Who are the most iconic football players of all time?

Is Lionel Messi one of the most iconic football players of all time?

After so long eluded him, the 35-year-old Argentine star won the World Cup for the first time.

As Messi scored two goals and converted his penalty in the decisive shootout in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final in Qatar, he won the Golden Ball Award with seven goals and three assists.

Adding this ultimate trophy to his stacked resume gives La Pulga even more credence as one of the best in the world.

In no particular order, here are the most iconic football players of all time:

The Most Iconic Football Players of all time:

Ronaldinho, Brazil

We don’t see many players like this anymore. Ronaldinho truly was one of a kind. His ball progression and passing as a dribbler were unmatched, and he made some fantastic plays. A versatile player, he won multiple titles, including the 2002 World Cup, the 2005 Ballon d’Or, the 2005-06 Champions League title, three domestic league titles, and two FIFA Best Player of the Year awards. You will see him up there in rankings infrequently, but few do it like him when it comes to winning with style.

Zidane, France

Often regarded as one of the best football players ever, Zinedine Zidane is a renowned midfielder. His legendary status is due to his excellent passing abilities, technical prowess, and exceptional vision. In 1998, Zidane’s team won both the World Cup and the European Championship. Zidane then became a successful coach for Real Madrid, winning three consecutive Champions Leagues after retiring from playing.

Ronaldo, Brazil

Ronaldo is arguably one of the greatest soccer players of all time, and his career is full of accomplishments. Having amassed 295 goals in just four seasons at Inter Milan, Ronaldo was leagues ahead as one of the game’s best players. And here’s a list of some of his accomplishments: 2x FIFA World Cups (1994, 2002), 3x Ballon d’Or (1997, 2002), 3x World Player’s POTY (1996, 1997, 2002), and more. He was a goal-scoring machine who netted 280 times in 384 domestic league games.

Eusébio, Portugal

On to another goal-scoring machine, this time from Portugal. Paolo Maldini will forever be remembered for his steadfast defense and the moments he helped turn the tide of a game in favor of Milan. He could play between center-back and left-back with no loss of quality and was often unpassable or even able to win back possession while on either flank. The Italian defender became an AC Milan club legend, making over 600 appearances in Serie A throughout his 24-year career. In addition to his 7 league titles, he brought home five European Cups/UEFA Champions League titles from 1985 to 2009.

Paolo Maldini, Italy

Paolo Maldini will forever be remembered for his steadfast defense and the moments he helped turn the tide of a game in favor of Milan. He could play between center-back and left-back with no loss of quality and was often unpassable or even able to win back possession while on either flank. The Italian defender became an AC Milan club legend, making over 600 appearances in Serie A throughout his 24-year career. In addition to his 7 league titles, he brought home five European Cups/UEFA Champions League titles from 1985 to 2009.

Johan Cruyff, Netherlands

Johan Cruyff played a significant part in the development of modern football, and his influence on players and tactics is still being felt today. At the height of his career, he was one of the best players. He won 9 Eredivisie titles, 1 La Liga with Barcelona, and 3 Ballon d’Ors (1971, 1973, 1974). The Dutch maestro’s final touches and uncanny ability to read the game are some reasons he became an icon. His innovative playing style has been described as “Total Football,” a system in which players move around and play any position on the court or pitch seamlessly – including goalkeeper.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo is best known for scoring goals and winning championships. He’s won multiple league titles and helped Portugal win the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Throughout his lengthy career, he has been a prolific scorer and playmaker, which gives him a lot of credibility as an athlete. If he wins the 2022 World Cup, he will become the fifth Ballon d’Or winner (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017).

Lionel Messi, Argentina

One of the greatest right-wingers in history is Lionel Messi. In 520 appearances, the Argentine forward scored 474 league goals and won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, and six Ballon d’Or awards (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2019). In his debut season at Paris Saint-Germain, he won a Ligue 1 title and the Ballon d’Or award. In the same year, he also completed his sixth Copa América win with Argentina and finally claimed the World Cup title to go with his Golden ball Award.

Diego Maradona, Argentina

When it comes to Argentine legends, the name Diego Maradona is usually first on any list. Aside from being the 10th player in history to score as if he were a full-time striker, Maradona made waves in Argentine soccer before moving to Europe. As Napoli’s No. 10, he led the club to two Serie A titles and two Ballon d’Or awards (1986, 1990), leading them to victory on the world stage in 1986. There’s no denying Argentina became well-known thanks to Maradona’s two-goal performance in their title win against England. He also became notorious for using his hand during the game.

Pelé, Brazil

The greatest player of all time is Pelé. With 1,279 goals in 1,363 matches for club and country- including friendlies- the Brazilian forward is the most prolific goal scorer in history. He also won three World Cups (1957, 1962, 1970), the most ever by one player. He would have seven Ballon d’Or to his name if European players didn’t get the award until 1994. That’s when he would be tied with Messi for most Ballon d’Or.

Conclusion

Because there have been so many great athletes throughout history, it’s impossible to choose just one iconic football player of all time. Many football Legends are in the pantheon, from legends like Pele and Maradona to modern stars like Ronaldo and Messi. Each player has left an indelible mark on our sport through their remarkable talent and skill. Football is truly a game for the ages, inspiring millions of people across the globe.