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.)