Football is not just a sport, it is like a religion for fans, and footballers are worshipped like gods. Football has witnessed some of the most legendary and outstanding performers who took their greatness to another level through some remarkable performances.
These players possessed different skill sets and delivered during critical situations consistently. Their longevity was another factor that helped them survive in the game for a long period.
We take a look at these ten legendary football players in detail.
1. Pele (Brazil)
The late legendary striker is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Pele dominated some of the best opposition teams. The ‘Black Pearl,’ as he was fondly called, scored 1279 goals in 1363 games.
He also had an impressive club career for the Santos and New York Cosmos. He was the youngest to score a goal in a World Cup game (17 years and 249 days) in the 1958 World Cup against Sweden, while he won the Golden Boot award in the 1970 World Cup.
2. Diego Maradona (Argentina)
The late legendary Argentina striker single-handedly won games for Argentina with his quick counterattacks and goal-scoring abilities.
Maradona won Serie A for Napoli single-handedly and was the hero of the 1986 World Cup for Argentina. He scored 348 goals in 690 games he played in his career.
3. Zinedine Zidane (France)
‘Zizou,’ as he is fondly called, highlighted his calibre in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil, scoring 2 goals, and the 2000 Euro Championships. The former French striker scored some brilliant goals and was known for his clever marksmanship. He had a successful career with Juventus and Real Madrid.
In the 2002 Champions League final, he scored a sensational goal against Bayern Leverkusen, producing a left-footed strike from outside the box. Zidane was the manager of Real Madrid, where he showcased his clever mentorship, guiding the team to 3 back-to-back Champions League trophies from 2016 to 2018.
4. Luis Figo (Portugal)
Arguably one of the greatest stars in Portuguese football, Figo was known for his strong technique as a playmaker. He scored 93 goals in 570 games and represented Real Madrid and Inter Milan at club level.
Although the former Portuguese international wasn’t a big goal scorer, his ability to build attacks from the midfield and his ability to create goal-scoring chances with his creative sense provided acceleration to the forward line.
5. Ronaldo (Brazil)
Undoubtedly one of the biggest stars of Brazilian football, Ronaldo has scored some brilliant goals with his electric runs and outstanding finishing. He played for Inter Milan, AC Milan, Real Madrid, etc.
He won the Ballon d’Or in 1997 and 2002 and played a crucial role in Brazil’s win in the 2002 World Cup. He scored 342 goals in 482 games, including 62 goals for Brazil.
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6. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
A modern-day great, Messi can build attacks, score goals, and topple the best defences with his speed. The Argentine’s playmaking skills are filled with creativity and technique through which he can create set-piece chances.
He has won the Ballon d’Or 7 times and has won Champions League trophies with FC Barcelona. The striker blossomed under the mentorship of Pep Guardiola. He scored over 735 goals and 112 goals in 189 games for Argentina.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Another modern-day legend who has single-handedly won games for Portugal and Real Madrid. Ronaldo was spotted by Sir Alex Ferguson, and it was at Manchester United in 2003, where he played under Ferguson.
He played for Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018 and for Juventus from 2018 to 2021. He returned to Manchester United in 2021.
The Portuguese footballer has set high standards on the field as far as his fitness is concerned. Ronaldo has produced some remarkable performances where he has destroyed the best defences with his pace, speed, and spectacular finishing.
He has scored over 770 goals in his club career and 133 goals for Portugal. He has won Champions League trophies for Real Madrid.
8. David Beckham (England)
The former England skipper administered the midfield with a clever sense of positioning and had the knack of creating chances through set pieces. Beckham was known for scoring goals through accurate free kicks, which was his strength. He could build counterattacks from the midfield for the forward line through clever passing.
Although Beckham couldn’t win a FIFA trophy for the ‘Three Lions,’ he was part of the Manchester United team that won 6 Premier League trophies and UEFA Champions League in 1998-99. He also played for AC Milan and Real Madrid.
9. Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
The former Brazilian left-back was part of the 2002 World Cup-winning team. Carlos scored some sensational goals with his free kicks.
Due to his solid technique, Carlos was sometimes positioned as a defensive midfielder due to his aggressive and combative style of play.
He played for Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League. He scored 69 goals in 593 games and 10 goals in 125 games for Brazil. He looked solid with his tackles.
10. Eusebio (Portugal)
Arguably the finest goal-scorer in Portuguese football. The late legend terrorised the best defensive outfits with his electric counterattacks and speed.
Eusebio scored 424 goals in 436 games, while he scored 41 goals in 64 games for Portugal. Eusebio had the knack of moving in goal-scoring positions quickly with his pace and skilful dribbles.
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