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Lists that rank the best players, positions, and more from the world's most popular sport.

Best Athletes

Ronaldinho

Whether you call it <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-soccer-players-from-benin/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">soccer or football</a>, this extensive&nbsp;list of the greatest soccer players of all time is ranked by&nbsp;fans worldwide. Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players</a> 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, &quot;Who is the best soccer player in the world?&quot; This list includes some of the most <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/notable-footballer_s)/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous soccer players</a> in the world, but fame doesn&#39;t necessarily determine talent.

Though many more people are exposed to <a href="/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports" target="_blank">top soccer players</a> during major international events like the Olympics or the World Cup (or even UEFA&#39;s European tournaments), there are numerous soccer/football leagues around the world made up of thousands of professional athletes. Any of these good 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&#39;s own Major League Soccer league, the English Premier League and its athletes are most likely to be popular, recognizable, and familiar.

Vote up the world&#39;s best soccer players in the world who deserve to be in the top 10 in football history.

Current Sports

Sergio Agüero

The best current soccer players in the world are leading the&nbsp;charge as some of the most iconic stars in the history of the game.&nbsp;These talented soccer athletes are leading their respective teams to championships with some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/who-is-the-biggest-football-club-in-the-world-/clickon?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">biggest football clubs</a> in the world, winning numerous awards and are fan favorites across&nbsp;the globe. If you were building the ultimate soccer dream team and had your selection of the elite players of today, these guys should be your top picks. Ranking the world&#39;s greatest footballers is no easy task, so cast your votes!

Unsurprisingly, these top current soccer players are also many of the top-paid professionals in the world today. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Neymar,&nbsp;and Lionel Messi sit high atop both lists with each earning tens of millions of dollars annually in combined income between their soccer salaries and their numerous product endorsements. Money aside, any of these guys could be considered the best soccer player in the world right now.

These players&nbsp;like Robin van Persie, Gareth Bale, and Andres Iniesta, are playing the best football of their careers. They are peaking in the sport and see little signs of stopping anytime soon.

Which soccer players are impressing you right now? Who do you think are the best current football players? Vote for your favorites, add those not listed or re-rank this list of the best current soccer players below. The players in the top 10 can be considered the most popular players in the world. When you&#39;re done, head over and rank the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players of all time</a> too!

Soccer

Andreas Brehme

In your dream Germany national soccer team, which of the best German soccer players of all time would you pick? Would you choose newer players such as Mesut &Ouml;zil or ones from years past, such as Franz Beckenbauer? Compared to many other countries, drafting top soccer players from Germany is quite easy as there are many to choose from. Look at the list of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-hungarian-soccer-players-all-time/reference">top footballers from Hungary</a> for instance and many of the names there are from decades past and aren&rsquo;t very well known. In fact, many of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best footballers of all time</a> are from Germany. So to determine who truly is the best German soccer player of all time, soccer fans have ranked their favorites below.

Vote up your favorite German soccer players or add any you feel are missing from the list. If you&#39;re searching for a particular <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-german-serial-killers/web-infoguy?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous German</a> soccer player you can use the search box at the top of the list to find who you&#39;re looking for. Photos and details such as positions played have been provided when available.

On this list, you&rsquo;ll see famous legends like Franz Beckenbauer, as well as modern German stars like Thomas Muller. So if you&rsquo;ve ever wondered who were the best German soccer players of all time were, just look at the list below to find out.

Dino Zoff

Strikers much of the glory, but the foundation of many soccer teams is built on the strength of having an outstanding goalkeeper. The best goalies are the biggest difference makers in soccer. They can help cover the warts of an average team by their ability to prevent other teams from scoring, which gives their team the best possible chance at winning. After all, if a great goalie can prevent a team from scoring, then their team has a great shot of scratching out the one goal necessary to win a match or even a competition. The best goalies can literally save the day for their team, especially during high pressure moments like breakaways and penalty kicks. The best soccer goalies often times are taken for granted because of their steadiness and the stability they provide for a team's defense.The best soccer goalies can literally elevate their teams. Real Madrid's Iker Casillas, Chelsea's Petr Cech and former Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar are all considered the best goalies of the past few decades and their clubs have the trophies to prove it. Gordon Banks is long considered one of the best goalies in the history of the game. Banks is revered in his native England due to his contributions to the 1966 World Cup winning squad, the country's only title in the world's biggest competition.Vote for the goalie who you consider to be the best of all time, or even the best goalkeeper in the world. There are plenty of solid choices here, so you really can't go wrong.

Franz Beckenbauer

The <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=rltdlsts">best soccer players of all time</a> aren't always the ones right in the action, sometimes all it takes is a step back and a bit of appreciation to realize that the grunts who are defending the goal are the best.&nbsp;These best football defenders (as they're called everywhere besides the US) are in the ranks of the best athletes in the world, and have earned their spots by being the best footballers in the world. What are the qualities of the best defenders in soccer? These men are equal parts the best defense men in soccer, the top players in soccer, and the best conditioned athletes in the sport of soccer. To truly be the greatest, defenders must be quick runners and possess the ability to kick the ball FAR, all the way to the other side of the field. Defensive soccer players must also have a mastery of fancy footwork - lest they let an offensive player weave past them. All these factors and more combine to determine who should be called the best defenders in soccer.Who are the best soccer defenders of all time? Who are the top defenders in soccer? Who are the best football defenders of all time? SO MANY QUESTIONS, all which need to be answered in this compilation of the top soccer defenders ever. If your favorite soccer player in the position of defender isn't on the list, make sure to add them so others can vote for them as the best football defender ever. If you don't add them, they won't get any play.

Raheem Sterling

List of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players</a> from Jamaica. List includes the top soccer (or “football”) players from Jamaica, along with photos when available. This list of best Jamaican soccer players is ordered by popularity, so only the greatest players are at the top of the list. If you're searching for a particular famous Jamaican soccer player you can use the &quot;search&quot; box to find what you're looking for.This list contains players like Fabian Davis and Keith Kelly, famous Jamaicans who have contributed to the sport and global culture of soccer.This list answers the questions, &quot;Who are the best Jamaican footballers?&quot; and &quot;Who is the greatest Jamaican soccer player of all time?&quot; They don't all play for Jamaican soccer teams, but all of these famous players hail from Jamaica.You can click on the names of these popular soccer players of Jamaica in order to get more information about each one. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of popular Jamaican soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy watching.

Thierry Henry

Aside from Zizou (Zinedane Zidane), who else makes it onto the list of the best French soccer players? Plenty of French footballers, according to soccer fans. Below, you'll see a rank of the best footballers from France, spanning decades of history--with some star players from years past.&nbsp;Don't agree with the list? Vote for your favorite French football players and add any you feel should be in the discussion.This list of the best soccer players from France includes details on positions played along with photos when available. If you're searching for a particular famous French soccer player you can use the search box at the top of the list to find who you're looking for.&nbsp;Some generally agreed upon greats include Cyrille Pouget, Antar Yahia and Zinedine Zidane. In fact, Zidane is in the running for being one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players of all time</a>, regardless of country. But if you're wondering who are the best French footballers currently or who is the greatest French soccer player of all time, this list is for you.&nbsp;You can click on the names of these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/notable-footballer_s)/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular soccer players</a> of France in order to get more information about each one. If you're a soccer fan, then you can use this list of the best French soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might not know about.

Roberto Rivelino

These are the greatest Brazilian soccer players of all time according to soccer fans from around the world. It is home to some of the best footballers in the world, with many stars playing for teams all across the various American and European leagues. In fact, the most famous soccer player of all time, Pel&eacute;, hails from Brazil. But who else makes it on this list of the greatest Brazilian soccer players? See how fans voted below. If you don’t agree with them, vote for your favorite football stars or rerank the list to your liking. Please no <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-football-players-ever?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">American football players</a>.Searching to see where a particular player is ranked? Use the search box at the top of the list to find them! In Brazil, soccer is by far the most popular sport, with five FIFA World Cup championships under its belt. It most recently won in 2002, with a team captained by Cafu. However, it was Ronaldo that won Brazil that final, along with a Man of the Match award. So where does Ronaldo rank among the other great Brazilian footballers? Or more importantly, is he as good as or better than Pel&eacute;?You can click on the names of these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular soccer players</a> from Brazil in order to get more information about each one, including a short biography and positions played. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of the greatest Brazilian soccer players ever to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy watching.

Ricardo Carvalho

The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top soccer players</a> from Portugal have won their national team several championships in several different leagues. Most recently, they won the 2016 European Championship in an action-packed victory against France. On that particular team, the Portuguese players were led by veteran team captain Cristiano Ronaldo. But does that make him the best Portuguese footballer of all time? See what other people think in the ranking below.If you’re looking for a specific player to see where they rank amongst others, use the search box on the top of the list. Otherwise, be sure to vote up your favorite Portuguese soccer players and add any that are missing. In terms of goals, Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest scoring Portuguese soccer player, followed by Pauleta in a distant second. In addition to scoring, Ronaldo was also the youngest player to reach 100 caps; accomplishing that feat at the age of 27. Those records alone makes him one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-from-portugal/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most famous people from Portugal</a>.But do those feats alone make Ronaldo among the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword"> best soccer players</a> from Portugal? He should be in the top ten at the very least. Other players in the discussion include Nuno Gomes and Ricardo Carvalho. So vote up who you think are the best soccer players from Portugal and add any you feel are missing from the list.

René Higuita

Who comes to mind when you think of the best Colombian soccer players of all time? For many soccer fans, famous footballers such as Carlos Valderrama and James Rodr&iacute;guez are for sure in the top ten. But in order to see which Colombian footballers truly stand out, fans such as yourself have voted on who they think are the best.Who comes to mind when you think of the best Colombian soccer players of all time? For many soccer fans, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous footballers</a> such as Carlos Valderrama and James Rodr&iacute;guez are for sure in the top ten. In order to see which Colombian footballers truly stand out, fans such as yourself have voted on who they think are the best of all time. It can be a pitched battle, as there have been many top footballers from Colombia.The list below is formatted so that the soccer players with the most votes are at the top of the list. Short biographies, photos, and details such as positions played are included when available. If you're searching for a particular <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-actors-from-colombia/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous Colombian</a> soccer player you can use the search box to find what you're looking for. So, if you've ever wondered whether one Colombian footballer was better than another, this list answers that question.So who qualifies to be in the running for the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players</a> from Colombia? The player must either be Colombian born or have played for the Colombian national soccer team. So players such as Radamel Falcao, who was Colombian-born but played for Manchester United and Chelsea F.C., are eligible. Other top players you'll see on this list include Faustino Asprilla, Fredy Guar&iacute;n, and more. Add any Colombian soccer player you don't see on this list but feel should be considered.This list should answer any questions about who are the best Colombian soccer players of all time, once and for all. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of the best Colombian soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy learning about.

90s Sports

Cafu

Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players</a> of the &lsquo;90s? Soccer is an beloved world sport with international stars such as Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and Paolo Maldini. Even if you don&rsquo;t follow the sport, you may have heard of these top soccer players of the &lsquo;90s. But who do you think is the best soccer player between the years of 1990 to 2000?

If you enjoy watching soccer, then you definitely need to check out highlight reels and replays of some of these famous footballers. Even though some of them may be off the field now, the players on this list represent the best of that era. In fact, some of them could probably still beat active roster players on the field right now.

Who do you think is the best soccer player from that era? Vote up the ones you think deserve that top distinction or add player you think should be in contention for being among&nbsp;the top soccer players of the &lsquo;90s.

Tottenham

This list of the best current soccer teams is a compilation of soccer clubs from around the world put together to determine <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-football-players-ever?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the best football</a> team out right now. These football clubs represent a variety of nations, divisions and leagues, making exact comparisons difficult at times, but never impossible. Despite the global popularity of football/soccer, the majority of the high-performing teams on this list are from Europe.National teams, of the sort of that would compete in Olympic events, the UEFA Championship or the FIFA World Cup, are not included. Teams that are included, though, represent some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-sports-franchises-of-all-time">greatest sports franchises of all time</a> with some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time">best soccer players ever</a> still gracing the fields of these great&nbsp;soccer teams. What are the good teams this year? What European or South American football club is the best right now? Which are the greatest <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-nfl-teams?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous football teams</a> in the world?Vote for your favorite football team on this top clubs list and find out. If the names of your teams aren't on the list of the greatest current soccer teams, make sure to add it so your squad can compete for the title of top soccer teams right now.&nbsp;

Michael Bradley

Who are the best players in MLS? Is it a European import, South American star, or homegrown talent?

Romelu Lukaku

Who is the best player in the English Premier League? Is it a crafty South American like Sergio Ag&uuml;ero&nbsp;or Alexis S&aacute;nchez? Perhaps the incomparable&nbsp;Zlatan&nbsp;Ibrahimovic or the world's most expensive player, Paul Pogba? Riyad Mahrez with his deadly left foot? Or maybe a net-minder like David de Gea?

Ronaldo

The coolest soccer players of all time. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Greatest South American Footballers as voted on by footy fans across the world. These are the best South <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-soccer-players-from-united-states-of-america/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">American soccer players</a> who have ever played the game.Who do you think are the top South American soccer players ever are?Take a look at this list of famous Latin American soccer players.

Ronny Rosenthal

List of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players</a> from Israel. List includes the top soccer (or “football”) players from Israel, along with photos when available. This list of best Israeli soccer players is ordered by popularity, so only the greatest players are at the top of the list. If you're searching for a particular famous Israeli soccer player you can use the "search" box to find what you're looking for.This list features Amiya Taga, Leonard Krupnik and more.This list answers the questions, "Who are the best Israeli footballers?" and "Who is the greatest Israeli soccer player of all time?" You can click on the names of these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular soccer players</a> of Israel in order to get more information about each one. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of popular Israeli soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy watching.

Bernt Haas

In case you're wondering, here's an extensive list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players</a> from Switzerland. The list includes the top soccer (or “football”) players from Switzerland, along with photos when available. This list of best Swiss soccer players is ordered by popularity, so only the greatest players are at the top of the list. If you're searching for a particular famous Swiss soccer player you can use the &quot;search&quot; box to find what you're looking for.Some of the top players on this list include Stefan Frei and Karl Rappan,&nbsp;answering&nbsp;the questions, &quot;Who are the best Swiss footballers?&quot; and &quot;Who is the greatest Swiss soccer player of all time?&quot; Of course, you can help determine just who is the very best, and those that follow close behind.&nbsp;You can click on the names of these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular soccer players</a> of Switzerland in order to get more information about each one. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of popular Swiss soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy watching.

Petr Čech

List of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players</a> from Czech Republic. List includes the top soccer (or “football”) players from Czech Republic, along with photos when available. This list of best Czech soccer players is ordered by popularity, so only the greatest players are at the top of the list. If you're searching for a particular famous Czech soccer player you can use the "search" box to find what you're looking for.This list has a variety of players in it, from Daniel Pudil to Martin Lukeš.This list answers the questions, "Who are the best Czech footballers?" and "Who is the greatest Czech soccer player of all time?" You can click on the names of these popular soccer players of Czech Republic in order to get more information about each one. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of popular Czech soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy watching.

Ronald Vargas

List of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-soccer-players/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players</a> from Venezuela. List includes the top soccer (or “football”) players from Venezuela, along with photos when available. This list of best Venezuelan soccer players is ordered by popularity, so only the greatest players are at the top of the list. If you're searching for a particular famous Venezuelan soccer player you can use the "search" box to find what you're looking for.Players on this list include Jorge Valdívia and Ricardo Páez.This list answers the questions, "Who are the best Venezuelan footballers?" and "Who is the greatest Venezuelan soccer player of all time?" You can click on the names of these popular soccer players of Venezuela in order to get more information about each one. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of popular Venezuelan soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy watching.

Soccer: The Beautiful Game

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The best midfielders ever to lace up their cleats for Bayern Munich have been part of a long legacy of tremendous soccer. All the FC Bayern Munich&nbsp;stars of past and present have had a hand in crafting the history of their club team.

While recent Bayern Munich&nbsp;midfielders like Arjen Robben&nbsp;and Thomas Muller have&nbsp;helped keep Bayern Munich among the class of Bundesliga and the A-list of world soccer, early standouts from the club&#39;s roster&nbsp;like Franz Roth&nbsp;and Rainer Zobel&nbsp;put Bayern Munich on the map as a group worth following.

So which of these players from Bayern Munich&#39;s long history deserves to rank near the top of the list? Who are the best Bayern Munich midfielders&nbsp;of all-time? Vote below, and if you see any players missing from the list who should be considered, feel free to add them as well.

The 50+ Best Bayern Munich Midfielders Ever, Ranked By Soccer Fans

The Best Bayern Munich Midfielders Of All Time

Football player

Best Rankings of Sports Teams and Players, Interesting Sports Facts, and Moments in Sports

sports

Ranker Soccer

Gen Zs

Thomas Müller

Thomas Müller (German pronunciation: [ˈtoːmas ˈmʏlɐ]; born 13 September 1989) is a German professional footballer who plays for and vice-captains Bayern Munich, and has made 100 appearances for the German national team. A versatile player, Müller plays as a midfielder or forward, and has been deployed in a variety of attacking roles – as an attacking midfielder, second striker, centre forward and on either wing. He has been praised for his positioning, teamwork and stamina, work-rate, and has shown consistency in both scoring and creating goals.A product of Bayern's youth system, he made his first-team breakthrough in the 2009–10 season after Louis van Gaal was appointed as the main coach; he played almost every game as the club won the league and cup double and reached the Champions League final. Müller scored 23 goals in the 2012–13 season as Bayern won a historic treble; the league title, cup and Champions League.
Müller earned a call-up to the German national team in 2010. At the 2010 World Cup he scored five goals in six appearances as Germany finished in third place. He was named the Best Young Player of the tournament and won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer, with five goals and three assists. At the 2014 World Cup he played a major role in helping the team win the trophy, scoring five goals and receiving the Silver Ball as the tournament's second top player and the Silver Boot as the second top goalscorer, and was also named in the World Cup All Star XI and in the Dream Team.
In 2014, Müller was ranked the fifth-best footballer in the world by The Guardian.

Mehmet Scholl

Mehmet Scholl (born Mehmet Yüksel; 16 October 1970) is a  German football  manager and former player.
He played most of his career as an attacking midfielder for Bayern Munich. During his career he won the UEFA Cup in 1996 (scoring a goal in each leg of the final), the Euro 1996, and the UEFA Champions League in 2001, as well as eight German Championships (all with Bayern Munich). His success with Bayern makes him the record holder for Bundesliga titles, tied with his former teammates Oliver Kahn and Bastian Schweinsteiger. He retired at the end of the 2006–07 Bundesliga season as one of the most successful German football players of all time.
Scholl was the subject of the 2007 career retrospective documentary film Frei:Gespielt – Mehmet Scholl: Über das Spiel hinaus by directors Ferdinand Neumayr and Eduard Augustin.

Franck Ribéry

Franck Henry Pierre Ribéry (French pronunciation: ​[fʁɑ̃k ʁibeʁi]; born 7 April 1983) is a French professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Fiorentina. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side although being right-footed, and is known for pace, energy, skill and precise passing. Ribéry is described as a player who is fast, tricky and an excellent dribbler, who has great control with the ball at his feet. Since joining Bayern, he has been recognised on the world stage as one of the best French players of his generation. The previous talisman of the French national team, Zinedine Zidane, has called Ribéry the "jewel of French football".Ribéry's career began in 1989 as a youth player for local hometown club Conti Boulogne. He left the club after seven years to join professional outfit Lille, but departed the club after three years after having difficulties adjusting. In 1999, Ribéry joined US Boulogne, where he played for two years. After spending two more years in the amateur divisions with two clubs (Alès and Brest), in 2004, Ribéry earned a move to Ligue 1 club FC Metz. After six months with the club, Ribéry moved to Turkey in January 2005 to join Galatasaray, where he won the Turkish Cup. After six months at Galatasaray, he departed the club in controversial fashion in order to return to France to join Marseille. Ribéry spent two seasons at the club, helping the Marseillais reach the final of the Coupe de France in back-to-back seasons.
In 2007, Ribéry joined German club Bayern Munich for a then club-record fee of €25 million. With Bayern, he won nine Bundesliga titles (a Bundesliga record), six DFB-Pokal, one UEFA Champions League and one FIFA Club World Cup, which include four doubles and one treble, amounting to a club record of 24 titles over twelve seasons. His form for Bayern in the club's 2012–13 treble winning season saw him nominated alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the three-man shortlist for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or. Ribéry won a club record 24 titles at Bayern. During his long spell at Bayern, Ribéry was also known for his fruitful partnership with fellow winger Arjen Robben—together they were affectionately referred to by the nickname Robbery. He left Bayern in summer 2019, and subsequently joined Italian side Fiorentina, while Robben retired from football.
Between 2006 and 2014, Ribéry represented the France national football team 81 times. Ribéry has represented his nation at two FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010) and two UEFA European Championships (2008, 2012). He made his international debut in May 2006 against Mexico. At the 2006 World Cup, Ribéry scored his first international goal against Spain and played in the final match against Italy.
Individually, Ribéry is a three-time winner of the French Player of the Year award and has also won the German Footballer of the Year becoming the first player to hold both honours. He has also been named to the UEFA Team of the Year and declared the Young Player of the Year in France. In 2013, Ribéry won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. In 2013, he was also ranked fourth in The Guardian's list of the best players in the world.

Arjen Robben

Arjen Robben (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑrjən ˈrɔbə(n)] (listen); born 23 January 1984) is a Dutch former footballer who played as a winger. He is known for his dribbling skills, speed, crossing ability and his accurate left foot long-range shots from the right wing, Robben was regarded as one of the best players in the world in his prime.Robben first came to prominence with Groningen, for whom he was player of the year for the 2000–01 Eredivisie season. Two years later he signed for PSV, where he became the Netherlands' Young Player of the Year and won an Eredivisie title. The following season Robben's signature was pursued by leading clubs, and after protracted transfer negotiations, he joined Chelsea in 2004. Robben's Chelsea debut was delayed through injury, but upon returning to fitness, he helped Chelsea bring home two consecutive Premier League titles, and was the Premier League Player of the Month in November 2005. After a third season in England which was punctuated by injury, Robben moved to Real Madrid for €35 million.
In August 2009, Robben transferred to Bayern Munich for a fee of around €25 million. In his first season in Munich, Bayern won the league title, Robben's fifth league title in eight years, and Robben scored the winning goal in the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final, being named to the Squad of the Season. He also appeared in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, which the Netherlands lost to Spain. In 2014, he was named to the FIFPro World XI and the UEFA Team of the Year, and fourth place in the Ballon d'Or. In Germany, he won 20 trophies, including eight Bundesliga titles and five DFB Pokals. During his long spell at Bayern, Robben was also known for his fruitful partnership with fellow winger Franck Ribéry—together they were affectionately referred to by the nickname Robbery. Robben has appeared at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships, and the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. In the latter, he won the Bronze Ball and was named to the All-Star Team. In 2014, Robben was ranked as the fourth-best footballer in the world by The Guardian.

Lothar Matthäus

Lothar Herbert Matthäus (German pronunciation: [ˈloːtaːɐ̯ maˈtɛːʊs];  born 21 March 1961) is a German football manager and former player. After captaining West Germany to victory in the 1990 FIFA World Cup where he lifted the World Cup trophy, he was named European Footballer of the Year. In 1991, he was named the first ever FIFA World Player of the Year, and remains the only German to have received the award.
Matthäus held the record of having played in five FIFA World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998), more than any other outfield player in men's football, until the 2018 World Cup, in which Mexico's Rafael Márquez equalled his record in a 1–0 victory over Germany, and holds the record for the most World Cup matches played by a single player (25 games). He was the captain of the West German team that won the 1990 World Cup in Italy and also was captain of the German squad in the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He also won UEFA Euro 1980, and played in the 1984, 1988, and 2000 UEFA European Football Championships.  In 1999, aged 38, he was again voted German Footballer of the Year, having previously won the award in 1990.
Matthäus is the most capped German player of all time, retiring with a total of 150 appearances (83 for West Germany) in 20 years, and 23 goals. Matthäus is a member of the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living football players chosen by Pelé. Diego Maradona said of Matthäus, "he is the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him", in his book Yo soy el Diego (I am the Diego).A versatile and complete player, Matthäus is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, and was renowned for his perceptive passing, positional sense, well-timed tackling, as well as powerful shooting. During his career, he usually played as a box-to-box midfielder, although late in his career he played as a sweeper.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Bastian Schweinsteiger (pronounced [ˈbasti̯an ˈʃvaɪ̯nʃtaɪ̯ɡɐ] (listen); born 1 August 1984) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire. A right-footed player, he usually plays as central midfielder. Earlier in his career, he primarily played as a wide midfielder.
He spent 17 seasons at Bayern Munich, playing in exactly 500 matches across all competitions and scoring 68 goals. His honours at the club include eight Bundesliga titles, seven DFB-Pokal titles, a UEFA Champions League title, a FIFA Club World Cup title and a UEFA Super Cup title. He joined Manchester United in 2015, playing sparingly for 18 months before moving to Chicago Fire.
Schweinsteiger played for the German national team from 2004 to 2016. He is Germany's fourth most-capped player of all time, having earned 121 caps and scored 24 goals, in a 12-year international career starting in 2004. He was selected in their squads for four European Championships and three World Cups, including their victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Following Philipp Lahm's international retirement on 2 September 2014, Schweinsteiger was named captain of the national team. He played his last match for Germany against Finland on 31 August 2016, after which he retired from international football.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Karl-Heinz "Kalle" Rummenigge (German: [ˌkaɐ̯lˈhaɪnts ˈkalə ˈʁʊmənɪɡə]; born 25 September 1955) is a German former professional football player.
He had his greatest career success with German club Bayern Munich, where he won the Intercontinental Cup, two European Cups, as well as two league titles and two domestic cups.
A member of the West Germany national team, Rummenigge won the 1980 European Championship and was part of the squad that finished runner-up in the 1982 FIFA World Cup and at the 1986 World Cup. He was also honoured twice as European Footballer of the Year.
He is currently the Chairman of Executive Board of FC Bayern München AG, a daughter company of Bundesliga team Bayern Munich. Rummenigge is a former chairman of the European Club Association, serving in that capacity from 2008 until 2017.

Hasan Salihamidžić

Hasan Salihamidžić (born 1 January 1977) is a Bosnian former professional footballer. He is currently working as sporting director for FC Bayern Munich. After starting his club career with German side Hamburger SV, he made a name for himself while playing for Bayern Munich for nine seasons with whom he won the Bundesliga title six times, DFB-Pokal title four times, the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League, and the 2001 Intercontinental Cup. His only match in the UEFA Super Cup ended in defeat. He also played for Italian club Juventus for four seasons.
During his career, Salihamidžić usually played as a right midfielder, right back or left back. He was a quick and energetic player with an extremely high work rate. He was also gifted with good crossing and passing abilities, which allowed him to create chances for his teammates.
He earned 43 caps and scored six goals for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. He is regarded by many as one of the most successful Bosnian football players in recent times.
Following the end of his one-year contract with VfL Wolfsburg in 2012, Salihamidžić retired from professional football and started work as a regular pundit for Sky Deutschland.

Uli Hoeneß

Ulrich "Uli" Hoeneß (German pronunciation: [ˈuːliː ˈhøːnɛs]; born 5 January 1952), is the president of German football club Bayern Munich and a retired footballer for West Germany who played as a forward for club and country. Hoeneß represented Germany at one World Cup and two European Championships, winning one tournament in each competition.
During his playing career he was mainly associated with Bayern Munich, with whom he won three league championship titles and three European Cup titles. He later served as the club's general manager. In 2014 he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, ultimately serving 18 months in prison for the offence.

Michael Ballack

Michael Ballack (German pronunciation: [ˈmɪçaːʔeːl ˈbalak]; born 26 September 1976) is a German retired footballer. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of the German national team. Ballack wore the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for, save for 1. FC Kaiserslautern. He was selected by Pelé as one of FIFA's 100 Greatest Living Players, and as the UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year in 2002. He won the German Footballer of the Year award three times – in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Ballack was known for his passing range, powerful shot, physical strength and commanding presence in midfield.Ballack began his career as a youth at Chemnitzer FC, his local team, and made his professional debut in 1995. On 26 March 1996, Ballack made his debut for Germany's under-21 side. Although the team were relegated in his first season, his performances in the Regionalliga the following season led to a transfer to 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 1997. He won the Bundesliga in his first season at the club, his first major honour. He became a first team regular in 1998–99 season and also earned his first senior national cap for Germany. He moved to Bayer Leverkusen for €4.1 million in 1999. The 2001–02 season saw him win a slew of runners-up medals: Bayer Leverkusen finished second in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, UEFA Champions League and Germany lost to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup Final.
A €12.9 million move to Bayern Munich led to further honours: the team won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Ballack had become a prolific goalscorer from midfield, scoring 58 goals for Bayern between 2002 and 2006. He joined Premier League club Chelsea in mid-2006 and won English honours in his first season at the club. Injury ruled him out of much of 2007, but he returned the following season to help Chelsea reach their first ever Champions League final. He also went on to win the FA Cup again in 2009 and then once more as part of a league and cup double in 2010.
Internationally, Ballack has played in the UEFA European Football Championship in 2000, 2004 and 2008, and the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2006. Jürgen Klinsmann appointed him captain of the national team in 2004. Ballack scored consecutive game-winning goals in the quarter-final and semi-final to help his country to the 2002 World Cup final, and led his team to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup and the Euro 2008 final.

Dieter Hoeneß

Dieter Hoeneß (born 7 January 1953) is a retired German footballer who played as a striker.
In his playing career, he was mainly associated with Bayern Munich. After retiring, he stayed connected with football, working extensively in directorial capacities for several clubs.
Hoeneß represented West Germany at the 1986 World Cup.

Stefan Effenberg

Stefan Effenberg (German pronunciation: [ˈʃtɛfan ˈɛfn̩bɛɐ̯k]; born 2 August 1968) is a German former footballer who last managed SC Paderborn. A midfielder, he possessed leadership skills, fantastic passing range, powerful shooting ability, physical strength, but also a fearsome and controversial character.In the Bundesliga alone – where he represented Bayern Munich most notably, in six seasons and in two different spells – Effenberg collected 109 yellow cards, an all-time worst at the time of his retirement.
He played for Germany on more than 30 occasions – in a career which was cut short after a run-in with the management – representing the nation in one World Cup and one European Championship. His nickname is Der Tiger [dɛɐ̯ ˈtiːɡɐ] (the tiger).

Mark van Bommel

Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɑr(ə)k fɑm ˈbɔməl]; born 22 April 1977) is a Dutch football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the current manager of PSV Eindhoven.
Van Bommel won the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and was part of the Netherlands team that finished runner-up of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. His FIFA World Cup profile describes him as "a tackling machine and expert ball-winner, but he also boasts a fine array of passes and a powerful shot, having been a free-kick specialist during his PSV days". When he played for Bayern Munich, he was the club's first non-German captain. During this period, he led the team to two Bundesliga titles, and finished runner-up in the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final.
Between 2000 and 2011, Van Bommel won eight national championship titles in four different competitions, four with PSV, two with Bayern Munich, one with Barcelona and one with Milan. He is also the son-in-law of former Netherlands national team manager Bert van Marwijk.

Paul Breitner

Paul Breitner (born 5 September 1951 in Kolbermoor, Bavaria) is a former German footballer, who played as a midfielder or as a defender. One of Germany's most controversial players, he earned 48 caps for West Germany. He was known for his partnerships with Franz Beckenbauer and Berti Vogts in defence for the German national team, and his midfield combination with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge for Bayern.
Breitner was an integral part of the West Germany team that won the 1974 FIFA World Cup, scoring in the final. He also scored in the final of the 1982 World Cup, making him one of only four players to have scored in two different World Cup final matches, the others being Pelé, Vavá and Zinedine Zidane.
One of the greatest German players of all time, Breitner was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Time Team, and was named by Pelé one of the top 125 greatest living footballers at a FIFA Awards ceremony in 2004. Breitner has been working as a commentator, pundit and columnist in Germany since retiring and is also an advisor to the Bayern management board.

Franz Roth

Franz "Bulle" Roth (born 27 April 1946 in Memmingen) is a former German footballer. He earned four caps for the Germany national football team and was  nicknamed "the Bull" due to his physical playing style.

Mario Basler

Mario Basler (born 18 December 1968 in Neustadt an der Weinstraße) is a German former football winger and current manager, most recently in charge of Rot-Weiss Frankfurt.
He currently works as sports director at 1.FC Lokomotive Leipzig.
A dead-ball specialist, Basler scored numerous goals from free-kicks and two directly from corner kicks during his career, colloquially known as Olympic goals. He also was known for his creativity.

Christian Ziege

Christian Ziege (German pronunciation: [ˈkʁɪsti̯an ˈt͡siːɡə]; born 1 February 1972) is a retired German footballer and is currently head coach for FC Pinzgau.
He started his playing career at FC Bayern Munich, where he won two Bundesliga titles and a UEFA Cup before moving to A.C. Milan, winning an Italian Scudetto. In 1999, he joined Middlesbrough of the English Premier League, where he was voted the club's Player of the Year in his only season. A year later, he joined Liverpool and was part of the squad which won a treble of the Football League Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup in 2000–01. In 2001, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur, before ending his career back in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach.
With the German national team, Ziege won UEFA Euro 1996 and finished runner-up at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also represented the country at UEFA Euro 2000, UEFA Euro 2004 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. An attacking left wing-back, Ziege was considered a dead-ball specialist.

Mazinho

Iomar do Nascimento (born 8 April 1966), known as Mazinho, is a Brazilian football manager and former player, as well as the former head coach of Greek club Aris.
A former midfielder, Mazinho played 35 internationals for Brazil national team, winning the 1989 Copa América, 1994 FIFA World Cup and the Silver medal at the 1988 Olympics. He was also named in the squads for the 1990 World Cup and 1991 Copa América.

Zé Roberto

José Roberto da Silva Júnior (born 6 July 1974), commonly known as Zé Roberto, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a left wing-back or as a midfielder. Currently, he is a technical advisor to Palmeiras, acting directly with the players and the coaching staff.

Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos (German pronunciation: [ˈtoːniː ˈkʁoːs]; born 4 January 1990) is a German professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the German national team. Kroos plays mainly as a central midfielder, but is also used as a defensive midfielder or deep-lying playmaker. He is known for his vision, creativity, passing, and set-piece ability, and is widely considered to be one of the best midfielders in the world.Born in the small German city of Greifswald, Kroos began his senior club career playing for Bayern Munich, where he made his debut at age 17 in 2007. He was sparingly used, and quickly opted for an 18-month loan spell at fellow Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, where he became a key contributor, and returned to his parent club with an increased profile in 2010. Kroos then became indispensable for the Bavarian club, and was critical to several successes, including two consecutive league titles, a UEFA Champions League title, and two DFB-Pokal titles. He was also voted into the league team of the season three times, before moving to Spain to join La Liga side Real Madrid in 2014, for a fee of €25 million.In Madrid, Kroos became a vital part of the team under head coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, and he helped Real win three consecutive Champions League titles from 2015–16 to 2017–18, each time being selected in the squad of the season. He also contributed heavily as the club captured a La Liga title in 2016–17, when he was also chosen for the team of the season. Kroos was also voted into both the FIFPro World XI and UEFA Team of the Year in 2016 and 2017, and has won further championships, including five FIFA Club World Cup titles. In 2018, Kroos was named German Footballer of the Year by a selection of journalists and the publication kicker.
After a successful youth international career, in which he won the Golden Player award and finished as top goalscorer in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2006, and won the Golden Ball award for best player at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2007, Kroos made his senior debut for Germany in 2010. He scored his first international goal in 2011 in a friendly match against Poland, and has since been key to the national team, appearing in every major tournament Germany has qualified for, beginning with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In 2014, Kroos led his country to victory in that year's World Cup, where he was the top assist provider and was selected to the All-Star team and Dream Team. He was also named German Player of the Year. At UEFA Euro 2016, Kroos was voted to the Team of the Tournament.

Rainer Zobel

Rainer Zobel (born 3 November 1948 in Wrestedt) is a German football manager and former player.

Hans Pflügler

Johannes Christian "Hans" Pflügler (born 27 March 1960) is a German retired footballer. He could operate as either a left back or a central defender, and played solely for Bayern Munich, winning eight major titles and appearing in nearly 400 official games.
Pflügler represented West Germany at the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1988, winning the former tournament.

Jupp Kapellmann

Hans-Josef "Jupp" Kapellmann (born 19 December 1949 in Bardenberg) is a former West German football player.Shining for just promoted Alemannia Aachen in a Bundesliga runner-up season in 1969, midfielder Kapellmann left Aachen for 1. FC Köln a year later and after Aachen had been relegated from the Bundesliga. Kapellmann was a proven regular with 1. FC Köln until 1973, ending on second place in the Bundesliga and in the German Cup in 1973 with them. Subsequent to his in-form performances for his club he was snapped up by FC Bayern Munich with his new club paying Köln 802,000 Deutsche Mark (a Bundesliga record at that time) for Kapellmann's services. Rather used as defender later on, Kapellmann was part of the European Cup winner squads of Bayern in 1974, 1975 and also in 1976. He further won the Bundesliga in 1974 and the Intercontinental Cup in 1976 with Die Bayern, but played the last forty of his 338 Bundesliga matches (36 goals) for local rival TSV 1860 Munich.
For West Germany Jupp Kapellmann came to action in five games in between 1973 and 1974, but could not land himself a regular participation. In 1974, he was part of the host-nation-squad for the FIFA World Cup, watching his team lifting the trophy from his spot on the substitution bench.
Nowadays, Dr. Kapellmann is a doctor for Orthopedic surgery in the Bavarian town of Rosenheim.

Sebastian Deisler

Sebastian Toni Deisler (German pronunciation: [zeˈbasti̯an ˈdaɪslɐ]; born 5 January 1980) is a former professional football player and a former international player for Germany. During his career, Deisler was employed as right winger and attacking midfielder.
Having been hailed as the future of German football at the turn of the millennium, Deisler could never manage to reach his full potential due to several cruciate ligament ruptures and other major injuries, as well as depression. Deisler retired from professional football in January 2007 at the age of 27.

Mario Götze

Mario Götze (German pronunciation: [ˈmaːʁi̯o ˈɡœtsə]; born 3 June 1992) is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Borussia Dortmund and the Germany national team. Although his favoured position is that of a playmaker, Götze also possesses speed, technique and dribbling skills. In 2010, German Football Association's then technical director Matthias Sammer described Götze as "one of the best talents Germany has ever had."He played for Borussia Dortmund between 2009 and 2013, winning the Bundesliga title in 2010–11 and the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2011–12, and was a member of the team which reached the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final. In April 2013, a €37 million bid from Bayern Munich triggered a release clause in Götze's contract, making him the second-most expensive German player to date, behind Mesut Özil. He spent three seasons with the club where he won a further three league titles, two DFB-Pokal trophies and a winners' medal in each of the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. He then returned to Dortmund in 2016 where he has since added another DFB-Pokal title to his name. 
Götze was first selected for the Germany national football team in 2010, at the age of 18. He was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2012 and, two years later, scored the winning goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final.

The best midfielders ever to lace up their cleats for Bayern Munich have been part of a long legacy of tremendous soccer. All the FC Bayern Munich&nbsp;stars ...