- France (1994-2014) Forward

• FIFA World Cup (1): 1998; Runner-up 2006 
• UEFA European Football Championship (1): 2000
• Ligue 1 (2): 1996–97, 1999–00 (Monaco)
• Serie A (2): 2001–02, 2002–03 (Juventus)
• UEFA Team of the Year (1): 2001^[43]
• Serie A Footballer of the Year (1): 2001–02
• Serie A Top Goalscorer (1): 2001–02^[45]
• FIFA 100

79. Iker Casillas (1996-present) Goalkeeper

• FIFA World Cup: 2010
• UEFA European Championship: 2008, 2012
• La Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12
• Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14
• UEFA Champions League: 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2013–14
• La Liga Best Goalkeeper: 2009, 2012
• Best European Goalkeeper: 2010
• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• FIFA World Cup Golden Glove: 2010
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2010
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008, 2012
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year (published 2015)

78. Luis Suarez- Uruguay (2005-present) Forward

• Copa América: 2011
• Eredivisie: 2010–11 (Ajax)
• KNVB Cup: 2009–10
• La Liga: 2014–15, 2015–16 (Barcelona)
• Copa del Rey: 2014–15, 2015–16
• UEFA Champions League: 2014–15
• European Golden Shoe: 2013–14*, 2015–16
• Premier League Player of the Season: 2013–14
• Premier League Golden Boot: 2013–14
• La Liga Pichichi Trophy: 2015–16
• Copa del Rey top goalscorer: 2015–16
• Eredivisie Golden Boot: 2009–10
• KNVB Cup Top Goalscorer: 2009–10
• Copa América Player of the Tournament: 2011
• UEFA Best Player in Europe Award Second place: 2015
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2014–15, 2015-16

77. Alessandro del Piero- Italy (1991-2014) Forward

• 1 FIFA World Cup: 2006
• UEFA European Championship Runner-up (1): 2000
• 6 Serie A: 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05^{[nb 1]}, 2005–06 ^{[nb 1]}, 2011–12; Runner-up (5): 1993–94, 1995–96, 1999–2000, 1996–97, 2000–01,2008–09 (Juventus)
• 1 UEFA Champions League: 1995–96
• European Footballer of the Year Under-21: 1996
• FIFA 100
• UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: Top 50 1954–2004, Top 250 1994–2003
• Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year: 1998, 2008
• UEFA Champions League Top scorer: 1997–98 (10 goals)
• Coppa Italia-Top scorer: 2005–06 (5 goals)
• Serie A-Top scorer: 2007–08 (21 goals)

76. Steven Gerrard- England (1998- present) Midfielder

• FA Cup: 2000–01,^[224] 2005–06
• UEFA Champions League: 2004–05
• Ballon d'Or Bronze Award: 2005
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2005
• England Player of the Year Award: 2007, 2012
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2012
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006, 2007
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008, 2009
• UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2005
• FA Cup Final Man of the Match: 2006
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year