BEST SOCCER PLAYERS OF ALL TIME PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Larry Edwards | 36 pages | 11 Mar 2015 | Createspace Independent Publishing Platform | 9781508831013 | English | United States Best Soccer Players of All Time PDF Book Career highlight: The Spain 82 triumph, including a hat-trick in a win over favourites Brazil. CR7 is one of the best players of his generation. And probably Di Stefano deserves to be higher. Career highlight: Yashin played in three World Cups for the Soviet Union, but he also had the honour of helping them to win the inaugural European Championship in It's an incredibly impressive haul, but doubly so considering that injury curtailed his career — he played his last game at just 28 years old. Career highlight: His triumphant finish to the closing goal of Mexico 70 — a superb team goal from perhaps the greatest side ever assembled. Hierro scored a century of goals with real Madrid over appearances, a sum even more astonishing given he played as a central defender though equally comfortably as a defensive midfielder who knew how to bring the ball up the field and restart the attack. Think about that for a minute. Six league titles, three European Cups and five domestic cups. But despite such a lengthy absence from the game, not to mention his ballooning weight and advancing years, the year-old was handed a lifeline by Real Madrid in Go read my article about Roberto Baggio! Blokhin scored in both finals. Effective and exceptional in equal measure. Or the reporter whose microphone he tossed into a lake during an innocuous interview. Pichichi would score goals out of appearances at Bilbao, a fantastic sum cut short by a fatal bout of typhus at age He won four Bundesliga titles and found the net in two of the three European Cup finals Bayern won between and His mysterious death at the age of 35 only added to the myth around the man. In the News. Whoa whoa whoa Career highlight: Stewart Coggin. Thank you for signing up to Four Four Two. Bursting onto the scene as a year-old looking to avenge the tears of his father when Brazil lost the World Cup final, Pele would go on to win the World Cup on three separate occasions and make Brazil the football nation. The Dutchman invented the Cruyff turn, which players in modern football widely use. By the time he left Ajax in they had won three in a row. Hagi could outdribble an opponent only to lash in a stunning, one in a million left footers as well as incredible ball control and passing abilities. When standing and sober, George Best did everything in his power to live up to the standards of his last name. Alfredo Di Stefano made Real Madrid the merengues , a team whose all-white kit and untouchable quality of play defined an era of Spanish and continental football. He was also bloody brilliant with a ball at his feet You can see the respect Maradona has from even the greatest players of this game by Messi's comments:. Creating a name in football is a daunting task, but creating an exceptional style unique to yourself, is, even more, a rigorous challenge. Zico was the heartbeat of one of history's most entertaining teams when he captained his country at Spain Best Soccer Players of All Time Writer FIFA lists him at goals. Creating a name in football is a daunting task, but creating an exceptional style unique to yourself, is, even more, a rigorous challenge. Effective and exceptional in equal measure. He wasn't always that stocky. YA bevvy of personal goals. Aaron Ramsey - weirdly - isn't the first Wales international that Italian giants Juventus have signed in their trophy-laden history. Colin May 9, A flexible forward, Boniperti could play anywhere in the final third of the pitch. But there was so much more to the Dutchman than impossibly tight-angled volleys. As he aged, Matthaus gravitated further and further towards the bottom of the pitch, retaining a formidable influence over the run of play. Just ask the Iceland team he belittled after they had the gall to hold his team to a draw. Rossi emerged from the depths of a lengthy ban for his 'alleged' involvement in Totonero, to become the iconic figure of Gli Azzurri's World Cup triumph. It takes a special type of footballer to invent his own skill move - Aiden McGeady aside, obviously. He is one of three players to have scored in every game of the tournament. But despite such a lengthy absence from the game, not to mention his ballooning weight and advancing years, the year-old was handed a lifeline by Real Madrid in Milan won Ronaldo is simply another player who - like Franco Baresi - is hurt by the criteria of this list. The following article will trigger you. A charismatic leader, he captained Italy to two consecutive World Cup titles in and , providing assists in both finals. Xavi Midfielder. Teammate Luis Figo even compared watching him play to having an orgasm. The legendary Brazilian's finest moment was probably in the semi-finals against Chile, when he scored two stunning goals. Ok, so in most other 'Greatest Footballers of All Time' lists, Kaka probably wouldn't make the cut, because there was a period of time in which he was at Real Madrid and was, well, pretty terrible. Possibly even more impressive than his enviable trophy haul was the smile he wore whilst playing — a man for whom football was a game to be enjoyed above all else. Sir Bobby Robson's reaction says it all. The player is also oustanding with both feet and header… Definitely Pele and Maradona are in the top 4 or 5. Topics Gallery. Warning: the following article will annoy you. While it has been no easy task, we have tried to break down the selection into three main factors: Ability to win matches single- handedly, longevity, and performance under pressure. Gifted with a curving free kick as well as a tactical genius, Zico lit up the early eighties and is often considered the greatest player of that era. Coming back from an injury, Ronaldo took the world by storm and finished as the top scorer, scoring an incredible eight goals and winning the Golden Shoe. Carles Puyol Defender. Messi is known for admirably converting freekicks. Platini inspired a new generation of French footballers and is one of the all time greats of the beautiful game. Their partnership blossomed and it was at the San Siro where Suarez confirmed his legend, winning back-to-back European Cups in and , plus Euro 64 with Spain. So far, Ronaldo has gathered admiration throughout the three countries he has played club soccer. Scoring a brace of headed goals in the final, Zidane gave France their much-awaited maiden World Cup triumph against much-fancied Brazil, thus making him an overnight hero and icon. Winner of the Ballon d'Or trophy three years in a row ,84,85 , the Frenchman reached the peak of his game when he guided the France to the European Championship title in By Sara Kettler. Is it the fact that in his native land he is considered to be a God? The Dutchman invented the Cruyff turn, which players in modern football widely use. The epitome of a number 10, Costa was a catalyst for team action, constantly roaming the pitch, dictating the tempo. He broke Gerd Muller's record for most goals in a calendar year when he scored an incredible 91 in Step forward into the modern era and many will find it difficult to comprehend that there has ever been a player capable of doing the things a certain Barcelona player does. Maradona made his debut for Argentinos Juniors 10 days before his 16 th birthday. Best Soccer Players of All Time Reviews Which of the best soccer players do you think should make this list? Lev Yashin was everything the Soviet Union could have wanted of an athlete proletarian. Effective and exceptional in equal measure. We start off with a man who did the impossible in in the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo-era, he won the Ballon d'Or. The centrepiece of the 'Total Football' era shoutout to Parquet Courts , Cruyff made beautiful teams successful; a feat so incredible that we still see its effects to this day. Steven Gerrard Midfielder. Things could get scary for you and your family. Following in the footsteps of his countryman Platini, Zinedine Zidane became Europe's most celebrated maestro in the midfield. College Basketball. Charlton won the English league three times with the Red Devils, then captained the team to a European cup in Record goals appearances for Scotland. I mean, look at this goal. By Associated Press. Rivelino was one of the greatest offensive midfielders in the world in his prime and spent most of his career in Corinthians, scoring Beckham, no other player has ever been able to bend it like Zico. He played in an era where people smoked in the half time breaks. Ok, so in most other 'Greatest Footballers of All Time' lists, Kaka probably wouldn't make the cut, because there was a period of time in which he was at Real Madrid and was, well, pretty terrible. Teammate Luis Figo even compared watching him play to having an orgasm. Bursting onto the scene as a year-old looking to avenge the tears of his father when Brazil lost the World Cup final, Pele would go on to win the World Cup on three separate occasions and make Brazil the football nation.