Running like streaks of lightening, kicking the ball with a sharpshooter’s ease and scoring goals with bull’s eye precision...these players mesmerized footballers all over the world. They belong to the pantheon of superstars and legends whose tales of sublime plays are immortalized in our collective consciousness.As the World Cup 2014 gets ready to roll, we bring you a look at the top 10 players in the World Cup history.
NO. 10
National Team: Uruguay
Position: Forward
World Cups played: 2002, 2010
Hall of Fame: Goal of the Tournament WC 2010, Golden Ball WC 2010, 2 La Liga Pichichi Trophies (2005, 2009), 2 European Golden Shoes (2005, 2009)
As a versatile player who can play with right as well as left foot and also play both as a forward and a shadow striker, Diego Forlan has two great weapons in his arsenal- a superb thunderous shot that just zooms past the best of goal keepers, and a sheer magical free kick. With 33 goals in his bag, he is the all time top scorer for Uruguay. In the 2010 World Cup, he hit 5 goals to emerge the joint top scorer of the tournament. Fondly called Cachavacha, he is the striker to strike terror in rival teams.
NO. 9
National Team: West Germany
Position: Forward
World Cups played: 1970, 1974
Hall of Fame: All time No. 11 goal scorer, The Golden Shoe 1970, European Footballer of the Year 1970
He was known as ‘Der Bomber’ and boy, he did carpet bomb rivals on field! Look at his goals, Muller scored 68 goals in 62 matches for his nation (a German record) and shot 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga outings. He was short in height (1.76 m), blistering in pace and a goal hunter with a killer instinct. He changed direction in a blink of the eye. His short legs gave him great weaving ability that made taller players appear clumsy. He describes himself as ‘I had a nose for goals’. He hit the winning goal in WC 1974 final against Netherlands at his home ground Munich in front of his home crowd and retired at the acme of his career. Till Ronaldo came along to cross his tally in 2006, for 22 years, Muller was the highest World Cup goal scorer with 14 goals in 2 World Cups. Gerd Muller was indeed the Great Muller.
No. 8
National Team: Italy
Position: Forward
World Cups played: 1978, 1982
Hall of Fame: Golden Boot 1982, European Footballer of the Year 1982 and World Player of the Year 1982
Short in height like Muller, Rossi was just as foxy on the field. FIFA’s website describes him as ‘born to score goals’. Italians adored and adorned him with the
nickname ‘Pablito’. Rising from scandals and suspension, Rossi hit a hat-trick against the mighty Brazilians in the 1982 WC quarter finals to take his team to the semis. He struck gold again in semis when Italy defeated Poland 2-0 with both goals coming from Rossi, and yet again in finals against West Germany when he hit the first goal in Italy’s 3-1 victory.
Along with Garrincha in 1962 and Mario Kempes in 1978, Rossi is one of only three players to have won the big three in one year- the Golden Boot, the Golden Ball and the European Player of the Year.
No. 7
National Team: Argentina
Position: Centre Forward
World Cups played: 1974, 1978, 1982
Hall of Fame: Golden Boot 1978, European Footballer of the Year 1978
The second shiniest star from Argentina (the first one being Diego Maradona, who inherited Kempes’s jersey no.10 and later referred to Kempes as the man who put Argentinean football on the map) played in no less than 3 World Cups. Mario Kempes nicknamed El Matador was indeed a sight to behold on field. Argentina’s 1978 WC Coach Menotti described him as ‘strong, skilled, creates space and shoots hard’. Fast, flashing and crafty; he fooled defenders again and again to shoot stunning goals. The 1978 World Cup was the zenith of his glory when he won his country the World Cup in front of the home crowd. In the finals against Netherlands, Argentina won 3-1 with two goals from Kempes. His tally as the highest scorer for 1978 World Cup was 6 goals. The second best thing about Kempes? He was never, not even once, booked or sent off in his international career.
No. 6
National Team: Italy
Position: Attacker Mid-Fielder
World Cups played: 1990, 1994, 1998
Hall of Fame: FIFA World Player of 1993, Ballon d’Or 1993
Flawless technique, faultless play and superb match sense- Baggio had them all, and had them by bushels. Another No. 10 Jersey player, a forward and short in height like Maradona, he was described by the great Michel Platini as neither a typical no.9, nor a typical no. 10 but more of no. 9-1/2!
Unfortunately Baggio’s greatest hour of glory was also his greatest sorrow as he took Italy to 1994 World Cup final, only to lose them the title through a missed penalty from his own kick.
In an illustrious but injury-dogged career, Baggio scored 27 goals in 56 matches overall and 9 career goals in 3 World Cups for his country. His distinctive ponytail, punishing play and Buddhist beliefs brought him the nickname Il Divin' Codino or The Divine Ponytail. Not just Italians, football lovers all over the world would vouch for his divine play.
No. 5
Oliver Kahn
National Team: Germany
Position: Goalkeeper
World Cups played: 2002, 2006
Hall of Fame: Golden Ball World Cup 2002, 4 UEFA Best European Goalkeeper Awards, 3 IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper Awards
In this list filled with star strikers, Kahn is the sole goalkeeper. He finds his place for one good reason, his exceptional goalkeeping skills. Many believe that he is the best goalkeeper ever. He is certainly the one and the only goalkeeper to have
won the Golden Ball in World Cup history. Kahn took his team to the finals simply by not letting the rivals score goals. And though Germany ultimately lost 0-2 to Brazil, Kahn who had bravely defended the goal with two broken fingers was still adjudged the best player. Kahn donned the German cap an amazing 86 times, and still remains the gold standard for goalkeepers the world over.
No. 4
National Team: Brazil
Position: Striker
World Cups played: 1994, 2002,2006
Personal Hall of Fame: 3 FIFA World Player of the Year (1996, 1997, 2002),
2 Ballon d’Or (1997, 2002)
Ronaldo, the Brazilian great, was simply devastating in the way he decimated rival teams in his heyday. His speed and skill got him the tag of ‘The Phenomenon’. Counted among the greatest football players ever, he is one of the only three players (along with Zinedine and Messi) to have won the FIFA World Player of the Year award thrice or more. Ronaldo played 98 matches for Brazil and shot 62 goals, the second highest goal scorer for his country’s team after the great Pele. His tally for World Cups is a record 15. As a rookie teen, he was in the Brazil squad in World Cup1994 but sat out totally. In World Cups of 1998 and 2002 though, he played in the frontline and won twice the Golden Ball for being adjudged the player of the tournament. In 2002, he also took home the Golden Boot as top goal scorer. In World Cup 2006, Ronaldo made history by breaking Gerd Müller's 22-year record of 14 goals.
No. 3
Zinedine Zidane
National Team: France
Position: Attacking Midfielder
World Cups played: 1998, 2002, 2006
Personal Hall of Fame: 3 FIFA World Player of the Year (1998, 2000, 2003), FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match 1998,
Zidane or Zizou, as he is known affectionately, was finesse personified with his awe-inspiring elegance, vision and technique. Another of the famous Jersey no. 10 brigade, his dribbling alone was enough to hypnotize fans. Varraud, one of his old coaches summed it up as, ‘His feet spoke with the ball. He was sublime.’ Born to Algerian parents, Zidane was indeed sheer genius who out-dazzled every other player. Though he was ousted from the World Cup after an infamous head butt, UEFA named him the best European footballer of the past 50 years. Second best thing about Zizou after his astounding football talent? He always stayed connected to his humble beginnings.
No. 2
Diego Maradona
National Team: Argentina
Position: Attacking Midfielder
World Cups played: 1982, 1986, 1990
Personal Hall of Fame: The Golden Ball 1986. The Bronze Ball 1990, FIFA Goal of the Century winner
It has always been a tossup between Pele and Maradona for ‘the greatest’ crown. If Pele was The King, Maradona was The Emperor. Maradona certainly outscored Pele in being controversial (recall his famous outbursts and Hand of God goal). In his heyday, the exceptionally talented Maradona looked almost wispy (he is just 5’5”) but was so brilliant that rivals just fell apart in front of his footwork. FIFA’s website refers to him as ‘a pocket battleship of a player blessed with supreme technique and an exceptional left foot’. Maradona played 91 matches for Argentina and scored 34 goals. He inherited Mario Kempes’s No. 10 jersey, a number now retired by Argentine Football Association in the honour of their greatest footballer ever. The mercurial and temperamental genius is often referred to with nicknames like El Pibe de Oro (The Golden Boy), El Grande and Barrilete Cosmico (Cosmic Kite).
No. 1
National Team: Brazil
Position: Attacking Midfielder
World Cups played: 1958, 1962, 1964, 1970
Personal Hall of Fame: The Golden Ball 1970, The Silver Ball 1958
There are footballs greats and there is Pele, the god among demi-gods. Nicknamed ‘The King’ and often regarded as ‘the best player ever’ by critics, players and fans, he was voted ‘the Football Player of the Century’ jointly with the other great player, Maradona. Not just football associations, IOC too elected him as the ‘Athlete of the Century’. Time magazine listed him among the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Pelé was chosen to play for Brazil at the age of 16 and went on to win three World Cups; 1958, 1962 and 1970, the only player ever to do so. He is also the all-time leading goal scorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 91 matches. It is said that to see him play was to see sheer perfection on field.
there you have it , our list of greatest players ever to grace the world cup tournament . did we miss someone ? share your thoughts below by leaving a comment .
Where is Rivaldo??
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