Given the rich history of soccer it is difficult to list the greatest players without arguments. Although there will always people who favor one player, the 20 players below deserve to be recognized for their outstanding performance on the pitch.
These are the 20 most successful soccer players, both in domestic and international play. These individuals are able to succeed and help to evolve the game.
20. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 789 | 485 | 118 |
- League Titles 11
- Champions League Titles 0
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 0
Zlatan Ibrahimovic should be on this list. Although he might seem a bit small for 20 years, he brings a unique style to the pitch.
Ibrahimovic is a significant player, regardless of where he played. Ibrahimovic is one of the greatest soccer players of all time, towering over his opponents.
His strength is his greatest asset, but it’s his competitive spirit and his ability to get into position that has made him a favorite.
19. Kylian Mbappe
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 245 | 166 | 84 |
- League Titles 3
- Champions League Titles 0
- World Cup Titles 1
- Ballond’or Awards: 0
This young player Kylian Mbappe has reached this level of success shows how great he is. He is already a dominant player both domestically and internationally, but he has yet to achieve his peak.
He helped France win the 2018 World Cup. It seems like this is just the beginning of what could be a great career.
His ability to play with wisdom beyond his years is what makes him stand out. Even though he is quicker and faster than almost anyone on the pitch, he also has a savvy veteran’s tactical approach.
It is a benefit to him when he plays for Paris Saint Germain or the French national soccer team. What is his potential? If he continues to keep up his projections, some believe he will reach the top five.
18. Robert Lewandowski
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 640 | 472 | 129 |
- League Titles 8
- Champions League Titles 1
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 0
While Poland may not have many stars, Robert Lewandowski is a player who will live in the history books. While he did not achieve international team success, he had many successes with his clubs in Germany.
Lewandowski is most notable for his time with Borussia Dortmund as well as Bayern Munich. He is a top-notch striker in the game. He can score in many ways and is extremely accurate with his shots.
Lewandowski slows down the game in many ways, and always makes the right decisions to make it easier for others and himself. If he continues to work hard, he could make a move up in the list.
17. Marco Van Basten
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 373 | 277 | 82 |
- League Titles 4
- Champions League Titles 2
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 1
Marco van Basten, as great as a player was, is often underrated. He stopped playing at age 28. He was still able accomplish a lot in his career, including scoring 218 domestic goals for Milan and Ajax.
He had a lot of success with the Netherlands national soccer team but was forced to retire due to an injury.
He was known for his great goal-scoring skills, but also for his tactical approach to the game. He was patient and would wait for the right opportunity to exploit. His shots were powerful and precise.
16. Eusebio
| Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 715 | 727 | 167 |
- League Titles 11
- Champions League Titles 1
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 1
Before there was Cristiano Ronaldo, Eusebio was known as the true Portuguese soccer star in the game’s history. Eusebio’s speed and athleticism allowed him to score every chance he had.
He had a very unique technique that allowed him to get the ball to his right foot, making it one of the most difficult shots in the game.
Eusebio was a huge success in his prime. He appeared in a total 301 matches. People will always remember Eusebio as the greatest goal scorer of all time, with 317 goals.
15. George Best
| Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 353 | 137 | 3 |
- League Titles 2
- Champions League Titles 1
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 1
George Best, the greatest player from Northern Ireland ever to play in the game’s history, is he? Many believe so because the highly skilled winger was a star for Manchester United throughout his entire professional career.
Despite the fact that Northern Ireland was not a success story, he still managed to make a contribution domestically despite being distracted by many things.
He would be in the top 10 if he had been 100% committed to the game. He was one of the first players to make a name for himself on the pitch. However, he did have his moments.
14. Xavi
| Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 865 | 109 | 213 |
- League Titles 8
- Champions League Titles 4
- World Cup Titles 1
- Ballond’or Awards: 0
Xavi was a great leader for Spain, whether it was through his passing, ball control, and overall leadership abilities. He was a major part of Spain’s success internationally, and he played for a long time for Barcelona.
He is now starting his managerial career and has already proven that he is one of the best minds in soccer.
He was always in a position to make the right play and his playmaking skills opened up many scoring opportunities.
13. Maldini
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 901 | 33 | 43 |
- League Titles 7
- Champions League Titles 5
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 0
Maldini, a great Italian player, was a star for AC Milan in Italy and was a key member of the Italian national team. He is the most famous soccer defender, and his captaincy shows his leadership skills.
While his stats may not be as spectacular as some of the other all-time greats but it was his ability lead a defense that made Italy one year after another.
12. Iniesta
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 770 | 78 | 158 |
- League Titles 9
- Champions League Titles 4
- World Cup Titles 1
- Ballond’or Awards: 0
A very team effort spearheaded Spain’s run as one of the best countries in football in the 2000s. Andres Iniesta was the leader of the team, a central midfielder who spent nearly his entire professional life with Barcelona.
Although he doesn’t have the impressive goal-scoring stats of other players who make it on this list, he is widely recognized as one the greatest players at his position in soccer history.
Many teams rely on him to play well on both the domestic and international levels. His prime line up with the second and third players on this list has made him one of the most respected players in the game.
11. Neymar
| Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 443 | 263 | 165 |
- League Titles 5
- Champions League Titles 1
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 0
Neymar is the best player in the game, other than Ronaldo and Messi. Although he has experienced some ups and downs in his career, there is no doubt that Neymar is one of most gifted players the game has ever seen.
Neymar, still in his 20s has the chance to climb up the list if he adds more to his CV. A World Cup championship is the most important thing missing. Brazil has been a little behind during his time.
He could be a little more successful domestically with Paris Saint Germain or any other clubs he joins. Although he has the marketability and skill to be a top five player, he still needs to work on his craft.
10. Thierry Henry
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 791 | 360 | 176 |
- League Titles 2
- Champions League Titles 1
- World Cup Titles 1
- Ballond’or Awards: 0
Thierry Henry is one the most successful domestic players. Although he spent some of his career in France during his playing days, it was his move from France to Arsenal that made him a legend.
Arsenal gave him nine seasons, in which he played in 254 matches and scored 174 goals. Many people still believe that he is the greatest Premier League player.
France won the 1998 World Cup with him. He was also an integral part of many other titles, proving that he’s one of the most skilled team players in the game.
9. Ronaldinho
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 543 | 197 | 163 |
- League Titles 2
- Champions League Titles 1
- World Cup Titles 1
- Ballond’or Awards: 1
Many people remember Ronaldinho because of his outrageous style and charisma on the field. He was not only a showman, but also one of the greatest goal scorers of his time.
Ronaldinho, another Brazilian legend, is often overlooked by others from his country. While there’s a lot to his game, there was also a lot more technicality that allowed him to reach the top.
8. Ronaldo (R9)
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 452 | 295 | 77 |
- League Titles 2
- Champions League Titles 0
- World Cup Titles 2
- Ballond’or Awards: 2
Ronaldo, also known as the Brazilian soccer star, has been eclipsed by Cristiano Ronaldo over the past few years. He was a great striker in his prime. He was able to win FIFA World Player of the Year three times and two Ballon D’or awards.
Ronaldo proved that he was one of the greatest players to ever play the game in Brazil at the time. He won two World Cup titles and held the record for the most tournament goals. While that record was broken, many remember him as one the most important players of modern hockey.
7. Franz Beckenbauer
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 584 | 58 | 73 |
- League Titles 5
- Champions League Titles 3
- World Cup Titles 1
- Ballond’or Awards: 2
Franz Beckenbauer was the first player to be paired with a sweeper. His playing career was very successful. He was the star for Bayern Munich and the German national teams, and he won many trophies during his career.
He is one the three only players to win the World Cup as both a player or a manager. He won in 1974 and 1990. Franz Beckenbauer, despite only being number 7, is widely regarded as the greatest defender ever.
6. Johan Cruyff
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 502 | 263 | 145 |
- League Titles 10
- Champions League Titles 3
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 3
There have been many skilled professional Dutch soccer players over the years, but Johan Cruyff has been regarded as the greatest. He did win the Ballon d’Or three times in his career, dominating the early 1970s both domestically and internationally.
He was not only a great player but also an influential figure in the evolution and development of soccer. He was a part of many youth academies around the world because of his coaching methods. He became a successful coach and showed that he is one of the greatest soccer minds ever.
5. Zinedine Zidane
| Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 631 | 121 | 119 |
- League Titles 3
- Champions League Titles 1
- World Cup Titles 1
- Ballond’or Awards: 1
Zinedine Zidane, currently considered the greatest French soccer player of all-time, had an extraordinary professional career.
He played for several clubs, including Real Madrid and Juventus. His most memorable moments were as a French national team player, where he was able guide the team to victory in 1998 FIFA World Cup.
It would have been an unforgettable career if he had been able to win again the World Cup in 2006. He was sent off for his headbutt against Italy in the World Cup finals.
He is now the manager at Real Madrid and has a remarkable managerial career.
4. Pele
| Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 1363 | 1279 | 346 |
- League Titles 6
- Champions League Titles 0
- World Cup Titles 3
- Ballond’or Awards: N/A
Comparing different eras is difficult because so much has changed in soccer. Pele was the greatest of all time, but it wasn’t that close.
Although many believe he is the greatest ever player, it is not easy to see how the modern game can justify him being there.
He still deserves a lot and is one of the greatest winners of all-time. Pele did not go to Europe’s top clubs for money in an era when players were less likely to wear the Brazilian colors internationally.
Brazil won multiple World Cups, with Pele as the leader. That is his one advantage over everyone else.
3. Maradona
| Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 331 | 153 | 51 |
- League Titles 3
- Champions League Titles 0
- World Cup Titles 1
- Ballond’or Awards: N/A
Maradona, who recently passed away, has returned to the spotlight. Maradona is often credited with being the best player his generation and helping Argentina win the World Cup. He was a great player with many memorable moments.
He was not as well-rounded as the best modern players. This is the only negative about him. Maradona was a great player, but he wasn’t as well-rounded during his prime as Ronaldo and Messi.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
| Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 1122 | 815 | 230 |
- League Titles 7
- Champions League Titles 5
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 5
It can all come down to personal preference. While many believe Cristiano Ronaldo to be the greatest soccer player ever, others favor Messi. Ronaldo is the larger player. However, they don’t play the same way so it is difficult to choose one.
Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down at all, which is quite surprising given how much mileage he has.
He is an excellent player who can play in many different areas. While not everyone will be a fan of his talent, it is easy to see why.
1. Lionel Messi
| Matches | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|
| 783 | 673 | 301 |
- League Titles 10
- Champions League Titles 4
- World Cup Titles 0
- Ballond’or Awards: 6
It’s a fascinating era in which the two greatest players of all time are competing simultaneously. It’s almost as if Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo have been at it for a while now. And they continue to add to their legacy, both nationally and internationally.
Messi has been able achieve individual and team success at every level, except for the World Cup. Argentina has seen some good teams and had a few glimpses, but it has never been able to pull it off.
It’s frustrating. He may not be able to win again realistically. However, there is always hope if they can recreate some magic in the next game.
He is still able to cause offense for others while playing for Barcelona and, as such, he holds the title for now.