Definition of attacking midfielder include only central midfielder who could operate creativity for team but they must be base on midfield area and go attacking later. Some of them might be a free-role playmaker but they must not be often operate thier game in the edge of the field. Most of them have beautiful style of playing and being the most influence of team. The important skills of this position is consist of vision, passing, dribbling and even scoring. This kind of player was available in early decade known as “ Wing-Half ” or "Inside Forward".

Criteria cover these items ;

1.   Level of Abilities
2.   Consistency, Longevity
3.   The Greatness, Awards
4.   Standard Competition In Each Era

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50. Lajos Detari



Date Of Birth : 24 April 1963
Nation : Hungary
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : Budapest Honved
Caps :  61 Games (13 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1986 (3 Games)
Club Honours :  3 Times Hungarian League
1 Time Hungarian Cup
1 Time DFB-Pokal
1 Time Greek Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None

Lajos Detari is regarded as the finest Hungarian footballer during the 1980s and the last Hungarian superstar before their long period of failure years until Nowadays. Détári was transferred from Honvéd Budapest to Bundesliga. He played for Eintracht Frankfurt in 1987/88 scoring 11 goals in 33 games. Then, Détári scored the only goal in the German Cup final from a direct free kick just outside the box against VfL Bochum, leading Eintracht to their last cup title to this day. At the beginning of the following season he was on the move again, to Olympiacos. Détári arrived in Greece to a tumultuous reception by the Piraeus club's supporters. Unfortunately, he did not justify the expectations of Olympiacos or the money spent in his acquisition. After leaving Greece, Détári played for many clubs. Further clubs that Détári played for were Bologna , Ancona , Neuchatel Xamax and VSE St. Pölten. Detari was famous for his scoring, made more than 170 goals in around 400 games during his club career.

49. Safet Susic



Date Of Birth : 13 April 1955
Nation : Yugoslavia
Height : 181 cm
Major Club : FK Sarajevo, Paris Saint-Germain
Caps :  54 Games (21 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1982, 1990 (8 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time French League
1 Time French Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : UEFA Jubilee Award (Bosnia and Herzegowina) 1979 Yugoslavian Footballer of The Year
1980 Yugoslavian League Top Scorer

Safet Susic was the most prominent star of Yugoslavia during the early 1980s. In his playing days, he operated as playmaking attacking midfielder with superb passing ability. Darko Pancev ever mentioned about him that ‘He's unsurpassable, the best Yugoslavia had, Probably one of the best in the world. I was often known to say that us other players should have to pay to play in the same team as Pape. At least I always talked and thought like that. Pape was a treasure for every forward. His crosses were unbelievable. Sometimes his ball would hit me without me even being aware of it ‘A wonderful player’’. Gerd Muller gave his compliment to him as one of the top great players he has ever seen.



48. Carlos Valderrama



Date Of Birth : 2 September 1961
Nation : Colombia
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Monpellier
Caps :  111 Games
World Cup Participation :  1990, 1994, 1998 (10 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time French Cup
2 Times Colombian Championship
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1987 Copa America Best Player
2 Times South American Footballer of The Year (1987, 1993)
1996 Bronze Ball South American Footballer of The Year
1996 Major League Soccer MVP

‘El Pibe’ Carlos Valderrama is the greatest footballer ever of Colombia. He was a symbolic player of Colombia is their golden era qualifying World cup final 3 consecutive tournaments. Valderrama never played for any club more than two years, began his career at Unión Magdalena. He also played for Millonarios and Deportivo Cali before joining Montpellier to play for Independiente Medellín and Atlético Junior, he went to the US to play for the Tampa Bay Mutiny, Miami Fusion, and Colorado Rapids. While a member of the Mutiny, the team would sell him wigs at Tampa Stadium. In Major League Soccer, He scored relatively few goals for a midfielder, but is the league's second all-time leader in assists (114), In 2005, He was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI. As a player, He was known for his excellent field vision as a deep-lying playmaker. He had an inimitable dribbling style and appeared deceptively slow, but he is nearly impossible to dispossess. Always ready to pass instead of shoot, He still had his share of goals in addition to many assists.



47. Jim Baxter



Date Of Birth : 29 September 1939
Nation : Scotland
Height : Unknown
Major Club : Glasgow Rangers
Caps :  34 Games
World Cup Participation :  None
Club Honours :  3 Times Scottish League
3 Times Scottish Cup
4 Times Scottish League Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None

‘Slim Jim’ Jim Baxter is regarded by some as the country's greatest ever football player. Baxter mainly plaed as left-half and sometimes moved to inside-left, started his professional career at Raith Rovers before moving to Rangers for a Scottish record transfer fee . He helped Rangers to win ten trophies during 5 seasons. However he started drinking heavily during a four-month layoff caused by a leg fracture until his fitness suffered. This problem effected him not able to settle down for any club after then. Baxter retired from football at the age of 31 only. In his prime Baxter was known for his ability to raise a team's morale, his good tactical vision, precise passing and ability to send opponents the wrong way. In 1963, which may have been Baxter's best year overall, he played in the "rest of the world" in a match against England to celebrate the centenary of The Football Association. He came on to the field in the second half, and his performance won the admiration of Ferenc Puskás. However England won the match 2–1.


46. Krassimir Balakov



Date Of Birth : 29 March 1966
Nation : Bulgaria
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : VFB Stuttgart
Caps :  92 Games (16 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1994, 1998 (10 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time DFB-Pokal
1 Time Portuguese Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian Footballer of The Year (1995, 1997)
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team

Krassimir Balakov is considered as the greatest playmaker in history of Bulgarian football. He was famous for his effectively all-round playmaking ability. Balakov start well-known due to his performance in World Cup 1994 that he was one of the most important role to lead Bulgaria surprising the World winning fourth place which is the best achievement for their history. Afterwards, He signed from Sporting Lisbon to play in Germany for 8 seasons but it seems to be underrated by kicker ranking him just a half season of world-class and 2.5 international-class seasons in spite of his great performance as one of the famous trio ‘EL-BAL-BO’. However, It is possible for his failing down because of his lately career for VFB Stuttgart.


45. Steven Gerrard



Date Of Birth : 30 May 1980
Nation : England
Height : 188 cm
Major Club : Liverpool
Caps :  76 Games
World Cup Participation :  2006 (5 Games)
Club Honours :  2 Times FA Cup
2 Times League Cup
2005 UEFA Champion League Winners
2007 UEFA Champion League Runner-Up
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2000 PFA Young Player Of The Year
2005 UEFA Champion League Most Valuable Player
2005 Silver Ball FIFA Club World Cup
2005 Silver Ball Onze d’Or
2005 Bronze Ball European Footballer Of The Year
2006 PFA Player’s Player Of The Year
2007 Order Of The British Empire
2009 FWA Footballer Of The Year
7 Times PFA Team Of The Year
3 Times UEFA Team Of The Year (2005, 2006, 2007)
2 Times FIFPro World XI (2007, 2008)

“Stivi G” Steven Gerrard is an actively popular superstar of “The Red Machine” Lliverpool where he already selected as the second best of the club by The Times and being going on his road to be club’s greatest ever in the near future. He started well-known as a prominent defensive midfielder in the premier league when Roy Keane and Patrice Vieira were in their late career. He switched to play as attacking midfielder later then but he was still very much to participate in defensive game. Gerrard is a modern midfielder who is outstanding in movement, organizing, work rates, leadership and superb long-shot, became one of the most important scorers of his club, scored more than 20 goals for three seasons, is rated as a world-class midfielder although his technical abilities and passing were not in the first-rate level.

44. Enzo Scifo



Date Of Birth : 19 February 1966
Nation : Belgium
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : Anderlecht, Monaco
Caps :  84 Games (18 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 (17 Games)
Club Honours :  4 Times Belgium League
1 Time French League
1 Time Copa Italia
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1984 Belgian Golden Shoe
1986 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player
1990 French League Foreign Player of The Year

Enzo Scifo was one of the great Belgian superstars in their history. He became a main player of his nation for 14 years. Originally Italian born by Italian parents, At the age of 18, Enzo gained Belgian nationality in June 1984 just in time for the European Championships. He was one of the most promoting youngsters in the world in the mid-80s. In 1986, Belgium surprised many by reaching the semifinals of the World Cup in Mexico, and Scifo contributed a great deal to their success. Anderlecht could not stop him from taking the big step to the Serie A in 1987. Unfortunately his spell at Inter Milan was anything but successful and he was soon transferred to French side Bordeaux. After another miserable season, Enzo was ready to give up football at the tender age of 23. Guy Roux saved Enzo’s career and took him under his wings and soon Scifo was back at his best level again. Scifo went back to Italy and had a few successful years with Torino and also enjoyed success at Monaco before he returned back home to Anderlecht after ten years away.



43. Paul Gascoigne



Date Of Birth : 27 May 1967
Nation : England
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : Newcastle, Tottenham, Rangers
Caps :  57 Games (10 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1990 (6 Games)
Club Honours :  2 Times Scottish Premier League
1 Time FA Cup
1 Time Scottish Cup
1 Time Scottish League Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1988 PFA Young Player of The Year
1990 BBC Sport Personality of The Year
1990 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1996 SFWA Footballer of The Year
1996 SPFA Players’ Player of The Year

Paul Gascoigne was one of the most talent British footballers of all-time but was involved in many off-field incidents, and is believed never to have fulfilled his potential as a player.[2][3] Since his career finished he has suffered from alcoholism, mental illness and personal legal problems. He was very famous after done his performance well in World Cup 1990 that England won fourth place. That year he won 4th European footballer of the year. In 1991-1992 season, He was out of that season due to his injury, then moved to play in Italian Series A with Lazio but the latter injury keeping him out for the majority of the 1994-95 season again. Gascoigne still showed his finally impressive result in EURO 96 before becoming failing down in performance in his lately career.



42. Alain Giresse



Date Of Birth : 2 August 1952
Nation : France
Height : 163 cm
Major Club : Bordeaux
Caps :  47 Games
World Cup Participation :  1982, 1986 (12 Games)
Club Honours :  2 Times French League
1 Time French Cup
International Honours : 1984 European Championship Winners
1986 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 3 Times French Player of The Year (1982, 1983, 1987)
1982 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1982 Silver Ball Onze d’Or
1984 European Championship Team of The Tournament

Alain Giresse was one of the famous players of France national team during the early 1980s alongside Michel Platini, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana formed the legendary (Magic Square) in midfield, got successful three consecutive tournaments during 1982 – 1986. Aside from his achievement in international level in 1984 and 1986, Giresse won fourth place in World Cup 1982 with France. He was one of the smallest footballer to ever appear in the Europe but this point led him to be advantage in agility and acceleration. Giresse was an intelligent playmaker combined with beautiful style of play. He was voted seventh place as the greatest French player of all-time by France Football.



41. Thomas Haessler



Date Of Birth : 30 May 1966
Nation : Germany
Height : 166 cm
Major Club : AS Roma, Karlsruhe, 1860 Munich
Caps :  101 Games (11 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1990, 1994, 1998 (14 Games)
Club Honours :  None
International Honours : 1990 FIFA World Cup Winners
1992 European Championship Runner-Up
1996 European Championship Winners
Individual Achievement : 2 Times German Footballer of The Year (1989, 1992)
1992 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1992 Bronze Ball FIFA World Player of The Year

‘Icke’ Thomas Hassler was recognized as the impressively finest German playmaker during the 1990s. He was reputable for his professional mind, agility, tireless stamina and dazzling dribbling sprees. Hassler was a playmaking free-role who tired to create assist in everywhere of the front line in the pitch with his work-rate. He was also a free-kick specialist. Unbelievably, He never won any trophy in club level but finished second place Bundesliga with FC Koln 2 two times plus one time UEFA Cup Runner-Up. Moreover, He reached Copa Italia final in 1993 with Roma but lost again. Then, He played for two unsuccessful clubs in Germany. All was opposite in international level, He got successful so much. In 1992, He also won 4th of Ballon d’Or.

40. Johnny Haynes



Date Of Birth : 17 October 1934
Nation : England
Height : Unknown
Major Club : Fulham
Caps :  56 Games (18 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1954, 1958, 1962 (6 Games)
Club Honours :  None
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1961 Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year

Johnny Haynes is the legendary English footballer in the lately 1950s to the early 1960s alongside Billy Wright and Tom Finney, played a club-record 658 games and scored 158 goals for Fulham Football Club. An inside forward, Haynes is widely regarded as the greatest footballer ever to play for the London club, particularly noted for his exceptional passing skill and ability to read a game. An accomplished international, many of his appearances were done while playing for Fulham in the Second Division. Haynes became the first player to be paid £100 a week, immediately following the abolition of the £20 maximum wage in 1961. Pelé described 'The Maestro' as the "best passer of the ball I've ever seen". In 2008, Fulham announced that fundraising had commenced, with the co-operation of a fan's group, to produce a lasting tribute to Haynes. A statue was commissioned and was unveiled at Craven Cottage.


39. Giancarlo Antognoni



Date Of Birth : 1 April 1954
Nation : Italy
Height : 179 cm
Major Club : Fiorentina
Caps :  73 Games
World Cup Participation :  1978, 1982 (11 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time Copa Italia
International Honours : 1982 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : None

Giancarlo Antognoni is regarded as one of the great legends of Fiorentina. He was a deep-lying playmaker similar to Andrea Pirlo but greater in defensive quality. He was known for his stamina and precision passing. Antognoni was an important player helping Italy won fourth place in World Cup 1978 and European championship 1980. He was a starter of Italy in World Cup 1982 until getting the big injury in semi-final round and was unable to play in the final match. Later, That injury led him could not reach his prime any longer and retire for international level just at his age of 29 only. He played for Fiorentina more than 400 games and was chosen by many journalists in www.channel4.com in all-time Fiorentina XI.

38. Andrea Pirlo



Date Of Birth : 19 May 1979
Nation : Italy
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps :  64 Games
World Cup Participation :  2006 (7 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time Italian Series A
1 Time Copa Italia
2 Times UEFA Champion League Winners (2003, 2007)
2005 UEFA Champion League Runner-Up
International Honours : 2006 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 2006 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
2006 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
2006 FIFPro World XI

‘The Architect’ Andrea Pirlo is the best Italian playmaker during the 2000s, praised for his inventive playing, he is also a free-kick specialist. For both club and country Pirlo plays central midfield, as a deep-lying playmaker. He came in 3rd and 2nd in IFFHS World Playmaker of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007 respectively, is known for his long passes frequently set up goal-scoring opportunities for the Azzurri. Recently, when playing for Italy, Pirlo has returned to his old position as a traditional play-maker behind striker that he ever routinely plays when he was a player of Inter Milan. Focus to his style of play, Pirlo is not suitable for playing in 4-4-2 system because he has never done in defensive game well and not great as a scorer enough to play as second striker as well.


 37. Fritz Szepan



Date Of Birth : 2 September 1907
Nation : Germany
Height : Unknown
Major Club : Schalke 04
Caps :  34 Games
World Cup Participation :  1934, 1938 (5 Games)
Club Honours :  6 Times German Champions
1 Time DFB-Pokal
International Honours : 1934 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : Nonel

To some, Fritz Szepan was the “Beckenbauer” of the pre-WWII years, to others simply one of the great legends of German football. His name is synonymous with the great Schalke era of the 1930s and early-1940s. He already played for Schalke at the age of 15 in 1924, when he replaced Ernst Kuzorra, the other great Schalke legend. He started out at inside right but gained international recognition in his interpretation of the center half role. Szepan made the play of Schalke and the German national side (in the 1934 World Cup) at a time other center halves were largely committed to covering the opposing center forward. He however was not an easy-going player and declared his retirement from international play more than once. Szepan had a comeback in late-1936, playing at inside left. His displays again reached the high level of his 1934 World Cup performance. By 1937, Szepan was the outstanding playmaker of the Breslau XI.


36. Gerhard Hanappi



Date Of Birth : 16 February 1929
Nation : Austria
Height : 169 cm
Major Club : Rapid Vienna
Caps :  93 Games (12 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1954, 1958 (8 Games)
Club Honours :  7 Austrian League
1 Austrian Cup
1951 Mitropa Cup
International Honours : 1954 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1955 Austria Sportsman of The Year
Gerhard Hanappi was the greatest Austrian playmaker of all-time, a versatile midfielder, Hanappi started his career at SC Wacker Wien, where he made his Bundesliga debut in 1947. Deemed as Austria's biggest football talent, he then controversially moved to play for big city rivals Rapid Vienna from 1950 till 1965. His time at Rapid proved to be very successful, He also captained the side for seven years and was chosen in Rapid's Team of the Century in 1999. Hanappi was voted 3rd greatest Austrian footballer of all-time by IFFHS’s poll. After his football career Hanappi worked as an architect. He planned the Weststadion in Vienna, which was renamed to Gerhard Hanappi Stadium after his death.


35. Juan Roman Riquelme



Date Of Birth : 24 June 1978
Nation : Argentina
Height : 182 cm
Major Club : Boca Junior, Villareal
Caps :  54 Games (18 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  2006 (5 Games)
Club Honours :  3 Times Argentina Apertura
1 Time Argentina Clausura
1 Time UEFA Intertoto Cup
International Honours : 2007 Copa America Runner-Up
2008 Olympic Game Gold Medal
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Argentinean League Footballer of The Year
2001 South American Footballer of The Year
2005 Spanish La Liga Foreign Footballer of The Year
2007 Copa Libertadores Cup Most Valuable Player
Juan Roman Riquelme is the most talented playmaker in the world during the 2000s. His main assets are his passing and setting the tempo of play. After he won the best player in South America continent, He signed for Barcelona but his coming seems to be political signing for Luis Van Gaal and he was mostly dropped as a reserved player for matches. Consequently, Riquelme was moved to Villareal and becoming the indispensable playmaker to lead them finished third place of Spanish league in 2005 and incredibly reached semi-final round in UEFA Champion League 2005 -2006 despite the first participation. He came back to play in his homeland again and became the most important player of Argentina national team in World Cup 2010 qualification until Diego Maradona got to control and dropped him out of squad due to his attitude.


34. Liam Brady



Date Of Birth : 13 February 1956
Nation : Republic of Ireland
Height : 174 cm
Major Club : Arsenal
Caps :  72 Games (18 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  None
Club Honours :  2 Times Italian Series A
1 Time FA Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1979 PFA Players’ Player of The Year
IFFHS Republic of Ireland’s Player of The Century

‘Chippy’ Liam Brady is regarded by many as the best playmaker in history of Arseanl and Republic of Ireland. In his playing days, he was a midfielder renowned for his elegant technical skills, most notably his left foot “a most magical left peg” as they say in Britain. Brady had tremendous vision and exactness in his passing and more than enough dribbling ability to get free for his incisive strikes. During this time at Arsenal he was voted the club's player of the year three times. In 1980, Arsenal reached the Cup Winners' Cup final. Brady's performance in the tie impressed the Italian giants and they finally signed him. He is remembered as one of Arsenal's all-time greats, playing 307 matches for the Gunners and setting up many more. After the arrival of Michel Platini in summer 1982, Brady moved to Sampdoria, and went on to play for Internazionale and Ascoli , before returning to London to play for West Ham.

33. Nicolae Dobrin



Date Of Birth : 26 August 1947
Nation : Romania
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : Arges Pitesti
Caps :  48 Games
World Cup Participation :  1970 (6 Games)
Club Honours :  2 Times Romanian League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Romanian Footballer of The Year (1966, 1967,1971)

"The Prince of Trivale" Nicolae Dobrin is considered by many to be the best Romanian player of the 1960s and 1970s and one of the most talented players ever to play the game. Nicolae Dobrin Stadium in Piteşti is named after him. During his whole career, Nicolae Dobrin played 409 matches, scoring 111 goals in all. Dobrin is also known for famously missing out on a transfer to Real Madrid. After playing them in a European Cup game and scoring a goal, Santiago Bernabéu, their famous president was so impressed with Dobrin's skills that he wanted to transfer him to the Spanish team with a huge amount of money for that time. Because of the communist regime in Romania in that period, Bernabéu had to hold talks with Nicolae Ceauşescu himself, but could not persuade him, because Dobrin was regarded as a "national good" and such values could not be "estranged", especially not working for foreigners, according to the communist doctrine of that time. It is said that this was the biggest regret of Dobrin's life.

32. Dirceu



Date Of Birth : 15 June 1952
Nation : Brazil
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : Atletico Madrid
Caps :  44 Games
World Cup Participation :  1974, 1978, 1982 (11 Games)
Club Honours :  2 Times Campeonato Carioca
International Honours : 1978 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1978 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1978 Bronze Ball South American Footballer of The Year
1978 FIFA World Cup All Star Team

Dirceu is best recognized as the finest Brazil player in World Cup 1978 that he won the third best of the tournament. He was one of the most often changing club player with 17. Nevertheless, His performance during three year at Atletico Madrid was good enough to make the fans of the club still remember him and he is considered one of the idols of the club. He was a starter for Brazil national team just a tournament ann 1978 and being the main reserved player in 1974 which Brazil won fourth place and substituted to Socrates in 1982. Dirceu moved from Spain to play with 5 club each a season in Italian Series A like Hellas Verona, Napoli, Ascoli, Como and Avellino.

31. Jan Ceulemans



Date Of Birth : 28 February 1957
Nation : Belgium
Height : 191 cm
Major Club : Club Brugge
Caps :  96 Games (23 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1982, 1986, 1990 (16 Games)
Club Honours :  4 Times Belgian League
2 Times Belgian Cup
International Honours : 1980 European Championship Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Belgian Golden Shoe (1980, 1985,1986)
1980 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1981 Bronze Ball Onze d’Or
1986 FIFA World Cup All Star Team

‘Captain Courageous’ Jan Ceulemans was a top-class attacking midfielder in Europe during the 1980s. He was not a creative playmaker but known for his specialist to go support scoring by himself. Ceulemans was a workhorse and his tireless running in midfield combined with his long legs made him able to cover lots of ground. He could run fast with the ball at his feet and was good in the air as well. He was very skillful despite being tall and scored many goals after beating a man or two. Among one of Ceulemans' finest achievements was captaining his national side to fourth place in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, scoring three goals in the tournament including a beautiful diving header against Spain in the quarter-finals. His performance earned the nickname "Captain Courageous".[1]. He retired from international competition after the 1990 FIFA World Cup; Jan scored the 3rd goal in a 3-1 win over Uruguay but Belgium was eliminated by England in the round of sixteen, with the winning goal being scored by David Platt in the 119th minute in extra time. Jan had struck the post during the game.

30. Glenn Hoddle



Date Of Birth : 27 October 1957
Nation : England
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : Tottenham Hot Spurs
Caps :  53 Games
World Cup Participation :  1982, 1986 (7 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time French League
2 Times FA Cup
1 Time French Cup
1984 UEFA Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1980 PFA Young Player of The Year
1988 French League Foreign Player of The Year
Glenn Hoddle is considered as the most gifted British footballer of all-time. sublime balance and close control, unrivalled passing and vision and extraordinary shooting ability, both from open play and set pieces". Though regarded as a genius with the ball at his feet, Hoddle was considered an enigmatic and unreliable player to international managers guilty of over- emphasizing hard work and physical prowess instead of technical ability and attacking creativity. He was included in the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup squads, playing an important role in the latter campaign. Hoddle also featured prominently in the European Championship squads of 1980 and 1988. Hoddle's talent is widely appreciated abroad; less so in England. Arsene Wenger, who worked with him at Monaco, recalled: 'His control was superb and he had perfect body balance. His skill in both feet was uncanny. I couldn't understand why he hadn't been appreciated in England. Perhaps he was a star in the wrong period, years ahead of his time.' As Jean-Luc Ettori, Monaco's club captain at the time, put it: 'For us Glenn was le bon dieu - he was a god. There's nothing else to say.

29. Dragan Stojkovic



Date Of Birth : 3 March 1965
Nation : Yugoslavia
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Red Star Belgrade, Nagoya Grampus Eight
Caps :  84 Games (15 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1990, 1998 (9 Games)
Club Honours :  2 Times Yugoslavian League
1 Time J League
1 Time Yugoslavain Cup
1991 European Cup Runner-Up
1993 European Cup Winners
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Yugoslavian Footballer of The Year (1988, 1989)
1990 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1995 Jay League Most Valuable Player

Dragan Stojkovic is considered one of the best players in the history of Yugoslavian and Serbian football. He is one of the five players to be awarded the title Star of the Red Star. He developed into the best player in the league and his stellar performances with the club earned him the title of Zvezdina Zvezda only given out to the very best players in the club's storied history. Then he moved to Olympique de Marseille but mostly out of almost two seasons due to the injury, a half-season loan move to Hellas Verona sandwiched in-between his stints in Marseille. In the finals of the UEFA Champion's Cup, Marseille played against Stojkovic's former team Red Star. Stojkovic, a penalty kick specialist, entered the game late as a substitute but refused to shoot against his former team. Stojković then signed with Japanese J-League team Nagoya Grampus Eight, then managed by Arsène Wenger. He spent seven seasons with the Grampus Eight. He was named J-League MVP for the 1995 season.



28. Rui Costa



Date Of Birth : 29 March 1972
Nation : Portugal
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : Fiorentina, AC Milan
Caps :  94 Games (26 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  2002 (2 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time Italian Series A
1 Time Portuguese League
3 Times Copa Italia
2003 UEFA Champion League
International Honours : 2004 European Championship Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 2 Times European Championship Team of The Tournament (1996, 2000)
Rui Costa is regarded as the greatest playmaker to play for Fiorentina. He start his reputation with playing in the popularly Portugal golden generation team that won FIFA World youth champion three times alongside Luis Figo, Jao Pinto and Pedro Pauleta. Despite the heavy competition with the best midfielders of Italian Series A in that time such as Zinedine Zidane, Costa was named the best playmaker in the league a few times. His departure from Fiorentina came true after the club went bankrupt. Costa became Milan's most expensive transfer of all-time. Later, Brazilian youngster Kaká joined the ranks at Milan and relegated Costa to the bench. Though pleased with Kaká's success, he was disappointed to be restricted to the bench in the twilight of his career. In 2004, Costa played his last match for the Portuguese squad at the UEFA Euro 2004 final, when Portugal lost to underdogs Greece 1-0. He also helped Portugal reached semi-final in EURO 2000.



27. Bernd Schuster



Date Of Birth : 22 December 1959
Nation : West Germant
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : Barcelona
Caps :  22 Games
World Cup Participation :  None
Club Honours :  3 Times Spanish La Liga
5 Times Copa Del Rey
1982 European Cup Winners’ Cup
1986 European Cup Runner-Up
International Honours : 1980 European Championship Winners
Individual Achievement : 1980 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
1980 European Championship Team of The Tournament
2 Times Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year (1981, 1985)
2 Times Spanish La Liga Best Foreign Player of The Year (1985, 1991)

Bernd Schuster is famous for his flair, great technique and vision, is believed as one of the best German playmakers of all-time if he didn’t face the two big problems. The first one is getting injury in 1981 when he played for Barcelona, he received a bad injury on his right knee by Andoni Goikoetxea. at the age of 21 only. He could came back to show his amazing performance but the fact that he never reached his prime any longer. The second reason is due to his repeated disagreements with the German Football Association to include player playing outside West Germany, then national team manager Jupp Derwall, and teammates including Paul Breitner. His refusal to take part in a match against Albania in order to be home for the birth of his second son David caused a sporting scandal at the time. Schuster later moved to play both big clubs in Madrid and back Germany to play for Leverkusen, was still ranked in international-class in 1993.


26. Gheorghe Hagi   



Date Of Birth : 5 February 1965
Nation : Romania
Height : 174 cm
Major Club : Steua Bucharest, Galatasalaay
Caps :  125 Games (35 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1990, 1994, 1998 (12 Games)
Club Honours :  3 Romanian League
4 Turkish League
3 Romanian Cup
2 Turkish Cup
1989 European Cup Runner-Up
2000 UEFA Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 6 Times Romanian Footballer of The Year
2 Times Romania League Top Scorer
UEFA Jubilee Award (Romania)
1994 FIFA World Cup All Star Team

“The Maradona of Carpathians” Gheorghe Hagi is widely considered as the greatest Romanian footballer of all-time, and was regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe during the Early1990s. He had excellent technique and vision, his passing abilities was unparalleled, and his shots often found the goal. He was very creative in the pass or shot, as witnessed by his long-range goal against Colombia in the 1994 World Cup first round. His dribbling ability was also formidable. Hagi was everything of Romania national team in their greatest era, qualified for 3 consecutive World Cup final tournaments. On the other hand, He fail to success his career in Spain both in Real Madrid and Barcelona, partly because of his injury but he totally had a hard time to adjust himself to their style of play. Hagi would be in his prime when playing as the most important role in midfield like Brescia or Galataslaay. Heagi also won second place Romanian footballer of the year 6 times mostly only to Gheorghe Popescu.


25. Enzo Francescoli



Date Of Birth : 12 November 1961
Nation : Uruguay
Height : 181 cm
Major Club : River Plate
Caps :  72 Games (15 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1986, 1990 (8 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time Argentina Champion
1 Time French League
1996 Copa Libertadores Cup
International Honours : 1995 Copa America Winners
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Argentina League Footballer of The Year (1984, 1995)
2 Times Copa America Best Player (1983, 1995)
1990 French League Foreign Player of The Year
2 Times South American Footballer of The Year (1985, 1995)
4 Times Argentinean League Top Scorer (1984, 1985, 1994, 1996)

“The Prince of Uruguay” Enzo Francescoli is rated as one of the greatest player in history of Uruguay national team. He was noted for his graceful, fluid abilities on the ball and ability to score. These qualities would later influence the style of French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who has stated that Francescoli was his favorite player as a young boy and even named one of his sons Enzo as a hompage to him. Francescoli had a problem like many South American footballers about adaptation to play in Europe especially in Italian Series A. He played for Cagliari and Torino in total 4 seasons and done his performance just less than his potential. Francescoli scored 227 goals in 572 games in all competition of club career. He holds the record all-time top scorer-foreigner of River Plate.

24. Kaka



Date Of Birth : 22 April 1982
Nation : Brazil
Height : 186 cm
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps :  73 Games (26 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  2002, 2006 (6 Games)
Club Honours :  1 Time Italian Series A
2005 UEFA Champion League Runner-Up
2007 UEFA Champion League Winners
International Honours : 2 Times FIFA Confederation Cup (2005, 2009)
Individual Achievement : 2002 Brazilian League Footballer of The Year
3 Times Series A Foreign Footballer of the Year (2004, 2006, 2007)
2 Times Series A Footballer of the Year (2004, 2007)
2005 UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder
2 Times UEFA Team of the Year (2006, 2007)
3 Times FIFPro World XI (2006, 2007, 2008)
2007 Italian Series A Fairest Player
2007 UEFA Champions League Top Scorer
2007 UEFA Champions League Best Forward
2007 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year
2007 FIFPro World Player of the Year
2007 European Footballer of The Year
2007 FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball
2007 World Soccer Player of The Year
2007 FIFA World Player of the Year
2007 Onze d'Or
2007 IFFHS World‘s Best Playmaker
2007 IAAF Latin Sportsman of the Year
2008 FIFA Team of the Year
2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball

Kaka is the greatest Brazilian footballer and World’s best playmaker in the lately 2000s and one of the most superstar in the World in this minute not only due to his abilities and performance but also his peaceful characteristic. His outstanding performance for Sao Paulo and Brazil U-20 led him signing for AC Milan. Kaka didn’t disappoint his club and scored more than 15 goals for four seasons plus creating many assists during his six seasons there. 2007 was his best year that he won so many individual awards. Kaka is currently playing for Real Madrid “The Galacticos III” alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. From now on, Kaka has to prove himself as an important role for the new Real Madrid team and significantly for Brazil in the upcoming World Cup 2010.


23. Larbi Benbarek



Date Of Birth : 16 June 1914
Nation : Morocco
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : Atletico Madrid
Caps :  19 Games for France
World Cup Participation :  None
Club Honours :  2 Times Spanish La Liga
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : FIFA Order of Merit

“The Black Pearl” Larbi Benbarek is a forgotten first African legends who played football during the World War II, is regarded as the greatest footballer to born in North Africa. Ben Barek blazed a trail to the European, and particularly French and Spanish, leagues. He arrived at Marseille, France at the age of 20, and became an instant favourite with the fans for his skills and technical abilities. Pele took the name of the "Black Pearl" after he made a famous statement about Larbi: "If I am the King of Soccer, then Larbi Ben Barek is the God of it". His career was interrupted by the onset of World War II but he was soon back to his best with Stade Français FC and then in Spain, with Atlético Madrid, where he truly blossomed and where his international fame spread. His nickname with the fans in Spain was "The Foot of God".He returned to Marseille in 1953. Benbarek is rated as one of the finest players ever to represent France, his adopted country. But his comeback in 1954 against Germany in Hanover was curtailed by an injury after half an hour and proved to be the end of his career.

22. Pavel Nedved



Date Of Birth : 30 August 1972
Nation : Czech Republic
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : Lazio, Juventus
Caps :  91 Games (18 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  2006 (3 Games)
Club Honours :  4 Times Italian Series A
2 Times Copa Italia
1999 UEFA Cup Winners Cup
2003 UEFA Champion League Runner-Up
International Honours : 1996 European Championship Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 2003 Series A Foreign Footballer of The Year
2003 Guerin Italian Series A Footballer of The Year
2003 Series A Footballer of The Year
2003 UEFA Champion league Best Midfielder
2003 European Footballer of The Year
2003 World Soccer Player of The Year
6 Times Czech Player of The Year
2003 Czech Player of Decade
3 Times UEFA Team of The Year (2003, 2004, 2005)
2004 European Championship Team of The Tournament

Pavel Nedved is the greatest Eastern European footballer during the early 2000s. His impressive performance as central midfielder in EURO 96 led him about the offering from Lazio. During his five seasons for the club, Nedved occasionally played as left-winger and sometimes as central midfielder. He was known for his energy, tireless running as well as his goal scoring ability from the long-range. Moreover, He was also very good in dribbling and playmaking abilities. Nedved helped Lazio won their second Italian League trophy in their history. His prime was reached after he was signed to Juventus. Particularly, He was one of the best players in the world in 2003. Despite he won Ballon d’Or in that year but not be voted in even top 3 FIFA World player of the year award in the same year. Nedved was chosen as a starter in All-Time Lazio XI by many jiournalists in www.channel4.com.
   
21. Kazimierz Deyna



Date Of Birth : 23 October 1947
Nation : Poland
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : Legia Warzaw
Caps :  97 Games (41 Goals)
World Cup Participation :  1974, 1978 (13 Games)
Club Honours :  2 Times Polish League
1 Time Polish Cup
International Honours : 1972 Olympic Game Gold Medal
1974 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1974 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1974 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1974 Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year

Kazimierz Deyna is regarded by many Polish as the greatest footballer ever for their country. He was one of the best marksmen in the history of world football, was a playmaker or deep lying forward famed for his finishing, vision and elegant way of playing. He had the ability to score from unusual positions, e.g. directly from a corner. Thanks to his skills, he was chosen several times the Football Player of the Year by Polish fans. In 1972 he was the Top Goalscorer of the Olympic Games, with a total of nine goals. 1974 was his best year, won the third place both in Ballon d’Or and the best player in World Cup tournament beat world superstar like Johan Neeskens, Gerd Muller and Wolfgang Overath. He played for Manchester City in the lately career for three seasons but often face the injuries problem.

Добру је позицију забо Пикси, ја сам мислио да га неће ни бити...

Само није ми јасно шта ће Пирло овде, тотално другачија позиција.

20. Josef Masopust



IDate Of Birth :  9 February 1931
Nation : Czechoslovakia
Height : cm
Major Club : Dukla Prague
Caps : 63 Games (10 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1958, 1962 (9 Games)
Club Honours : 8 Times Czechoslovakian League
3 Times Czechoslovakian Cup
International Honours : : 1962 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1960 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1962 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball
1962 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1962 European Footballer of The Year
UEFA Jubilee Award (Czech Replublic)
“Czech Knight” Josef Masopust's exploits in that tournament helped him become the first player from Eastern Europe to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or as Europe's finest player in 1962. In 1962 FIFA World Cup final match against Brazil, Masopust could easily have taken the ball from Pele but held off, seeing the Brazilian's distress. Pele returned the compliment by putting the ball out of play. He spent the majority of his career with ATK Prague scoring 79 goals in 386 games before moving to Belgium where he spent three seasons with Crossing Molenbeek.. When his playing days were over, he took up a coaching career with stops at Zbrojovska and Hasselt of Belgium before returning to coach Dukla.



19. Teofilo Cubillas



IDate Of Birth :  8 March 1949
Nation : Peru
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Alianza Lima, FC Porto
Caps : 81 Games (26 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1970, 1978, 1982 (13 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Peruvian League
1 Time USA Soccer League
1 Time Swiss League Cup
International Honours : : 1975 Copa America Winners
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Peruvian League Top Scorer
1970 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player
1970 FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot
1972 Libertadores Cup Top Scorer
1972 South American Footballer of The Year
1975 Copa America Best Player
1978 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1981 NASL All-Time All Star Team
IFFHS Peru’s Player of The Century
CONMEBOL All-Time XI

“The Kid” Teofilo Cubillas was a midfielder of excellent technical ability, powerful shot and great dribbling, he was also known as a free kick specialist. He was a prolific goalscorer with 312 goals in his whole professional career in 534 games, his 10 World Cup goals place him in seventh place in the ranking of the World Cup all-time scorers, and are the most by any midfielder in the World Cup. He is the all-time leading scorer for his country, with 45 goals. Cubillas was so famous in World Cup tournament, Led Peru reached quarter-final round in 1970 and 1978 those are the best acheivement in their history. He was voted the 48th best footballer in the world and 17th South American footballer of the 20th century in a poll by the IFFHS. In 2008, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Brazilian World Cup victory, he was selected in the All-Star First Team of South America of the past 50 years.



18. Nils Liedholm



IDate Of Birth :  8 October 1922
Nation : Sweden
Height : 183 cm
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps : 21 Games (10 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1958 (5 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Swedish League
4 Times Italian Series A
1958 European Cup Runner-Up
International Honours : : 1948 Olympic Game Gold Medal
1958 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : Aftonbladet Greatest Swedish Player of The Century

Nils Liedholm is one of the greatest Swedish footballers of all-time. was a Swedish football midfielder and coach, famous for being part of Sweden's "Gre-No-Li" trio of strikers along with Gunnar Gren and Gunnar Nordahl at A.C. Milan and the Swedish national team. Famous for his passing abilities, Liedholm was the creator of many of Gunnar Nordahl's goals. Nordahl still has the scoring record in Serie A. According to legend, it took two years playing for Milan until Liedholm misplaced his first pass at the San Siro, the rarity prompting a five-minute ovation from the home crowd. Liedholm was also one of the first players to realize the importance of fitness to a good performance. Consequently, he put in many more hours of training than other players, saying himself that he did the 100 meters, 3000 meters, javelin, shot put and high jump twice a week. His club career would continue until he was almost 40. Liedholm scored the opening goal of the final round of World Cup 1958, which makes him the oldest player to score in a World Cup Final.

17. Gunther Netzer



IDate Of Birth :  14 September 1944
Nation : West Germany
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : Borussia MunchenGladbach
Caps : 37 Games
World Cup Participation : 1974 (1 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Bundesliga Champion
2 Times Spanish La Liga
1 Time Swiss Super League
1 Time DFB-Pokal
2 Times Copa Del Rey
International Honours : : 1972 European Championship Winners
1974 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 2 Times German Footballer of The Year (1972, 1973)
1972 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1992 All-Time Europe XI

Gunther Netzer was considered to be one of the greatest passers in the game's history. He also appeared very briefly for 21 minutes against East Germany in the World Cup in 1974, during which time the goal was scored against his team. At this tournament, Wolfgang Overath was the central figure in Germany's midfield; Netzer and Overath were considered to not being able to play together. Nevertheless, Due to the fact that he several times could not play for West Germany well under pressure situation although his abilities never been doubted, This led him just as the reserved player of Overath. Netzer was the iconic playmaker and is considered one of the most talented midfielders of all times, gaining a lot of attention with his long passes and pushes from deep within his own half of the pitch. Apart from his superior ball skills, his natural authority made him the undisputed leader of his team.


16. Michael Laudrup



IDate Of Birth :  15 June 1964
Nation : Denmark
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : Juventus, Barcelona
Caps : 104 Games (37 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1986, 1998 (9 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time Italian Series A
4 Times Spanish La Liga
1 Time Dutch Champion
1 Time Spanish Cup
1 Time Dutch Cup
1985 Intercontinental Cup
1992 European Cup Winners
International Honours : : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Danish Player of The Year (1982, 1985)
1992 Spanish La Liga Best Foreign Player
Best Foreign Player in Spanish Football the last 25 years (1974-1999)
Danish Footballer Hall Of Fame
UEFA Jubilee Award (Denmark)
Order of The Dannebrog

Michael Laudrup is widely considered as the greatest Scandinavian midfielder of all-time. A play-making midfielder, He was known as one of the most effective passers, as well as one of the most skillful and elegant players of the game and is still popular amongst fans. Laudrup was considered by many as one of the most technically accomplished players ever. He was ranked amongst the best players in Europe, and his talent was exceptional, Michel Platini described him as one of the most talented players ever, only lamenting his lack of selfishness causing him to score too few goals. Raúl has in an interview in 2006 called Laudrup the best player he has ever played with. Romário has stated that Laudrup was able to create and score goals almost at will. Cruijff ever mentioned that he plays like a dream, a magic illusion, determined to show his new team his extreme abilities, no one in the world comes anywhere near his level." He was also known as a gentleman on the field. Michael did not play in the victory champion Denmark team in Euro 92 due to differences with Richard Møller Nielsen and because he had thought that stripping off Yugoslavia for the political, and not football reasons is not just.

15. Wolfgang Overath



IDate Of Birth :  14 September 1944
Nation : West Germany
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : FC Koln
Caps : 81 Games (17 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970, 1974 (19 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time Bundesliga Champion
1 Time DFB-Pokal
International Honours : : 1966 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
1970 FIFA World Cup Third Place
1974 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1974 FIFA World Cup All Star Team

Wolfgang Overath is the most underrated German footballer of all-time in spite of being the greatest playmaker Germany has ever produced. He holds the all-time record most appearances for FC Koln with 765 games and scored 287 goals. Kicker ranking rated him in 4 world-class seasons and 9 seasons of international-class. Overath is one of the few players with World Cup medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. He was known for his passing and organizing ability, especially with his left foot. In World Cup 1970, Many foreign journalists voted him Germany's best player in Mexico. Overath was also very famous for his winning-mental and always was able to perform an aggressive playing combined with technical option to help West Germany got back to win after being led scores. Despite his world-class performance both for his club and national team, He unbelievably never won German footballer of the year. But still, He is FC Koln’s greatest player ever.



14. Sandro Mazzola



IDate Of Birth :  8 November 1942
Nation : Italy
Height : 179 cm
Major Club : Inter Milan
Caps : 70 Games (22 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970, 1974 (12 Games)
Club Honours : 4 Times Italian Series A
2 Times European Cup Runner-Up (1967, 1972)
2 Times European Cup Winners (1964, 1965)
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1964, 1965)
International Honours : : 1968 European Championship Winners
1970 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1965 Italian Series A Top Scorer
1968 European Championship Team of The Tournamnet
1971 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year

Sandro Mazzola is one of the most renowned Italian football players of 1960s. He is the son of Valentino Mazzola, played for the Inter Milan team known as La Grande Inter. He was an inside right with superb goalscoring instincts. He was also blessed with superb creativity helped by his passing range and close control. He also often played as a creative attacking midfielder. His biggest achievement came in 1968 when Italy won Euro 1968. In World Cup 1970, Valcareggi believed that Mazzola could not play together on the pitch at the same time with Rivera. By second round, he devised a solution he called "staffetta" (relay) to play both players. Mazzola would start in the first half while Rivera would come in at half time. With this strategy, Italy reached the Final. Valcareggi abandoned his "staffetta" policy and only used Mazzola until the very end. Gianni Rivera finally went into the game with 8 minutes to go. Two of Italy's biggest stars finally united together on the pitch where many people believed they should have been all along.


13. Valentino Mazzola



IDate Of Birth :  26 January 1919
Nation : Italy
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : Torino
Caps : 12 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 5 Times Italian Series A
2 Times Copa Italia
International Honours : : None
Individual Achievement : 1947 Italian Series A Top Scorer

Valentino Mazzola was a hidden legend during the World War II and captain of the legendary Grande Torino side killed in the Superga air disaster at the age of 30 year olds. He is considered one of the best football players in his era and perhaps the first modern all-around footballer, An inspirational character, he was also gifted with great skills and a scoring ability could tackle, defend and lead his teammates to victory with his charismatic presence. Mazzola senior was a robust figure as the game in the immediate years around World War 2 required. Valentino scored 118 Series A goals in 195 games for Torino, despite the disruption of the war, were the hallmark of his quality. In his last interview before the disaster he shared his view of the game “I consider football to be a very simple game. You will win as long as you don’t always play in the same way. You have got to add some variations to make your game more dynamic. There has to be room for improvisation outside of classical tactics. But I am of the opinion that modern football must be above all a team game."


12. Luis Suarez Miramontes



IDate Of Birth :  2 May 1935
Nation : Spain
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Barcelona, Inter Milan
Caps : 32 Games (14 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Spanish League
3 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Copa Del Rey
2 Times European Cup Winners (1964, 1965)
1967 European Cup Runner-Up
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1964, 1965)
International Honours : : 1964 European Championship Winners
Individual Achievement : 1960 European Footballer of The Year
2 Times Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year (1961, 1964)
1964 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1965 Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year

Luis Suarez Miramontes is widely regarded as the greatest Spanish footballer of all-time and one of the most underrated players among the World’s legends. He was one of the great organizing of the modern era. Not content to direct from a distance, he help modernized the forward-looking more free-ranging creative midfielder. Suárez first played as an inside left for Barcelona. He was also noted for his perceptive passing and explosive shot and in 1960 he became the only Spanish-born player to date to be won Ballon d’. In 1961 Suárez became the world's most expensive footballer when FC Barcelona sold him to Inter Milan for £142,000. The move saw him follow his mentor Helenio Herrera. He moved down to play deep-lying playmaker. In 1964 he helped Spain win the European Championship. He was also a prominent member of the successful CF Barcelona team of the 1950s before he joined Inter Milan where he was an equally prominent member of the legendary Great Inter side of the 1960s. He retired as a player in 1973, after three seasons at Sampdoria.

11. Gianni Rivera



IDate Of Birth :  18 August 1943
Nation : Italy
Height : 175 m
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps : 60 Games (14 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974 (9 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Italian Series A
4 Times Copa Italia
2 Times European Cup (1969, 1969)
2 Times European Cup Winners’ Cup (1968, 1973)
1969 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : : 1968 European Championship Winners
1970 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1963 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
. 1969 European Footballer of The year
1973 Italian Series A Top Scorer
IFFHS Italy’s Greatest Player of The Century

“The Golden Boy of Italy” Gianni Rivera is considered as one of the greatest Italian footballer ever. He was an advance creative midfielder with offensive ideas, often at odds with the proponents of the classic Italian defensive schemes. Rivera had a classy elegant and aesthetic style, impeccable in the dribbling and distribution. He played with Italy in the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Valcareggi, believed that Rivera and his teammate Mazzola could not play together on the same field. Although Rivera was the more famous of the two, Valcareggi elected to start Mazzola. However, by 2nd round, the Italian offense failed to sparkle. Valcareggi devised a solution he called "staffetta" (relay) to play both players. Mazzola would start in the first half while Rivera would come in at halftime. With this strategy, Rivera helped to beat the host Mexico in the quarterfinal and West Germany in the semifinal, in which Rivera played a major role in one of the best matches in World Cup history. However, in the final against Brazil, Valcareggi did not use Rivera until there were only six minutes left in the game, despite Rivera being the hero of the past two matches.

10. Raymond Kopa



IDate Of Birth :  13 October 1931
Nation : France
Height : 169 cm
Major Club : Stade Reims, Real Madrid
Caps : 45 Games (18 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1954, 1958 (8 Games)
Club Honours : 4 Times French League
2 Times Spanish La Liga
1956 European Cup Runner-Up
3 Times European Cup Winners (1957, 1958, 1959)
International Honours : : 1958 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1954 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player
2 Times Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year (1956, 1957)
1958 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1958 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1958 European Footballer of The Year
1959 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
Bronze Ball French Player of The Century
Legion De Honours

Raymond Kopa is the great legendary French football who is regarded as the finest playmaker in the World during the lately 1950s. Kopa was the progeny of a Polish immigrant family. He was a free-role playmaker, quick, agile and excellent in dribble combined with playmaking abilities. He played or Stade Reims in his early career during their glory years. After he with the club lost Real Madrid in European Cup final 1956, He was signed to the Santiago Bernabeu, played for them for three seasons and fortunately won European Cup all seasons. Kopa was an important key player to lead France won third place in World Cup 1958 with his many assists to Just Fontaine who overshadowed him by scoring so many goals. Kopa return to play for Stade Reims for 8 seasons.

9. Socrates



IDate Of Birth :  19 February 1954
Nation : Brazil
Height : 193 cm
Major Club : Corinthians
Caps : 60 Games (22 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1982, 1986 (10 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Brazil State Champions
International Honours : : 1983 Copa America Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1983 South American Footballer of The Year
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

Socrates is rated as one of the most classic playmaker of all-time. He was an wonderful technical player, assister and team organizer, with great through passes and vision of the field. He was also a two-footed player and a prolific goal scorer. His ability to read the game was highly valued, and his signature move was the blind heel pass. Socrates is a doctor of medicine after graduate in philosophy degree. That is a rare achievement as professional footballer. His education effected him could not play football for several seasons and sometimes also got injury combined with his unprofessional behavior as a drinker and smoker. He ever played for Fiorentina for a season. Socrates totally played just 157 league games during his career and scored 76 goals. Al in all, He was one of the best playmakers of all-time in his prime.

8. Zizinho



IDate Of Birth :  14 September 1921
Nation : Brazil
Height : 172 cm
Major Club : Flamengo
Caps : 53 Games (30 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1950 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Brazil State Champions
International Honours : : 1949 Copa America Winners
4 Times Copa America Runner-Up (1945, 1946, 1953, 1957)
1950 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 1950 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1950 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
Copa America All-Time Top Scorer (17 Goals)
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame
Zizinho was one of the greatest South American footballers in his era. He came to international prominence at the 1950 World Cup, where scored two goals. He played as an inside-right but could operate his game in central midfield with his stamina to help defensive game, is noted for his dribbling skills and pace. Zizinho played for Flamengo, Bangu, São Paulo FC, Audax Italiano of Chile among others teams. He mostly spent his career with Flamengo and scored 146 golas for the club. In the 1950 World Cup he helped Brazil to progress to the final, but their surprise 2-1 defeat to Uruguay tarnished his reputation. Pelé always said that Zizinho was the best player he ever saw. "He was a complete player. He played in midfield, in attack, he scored goals, he could mark, head and cross." He came in 4th place in the IFFHS Brazilian Player and 10th place South American player of the 20th Century.


7. Ruud Gullit



IDate Of Birth :  1 September 1962
Nation : Netherlands
Height : 186 cm
Major Club : AC Milan
Caps : 66 Games (17 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1990 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Dutch Champions
3 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Dutch Cup
1 Time Copa Italia
2 Times European Cup (1989, 1990)
1993 European Cup Runner-Up
International Honours : : 1988 European Championship Winners
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Dutch Footballer of The Year (1984, 1986)
1986 Dutch Golden Shoe Winners
1987 Dutch Sportman of The Year
1987 European Footballer of The Year
2 Times European Championship Team of The Tournament (1988, 1992)
1988 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
2 Times World Soccer Player of The Year (1987, 1989)
2 Times Silver Ball Onze d’Or (1988, 1989)
1993 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year

Ruud Gullit is one of the most completed footballers to play the game, renowned as one of the tiger-soldiers of AC Milan and Holland alongside Frank Rijkaard and Marco Van Basten. His primitive race was Suriname. Gullit epitomised the ethos of Total Football as he was naturally adept in almost every position. His foremost attribute was his athleticism, as he used his strength and speed to great effect, as well as being excellent in the air. Yet unusually for a man of his stature Gullit also possessed outstanding natural balance and poise that gave a graceful style to his game. Gullit thus combined technical ability with physical presence to become an iconic figure in world football. Gullit's brilliance prompted George Best to comment in 1990, "Ruud Gullit is a great player by any standards. He has all the skills. He's not afraid to do things with the ball. And he looks as if he's enjoying every second of it”

6. Roberto Rivelino



IDate Of Birth :  1 January 1946
Nation : Brazil
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Corinthians, Fluminese
Caps : 92 Games (26 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1970, 1974, 1978 (15 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Brazil State Championship
International Honours : : 1970 FIFA World Cup Winners
1978 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1977 Silver Ball South American Footballer of The Year
2 Times Bronze Ball South American Footballer of The Year (1973, 1976)
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

Roberto Rivelino is one of the most recognized players in the 1970 World Cup Champion Brazil team. He was famous for his extremely potent left-foot shot, thunderous long-range free kicks, excellent long passes, quick thinking, distinct way of handling the ball and large moustache. He also invented a football move called the "Elastico", also known as "flip flap", famously copied by Ronaldinho, Ibrahimović and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years. He is widely regarded as one of the most graceful footballers ever, and is sometimes ranked as the 4th best ever Brazilian, after Pelé, Zico and Garrincha, as well as one of the best midfielders the world has ever seen. Rivelino played for Corinthians during the most troubled periods in the history of the club, didn’t won any state trophy more than two decades and this reason effect him never won first place in any individual awards. He later move on Fluminense and finally won state trophies. He was a key player for Brazil to reach semi-final in World Cup two times during the 1970s. Aside from a few achievement in club level, Rivelino is totally underrated not included in World Cup 1970 all star team.


5. Bobby Charlton



IDate Of Birth :  11 October 1937
Nation : England
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Manchester United
Caps : 106 Games (49 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 (12 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times English Top Division
1 Time FA Cup
1968 European Cup
International Honours 1966 FIFA World Cup Winners
Individual Achievement : 2 Times BBC Sport Personality of The Year Award (1958, 1959)
1966 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1966, 1970)
1966 FWA Footballer of The Year
1966 European Footballer of the Year
2 Times Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year (1967, 1968)
1974 Commander of The Order of The British Empire
1974 PFA Merit Award
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
2007 PFA Team of The Century
England All-Time Top Scorer
Manchester United All-Time Top Scorer
IFFHS England Player of The Century
Manchester United’s Greatest Player Ever

Bobby Charlton is widely regarded as the greatest British footballer of all-time. Although his talent was not among the best ever but his consistency in effectiveness trough his career was great enough to be ranked from many sources in top 20 greatest footballer of all-time. He had made more appearances for Manchester United than any other player with 758, a record superseded by Ryan Giggs at the Champions League Final in Moscow in 2008. However, Charlton still owns the club record for most league appearances with 606. He was a speedy withdrawn attacking midfielder with excellent close control and he combined those attributes as a devastating dribbler in the open field. He packed considerable power with either foot and use it to score many spectacular goals. Charlton finished 10th, 12th and 14th place in IFFHS, World Soccer and UEFA Jubilee poll, respectively.


4. Zinedine Zidane



IDate Of Birth :  23 June 1972
Nation : France
Height : 185 cm
Major Club : Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid
Caps : 108 Games (31 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1998, 2002, 2006 (12 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Spanish La Liga
2 Times Intercontinental Cup (1996, 2002)
2 Times UEFA Champion League Runner-Up (1997, 1998)
2002 UEFA Champion League
International Honours 1998 FIFA World Cup Winners
2000 European Championship Winners
2006 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 1994 French League Best Young Player
1996 French League Player of The Year
2 Times French Player of The Year (1998, 2002)
2 Times Series A Foreign Footballer of The Year (1997, 2001)
2001 Series A Footballer of The Year
3 Times Onze d’Or (1998, 2000, 2001)
3 Times Silver Ball Onze d’Or (1997, 2002, 2003)
1999 Bronze Ball Onze d”Or
1997 Bronze Ball European Footballer of The Year
1998 UEFA Champion League Best Midfielder
1998 European Footballer of The Year
1998 World Soccer Player of The Year
2 Times European Championship Team of The Tournament (2000, 2004)
3 Times UEFA Team of The Year (2001, 2002, 2003)
2000 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
2000 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
2002 Spanish La Liga Foreign Player of The year
2002 UEFA Champion League Most Valuable Player
3 Times FIFA World Player of The Year (1998, 2000, 2003)
2 Times Bronze Ball FIFA World Player of The Year (1997, 2002)
2004 UEFA Jubilee Poll Winners
2006 Silver Ball FIFA World Player of The Year
2006 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
2 Times FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (1998, 2006)
FIFPro World XI (2005, 2006)
Silver Ball French Player Of The Century
Officer Legion De Honours

Zinedine Zidane is the greatest footballer in the world during the early 2000s. His primitive race is Algerian. Zidane was start expected to be an important role of France after they disqualified for World Cup 1994 in the last minute. Nevertheless, He could not be the superstar in EURO 96. Then, He moved to Juventus and helped them reach 2 consecutive UEFA Champion league final but lost all. In World Cup 1998, Zidane was renowned for scoring two goals in the final match with heading but he was not selected even Bronze ball best player of the tournament. Oppositely, He won FIFA World player of the year in that year. He started his real world-class performance after that World Cup especially when he signed for Real Madrid “The Galacticos II”. He was voted in top five FIFA World Player of The Year for 9 times during 10 years between 1997 - 2006. Zidane was perfect in his role setting organization of the game, superb ball controlling, precision passing combined with great physical option. He has already considered by many in top fifteen the greatest footballer of all-time.

3. Zico



IDate Of Birth :  3 March 1953
Nation : Brazil
Height : 172 cm
Major Club : Flamengo
Caps : 72 Games (52 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1978, 1982, 1986
Club Honours : 7 Times Brazil State Championship
4 Times Brazil National Championship
1 Time J League
1981 Copa Libertadores Cup
1981 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : : 1978 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Brazil Footballer of The Year (1974, 1982)
6 Times Brazil State Championship Top Scorer
2 Times Brazil National Championship Top Scorer
2 Times South American Footballer of The Year (1981, 1982)
1982 FIFA World Cup Bronze Shoe
1982 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1983 World Soccer Player of The Year
1984 Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame

Zico is commonly considered one of the most skilled dribblers and finishers ever and possibly the world's best player of the early 80's and widely regarded as the third best Brazilian footballer of all-time. An excellent organizor and creator, but also the deadly dribbler on the run, Zico was equally proficient finisher. Many of his goals were sudden and unexpected but specular efforts. He was also known as one of history's greatest free kick specialists, able to bend the ball with pace and accuracy as well as having an extremely powerful shot. He holds the record all-time Top Scorer in Flamengo's history with 568 goals and won silver ball Brazilian footballer of the year 5 times. He played for Udinese for 2 seasons. The first one was great done with his 24 goals from 33 games but the injury made him had a hard time in the second season. Despite Zico is one of the best players the world has ever seen but he was not ranked in top 10 the greatest footballer of all-time in most of famous source due to his unsuccessful in World Cup. But still, He was finished 9th the greatest player ever by France football’s poll.

2. Michel Platini



IDate Of Birth :  21 June 1955
Nation : France
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : Nancy, Juventus
Caps : 72 Games (41 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1978, 1982, 1986 (14 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time French League
2 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Copa De France
1 Time Copa Italia
1983 European Cup Runner-Up
1984 European Cup Winners’ Cup
1985 European Cup Winners
1985 Intercontinental Cup
International Honours : : 1984 European Championship Winners
1986 FIFA World Cup Third place
Individual Achievement : 2 Times French Player of The Year (1976, 1977)
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1982, 1986)
1984 Guerin Italian Series A Player of The Year
1984 European Championship Top Scorer
1984 European Championship Team of The Tournament
1977 Silver Ball Onze d’Or
3 Times Onze d’Or
2 Times European Footballer of The Year (1977, 1980)
3 Times European Footballer of The Year (1983, 1984, 1985)
1983 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
2 Times World Soccer Player of The Year (1984, 1985)
France
Golden Ball French Player of The Century
Officer Legion De Honours

Michel Platini is widely considered as the greatest midfielder in history of European football and the finest footballer in the world during the early 1980s. He was famous as a leader of “The Magic Sqaure” alongside Alain Giresse, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana , the group of midfield players that formed the heart of the French national team throughout the 1980s. He is also widely regarded as one of the best passers in football history as well as one of history's greatest free kick specialists and finishers and also possessed superlative reading the game skill, intelligently movement to score a large number of goals with 318 in 580 club official games. He holds the record for most goals (9) scored in European Championship final tournaments despite only appearing in one such tournament (1984). Despite being a midfielder, he held the national team top scorer record until striker Thierry Henry surpassed in 2007. Platini was voted 5th, 5th,7th World’s greatest footballer of all-time by France Football, World Soccer and IFFHS poll, Respectively.

1. Diego Maradona



IDate Of Birth :  30 October 1960
Nation : Argentina
Height : 167 cm
Major Club : Argentinos Junior, Napoli
Caps : 91 Games (34 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1998, 2002, 2006 (21 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Italian Series A
1 Time Argentina Primera Division
1 Time Copa Del Rey
1 Time Copa Italia
1989 UEFA Cup
International Honours 1986 FIFA World Cup Winners
1990 FIFA World Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Argentinean League Top Scorer (1979, 1980, 1981)
4 Times Argentina Footballer of The Year (1979, 1980, 1981, 1986)
2 Times South American Footballer of The Year (1979, 1980)
1985 Guerin Italian Series A Footballer of The Year
1986 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1986 FIFA World Cup Silver Boot
1986 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year
2 Times FIFA World Cup All Star Team (1986, 1990)
2 Times Bronze Ball World Soccer Player of The Year (1985, 1990)
1986 World Soccer Player of The Year
1986 United Press International Athletic of The Year
1987 Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Year
1988 Italian Series A Top Scorer
2 Times Bronze Ball Onez d’Or (1985, 1988)
2 Times Onze d”Or (1986, 1987)
1990 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1999 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of The Century
2002 FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1998 FIFA World Team of The Century
Silver Ball World Soccer Player of The Century
2000 FIFA Best football player of The Century
France Football’s Footballer of The Century



Diego Maradona is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all-time. A Phenomenon footballer, who led a normal-level team in Italy to be Champion with his own abilities, He was a ball wizard who had incredible touch and control of the ball. His genius was as a creator of opportunities assisted by exceptional passing teachique. His most famous was a wonderful dribbling, several times could get pass defenders easily. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Newell's Old Boys and Napoli, setting world-record contract fees. In his international career, In the World Cup 1986's quarter-final round he scored two goals in a 2-1 victory over England that entered soccer history, though for two very different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handball known as the "Hand of God", while the second goal was a spectacular 60-metre weave through six England players, commonly referred to as "The Goal of the Century". For various reasons, Maradona is considered one of the sport's most controversial and newsworthy figures. He was suspended from football for 15 months in 1991 after failing a doping test for cocaine in Italy, and he was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the USA for using ephedrine.

i maradona (ovo sam pisao pre tristre )

ocekivao sam da ce piksi uci u top15 bar

Ма де топ 15, није имао никакву каријеру. По квалитету да, ал овако нема шаје.


ОК листа иначе.