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World Cup Best Players of All Time: 2023 Edition

world cup best players

Soccer (or football) is the world game, and the World Cup best players of all time have all become national heroes and international superstars on the world stage.

World Cup Best Players

Every four years we are captivated by players who combine skill, flair and pure brilliance. These are the 15 best World Cup players of all time who have all left their mark on the game.

15. Paolo Rossi

Known for his pace, precision and intelligence, Paolo Rossi made an impact as one of the World Cup best players of all time. At the 1982 World Cup Rossi failed to score in Italy’s first four games.

He still managed to cement his place in history by finishing the tournament with six goals, helping to guide Italy to their third World Cup title.

14. Michel Platini

Michel Platini is one of the best passers and free-kick takers ever seen in the World Cup. He possessed incredible vision, intelligence, and he had an ability to be able to dictate the flow of a game.

Part of the 1978, 1982 and 1986 France squads, Platini led France to the semi finals of the 1982 tournament, and again in 1986 after winning the Ballon d’Or three times in a row.

13. Ferenc Puskas

So incredible was Ferenc Puskas, FIFA’s annual “most beautiful” goal of the year award is named in his honour. He was one of the most powerful strikers of all time scoring 84 goals in 85 games for Hungary.

Puskas played in only one World Cup but made a lasting impact with his dribbling, shooting and ability to read the game. Despite the “Mighty Magyars” dominating the 1954 tournament, Puskas’ Hungary is one of the greatest golden generations never to win a World Cup.

12. Just Fontaine

Just Fontaine is one of the World Cup best players of all time who made an extraordinary impact in the tournament. He possessed clinical finishing, speed and great positional awareness.

Fontaine scored 13 goals in just six matches at the 1958 World Cup, a record for most goals in a single tournament which stands to this day and is unlikely to ever be beaten.

11. Miroslav Klose

The record for most total goals in the World Cup belongs to German Miroslav Klose with 16 goals from 24 games. When Klose scored, Germany never lost a game.

A constant threat in the box, Klose made a habit of finding the back of the net by exploiting his aerial ability, clinical finishing and positioning.

10. Johann Cruyff

Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Johann Cruyff is one of the best World Cup players of all time and arguably the greatest player never to win the tournament.

One of the most technically gifted players in history, Cruyff led Holland to the World Cup Final with four goals in the 1974 tournament, a game they went on to lose 2-1 to West Germany.

9. Bobby Moore

Bobby Moore was able to lead attacks from the back and was extremely composed under pressure. He became an English national hero when he led the Three Lions to victory in the 1966 World Cup tournament.

Considered one of the best defenders in history, he was able to read and break down attacking plays with phenomenal precision.

8. Garrincha

Despite having a spinal deformity which left him bow-legged, Garrincha is considered to be the greatest dribbler of all time and was able to evade defenders with ease.

His explosiveness and feints were instrumental to Brazil winning consecutive World Cups in 1958 and 1962, tournaments he formed a deadly partnership with Pele in.

7. Gerd Muller

Gerd Muller was one of the most prolific goal scorers on the world’s biggest stage for West Germany. One of the best finishers of all time, he scored 10 goals at the 1970 tournament and four in 1974.

Muller was a nightmare for defenders with his intelligence and clinical finishing, averaging better than a goal in international games.

6. Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane was a genius. One of the greatest players technically, he possessed excellent vision, was an impeccable passer of the ball and dictated the flow of games with ease. His ability to perform under pressure is understated.

Zidane starred for France in three World Cups and helped win the 1998 World Cup on home soil, scoring two goals in the World Cup Final.

5. Lothar Matthaus

One of the best World Cup players of all time, Lothar Matthaus was a phenomenon, with an exceptional and accurate passing range, great technical ability and leadership qualities that could lift everybody around him.

The German midfielder was a behemoth both on offense and defense. Matthaus made a record 25 World Cup appearances across five tournaments, and he duelled with Maradona in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals.

4. Franz Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer is credited with revolutionizing the game by popularizing and perfecting the modern sweeper role. He is the only defender in history to win the Ballon d’Or twice and led Germany to World Cup victories as a player in 1974, and as a manager in 1990.

Appearing in three World Cups for West Germany as a player, he combined his defensive skills with his remarkable ball-playing ability to become one of the best players in World Cup history.

3. Ronaldo

Ronaldo is one of the greatest World Cup players and strikers of all time. He helped lead Brazil to World Cup victories in 1994 and 2002, and retired with a then-record 15 World Cup goals across four tournaments.

At the height of his game Ronaldo was a ferocious striker and one of the most commercialized players in sports history. His dribbling, finishing and flair made him one of the most thrilling World Cup players to watch.

2. Diego Maradona

Argentinian national hero Diego Maradona is the second best World Cup player of all time. He played 21 games across four tournaments, scored eight goals and provided eight assists.

The victorious 1986 World Cup is Maradona’s greatest legacy. His notorious “hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” goals separated Argentina and England in the quarter-final.

1. Pele

Pele is the best World Cup player of all time. Known for his exceptional power and accuracy with either foot, he was able to anticipate his opponents every move. Pele also had fantastic vision and intelligence when linking up with teammates.

An integral part of four World Cup campaigns for Brazil, he three of those tournaments with World Cup victories in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Pele finished with 12 goals and a record 10 assists from 14 World Cup appearances.

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