Top 100 Soccer Players of All Time (25-1)

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 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.

25. Zlatan Ibrahimovic- Sweden (1999-present) Forward

• Eredivisie: 2001–02, 2003–04
• KNVB Cup: 2001–02
• Serie A: 2004–05, 2005–06 (both revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal)
• Serie A: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
• La Liga: 2009–10
• Serie A: 2010–11
• Ligue 1: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
• Coupe de France: 2014–15, 2015–16
• FIFA Puskás Award: 2013
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2013
• UEFA Team of the Year (4): 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2012
• UEFA Champions League Most assists: 2012–13
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2013–14
• Serie A Footballer of the Year (3): 2008, 2009, 2011
• Serie A Top Scorer (2): 2009, 2012
• Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year (3): 2005, 2008, 2009
• Serie A Team of the Year (2): 2010–11, 2011–12
• Ligue 1 Player of the Year (3): 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
• Ligue 1 Team of the Year (4): 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
• Ligue 1 Top Goalscorer (3): 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16

24. Marco van Basten- Netherlands (1981-1992) Forward

• UEFA European Championship: 1988
  
• Eredivisie: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85
• KNVB Cup: 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87
• Serie A: 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94
• European Cup: 1988–89, 1989–90
• Eredivisie Top Scorer: 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87
• European Silver Boot: 1983–84
• European Golden Boot: 1985–86
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1988, 1992
• UEFA European Football Championship 1988: Top Scorer and Best Player with 5 goals
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1988, 1992
• Ballon d'Or: 1988, 1989, 1992
• UEFA Best Player of the Year: 1989, 1990, 1992
• Serie A Golden Boot: 1989–90, 1991–92
• European Cup Top Scorer: 1988–89
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1992
• FIFA 100 (List of the greatest living footballers picked by Pelé): 2004
• UEFA Euro All-time XI

23. Just Fontaine- France (1950-1962) Forward

• French Division 1 (3): 1957–58, 1959–60, 1961-62
• Coupe de France: 1957-58
• French Division 1: 1955–56
• Coupe de France: 1953-54
• French Division 1 Top Goalscorer (2): 1957-58, 1959-60
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1958
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1958
• Ballon d'Or Third place: 1958
• European Cup Top Goalscorer: 1958-59
• FIFA Order of Merit: 1994
• FIFA 100: 2004

22. Lothar Matthaus- Germany (1979-2000) Midfielder

• UEFA European Football Championship: 1980
  
• FIFA World Cup: 1990; runner-up: 1982, 1986
• Bundesliga: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000
• DFB-Pokal: 1985–86, 1997–98, 1999–2000
• Serie A: 1988–89
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 1988
• FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 1990
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1990
• Footballer of the Year in Germany: 1990, 1999
• World Soccer Awards Player of the Year: 1990
• Ballon d'Or: 1990
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1991
• FIFA XI: 1996, 1997, 2001
• FIFA 100

21. Romario- Brazil (1985-2009) Forward

• FIFA World Cup: 1994
• Copa América: 1989, 1997
• Eredivisie: 1989, 1991, 1992
• KNVB Cup: 1989, 1990
• La Liga: 1993–94
• Campeonato Carioca's top scorer: 1986, 1987, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
• Club's Player of the Year (Vasco da Gama): 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001
• Dutch League's top scorer: 1998-89, 1989–1990, 1990–91
• Dutch Cup's top scorer: 1988–89, 1989–90
• Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1989
• UEFA Champions League's top scorer: 1989–90, 1992–93
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Silver Award: 1993
• La Liga Top Scorer: 1993–94
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1994
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot: 1994
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1994
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1994
• CONCACAF Gold Cup All Star Team: 1998
• Brazilian Cup's top scorer: 1998, 1999
• Golden Boot – Placar: 1999, 2000, 2002
• Brazilian league's top scorer: 2000, 2001, 2005
• South American Footballer of the Year: 2000
• South American Team of the Year: 2000, 2001
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
• FIFA 100 World Players: 2004

20. Thierry Henry- France (1994-2014) Forward

• FIFA World Cup 1998; Runners Up 2006
• UEFA European Football Championship 2000
• Ligue 1: 1996–97
• Premier League (2): 2001–02, 2003–04
• FA Cup (3): 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05
• La Liga (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09
• UEFA Champions League: 2008–09
• Ballon d'Or – Runner-up: 2003; Third-place: 2006
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Silver Award: 2003, 2004
• Premier League Golden Boot: 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06.
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
• European Golden Boot: 2003–04, 2004–05
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2006
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: Germany 2006
• UEFA European Football Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000
• FIFA 100 : 2004

19. Ferenc Puskas- Hungary (1943-1966) Forward

• World Cup Runners-up: 1954
• Hungarian League: 1949/50, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955
• Spanish League: 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65
• Spanish Cup: 1961–1962
• European Cup: 1958–1959, 1959–1960, 1965–1966
• Ballon d'Or Silver Award: 1960
• Hungarian Top Scorer: 1947–48, 1949–50, 1950, 1953
• Spanish League Top Scorer (Pichichi Trophy): 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1953
• World Soccer World XI: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963
• European Player of the Year: 1953
• 1954 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Winner
• 1954 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
• FIFA 100

18. Rivaldo- Brazil (1991-2015) Attacking Midfield

• Copa América: 1999
• FIFA World Cup: 2002; Runner-up (1) 1998
• Brazilian Série A: 1994
• Spanish La Liga (2): 1997-98, 1998-99
• Copa del Rey: 1998
• UEFA Champions League: 2002-03
• Coppa Italia: 2002-03
• Greek Super League (3): 2005, 2006, 2007
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1998, 2002
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1999^[66]
• Ballon d'Or: 1999^[61]
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1999
• Copa América 1999: Top Scorer
• Copa América 1999: Most Valuable Player
• UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 2000
• FIFA World Player of the Year: Bronze award 2000
• FIFA World Cup Silver Boot: 2002
• FIFA XI: 2002
• FIFA 100

17. Lev Yashin- Russian (1950-1980) Goalkeeper

• FIFA World Cup (4th place) 1966
• UEFA European Football Championship 1960; Runners-Up 1964
• Soviet Cup Champions: 1953, 1967, 1970,1967,1958,1976
• Soviet League Champions: 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1973
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament 1960
•  Ballon d'Or (the only goalkeeper to hold the award) 1963
• World Soccer World XI^: 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament 1964
• FIFA Order of Merit 1988
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team 1994
• World Team of the 20th Century 1998
• FIFA Goalkeeper of the Century 2000
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team 2002
• World Soccer Greatest XI of all time 2013

16. Roberto Baggio- Italy (1982-2004) Forward

• FIFA World Cup Third Place: 1990
• FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 1994
• Serie A: 1994–95
• Coppa Italia: 1994–95
• Serie A: 1995–96
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Top Scorer: 1990–91
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1993
• Ballon d'Or: 1993
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1993
• FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 1994^[3]
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1994
• Ballon d'Or (Silver Award): 1994
• FIFA World Player of the Year (Bronze Award): 1994
• World Soccer Awards - 'The 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century' #16: 1999
• FIFA XI: 2000, 2002
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
• FIFA 100: 2004
• UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll #24: 2004

15. Bobby Charlton- England (1956-1976) Forward

• FIFA World Cup (1): 1966
  
• UEFA Euro 1968 (Bronze Medalist)
• Football League First Division (3): 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67
• FA Cup (1): 1962–63
• European Cup (1): 1967–68
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1966
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1966, 1970
• Ballon d'Or: 1966
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
• FIFA 100: 2004

14. Roberto Carlos- Brazil (1991-2016) Defender

• FIFA World Cup: 2002
• Copa América: 1997, 1999
• La Liga (4): 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07
• UEFA Champions League (3): 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2001–02
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1997
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1998, 2002
• UEFA Club Defender of the Year (2): 2002, 2003
• UEFA Team of the Year (2): 2002, 2003
• Ballon d'Or: 2002 (Runner-up)
• Golden Foot: 2008
• FIFA 100

13. Eusebio- Portugal (1957-1979) Forward

• FIFA World Cup: Third place – 1966
  
• European Cup: 1961–62^[71]
• Primeira Liga (11): 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75
• Ballon d'Or: 1965
• World Soccer World XI: 1965
• FIFA XI: 1963, 1967
• European Golden Boot: 1968 (first winner), 1973
• European Cup top scorer: 1965, 1966, 1968
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1966
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1966
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1966

12. Gerd Muller- Germany (1963-1981) Forward

• FIFA World Cup: 1974
  
• European Championship: 1972
• Bundesliga: 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74
• DFB-Pokal: 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71
• European Cup: 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76
• Ballon d'Or: 1970
• Bundesliga Top Scorer: 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978
• European Golden Shoe: 1970, 1972
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1970
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1970
• UEFA European Championship Top Scorer: 1972
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1972
• European Cup Top Scorer: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977
• FIFA Order of Merit: 1998
• FIFA 100: 2004

11. Paolo Maldini- Italy (1985-2009) Defender

• FIFA World Cup: Runners-up 1994, Third-place 1990
• UEFA European Football Championship: Runners-up 2000, Semi-finalists 1988
• Serie A (7): 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
• Coppa Italia (1): 2002–03
• European Cup/Champions League (5): 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 2002–03, 2006–07
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1988, 1996, 2000
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1990, 1994
• Ballon d'Or: Third-place 1994,^[111] 2003
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1994
• FIFA World Player of the Year: Silver Award 1995
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
• FIFA XI: 2002
• UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2003
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2005
• Serie A Defender of the Year: 2004
• FIFA 100
• UEFA Club Defender of the Year: 2007
• FIFA Order of Merit: 2008
• World Soccer Greatest XI of all time: 2013

10. Ronaldo- Brazil (1993-2011) Forward

• FIFA World Cup (2): 1994, 2002
• FIFA World Cup (1): Runners-up (2nd Place) 1998
• Copa América (2): 1997, 1999
• Copa América (1): Runners-up (2nd Place) 1995
• KNVB Cup (1): 1996
• Copa del Rey (1): 1997
• La Liga (1): 2002–03
• Eredivisie Top Scorer (1): 1994–95
• FIFA World Player of the Year (3): 1996, 1997, 2002^[6]
• Pichichi Trophy (2) 1996–1997, 2003-2004
• European Golden Boot (1): 1996–97
• Copa América Final Most Valuable Player (1): 1997
• Copa América Most Valuable Player (1): 1997
• Copa América All-Star Team (2): 1997, 1999
• Ballon d'Or (2): 1997, 2002
• FIFA XI (2): 1997, 1998^[127]
• Serie A Footballer of the Year (1): 1997–98
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (1): 1998^[128]
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1998, 2002
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Silver award (1): 1998
• Copa América Top Scorer (1): 1999
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot (1): 2002
• FIFA World Cup Silver Ball (1): 2002
• FIFA World Cup Final Most Valuable Player (1): 2002
• UEFA Team of the Year (1): 2002
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Bronze award (1): 2003
• FIFA 100 (2004)
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot (1): 2006

9. Lionel Messi- Argentina (2003-present) Forward

• Runner-up FIFA World Cup: 2014
• Runner-up Copa América: 2007, 2015, 2016
• La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16
• UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
• Ballon d'Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2009
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2009
• UEFA Best Player in Europe: 2011, 2015
• European Golden Shoe: 2010, 2012, 2013
• La Liga Best Player: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
• La Liga Best Forward: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014
• Copa América Most Valuable Player: 2015 (rejected)
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2014
• UEFA Goal of the Year: 2007, 2015
• Copa América Best Goal: 2007

8. Cristiano Ronaldo- Portugal (2002-present) Forward

• UEFA European Championship: 2016
  
• Premier League : 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
• FA Cup : 2003–04
• UEFA Champions League : 2007–08
• La Liga : 2011–12
• Copa del Rey : 2010–11, 2013–14
• UEFA Champions League : 2013–14, 2015–16
• Ballon d'Or: 2008, 2013, 2014
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2008
• UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2014
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 2008, 2013, 2014
• European Golden Shoe: 2007–08, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015^[531]
• UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2007–08
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2013–14, 2014–15,2015–16
• UEFA Champions League top scorer: 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2004, 2012 2016
• UEFA Euro Silver Boot: 2016
• UEFA Euro All Time XI
• UEFA Euro Co-Top scorer: 2012
• Barclays Player of the Year 2006–07, 2007–08
• PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
• Premier League Golden Boot: 2007–08
• La Liga Most Valuable Player: 2012–13
• La Liga Best Player: 2013–14
• La Liga Best Forward: 2013–14
• La Liga Best Goal: 2013–14
• La Liga Team of the Season: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
• La Liga top scorer: 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15

7. Zinedine Zidane- France (1989-2006) Attacking Midfield

• FIFA World Cup: 1998
• UEFA European Football Championship: 2000
• Serie A: 1996–97, 1997–98
• La Liga: 2002–03
• UEFA Champions League: 2001–02
• Ligue 1 Player of the Year – 1996
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Bronze award 1997, 2002
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team – 1998, 2006
• FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match – 1998
• Ballon d'Or – 1998^[3]
• FIFA World Player of the Year – 1998, 2000, 2003
• FIFA XI – 1998
• UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament – 2000
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament – 2000, 2004
• Serie A Footballer of the Year – 2001
• UEFA Team of the Year – 2001, 2002, 2003
• UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match – 2002
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year – 2002
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team – 2002
• FIFA 100 – 2004
• UEFA Best European Player of the Past 50 Years – 2004
• FIFA FIFPro World XI – 2005, 2006
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball – 2006
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Silver award 2006

6. Alfredo di Stefano- Argentina (1945-1966) Forward

• Copa América: 1947
• Primera División: 1945, 1947
• European Cup (5): 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60
• Primera División (8): 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964
• Copa del Rey: 1962
• Pichichi Trophy: 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959
• Ballon d'Or: 1957, 1959
• European Cup top scorer: 1958, 1962
• FIFA Order of Merit: 1994
• World Soccer World XI: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964
• World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
• FIFA 100: 2004

5. Franz Beckenbauer- Germany (1964-1977) Sweeper

• FIFA World Cup: 1974
• UEFA European Championship: 1972
• Bundesliga: 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74
• DFB-Pokal: 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71
• European Cup: 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76
• Bundesliga: 1981–82
• Ballon d'Or: 1972, 1976
• FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award: 1966
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot: 1966
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1966, 1970, 1974
• FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 1974
• FIFA Order of Merit: 1984
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
• World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
• FIFA 100: 2004

4. Johan Cruyff- Netherlands (1964-1984) Forward

• Eredivisie: 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1981–82, 1982–83
• KNVB Cup: 1966–67, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1982–83
• European Cup: 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73
• La Liga: 1973–74
• Copa del Rey: 1977–78
• Eredivisie: 1983–84
• KNVB Cup: 1983–84
• Ballon d'Or: 1971, 1973, 1974
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1974
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1974
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
• World Team of the 20th Century
• FIFA 100
• World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time: 2013

3. Michel Platini- France (1972-1987) Attacking Midfield

• Ligue 1: 1980–81
• European Cup: 1984–85; runner-up: 1982–83
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1983–84
• UEFA Super Cup: 1984
• Intercontinental Cup: 1985
• Serie A: 1983–84, 1985–86
• Coppa Italia: 1982–83
• FIFA World Cup: Third-Place 1986
• FIFA World Cup: Fourth-Place 1982
• Ballon d'Or: 1983, 1984, 1985^[
• UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 1984
• UEFA European Championship Top Scorer: 1984
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1984
• European Cup Top Scorer: 1984–85
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1982, 1986
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
• World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002

2. Diego Maradona- Argentina (1976-1994) Attacking Midfield

• FIFA World Cup: 1986; Runner-up 1990
• Copa del Rey: 1983
• Serie A: 1986-87, 1989-90
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1986
• FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe: 1986
• FIFA World Cup Most Assists: 1986
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1986, 1990
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1990
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
• World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
• FIFA Player of the Century: 2000^[188]
• FIFA Goal of the Century (for his second goal against England in 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final): 2002^[188]
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
• FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004

1. Pele- Brazil (1956-1977) Forward

• FIFA World Cup (3): 1958, 1962, 1970
  
• Copa Libertadores (2): 1962, 1963
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (6): 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968
• Copa Libertadores Top Scorer (1): 1965
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Top Scorer (3): 1961, 1963, 1964
• FIFA World Cup Best Young Player (1): 1958
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Best Player) (1): 1970
• FIFA World Cup Silver Ball (1): 1958
• FIFA World Cup Silver Boot (1): 1958
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1958, 1970
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
• Copa America Best Player (1): 1959
• Copa América Top Scorer (1): 1959
• FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur: 2013
• FIFA Player of the Century: 2000
• FIFA Order of Merit: 1984
• FIFA Centennial Award: 2004