Saturday, July 16, 2016

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 Cup2014;[53] Third Place: 20062010
    • UEFA European Football Championship Runner-up: 2008
    • Bundesliga2002–032005–062007–082009–102012–132013–142014–152015–16 (Bayern Munich)
    • DFB-Pokal2002–032005–062007–082009–102012–132013–142015–16
    • UEFA Champions League2012–13; Runner-up: 2009–102011–12
    • FIFA World Cup All-Star Team2006
    • FIFA World Cup Dream Team2010
    • UEFA Team of the Year20062008201220132014
    • UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament20082012
    • FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball: 2013
    • FIFA/FIFPro World XI20132014
    • UEFA Champions League Team of the Season2013–14
    • FIFA Ballon d'Or6th place 2014
    • UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year 
    • UEFA Euro All-time XI 
74. Eric Cantona- France (1983-1997) Forward
    • Division 1 (2): 1988–891990–91
    • Division 1 (2): 1988–891990–91
    • Premier League (4): 1992–931993–941995–961996–97
    • FA Cup (2): 1993–941995–96
    • 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): 1990–911991–921992–931993–94
    • 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): 1993–941994–95 (Ajax)
    • KNVB Cup (1): 1992–93
    • UEFA Champions League (1): 1994–95
    • La Liga (1): 1996–97 (Real Madrid)
    • UEFA Champions League (2): 1997–981999–2000
    • Serie A (2): 2003–042010–11 (AC Milan)
    • Coppa Italia (1): 2002–03
    • UEFA Champions League (2): 2002–032006–07
    • 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 Cup2010
    • UEFA European Championship2008[50]
    • La Liga2004–052005–062008–092009–102010–112012–13 (Barcelona)
    • Copa del Rey2008–092011–12
    • Supercopa de EspaƱa200520062009201020112013
    • UEFA Champions League2005–062008–092010–11
    • UEFA Team of the Year200220052006200820092010
    • UEFA Club Best Defender: 2006
    • FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008, 2010
    • UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament[53]
    • FIFA World Cup Dream Team2010
    • World XI: Team of the 21st Century
    • UEFA Euro All-time XI 

70. Bebeto- Brazil (1983-2002) Forward
    • FIFA World Cup1994.
    • Copa AmĆ©rica1989.
    • Copa del Rey1995
    • Copa AmĆ©rica 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 Trophy1992–93


69. Pavel Nedved- Czech Republic (1991-2009) Winger
    • UEFA European Championship Runner Up 1996; Semi-Finalist 2004Czech Republic Football League1993–941994–95 (Sparta Prague)
    • Serie A1999–2000 (Lazio)
    • Coppa Italia1997–981999–2000
    • Serie A2001–022002–03 (Juventus) 
    • Supercoppa Italiana20022003
    • 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'Or2003
    • 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 Cup1998 
    • UEFA European Football Championship2000
    • French Division 11989–901991–92 (Marseille)
    • UEFA Champions League1992–93
    • Serie A1994–951996–971997–98 (Juventus)
    • Coppa Italia1995
    • UEFA Champions League1995–96
    • FA Cup1999–2000 (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): 1997–982001–022003–04 (Arsenal)
    • FA Cup (4): 1997–982001–022002–032004–05
    • Serie A (3): 2006–072007–082008–09 (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 Cup1970
    • 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 Cup1998
    • UEFA European Championship2000
    • UEFA Champions League1992–93 (Marseille)
    • Ligue 11996–971999–2000 (Monaco)
    • Premier League2000–012002–03 (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 Liga2004–052005–062008–092009–102010–112012–132014–152015–16 (Barcelona)
    • Copa del Rey2008–092011–122014–152015–16Supercopa de EspaƱa200520062009201020112013
    • UEFA Champions League2005–062008–092010–112014–15
    • FIFA World Cup2010
    • UEFA European Championship20082012
    • FIFA Ballon d'Or2nd place 20104th Place 20113rd Place 2012
    • FIFA World Cup Dream Team2010
    • 2010 FIFA World Cup Final: Man of the Match
    • UEFA Best Player in Europe Award2012
    • UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament2012
    • UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament20082012
    • UEFA Euro All-time XI 
    • UEFA Euro 2012 Final: Man of the Match
    • UEFA Champions League Team of the Season2014–152015–16
    • 2015 UEFA Champions League Final: Man of the Match
    • La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 2009
    • La Liga Best Attacking Midfielder20092011201220132014
    • La Liga Team of the Season2015–16
    • FIFA FIFPro World XI200920102011201220132014
    • UEFA Team of the Year20092010201120122015
    • 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 Year1967–68
    • Ballon d'Or1968; 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): 1993–941994–951995–96 (Ajax)
    • KNVB Cup (2): 1992–932006–07
    • UEFA Champions League (1): 1994–95
    • Serie A (3): 1997–982001–022002–03 (Juventus)
    • Coppa Italia (1): 2004–05 (Inter Milan)
    • UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament2000
    • FIFA World Cup All-Star Team1998
    • FIFA 100


60. Michael Ballack- Germany (1995-2012) Midfielder
    • FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 2002; Third Place: 2006
    • UEFA European Championship Runner-up: 2008
    • Bundesliga2002–032004–052005–06 (Bayern Munich)
    • DFB-Pokal2002–032004–052005–06
    • FA Cup2006–072008–092009–10 (Chelsa)
    • Premier League2009–10
    • UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year2002
    • UEFA Team of the Year2002
    • German Footballer of the Year200220032005; Runner-up 2008
    • Most assists in the 2002 FIFA World Cup
    • FIFA World Cup All-star team20022006
    • FIFA XI: 2002
    • UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament20042008
    • 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


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 League2011–12  (Chelsea)
    • Premier League2004–052005–062009–102014–15
    • FA Cup2006–072008–092009–102011–12
    • SĆ¼per Lig2012–13 (Galatasary)
    • Ligue 1 Player of the Year2003–04
    • Ligue 1 Team of the Year2003–04
    • Ligue 1 Goal of the Year2003–04
    • Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 200620082012
    • African Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2009
    • Premier League Golden Boot2006–072009–10
    • Premier League PFA Team of the Year2006–072009–10
    • FIFPro World XI2007
    • UEFA Team of the Year: 2007
56. Xavi Hernandez- Spain (1997-2014) Midfielder
    • FIFA World Cup2010
    • UEFA Champions League2005–062008–092010–112014–15 (Barcelona)
    • La Liga1998–992004–052005–062008–092009–102010–112012–132014–15
    • Copa del Rey2008–092011–122014–15
    • World Soccer Player of the Year2010
    • UEFA Euro 2008 Player of the Tournament2008
    • UEFA Best Player in Europe Award Second place2011
    • FIFA Ballon d'Or Third place20102011
    • Ballon d'Or Bronze Award2009
    • FIFA World Player of the Year Third place2009
    • UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match2009
    • UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year2008–09
    • La Liga Spanish Player of the Year2005
    • La Liga Player of the Year2nd place 20103rd place 2011
    • La Liga Midfielder of the Year200920102011.
    • FIFA World Cup Dream Team2010
    • UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament20082012
    • FIFA/FIFPro World XI200820092010201120122013
    • UEFA Team of the Year20082009201020112012
    • UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year
55. Davor Suker- Croatia (1984-2003) Forward
    • FIFA World Cup Third place: 1998
    • La Liga1997
    • UEFA Champions League1998
    • 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 Cup1990
    • UEFA European Championship1996; Runner-up 1992
    • Bundesliga1996–97
    • 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
    • Eredivisie1999–20002000–01
    • Premier League2002–03
    • FA Cup2003–04
    • La Liga2006–072007–08
    • Eredivisie Top Scorer1998–991999–2000
    • Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1999, 2000
    • UEFA Champions League Top Scorer2001–022002–032004–05
    • UEFA Champions League Top Assists: 2001–02
    • Premier League Player of the Season2002–03
    • Premier League Golden Boot2002–03
    • 2004 FA Cup Final: Man of the match
    • UEFA Club Forward of the Year2002–03
    • UEFA Team of the Year2003
    • FIFA 100
    • UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament2004
    • Pichichi Trophy2006–07
52. Gabriel Batistuta- Argentina (1988-2005) Forward
    • Copa AmĆ©rica19911993
    • Argentine Primera DivisiĆ³n1989–90
    • Coppa Italia1995–96
    • Serie A2000–01
    • Copa AmĆ©rica Top Scorer19911995
    • FIFA Confederations Cup Top Scorer1992
    • Serie A Top Scorer1994–95
    • Coppa Italia Top Scorer: 1995–96
    • FIFA XI: 1997, 1998
    • FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe1998
    • 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): 1995–961996–971998–991999–20002000–012002–03
    • FA Cup (2): 1995–961998–99
    • 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

No comments: