Top 10 Best Turkish Footballers of All Time - Ranked

Turkey's national football team and their players have always been part of the discussion whenever the topic is about the best players on the field. However, the spotlight on these players came after the European side reached a third-place finish in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. However, Turkey’s presence on the global stage has only been reminded by some glimpses of good footballing displays by the country’s domestic club, Galatasaray rather than any collective achievement in any international tournaments so far.

Despite failing to impress the country in the last few years, many Turkish footballers have taken the biggest leagues across the world by storm, displaying the country’s aura in the game. Talk about Real Madrid player Arda Guler, the teenage wonder boy from Turkey, who plays for the biggest club in Europe, Real Madrid. Just like him, many players from the proud footballing nation came under the spotlight for their incredible talent and achievements over the years.

List of Greatest Turkish Footballers

The table below contains the names of the best Turkish players of all time who have represented the nation at the biggest stage and are also the flag bearers of their nation.

How We Ranked the Best Turkish Players of All Time?

The above list of the greatest Turkish footballers is based on the following ranking factors. Let's understand how these ranking factors help us give ranking to the 10 famous Turkish footballers.

• Career Stats: To ensure we pick only the best Turkish players of all time, we have used the metric Career Stats, which will focus on direct contributions made by the player. This will include (Goals, Assists, Clean Sheets, and other relevant statistical points)
• Trophies & Achievements: A player’s Success at both domestic and international levels, including major tournament performances with both club and country and how much silverware he had won in the entirety of his career.
• Career longevity: Any player’s duration, consistency, influence and most importantly, the impact on Turkish football culture and legacy is another factor we have considered before giving the rankings to the best Turkish football players ever.
• Recognition abroad: A player’s technical ability, versatility, and prominence in top European leagues such as EPL, La Liga and Serie A more.

Who are the Best Turkish Football Players Ever?

Now, let's see how the careers of the top 10 best Turkish football players looked like and why they are being included in our list of the 10 best Turkish players of all time.

Note: The stats are taken from various sources and may differ from others.

10. Lefter Kucukandonyadis (1947–1965)

Lefter Kucukandonyadis is most probably the greatest Turkish goalscorer. He also became the first Turkish footballer to play for a foreign club when he joined Fiorentina in 1951 after leaving Turkish team Galatasaray. He clocked more than 400 goals in less than 600 games for Cimbom. He represented his country in 46 games, recording 21 goals in those matches.

In his last days as a footballer, he returned to AEK Athens and played a few games for them and later coached the same team, which was also his parents' homeland. His long career and several records rank him in 10th place in our list of the best Turkish footballers.

9. Yildiray Basturk (1997–2010)

Yildiray Basturk was the kind of player who not only became a great Turkish footballer but also took the never-surrendering mentality to the foreign leagues. He attracted the keen eyes of Europe after his stupendous performance in the 2001/02 Bundesliga season with Bayer Leverkusen. He was a mainstay in the midfield in Turkey’s 2002 World Cup journey, where the country finished third. However, the player was recognized as one of the famous Turkish footballers after his career was nearing its end.

For our readers, we want to inform you that Bastruk is the only player in the list who, unfortunately, has 0 trophies to his name with the club or country. This shows how great he was with his gameplay and how he impacted the team he played in.

8. Hakan Sukur (1987–2008)

Another prized jewel on the list of the best Turkish footballers is Hakan Sukur. Recording a mouth-watering tally of 326 goals and 124 assists in his club career, the attacker went on to shake up European football in style. He scored four Champions League group stage goals and was instrumental in Galatasaray’s memorable European Cup journey. Sukur became the Turkish club’s all-time top scorer with 249 goals.

The Turkish side Galatasaray's run in the 1999/2000 UEFA Champions League saw Hakun Sakur score 4 goals in the group stage, which helped the team to reach third place in the tournament. In the very next season, he moved to Inter, where his gameplay was compared to Christian Vieri and the Brazilian Ronaldo. The above information was enough to place him among the top 8 best Turkish footballers.

7. Rustu Recber (1993–2012)

Rustu Recber is the most standout figure on this glorious list of the greatest Turkish players for his goalkeeping role. In 2002, Turkey finished third in the FIFA World Cup, thanks to the blistering performances of Recber between the sticks. His talent didn’t go unnoticed, as Barcelona signed him on a permanent contract.

But due to non-European player rule issues, his game time in La Liga was limited. Recber was still featured in 120 games in the Turkish national jersey and kept 57 clean sheets, allowing only 117 goals in the process.

6. Nihat Kahveci (1997–2012)

Nihat Kahveci is one of the most underrated footballers who raked up important goals for his teams in club football. Despite being a late bloomer, the prolific forward netted 75 goals in 195 games in the Spanish league La Liga. He began his career in Turkey but later moved to big European leagues during his golden period. Before announcing his retirement from international football, Kahveci scored 19 goals and assisted 12 times for Turkey in 69 appearances.

5. Metin Oktay (1954–1969)

Metin Oktay is probably the most influential Turkish footballer, who used to break records for fun. His contribution to the Turkish league earned him the nickname “king without a crown”. The celebrated forward won six domestic league titles in his country and built a long-lasting legacy of his own. Having won over 36 international caps, Oktay scored 19 goals in his career. In a long stint with Galatasaray, he won ten trophies in club football.

4. Arda Turan (2005–2022)

Arda Turan was one of the versatile footballers who always gave his all whenever he was on the pitch. The famous Turk became an important player in La Liga following a few impressive and successful seasons at Atletico Madrid, where he won a La Liga trophy and Europa League title. Later, he joined Spanish club FC Barcelona and won another Spanish top division trophy with the Catalan side. He donned the Turkish national football team jersey on 100 occasions and recorded 16 goals and 25 assists to his name.

3. Hakan Calhanoglu (2010–present)

Hakan Calhanoglu is the epitome of hard work, god-gifted talent and perseverance. The Turkish footballer is considered the most influential figure in the Inter Milan attack. If the Serie A giants had won the UEFA Champions League title in 2023, then he would have become the first Turkish footballer to win the title. The highly talented forward recently won the club’s 20th Italian top flight in 2024, and Calhanoglu played a pivotal role in that for Inter Milan. He has already earned 100 international caps and scored 19 goals.

2. Bulent Korkmaz (1987–2005)

Whenever the fans discuss loyalty in club football, Bulent Korkmaz’s name will be remembered with respect. The tall center-back played over 600 games for Galatasaray in his entire club career and helped them reach new heights. Bulent Korkmaz delivered his best performances during the Turkish club’s most successful season in 2000, when they went on to win the European Super Cup and the UEFA Cup. He earned 102 international caps before retiring in 2005.

1. Tugay Kerimoglu (1987–2009)

Tugay Kerimoglu is arguably the best Turkish footballer, thanks to his immense popularity amongst fans. Electric pace, strong right foot and powerful shooting were the most effective weapons in his arsenal. Tugay was the main guy in Galatasaray’s UEFA Cup-winning campaign in the 1999/2000 season.

The successful midfielder was dubbed the “Turkish delight” for his creative flair in the middle. With the help of a vast array of skills, he dominated English football at Rangers and Blackburn Rovers. In a 22-year-long career, he played over 700 club games and won 94 national caps.