With Lionel Messi again prompting debate about whether or not he is the best player of all time, here’s our view of the ten finest footballers to ever grace the game…
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10) Ronaldo
If not for injuries and poor overall fitness in the latter part of his career, the original Ronaldo would surely be higher on this list on pure talent alone, having looked unplayable on the pitch at times and inspiring Brazil to glory in the 2002 World Cup almost entirely by himself.
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9) Alfredo Di Stefano
A ridiculously successful player with Real Madrid, Alfredo Di Stefano may have played in a very different era but remains one of the finest talents to grace the football pitch.
8) Cristiano Ronaldo
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s phenomenal goalscoring record since moving to Real Madrid means he cannot be ignored, with the Portuguese forward also enjoying a fine trophy haul of club and individual honours to match.
7) Franz Beckenbauer
Perhaps the best defender of all time, German legend Franz Beckenbauer is certainly a deserving member of this list for his talent and achievements in the game.
6) Michel Platini
Perhaps under-rated in the history books, Michel Platini was undoubtedly a unique talent who regularly stood out as a world great for the likes of Juventus and the French national team.
5) Zinedine Zidane
One of the best players to watch in terms of pure skill and entertainment factor, Zinedine Zidane is one of the finest players of recent history and one who will be remembered as an all-time great.
4) Johan Cruyff
A freakishly skillful player who changed football in Holland and at Barcelona forever, what more can be said about Johan Cruyff, who in many people’s minds is under-rated and better than the likes of Pele and Maradona.
3) Pele
A truly special player and certainly in the top three of the very best to ever play the sport, though some feel Pele was fortunate not to play in a more competitive league and also in a Brazilian national side filled with other superbly talented individuals.
2) Diego Maradona
A player who won games and indeed tournaments all by himself, there is a very strong case to make for Diego Maradona as the best of all time, though in this writer’s opinion he narrowly misses out on top spot on a few details…
1) Lionel Messi
Modern football fan’s bias? Perhaps, but what Lionel Messi has done for Barcelona maybe just slightly puts him above his fellow countryman Maradona. The Argentine has broken so many records it’s impossible to keep track, and plays with a flair and style that no one else comes close to in an age in which football has become more physically competitive and more tactically defensive. He may not have won the World Cup, but he has played a huge role in two Champions League titles and many more La Liga triumphs for Barca. In both numbers and the sheer quality of each of his hundreds of goals, it’s increasingly hard to look past this man as the best to ever play the game.