The best football players of all time. The best football players of all time All the best football players in the world according to FIFA
Top 10 Great Football Players in the World
Pele won three world championships, photo: sportskeeda.com
Ask in the Church of Maradona in Napoli who is the best football player in the world and you will get a definite answer. Ask the same question in Brazil and people different ages will be called by different names. It is hard for a modern football fan to believe that there has ever been a player capable of showing on the field the same thing as Messi with Cristiano Ronaldo.
We tried to make an objective top 10 best players. To do this, we took the titles and records of football players as a basis, and also took into account the contribution to the popularization and development of football.
10. Zinedine Zidane
Club career: 1988–2006
Zidane won the World Cup in France in 1998, photo: sky.com Zidane received a football license at the age of 10, and at 14 he signed his first contract with the French club Caen. Played for all youth national teams of France from 17 years to 21 years. At 23, he won his first title with Bordeaux - the Intertoto Cup. In 1996, at the age of 24, Zinedine left the French championship and moved to Juventus. In 1998 he became the world champion with the French team and received the Golden Ball. Two years later, Zidane won the European Championship with the French team. In 2001, Zinedine moved to Real Madrid, with whom he won six trophies.
During his career, Zidane won six trophies with Juventus and Real Madrid, winning the championship and the Super Cup in both Italy and Spain. Zidane has won the UEFA Super Cup twice, the Intercontinental Cup and the Intertoto Cup.
Zidane won the Ballon d'Or once and was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times: in 1998, 2000 and 2003. Zinedine is included in the FIFA 100 list from 2004, and the symbolic team of the 21st century according to UEFA from 2012. Recognized as the best football player in France of all time according to France Football and L "Équipe in 2016 and 2018.
FIFA 100 is a list of the 125 best football players in the world from FIFA and Pelé.
9. Ronaldo
Club career: 1993–2011
Ronaldo at the World Cup in Korea and Japan in 2002, photo: sportbible.com Ronaldo started playing football at the age of six, and at 12 he became a regular player in the Valqueire children's futsal club. In 1993, Ronaldo moved to his first professional football club Brazilian Cruzeiro. After Cruzeiro, Ronaldo played for PSV, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Corinthians.
Ronaldo became the champion of Spain twice, won the Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. Ronaldo has won the World Cup twice and won the Ballon d'Or twice.
Ronaldo is the youngest player (20 years old) to win the FIFA Player of the Year award and the first player to win it twice in a row. Ronaldo holds the record for the Brazilian national team in the number of goals in the World Cup - 15. "Nibbler" is also included in the FIFA 100 list.
8. Gianluigi Buffon
Club career: 1995–present
Buffon played for Juventus for 17 years, photo: telegraph.co.uk Buffon played for amateur Italian teams from the age of six. In 1995, at the age of 17, he signed a contract with the Italian side Parma, for which he played for six years. Buffon spent 17 years of his career at Juventus, and since 2018 he has been playing for PSG.
Buffon has won the Italian Championship 11 times, the Italian Cup and the Supercup - 5 times. Once he won the UEFA Cup with Parma. With PSG, he won the French Super Cup. Buffon is the World Champion and European Youth Champion.
Buffon 12 times became the goalkeeper of the year in Italy, three times - the best goalkeeper Champions League and once - the best goalkeeper of the World Cup. In the 2015/16 season, Buffon set a Serie A record for the most time without conceded goals - 974 minutes (11 matches). Buffon is the only goalkeeper to become the best player in the Champions League.
Buffon finished second in the 2006 Ballon d'Or poll, behind only Fabio Cannavaro. Gianluigi has the most caps for the national team of any European player. Buffon played for the Italian national team for 20 years. Included in the FIFA 100 list.
7. Maradona
Club career: 1976–1997
Diego Maradona with the FIFA World Cup after winning the 1986 World Cup final, photo: sportsnet.ca Maradona began playing at the age of nine with the Argentinos Juniors youth team. Everyone in the team was three years older than Maradona, but Maradona's level allowed him to play with the elders. From the age of 16, Maradona moved to the main team. Throughout his career, Maradona played for Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys.
Maradona won the Argentine Championship with Boca Juniors, the Cup, the Super Cup and the Spanish League Cup with Barcelona. He won the championship, the Italian Cup and the Super Cup, as well as the UEFA Cup with Napoli. Maradona is the 1986 world champion. He also won the World Cup with the under-20 team in 1979.
Maradona five times became the top scorer of the Argentine championship, and also became the top scorer of the championship and the Italian Cup.
Maradona is the FIFA Player of the Century, the best Argentinean footballer of all time according to the AFA from 1993 and best player the 1986 world championship.
Until 1995, only European football players could receive the Golden Ball. Therefore, only in 1996 Maradona was awarded the honorary Golden Ball for his contribution to the development of football. In 2014, Maradona was recognized as the second winner in 1986 and 1990, along with Igor Belanov and Lothar Matthäus.
6. Lionel Messi
Club career: 2003–present
Messi celebrating a goal in El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabéu, photo: Getty Images Messi started playing football at the age of five at the amateur club Grandoli. In 1995, at the age of eight, he began playing for the first professional club, Newell's Old Boys. At the age of 13, Lionel signed a contract with Barcelona. For three years, Messi played for the second and third teams of the Catalans, and in 2003, at the age of 16, he played the first match for the main team.
In 19 years at Barcelona, Messi has won nine Spanish leagues, six Cups and eight Spanish Super Cups. Four Champions Leagues, three UEFA Super Cups, three Club World Cups. Messi won with Argentina Olympic Games in 2008 and Youth Championship world in 2005.
Messi is a five-time Golden Boot winner and a five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Lionel has been Argentina's Player of the Year 11 times and top scorer in the Champions League five times. Messi is Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 65 goals. Included in the list of the 50 best players in the UEFA Champions League over the past 20 years and in the symbolic national team of Argentina of all time.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
Club career: 2002–present
Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, photo: Getty Images At the age of eight, Ronaldo played for the amateur Andorinha team. In 1995, at the age of 10, Cristiano signed a contract with the local club Nacional. Throughout his career, Ronaldo also played for Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid (Madrid), since 2018 he has been playing for Juventus.
Cristiano won three titles with Manchester United English Premier League, two League Cups, the FA Cup and Super Cup, the Champions League and the Club World Cup. With Real Madrid, Ronaldo won the championship twice, the Cup and the Spanish Super Cup. He has won the Champions League four times, the UEFA Super Cup twice and the Club World Cup three times. With Juventus, Ronaldo won the Italian Super Cup. And with the Portuguese national team he became the European champion in 2016.
Ronaldo received the Golden Boot four times and the Golden Ball five times, seven times became the top scorer of the Champions League. Cristiano is the top scorer in European competition history with 106 goals, the top scorer in UEFA Champions League history with 104 goals and the top scorer in Club World Cup history with seven goals.
4. Johan Cruyff
Club career: 1964–1984
Johan Cruyff at the 1974 World Championships, photo: Getty Images At the age of 10, Cruyff began playing for the youth team of Ajax, and at 17 he moved to the first team. Johan Cruyff played for Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante and Feyenoord.
With Ajax, Cruyff won eight Dutch league titles, five Dutch Cups, three European Cups, a UEFA Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup. With Barcelona he won the championship and the Spanish Cup. With "Feyenoord" - the championship and the Cup of the Netherlands.
Johan Cruyff received the Ballon d'Or three times. In 2010, he was awarded FIFA's highest award, the FIFA Order of Merit, for his significant contribution to the development of football. He is in first place in the list of the best football players in Europe of the 20th century according to the International Federation football history and statistics (MFFIIS). Included in the FIFA 100 list.
3. Franz Beckenbauer
Club career: 1964–1983
Franz Beckenbauer in 1977 played with Pele for the same club - New York Cosmos, photo: si.com Beckenbauer played for the Munich 1906 team from the age of nine. Throughout his career, Beckenbauer played for three more clubs: Bayern, New York Cosmos and Hamburg.
With Bayern, Beckenbauer won the championship and the German Cup four times. Three times in a row - the European Cup, once - the Cup Winners' Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. With the New York Cosmos, he won the US Championship three times. With "Hamburg" once won the championship of Germany. With the German national team, Beckenbauer won both the World Championship and the European Championship.
Franz Beckenbauer won the Ballon d'Or twice and was the German Footballer of the Year four times. Beckenbauer was included in the World Team of the 20th century in 1998 and in the symbolic teams of three world championships: 1966, 1970 and 1974. Included in the FIFA 100 list.
2. Marco Van Basten
Club career: 1981–1993
Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten with the European Cup, photo: twitter.com/championsleague Van Basten started playing football at the age of seven with the Dutch EDO team. At the age of 17, Marco moved to Ajax, where he spent six years, after which he moved to Milan.
With Ajax, Van Basten won the league and the Dutch Cup three times, as well as the Cup Winners' Cup. With Milan, Marco won the championship and the Super Cup of Italy four times, as well as two times - the European Cup, the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. Van Basten won the 1988 European Championship with the Dutch national team.
Van Basten has received the Ballon d'Or three times and the Golden Boot once. Four times became the top scorer of the championship of the Netherlands and two times - the championship of Italy. He became the best player and scorer of the 1988 European Championship. In 2012, he was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame, included in the FIFA 100 list.
1. Pele
Club career: 1956–1977
Pele kisses the Jules Rimet prize, photo: theguardian.com Pelé started playing football at the age of seven, playing for youth teams. professional career The player began at the age of 15, speaking for Santos. Pele changed clubs only once, moving to the New York Cosmos at the age of 35.
Pele won the Brazilian championship six times and the Brazilian Cup five times. He won the Paulista League 10 times and the Rio-São Paulo tournament four times. He won the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup twice each. Also won the Intercontinental Champions Super Bowl. With New York Cosmos, Pele won the North American football league. With the Brazilian national team, he won the World Cup three times.
Pele is the only footballer who has become a three-time world champion. Pelé is the IOC Athlete of the Century in 1999, FIFA's Player of the Century, and ranks first among the world's best footballers of the 20th century, according to an IFFIIS survey. Included in the World Cup team of all time from 2002 and included in the FIFA 100 list.
At 73, Pele was awarded the honorary Ballon d'Or for his contribution to the development of football. After the awards were revised in 2014, Pele became the second winner from 1958 to 1961 and in 1963, 1964 and 1970.
And everyone learned that, according to the version of the new football simulator, Messi and Ronaldo are equal.
FIFA 19 World's Top 20 Players - Part One
10. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
The German midfielder is getting faster from game to game and he already has quite a playable card. On the plus side: excellent passes and five stars on the non-working leg.
9. David de Gea (Manchester United)
8. Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
The Uruguayan super-forward lost one point in the overall rankings and, more importantly, one star in feints during the year. This can significantly reduce his popularity in the game.
7. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
The best defender in the game, the Spaniard Sergio Ramos has not changed much over the year: he has become a little slower, but noticeably more reliable in defense.
6. Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
One of the two Belgians in the top ten, who spent a not very even season for Chelsea, but was good at the World Championship. The card hasn't changed much in a year.
5. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Perhaps the best attacking midfielder in the world on merit is in the top five players in the world according to the version. And over the year, almost all indicators on his card have improved.
4. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Probably the best player in 2018 received a significant upgrade in a year - plus 2 points in the overall rating. Also, the virtual Modric has become better over the year in all respects, except for playing defense.
3. Neymar (PSG)
So far, always third in the confrontation with Ronaldo and Messi, both in the real world and in FIFA. At the same time, in the game, Neymar, the owner of 5 stars on feints and a weak leg, is a very rare combination that only a few other virtual football players have.
2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Messi had one of the most controversial seasons of his career, but still got an upgrade overall rating from EA Sports, equaling Ronaldo. Another dramatic change: Messi is a center forward, which will greatly increase his popularity in the game.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Still the best and most expensive (not counting the "legends") football player in FIFA is the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo. Moving to a new league for yourself and to a new position will in no way affect the status of this player. In, as in previous games, everyone will dream of Ronaldo.
10
Lev Ivanovich Yashin- Soviet football goalkeeper who played for Dynamo Moscow and the USSR national team. Olympic champion 1956 and European champion in 1960, 5-time champion of the USSR. The only goalkeeper in history to receive the Ballon d'Or. He is considered one of the first goalkeepers in world football, who has mastered the game extensively on the exits and throughout the penalty area.
9
Brazilian footballer, played as a striker. According to many football organizations, specialists and athletes, he is one of the best players in the history of football. Double champion World Cup, vice-champion of the world, the best field player of the world championships in 1998 and 2002, the best scorer of the world championship in 2002, the record holder of the world championships in the number of matches in which a football player scored at least one goal, the record holder in the number of goals scored in all international tournaments, three times the best football player of the year according to FIFA and World Soccer magazine, two-time winner of the Golden Ball, winner of the Golden Boot.
8
Hungarian football player, striker, recognized by the results of many polls as one of the greatest players in the history of football, a member of the Hungarian Golden Team. Ferenc Puskas during his lifetime was recognized as the best Hungarian football player of all time. He played 89 matches for the national teams of Hungary and Spain, scored 84 goals, played 534 matches in the highest leagues of Hungary and Spain, scored 512 goals. The multi-sport stadium in Budapest bears the name of Ferenc Puskas. Prize best goal of the year according to FIFA is named after a football player.
7
Argentine and Spanish footballer, striker. After completing his playing career, he worked as a coach. As a footballer, he was twice the champion of Argentina, three times the champion of Colombia and eight times the winner of the championship of Spain. Di Stéfano has won the Copa Colombia, the Copa del Rey and the Intercontinental Cup each time. He won the Small World Cup twice and won the European Cup five times. As a coach, Alfredo won two Argentine Championships, one Spanish Championship, one Spanish Super Cup and one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
6
Portuguese footballer who plays for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team, in which he became the European champion in 2016. was the most dear footballer in the history of football until 2013 - for his transfer from the English "Manchester United" to "Real" was paid 80 million pounds. Top scorer in the history of the Portuguese national team, as well as the record holder for the number of matches played for it. Considered one of the best football players of our time. Winner of the Golden Boot 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015. In 2008 he was recognized as the best player of the year in the club European football according to UEFA and the best player in the Champions League, he received the Golden Ball as the best football player in Europe and the FIFA Player of the Year award as the best football player in the world. In January 2015, he won his third Golden Ball as the best football player in the world in 2014.
5
German football player and coach who played as a central defender or midfielder. During his career he was twice elected European Footballer of the Year, played on the fields three championships world, 103 times called up to the ranks of the players of the German national team. As captain of the German team, he won the 1974 FIFA World Cup. With Bayern Munich, he won the European Cup three times in a row in 1974-1976 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1967. The only football player who played as captain in three different teams. He played for Bayern Munich, Hamburg and New York Cosmos. As head coach, he won the 1990 World Cup with the German national team.
4
Former French footballer, now Main coach Spanish club Real Madrid. Considered one of the greatest football players in history. Zidane was named the best player in the world three times (1998, 2000, 2003), in 1998 he won the Golden Ball as the best player in Europe. In 2004, he was recognized by UEFA as the best player of the last 50 years. In 2016, Zidane was named the best French player in football history by France Football. In 2001, Zinedine moved to Real Madrid for a then-record €75 million. The Frenchman has won two Italian championships with Juventus and one Spanish championship with Real Madrid. From 1994 to 2006 he played for the French national team, in which he became the world champion (1998) and Europe (2000).
3
Dutch footballer and coach of the Netherlands national team, Ajax and Barcelona. Cruyff became the personification not only of all Dutch football, but of the whole style - the so-called total football, which was first played by his Ajax teams and the Dutch national team of the early 1970s. In total, he played 752 matches during his career, scoring 425 goals. Three-time winner of the Golden Ball, won the European Cup three times as a player and once as a coach. Widely recognized as one of the best football players of the 20th century.
2
The Argentine footballer, who ended his career, played in the positions of an attacking midfielder and striker. He played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys. He played 91 matches and scored 34 goals in the Argentina national team. World Champion 1986. Vice-champion of the world in 1990. Member of four world championships. World Champion among youth teams 1979. The best player in the 1986 World Cup. Football Player of the Year South America 1979 and 1980. Twice member of the symbolic teams of the world championships. Champion of Argentina with Boca Juniors. Two-time champion of Italy in the club "Napoli". In 1999, Maradona was recognized the best athlete 20th century in Argentina. The author of a goal against the England team, called the "Goal of the Century", and recognized as the best goal in the history of the World Cup; in the same game scored the ball with his hand, this case is known as the "Hand of God".
1
Edson Arantes do Nascimento (better known as Pelé) - brazilian soccer player, attacker. He played for the Santos and New York Cosmos clubs. He played 92 matches and scored 77 goals in the Brazilian national team. The record holder for the number of world championships won as a player is three titles. The only footballer who has become world champion three times as a player. Member of four world championships. The secret of Pele's mastery lies in his phenomenal physical data and great diligence. It is known that at its peak sports career he ran the 100-meter distance in less than 11 seconds, thus not much behind the performance of professional sprinters. Unusually gifted by nature, Pele, however, devoted a lot of time to working out individual components football equipment, thanks to which he, for example, hit the ball equally well with both feet. Another undoubted advantage of him is his excellent dribbling and stroking. According to experts, there were no weaknesses in Pele's technique, his specific style of play largely changed the idea of \u200b\u200bthe possibilities and the very essence of football.
Now one player can receive the Ballon d'Or, while the other can receive the FIFA Player of the Year award in parallel. Soccer.ru is upset that they could kill the prestige of the most famous individual football award. But there is a plus - you personally have the right to vote.
Again two awards, as it was before the unification of prizes. But then no one took into account the choice of FIFA. The people did not remember whether Romario won or not, but everyone knew that Weah or Stoichkov had the Golden Balls. This prize from journalists was much more prestigious, but then came Blatter, played on the greed of the French and bought them the right to present the prize, changed the rules, it was time for Ronaldo against Messi. Now the paths have parted, but will it get better? We are sorting out to determine with whom the prestige and world recognition will remain?
Benefits of the Golden Ball
Returned the original meaning. The prize was conceived as an award from specialists. They took it already, but deeper. The journalists chose the player of the year. And they will choose, because the French did not bargain with FIFA, they could not sell the rights for another couple of years. But in parallel, the main flaw of the general "Golden Ball" was removed recent years . Football players and national team coaches voted for nominally the strongest masters. Or they called their favorite player all the time. Hopefully, the winner of the 2016 Ballon d'Or will be chosen based on comparisons, not preference.
The voices of amateurs and mistakes were excluded. Many complained that they voted for some - others received points. And why do you need the opinion of the Djibouti national team coach, who has been supporting Barcelona or Real Madrid for ten years and does not understand that you need to choose the best for the year? Now there are fewer “ballots”, and only journalists vote. There will be no more mistakes and confusion. And this is important because all recent polls have included inconsistencies. Not productive, the margins of the winners were large, but the integrity of the electoral system was discredited a couple of times.
Determined by football analysts. Of course, everyone has favorite players, or at least those who you sympathize with. But journalists watch so many different kinds of football that they have long been accustomed to assessing the quality, and not relying on emotions. It is difficult to surprise a football journalist, but he is not completely in love with the game of one person. Therefore, if Messi and Ronaldo were voted for with hearts and emotions for many years, then journalists from different countries will now choose with the help of logic.
Pros of "Best FIFA Player"
Your vote is important to Infantino! Gianni, although he became the head of football hell, has always been distinguished by his ability to win over the public. From him a pleasant Lucifer. That's why FIFA president approves idea to involve fans in voting– now you choose the best player of the year. Of course, you are not given the right to do it alone, but it has become more fun!
Interesting electoral system. So now there are four different categories voting. Coaches, national team captains, journalists from around the world in the amount of about two hundred and fans. It's funny if the journalists are the same as in the case of the Golden Ball elections, but here the meaning is different. The influence of each category is the same - 25%. In other words, if the trolls around the world put the fans of Paul Pogba first in the vote, and the journalists - the thirtieth, then he will not be the first. The votes will be converted into a proportion, and the percentages will be summed up. It is possible to balance inadequate votes, similarly, they protect themselves from the always likely hacker attack or purchased “bots”.
Ability to put on a show. Everyone knows the address of the FIFA website, all the media in the world will write about the vote - you go and choose yourself. You will be part of the show! Then in January, the stars will be invited to the ceremony, and prizes will be distributed. And what can journalists with the Golden Ball do? They have no opportunity to organize an expensive show, and those who lose will not go to it. There will be a winner and a prize - boring, the spectacle factor is lost, in early December it is unlikely that all the best players in the world will come to Paris. And why?
Cons of Golden Ball
The status of the jury has changed. When the Golden Ball was first established, journalists watched more football than fans, there were no broadcasts, and reporters went to important matches of the Champions Cup, had access to a live game throughout Europe, unlike fans. They were guides in an age without the Internet. That is, everyone was looking forward to the announcement of the winner, like a gift under the Christmas tree - they helped you understand who was the coolest of the year? Over time, this trump card was lost. Why would you trust the journalists who are on the France Football list?
Chauvinism and elitism. This is just a guess, of course. But it cannot be ruled out that the decision not to give FIFA a discount in the negotiations is due to the desire of France to see the player of the year not Ronaldo, but Griezmann, who lost finals to Cristiano's teams. Of course, since the commission is international, it is difficult to "push through" Antoine's candidacy. But there is one more minus when experts vote - they want to show themselves. That is, there will be years when they will vote in spite of the glory hunters and the conditional Messi and Ronaldo will be pushed back. Is it fair? Not always. Moreover, there have already been cases when the publication did everything so that a particular player would not receive a prize.
Poor ideation. France Football should have better chosen the moment for parting, it turned out to be spontaneous in the middle of the year, because they did not tritely bargain for a contract extension. And now there is a risk that the Ballon d'Or and its prestige will be buried. Probably, a clever idea with fan voices will appeal to fans from all over the world. In addition, FIFA chooses the best female player, team of the year - and with the help of professional football players, the best coaches for women and men, the prize for fair play gives. If journalists once revealingly unfairly vote and give out the Ballon d'Or for no reason, people will say that the prize is worthless.
Cons of "Best FIFA Player"
club lobbying. On December 2, we will be given the top three finalists. Do you think Ronaldo, Bale and Griezmann will definitely be there? And why not Cristiano, Lionel and Suarez, for example? Or even Neymar, because it is difficult to predict the logic of four categories of voters at once. Therefore, every time the journalists forget a weak football player promoted by agents, he can simultaneously receive the “Best FIFA Player” award. Not by votes, but because "it's necessary." FIFA, unfortunately, is a corrupt office, who knows how they will calculate it there? They will show you percentages and that's it. Take my word for it!
50% of the votes - the players and coaches. Let's put it like it is – football players and coaches are not always intellectuals. This is if soft. Moreover, they do not always watch football, even if it sounds paradoxical. Even if they get paid millions for it, like Carragher or Shearer. Alan recently said Aguero is the only world-class player in the Premier League. De Bruyne, De Gea, Coutinho, Sanchez, Ozil, Hazard, Payet, it turns out that they are amateurs, where are they up to the world level this year? And in FIFA, half of all the votes were kept by the players and coaches, who will again choose between Messi and Ronaldo. Journalists and fans will try to influence, but will they be able to?
Nonobjective Gloryhunters. The France Football website launched a fan vote for the sake of interest. And there was confusion. Riyad Mahrez in the lead Arab world came and voted, followed by Ronaldo and Messi. Don't care that the Algerian is not strongest player planets and years. Do not care that Cristiano and Lionel this year with their weaknesses. Glory hunters came and voted. If the results of the fans in the FIFA poll are published, you will see that the ethnic Turk Ozil, thanks to the incredible activity of the Turkish football fans there may be more votes online than Griezmann. Well, or Mahrez will be the player of the year. After all, do not forget that according to the Russian poll, Akinfeev turned out to be the most popular in the country, 14% of those polled sympathized with him. Democracy is a tricky thing if it ends up in stupid hands.
Who is cooler and more prestigious?
An amazing case, we went to zero - we summed up the pros and cons and we see that the score is a draw. We immediately note that if Infantino in his FIFA trio gets the same result as the journalists in the Ballon d'Or 2016, then he will seize the initiative at the expense of the budget. If there are two prizes that will give out the same one, then the one with the gala performance will win. And the editors of France Football are to blame for the humiliation of the prize. After all, the Golden Ball is their legacy. They sold him to Blatter for millions of euros, but didn't think about the consequences. It was necessary to give the prize for three years, not six. And when they rolled Sneijder, Iniesta, Ribery - the heroes of specific years, it was necessary to select the Golden Ball, arrange big scandal to win over the people. And sell it to UEFA, emphasizing that prestige is more important than money. That is, greed ruined the award, roughly speaking. And only then the stupidity of those who chose the same ones.
Now French journalists have been forced to take on a great responsibility. For example, if Ronaldo takes the “Best FIFA Player” (and it will be), and Griezmann takes the “Golden Ball”, then it is not a fact that everyone will go over to the side of journalists. Year after all difficult for choice. It is easy to find fault with absolutely all candidates. Ronaldo won titles? And Messi was pounding goals while they were working for Cristiano. Griezmann - well done? And Bale also looked good, like Suarez with the Golden Boot. What is there, even Ramos and Pepe are important for the titles of Real Madrid and Portugal, why is Ronaldo singled out on the basis of titles when he himself played worse than he can? Such a year was caught - there is no one who would deserve much more than the rest. That is, the trio of Ronaldo, Griezmann and Bale will find their fans, as well as the trio of Griezmann, Ronaldo, Messi, for example.
We get an important conclusion - FIFA and France Football have jointly destroyed the once most prestigious, important individual award football world. There is no more prize that helped dozens of footballers to achieve international recognition. So the people will choose. Over time, only one of these prizes will receive cult status, you'll see. In the meantime, you can vote for yourself. If your favorite wins, if you guess all three, then you will know that you are involved. And then a dispute will begin, who is more objective, more prestigious, more interesting, the Golden Ball or the Best FIFA Player? Fans of Messi and Ronaldo killed the idea of Gabriel Ano, and the organizers of the poll actively helped in this. There was a division, it's time to choose who you trust more? Only journalists or FIFA coalitions - captains, coaches, journalists and fans? And anyway, who will you vote for? Name your trio!
Popular football portalFourFourTwoformed the top 100 football players of all time. Soccer.ru introduces readers to an interesting rating.
Places 100 to 91:
100. Gheorghe Hadji (Romania)
99. Mario Coluna (Portugal)
98. Mario Kempes (Argentina)
97. Neymar (Brazil)
96. Obdulio Varela (Uruguay)
95. Jalma Santos (Brazil)
94. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
93. Philip Lahm (Germany)
92. Sandor Kocis (Hungary)
91. Sepp Mayer (Germany)
To be in the top 100 players in the history of the Game is a huge honor, so if someone's position seems undeservedly low to you, remember how many thousands of players remained outside the top 100. Therefore, we take the FourFourTwo rating as a given, because you can argue on this topic indefinitely, especially when it comes to the distribution of positions at the very top. In the top ten from the end we see the "Carpathian Maradona" Hadji and the Swedish star of all time Ibrahimovic. There are four world champions here: Brazilian Jalma Santos, German Philipp Lahm, Uruguayan Obdulio Varela and Argentinean Mario Kempes. Great german goalkeeper Maier, Hungarian striker Kocsis, Benfica legend Colun is here, as is Neymar, who has the best years of his career ahead of him.
Seats 90 to 81:
90. Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
89. Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria)
88. Allan Simonsen (Denmark)
87. Javier Zanetti (Argentina)
86. Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina)
85. Uwe Seeler (Germany)
84. Giacinto Facchetti (Italy)
83. Ryan Giggs (Wales)
82. Hugo Sanchez (Mexico)
81. Dragan Jaich (Yugoslavia)
Of the world champions, only Roberto Carlos is here, but we see two owners of the Golden Ball - Stoichkov and Simonsen. Giggs and Batistuta need no further introduction, Hugo Sanchez will be told by his goals for Atlético and Real Madrid. We note the presence of two legends of Inter Milan from different eras at once - Facchetti and Zanetti, Uwe Seeler, nicknamed "Furious" was the brightest German player in the interval between the first two world championships. Well, Dragan Dzhaich in general, perhaps the greatest Serbian player in history.
Seats 80 to 71:
80. Thierry Henry (France)
79. Gigi Riva (Italy)
78. Just Fontaine (France)
77. Frank Rijkaard (Netherlands)
76. Dennis Lowe (Scotland)
75. Cafu (Brazil)
74. Josef Masopust (Czechoslovakia)
73. Omar Sivori (Argentina)
72. José Andrade (Uruguay)
71. John Charles (Wales)
Masopust, Sivori and Lowe won the Golden Ball in the first half of the 60s, only Lev Yashin wedged between them. José Andrade, Cafu and Henry are world champions. John Charles is one of the top 20 Welsh heroes in the history of Wales, and Juste Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup (13 goals scored, World Cup 1958). Riva and Rijkaard were stars each in their era, and Gigi spent almost his entire career at Cagliari, he is the main symbol of this club.
Seats 70 to 61:
70. Paul Breitner (Germany)
69. Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands)
68. Sandro Mazzola (Italy)
67. Florian Albert (Hungary)
66. Teofilo Cubillas (Peru)
65. Jimmy Johnston (Scotland)
64. Johan Neeskens (Netherlands)
63. Gordon Banks (England)
62. Dixie Dean (England)
61. Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)
Three Britons at once: the iconic Celtic player Jimmy Johnston, the great goalkeeper and world champion Banks, and the hero of the early 20th century Dixie Dean. The Dutch Bergkamp and Neeskens worked magic, although they did not become world champions, Johan even scored in one of his finals, but Paul Breitner answered the same and ended up celebrating the victory in the German team. Mazzola is another Inter legend and an idol for generations to come, Florian Albert boasts the Ballon d'Or and Theo Cubillas is the best player in Peru's history. You probably already recognized Peter Schmeichel: the famous goalkeeper of Manchester United and an accomplice of the Danish Tale 1992.
Seats 60 to 51:
60. Kevin Keegan (England)
59. Andres Iniesta (Spain)
58. Adolfo Pedernera (Argentina)
57. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Germany)
56. Daniel Passarella (Argentina)
55. Dino Zoff (Italy)
54. Gunnar Nordahl (Sweden)
53. Gaetano Shirea (Italy)
52. Roberto Baggio(Italy)
51. Jairzinho (Brazil)
Three Italians at once - the winners of the 1982 World Cup Zoff and Shirea, as well as Roberto Baggio, who did not score the decisive penalty in 1994 and remained with the silver. But Andres Iniesta became the author of the only goal in the 2010 Mundial final, for which he has since been applauded in all stadiums in Spain. Jairzinho and Passarella are also world champions, but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge did not win the world championship with Germany, but he has two Golden Balls, like Kevin Keegan. Nordal in the middle of the 20th century lit up in Serie A, where he played for Milan and Roma, but the Argentine Pederner is the most mysterious figure in this ten. It is known that his name was Genius, Maestro and Football Napoleon, but still Adolfo's career took place in South America in the 30s, 40s and 50s of the last century, so there is not much evidence of his greatness.
Seats 50 to 41:
50. Xavi (Spain)
49. Nilton Santos (Brazil)
48. Mikael Laudrup (Denmark)
47. Roberto Rivellino (Brazil)
46. Juan Alberto Schiaffino (Uruguay)
45. Oleg Blokhin (USSR/Ukraine)
44. Didi (Brazil)
43. Fritz Walter (Germany)
42. Matthias Sindelar (Austria)
41. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
This dozen has a diverse composition. Here are a bunch of world champions from different countries and different eras, and the famous scorer of Dynamo Kiev, owner of the Golden Ball Oleg Blokhin, and the Austrian Sindelar with a tragic fate, and Buffon, who is still playing at high level, and the iconic German captain Fritz Walter, who was in Soviet captivity during World War II. As well as the ex-coach of the Moscow "Spartak" Mikael Laudrup and Didi, who did not pass in the "Real" Di Stefano and Puskas, who did not want to share the glory.
Seats 40 to 31:
40. Kenny Dalglish (Scotland)
39. Nandor Hidegkuti (Hungary)
38. Gianni Rivera (Italy)
37. Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)
36. Paco Gento (Spain)
35. Luis Suarez Miramontes (Spain)
34. Stanley Matthews (England)
33. Günther Netzer (Germany)
32. Paolo Rossi (Italy)
31. José Manuel Moreno (Argentina)
There is not a single active player in this top ten, although all these names are heard to this day. For example, Paco Gento is the record holder for the number of European Cups, the Spaniard has won this trophy six times. Paolo Rossi scored in the World Cup final and won the Ballon d'Or, while Nandor Hidegkuti was part of the Hungarian Golden Team. Sir Stanley Matthews, who played football until the age of 50, was an exemplary gentleman and won the first ever European Footballer of the Year Ballon d'Or, has a special place here. A few years later, this award went to Luis Suarez Miramontes, who at the time of the award was playing for Barcelona, and then moved to Inter, where he spent nine years.
Places from 30 to 21:
30. Lothar Matthäus (Germany)
29. Raymond Kopa (France)
28. Socrates (Brazil)
27. Bobby Moore (England)
26. Valentino Mazzola (Italy)
25. Carlos Alberto (Brazil)
24. Ronaldinho (Brazil)
23. Eusebio (Portugal)
22. Lev Yashin (USSR/Russia)
21. Romario (Brazil)
We note the high position of Lev Ivanovich Yashin: the only goalkeeper among the goalkeepers who has the Golden Ball is in 22nd place in the ranking. There are four Brazilians in the top ten with him, and Romario was higher than Ronaldinho, Carlos Alberto and Socrates. Why, Shorty even bypassed Eusebio, who, symbolically, took the next seat with his friend Yashin. Bobby Moore and Lottar Matthäus are the captains of their teams at victorious world championships and cult footballers of their countries. Special attention should be paid to Valentino Mazzola, who is seriously ahead of his son. Valentino and Sandro are the only father and son in the top 100 strongest football players of all time. Unique achievement.
Seats 20 to 11:
20. Paolo Maldini (Italy)
19. Bobby Charlton (England)
18. Giuseppe Meazza (Italy)
17. Gerd Müller (Germany)
16. Zico (Brazil)
15. Franco Baresi (Italy)
14. George Best (Northern Ireland)
13. Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
12. Michel Platini (France)
11. Garrincha (Brazil)
Everyone is a world football star, although it is clear that it is impossible to compile an “all-time” rating based on objective indicators, because such indicators do not exist. Here's how to compare, say, Giuseppe Meazza and Paolo Maldini? It turns out that the basis is a certain historical "media rating": the names of the big stars of the past still sound loud, although decades have passed. Thanks to this, Garrincha and Muller, Charlton and van Basten, Best and Maldini, Meazza and Platini, Zico and Baresi can be located in neighboring positions. But who is cooler than them and who got number 1, the denouement is close!
Places 10 to 1:
10. Ronaldo (Brazil)
9. Ferenc Puskas (Hungary)
8. Zinedine Zidane (France)
7. Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
6. Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentina)
5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
4. Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
3. Pele (Brazil)
2. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
1. Diego Maradona (Argentina)
Led by two Argentines, King of Football Pele fell back to third, and Cristiano Ronaldo only fifth. Eight of the top 10 players other than Pelé and Beckenbauer have played for Real Madrid or Barcelona in their careers. Here is such a hundred turned out at "FourFourTwo". How are you?
