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The Best Soccer Players of All Time
This list of top soccer players of all time is ranked by soccer (football) fans worldwide. Who are the best soccer players ever? The goal is to determine the greatest footballers to ever play the game. The list establishes individual rankings of specific soccer players and helps answer the question, "Who is the best soccer player in the world?" This list includes some of the most famous soccer players in the world, but fame doesn't necessarily determine talent.
Though many more people are exposed to soccer players during major international events like The Olympics or the World Cup (or even the UEFA's European tournaments), there are numerous soccer/football leagues around the world made up of thousands of professional athletes. Any of these soccer players are eligible for the list, even if they are mainly well known in certain regions or nations. (In America, other than that nation's own Major League Soccer league, the English Premier League and its athletes are most likely to be recognizable and familiar, though the move of David Beckham to Real Madrid also led to increased exposure for that football club.)
Though many more people are exposed to soccer players during major international events like The Olympics or the World Cup (or even the UEFA's European tournaments), there are numerous soccer/football leagues around the world made up of thousands of professional athletes. Any of these soccer players are eligible for the list, even if they are mainly well known in certain regions or nations. (In America, other than that nation's own Major League Soccer league, the English Premier League and its athletes are most likely to be recognizable and familiar, though the move of David Beckham to Real Madrid also led to increased exposure for that football club.)
List Criteria: Any current or former professional soccer players from around the world are eligible.
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- 1Up 8534Down 39371972
- 2Up 5601Down 34031940
- 3Up 7656Down 42871987
- 4Up 5908Down 29831976
- 5Up 5210Down 30841960
- 6Up 5020Down 27411980
- 7Up 3695Down 20711947
- 8Up 4982Down 33311985
- 9Up 2738Down 17611945
- 10Up 3989Down 2286
Thierry Henry
1977 - 11Up 2153Down 14761946
- 12Up 2335Down 16651980
- 13Up 2292Down 15921984
- 14Up 2000Down 1438
Paolo Maldini
1968 - 15Up 1913Down 15291964
- 16Up 1427Down 9471972
- 17Up 1101Down 7311953
- 18Up 2463Down 16331969
- 19Up 1904Down 1227
Andrea Pirlo
1979 - 20Up 1359Down 9651945
- 21Up 2053Down 13731981
- 22Up 1722Down 12141966
- 23Up 1195Down 8021973
- 24Up 1448Down 12741926
- 25Up 1490Down 8951982
- 26Up 1311Down 13341955
- 27Up 1189Down 7691978
- 28Up 1638Down 11701975
- 29Up 991Down 7621927
- 30Up 1692Down 11051980
- 31Up 955Down 798
Rivaldo
1972 - 32Up 1072Down 9111967
- 33Up 967Down 8241966
- 34Up 912Down 7811942
- 35Up 908Down 605
Johan Cruyff
- 36Up 1096Down 767
Ryan Giggs
1973 - 37Up 1127Down 7811978
- 38Up 359Down 2671937
- 39Up 999Down 664
Alessandro Del Piero
1974 - 40Up 939Down 6901963
- 41Up 897Down 6471977
- 42Up 869Down 6571969
- 43Up 350Down 161
Roberto Carlos
1982 - 44Up 732Down 6651933
- 45Up 426Down 2911981
- 46Up 905Down 658
Paul Scholes
1974added by: arman_gharavi - 47Up 617Down 488
Sócrates
1954 - 48Up 323Down 236
Francesco Totti
1976 - 49Up 356Down 3161961
- 50Up 226Down 1651962
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The Best Soccer Players of All Time at 12/13/2012 2:30 PM
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The Best Soccer Players of All Time at 1/07/2012 7:40 PM