Top 100 Soccer Players of All Time (75-51)

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.

75.  Philip Llam- Germany (2001-present) Defender

• FIFA World Cup: 2014;^[53] Third Place: 2006, 2010
  
• UEFA European Football Championship Runner-up: 2008
• Bundesliga: 2002–03, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 (Bayern Munich)
• DFB-Pokal: 2002–03, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
• UEFA Champions League: 2012–13; Runner-up: 2009–10, 2011–12
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2010
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008, 2012
• FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball: 2013
• FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2013, 2014
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2013–14
• FIFA Ballon d'Or: 6th place 2014
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year 
• UEFA Euro All-time XI 

74. Eric Cantona- France (1983-1997) Forward

• Division 1 (2): 1988–89, 1990–91
• Division 1 (2): 1988–89, 1990–91
• Premier League (4): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97
• FA Cup (2): 1993–94, 1995–96
• Ballon d'Or – Third Place: 1993^[76]
• Premier League PFA Team of the Year (1): 1993–94
• PFA Players' Player of the Year (1): 1993–94

73. Michael Laudrup- Denmark (1981-1998) Attacking Midfielder

• Serie A (1): 1985–86 (Juventus)
• European Cup (1): 1991–92 (Barcelona)
• Copa del Rey (1): 1989–90
• La Liga (4): 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94
• La Liga (1): 1994–95 (Real Madrid)
• Eredivisie (1): 1997–98 (Ajax)
• KNVB Cup (1): 1997–98
• FIFA XI 1996^[91]
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (1): 1998
• FIFA 100

72. Clarence Seedorf- Netherlands (1992-2014) Midfielder

• Eredivisie (2): 1993–94, 1994–95 (Ajax)
• KNVB Cup (1): 1992–93
• UEFA Champions League (1): 1994–95
• La Liga (1): 1996–97 (Real Madrid)
• UEFA Champions League (2): 1997–98, 1999–2000
• Serie A (2): 2003–04, 2010–11 (AC Milan)
• Coppa Italia (1): 2002–03
• UEFA Champions League (2): 2002–03, 2006–07
• UEFA Team of the Year (2): 2002,^[83] 2007
• UEFA Best Midfielder Award (1): 2006–07
• FIFPro World XI Nominee (1): 2007
• FIFA 100

71. Carles Puyol- Spain (1996-2014) Defender

• FIFA World Cup: 2010
• UEFA European Championship: 2008^[50]
• La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13 (Barcelona)
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12
• Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
• UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
• UEFA Club Best Defender: 2006
• FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008, 2010
• UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament^[53]
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2010
• World XI: Team of the 21st Century
• UEFA Euro All-time XI 

70. Bebeto- Brazil (1983-2002) Forward

• FIFA World Cup: 1994.
  
• Copa América: 1989.
• Copa del Rey: 1995
• Copa América top scorer: 1989
• South American Footballer of the Year: 1989
• South American Team of the Year: 1989
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A top scorer: 1992.
• Pichichi Trophy: 1992–93

69. Pavel Nedved- Czech Republic (1991-2009) Winger

• UEFA European Championship Runner Up 1996; Semi-Finalist 2004Czech Republic Football League: 1993–94, 1994–95 (Sparta Prague)
• Serie A: 1999–2000 (Lazio)
• Coppa Italia: 1997–98, 1999–2000
• Serie A: 2001–02, 2002–03 (Juventus) 
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2002, 2003
• Golden Ball (Czech Republic): 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009
• Czech Footballer of the Year: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004^[105]
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2003
• UEFA Club Best Midfielder of the Year: 2002–03
• World Soccer Awards Player of the Year: 2003
• Ballon d'Or: 2003
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2004
• FIFA 100: 2004
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year

68. Didier Deschamps- France (1985-2001) Defensive Midfielder

• FIFA World Cup: 1998 
• UEFA European Football Championship: 2000
• French Division 1: 1989–90, 1991–92 (Marseille)
• UEFA Champions League: 1992–93
• Serie A: 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98 (Juventus)
• Coppa Italia: 1995
• UEFA Champions League: 1995–96
• FA Cup: 1999–2000 (Chelsea)
• French Player of the Year: 1996
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 1996
• FIFA 100: 2004

67. Patrick Vieira- France (1994-2011) Midfielder

• FIFA World Cup (1): 1998
  
• UEFA European Championship (1): 2000
• Premier League (3): 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04 (Arsenal)
• FA Cup (4): 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05
• Serie A (3): 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09 (Inter Milan)
• FA Cup (1): 2010–11 (Manchester City)
• UEFA Football Championship Team of the Tournament (1): 2000
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (1): 2006^[123]
• PFA Team of the Year (6): 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04
• Premier League Player of the Season (1): 2000–01
• UEFA Team of the Year (1): 2001
• French Player of the Year (1): 2001
• FIFA 100

66. Rivellino- Brazil (1965-1981) Attacking Midfielder

• FIFA World Cup: 1970
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team player: 1970
• CONMEBOL All-Star Team: 1973
• Bronze ball South American Footballer of the Year: 1973, 1976
• Silver ball South American Footballer of the Year: 1977
• FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004
• The Best of The Best – Player of the Century: Top 50
• World Soccer: 38th Greatest Player of the 20th Century

65. Jay Jay Okocha- Nigeria (1990-2008) Attacking Midfielder

• African Cup of Nations: 1994
•  Nigerian footballer of the year 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
• African Footballer of the Year runner up 1998 
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team 1998 
• BBC African Footballer of the Year 2003, 2004 
• FIFA 100

64. Fabien Barthez- France (1990-2007) Goalkeeper

• FIFA World Cup: 1998
• UEFA European Championship: 2000
• UEFA Champions League: 1992–93 (Marseille)
• Ligue 1: 1996–97, 1999–2000 (Monaco)
• Premier League: 2000–01, 2002–03 (Manchester United)
• FIFA World Cup Yashin Award: 1998
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998
• Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year: 1998
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2000 

63. Andres Iniesta- Spain (2001-present) Midfielder

• La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16 (Barcelona)
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
• UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
• FIFA World Cup: 2010
• UEFA European Championship: 2008, 2012
• FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2nd place 2010, 4th Place 2011, 3rd Place 2012
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2010
• 2010 FIFA World Cup Final: Man of the Match
• UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2012
• UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament: 2012
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008, 2012
• UEFA Euro All-time XI 
• UEFA Euro 2012 Final: Man of the Match
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2014–15, 2015–16
• 2015 UEFA Champions League Final: Man of the Match
• La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 2009
• La Liga Best Attacking Midfielder: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
• La Liga Team of the Season: 2015–16
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year

62. George Best- Northern Ireland (1963-1984) Winger

• Football League First Division (2): 1964–65 & 1966–67 (Manchester United)
• Football League First Division Top Scorer: 1967–68
• FWA Footballer of the Year: 1967–68
• Ballon d'Or: 1968; Third place 1971
• FIFA 100
• FIFA Player of the Century: #9
• World Soccer The Greatest Players of the 20th century: #8 

61. Edgar Davids- Netherlands (1991-2014) Defensive Midfielder

• FIFA World Cup: Fourth Place 1998
• Eredivisie (3): 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 (Ajax)
• KNVB Cup (2): 1992–93, 2006–07
• UEFA Champions League (1): 1994–95
• Serie A (3): 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03 (Juventus)
• Coppa Italia (1): 2004–05 (Inter Milan)
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2000
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998
• FIFA 100

60. Michael Ballack- Germany (1995-2012) Midfielder

• FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 2002; Third Place: 2006
• UEFA European Championship Runner-up: 2008
• Bundesliga: 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06 (Bayern Munich)
• DFB-Pokal: 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06
• FA Cup: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10 (Chelsa)
• Premier League: 2009–10
• UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year: 2002
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2002
• German Footballer of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2005; Runner-up 2008
• Most assists in the 2002 FIFA World Cup
• FIFA World Cup All-star team: 2002, 2006
• FIFA XI: 2002
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2004, 2008
• FIFA 100

59. Hugo Sanchez- Mexico (1976-1997) Forward

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 1977
• Primera División: 1976–77, 1980–81 (UNAM)
• Copa del Rey: 1985 (Atletico Madrid)
• La Liga: 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 (Real Madrid)
• Copa del Rey: 1989
• European Golden Boot: 1989–90
• La Liga Top Scorer: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990
• Mexican League Top Scorer: 1979
• CONCACAF Champions' Cup Top Scorer: 1992
• FIFA 100: 2004
• FIFA XI: 1982

58. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge- Germany (1974-1989) Forward

• UEFA European Championship 1980
• FIFA World Cup Runners Up 1982
• Bundesliga Titles (2): 1980, 1981 (Bayern Munich)
• European Cups (2): 1975, 1976
• Bundesliga Top Scorer 1980, 1981, 1984
• UEFA Team of the Tournament 1980
• German footballer of the year 1980
• Ballon d'Or 1980
• FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe 1982
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball 1982
• FIFA World Cup All Star Team 1982
• FIFA 100

57. Didier Drogba- Ivory Coast (1998-present)

• UEFA Champions League: 2011–12  (Chelsea)
• Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15
• FA Cup: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
• Süper Lig: 2012–13 (Galatasary)
• Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2003–04
• Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2003–04
• Ligue 1 Goal of the Year: 2003–04
• Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2006, 2008, 2012
• African Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2009
• Premier League Golden Boot: 2006–07, 2009–10
• Premier League PFA Team of the Year: 2006–07, 2009–10
• FIFPro World XI: 2007
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2007

56. Xavi Hernandez- Spain (1997-2014) Midfielder

• FIFA World Cup: 2010
• UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15 (Barcelona)
• La Liga: 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 2010
• UEFA Euro 2008 Player of the Tournament: 2008
• UEFA Best Player in Europe Award Second place: 2011
• FIFA Ballon d'Or Third place: 2010, 2011
• Ballon d'Or Bronze Award: 2009
• FIFA World Player of the Year Third place: 2009
• UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2009
• UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year: 2008–09
• La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 2005
• La Liga Player of the Year: 2nd place 2010, 3rd place 2011
• La Liga Midfielder of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011.
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2010
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008, 2012
• FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year

55. Davor Suker- Croatia (1984-2003) Forward

• FIFA World Cup Third place: 1998
• La Liga: 1997
• UEFA Champions League: 1998
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship 1990: Golden Player
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship 1990: Golden Boot
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 1996
• 1998 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
• 1998 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998
• Ballon d'Or (Runner-up): 1998
• FIFA World Player of the Year (Bronze Award): 1998
• World Soccer 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century: 1999
• FIFA 100: 2004

54. Jurgen Klinsmann- Germany (1981-2003)

• FIFA World Cup: 1990
• UEFA European Championship: 1996; Runner-up 1992
• Bundesliga: 1996–97
• Bundesliga Top Goalscorer: 1987–88
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1990
• Ballon d'Or (Runner-up): 1995
• FIFA World Player of the Year (Bronze award): 1995
• FIFA XI: 1996, 1999 
• FIFA 100

53. Ruud Van Nistelroy- Netherlands (1993-2012) Forward

• Eredivisie: 1999–2000, 2000–01
• Premier League: 2002–03
• FA Cup: 2003–04
• La Liga: 2006–07, 2007–08
• Eredivisie Top Scorer: 1998–99, 1999–2000
• Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1999, 2000
• UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05
• UEFA Champions League Top Assists: 2001–02
• Premier League Player of the Season: 2002–03
• Premier League Golden Boot: 2002–03
• 2004 FA Cup Final: Man of the match
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2002–03
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2003
• FIFA 100
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2004
• Pichichi Trophy: 2006–07

52. Gabriel Batistuta- Argentina (1988-2005) Forward

• Copa América: 1991, 1993
• Argentine Primera División: 1989–90
• Coppa Italia: 1995–96
• Serie A: 2000–01
• Copa América Top Scorer: 1991, 1995
• FIFA Confederations Cup Top Scorer: 1992
• Serie A Top Scorer: 1994–95
• Coppa Italia Top Scorer: 1995–96
• FIFA XI: 1997, 1998
• FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe: 1998
• Argentine Player of the Year: 1998
• FIFA World Player of the Year: Bronze Award 1999^[41]
• FIFA 100

51. David Beckham- England (1992-2013) Midfielder

• UEFA Champions League (1): 1998–99 (Manchester United)
• Premier League (6): 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03
• FA Cup (2): 1995–96, 1998–99
• La Liga (1): 2006–07 (Real Madrid)
• Ballon d'Or – Runner-up: 1999
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Silver Award: 1999, 2001
• England Player of the Year: 2003
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (1): 1998–99
• UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year (1): 1998–99
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2001, 2003
• Premier League PFA Team of the Year (4): 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000
• FIFA 100