Top 100 Soccer Players of All Time (50-26)

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.

50. Lillian Thuram- France (1991-2008) Defender

• FIFA World Cup: 1998, 2006 (Runner-up)
• UEFA European Football Championship: 2000
• Coupe de France: 1990–91 (Monaco)
• Coppa Italia: 1998–99 (Parma)
• Serie A (2): 2001–02, 2002–03 (Juventus)
• French Player of the Year: 1997
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1998
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1998, 2006
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2000
• FIFA 100: 2004
• FIFPro World XI: 2006

49. Alan Shearer- England (1988-2006) Forward

• Premier League winner: 1994–95
• UEFA Euro 1996 Golden Boot (five goals)
• UEFA Euro 1996 Team of the Tournament
• UEFA Cup top scorer: 2004–05
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Bronze award: 1996
• Ballon d'Or – Third place: 1996
• Premier League Golden Boot: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1995, 1997
• Premier League Player of the Season: 1994–95
• FIFA 100

48. Manuel Neuer- Germany (2004-present) Goalkeeper

• FIFA World Cup: 2014
• Bundesliga: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 (Bayern Munich)
• UEFA Champions League: 2012–13
• DFB-Pokal: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
• DFB-Pokal: 2010–11 (FC Shalke)
• Footballer of the Year in Germany: 2011, 2014
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2012
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2013, 20142015
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2013,2014, 2015
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the season: 2013–14, 2015–16
• UEFA Best Player in Europe Award Second place: 2014
• FIFA World Cup Golden Glove: 2014
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2014
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2014
• FIFA Ballon d'Or: 3rd place 2014

47. Garrincha- Brazil (1953-1972) Winger

• FIFA World Cup Champion: 1958, 1962
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1962
• FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe: 1962 (4 goals, joint-winner): 1962 (tied)
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1958, 1962
• World Soccer World XI: 1962
• World Team of the 20th Century
• FIFA world cup team of all time inductee.
• World Soccer's Greatest Players of the 20th century (1999): #20

46. Miroslav Klose- Germany (1998-2016) Forward

• FIFA World Cup: 2014; Runner-up: 2002; Third place: 2006, 2010
  
• UEFA European Football Championship Runner-up: 2008
• Bundesliga: 2007–08, 2009–10 (Bayern Munich)
• DFB-Pokal: 2007–08, 2009–10
• Coppa Italia: 2012–13 (Lazio)
• German Footballer of the Year: 2006
• Bundesliga Top Goalscorer: 2005–06 (25 goals)
• FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe: 2002
• FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe: 2006
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002,2006
• FIFA World Cup all-time record goalscorer

45. Dino Zoff- Italy (1961-1983) Goalkeeper

• 6 Serie A: 1972–73, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82 (Juventus)
• 2 Coppa Italia: 1978–79, 1982–83
• 1 FIFA World Cup: 1982
• 1 UEFA European Football Championship: 1968
• UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: #5
• Ballon d'Or: 1973 (Runner-up)
• FIFA Order of Merit: 1984
• FIFA 100
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1968,1980
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1982
• FIFA World Cup Best Goalkeeper: 1982

44. Andrea Pirlo- Italy (1995-present) Midfielder

• FIFA World Cup: 2006
• UEFA European Championship Runner-up: 2012
• Serie A: 2003–04, 2010–11 (AC Milan)
• Coppa Italia: 2002–03
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2004
• UEFA Champions League: 2002–03, 2006–07
• Serie A: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 (Juventus)
• Coppa Italia: 2014–15
• 2006 FIFA World Cup: All-star team
• 2006 FIFA World Cup: Bronze Ball
• 2006 FIFA World Cup: Top Assist Provider
• 2006 FIFA World Cup Final: Man of the Match
• FIFPro World XI: 2006
• Ballon d'Or: 2006 (9th place), 2007 (5th place), 2012 (7th place)
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2007 (7th place)
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2012
• UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2012 (4th place), 2015 (7th place)
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2012
• 2011–12 Serie A Top Assist Provider
• Serie A Team of the Year: 2011–12, 2012–13,^[118] 2013–14, 2014–15
• Serie A Midfielder of the Year: 2012
• Serie A Player of the Year: 2012, 2013, 2014
• UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2013–14
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2014–15
• UEFA Euro All-time XI: 2016

43. Dennis Bergkamp- Netherlands (1986-2006) Forward

• FIFA World Cup (4th Place): 1998
• Premier League Title: 19978-1998, 2001-2002, 2003-2004
• FA Cups: 1987, 1993
• UEFA European Football Championship Top Scorer: 1992
• UEFA European Football Championship Teams of the Tournament: 1992
• World's Top Goal Scorer of the Year: 1992
• Ballon d'Or – Third Place: 1992
• Ballon d'Or – Runner-up: 1993
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Bronze Award (2): 1993, 1997
• UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 1993–94
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998
• FIFA 100

42. Peter Schmiechel- Denmark (1981-2003) Goalkeeper

• UEFA European Championship (1): 1992
• Premier League (5): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99
• FA Cup (3): 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99
• Primeira Liga (1): 1999–2000
• Det Gyldne Bur (Danish Goalkeeper of the Year): 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992
• UEFA Euro 1992 Team of the Tournament
• UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year: 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998
• Premier League PFA Team of the Year: 1992–93
• Premier League Player of the Season: 1995–96
• UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year: 1997–98
• UEFA Champions League 10 Seasons Dream Team (1992 to 2002): 2002
• FIFA 100

41. Zico- Brazil (1971-1994) Attacking Midfield

• 1978 FIFA World Cup: Third place
• Brazilian Série A: 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987
• Brazilian season top scorer – 63 goals: 1977, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team 1982
• South American Footballer of the Year 1982
• Serie A Player of the Year 1984
• FIFA Order of Merit 1994
• FIFA 100: 2004 

40. Paolo Rossi- Italy (1973-1987) Forward

• FIFA World Cup: 1982
• European Cup: 1984–85
• Serie A: 1981–82, 1983–84
• Coppa Italia: 1982–83
• Serie A Top Goalscorer: 1977–78 (24 goals)
• FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 1978
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1978, 1982
• FIFA XI: 1979, 1986
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1982
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1982
• Ballon D'Or: 1982^[26]
• European Cup Top Scorers: 1982–83^[29]
• World Soccer Awards 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century #42
• FIFA 100

39. Hristo Stoichkov- Bulgaria (1982-2003) Forward

• FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals: 1994
• Bulgarian League: 1987, 1989, 1990(CSKA Sofia)
• Bulgarian Cup: 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989
• Spanish League: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98 (Barcelona)
• European Cup: 1991–92
• Copa del Rey: 1996–97
• Ballon d'Or: 1994
• Bulgarian Footballer of the Year: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
• Bulgarian League Top Scorer: 1989, 1990
• European Cup Winners' Cup Top Scorer: 1989
• European Golden Shoe: 1990
• FIFA World Player of the Year Silver Ball: 1992, 1994
• FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe: 1994
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1994
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1994
• Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year: 1994
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 1996
• FIFA 100: 2004

38. Ruud Guillit- Netherlands (1979-1998) Midfielder

• UEFA European Championship: 1988
• Eredivisie: 1983–84 (Feyenoord)
• KNVB Cup: 1983–84
• Eredivisie: 1985–86, 1986–87 (PSV)
• Serie A: 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93 (AC Milan)
• European Cup: 1988–89, 1989–90
• Coppa Italia: 1993–94 (Sampdoria)
• FA Cup: 1996–97 (Chelsea)
• Ballon d'Or: 1987; Runner-up 1988
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1988,1992
• FIFA XI: 1991
• FIFA 100

37. Mario Kempes- Argentina (1970-1994) Forward

• FIFA World Cup: 1978
• Copa del Rey: 1978–79 (Valencia)
• Argentine Primera División top scorers: 1974,1976
• Pichichi Trophy: 1977, 1978
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1978
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1978
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1978
• South American Footballer of the Year: 1978
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup top scorers: 1979–80
• FIFA 100: 2004

36. Gianluigi Buffon- Italy (1995- present)

• 1 FIFA World Cup: 2006
• UEFA European Championship Runner-up: 2012
• Coppa Italia (1): 1998–99; Runner-up: 2000–01 (Parma)
• Serie A (7): 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05,^{[nb 1]} 2005–06,^{[nb 1]} 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15,2015–16; Runner-up: 2008–09 (Juventus)
• Coppa Italia (2): 2014–15, 2015–16; Runner-up: 2001–02, 2003–04, 2011–12
• 1 UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year: 2002–03
• 1 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2002–03
• 1 Best European Goalkeeper: 2003
• FIFA 100
• 1 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
• Ballon d'Or Runner-up: 2006
• 10 Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year Award: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015
• 3 UEFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2006
• 2 FIFPro World XI: 2006, 2007
• 2 UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008,^[228] 2012
• 3 Serie A Team of the Year: 2012,^[376] 2014,^[377] 2015
• 1 UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2013–14
• 1 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2014–15
• 1 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2015 (4th place)
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year

35. Bobby Moore- England (1958-1973) Defender

• FIFA World Cup (1): 1966
• UEFA Euro 1968 (Bronze Medalist)
• FA Cup (1): 1963–64
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1964–65
• Ballon d'Or Runner-Up (1): 1970
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (1): 1966
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (1): 1968
• World Soccer World XI (2): 1968, 1969
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
• World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
• World Soccer Greatest XI of all time: 2013

34. Fabio Cannevaro- Italy (1992-2011) Defender

• FIFA World Cup (1): 2006
  
• UEFA European Championship: Runner-up: 2000
• UEFA Cup (1): 1998–99 (Parma)
• Coppa Italia (2): 1998–99, 2001–02
• Serie A: 2004–05, 2005–06 (Juventus)
• La Liga (2): 2006–07, 2007–08 (Real Madrid)
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2000
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2006
• Ballon d'Or: 2006
• 2006 FIFA World Cup: Silver Ball
• 2006 FIFA World Cup: Team of the Tournament
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2006
• Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year: 2006
• Serie A Defender of the Year (2): 2005, 2006
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2006
• FIFPro World XI (2): 2006, 2007

33.  Gary Lineker- England (1978-1994) Forward

• 1990 FIFA World Cup: 4th place
• Copa del Rey: 1988 (Barcelona)
• FA Cup: 1991 (Tottenham)
• English First Division Top Scorer: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1989–90
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1985–86
• FWA Footballer of the Year: 1985–86, 1991–92
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1986
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1986
• Ballon d'Or: Runner-up 1986
• FIFA World Player of the Year: Bronze award 1991
• FIFA 100

32. Oliver Kahn- Germany (1987-2008) Goalkeeper

• UEFA European Championship: 1996FIFA Confederations Cup Third Place: 2005
• FIFA World Cup Second Place: 2002
• FIFA World Cup Third Place: 2006
• Bundesliga (8): 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08
• DFB-Pokal (6): 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08
• Best Bundesliga Keeper: 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
• Best European Goalkeeper: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
• UEFA Club Football Awards – Best Goalkeeper: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
• UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2001
• Ballon d'Or – Third place: 2001, 2002
• UEFA Fair-Play Award: 2001
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2002
• FIFA World Cup Yashin Award: 2002
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Silver award: 2002
• FIFA 100

31. Cafu- Brazil (1990-2008) Defender

• FIFA World Cup (2): 1994, 2002, Silver 1998
• Copa América (2): 1997, 1999, Silver 1991
• Serie A (1): 2000–01 (Roma)
• Supercoppa Italiana (1): 2001
• Serie A (1): 2003–04 (AC Milan)
• Supercoppa Italiana (1): 2004
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2006–07
• South American Team of the Year (4): 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
• South American Footballer of the Year (1): 1994
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002
• FIFA XI (1): 2002
• FIFA 100
• UEFA Team of the Year (2): 2004, 2005
• FIFPro World XI (1): 2005

30. Raul- Spain (1994-2015) Forward

• UEFA Champions League: 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2001–02
• La Liga: 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08
• DFB-Pokal: 2010–11
• La Liga's Breakthrough Player: 1994–95
• La Liga's Best Spanish Player: 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02 (record)
• La Liga's Best Spanish Player: 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02 (record)
• Pichichi Trophy: 1998–99, 2000–01
• Copa del Rey Top Scorer: 2001–02, 2003–04
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2000
• UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 1999–2000, 2000–01
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: ^* 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02 (record)
• Ballon d'Or – Silver award: 2001
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Bronze award: 2001
• FIFA 100

 29. Andriy Shevchenko- Ukraine (1994-2012) Forward

• Ukrainian Premier League: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 (Dynamo Kyiv)
• Ukrainian Cup: 1996, 1998, 1999
• Serie A: 2003–04 (AC Milan)
• Coppa Italia: 2003
• UEFA Champions League: 2003
• FA Cup: 2007 (Chelsea)
• Ukrainian Footballer of the Year: (6) 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005
• Ukrainian Premier League Top Scorer: 1998-99
• Ukrainian Premier League Player of the Year: 1997
• Ukrainian Cup Top Scorer (2): 1994-95, 1997-98
• UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: (2) 1998–99, 2005–06
• UEFA Team of the Year: (2) 2004, 2005
• Serie A Goal of the Year: 2004.^[62]
• Serie A Top Scorer: (2) 1999–00, 2003–04
• Ballon d'Or: 2004
• Ballon d'Or: Third Place 1999, 2000.
• 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year Third
• FIFPro World XI: 2005
• FIFA 100

28. Luis Figo- Portugal (1989-2009) Winger

• UEFA European Football Championship Runner up: 2004
• Taça de Portugal: 1994–95
• La Liga: 1997–98, 1998–99 (Barcelona)
• Copa del Rey: 1997, 1998
• La Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03 (Real Madrid)
• UEFA Champions League: 2002
• Serie A: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09 (Inter Milan)
• Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000, 2004^[62]
• Ballon d'Or: 2000
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2001
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Silver Award: 2000
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2003
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
• FIFA 100

27. Franco Baresi- Italy (1977-1997) Defender 

• FIFA World Cup: 1982
• FIFA World Cup Third-place: 1990
• FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 1994
• UEFA European Championship: Semifinalist 1980, 1988
• European Cup/Champions League (3): 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94 (AC Milan)
• UEFA Super Cup (3): 1989, 1990, 1994
• Serie A (6): 1978–79, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96
• Ballon d'Or: Runner-up 1989
• Coppa Italia Top Scorer: 1989–90
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1990
• World Soccer The Greatest Players of the 20th century #19^[31]
• FIFA 100: 2004^[34]
• UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: #17th

26. Ronaldinho- Brazil (1998-2015) Attacking Midfielder

• FIFA World Cup (1): 2002
  
• Copa América (1): 1999
• La Liga (2): 2004–05, 2005–06 (Barcelona)
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2005–06
• Serie A (1): 2010–11 (AC Milan)
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (1): 2002
• FIFA 100
• FIFA World Player of the Year (2): 2004, 2005
• Ballon d'Or (1): 2005
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year (1): 2004–05
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (1): 2005–06
• UEFA Team of the Year (3): 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
• FIFPro World Player of the Year (1): 2005
• FIFPro World XI (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Bronze award (1): 2006
• South American Footballer of the Year (1): 2013