In the extensive and illustrious history of football, only a chosen few players can stake claim to have made a lasting impact on the sport with their exceptional skills on the pitch.
While some players have had fleeting moments of brilliance at the top level, and others have enjoyed long careers without reaching the pinnacle of the game, every now and then a truly extraordinary talent emerges, combining exceptional quality with remarkable longevity.
The very best players can blend these two qualities with unforgettable moments and substantial success, earning their place among football’s legendary figures.
The most recent additions to this elite group are Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, both of whom have spent over fifteen years breaking records, setting statistics, and reaching milestones that place them among the greatest players to have ever graced the game.
Ranking a top 10 list of these football greats is a daunting task, with some legends inevitably missing out, much to the dismay of some fans. Honorable mentions in this list include iconic figures like Eusebio, Gerd Muller, Garrincha, George Best, Ronaldinho, and Lev Yashin, among many others who also deserve recognition.
Despite the challenges, Sports Mole has taken on the Herculean task of narrowing down the history of football to its top 10 greatest players. So sit back, enjoy, and be prepared to agree or disagree with our list of the top 10 footballers of all time.
Known as the ‘Galloping Major’, Ferenc Puskas is regarded as one of the greatest goal scorers in football history, boasting an impressive record of 806 goals in just 793 official matches for both his club and country.
That particular match, where Puskas scored despite playing with a hairline fracture in his ankle, ended up denying him the opportunity to win the biggest prize in football, as he later refused to return to communist Hungary and was subsequently banned from representing the national team.
However, the peak of his career was yet to come; Puskas joined European champions Real Madrid at the age of 31 in 1958, forming a lethal partnership with Alfredo Di Stefano that further solidified Los Blancos’ status as the best team in Europe.
During his time at Madrid, Puskas netted 242 goals in just 262 games, contributing to three more European Cup victories and five La Liga titles – adding to the five league titles he had won in Hungary.
A four-time recipient of the Pichichi Trophy for top scorer in Spain, Puskas’ legacy lives on with FIFA’s annual award for the best goal of the year named in his honor.