Argentine star Lionel Messi was named the best player in history by the IFFHS, while Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked outside the Top 3. See the full list.
The greatest of all time debate is always a hot topic among soccer fans and experts. While in recent years Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the conversation, one can’t ignore the many legends who have shined throughout the decades: Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano, and more. While it’s always a tricky debate to have, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has published its list of the best players of all time.
Messi topped the list as the best in history, while Cristiano Ronaldo ranked fourth, behind Brazilian Pelé (second) and Maradona (third). However, the IFFHS has not provided details on the ranking methodology.
Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami in MLS, is the player with the most collective titles in history, as well as the most individual awards. The Argentine star has won 46 titles, including the World Cup, four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles, two Copa América titles, and more.
Individually, he has claimed 53 awards, including a record-breaking eight Ballon d’Or awards. He has also won three FIFA The Best awards, two UEFA Men’s Player of the Year honors, eight Pichichi trophies (LaLiga’s top scorer), six European Golden Shoes, and, most recently, the MLS MVP award.
The rest of the list goes: Dutchman Johan Cruyff in fifth, Brazilian Ronaldo Nazario in sixth, Frenchman Zinedine Zidane in seventh, and German Franz Beckenbauer in eighth. The top 10 is completed by Alfredo Di Stefano and Ronaldinho.
Pele and Maradona’s legacies
If Messi is the most decorated player of all time, it’s undeniable that Pele and Maradona are two of the most important figures in the history of soccer and sports in general. Icons both in and outside their countries, they shaped their legacies through incredible feats.
Among his many records, Pele won three World Cup titles and remains the only player to have done so. He also won two Copa Libertadores with Santos. He and Maradona were named joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award.
The Argentine legend won the World Cup in 1986, earning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. He won a total of 12 titles in his career, including two Serie A titles with Napoli and a UEFA Cup.
Ronaldo’s records
While Ronaldo ended up outside the top 10, the Portuguese star has certainly achieved icon status thanks to his 33 trophies, including five Champions League titles and a European Championship with Portugal. Individually, he has won five Ballon d’Or awards and three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year honors.
He is also the only player to have scored over 900 goals in official matches. Among his goalscoring records, he is the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League (140) and in international matches (136).
From: bolavip.com
