Top 10 greatest players at the World Cup

The World Cup is a carnival feast all over the world, with countless fans and players fighting for the World Cup.

World Cup History

Before the World Cup was inaugurated, football games, although given the greatest prestige, were only part of the Summer Olympics. But in the 1920s, the sport became professionalized, which was not in the Olympic spirit. As a result, the government agency FIFA has drawn up plans to host the World Cup. The first edition of the plan was officially announced on May 26, 1928.

The first official World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 and has been held every four years since then (except for interruptions due to World War II). If you include the World Cup in Qatar, which starts in November 2022, the World Cup has already been held 22 times.However, what you may not know is that there were already unofficial FIFA World Cups in the late 1800s, when only a few national teams existed. In addition to this, another unofficial "World Cup" was scheduled before 1930 - the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy in 1909 and 1911.

Anyway，after all these decades, there have been countless heroes in the history of the World Cup, I bet you have a favorite soccer player, too. This blog focuses on the ten greatest players of all time! You may have a different opinion, but please don't be angry  because  the ranking below.

No.10 Gerd Muller

  ♥ Peak: 1970-74

  ♥ Date of birth: November 3. 1945.

  ♥ Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in).

  ♥ Playing position: Striker.

Major Achievements: 1970 Ballon d'Or, 1974 FIFA World Cup, 1972 UEFA European Championship, 1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot, two-time German Footballer of the Year, two-time European Golden Shoe winner, seven-time Torjägerkanone, three European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, four Bundesliga titles, four DFB-Pokals. 

Affectionately known as 'Der Bomber', Muller originally joined Bayern in the summer of 1964. Everyone loves him, there is even a formula circulating about him: Gerd Muller = the best goalscorer of all time.

  

"Without Gerd Muller, FC Bayern would not be the club we all love today. His name and the memory of him will live on forever."

No.9 Mane Garrincha

  ♥ Peak: 1958-62

  ♥ Life: 28 October 1933- 20 January 1983

  ♥ Height: 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)

  ♥ Playing position: Right winger

Major Achievements: 1958 & 1962 FIFA World Cup, 1962 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, 1962 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot, three State Championships.

In the 1962 World Cup in Chile, although Brazil lost Pele, they had Garrincha. In the knockout rounds, they played against England and Chile. Garrincha scored twice apiece and his devastating play allowed Brazil to lift the trophy again. Garrincha won the best player and top scorer in the World Cup. This competition is also known as the World Cup of Garrincha alone.

"Garrincha is the most amateur footballer professional football ever produced. He never trained. He had no agent, didn't bother reading his contracts, and usually signed them before the figures had been filled in."

“And yet, despite being an 'amateur', despite never training (preferring to go to the beach and play football with his mates instead), and despite having 'bent legs', Mane Garrincha is one of the greatest players of all time.”

No.8 Alfredo di Stefano

  ♥ Peak: 1956-62

  ♥ Life: 4 July 1926 – 7 July 2014.

  ♥ Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9.5 in).

  ♥ Playing position: Striker.

Major Achievements: 1957 & 1959 Ballon d'Or, five European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, eight La Liga titles, five-time Pichichi winner, World Team of the 20th Century, one Copa del Rey.

"Di Stéfano was one of the greatest footballers ever. He had such great balance.” (Alex Ferguson)

"The most complete footballer in the history of the game.” (Eusebio)

“He was simply the most intelligent football player I ever saw. If I had one player to choose, out of all of them, to save my life, he'd be the one.” (Bobby Charlton)

No.7 Michel Platini

  ♥ Peak: 1982-85

  ♥ D.O.B: June 21, 1955.

  ♥ Height: 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in).

  ♥ Playing position: Attacking midfielder

Major Achievements: 1983, 1984, 1985 Ballon d'Or, French Player of the Century, two-time French Player of the Year, three-time Capocannoniere, 1984 UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament, 1984 UEFA European Championship, one European Cup, two Scudetti, one Ligue 1 title, one Coppa Italia, one Intercontinental Cup.

Michel Platini was the greatest player in French football history for a long time until Zidane came along. He won the Ballon d'Or three years in a row in the 1980s and was awarded the French Player of the Century award.

At Euro 1984, Platini scored nine goals (yes, no doubt, nine) in five games to lead France to their first major football success ever.

No.6 Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima

  ♥ Peak: 1995-98

  ♥ D.O.B: 18 September 1976

  ♥ Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)

  ♥ Playing position: Striker

Major Achievements: 1997 & 2002 Ballon d'Or, 1996, 1997 & 2002 FIFA World Player of the Year, 1998 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, 2002 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe, 1996/97 European Golden Shoe, 1994 & 2002 FIFA World Cup, 1997 & 1999 Copa America, two-time Pichichi winner, 1998 Serie A Footballer of the Year, two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, one KNVB Cup, one UEFA Cup, one Intercontinental Cup.

In 1998, the 22-year-old Ronaldo scored his first World Cup goal in the second round of the French World Cup group stage. In the 1/8 finals, Ronaldo scored twice to help Brazil beat Chile. In the semifinals, Ronaldo scored twice. Take advantage of a counter-attack to score a goal to help Brazil knock out the Netherlands and advance to the final. 

Since then, because of him, that generation of sports fans has realized that Brazil is a powerhouse. However, a knee injury limited his career. What a pity! But he was still the perfect forward.

No.5 Zinedine Zidane

  ♥ Peak: 1997-2002

  ♥ D.O.B: June 23, 1972.

  ♥ Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in).

  ♥ Playing position: Attacking midfielder.

Major Achievements: 1998 Ballon d'Or, 1998, 2000 & 2003 FIFA World Player of the Year, 2002 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, 2000/01 Serie A Footballer of the Year, UEFA Champions League Best Player of the Past 20 Years, L'Equipe Best French Player of All Time, 2006 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, only player to be named Player of the Year in three of the top five leagues, most goals in FIFA World Cup finals, 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2000 UEFA European Championships, one Champions League, two Scudetti, one La Liga title, one Intercontinental Cup.

The 1998 World Cup in France was Zidane's first World Cup. Although some early controversies and a red card against Saudi Arabia (a two-match ban) made the newcomer feel the pressure, Zidane withstood the pressure. In the final, he broke the door of Brazil with two headers and helped France win the World Cup, which is the first World Cup champion in the history of the French team.

The stunning performance earned Zidane himself the best squad for that World Cup. In the 2002 World Cup, although the French team was eliminated from the last place in the group stage, Zidane was selected as the FIFA World Cup Dream Team with 80,527 votes. What a great player!

Sadly, his once impeccable reputation no longer exists after he became UEFA president.

No.4 Johan Cruyff

  ♥ Peak: 1971-75

  ♥ Life: April 25, 1947 – March 24, 2016.

  ♥ Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in).

  ♥ Playing position: Striker, attacking midfielder.

Major Achievements: 1971, 1973 & 1975 Ballon d'Or, 1974 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, FIFA World Cup All-Time Team, three-time Dutch Footballer of the Year, two-time Dutch Sportsman of the Year, three European Cups, one La Liga title, nine Eredivisie titles, one Copa del Rey, six KNVB Cup, one Intercontinental Cup.

In the history of football, Johan Cruyff is already a mythical being and has reached mythical heights! The way he played and the philosophy of his game were revolutionary in the 1970s and influenced the following decades. He is such a rare player that there is even a fake named after him - "Cruyff Turn".

Cruyff is considered one of the most influential figures in football history, his style of play and football philosophy influenced coaches and players. Ajax and Barcelona are among the clubs developing youth academies based on the Johan Cruyff coaching method.

No.3 Franz Beckenbauer

  ♥ Peak：1966-76

  ♥ D.O.B: September 11, 1945.

  ♥ Height: 1.81 m (5 ft 11.5 in).

  ♥ Playing position: Sweeper.

Major Achievements: 1972 & 1976 Ballon d'Or, FIFA World Cup All-Time Team, 1966 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award, four-time German Footballer of the Year, 1974 FIFA World Cup, 1972 UEFA European Championships, three European Cups, five Bundesliga titles, four DFB-Pokals, one Intercontinental Cup. 

Franz Beckenbauer, known as Der Kaiser, was a key factor in German football's (mostly) success over the years. Beckenbauer enjoys an unparalleled Franz Beckenbauer, known as Der Kaiser, who was a key factor in German football's (mostly) success over the years. Beckenbauer enjoys an unparalleled position in German football, both on the pitch and on the bench, his results are among the best. In the 1974 FIFA World Cup, he led the Federal Republic to victory at home. Beckenbauer was then named ambassador for Germany's bid for the 2006 World Cup - a role that would cement his place among the country's football royalty. Put simply, anything you might expect a footballer to do, Beckenbauer can do, and it turns out he does.

No.2  Diego Maradona

  ♥ Peak： 1985-90

  ♥ D.O.B:: October 30, 1960

  ♥ Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)

  ♥ Playing position: Attacking midfielder, second striker

Major Achievements: 90min's Greatest Footballer of All Time, Corriere dello Sport's Best Athlete in History, 1986 FIFA World Cup, 1986 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, 1985 Serie A Footballer of the Year, FIFA World Cup All-Time Team, FIFA Goal of the Century, Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century, two-time South American Footballer of the Year, four-time Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year, two Scudetti, one Coppa Italia, one Copa del Rey, one UEFA Cup.

Diego Maradona has one honour that no one else has: the FIFA Goal of the Century. He is loved around the world for his incredible skills - as an attacking midfielder, he scored 345 goals in 680 appearances. And because he almost single-handedly got them to the World Cup, he's an icon for almost all sports fans in Argentina.

In fact, his career was far more difficult than Pelé's, but he still won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina and three national titles and one UEFA Cup with Napoli. Plus, Maradona's bad-boy side has always made him a bit of an old-school antihero superstar.

No.1  Pele

  ♥ Peak: 1958-64

  ♥ D.O.B: October 23, 1940.

  ♥ Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in).

  ♥ Playing position: Striker, attacking midfielder.

Major Achievements: FIFA Player of the Century, France Football's greatest FIFA World Cup player, TIME 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century list, Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, Santos' all-time leading goalscorer, youngest FIFA World Cup winner, most assists in FIFA World Cup history, 1958, 1962 & 1970 FIFA World Cup, top goalscorer in FIFA World Cup finals, two Copa Libertadores titles, six Campeonato Brasilerio Serie A titles, two Intercontinental Cups, 1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, 1958 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player, 1970 Bola de Prata. 

No footballer has scored more goals than Pele!

In 1950, when Brazil lost in the World Cup final, 17-year-old Pele wanted to avenge his father's grievance, so he stepped into the football arena. And it turned out that he did, Pele winning the World Cup three times, making Brazil the country of football.

As the young Pele gradually showed his talent, Juventus, AC Milan, and Real Madrid wanted to buy Pele. And you can’t imagine that the Brazilian president, fearing that Pele would leave,  called him a "national treasure" by legislation.

In the 1962 World Cup in Chile, Pele won the second Remit Cup with the team. As soon as the final whistle of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico sounded, the king Pele was surrounded by hundreds of fans and put on a straw hat, because he helped Brazil win the third Remit Cup. From then on, the gold cup will always belong to Brazil. Pele himself became the only player to win three World Cups.

If you are a fan of them, you can buy their jerseys at the best price on our website!