The topic of who is the best football player in history is a controversial one. To provide fans with a different perspective on this issue, 90min has published a list of the top 25 greatest players of all time. This list was actually released in December 2022, right after the end of the World Cup 2022.
However, after Messi recently won his 8th Ballon d’Or, this list has gained attention once again. Below are the top 10 names according to the choices of experts from 90min.
10. Roberto Baggio (Italy)
Baggio is one of the best attacking players in the history of Italian football. Throughout his career, he scored over 300 goals for his teams. In 1993, he brilliantly won the Ballon d’Or after his triumph at the UEFA Cup with Juventus. A year later, he also finished in second place.
It’s unfortunate that Baggio didn’t have much success with national team titles. Fans surely haven’t forgotten his sky-high penalty kick in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil. This missed opportunity was one of the reasons why Italy lost 2-3 in the end.
9. Michel Platini (France)
The legendary French footballer Michel Platini was the one who led his home team to win the Euro 1984 championship. During his career, he also won the Ballon d’Or award three times in 1983, 1984, and 1985.
At the 1989 Super Ballon d’Or award ceremony, he also secured third place overall. When FIFA held a vote for the player of the century in 2000, Platini claimed the 7th spot.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Considered as the greatest footballer ever produced by Portugal, Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards, five Champions League titles, and helped his national team win the historic Euro championship in 2016. Furthermore, he still holds the record for being the greatest goal-scorer of all time. However, despite his illustrious career achievements, Ronaldo’s lack of a World Cup title is likely the reason for his low ranking on 90min’s Top 10 list. Nevertheless, the Al Nassr striker plans to compete for the World Cup in 2026 when he turns 41 and hopefully add this coveted trophy to his collection.
Ranked 7th on the list is the talented midfielder, Zinedine Zidane from France. With 17 years of professional football under his belt, Zidane had a successful career winning all major titles from the Champions League to the Euro and the World Cup. He also received the Ballon d’Or in 1998 and was named FIFA’s Best Player three times. In one sharing session, legend Thierry Henry described Zidane as the “Godfather of French football.”
During his prime, Ronaldo de Lima was known as the “alien” due to his incredible ability to score goals. Throughout his career, he scored over 400 goals for both club and country. Many experts believe that if he hadn’t suffered knee problems, he could have achieved even greater success. Nevertheless, the former Brazilian footballer has an admirable career with two World Cup championships and two Ballon d’Or awards. The only major title missing from his collection is the Champions League.
Johan Cruyff from the Netherlands is considered a talented football player with an undeniable skillset. He was the core of the “Total Football” playing style that led the Dutch national team to great success around the world. Throughout his career, he scored a total of 433 goals, won three Ballon d’Or awards, and achieved a treble with Ajax.
Furthermore, he also made a significant impact as a coach. Cruyff contributed greatly to the development of football, leaving a lasting impression on the sport. He is the only player who did not win the World Cup but still ranks in the top five of all-time greats according to 90min.
4. Frank Beckenbauer (Germany)
In this ranking, Beckenbauer is the only player who played in the defense position. He was the core that brought steel to the German national team’s defense when they won the Euro 1972 and World Cup 1974 championships. With his club Bayern Munich, Beckenbauer won the European Cup (predecessor of the Champions League) three times and the Bundesliga four times.
Beckenbauer won the Ballon d’Or twice in 1972 and 1976. Additionally, he was a runner-up twice and finished third once.
3. Pele (Brazil)
Pele is the only player to have won the World Cup three times. He is also known for his exceptional goal-scoring skills, having scored a total of 1279 goals throughout his career (including unofficial matches). Unfortunately, Pele never won the Ballon d’Or because, at that time, the award was only given to players in Europe.
He was once honored as the Player of the Century in a vote organized by the World Football Statistics and History Association. Throughout decades, Pele has become an icon, inspiring young players to pursue their dreams in football.
Diego Maradona, also known as “The Golden Boy,” is a source of great pride for Argentine football. He led his home team to victory in the 1986 World Cup, where he made history with his infamous “Hand of God” goal and a legendary dribbling run that ended in a goal.
Maradona is also a legend for the Italian club Napoli, where he earned five titles with two Serie A championships. To this day, the team’s stadium is named after him.
After winning the World Cup in 2022, Lionel Messi has been hailed by many experts and fans as the greatest player in history. Agreeing with this assessment, 90min has ranked the Argentine star as the number one player on their list. Over nearly two decades of professional play, Messi holds the record for the most team titles won at 44. In addition, he also holds the record for winning the Ballon d’Or award eight times. At the age of 36, Messi is now indulging his passion for football playing for Inter Miami in the US.
