Football is among the most popular sports, treasured and worshiped by many worldwide. Football players win multiple titles during their careers, but very few are under the category - God of football. Many consider Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to be the God of football. But the greatest footballers of all time are Pele and Diego Maradona, also called the Hand of God by the football world.
The game of football produces legendary players of all time. Below is the list of the top greatest footballers of all time.
| S. No | Player Name | Country | Goals | Assists |
| 1 | Pele | Brazil | 1279 | 231 |
| 2 | Diego Maradona | Argentina | 293 | 226 |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 838 | 374 |
| 4 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 895 | 252 |
| 5 | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands | 296 | 167 |
| 6 | Zinedine Zidane | France | 152 | 149 |
| 7 | Ronaldo | Brazil | 357 | 94 |
| 8 | Ronaldinho | Brazil | 230 | 187 |
| 9 | Franz Beckenbauer | Germany | 72 | 76 |
| 10 | Alfredo Di Stefano | Argentina | 302 | 1 |
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Pele- God of Football
Pele, real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is one of the greatest footballers of all time and was named "the greatest" by FIFA, also known as God of Football in the world. He was an absolute machine when it came to scoring a goal. During his time, he was the most famous and highest-paid footballer in the world. Pele started his football career at a very young age i.e. 16 years.
He started gaining popularity when he scored a hat trick against France in the World Cup semifinal in 1958. Soon after his over-the-top mountain performances, he was declared as a national treasure by the Brazilian government. To date, Pele is the only football player who is always kept at the top of the list of greatest football players of all time.
Diego Maradona- The Golden Boy
Diego Maradona is one of the greatest football players in the football world. Known for his artistry, Diego was an extremely skilled football player. He was undoubtedly the icon who showed his leadership skills on the field that would leave every spectator in astonishment. Maradona made his debut at the age of 14 years, being the youngest football player from Argentina. He made his team proud numerous times, winning the 1986 World Cup.
Lionel Messi - The King of Football
Lionel Messi is an unstoppable football player from Argentina. After Diego, Messi has taken the title of the best football player from Argentina. Messi was declared FIFA World Player 7 times in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2022 and 2023.
Messi is an excellent passer when playing football on the field. He is an expert in making his way through packed defenses. Talking about his countless achievements, during the 2011-2012 football season, Messi scored an unbelievable 73 goals. He took Argentina to the World Cup glory for the 1st time in 36 years. Messi was awarded the Golden Ball award for being the best player in the tournament (7 goals, 3 assists).
Cristiano Ronaldo - A Football Legend
Cristiano Ronaldo is the perfect example of what you can achieve through football. From living in a very poor area to now living in mansions, Ronaldo unquestionably has come a long way. With his determination, passion, and never dying ambition for football, he is today regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Talking about his goals career, he has scored 765 club goals (Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, Sporting CP and Al Nassr combined) and 130 goals for the Portugal National Team.
Also read: Football World Cup Winners List
Johan Cruyff - Dutch Maestro
Former Dutch football player and coach Johan Cruyff is well-known for winning the Ballon d'Or award 3 times, i.e., 1971, 1973, and 1974. Also, in 1999, Johan Cruyff was unanimously the European Player of the Century. His simple winning logic is "when you have the ball, the other team can't score. It all comes down to organizing and positioning." Football is all about control, controlling the ball on the field. It was never a dull moment with Cruyff on the field.
FAQs:
Who is the king of football 2024?
Lionel Messi is the holder of the title 'King of football.' He is best known for his dribbling skills, tricks on the field, impossible goals, and never-ending determination to win the game.
Who is the GOAT of football in 2024?
Ronaldo and Messi have been the two names for the title of GOAT of Football. Both are known for their successful and tremendous performances in football. Talking about the Ballon d'Or award, Messi has won this title 8 times while Ronaldo has won the title 5 times.
Who is the football god of all time?
Pele, the legendary Brazilian footballer, is considered the football god of all time. No player has won more world cups (3) than him.
Who is the god of football in India?
Sunil Chhetri is regarded as the God of football in India. He has scored 94 goals in 151 international appearances.
