Who is the GOAT of Football? Greatest Football Players Ever​

Football is not just a game. It is like a dream motivated by passion, emotion, and the unwavering love of fans who don’t shy away from giving their opinions on their favourite players or teams. The presence of many great players has graced the game, and every time their supporters come together for an argument about greatness and impact, the most important question that is thrown on the turf is – “Who is the GOAT (Greatest of all-time) of football?”

From the rise of football in the UK to its gracious journey across the world, it has seen greatest football players ever​ like Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano, Zinedine Zidane, Johan Cruyff, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who have not only left a lasting impact on the game, but have also won the hearts of millions, creating a whole new dilemma for the fans to decide who can be considered the real G.O.A.T. Choosing any particular player in the debate of “who is the GOAT of football” is like finding a needle in a haystack, as there are so many legendary players out there who have dazzled like stars with their legacy and achievements and have made it a difficult task to find a numerical order in this debate.

List of Greatest Footballer of All Time

After hours of ‘discussion’ (we have to find a better word for argument), our team was able to rank the top 10 greatest footballers of all time. However, it took the same amount of time to finalize who the greatest footballer is and who will be at number 2 on the list of the top 10 GOAT.

What Makes a Player a GOAT in Football

In the century-old debate of “who is the goat of football”, personal preferences have always played a major role in finding the GOAT, at least for every different fan base. But, above personal preferences, several key factors like longevity, goals, assists, major trophy counts, individual achievements, and influence come into effect to determine the goat of football. We have not ranked the goats of football out of respect, as each one of them has contributed a lot to make football the most beautiful game on earth.

• Consistency & Longevity: Playing at the highest level for a long time with consistency is a great deal. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have shared the stage for a long time and have achieved a lot while competing with each other.
• Goal & Assist contribution: This is a big parameter in choosing who is the goat of football. Many players have won many titles, but have failed to offer in-goal and assist contributions. Ronaldo, Messi, Pele, or Maradona, all these players have been crucial for their teams’ victories, thanks to their goals or assists. At the same time, defenders also contributed towards goals and assists on top of their breathtaking tackles, aerial duels, and sliding tackles.
• Number of trophies: Trophy count has played a crucial role in our search for the greatest football player. A player’s trophy cabinet can lead us to their success. Most of the greatest players have won plenty of titles in their careers.
• Legacy: With success comes legacy. If a player has created a legacy of his own, then he will leave a lasting impact on football for generations to come. Most of the players who have been considered the goats of football have influenced millions of fans and players.

Who is the Real Goat of Football? List of Contenders Revealed

Below are the 10 contenders in the race for the greatest football players ever​. Remember, these rankings are based on our methodology, which we have discussed in the previous segment of our article.

10. Ronaldo Nazario (Forward)

Another Ronaldo, the real Ronaldo, according to many, now sits with the goats of football as his legacy and impact are secure with us. The bald Brazilian monster was a cruiser in the front, and it was no surprise to see him win the FIFA World Cup player of the year award at the age of 20. Imagine leading the attack for Brazil alongside Seleção legends like Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, or Cafu, and going on to win two Ballon d’Ors, becoming the greatest scorer in World Cup history in 2006.

The celebrated striker was one of the few players who plied his trade with both Real Madrid and Barcelona. The prized jewel of the Catalans, having won the European Super Cup, La Liga, and other titles, joined Real Madrid in 2002. A player who is considered the GOAT always gives something to his nation, and Ronaldo Nazario gave the best gift to Brazil by lifting the 2002 World Cup and winning the Golden Boot. Many football fan believes that he is the original “Ronaldo” and not Cristiano Ronaldo.

9. Thierry Henry (Forward)

It was a hot afternoon in England in 2005, and Thierry Henry, wearing the red-and-white shirt of Arsenal, was toying with the defenders in a Premier League match. Commentators were heard saying: “He (Henry) is the best player ever when he has the ball at his feet. He can make you dance as he goes.” Longevity, goals, trophies, and legacy, Henry had everything at his disposal when he was pulling strings for Arsene Wenger’s famous “Invincibles”.

Forget about trophies, honours, goals, or assists. If you want to watch art, magic, and flawlessness, watch Henry with the ball. The Shakespeare of football, the French legend scored over 300 goals in his club career, having won everything on his way, and became one of the best Premier League strikers of all time. If you want to include a player in your argument of who is the goat of football, then Henry is your man, who can take you to the stars with his magic and clinical touches.

8. Zinedine Zidane (Midfielder)

There is a common saying in football that talent flourishes with time and that time doesn’t come everyday. Zinedine Zidane was exactly that kind of player whose talent and playing style had come at the expense of steel.

His iconic goal in the final that helped Real Madrid win the 2002 UEFA Champions League reminds everyone how an attacker or a midfielder whose basic function is to provide should be decisive when it matters most. Defying the rule of consistency, Zidane was a wandering soul who could do anything he wanted with the ball, as if you were watching a craftsman turning art into life. Let’s not forget, in the debate of “who is the goat of football”, Zidane’s two world-class goals in the 1998 World Cup final that made France the global champions for the first time.

7. Diego Maradona (Midfielder)

Diego Maradona, a player who was created by God himself with care and tenderness. If you want trophies and goals, then you can go for Pele, Ronaldo, or Messi, but for magic and artistic styles, there is only one Maradona. He was a player who scored two most iconic goals in the history of Argentina in the 1986 World Cup – the goal of the century and the “Hand of God” goal, both against England in Mexico. An entire nation bowed down to the prince of football, who is also worshipped as a god in the city of Naples.

Maradona enthralled a whole generation with his silky touches and dribbling, making him one of the best dribblers in the world. Barcelona, Napoli, and Boca Juniors were his playing grounds where he emerged to be the goat of football at a young age. Briefly put, Maradona was so much more than achievements; he was and will remain an emotion to millions.

6. Pele (Forward)

Is it possible to single out one single goat of football when the name of Pele emerges? How can a person define the greatness of themselves? A boy scored a hat-trick in the semifinal of a FIFA World Cup and netted a brace in the final to win the global tournament for his nation, and he did it all at a tender age of 17. Isn’t it crazy enough? Three FIFA World Cups belong to that boy, and his name was Pele, who could stop a war between countries so that people from both sides could enjoy him playing, such an aura he had.

Speed, athleticism, and a hunger for goals made Pele a goal machine, and he became the highest goal scorer in the history of football with over 1000 goals, if friendly games are taken into account. In 1977, Pele bid adieu to the world of football and retired like a king. Many are of the view that several rules, including the card system, were introduced to football due to the constant fatal tackles made on him. It’s safe to say Pele is football and a true goat of the game.

5. Paolo Maldini (Defender)

Paolo Maldini, a quintessential figure of AC Milan history, is our next pick in the debate of who is . Talk about loyalty, consistency, and longevity the versatile Italian defender lived by those codes. Very few could demonstrate the Italian style of football the way Maldini did during his 25-year-long football career at AC Milan.

Strength and agility were his forte and he never ran away from a duel on the pitch. Serie A, Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League, and FIFA Club World Cup – a few of the major trophies Maldini conquered in an illustrated career that made him one of the greatest football players in the history of Italy. The only grief in his career, as explained by him on numerous occasions, will always be not winning the 1994 World Cup final.

4. Franz Beckenbauer (Defender)

The Kaiser Moniker of football! Franz Beckenbauer was a name that probably didn’t win the heart of football fans who loved to see skills, fine passing, and stylish goals. What made the great Bayern Munich star one of the goats of German football, who once led West Germany to two important major international trophies – the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

Beckenbauer was the epitome of adaptability. Managers after managers, everyone threw him in the pit with different formations, forcing him to play either as a striker or a winger, or a second striker. In every position, he thrived and made the Bavarians a dominant force outside Germany.

3. Johan Cruyff (Midfielder)

Talk about creativity and revolution in football, and there is Johan Cruyff, an institution in himself. The Ajax legend changed the way of football with his tactics, vision, and playing style when he served at Barcelona as a player and a coach. Cruyff earned the goat of football tag when he was at Ajax, thanks to his unbelievable passing range and creativity, leading him to be labelled as the greatest dribbler in the world.

Cruyff’s legacy is not limited to his scoring and dribbling skills, as it goes beyond that. The three-time Ballon d’Or winner made football look very easy, which inspired a whole generation of players to idolise him and his vision.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Forward)

Cristiano Ronaldo, a phoenix bird in the reality of the game. Every time fans wage verbal war against each other to determine who is the goat of football, the name of the Portuguese great will appear in everyone’s mind for the legacy Ronaldo has built to inspire the generations of young players and fans.

From emerging through the ranks of Sporting CP to playing for the greatest clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, the record goal scorer of the game (1000+ Goals) has etched his name in the book of the goat of football. UEFA Champions League, La Liga, English Premier League, UEFA Euro Championship, you name it, Ronaldo has won them all except the FIFA World Cup, making him one of the most decorated football players, which has been elusive in the decorated career of the Portuguese.

1. Lionel Messi (Forward)

Another GOAT of football who needs no introduction and has taken the world for a spin for over a decade is Lionel Messi. He is probably the most complete footballer the game has ever embraced. Messi’s career began at Barcelona and saw him win every major trophy in club football.

However, all hell broke loose when Messi led La Albiceleste from the front to three major international title glories in three years by lifting the FIFA World Cup 2022 and two Copa America titles. His left foot, style of play, dribbling, and free-kicks will remain immortal in the arena of football. Messi remains the only player to have won eight Ballon d’Ors in football and is a top contender for the Super Ballon d’Or, which is awarded to the best player over the last 3 decades.