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
73. Michael Laudrup- Denmark (1981-1998) Attacking Midfielder
72. Clarence Seedorf- Netherlands (1992-2014) Midfielder
71. Carles Puyol- Spain (1996-2014) Defender
70. Bebeto- Brazil (1983-2002) Forward
69. Pavel Nedved- Czech Republic (1991-2009) Winger
68. Didier Deschamps- France (1985-2001) Defensive Midfielder
67. Patrick Vieira- France (1994-2011) Midfielder
65. Jay Jay Okocha- Nigeria (1990-2008) Attacking Midfielder
64. Fabien Barthez- France (1990-2007) Goalkeeper
63. Andres Iniesta- Spain (2001-present) Midfielder
60. Michael Ballack- Germany (1995-2012) Midfielder
59. Hugo Sanchez- Mexico (1976-1997) Forward
58. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge- Germany (1974-1989) Forward
57. Didier Drogba- Ivory Coast (1998-present)
54. Jurgen Klinsmann- Germany (1981-2003)
53. Ruud Van Nistelroy- Netherlands (1993-2012) Forward
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
73. Michael Laudrup- Denmark (1981-1998) Attacking 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
- 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 EspaƱa: 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
- FIFA World Cup: 1994.
- Copa AmƩrica: 1989.
- Copa del Rey: 1995
- Copa AmƩrica top scorer: 1989
- South American Footballer of the Year: 1989
- South American Team of the Year: 1989
- Campeonato Brasileiro SĆ©rie A top scorer: 1992.
- Pichichi Trophy: 1992–93
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 EspaƱa: 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 DivisiĆ³n: 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
- 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
- SĆ¼per 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- Copa AmƩrica: 1991, 1993
- Argentine Primera DivisiĆ³n: 1989–90
- Coppa Italia: 1995–96
- Serie A: 2000–01
- Copa AmƩrica 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
- 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
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