The 9X100 Positional Ranking Lists

*Update for 2019 - 2020 Season

Definition of Positional Category

Defender : Central Defender includes Sweeper, Center-back and stopper. Side-Back includes full-back, wing-back. Most full-backs in the pre-war era is considered as a semi-side center-back and are categorized in side-back list. The defenders who performed in similar level and time between CB and SB, is also considered as SB. However, it is depended on the role of the team tactic.

Defensive Midfielder : The list also included Box-to-Box Midfielder. The candidates need to have a defensive quality enough to play in deepest position in midfield area as a destroyer and ever achieved international-class at least one full domestic season. Also, their quality of offense must not be too far better than their defensive quality. 

Playmaker : The list includes the deep-lying playmakers or offensive midfielders who are compatible to play in front of a defensive midfielder in 4-4-2 formation or a deep-lying inside-forward in the 1st half of 20th century.

Winger : The list also includes a few of side midfielders. Most players in the list are outside-forward in the conventional tactic or a winger in 4-4-2 formation. For the system with 3 forwards, Winger must mostly spent time outside penalty area when they have a chance to control the ball.

Advanced Midfielder : Advanced Midfielder or in another word "Trequartista" who played in the top of midfield area, including all players who perform at best and most often appeared in tree quarter area of the field. Most inside-forwards and withdrawn center-forwards in the 1st half of 20th century and are also considered as Trequartista but also depend on their style of play. For the 2nd half of 20th century, most players are considered as Trequartista should be backed up by two central midfielders.  

Forward : The forwards were primarily positioned just behind target striker with some quality in creative and assisting skill and ability to conduct the ball or performed as a side-forward with a more role of scoring than crossing from the side area. The withdrawn center-forwards are also included.

Striker : The list include strikers who are mainly set in finisher role as a target man in penalty area as a target-man or fast striker who always take one-man-show to score the goal by themselves. They are basically a prolific scorer.

Categorization Procedures

For players who played more than one position based categorization as above, the categorization is based on the total score in each role. Position with the most score will be selected.  

For the case of players who is bordered between positions, categorizing criteria and formula will be used according to clause 1.13 "Positional Categorization of Footballers" in historical rating methodology, world football historic center .

Methodological Procedures

This methodology is implemented started at the rank next to any 50th in the main seven positions of the main hall to the 100th. The implementation result of top 50 in seven position is available in scorecard of players evaluation result and its ranking is applied to this list directly. Note that this methodology is designed in softer complicated than that of the main seven category.  


Investigate the basic profile all potential candidates such as seasonal appearances stats, achievement and awards. 


1. Rating Evidence-Based Performance

1) Performance Identification : Convert the rating evidences such as average point by Magazine, ranking in annual player or team of the year, etc into the performance class.
2) Performance Class Point : World-Class 2 - 2.5 point, International Class 1 - 1.5 Point (Depend on Opportune Factor Standard Value)
3) Competition Level Coefficient 
   3.1 Domestic season 1
  3.2 International Club : European Cup, UEFA Champion League and Pre-1990s Copa Libertadores Cup : 1.5 , Pre-1997 UEFA Cup : 1.2, Cup Winners Cup/Post 1997-UEFA Cup, Post-1990s Copa Libertadores Cup 1  
   3.3 International Country : World Cup 2, Euro 1.5, Pre- 1967 Copa America 1, Post-1967 Copa America 1.2, Qualification Round (0.5 - 1, depend on number of matches). Note that these points are divided by 2 for goalkeeper position as its competitiveness to be a starter in a big nation is very high. 
3. Round Coefficient : 0.2 for each round of single-elimination format.

2. Performance Approximation without rating

The approximation is based on awards, all stars selection, article, statistics of assist/scoring,, etc. For striker position, the implementation is mainly based on scoring statistical analysis (Goal Ratio and Goal influence) combined with skill against level of opponents if no performance rating evidence available. 


The 100 Greatest Goalkeepers of All-Time

1. Lev Yashin (Soviet Union)
2. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
3. Dino Zoff (Italy)
4. Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)
5. Gordon Banks (England)
6.  Ricardo Zamora (Spain)
7. Oliver Kahn (Germany)
8. Peter Shilton (England)
9. Ubaldo Fillol (Argentina)
10. Manuel Neuer (Germany) 
11. Sepp Maier (Germany)
12. Ladislao Mazurkiewicz (Uruguay) 
13. Rinat Dasaev (Soviet Union)
14. Iker Casillas (Spain)
15. Pat Jennings (Northern Ireland)
16. Edwin Van Der Sar (Holland)
17. Gilmar (Brazil)
18. Harald Schumaccher (Germany)   
19. Frantisek Planicka (Czechoslovakia)
20. Walter Zenga (Italy)
21. Jean Marie-Pfaff (Belgium)
22. Vladimir Beara (Yugoslavia)
23. Jurgen Croy (Germany)
24. Michel Preud'Homme (Belgium)  
25. Amadeo Carrizo (Argentina)
26. Enrico Albertosi (Italy)
27. Peter Cech (Czech Republic)    
28. Andoni Zubizarreta (Spain)  
29. Jose Luis Chilavert (Paraguay)
30. Gianpiero Combi (Italy)    
31. Ray Clemence (England) 
32. Jose Angel Iribar (Spain) 
33. Ivo Viktor (Czechoslovakia)
34. Gianluca Pagliuca (Italy)
35. Ronnie Hellstrom (Sweden)
36. Neville Southall (Wales)
37. Andreas Kopke (Germany)
38. Thomas Ravelli (Sweden) 
39. Jan Van Beveren (Holland)
40. Gyula Grosics (Hungary)  
41. Emerson Leao (Brazil)
42. Hans Van Breukelen (Holland)
43. Roque Maspoli (Uruguay)
44. Hans Tilkowski (Germany)
45. Antonio Ramallets (Spain)
46. Evhen Rudakov (Soviet Union)
47. Rudolph Hiden (Austria)
48. Luis Arconada (Spain)
49. Heinrich Stuhlfauth (Germany)
50. Jan Tomaszewski (Poland)
51. Angelo Peruzzi (Italy)
52. Sergio Livingstone (Chile)
53. Claudio Taffarel (Brazil)
54. Giuliano Sarti (Italy)
55. Villiam Schrojf (Czechoslovakia)  
56. Antonio Roma (Argentina)
57. Walter Zeman (Austria)
58. Bert Trautmann (Germany)
59. Francesco Toldo (Italy) 
60. Augustin Cejas (Argentina)
61. Uli Stein (Germany)
62. Thibat Courtois (Belgium)
63. Jozsef Mylnarcyk (Poland) 
64. Americo Tesoriere (Argentina)
65. Franjo Glaser (Yugoslavia)
66. Hugo Gatti (Argentina)
67. Vitor Baia (Portugal) 
68. Luciano Castellini (Italy)
69. Manuel Bento (Portugal) 
70. Toni Turek (West Germany)
71. Hans Jakob (Germany)   
72. Julio Cesar Soares (Brazil)
73. Marc Andre Ter Stegen (Germany)
74. Friedrich Herkenrath (Germany)  
75. David Seaman (England) 
76. Milutin Soskic (Yugoslavia)
77. Manga(Brazil)
78. Rodolfo Rodriguez (Uruguay)
79. Oskar Svensson (Sweden)
80. Bodo Iligner (Germany)  
81. Jens Lehmann (Germany)
82. Ferenc Plattko (Hungary)
83. Christian Piot (Belgium) 
84. Eddy Pieters Graafland (Netherlands)
85. Rustu Recber (Turkey)
86. Thomas N'kono (Cameroon)
87. Stefano Tacconi (Italy)
88. Ivan Curkovic (Yugoslavia)
89. Antonio Carbajal (Mexico)
90. Samuel Hardy (England)
91. Eike Immel (Germany)
92. Elisha Scott (Northern Ireland)    
93. Fabien Barthez (France)
94. Franco Tancredi (Italy)
95. Francisco Buyo (Spain)
96. Vitor Damas (Portugal)
97. Lorenzo Buffon (Italy)
98. Georgi Naydenov (Bulgaria)
99. Fabio Cudicini (Italy) 
100. Norbert Nigbur (Germany)

Reserved List

Jan Oblak (Slovenia)
Bernd Franke (Germany)
Enver Maric (Yugoslavia)
Costa Parreira (Portugal)
Carlos Jose Castilho (Brazil)
Aldo Oliveri (Italy)
Jack Kelsey (Wales)
Frank Swift (England)
Edward Szymkowiak (Poland)
Andres Mazali (Uruguay)
Joel Bats (France)
Harry Gregg (Northern Ireland)

Stats By Nation

18 : Germany 
13 : Italy 
7 : Spain 
6 : Argentina
5 : Brazil, England
4 : Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Belgium
3: Soviet Union, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Uruguay, Portugal
2: Austria, Hungary
1: Northern Ireland, Wales, Bulgaria, France, Chile, Ireland Republic, Cameroon,Turkey, Denmark, ParaguayMexico

The 100 Greatest Defensive Laterals of All-Time 

1. Paolo Maldini (Italy)
2. Giacinto Facchetti (Italy)
3. Berti Vogts (Germany)
4. Ruud Krol (Netherlands)
5. Nilton Santos (Brazil)
6. Jose Leandro Andrade (Uruguay)
7. Lilian Thuram (France)
8. Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
9. Leovegildo Junior  (Brazil)
10. Carlos Alberto (Brazil) 
11. Djalma Santos (Brazil)
12. Andreas Brehme (Germany)
13. Antonio Cabrini (Italy)
14. Karlheinz Schnellinger (Germany)
15. Javier Zanetti (Argentina)
16. Marcos Cafu (Brazil)
17. Claudio Gentile (Italy)
18. Hans Peter Briegel (Germany)
19. Phillip Lahm (Germany)
20. Victor Rodriguez Andrade (Uruguay)
21. Manuel Amoros (France)
22. Paul Janes (Germany)
23. Silvio Marzolini (Argentina)
24. Manfred Kaltz (Germany)       
25. Juan Evaristo (Argentina)
26. Fritz Tarp (Denmark)
27. Jose Antonio Camacho (Spain)
28. Daniel Alves (Brazil)     
29. Umberto Caligaris (Italy)
30. Tarcisio Burgnich (Italy)
31. Bixente Lizarazu (France)
32. Pietro Rava (Italy)
33. Karl Sesta (Austria)
34. Branko Stankovic (Yugoslavia)
35. Virginio Rosetta (Italy) 
36. Fahrudin Jusufi (Yugoslavia)
37. Renzo De Vecchi (Italy)
38. Danny Mcgrain (Scotland)
39. Jimmy Armfield (England)
40. Jorginho (Brazil)  
41. Luis Eyzaguirre (Chile)
42. Eddie Hapgood (England)
43. Erich Juskowiak (Germany)
44. Josef Blum (Austria)
45. Maxime Bossis (France)
46. Marinho (Brazil)
47. Eric Gerets (Belgium)
48. Severino Minelli (Switzerland)
49. Horst Dieter Hottges (Germany)
50. Joan Segarra (Spain)
51. Nelinho (Brazil)
52. Maicon (Brazil)  
53. Eraldo Monzeglio (Italy)
54. Marcelo (Brazil)
55. Rafael Gordillo (Spain) 
56. Anatoliy Demyanenko (Soviet Union)
57. Vladimir Bessonov (Soviet Union)
58. Alfredo Foni (Italy)
59. Sergio Cervato (Italy)
60. Karoly Fogl (Hungary)
61. Alberto Tarantini (Argentina)
62. Ricardo Pavoni (Uruguay)
63. Rudolf Ramseyer (Switzerland)   
64. Cristian Panucci (Italy)
65. Leandro Ferreira (Brazil)
66. Bernard Dietz (Germany)
67. Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy)
68. Erik Nilsson (Sweden)
69. Ashley Cole (England)
70. Ladislav Novak (Czechoslovakia)
71. Roger Marche (France)
72. Karol Dobias (Czechoslovakia)
73. Evgeny Lovchev (Soviet Union)
74. Frantisek Kolenaty (Czechoslovakia)
75. Patrick Battiston (France)
76. Aleksandar Shalamanov (Bulgaria)
77. Billy McCracken (Northern Ireland)
78. Hilario (Portugal)
79. Orvar Bergmark (Sweden)    
80. Klaus Urbanczyk (Germany)
81. Joclyn Angloma (France)
82. Phil Neal (England)
83. Ray Wilson (England)    
84. Pablo Forlan (Uruguay)
85. Luigi Allemandi (Italy)
86. Feliciano Rivilla (Spain)
87. Jorge Olguin (Argentina)
88. Johnny Carey (Ireland Republic)
89. Patrice Evra (France)
90. Sandor Biro (Hungary)
91. Bernard Bosquier (France)  
92. Stuart Pearce (England)    
93. Sandy Jardine (Scotland)   
94. Kenny Samson (England) 
95. Carlos Sosa (Argentina)
96. Branislav Ivanovic (Yugoslavia)
97. Terry Cooper (England)
98. Franciso Arce (Paraguay)
99. Jaime Duarte (Peru)
100. Joao Pinto (Portugal) 

Left-Back : 45.5
Right-Back : 54.5

Reserved List

George Young (Scotland)
Eric Caldow (Scotland)
Josimar (Brazil)
Stefan Reuter (Germany)
Jordi Alba (Spain)
Nilton De Sordi (Brazil)
Fons Van Brandt (Belgium)
Giacomo Losi (Italy)
Antonello Cuccurredu (Italy)
Jaroslav Burgr (Czechoslovakia)
Wim Suurbier (Netherlands)
Ferenc Rudas (Hungary)
Mikhail Ogonkov (Soviet Union)
Roger Byrne (England)
Enrique Wolff (Argentina)
Mauro Tassotti (Italy)

Stats By Nation

15 : Italy
13 : Brazil 
11 : Germany
9 : France
8 : England 
6 : Argentina
4 : Uruguay, Spain
3 : Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia
2 : Sweden, Scotland, Austria, SwitzerlandPortugal, Hungary
1 : Ireland Republic, Northern Ireland, Chile, Paraguay, Bulgaria, Belgium
     Denmark, Peru, Netherlands

The 100 Greatest Central Defenders of All-Time 

1. Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
2. Franco Baresi (Italy)
3. Bobby Moore (England)
4. Daniel Passarella (Argentina)
5. Gaetano Scirea (Italy)
6. Elias Figueroa (Chile)
7. Alessandro Nesta (Italy)
8. Matthias Sammer (Germany)
9. Hector Chumpitaz (Peru)
10. Ronald Koeman (Holland)
11. Jose Nasazzi (Uruguay)
12. Domingos Da Guia (Brazil)
13. Jurgen Kohler (Germany)
14. Giuseppe Bergomi (Italy)
15. Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
16. Jose Santamaria (Uruguay)
17. Billy Wright (England)
18. Fernando Hierro (Spain)
19. Karlheinz Forster (Germany)   
20. Alan Hansen (Scotland)
21. Marcel Desailly (France)
22. Laurent Blanc (France)
23. Albert Shesternev (Soviet Union)
24. Ciro Ferrara (Italy)
25. Sergio Ramos (Spain)
26. Velibor Vasovic (Yugoslavia)
27. Alessandro Costacurta (Italy)
28. Willi Schulz (Germany)
29. Pietro Vierchowod (Italy)
30. Carles Puyol (Spain)
31. Roberto Perfumo(Argentina)
32. Bruno Pezzey (Austria)
33. Morten Olsen (Denmark)
34. Luis Pereira (Brazil)
35. Jan Popluhar (Czechoslovakia)
36. John Terry (England)
37. Marius Tresor (France)
38. Murtaz Khurtsilava (Soviet Union)  
39. Jaap Stam (Holland)
40. Sol Campbell (England)
41. Nemanja Vidic (Serbia)
42. Lucio (Brazil)
43. Diego Godin (Uruguay)
44. Wolfgang Weber (Germany)
45. Thiago Silva (Brazil) 
46. Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands)
47. Oscar Ruggeri (Argentina)
48. Roberto Rosato (Italy)  
49. Mauro Ramos (Brazil)
50. Germano (Portugal)   
51. Robert Jonquet (France)
52. Atilio Ancheta (Uruguay) 
53. Mat Hummels (Germany)
54. Gheorghe Popescu (Romania)
55. Hans Jurgen Dorner (Germany)
56. Rune Bratseth (Norway)  
57. Humberto Coelho (Portugal)
58. Rio Ferdinand (England)
59. Rinus Israel (Holland)
60. Reinhold Munzenburg (Germany)   
61. Armando Picchi (Italy)
62. Jacinto Quincoces (Spain)
63. Roberto Ayala (Argentina)
64. Wladislaw Zmuda (Poland)
65. Anton Ondrus (Czechoslovakia)
66. Frank De Boer (Holland)     
67. Giorgio Chiellini (Italy)      
68. Ernst Happel (Austria)
69. Edinho (Brazil)
70. Paul Mcgrath (Ireland Republic)
71. Branco Zebec (Yugoslavia)
72. Tony Adams (England)  
73. Kalman Meszoly (Hungary)
74. Alexander Chivadze (Soviet Union)
75. Hilderaldo Bellini (Brazil)
76. Jose Migueli (Spain)
77. Roy Mcfarland (England)
78. Josip Katalinski (Yugoslavia)
79. Herbert Erhardt (Germany)
80. Guido Buchwald (Germany) 
81. Jack Charlton (England)
82. Leonardo Bonucci (Italy)
83. Emlyn Hughes (England) 
84. Billy Mcneill (Scotland)
85. Dragan Holcer (Yugoslavia)
86. Fulvio Collovati (Italy)
87. Ivan Horvat (Yugoslavia)
88. Bob Crompton (England)
89. Gerard Pique (Spain)
90. Jesus Garay (Spain)
91. Cor Van De Hart (Holland)
92. Vincent Kompany (Belgium)
93. Hugo De Leon (Uruguay)
94. Klaus Fichtel (Germany)
95. Walter Samuel (Argentina)
96. Dimitar Penev (Bulgaria) 
97. Neil Franklin (England)
98. Roy Goodall (England)
99. Pedro Dellacha (Argentina)
100. Glenn Hysen (Sweden) 

Reserved List

Sami Hyypia (Finland)
Jose Salomon (Argentina)
Roberto Matosas (Uruguay)
Carlos Gamarra (Paraguay)
Guillermo Delgado (Peru)
Julio Melendez (Peru)
Colin Todd (England)
Jerzy Gorgon (Poland)
Ditmar Jakobs (Germany)
Bernd Bransch (Germany)
Josef Posipal (Germany)
Costica Stefanescu (Romania)
Alexandru Apolzan (Romania)
Carlo Parola (Italy)
Cesare Maldini (Italy)
Barry Hulshoff (Netherlands)
Aldair (Brazil)
Orlando (Brazil)
Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal)
Ake Johansson (Sweden)

Stats by Nation

14 : Italy
12 : Germany
10 : England
7 : Brazil, Spain
6 : Netherlands, Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Argentina 
5 : Uruguay
4 : France
3  : Soviet Union 
2 : RomaniaAustria, Portugal, Czechoslovakia, Scotland
1 : Hungary, Norway, Chile, Peru, BelgiumIrelandDenmarkSwitzerlandSweden, Poland

The 100 Greatest Defensive Midfielders of All-Time 

1. Lothar Matthaeus (Germany)
2. Frank Rijkaard (Holland)
3. Jozsef Bozsik (Hungary)
4. Paul Breitner (Germany)
5. Ernst Ocwirk (Austria)
6. Johan Neeskens (Holland)
7. Luis Monti (Argentina)
8. Steven Gerrard (England)
9. Fernando Redondo (Argentina)
10. Marco Tardelli (Italy) 
11. Danny Blanchflower (Northern Ireland)
12. Jose Pirri (Spain)
13. Obdulio Varela (Uruguay)
14. Bryan Robson (England)
15. Jean Tigana (France)
16. Igor Netto (Soviet Union)
17. Patrick Vieira (France)
18. Osvaldo Ardiles (Argentina)
19. Billy Bremner (Scotland)
20. Néstor Rossi (Argentina)
21. Karel Pesek Kada (Czechoslovakia)
22. Roy Keane (Ireland Republic)
23. Edgar Davids (Holland)
24. Danilo Alvim (Brazil)
25. Xabi Alonso (Spain)       
26. Toninho Cerezo (Brazil)
27. Graeme Souness (Scotland)
28. Horst Szymaniak (Germany)
29. Josef Smistik (Austria)
30. Dave Mackay (Scotland)   
31. Michael Ballack (Germany)
32. Zito (Brazil)
33. Valery Voronin (Soviet Union)
34. Stefan Effenberg (Germany)
35. Zlatko Cajkovski (Yugoslavia)
36. Uli Stielike (Germany)
37. Walter Nausch (Austria)
38. Paul Pogba (France)
39. Jose Carlos Bauer (Brazil)
40. Wilfreid Van Moer (Belgium)
41. Arie Haan (Holland)
42. Soren Lerby (Denmark)
43. Josep Guardiola (Spain)
44. Giacomo Bulgarelli (Italy) 
45. Emerson Ferreira (Brazil) 
46. Claude Makelele (France)
47. Javier Mascherano (Argentina)
48. Nestor Goncalves (Uruguay)
49. Michele Andreolo (Uruguay)
50. Didier Deschamps (France)  
51. Romeo Benetti (Italy) 
52. Carlos Dunga (Brazil) 
53. Andreas Kupfer (Germany)
54. Duncan Edwards (England)
55. Rainer Bonhof (Germany)
56. Manuel Fleitas Solich (Paraguay)
57. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
58. Karl Koller (Austria) 
59. Svatopluk Pluskal (Czechoslovakia)
60. Ludwig Goldbrunner (Germany)
61. Alemao (Brazil)
62. Mikael Essien (Ghana)
63. Sergio Busquets (Spain)
64. Wilson Piazza (Brazil)
65. Luis Fernandez (France)   
66. Clodoaldo (Brazil)
67. Antonio Rattín (Argentina)
68. N'olo Kante (France) 
69. Albin Kitzinger (Germany)
70. Stefan Bozhkov (Bulgaria)
71. Horst Eckel (Germany)
72. Arturo Vidal (Chile) 
73. Olaf Thon (Germany)
74. Salvatore Bagni (Italy)
75. Americo Gallego (Argentina)   
76. Zeljko Perusic (Yugoslavia)  
77. Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)  
78. Ernest Needham (England)
79. Nils Middelboe (Denmark)
80. Yuri Voinov (Soviet Union) 
81. Paolo Sousa (Portugal)
82. Axel Pilmark (Denmark)
83. Ruben Marcos (Chile)
84. Diego Simeone (Argentina)
85. Willy Van Der Kerkhof (Holland)
86. Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina)
87. Daniele De Rossi (Italy) 
88. Gyula Lazar (Hungary)
89. Demetrio Albertini (Italy)      
90. John Greig (Scotland)
91Glenn Stromberg (Sweden) 
92. Viktor Kolotov (Soviet Union)
93. Herbert Wimmer (Germany)
94. Ante Zanetic (Yugoslavia)
95. David Meiklejohn (Scotland)
96. Mauro Silva (Brazil)
97. Paul Ince (England)
98. Alex Raisbeck (Scotland)
99. Schubert Gambetta (Uruguay)  
100. Victor Mees (Belgium)

Reserved List

Jose Maria Minella (Argentina)
Jimmy Mcmullan (Scotland)
Wim Jansen (Netherlands)
Jose Velasquez (Peru)
Ernesto Lazzatti (Argentina)
Laszlo Boloni (Romania)
Andrey Starostin (Soviet Union)
Lorenzo Fernandez (Uruguay)
David Pizarro (Chile)
Aaron Winter (Netherlands)
Gennaro Gattuso (Italy)
Segundo Castillo (Peru)
Claudio Marangoni (Argentina)
Agostino Di Bartolomei (Italy)

Stats By Nation

14 : Germany
10 : Brazil
9 : Argentina
7 : France, Italy, Scotland
6 : England
5 : Soviet Union
4 : Spain, AustriaUruguay, Netherlands
3 : YugoslaviaCzechoslovakia
2 : Chile, Denmark, Hungary
1 : ParaguayPortugalBulgaria, Ireland Republic, Northern Ireland, 
    Ghana, Romania, Sweden, Belgium, Ivory Coast 

The 100 Greatest Wingers of All-Time 

1. Garrincha (Brazil)
2. George Best (Northern Ireland)
3. Stanley Matthews (England)
4. Dragan Dzajic (Yugoslavia)
5. Luis Figo (Portugal)
6. Jairzinho (Brazil)
7. Francisco Gento (Spain)
8. Pavel Nedved (Czechoslovakia)
9. Julinho (Brazil)
10. Tom Finney (England)
11. Zoltan Czibor (Hungary)
12. Kurt Hamrin (Sweden)
13. Arjen Robben (Holland)
14. Ryan Giggs (Wales)
15. Pepe (Brazil)
16. Raimundo Orsi (Argentina)
17. Franck Ribery (France)
18. Jimmy Johnstone (Scotland)
19. Omar Corbatta (Argentina)
20. Piet Keizer (Holland)
21. Thomas Haesler (Germany)
22. Carlos Peucelle (Argentina)
23. Helmut Rahn (Germany)
24. Felix Loustau (Argentina)
25. Amanco Amaro (Spain)
26. Hans Schafer (Germany)
27. Grzegorz Lato (Poland)
28. Franco Causio (Italy)   
29. Eden Hazard (Belgium)
30. Estanislao Basora (Spain) 
31. Bruno Conti (Italy)
32. David Beckham (England)
33. Billy Meredith (Wales)
34. Pierre Littbarski (Germany)
35. Karl Aage Praest (Denmark)
36. Giampiero Boniperti (Italy)
37. Gareth Bales (Wales)
38. Juan Joya (Peru)
39. Alan Morton (Scotland)
40. Antonin Puc (Czechoslovakia)
41. Coen Moulijn (Holland)       
42. Jurgen Grabowski (Germany)      
43. Rene Houseman (Argentina)  
44. Lennart Skogkund (Sweden)
45. Bora Kostic (Yugoslavia) 
46. Alexis Sanchez (Chile)
47. Istvan Nyers (Hungary)
48. David Silva (Spain)
49. Sadio Mane (Senegal) 
50. Enrique Garcia (Argentina)
51. Michel Gonzalez (Spain)    
52. Mario Corso (Italy)
53. Alex Jackson (Scotland)
54. Leonel Sanchez (Chile) 
55. Paulo Futre (Portugal)  
56. Alcides Ghiggia (Uruguay)   
57. Daniel Bertoni (Argentina)       
58. Enrique Hormazabal (Chile)
59. Angel Di Maria (Argentina)   
60. John Barnes (England)
61. Cliff Bastin (England)     
62. Edu (Brazil)
63. Luis Enrique (Spain)
64. Canhoteiro (Brazil)    
65. Ference Sas (Hungary)
66. Robert Gadocha (Poland)
67. Chico (Brazil)
68. Ernest Lehner (Germany)
69. Chris Waddle (England)
70. Robert Pires (France)  
71. Juan Ramon Veron (Argentina)
72. David Ginola (France)  
73. Roberto Donadoni (Italy)
74. Jose Augusto (Portugal)
75. Brian Laudrup (Denmark) 
76. Luis Cubilla (Uruguay)     
77. Amarildo (Brazil)
78. Gordon Strachan (Scotland)
79. Caju (Brazil)
80. Eric Brook (England)
81. Oscar Mas (Argentina)
82. Karl Zischek (Austria)  
84. Siegfried Held (Germany)
84. Ivan Kolev (Bulgaria)
85. Marco Reus (Germany) 
86. Marc Overmars (Holland) 
87. Johnny Rep (Holland)  
88. Sjaak Swart (Holland)
89. Cliff Jones (Wales)
90. Billy Liddell (Scotland)
91. Juan Seminario (Peru)
92. Eder (Brazil)   
93. Sandor Karoly (Hungary)
94. Tesourinha (Brazil) 
95. Cha Bum Kun (Korea Republic)
96. Claudio Caniggia (Argentina)    
97. Fernando Chalana (Portugal)
98. Frank Arnesen (Denmark)
99. Mikhail Meskhi (Soviet Union)
100. Antonio Alzamendi (Uruguay)

Left Winger (49 Players)
Right-Winger (51 Players)

Reserved List

Billy Bassett (England)
Peter Lorimer (Scotland)
Patsy Gallacher (Northern Ireland)
Arne Brustad (Norway)
Sergey Ilyin (Soviet Union)
Slava Metreveli (Soviet Union)
Ze Roberto (Brazil)
Leonardo Araujo (Brazil)
Sammy Crooks (England)
Alexandar Tirnanic (Yugoslavia)
Eberhard Vogel (Germany)
Mauro Camoranesi (Italy)
Julio Cesar Abbadie (Uruguay)
Joszef Braun (Hungary)

Stats By Nations

13 : Brazil 
11 : Argentina 
9 : Germany 
7 : England
6 : Scotland
5 : Italy, Portugal, Netherlands
4 : Wales, Spain, Hungary 
3 : Peru, Chile, Denmark  
2 : Yugoslavia, UruguaySweden, Czechoslovakia, Poland France
1 : Belgium, South Korea, Senegal, Soviet Union, Northern Ireland

The 100 Greatest Playmakers of All-Time 

1. Zinedine Zidane (France)
2. Bobby Charlton (England)
3. Gianni Rivera (Italy)
4. Didi (Brazil)
5. Rivellino (Brazil)
6. Michael Laudrup (Denmark)
7. Luis Suarez Miramontes (Spain)
8. Andres Iniesta (Spain)
9. Xavi Hernandez (Spain)
10. Falcao (Brazil)
11. Josef Masopust (Czechoslovakia)
12. Willem Van Hanegem (Netherlands)
13. Antonio Sastre (Argentina)
14. Nils Liedholm (Sweden)
14. Wolfgang Overath (Germany)
15. Gunther Netzer (Germany)
16. Mario Coluna (Portugal)
17. Gerhard Hanappi (Austria)
18. Socrates (Brazil)  
20. Kazimierz Deyna (Poland)
21. Luka Modric (Croatia)
22. Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina)
23. Alain Giresse (France)
24. Ricardo Bochini (Argentina)
25. Bernd Schuster (Germany)  
26. Fritz Szepan (Germany
27. Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
28. Gerson (Brazil)
29. Frank Lampard (England)   
30. Clarence Seedorf (Holland)
31. Rui Costa (Portugal)
32. Giancarlo Antognoni (Italy) 
33. Johnny Giles (Ireland Republic)
34. Herbert Prohaska (Austria)
35. Dragoslav Sekularac (Yugoslavia)
36. Glenn Hoddle (England)
37. Cesar Cueto (Peru)
38. Ademir Da Guia (Brazil)
39. Jim Baxter (Scotland)
40. Liam Brady (Ireland Republic)
41. Josep Samitier (Spain)
42. Johnny Haynes (England)
43. Paul Scholes (England) 
44. Toni Kroos (Germany) 
45. Wesley Sneijder (Holland)
46. Juan Sebastian Veron (Argentina)
47. Deco (Portugal)  
48. Miguel Brindisi (Argentina)    
49. Rai (Brazil)
50. Nicolae Dobrin (Romania)
51. Mezut Ozil (Germany)
52. Cesc Fabregas (Spain)
53. Felix Magath (Germany)
54. Giancarlo De Sisti (Italy)
55. Dirceu Guimaraes (Brazil)  
56. Fulvio Bernardini (Italy)  
57. Dino Sani (Brazil)      
58. Enzo Scifo (Belgium)  
59. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) 
60. Abedi Pele (Ghana)  
61. Puck Van Heel (Holland) 
62. Joseph Jurion (Belgium)    
63. Kees Rijvers (Holland) 
64. Dragan Stojkovic (Yugoslavia) 
65. Paul Gascoigne (England)
66. Alex James (Scotland) 
67. Gaizka Mendieta (Spain)
68. Martin Peters (England)      
69. Branko Oblak (Yugoslavia)    
70. Luis Del Sol (Spain)   
71. Carlos Valderrama (Colombia)
72. Alan Ball (England)   
73. Janos Gorocs (Hungary)
74. Dimitar Yakimov (Bulgaria)
75. Dirceu Lopes (Brazil)    
76. Krassimir Balakov (Bulgaria)
77. Zvonimir Boban (Yugoslavia)
78. Bo Larsson (Sweden)
79. Iosif Petschovsky (Romania)
80. Ruben Paz (Uruguay)
81. Jorge Burruchaga (Argentina)
82. Rene Petit (France)
83. Robert Prosinecki (Yugoslavia)
84. Amilcar (Brazil)
85. Antonin Panenka (Czechoslovakia)
86. Mimis Domazos (Greece)
87. Fyodor Cherenkov (Soviet Union)       
88. David Kipiani (Soviet Union) 
89. Juninho Pernambucano (Brazil)    
90. Oleksander Zavarov (Soviet Union)
91. Vladimir Petrovic (Yugoslavia)
92. Leonid Buryak (Soviet Union)
93. Giuseppe Giannini (Italy)  
94. Heinz Flohe (Germany)
95. Asgier Sigurvinsson (Iceland)       
96. Lajos Detari (Hungary)
97. Vladimir Muntyan (Soviet Union) 
98. Jurica Jerkovic (Yugoslavia)
99. Colin Bell (England)
100. Illie Balaci (Romania)

Reserved List

Uwe Bein (Germany)
Francisco Valdes (Chile)
Alexei Mikhailchenko (Soviet Union)
Sune Andersson (Sweden)
Antonio Juliano (Italy)
Julio Cesar Uribe (Peru)
Roberto Challe (Peru)
Carpeggiani (Brazil)

Stats By Nation

13 : Brazil
9 : England, Argentina 
8 : Germany
7 : Yugoslavia
6 : Spain
5 : Soviet Union, France,  Italy
4 : HollandRomania
3 : BelgiumPortugal, Scotland
2 : Bulgaria, Sweden, Ireland Republic, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia
1 : Poland, Greece, UruguayDenmarkColombiaIceland, Peru 

The 100 Greatest Advanced Midfielders of All-Time 

1. Diego Maradona (Argentina)
2. Johan Cruyff (Holland)
3. Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentina)
4. Michel Platini (France)
5. Zico (Brazil)
6. Zizinho (Brazil)
7. Jose Manuel Moreno (Argentina)
8. Ruud Gullit (Holland)
9. Raymond Kopa (France)
10. Ronaldinho (Brazil)
11. Fritz Walter (Germany) 
12. Rivaldo (Brazil)
13. Laszlo Kubala (Hungary)
14. Sandro Mazzola (Italy)
15. Teofilo Cubillas (Peru)
16. Adolfo Pedernera (Argentina)
17. Omar Sivori (Argentina)
18. Enzo Francescoli (Uruguay)
19. Gheorghe Hagi (Romania)
20. Hector Scarone (Uruguay)
21. Juan Alberto Schiaffino (Uruguay)
22. Nandor Hidegkuti (Hungary)
23. Francesco Totti (Italy)
24. Kevin Keegan (England)
25. Valentino Mazzola (Italy)
26. Kenny Dalglish (Scotland)
27. Zbigniew Boniek (Poland)
28. Kaka (Brazil)  
29. Jair Da Rosa (Brazil)
30. Pedro Rocha (Uruguay)
31. Bernard Vukas (Yugoslavia) 
32. Ernest Kuzorra (Germany)  
33. Gyorgy Orth (Hungary)  
34. Helmut Haller (Germany) 
35. Dejan Savicevic (Yugoslavia)
36. Adolfo Baloncieri (Italy)   
37. Giovanni Ferrari (Italy)   
38. Rinaldo Martino (Argentina) 
39. Safet Susic (Yugoslavia)
40. Jan Ceulemans (Belgium)
41. Allan Simonsen (Denmark)
42. Gunnar Gren (Sweden)
43. Hristo Bonev (Bulgaria)   
44. Larbi Benbarek (France)
45. Norberto Alonso (Argentina)        
46. Thomas Muller (Germany)  
47. Norberto Mendez (Argentina)
48. Kalman Konrad (Hungary)
49. Karl Aage Hansen (Denmark)
50. Roberto Porta (Uruguay)    
51. Friedrich Gschweidl (Austria)
52. Jose Travassoss (Portugal)             
53. Walter Gomez (Uruguay)  
54. Bobby Walker (Scotland)   
55. Andreas Moller (Germany)
56. Julio Cesar Romero (Paraguay)
57. Tibor Nyilasi (Hungary)      
58. Raich Carter (England)   
59. Karl Decker (Austria)  
60. Roger Piantoni (France)
61. Roberto Mancini (Italy) .
62. Gianfranco Zola (Italy)                  
63. Jari Litmanen (Finland)
64. Alberto Terry (Peru)  
65. Henning Jensen (Denmark)  
66. Hugo Sotil (Peru) 
67. Max Abegglen (Switzerland)
68. Luis Regueiro (Spain) 
69. Manuel Ferreira (Argentina)    
70. Valentin Ivanov (Soviet Union)    
71. Luliu Bodola (Romania)   
72. Rajko Mitic (Yugoslavia) 
73. Vaclav Pilat (Czechoslovakia)     
74. Ihor Belanov (Soviet Union)           
75. Willy Van De Kuijlen (Holland)
76. Ernesto Grillo (Argentina)           
77. Vicente De La Mata (Argentina)
78. Leivinha (Brazil)
79. Ermindo Onega (Argentina)
80. Billy Walker (England)
81. Hector Rial (Argentina)        
82. Humberto Maschio (Argentina)
83. Luliu Baratky (Romania)
84. Youri Djorkaeff (France)    
85. Edvaldo Dida (Brazil)   
86. Ariel Ortega (Argentina)
87. Wilf Mannion (England)
88. Mehmet Scholl (Germany)
89. Angel Romano (Uruguay) 
90. Helge Bronee  (Denmark)
91. Andrey Ashavin (Russia)
92. Anibal Ciocca (Uruguay) 
93. Alvaro Recoba (Uruguay)  
94. Joseph Ujlaki (France)
95. Jimmy Mcilroy (Northern Ireland)        
96. James Rodriguez (Colombia)       
97. Andreas Herzog (Austria)
98. Jorge Alberto Gonzalez (El Salvador)    
99. Reidar Kvammen (Norway)
100. Hans Jurgen Kreische (East Germany)

Reserved List

Renato Cesarini (Argentina)
Paolo Dybala (Argentina)
Pablo Aimar (Argentina)
Nikola Kotkov (Bulgaria)
David Platt (England)
Bengt Linskog (Sweden)
Claudio Christovam (Brazil)
Djalminha (Brazil)
Juninho Paulista (Brazil) 
John Goodall (England)
Matthew Le Tissier (England) 

Stats By Nation

12 : Argentina 
9 : Italy 
8 : Uruguay
7 : BrazilGermany 
6. France
5 : Hungary
4 : Romania, England , Yugoslavia, Denmark
3 : PeruHolland, Soviet Union,  Austria
2 : Scotland  
1 : Paraguay, Switzerland, SwedenBelgiumFinland, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, Norway, Colombia, El Salvador, Czechoslovakia

The 100 Greatest Forwards of All-Time 

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2. Pele (Brazil)
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
4. Ferenc Puskas (Hungary)
5. Eusebio (Portugal)
6. Giuseppe Meazza (Italy)
7. Roberto Baggio (Italy)
8. Karlheinz Rummenigge (Germany)
9. Gyorgi Sarosi (Hungary)
10. Matthias Sindelar (Austria)
11. Thierry Henry (France)
12. Florian Albert (Hungary)
13. Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria)
14. Luis Alberto Suarez (Uruguay)
15. Ademir De Menezes (Brazil)
16. Dennis Bergkamp (Holland)
17. Neymar (Brazil) 
18. Leonidas Da Silva (Brazil)
19. Tostao (Brazil)
20. Oleg Blokhin (Soviet Union)  
21. Raul Gonzalez (Spain)
22. Zlaton Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
23. Gyula Zsengeller (Hungary)
24. Ferenc Bene (Hungary)
25. Paul Van Himst (Belgium)
26. Angel Labruna (Argentina) 
27. Mario Kempes (Argentina)
28. Rob Rensenbrink (Holland)
29. Stjepan Bobek (Yugoslavia)
30. Wlodzimerz Lubanski (Poland)
31. Abe Lenstra (Holland)
32. Oldrich Nejedly (Czechoslovakia)
33. Servaas Wilkes (Holland)
34. Bebeto (Brazil)
35. Alessandro Del Piero (Italy)
36. Eric Cantona (France)
37. Jose Sanfilippo (Argentina)
38. Raymond Braine (Belgium)
39. John Angelo Hansen (Denmark)
40. Emilio Butragueno (Spain)
41. David Villa (Spain)
42. Anton Schall (Austria)
43. Wayne Rooney (England)
44. Jupp Heynckes (Germany)
45. Antoine Griezmann (France)
46. Robin Van Persie (Holland)
47. Manuel Seoane (Argentina)
48. Roberto Bettega (Italy)
49. Ernest Willimowski (Poland)  
50. Max Morlock (Germany)
51. Georgi Asparuhov (Bulgaria)
52. Lajos Tichy (Hungary)
53. Josip Skoblar (Yugoslavia)
54. Gianluca Vialli (Italy)
55. Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
56. Preben Elkjaer (Denmark)
57. Ernest Stojaspal (Austria)
58. Henri Coppens (Belgium)
59. Klaus Allofs (Germany)  
60. Ove Kindvall (Sweden)
61. Bernard Voorhoof (Belgium)
62. Richard Hofmann (Germany)
63. Sven Rydell (Sweden)
64. Mohammed Salah (Egypt)
65. Geza Toldi (Hungary)
66. Carlos Tevez (Argentina)
67. Johan Studnicka (Austria)
68. Milan Galic (Yugoslavia)
69. Eduard Streltsov (Soviet Union)
70. Antonio Angelillo (Argentina)
71. Milos Milutinovic (Yugoslavia)
72. Jose Piendibene (Uruguay)
73. Severino Verela (Uruguay)    
74. Stan Mortensen (England)     
75. Laszlo Cseh (Hungary)
76. Carlos Caszely (Chile)
77. Predrag Mijatovic (Yugoslavia)
78. Kick Smit (Holland)
79. Alen Boksic (Croatia)
80. Ruud Geels (Holland)  
81. Erwin Vandenbergh (Belgium)
82. Karim Benzema (France)  
83. Erich Hof (Austria)
84. Julio Libonatti (Argentina)    
85. Ruben Sosa (Uruguay)
86. Alejandro Morera (Costa Rica)
87. Jarnos Farkas (Hungary)
88. Ernest Pohl (Poland)
89. Josef Hugi (Switzerland) 
90. Stephane Chapuisat (Switzerland)
91. Ivan Hitrec (Croatia)
92. Giuseppe Signori (Italy)
93. Antonio Di Natale (Italy)   
94. Frantisek Svoboda (Czechoslovakia)
95. Roberto Cherro (Argentina)
96. Charlie Buchan (England)
97. Pedro Cea (Uruguay)
98. Jackie Milburn (England)
99. Grigory Fedotov (Soviet Union)
100. Laszlo Fazekas (Hungary)

Reserved List

Bob Mcphail (Scotland)
David Jack (England)
Ralf Edstrom (Sweden)
Domingo Tarasconi (Argentina)
Francisco Varallo (Argentina)
Aurelio Gonzalez (Paraguay)
Quarentinha (Brazil)
Delfin Benitez Cazeres (Paraguay)
Ramaz Shengelia (Soviet Union)
Titus Ozon (Romania)
Jorge Alcade (Peru)

Stats By Nation

11 : Hungary
9 : Argentina
8 : Italy
7 : Holland, Yugoslavia, England
6 : Uruguay, Brazil
5 : BelgiumGermany
4 : France, Austria
3 : Portugal, SpainSoviet Union, Sweden
2 : Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland
1 : Costa Rica, Chile, Egypt

The 100 Greatest Target Strikers of All-Time 

1. Ronaldo (Brazil)
2. Gerd Muller (Germany)
3. Marco Van Basten (Holland)
4. Romario (Brazil)
5. Uwe Seeler (Germany)
6. Sandor Kocsis (Hungary)
7. Josef Bican (Austria) 
8. Gunnar Nordahl (Sweden)
9. Jimmy Greaves (England)
10. Dixie Dean (England)
11. Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina)
12. Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)
13. Arsenio Erico (Paraguay)
14. Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany)
15. Silvio Piola (Italy)
16. Luigi Riva (Italy)
17. John Charles (Wales)
18. Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Holland)
19. Denis Law (Scoland)
20. Jean Pierre Papin (France)
21. Hugo Sanchez (Mexico)
22. Imre Schlosser (Hungary)
23. George Weah (Liberia)
24. Just Fontaine (France)
25. Gary Lineker (England)
26. Arthur Friedenreich (Brazil)
27. Rudi Voller (Germany)
28. Luis Artime (Argentina)
29. Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)
30. Telmo Zarra (Spain)
31. Jozsef Takacs (Hungary)
32. Alberto Spencer (Ecuador)
33. Jimmy Mcgrory (Scotland)
34. Rene Pontoni (Argentina)
35. Nat Lofthouse (England)
36. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
37. Careca (Brazil)
38. Robert Lewandowki(Poland) 
39. Franz Binder (Austria)
40. Ferenc Deak (Hungary)
41. Jose Altafini (Brazil)
42. Isidro Langara (Spain)
43. Heleno De Freitas (Brazil)
44. Pedro Petrone (Uruguay) 
45. Alan Shearer (England)
46. Christian Vieri (Italy)
47. Ian Rush (Wales)
48. Sergio Aguero (Argentina) 
49. Alfred Shaffer (Hungary)
50. David Trezeguet (France)
51. Davor Suker (Croatia)
52. Michael Owen (England)
53. Fernando Peyroteo (Portugal)
54. Istvan Avar (Hungary)
55. Hughie Gallacher (Scotland)
56. Hernan Crespo (Argentina)   
57. Miroslav Klose (Germany)    
58. Poul Tist Nielsen (Denmark)  
59. Herminio Masantonio (Argentina)
60. Fernando Morena (Uruguay)           
61. Paolo Rossi (Italy)   
62. Atilio Garcia (Uruguay)     
63. Steve Bloomer (England)
64. Vava (Brazil)
65. Hans Krankl (Austria)
66. Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)   
67. Pauli Jorgensen (Denmark)
68. Countinho (Brazil)
69. Pierre Erick Aubameyang (Gabon)
70. Darko Pancev (Yugoslavia)
71. Teodoro Fernandez (Peru)  
72. Roberto Dinamite (Brazil)
73. Alessandro Altobelli (Italy)  
74. Filippo Inzaghi (Italy) 
75. Patrick Kluivert (Holland)
76. Klaus Fischer (Germany)
77. Jose Aguas (Portugal)
78. Henrik Larsson (Sweden)
79. Joseph Mermans (Belgium)
80. Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria)
81. Toni Polster (Austria)    
82. Harry Kane (England)
83. Oliver Bierhoff (Germany)
84. Ferenc Szusza (Hungary) 
85. Luca Toni (Italy)
86. Tommy Lawton (England)
87. Andre Abegglen (Switzerland)
88. Dusan Bajevic (Yugoslavia)  
89. Joachim Streich (East Germany)  
90. Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina) 
91. Angelo Shiaivio (Italy)
92. Fernando Torres (Spain)  
93. Adriano (Brazil)
94. Valeriano Lopez (Peru)
95. Reinaldo (Brazil)
96. Marcelo Salas (Chile)   
97. Edin Dzeko (Yugoslavia)
98. Bernabe Ferreyra (Argentina)
99. Giovanne Elber (Brazil)
100. Oscar Miguez (Uruguay)

Reserved List

Blagoje Marjanovic (Yugoslavia)
Albert De Cleyn (Belgium)
Robert Dienst (Austria)
Thadee Cisowski (France)
Todor Veselinovic (Yugoslavia)
Anthony Yeboah (Ghana)
Carlos Bianchi (Argentina)
Jean Capelle (Belgium)
Lucas Matateu (Portugal)
Oleg Protasov (Soviet Union)
George Camsell (England)
Petar Zhekov (Bulgaria)
Gyula Szilagyi (Hungary)
Coen Dillen (Holland)

Stats By Nations

13 : Brazil 
9 : England
8 : Germany
7 : Hungary, Argentina
6 : Italy, Uruguay
4 : Austria, Holland, Yugoslavia
3 : ScotlandSpain, France
2 : Portugal, Sweden, Peru, Wales, Denmark  
1 : Soviet Union, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Liberia, Mexico, Paraguay, Ecuador, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Poland, Gabon, Chile, Belgium

All Statistics 

By Nations 

Germany  92
Brazil  85
Italy  81
Argentina 74
England  65
France 43
Spain  42
Holland  40
Uruguay  38
Yugoslavia  36   
Hungary  35
Soviet Union 28
Austria  25
Scotland 21
Portugal  20
Belgium  18
Denmark  18
Sweden 18
Czechoslovakia  18
Peru  12
Poland 11
Bulgaria 11
Chile  11
Romania  7
Wales 7
Northern Ireland 6
Switzerland 6
Paraguay 5
Ireland Republic 5
Cameroon : 2
Ghana : 2
Ivory Coast : 2
Mexico : 2
Norway : 2
Colombia : 2
Finland : 1
Greece : 1
Iceland : 1
Turkey : 1
Egypt : 1
Ecuador : 1
Costa Rica : 1
South Korea : 1
Liberia : 1
Senegal : 1
Gabon : 1

By Continent & Zone

Western Europe : 519 (British Isles 102, Iberia 61, Scandinavia 40)
Americas 230
Eastern Europe : 148
Africa 10
Asia 1


          The methodological implementation based on available evidences helps to reduce the large scale of subjectivity in the ranking. The ranking structure is divided into two main parts. Ranking in the first part is referred to scorecard in the main hall of seven categories. The second part is implemented as procedures in the top area of the page which is less elaborated than that of the main hall, there is a designated opportune factor to standardize opportunity of participation international competition by era.
         Players who played more than one position will be categorized in a position which obtains highest peak such as Maldini, Thuram, Leonardo, Sammer, Thon, Samitier, Aage Praest, etc. This consider players who played in amateur league but play successfully in another position in international tournament such as Angel Romano, Eberhard Vogel, etc. Players who are a highly rated legends in domestic football but has few or no highlight in international club or country are depend on opportune factor.  
           Goalkeeper : The international country part is twice less weighted than other positions due to its lower value of opportune factor. Accordingly, there are a number of keepers with a few caps qualified in the list. Most obvious cases are Germany and Italy whose keepers around 30 keepers qualified in the list such as Stefano Tacconi, Luciano Castellini, Uli Stein, etc. Bert Trautmann and Fabio Cudicini are the only two keepers never got any international appearance. Some famous keepers who obtained high profile in international football but heavily inconsistent in domestic career are disqualified in top 100 are Goycoechea, Oliveri, and Gregg. Toni Turek is debatable. He had a prime career in first half 1950s, as West Germany was suspended in international football until 1950, he played only 20 games for his nation and his club career and he made outstanding goal conceding stats in five seasons. South American nations and Mexico combined share only 18 players in the list. Thomas N'Kono represents as the the only African player emerges in the keeper list.
           Defensive Lateral : This list mainly applied comparison technique not take a full implementation due to too low amount of evidences. Paolo Maldini and Lilian Thuram are named in this list as their best position are considered as side-back than center-back. Most full-backs and some of wing-half in the pre-war are included when their style of play are considered the best at wide-area. Accordingly, players in the list could be largely different in style from offensive wing-back to semi-side full-back. Although Wim Suubier has a great career team achievement, his skill is considered not remarkable enough being rated in top 100. Mikhail Ogonkov, one of the top-class side-back during mid-1950s are not included due to his short career. There is no either African or Asian player qualified.    
         Central Defender : The central defenders in modern era is generally more advantageous as defensive skill was dramatically developed from 1960s. In the list, there are only 4 qualified central defenders from pre-war to war-time era. Neil Franklin is rated in the latter of top 100. Although limited opportune factor due to world war II is applied, his career is really too short just four seasons in domestic top flight. Players who is believed to reach world-class at any season but not name due to inconsistency are Carlo Parola, Cesare Maldini, and Barry Hulshoff. There is no either African or Asian player qualified.    
         Defensive Midfielder : The box-to-box midfielders are included in the list if they could play as a destroyer and achieved at least international-class as a defensive midfielder in any domestic season or international tournament. Matthaeus and Gerrard are thus named in this list. Although Willy Van Hanegem performed as defensive midfielder for Netherlands, his playmaking skill is too far better than defensive and he is rated in playmaker list. Ernesto Lazzatti and Claudio Marangoni are two Argentine midfielders who are one of the most skillful players but not have chance enough internationally. A strong candidate from pre-war era outside top 100 are Jose maria Minella. All are one of the best defensive midfielders in the world in their prime but need more support information. 
         Winger or Side Midfielder : There are a few of side midfielders in the list are David Beckham, Franco Causio, Mario Corso, David Silva and Michel Gonzalez. Ze Roberto is a side-midfielder who is rated outside top 100 narrowly. Luis Enrique is named in this list as he most often played as winger and also his skill is matched with winger position the most. Istvan Nyers who played as both forward and left-winger are named in this category as it is most frequent role he played. At the border of 100th and reserved player, the best winger from soviet union is highly debatable between Mikhail Meskhi or Slava Metreveli or even Igor Chislenko who was more remakable than the first two at international level but much rated lower domestically. Eberhard Vogel is the most appearance attacker for East Germany and scored a number of goals is one of the top candidates a short-list. Antonio Simoes is a famous one who is seen to have limited skill. Arne Brudstud who is arguably the best Norwegian player ever is not included in top 100 due to format of Norwegian football competition that provided too few league seasons during late 1930s.  
           Playmaker : Josep Samitier,one of the best players in the world during first half 1920s, mainly played as center-forward for Barcelona but switched to wing-half for Spain as a role of playmaker. Although have a low profile in international career with only 2 caps, Rene Petit is included in top 100 as he was considered as world-class offensive midfielder during the 1920s. Eastern European playmakers congregates in the bottom list especially players from Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. There are not many strong candidates outside top 100 currently. Some of the most talented playmakers like Nicolae Dobrin, Paul Gascoigne, Dragan Stojkovic are regrettably rated outside top 50 in seven categories due to a big flaw of consistency or longevity in their career.   
       Advanced Midfielder or Trequartista : South American nations get the highest proportion in this position compared to other lists according to its traditional number “10” for advanced playmaker. Players in the pre-war era in this list all are inside-forwards. Ihor Belanov, a Ballon'Dor winner is named below top 70. He wasn't even voted as the best USSR player at the year he won Ballon'Dor and his career was also inconsistent. Walter Gomez was a consistent world-class player during the late 1940s to early 1950s, collected only 4 caps due to playing outside Uruguay, are named in the list. Angel Romano and Vicente De La Mata mainly played as inside-forward in club career although they played as an outside-forward for their nation. Jorge Alberto Gonzalez is known as one of the best technical players from North Americas, did not have a successful career, is still included when consider limitation of circumstance of El Salvadorean football. 
        Forward :  Diego Forlan, a golden ball winner of 2010 World Cup has an average domestic career, being rated below top 50. Players who achieved high peak but had a short career likes Eduarad Streltsov, Milos Milutinovic, Antonin Angellilo, Milan Galic, Richard Hofmann are included in top 100. At the border of 100th to reserved list is dominated by pre-war forwards. The three pre-war Argentine forwards like Cherro, Varallo and Tarasconi have very similar profile. Cherro is the only one qualified in top 100 as he is the most complete player between them. Another pre-war South American forward is Aurelio Gonzalez whose career was interrupted by Chaco War and had only one great South American tournament. Bob Mcphail is one of Rangers' true legends and is regarded as one of the best Scottish players in the pre-war era but his scoring record is in just below-average.  
       Striker : Pre-war strikers's coring record are analyzed against standard of competition. Peyroteo made a phenomenon record in Portuguese league but his style of play is mainly an opportunistic player, not included in top 50 strikers. James Mcgrory is lack of international opportunities and is generally rated below Hughie Gallagher by British football expert. Mcgrory is ranked higher in the list as he consistently made a phenomenal goals stats. As well as Imre Scholsser, Alfred Schaffer, Jozsef Takacs and Poul Tist Nielsen are highly rated for their prolific scoring in relatively high standard of competition and they're an outstanding players led their nations as one of the best football teams in the world. Paolo Rossi is one of the most controversial players. He was one of the best individual performer in a single world cup in 1982 and moreover is one of the best players in 1978 World Cup. On the other hand, his domestic career was ruined by Injury. He is named outside top 50. Michael Owen, a Ballon'Dor winner whose career was dramatically decline too early, is also rated below top 50. There are many world-class strikers with short prime likes Oliver Bierhoff, Luca Toni, Fernando Torres, Adriano and Marcelo Salas. All of them are allowed to emerge in the list.  


  1. I don't think Sergio Goycochea deserves it. He may have been good at a world cup but he was never close to a top class keeper in his general career. A good prime performance is nothing if you are not close to be world class in general. For example he in nowhere near Julio Cesar in career performance. Cesar was one of the best keepers in the world for a number of seasons but he is only a few places ahead of Goycochea. Based on total career even recent keepers like Handanovic or Caballero would already be ahead of Goycochea since they have actually been world class at club level. I would also argue Carbajal is too high. What is longevity if you were never a high class keeper. Was he ever considered a top class keeper in his day?

    1. I have long realized about it. Goycochea has been rated in the top 100 because his higher peak performance in World stage. I try to include all players who ever reach World-Class. In the substitution list, most of them were low profile in NT career and not have a World-Class rating except Fritz Henkenrath who kicker rated in world-class but I see standard of kicker rating at that time gave high-class to more players than later era although German players in 1950s wasn't its golden era.

      Antonio Carbajal is always debatable. The fact that Mexico in his era was much inferior to the majority of teams in World Cup, he conceded many goals, is easy to conclude that Catbajal is kacl of international success. He also played the whole career in Mexican League which was below international average in competitive standard. Carbajal conceded fewest goals in the league in just twice seasons and second fewest in four seasons and third fewest in 2 seasons. This stats could not tell us about his individual performance but at least it shows status of Carbajal that he is not too far dominate the league. I agree to rank him lower.

    2. where's vitor damas? he was just as good as bento

    3. Vitor Damas, is regarded by most Portuguese as one of their best keepers ever but at his only 28 years old when the most goalkeepers was spending their prime, he already completely lost first choice to Manuel Bento in Portugal national team and even before 29 years old, he was not a regular starter in some years, totally Damas was capped only 29 games. Look into his club career, I see he has prime career at Sporting Portugal but when he moved to Racing Santander, his career seems to start falling down. Anyway, he is actually named in honorable mention.

    4. what about costa rica's luis gabelo conejo? he is a criminally under-appreciated player goalkeeper and agreed costa rica weren't that good yet his performance was just fabulous in 1990 world cup. also he along with goycochea was included as the goalkeeper of the tournament.

    5. Conejo is famous for his great saves in the 1990 World Cup. Aside from that tournament, there is no evidence to prove he is great in club career. He played in second division with Albacete at the first season and helped the team to promote and in the next season Albacete finished 7th place in La Liga but not sure why he returned to his homeland too early. He mainly played in Costa Rican league.

    6. well he was great enough to be in a top club. it's just his agent duped him to go to such a club like albacete. if not for his agent he could've had a fabulous club career since he got offers from clubs like torino,espanyol as such

  2. David Silva should be listed as a AMF. He is not a traditional winger. I also think he should be ranked higher.

    1. Yes, but he is closest to be called as "Semi-Side Midfielder" and I've seen him ,much more effective is semi-side area than just base on central area. Probably, he could be in top 100 when next seasons will have been finished.

    2. An number of players listed in your AMF listed would have also played wide in a 4-4-2 as playmaker type player.

    3. You means AM list in ten or seven categories ? For this list (ten category), Haesler and Iniesta are the two obvious examples to be categorized as semi-side midfielder and they're finally named in playmaker because they're seen to be a better performer in central area than the side area. David Silva always operated the game in the tree-quarter line in the semi-side area, is distinguish from players in AM list who are often base on central midfield area to create the game.

  3. I think Thomas Muller is too high. Notwithstanding his surprisingly good world cup performance, he only has one season where he might be considered world class. If you compared between 100 list, it would appear that player like David Silva or Schweinsteiger are less great, which makes little sense based on cumulative career., whilst player like Ozil aren't even ranked.

    1. T. Muller is much better than Schweintseinger and Ozil in Two World Cup. I'd say full one world-class is enough for 70th easily in ranking standard of performance profile.
      Note : Schweinsteinger is just surprised when Kicker rank him below international-class in all seasons before 2010.

    2. Better in the world cup but worse in general career(as far im concerned). I think latter trumps.

    3. I think Schweinsteiger's kicker is underrated. He's been very good since he became a CM. In the last 4 years, Schweinsteger and Silva have had considerably better club careers. While world cup is important, I find it to be far less important than club career since it only 7 games per world cup. I find people tend to overrate players based on world cup performances. Its not as if Muller was remarkably good at 2014 fifa world cup.

    4. Do you have your own proportional criteria of international level ? When World Cup has been held just for a few games, it is undeniably the biggest stage legend should achieve the high individual performance. Personally, I'm not much impressive on Thomas Muller who is seen too slow and lack of special technique but the names below him are also inconsistency.

    5. The names below are inconsistent but they have played full careers. Their cumulative performance would certainly be higher.

    6. What about Altobelli?

    7. What about Mario Gomez?

    8. Altobelli was too inconsistency as I checked, just has a great 3 -4 seasons.
      Mario Gomez is another striker to ever achieve world-class but he has only 3.5 great seasons (calculate of ration between games played and total games). His NT career is considered to fail because he could not even win the position from the much older Klose.

    9. It may have been disappointing that Gomez was unable to win a place from the much inferior Klose, but it hardly disappointing when you take into account Klose's remarkable overachiever at international level.

    10. I'd also say Gomez has achieved more than 3.5 great seasons.

  4. Marcelo Salas I don't think should be ranked. His career is very average. He only has two seasons of note and these are still only 12 and 15 goals which is unremarkable for a striker of his style of play. He is very talented and has a decent international record, but imagine how many game he would play internationally if he was Argentinian or Italian. If we picked players who had good international and club careers why not pick Huntelaar. His international record is better as is his club career. I don't actually think Huntelaar should be there but hes just an example.

    Salas' cumulative performance is far far inferior to unranked player like Luca Toni or Diego Milito. These player have better primes and have far more good seasons. There or more players who have considerably better careers. For example Mario Gomez, Roy Makaay, Alessandro Altobelli, Adriano Leite Ribeiro(don't think he should be ranked but he has abetter prime) etc. I know Makaay has a poor international record but his club career is far better. Imagine if Salas were Dutch, how would he fair competing with Kluivert and Nistelrooy whilst scoring moderate numbers for Universidad de Chile and River Plate and being injured/out of form at Juventus.

    Anyway the lists are very good. Regards.

    1. Salas is well-known as an inconsistency player but his peak is seen to be a spectacular and all-round striker. His style of goalscoring was always entertained to watch, volley the long ball, great jumping and heading and considerable technique. He is believed to achieve World-Class in his peak performance in 1997 and his NT career is very great.

      For Adriano, He is also a world-class striker in 2003 - 2004 season and record in NT career is better than the likes of Elber, Bianchi, etc but he was too short in maintaining state of top players. I agree to name him in substitution.

    2. What about Luca Toni and Diego Milito?

      As for Salas, the fact that he has good ability, as far as im concerned in no way justifies his place. His career is many magnitudes worse than those around him. You say he is world class in 1997 but he only scored 11 in 26 in the league which really average. Does Toni not get world class for scoring 31 league goals(and the many other good seasons) or Milito get it for scoring 24 league goals and being one of the best champions league? I hardly think Salas's reputation as a "spectacular and all-round striker" is any reason to rank him. While I'd say he reached world class ability, I would say that none of his seasons reached close to world class performance(particularily in the league). Do you really think he prime seasons are anywhere near as good as Luca Toni, Diego Milito, Adriano Leite Ribeiro and Roy Makaay?


    3. I referred to his calendar entire season in 1997 includes international competition. Salas totally had a poor career in Series A, just one great season at Lazio in his first year. He might be concluded roughly to achieve only 3 international-class in club competition. He is no doubt disqualified to be listed in club part. Internationally, Salas' peak helped River Plate to achieve the 1998 Copa Libertadores Cup semi-finalist and he was believed to reach world-class with Chilea in 1997 and 1998.

      I agree Luca toni was a world-class striker in the 2005 - 2006 season. I still rate him slightly below Salas for international favor. Milito is too poor in NT part, would be out of scope. If players were too failure in international stage, it is very disadvantageous and my criteria is set to exclude them likes the case of Roy Makaay. But still, I admit to really overrate Salas and would rank down.

      Your suggestion is often a good point and I think the list will have been much improved from your notice. Please continue if you see some unreasonable point.

    4. Surely Diego Milito would be counted as world class in the 2009-10 season. Even if he was good in all competitions in 1997, his performance in the league mean he is nowhere near world class in my books. I personally wouldn't have him anywhere near the top 100. I'd probably even select Luis Fabiano ahead of him.

      In terms of international career, I sometimes don't mind if these players don't have much of an international career. Makaay and Milito had much better players to compete with. If Salas had been from thgose nationalities, he would have likely failed too. Even if you do a 60:40 proportion for club career to international career(which I think is too high) I would still rank Makaay and Milito ahead because their club career are much better. Even if I agreed with you that Salas was world class in 1997, the rest of his career would make it that I would not rank him in the top 100.


    5. What is your opinion in terms of ranking on the following players:

      Delio Onnis
      Carlos Tevez
      Gareth Bale
      Antonio Cassano

      Antonio Cassano was certainly world class for one season at Sampdoria

    6. Only Bales and Cassano from your list achieved at least a world-class season but the rest of career saw too out of standard for Cassano and Bales is needed to collect more performance amount. Onnis and Jardel is absolutely impressive scorer but almost all of them were made against national level defenders and both are also lack of international success. Tevez was only great in his early career. If we consider his advanced role, it is very disappointing for his scoring results and he was too ineffective in NT career.

    7. I don't personally think Onnis or Jardel should be in the top 100. However in reference to you saying they scored against national level defenders, the same is true with Salas for most of his career, albeit less prolific and in arguably in easier leagues(Chile and Argentina) to score in.

    8. How was Carlos Tevez's best career in the early part of his career. His top season have been at Man City, Juventus and Man U.

    9. Sorry I incorrectly definite my word "Early". I actually did mean to include his great Man City season. Tevez is believed to achieve world-class in a short peak during that season but his NT is out of lower limited criteria.

  5. Darco Pancev is too high. His Yugoslav record is pretty good but the rest of his career is non existent. He must be this high because he placed on the Ballon d'Or but these things are often overly biased to the European cup.

    1. Pancev was a prolific scorer in Yugoslav league in three seasons. I think his scoring style is impressive and number of scoring in high standard competition like Yugoslav league is enough to rate him in World-Class in any season. When consider his impact on Europea Cup in 1991, I think it even likely to underrate him.

  6. What about Arturo Vidal?

    1. As I check in media rating, he was below the range of players' grouping standard.

  7. I think Luis Suarez is too high. He wasn't world class, bar his to last 2 seasons at Liverpool.

    1. He should be world-class if consider his incredible influence to Liverpool. He is a footballer who could change the game result by himself and very consistency to rely on his dangerous ball conduction in the front line. Suarez has been successful in NT career also.

  8. What about Alexander Mostovoi?

    1. He is seen to be a high quality playmaker on the pitch for his great impact to the small clubs in domestic competition but was not raised his career status to international success, is generally not regarded as one of the best playmakers in his generation.

  9. Roger Milla should not be here. I know he is influential, but he was never anywhere near a top class player during his career, both internationally and at club level. I don't think off-field influence(being important for African football) is important when ranking players but evn if you took it into account, he would still not be anywhere near the top 100. Many African players who would never be ranked in these lists are far greater players than Milla. For example Kanoute, Yeboah etc.

    1. Where have you seen Milla here ? I ever named him in this list but have removed for a long time.

    2. My bad, I was thinking of the top 50 African players list

  10. I believe Paul Scholes is rated too lowly. He has been widely praised by his peers and opposing managers as the best midfielder of his era. An era including Xavi Iniesta and Pirlo.

    1. Where do you think Scholes should be placed at least ?

  11. Replies
    1. Please specify the names should not be ranked ahead of him and give a reason.

  12. where is Sergio Ramos? Puyol 77! He must be better

    1. Sergio Ramos is a good defender but has not been considered as one of the very best defenders in the World base on individual quality.

      Puyol is a great physical and uncompromising defender, was shining in the late 2000s as the era of least competitiveness in defending position. I'm sure if he born in the 1980s, he would be regarded much lower.

    2. Last few years Sergio Ramos is best defender in the world without competition!

  13. Suarez and Rivera better then Laudrup? Rivaldo and Gullit better then Ronaldinho? No chanche!

    1. Both has much longer prime than elder Laudrup. The same reason to Rivaldo and Gullit VS Ronaldinho. However, in another list of highest peak performer, both M.Laudrup and Ronaldinho are rated higher.

  14. Good evening! I follow this site and I am very pleased with what I see. However, I would suggest a couple of things to change or consideration. GOALKEEPER: I think it would Ferenc Plattko had to be there, CENTRAL DEFENDER: Josef Blum, Miodrag Belodedici, Glenn Hysen, Ivica Horvat, Bernardo Miguel Thorbjorn Svenssen, Costica Stefanescu, SIDE BACK: Sergio Ramos (I can not believe that it is not there), Sinisa Mihajlovic (compete for position), Robert Jarni- late 90's, one of the best left-Beck. DEFANSIVE MIDFIELD - Sune Andersson (great player), Chinesinho and Fausto (forgotten Brazilians), Luka Modric and Yaya Toure (from the present day), Francisco Olazar WINGER: Roald Jensen (small club, but a great player), Jimmy Quinn, Jan Studnicka (one of the best in his time), Jesper Olsen (short career but top 3-4 years, although in Bordeaux has played side back, Frank Arnesen (many agree the biggest talent in Denmark ever), Alexander Tirnanic.TREQUARTISTA and FORWARD : both Abegglen, Tom Lund, Marcel Raducanu (great player), Kristen Nygaard (by voetbal 1999, among the top 100 of all time), Joseph Ujlaki, Gerard Wodarz, Mark Wilmots (Great sporty character), Ralf Edstrom, Fran Matosic (729 goals ), Josef Silny, Jorge L. Sorensen, Fran Wolfl-, Jose Manuel Pepe- (tragic death), Ruben Paz. I forgot Playmaker: Vlastimil Kopecky above all, lucid and brilliant, Lubo Moravcik, Abderrahman Mahjoub, Luis Regueiro

    1. Thanks you for your following. Sergio Ramos is overrated. He is a great team-work player and impressive athletic spirit but his defensive quality could be seen in many other players. Media rating support my opinion also as he is rated very low. As your suggestion, they’ all are one of legends of their country but not among the best in their own era except Belodedicci who was indispensable player to help Steua and Red Star won European Cup. Glenn Hysen, As I check he is rated in only 6.23 and 6.03 during twice seasons at Fiorentina, that is average for standard of defender in Series A during that era. Ivan Horvat is another great defender but I never found or heard he is that great. Articles also not describe him in special characteristic.

  15. STRIKER: Pichichi, Alcantara, Harald Nielsen, Gunnar Andersson, Tommy Taylor, Poul Tist Nielsen (big striker), Slaven Zambata, Nehoda. Goodbye!

  16. Side-back: Jarni in his time meant more than Branco. Career Mihajlovic and Sorin is incomparable. It's not clear how Sorin found that high. Howard Spencer must be included because it is represented in his time. Central defender: Aldair, Buchwald, Collovati and Khidiatullin are good defenders, but Hysen, Svenssen, Stefanescu and Migueli certainly represent more. Central Midfielder: Is Wilson Piazza, Essien, Emerson and Franky Van der Elst can mean more than Yaya Toure, Modric, Sune Andersson and Francisco Olazar? Among playmaker happen strangest things. Dragan Stojkovic ?? Exceptionally talented. He failed in Verona and Olimpique. Two or three years in the Red Star I think it is not enough for such a high ranking. Two Yugoslav championship! Detari- even less sense there. What are the career had Belloumi, Mendieta and Uribe? Dirceu Lopes ???? Rai, Kipiani I Zavarov are too short. There are level with those listed Moravcik and Mahjoub and Regueiro. Vlastimil Kopecky is better than all. Wingers: Now, by what criteria Fernando Chalana can be better than Jesper Olsen? Ze Roberto ?? Ginola was great potential. Unfortunately, it was before playboy than a footballer. Jan Studnicka was a giant of his time. Frank Arnesen was large and unhappy player. Games at Ajax and Denmark national team, I think it has secured the status of legend.

    1. Modric would fir to playmaker in this list. Yaya Toure is debatable, probably I will name him at the end of this season. I name Olazar in World XI in 1910s but the era was not much competitive so his real ability is questionable.

      Fernando Chalana's peak is exceptional as one of the most talent Portuguese wingers ever, he was named in top five Ballon'Dor once in 1984 arguably achieved world-class season. Ze Roberto is very impressive for his entertaining dribble and efficient crossing but he was never rated as one of the best wingers in the world.

    2. Stojkovic was a world-class player in Yugoslav league at least twice seasons, is enough to be named in honorable mention.

    3. According to France Football, Jesper Olsen was two years the top ranked player of the Dutch league. One can not say that this league was worse than the Yugoslav. Chalana is better than Olsen because of his talent ??? Unfortunately, there is no reason that Fernando is better. They are very similar players. Chalan remains most remembered for games at Euro 84. He was 25 years old. After that played nothing.

    4. I positive that Yugoslav league is more competitive than Dutch league by a mile in the entire league not only the top teams. Jesper Olsen finished second place Dutch footballer in the first season at Ajax and third place in his second season and the last season saw his injury and played around half of total games. In 1983 he was voted in eighth place BallonD’or. However, he had only twice good seasons with Man Utd and was never named in PFA team of the year in any season. Anyway, I agree Chalana is overrated because he also has very short prime due to injury.

    5. Jesper Olsen was second in the competition: Lerby, Molby, Rijkaard, Gullit, Van Basten, R.Koeman, Thioresen, Willy Van de Kerkhoff, Van Breukelen and Wouters. I cite only the players that you mentioned on the lists. Cruyff, Van Hanegem and Geels are also played. But they were already older. Dragan Stojkovic had his best season 88/89. In competition with him were still on your list: Savicevic, Pančev, Suker and Prosinecki. A year later and Boban. Do I need to list who's Jesper Olsen was a competition in England. Even I agree that Stojkovic was greater potential of Jesper Olsen. Career is however on the side of Jesper Olsen. A comparison of Fernando Chalana and Jesper Olsen does not have nothing to say.

    6. Jesper Olsen is better in: attack, defance, balance, stamina, top speed, response, acceleration,agility, shot technique, shot power, shot accuracy, header, free kick, jump, aggression, mentality and team work. Chalana was better in technique, long pass, and dribble. In short pass is same. Although similar in all fields.Jesper Olsen had a successful club and national career. Stojkovic is as Pančev lost when he left Yugoslavia.

  17. We all know the qualities that had Magico. Is that enough? The highlight of his career was playing in Cadiz. Osei Kofi has something similar. Luis Enrique is my tastes also placed too high. David Platt same. Norman Whiteside? This is probably collapsed before his 22 year. Recoba also remains on talent. Brolin was promised a lot. Injuries have taken their toll. In England it was included in the 11 worst arrivals in the premier league. Ruben Paz Ujlaki, Kristen Nygaard and Marcel Raducanu above all, deserve at least to be another consideration. Tom Lund was a great player. He never left Norway. Real Madrid wanted him. Caszely Hugi and Salif Keita are questionable when you compare them with JLSorensen, Matosic and Silny. Jose Manuel Pepe died young. And finally, Strikers: Darko Pančev ????? Who is Darko Pančev? With 25 years no one has heard of him! He played in a strong Red Star a couple of years. He received the ball Savičević, Prosinecki and Stojkovic. He was a good shooter, but certainly was not good enough to get among the best. Vieri is too high for my taste. Berbatov, Salas and Torres are very questionable. Bierhoff and Toni Polster does not deserve to be among the best. And when I saw that there Inzaghi and I could not believe. Inzaghi front Poul Nielsen or Gunnar Andersson, and Harald Nielsen (the most expensive transfer of all time then). Paulino Alcantara same.

    1. Paulinho Alcantara played in Catalan amateur league against teams in a level of second or even lower divisions in nowadays.

      I had a wrong NT goal record of Magico Gonzalez but now I agree he is overrated and should be ranked down.

      Franes Matosic scored only 6 goals in 16 games in the war-time when most top strikers scored a ton of goals.

    2. Of course it is played in Catalonia. Spanish League was founded when he was 33 years old. Cups existed. So that's won five Cups. Barcelona's players did not have priority in the national team. Francis Matosic amassed 16 only gets to Yugoslavia in a very strong competition. Do not forget that it is in the best years and grabbed world war II (5-6 years). Pančev amassed 27 in times when the matches were played more often, and had no competition in the attack as Matosic. Pančev his entire career in the national team was a minor character in relation to Zlatko Vujovic. Only after Italia 90 becomes the first attacker. And it takes one year.

    3. In those 16 games, Yugoslavia has reached 24 goals. Every fourth means by Matošić. For that Yugoslavia were then nasupali Mitic, Bobek, Vukas ..... (after world war II)

  18. Poul Nielsen was one of the greatest players of his time, and now it has surpassed Pippo Inzaghi. Ha-ha! I think you neglect these old footballers. Until 1930 England and Scotland were of course number one. Argentina and Uruguay were the dominant outside Europe. However, Cheska, Hungary, Denmark and Austria also had a strong league and great players.

    1. You need to check it. Poul Tist Nielsen played in danish third division in his whole club career. He scored a large number in international career against a very low standard amateur team like Norway. Football in that era was not much competitive and most international games are friendly matches in their zone, it would be simply that a few players in early era are named in the list.

    2. National Football Tournament (1913-1927)
      Year Winner (titles) [13] Runners-up [13]
      1912-13 KB (1) B 1901
      1913-14 KB (2) B 93
      1914-15 No competition held due to World War I
      1915-16 B 93 (1) KB
      1916-17 KB (3) AB
      1917-18 KB (4) Randers Freja
      1918-19 AB (1) B 1901
      1919-20 B 1903 (1) B 1901
      1920-21 AB (2) AGF
      1921-22 KB (5) B 1901
      1922-23 Frem (1) AGF
      1923-24 B 1903 (2) B 1913
      1924-25 KB (6) AGF
      1925-26 B 1903 (3) B 1901
      1926-27 B 93 (2) Skovshoved

      For those Poul Nielsen writes that he played for the KB (1907-1927), he was a champion of Denmark six times. Danes are generally played at the time with Sweden and Norway. Sweden Nielsen scored 15 goals, Norway 23. In one match with Germany by all 4 goals to win 4-1. In one game against the Netherlands scored three goals in the victory of 4-3. He scored and England and Belgium. Cheskoslovakia remains the only national team against whom he played and not scored. He played against them two times. Although it had already 30

    3. And one more thing. At the time when Poul Nielsen played, not many national teams in Europe was stronger than Norway. England, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Spain. I'm not sure that it was Germany. France was not, that's for sure. East Europe has not been nearly as competitive.

  19. Tommy Taylor was killed in a plane crash 1958. 166 matches and 112 goals for Manchester United. 19 appearances and 16 goals for England national team. Is Darko Pančev better than him or by Harald Nielsen?

    1. Pancev played in Yugoslav league with very high standard at that time and he was a prolific scorer and he has much longer career than Tommy Taylor. I did not name Harald Nielsen in the list ? his inconsistency profile is very similar to Tommy Taylor.

    2. Pančev fact, already in 1991 the barn with serious football. 1992 has already played in the crumbling league. He failed at Inter, Leipzig, and Fortune. Tommy Taylor has died at the age of 26 .Statistika already mentioned. Harald Nielsen is two times was the top scorer of the Italian League and with Atalanta. You must agree to the Italian league was much stronger at the time of Yugoslavia. Nielsen played against a much stronger defensive players. A Pančev played in Red Star, which in those years, the sovereign dominated Yugoslavia. When he went away to Europe collapsed.

    3. In qualifying for Italia 90, Pančev did not play a single minute. At the World Cup he played one match and one entered as a reserve.

    4. His international career is short but still made 0.63 goal ratio, is one of highest in his era. In 1991, Pancev was not only a top scorer in Yugoslavian league but also was the all-time highest scorer in a single Yugoslav season and importantly was highest scorer among league around the world.

    5. Not to some reasons. Pančev was top scorer and 90/91 with 34 goals. Yugoslav league then counted the largest number of clubs. Take, for example Romania. Dudu Georgescu is in season 76/77 scoring 47 goals. Rodion Camataru in season 86/87 scored 44 goals. Dorin Mateut in season 88/89 scored 43 goals. Darko Pančev is for the national team scoring 17 goals. 4 goals scored in friendlies Austria, Finland and Greece. 11 goals scored in qualifying matches. 4 Goals Northern Ireland, Austria 3 goals, 2 goals Faroe Islands, Cyprus 1 goal, and one goal Denmark (strongest team which Pančev the score). 2 goals scored in the championships. It happened in 1990 when the United Arab Emirates scored 2 goals. Darko Pančev does not deserve to be among the 200 best strikers. Al these are your website

  20. As to the journalists' score, specify just one example. In Spain in season 92/93 best foreign-rated player was Miroslav Djukic !!. The best Spanish player in the same season was Fran Gonzalez. A year ago it was Agustin Elduayen. Is really think that this year Djukic played better than Stoichkov, Laudrup, Bebeto .... Or that Spain did not have a better player than Gonzalez and Elduayen who have gathered together 16 appearances for the national team.

    1. The rating can be analyzed for its biased and perspective. Several times less famous players are rated higher than superstar when the rater emphasize the effectiveness of playing and take minor part in level of playing characteristic. Thereby it is still good to apply it properly. At least it is still useful to check season by season in each player to get the profile of performance.

    2. I would really like to ask you to respond to the above what about Inzaghi, Whiteside, Stojkovic, Sorin, Belloumi, Khidiatullin, Piazza, Van der Elst, Uribe, Dirceu Lopes, Fernando Chalana, Ze Roberto, Kofi, Recoba, Bierhoff Polster. .... about my alternatives? Respect!

    3. Mihajlovic, not mention his free-kick ability, was average defender in series A at that time with low speed and made too many unessential fouls. Sorin was a dynamic and energetic wing-back and dominated the game in the left-side. Jarni is a very fast left-side player but I saw he was not much contribute to his team because of his limited defensive and team work ability.

      Sune Andersson was injury too long as I remmeber.
      Dirceu Lopez : If you know how much has Ademir Da Guia underrated, Dirceu Lopez was selected more times in Brazilian League team of the season. When player won few caps because of the coincidence of another or other world-class players, they would not be fully punished.

      Norman Whiteside, likes you said his career was ended too early but also thanks to his shine start at very young age, is one of the youngest international players in Europe with only 17 years and 41 days. He totally had six great seasons.

  21. Impatiently I expect answers to all my questions. I send a lot of greetings and respect!

  22. Thanks for Belodedici !

  23. My friend, you have not offered any answers. You gave me a real argument for Fernando Chalana, Darko Pančev, Kofi, Belloumi, Piazza, Van der Elst, Uribe, Polster, Inzaghi, Bierhoff Polster ...... You did not answer any of my new writing about Alcantara, Poul Nielsen , Matosic. You have not written anything about Arnesen, Kopecky, Raducanu .......... Some things are not very convincing for Sorin, Whiteside, Stojkovic. What's on Keita, Aldair, Gunnar Andersson, Nehoda Mahjoub, Regueiro Silny, Studnicka, Quinn, Nygaard, Stefanescu ...... You are not able to convince me that Pančev made more than Harald Nielsen and Tommy Taylor. There are a list of the best players. Yours are the best. Maybe that's why I like drudgery. But on all these lists know how to find Harald Nielsen and Taylor. Nowhere and never I have not found Pančev! Sorry for my English!

  24. I'm just reply other reasons of Pancev rating as above. Your new comment on Alcantara, Poul Nilsen and Matosic is another positive view ิีbut still not wipe out what I have issued the most important points for them. Arnesen, as I check he is not rated in the top rank in any season during his career at Spain and Belgium. I do not find any strong evidence to believe Kopecky, Raducanu, Stefanescu, Stidnicka was that great (honesty I just ever heard of them slightly)

  25. Arnesen has played in Španjolskij only one season 81/82. Before the start of the second season he broke his leg. In the season 82/83 has not played a single game. Arnesen was brilliant at Ajax and the national team. It was good that season 81/82 in Spain. He was good and in Anderlecht and Eindhoven. The last round of the Dutch Championship 87/88 again broke his leg and did not play the Champions League final against Benfica.

  26. Sergio Ramos is 28 years old. He played 122 matches for the national team the strongest it has ever been. He was selected as the best defensive player in the Spanish league three times (2012,2013,2014). FIFA / FIFPro World XI elected him four times in the best team of the year (2008,2011,2012,2013). UEFA elected him three times (2008,2012,2013). It is likely that 2014 ESM Team of the Year: 2007-08, 2011-12. It will probably be 2014 .. FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2010..UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2012 .. I think that's enough to be among the top 50. In defensive game was certainly better than Antonio Cabrini

    1. International Appearances represent consistency of player but cannot confirm players performance level depend on how great of candidate. Competitiveness of Spain's defensive player is very low but I agree i may underrate him a bit, let name him in the list now.

  27. VLASTIMIL KOPECKY- One of the best technical player in Slavia and Czech football history, Vlasta was a player with excellent ball control, fast with the ball, agile, very good passing, great vision to created attack but also often help to defense. He was a very good shooter and despite his small stature, he was good heading ability. Together with Pepi Bican, he became a dangerous attack line and make Slavia very feared team at the time.
    In his country he played for Slavia Prague, for which he scored 252 league goals in 325 matches (1931/32-1950). He is the second highest Czech league goalscorer in history, only Josef Bican has scored more goals in the Czech league. Died of heart attack on football pitch.

    1. According to main idea in Czech Wikipedia, Vlasta Kopecký was one of the most technical footballers in our history - though smaller stature, excellent hlavičkář, was also an excellent shooter and passer. Played on the left clutch positions, but winger or defender. For his football and character traits became unforgettable personalities just Slavia Prague. In a survey of the Italian newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport from 1939, was named as the best winger in Europe. He set many record of Slavia prague for oldest players proved his longevity.
      As he was one of the best players in his position and his era, I’d name him in the list in forward category although articles describes him as winger but he primarily played as inside-left as I check and also will include him in all-time Czechoslovakia squad.

    2. I told you. I watched him. And I looked and Jesper Olsen, Marcel Raducanu and Frank Arnesen. Unfortunately, I have not looked Studnicka. But they told me a lot about him.

    3. And I have watched several times and Frane Matosic and Darko Pančev. And God is my witness how Matosic was better!

  28. MARCEL RADUCANU-One of the best technicians in the history of Bundesliga, if not the best one. And surely the best dribbler of all times to play in Germany. Raducanu was classic playmaker, not too fast but with excellent ball control, good passing and shot but he was very selfish and always exaggerated with his neverending dribblings. After playing for Steaua Bucureşti in the '70s, when he won two championships and also two Romanian Cups, Răducanu defected following a match in Dortmund, West Germany in 1981. The finest hour of Raducanu’s all too short senior international career arrived with the World Cup qualification game from UEFA Group IV contested at the Stadionul National in Bucharest on October 15, 1980. After completely deceiving the England defender with a fake left-footed shot, Raducanu deftly cut the ball back and rifled a low drive past the diving FC Liverpool goalkeeper RAY CLEMENCE for the game’s first goal in the 35th minute as Romania went on to claim a memorable 2-1 win. Raducanu, who had been named his country’s Footballer of the Year in 1980, soon became disillusioned after not getting on the field for the return game with England at Wembley, a goalless draw, in April of 1981

    1. Raducanu is rated only one international-class season. As you described his exceptional skill, I’d assume he is full of talent but not much efficient contribution to his team.

  29. JESPER OLSEN- Any footballer nicknamed "de Vlo" (the Fly in Dutch) would automatically be assumed to be a player mostly basing his game around fancy dribbling, lightning agility and zipping runs. And very few other footballers in the 80's could probably fit that bill as well as the energetic Danish wide man, Jesper Olsen could.

    Jesper Olsen was a winger of mercurial skill, a player true to the spirit of the famous Ajax Amsterdam academy where he had been nurtured from a young age, moulded after the club's vision of technique, skill and speed sampled together in one body. He had now at the age of 26 for long been the kind of player able to single-handledly make a whole team of opponents feel dizzy once when starting the turbo engine and skipping past the first three defenders with his silky-like bursts of speed and technique. Exactly like the fly he was nicknamed after, he sped around the penalty box, gladly with the all on his feet, driving opponents mad with his unstoppable ability.

    On the national team, Jesper Olsen's legacy will remain as one of the most mythical ones for years to come. He was the player who (arguably) started the Dynamite era (there's a bit of dispute to when this era should be considered to have actually started) by scoring a miracolous solo goal past England's Peter Shilton in stoppage time to keep Denmark alive in the qualification for EURO '84.

  30. JOHAN JAN STUDNICKA- One of the greatest personalities in the history of the Austrian football and let's say "the founder" of the Danubian style of play. Mainly an inside left forward he's mainly famous for his short stature and remarkable bow legs, rocket shots with outside of the boot producing the amazing curle and fantastic dribbling. His style was based on short quick passes, good capacity to read the game and make well timed passes. Jan was good scorer, stocky and masterful strategist, the keepers were scared from his shots.

    1. Studnicka, his biography is interesting as one of the most outstanding figures in history of Austrian football, although it is unclear how much his real performance contribute to his reputation. Articles described he was World Top scorer twice times and I’m not understand the status of awards as world league top scorer list in rsssf do not show his name. I see it is difficult to rate Austrian players who had a peak career in the 1900s when its amateur football played a few games per season and the official league had not held yet. Importantly, his greatness in football is deserved to be honorably mentioned in international legendary museum.



  32. Costica Stefanescu become one of the top players in his nation in second part of career. He was first caped very late at around 26.5 years old and he was first named in top five Romanian player of the year at his 27 years old but he could amaze people to finally finish second place of Romanian player of the year four times and third place four times and I have made profile of Stefanescu in replacement of Dan Coe in all-time Romania squad according to this superiority.

    Refer to this award, I see Belodedici appeared in top five (all in top three) only three times. I assume he had a short peak.

  33. What career had Sorin? Aldair? Buchwald? Khidiatullin was good, but not much of a career. Wilson Piazza ?????? Essien was really weird! Franky Van der Elst was very useful. Al that belongs to the 100? Emerson similar to Van der Elst. Detari ??? What is Detari made? Belloumi, Keita Kofi, Uribe remains a mystery. Why Ginola so high? (a Jesper Olsen no). Recoba-besides talent, I do not know what is offered. Brolin is a similar story as Arnesen. Just as Arnesen had a lot more talent. Hugi, Inzaghi, Berbatov, Salas Torres Bierhoff Polster ??? My friend, are you sure that there is no better? How long did Mendieta? I am very satisfied with the arguments for Dirceu Lopes and Sune Andersson. Andersson I researched. As for Studnička and Kopecky, even Stefanescu. But now I'm not in Chalana, Sorin, Whiteside, Darko Pančev. I understand for Jarni and Mihajlovic. Ze Roberto is also very strange to me. I hope you will find plenty of arguments to be included Poul Nielsen, Alcantara and Harald Nielsen. I send many greetings from former Yugoslavia!

  34. Harald Nielsen was the top scorer of the Danish league (1960) in that one year he played. He was two times the top scorer of the Italian league (1963,1964). He was the top scorer of the Olympics in 1960. At the same Olympics had played Milan Galic, Bora Kostic, Gerson, Gianni Rivera, Ernst Pohl, Florian Albert, Janos Göröcs. Harald Nielsen was 2 times top scorer Mitropa Cup (1962,1963). Caltex Sportsman Dell'Anno 1963, 1964 The best sportsman of Denmark 1959. He was the best Danish footballer in 1959 and 1961. In 1960 there was no choice for the best players. After,not enter the competition because it's a pro. He received many honorary awards in Italy and Denmark. With Bologna was Italian champion and winner of the Mitropa Cup. He was a champion of Denmark. Mitropa Cup finalist. Silver medal with Denmark at the Olympic Games. His move from Bologna to Inter in 1967 was until then the most expensive transfer in historyof football. For the national team has played only one year. For that year he played 14 matches and scored 15 goals. And at the age of 17-18. After not allowed to play for Denmark because the law on amateur sport. He was born on 26/10/1941. He was admitted to the Danish "hall of fame". His nickname was "Gold-Harald".Is enough for the first 100? I think that's enough for the first 65! Heh-heh! Many greetings!

  35. Why did you put Sergio Ramos in defensive laterals list? he has been playing at centre-back over 4 years after some advices from Platini that he would be one of great defender with that position

    1. OK, He recently reach his peak career with CB but it is rather short period and when retrospect to the previous ten years, he is too far to be the top defenders in the world as CB. When I recall his SB performance, I think he is more fit to this role with greater stability in defensive task.

  36. Where is Fulvio Bernardini?. Great playmaker!

    1. Thanks you for this player ! I just ever heard of his name and when I read article about his style and ability, he is described as one of the most versatile Italian players ever. However, I really doubt on his consistency when he won only 23 caps.

  37. Karl Aage Hansen deserve better!

  38. That he should not be a minus. He played 26 matches for Italy. In these times of incredible reasons were sufficient. Bernardini is included in Italian "hall of fame" and Roma also. It is certainly the best Italian playmaker before world war II.

    1. OK, Let me study more. If you have more info to confirm you suggestion, please give me a link.

  39. ARGENTINA-ludovico bidolglio,francisco olazar
    AUSTRIA-josef blum,franz hasil,jan studnicka,karl zischek,erich probst
    BELGIUM-louis van hege,luc nilis
    BOSNIA-asim ferhatovic
    BULGARIA-nikola kotkov,georgi sokolov,todor diev,nikola mutafchiev
    CHESKA-jaroslav burgr,cestmir vycpalek,josef silny,jiri sobotka
    COLOMBIA-efrain sanchez,ivan cordoba,arnoldo iguaran
    CROATIA-dragutin vrdjuka,zvonimir monsider,robert jarni,ivan buljan,ivica surjak,alen boksic,frane matosic,leo lemesic
    DENMARK-frank arnesen,jesper olsen, jorgen sorensen,poul nielsen,harald nielsen,helmuth sobirk,jon dahl tomasson
    ENGLAND-vivian woodward,tommy taylor,frank robertrs,george elliot,bobby parker
    FRANCE-jules dewaquez,joseph ujlaki,nestor combin
    GERMANY-willibald kress,werner liebrich,mesut ozil
    GREECE-giorgios sideris
    HOLLAND-jean de natris,bertus de harder,piet van reenen
    HUNGARY-ferenc plattko,jozsef fogl,sandor matrai,jozsef banas,lazslo budai,andras torocsik,jeno karoly
    IRELAND-steve heighway
    ITALY-fabio cudicini,roberto rosato,danielle de rossi,fulvio bernardini,luigi cevenini,guglielmo gabetto,amadeo amadei
    NORWAY-thorbjorn svensson,per bredesen,tom lund,roald jensen,jorgen juve
    PERU-jose soriano
    POLAND-zygfried szoltysik
    PORTUGAL-jose manuel pepe
    ROMANIA-silviu bindea,marcel raducanu,dudu georgescu
    RUSSIA-fedor selin,vasili trofimov,vsevolod bobrov,mikhail butusov
    SCOTLAND-billy mcneill,tommy gemmell,jimmy quinn,archie stark,gary mcalister,richard gough
    SERBIA-branislav ivanovic,aleksandar tirnanic,ivica bek
    SPAIN-bernardo migueli,jose maria belauste,luis regueiro,juanito,paulino alcantara,rafael pichichi,manuel sanchis
    SWEDEN-ake johansson,bjorn nordqvist,sune andersson,arne selmosson,ralf edstrom,hasse jeppson,erik borjesson,gunnar andersson,sven jonasson,filip johansson
    SWITZERLAND-max abegglen,charles antenen,alfred bickel
    URUGUAY-alfredo foglino,hugo de leon,diego godin,ruben paz
    WALES-mark hughes
    Some big names that you do not have on your lists. Ciao!

  40. Do you know who is the youngest player on this list?

    1. You means youngest player in the present or youngest debut ever ?

    2. Youngest player in the present.

  41. No Okocha? Who is better in your opinion, Okocha or Djalminha?

    1. Okocha is generally more useful to the specific small team while Djalminha is also by far a greater individual technical player. I still believe Okocha is not great enough to play for Brazil national team, would be trouble in adjustment to Brazilian's unusual style of play. Djalminha did an OK jobs but everyone know Brazil had too many classy players and Djalminha finally won only 14 caps.

    2. Who would you say is a better dribbler and entertainer?

    3. Djalminha for sure as he was capable to confront the opponents in dangerous area while Okocha stay in deeper or wider area and several times he get pass player in more comfortable situation.

  42. You forgot to change Laudrup front Suarez

  43. Hi! Can you name some classic 10s like Riquelme, Rui Costa and others? Players with no defensive duties, static, slow, who play "in the whole" and have great creativity. Glenn Hoddle probably?
    That's dying breed in today's game, they are just too specialized, some "leftovers" are Ganso, and Gourcouff. But i like that style so i just want to watch that kind of players, can you name some more, i mean some historic classic 10s. But no Maradona's, Pele's and others who were a lot more than just distributors and set-piece takers.

    1. Yes, Hoddle will be in the same categorization. Other obvious names would be Netzer, Liedholm, Cueto, Giresse, Dobrin, Ademir Da Guia, Scifo, Alex James, etc

    2. Thank you.

  44. I'm thinking of "enganche", that kind of players.

  45. Would you say that Zidane and Deyna could be classified as "enganche"?

    1. Zidane is explicitly fit to enganche style. Deyna is a mixture between majority of enganche and minority of trequartista, several times move himself close to penalty area.

    2. Thanks. But is Zidane just fit for the role or would you say he played it in majority of his career? I would say that he did play it.

    3. It is unquestionable since Zidane is naturally a pure playmaker and rarely played in other position.

  46. Solomon Tesfay30/03/2015, 03:27


    I also wanted to ask why this particular list says 10x100? Aren't there only 9 positions listed? Am I missing something or isn't 9x100 a more appropriate title?

    Thanks again man.

    1. I also thank you for your mention. Have we never talked in any forum before ?

      It was my dream to create and develop the project at best to fulfill my overwhelming passion of the game. Although I found the main obstacles of unavailability of some evidences, too large size of the work and complexity of football history but I finally never give up since it has been penetrated to my blood and brain. Now I'm working for an implementation project and have solved the problem of historical irregularity until it has been steadied and would show the result in the next month as plan.

      That is a mistake ! and no one ask me before, it is really nine not ten so I need to revise.

      I'm appreciated your support. Now I have a plan of implementation project of the memorial of football victory which is planed to start in the second half of this year and it is a huge project of calculation to conclude standard of league in any era but it will be a tedious jobs and that's why I personally would not like to bother you.

  47. How Tevez, Thiago Silva and others excellent players missing? Both them are affecting a lots on their team with high peak performance and they also has won many trophies, receive a high assessment from fans and media each year. Maybe you rate players from old times too high, when football was not popular and difficult like nowadays

    1. I really forget to update for these two players since they're not qualify for the list when it was first created. Now their further great seasons could lead them to make the list. Let consider their place.

    2. what about Thiago Motta, Pepe, Valdes, Carrick, Ivanovic, Nani, De Rossi, Busquets, Pique, Kroos, Marcelo,... and others successful players in late 2000s

    3. Only De Rossi and Kroos would be considered. Kroos has not collect great seasons enough in the standard of players in the list. As I check progression of De Rossi's progression, I'm OK to include him.

  48. Zé Roberto (Brazil) no is Winger, is box-ti- box midfield.

    1. He played as a side-midfielder in his peak career with Leverkusen before switch to central midfielder position in the late career.

  49. wow, suarez has climbed far away and now he can comparable with many legends while he's only 28. That was a good choice to join Barca. Hope you can look after the other stars who are playing in present days, Naratorn

    1. Luis Suarez will be named in top 50 Best Forwards in main category since he has achieved world-class seasons and his national team career is better than many in the list.

  50. Where's Guti, Morientes, Steve McManaman,...They're all world class players and in my region they've been called legend, who made much success for Real Madrid in Galacticos I.

  51. Eden Hazard, best premier league player award from PFA, overcomes lots of stars like Sanchez, Fabregas, Aguero,... and the most important element for Chelsea to win the premier league

  52. Dear, Readers

    The 9x100 ranking list has been updated based on scorecard. For players who are ranked outside top 50 by major category, I plan to improve by advanced comparison techniqye in the next year.

  53. So as you stand , all of Labruna,VanHimst,Bochini,Giresse,Riquelme,Jair,Vieira,Tigana,Szepan,Peucelle,Keizer,Corbatta,Johnstone,Santamaria,Bergomi,Kholer,DaGuia and Pffaf are better football players than Arsenio Erico in your opinion?

    1. They just have a better career and is clearly inferior to Erico in the peak.

    2. Yes I know you rated Erico better in his peak , but bassically with the new implementations , all of those players are better then him in your opinion?

    3. They're better because Erico never played in international official match. In only domestic, Erico get higher points than all of your mentioned names although it is not far different enough as Erico's domestic career is relatively short.

  54. Don't you think that Salvatore Schillaci should be here?

    1. Certainly not, he was just great in the 1990 World Cup and his club career is just average.

  55. Mesut Ozil should definitely be in top 50-60 playmakers.

  56. What about Giorgio Chiellini?

    1. As I check the rating in dbscalcio, he is not qualified.

  57. Would you rate 2011-12 Pirlo season as world class?

    1. Yes in my database, he achieved ordinary world-class in that season. Another one is the 2006 - 2007.

  58. Do you think there is a chance Buffon will overcome Zoff? There's been talk he will play three more years before retiring.

    1. Buffon is now not inferior to Zoff in term of achievement but I see Zoff has a higher peak. I always consider Buffon has a limitation to reach the high ball at the top corner. I never see he save likes that but his ability to read the game is considered as the best ever. He surely has a chance. At 36 years old, he still sustain his figure and his agility is still helpful. Anyway, the opportunity of him to qualify for deeper round in international football is questionable since Pirlo has retired.

    2. Thanks for your answers :). Do you think Messi can be best ever when he retires? I reckon he'll need more success with Argentina.

    3. He has a strong progression to parallel with Maradona but it seems difficult to surpass Pele depend on the remainder part of his career with Argentina. The upcoming Copa America is a compulsory course, he need to get at least semi-finalist with remarkable contribution, otherwise, the opportunity would become harder. I predict he would finish second place.

    4. I mean second place best ever, not Copa America anyway.

    5. And Ronaldo? I think he could end up in top 10, although it will be hard because of the skill level.

    6. The overwhelming expectation of Real Madrid is a forceful factor for him to sustain his level as much as possible but he is going to decline in speed which he is much dependent. He is likely to surpass the Brazilian Ronaldo, meaning to finish 12th at least. Similar case to Messi, his international country career is needed to improve and I think he has the only chance left to achieve world-class in the 2016 Euro. It would be the most important competition for him.

    7. It will be really hard for to do much in 2016, against very strong teams like France, Germany and Spain. Btw, I think Pirlo should be in atleast top 20 playmakers.

  59. I asked in another section already, but I can't see the answers in comment section.

    How would you rate top 5 European leagues right now, based on competition level?

    1. I already replied in that section. May you check again ?

    2. I'm trying, it says load more comments, and when I click it it doesn't do anything.

      Can you just copy past it here?

    3. OK, next time, if you want to comment or check my reply in that section, you just click on the word " Loading", it will show the bottom comments as the most update posts.

      Honesty, I'm not following any league in the most recent season since I have not only been busy on my historical project work but also my task in everyday life. But still, I would reply based on my application of knowledge. 1) La Liga 2) English 3) Bundesliga 4) Italy 5) France
      It should be clear for number one as Barcelona and Real Madrid got deeper round in UCL ad Seviila won Europa League. Also, English league became slightly down when Man Utd and Liverpool declined and statistics tell us average scoring per game of the league is significantly increased despite the same style of play.

    4. Ok, I personally think that Serie A is stronger than Bundesliga, obviously Bundesliga has Bayern, but when you look at the lower teams, I think Serie A is overall more competitive. (especially if you factor in the fact that Bundesliga has 18 teams.)

    5. You're probably right. I'm not in a good position to judge that. Anyway, When AC Milan and Inter Milan has a big decline, the league is rather effected by them.

  60. Who would you rate as the best centre back in world right now? There really hasn't been a truly world class center back for a while now. For me it would someone out of Thiago Silva, Kompany, Chiellini and Hummels.

    1. Yes, I agree on the names but I see Chiellini is the least tough within a group. Sergio Ramos is not that tough as he is named in FIFPro World XI prolifically but he has a great understanding of the game.

    2. What do you think of Andrea Barzagli?

    3. He is just lucky to play in the less competitive era of Italian football. He might not capped even once time if born to play in the 1990s. Defenders like Materazzi is tougher than him for my eyes.

  61. Who do you think has the most potential for a great career out of young players in the world right now?

    1. It must be Pogba. Although it is unnecessary that a great young player would sustain his great performance through the career but he already achieved three excellent seasons. His completion of playing convince to predict he would be the best central midfielder in the second half 2010s easily.

      James Rodriguez has a high talent but he moved to Real Madrid rather too early.

    2. Do you think Hazard could be better than C.Ronaldo?

    3. He is not a young player anymore with 24 years old. I don't think he could overtake C.Ronaldo as his international career is just to develop/

    4. And what about Neymar?

    5. I afraid that he cannot reach full potential as long as staying M-S-N forward line because the more top players the more share of impact level. But still, Messi may play deeper in the late career allowing Neymar to get more decisive role.

  62. Why does Zoff have more domestic club points than Buffon? Is it because of competitiveness of the league?

    1. It is primarily based om media rating in Dbscalcio.

  63. Who do you think has most potential out of young goalkeepers today? (De Gea included)

    1. As criteria of young players would be under-23 based on olympic games criteria. De Gea is not young player anymore. Ter Stegan has passed his full 23 years old, he is also outside extent of consideration. I'm not really sure who has the most potential as I've not followed many of league.

  64. If Argentina win Copa America 2015, Di Maria must be somewhere in top 100 offensive lateral. His career is great enough!

  65. Where are the Neville's brothers and others Manchester United legends in 1992 era. They won the triple in 1998 and deserved to be here.

  66. Hierro is far too high on this list. AND Puyol is placed too low on the defenders list

    1. The fact that he was slow and there are a ton of defenders tougher than him but his contribution on passing and scoring help to raise his level of performance.

      Puyol was inconsistent in both of my watch and rating in dbscalcio.

    2. Seems like you have an interesting ranking scheme for evaluating central defenders.

      Hierro's contributions in build-up and passing was remarkable. Sure I'd give him that. But I've seen numbers of forwards beating out Hierro easily; ironically making Casillas to become one of the greatest GK of his era. And yet you've placed Hierro above Gentile and Alan Hansen. He should be level with Ferarra at most.

      As for Puyol, he deserves a little more than staying below Ferdinand. Must be alongside with Adams, or Sol Campbell at least.

      Meanwhile, I was shocked to see Hyypia making into the greatest 100. I'd rather put Raphael Marquez or Jamie Carragher in the all time best central defenders just so you know...

      Otherwise, nice job.

    3. I interpret that you give offensive ability for defender in a very minor weight. I give it as a moderate importance when Hierro could score decisive goals in many time and Real Madrid and Spain exploit his accurate passing from the back-line. Gentile is much better than him in defensive level but has nothing to parallel Hierro is offensive quality. I easily agree his overall ability is not superior to Ferrara but performance is significantly depended on the given opportunity and Ferrara is limited in opportunity of international country career.

      Hyypia is more consistent than other names outside top 100. He has better than Carragher and Marquez in air and positional sense although he is too slow. Media rating also give him much higher than Carragher and R.Marquez in average point by season.

      The ranks with below top 50 in the major hall of immortal has not been implemented and just based on a large-scale consideration. I plan to review them by comparison technique in the next year.

  67. Billy Lidell is so low! He is with no doubt better than Hazard adn Bale and many others in front of him.

    1. Is it because he played lost of seasons in second division? Hazard still hasn't played the number of seasons in fisrt division as Billy Liddell and also i think that Liddell is a better player.

    2. I'll keep this point to review in the next plan. Now really have no time to manage with a ton of players outside the major hall.

  68. Who would be biggest underachievers for you? Let's limit it to players on 9x100 list but not in major hall of fame. Players who should have accomplished a lot more based solely on their talent and ability.

  69. Interesting question. There are many names come to my brain. Georges Best will be the best example of an underachiever. Stanley Matthews is the best player with lowest achievement in overall career. Other obvious names will be Jim Baxter, Milos Milutinovic, Rene Pontoni, Dragan Stojkovic, etc.

    1. Thanks. But i'm not quite sure what you meant about Matthews. Is it the same as with Best or did you want to say something else?

    2. Matthews is underachiever in case achievement is measured by number of winning trophy. The gap between ability and trophy is the highest and higher than that of George Best who also should have won a lot more trophy.

      When achievement is not defined as a trophy but personal career performance, George Best become the strongest contender of this status.

    3. Oh, I understand I meant the gap between performance and ability. So that's George Best. What about players outside of major hall of fame?

    4. Let check and will reply tomorrow.

    5. Have you checked?

    6. Sorry for late. Please give me more time. I have been very busy.

    7. No problem.

  70. I think Scweinsteiger could be higher. Also, what about Sergio Ramos? Is he gaining points only for central defender now?