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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.

Soccer

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.

Current Sports

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;

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.

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!

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.

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;

DaMarcus Beasley

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 United States of America. List includes the top soccer (or “football”) players from United States of America, along with photos when available. This list of best United States of America 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 United States of America soccer player you can use the &quot;search&quot; box to find what you're looking for.The list you're viewing is made up of a variety of different players, including Austin Brown and Jim Stamatis.This list answers the questions, &quot;Who are the best United States of America footballers?&quot; and &quot;Who is the greatest United States of America soccer player of all time?&quot; You can click on the names of these popular soccer players of United States of America in order to get more information about each one. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of popular United States of America soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy watching.

Thomas Tuchel

The best current soccer coaches or managers in the world. Is it a young buck like&nbsp;Borussia &nbsp;Dortmund's Thomas Tuchel&nbsp;or someone older and wiser, like Leicester City's Claudio Ranieri?

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.

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?

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.

What is the best soccer league&nbsp;in Europe? England's Premier Leauge,&nbsp;Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, or&nbsp;Spain's Liga.&nbsp;

Cafu

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.

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.

Who comes to mind when you think of the best Hungarian soccer players of all time? For many soccer fans, famous footballers such as&nbsp;Ferenc Pusk&aacute;s and&nbsp;Fl&oacute;ri&aacute;n Albert are in the top ten. In order to see which Hungarian 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 Hungary.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.&nbsp;If you're searching for a particular&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/actors-from-hungary/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous Hungarian</a>&nbsp;soccer player you can use the search box to find what you're looking for. So, if you've ever wondered whether one Hungarian footballer was better than another, this list answers that question.So who qualifies to be in the running for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the best soccer players</a> from Hungary? The player must either be Hungarian born or have played for the Hungarian national soccer team. So players such as Tibor Vigh, who was Hungarian-born but played in Canadian associate football and the Canadian national team, are eligible. Other top players you'll see on this list include&nbsp;Lajos Czeizler, Csaba Csizmadia, and more. Add any Hungarian 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 Hungarian soccer players of all time, once and for all. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of the best Hungarian soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy learning about.

90s Sports

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.

Henrik Larsson

Ever wonder who are the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best soccer players</a> from Sweden of all time? Let soccer fans answer your question for you with this crowdvoted list of the best soccer players from Sweden. It covers not only current footballers, but also Swedish footballers that have since retired or have gone onto team management.Photos have been provided when available and the list is ordered by popularity, with the highest-voted players appearing at the top. So that means players at the caliber of&nbsp;Zlatan Ibrahimović,&nbsp;Gunnar Nordahl, and&nbsp;Thomas Ravelli. Additional details such as birthplace and positions played can be viewed by clicking on the players.&nbsp;If you're searching for a particular famous Swedish soccer player you can use the search box at the top of the list to find who you're looking for.Many of these players have played for the Swedish national team, such as&nbsp;Bj&ouml;rn Nordqvist and Yksel Osmanovski. While these top Swedish footballers claim Sweden as their home nation, many were born to immigrant parents, so you may see the occasional non-Swedish name. But regardless, they are still Swedish.&nbsp;This list answers the questions of who are the best Swedish footballers currently and of all time.&nbsp;If you're a soccer lover, you can use this list of the best Swedish soccer players to discover some new footballers that you might really enjoy watching.

Michael Bradley

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

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.

Soccer: The Beautiful Game

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Places/Travel

The best soccer playing countries of all time. Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, Argentina - all the usual suspects. Where do they fall?&nbsp;

The Best Soccer Countries in the World

Best Places Lists, Top 10 Places- Find any Places List at Ranker

Location

Best Rankings of Places to Visit, Interesting Travel Destinations and Popular Attractions

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International

Brazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and the Latin American region. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population. It is the largest Portuguese-speaking country in the world, and the only one in the Americas.
Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km. It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile and occupies 47.3 percent of the continent of South America. Its Amazon River basin includes a vast tropical forest, home to diverse wildlife, a variety of ecological systems, and extensive natural resources spanning numerous protected habitats. This unique environmental heritage makes Brazil one of 17 megadiverse countries, and is the subject of significant global interest and debate regarding deforestation and environmental protection.
Brazil was inhabited by numerous tribal nations prior to the landing of traveler Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500, who claimed the area for Portugal.

Germany

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a federal parliamentary republic in western-central Europe. It consists of 16 constituent states, which retain limited sovereignty, and covers an area of 357,021 square kilometres with a largely temperate seasonal climate. Its capital and largest city is Berlin. The seat of government is Berlin and Bonn. Germany is a great power and traditionally a leader in many cultural, theoretical and technical fields.
With 80.7 million inhabitants, Germany is the most populous member state in the European Union. After the United States, it is also the second most popular migration destination in the world. Germany has the world's fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP and the fifth-largest by PPP. As a global leader in several industrial and technological sectors, it is both the world's third-largest exporter and third-largest importer of goods. It is a developed country with a very high standard of living, featuring comprehensive social security that includes the world's oldest universal health care system.

Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a sovereign state located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar; to the north and northeast by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the west and northwest by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. Along with France and Morocco, it is one of only three countries to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. Spain's 1,214 km border with Portugal is the longest uninterrupted border within the European Union.
Spanish territory also includes two archipelagos; the Balearic Islands, in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast; two major exclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, in continental North Africa; and the islands and peñones of Alborán, Alhucemas, Chafarinas and Vélez de la Gomera. With an area of 505,990 km², Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union, and the fourth largest country in Europe. By population, Spain is the sixth largest in Europe and the fifth in the European Union.

France

France, officially the French Republic, is a unitary sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean; France covers 640,679 square kilometres and has a population of 66.6 million. It is a semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the nation's largest city and the main cultural and commercial center.

Argentina

Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic is a federal republic located in southeastern South America. Sharing the Southern Cone with its smaller neighbour Chile, it is bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north; Brazil to the northeast; Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east; Chile to the west and the Drake Passage to the south. With a mainland area of 2,780,400 km&#178;, Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, the second-largest in Latin America, and the largest Spanish-speaking one. Argentina claims sovereignty over part of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a unitary parliamentary republic in Europe. Italy covers an area of 301,338 km² and has a largely temperate climate; due to its shape, it is often referred to in Italy as lo Stivale. With 61 million inhabitants, it is the 5th most populous country in Europe. Italy is a very highly developed country and has the third largest economy in the Eurozone and the eighth-largest in the world.
Since ancient times, Etruscan, Magna Graecia and other cultures have flourished in the territory of present-day Italy, being eventually absorbed by Rome, that has for centuries remained the leading political and religious centre of Western civilisation, capital of the Roman Empire and Christianity. During the Dark Ages, the Italian Peninsula faced calamitous invasions by barbarian tribes, but beginning around the 11th century, numerous Italian city-states rose to great prosperity through shipping, commerce and banking. Especially during The Renaissance, Italian culture thrived, producing scholars, artists, and polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is the main constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a small, densely populated country, lying mainly in Western Europe, but also including three islands in the Caribbean. The European part of the Netherlands borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the northwest, sharing maritime borders with Belgium, the United Kingdom and Germany. The largest and most important cities in the Netherlands are Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam. Amsterdam is the country's capital, while The Hague holds the Dutch seat of government and parliament. The port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe – as large as the next three largest combined.
The Netherlands' name literally means "Low Country", inspired by its low and flat geography, with only about 50% of its land exceeding one metre above sea level. Most of the areas below sea level are man-made. Since the late 16th century, large areas have been reclaimed from the sea and from lakes, amounting to nearly 17% of the country's current land mass.

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. The country covers much of the central and southern part of the island of Great Britain, which lies in the North Atlantic; and includes over 100 smaller islands such as the Isles of Scilly, and the Isle of Wight.
The area now called England was first inhabited by modern humans during the Upper Palaeolithic period, but takes its name from the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes who settled during the 5th and 6th centuries. England became a unified state in the 10th century, and since the Age of Discovery, which began during the 15th century, has had a significant cultural and legal impact on the wider world.

Portugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country in southwest Europe. It is located on the Iberian Peninsula, and it is the westernmost country of mainland Europe, being bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. Aside from continental Portugal, the Portuguese Republic holds sovereignty over the Atlantic archipelagos of Azores and Madeira, which are autonomous regions of Portugal. The country is named after its second largest city, Porto, whose name derives from a combination of Latin "Portus", and the Celtic place-name Cale.,
The land within the borders of the current Portuguese Republic has been continually fought over and settled since prehistoric times. The Celts and the Romans were followed by the Visigothic and the Suebi Germanic peoples, who were themselves later invaded by the Moors. These Muslim peoples were eventually expelled during the Christian Reconquista of the peninsula. By 1139, Portugal established itself as a kingdom independent from León.

Belgium

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal monarchy in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters as well as those of several other major international organisations. Belgium covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres and has a population of about 11 million people. Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups: the Dutch-speaking, mostly Flemish community, which constitutes about 59% of the population, and the French-speaking, mostly Walloon population and Brussels inhabitants, which comprises 41% of all Belgians. 

Uruguay

Uruguay, officially the República Oriental del Uruguay, is a country in the southeastern region of South America. It is bordered by Argentina to its west and Brazil to its north and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to the south and southeast. Uruguay is home to 3.3 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the metropolitan area of its capital and largest city, Montevideo. With an area of approximately 176,000 square kilometres, Uruguay is geographically the second-smallest nation in South America after Suriname.
Uruguay remained largely uninhabited until the establishment of Colonia del Sacramento, one of the oldest European settlements in the country, by the Portuguese in 1680. Montevideo was founded as a military stronghold by the Spanish in the early 18th century, signifying the competing claims over the region. Uruguay won its independence between 1811 and 1828, following a four-way struggle between Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Brazil. It remained subject to foreign influence and intervention throughout the 19th century, with the military playing a recurring role in domestic politics until the late 20th century.

Croatia

Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia is a sovereign state at the crossroads of Central Europe, Southeast Europe, and the Mediterranean. Its capital city is Zagreb, which forms one of the country's primary subdivisions, along with its twenty counties. Croatia covers 56,594 square kilometres and has diverse, mostly continental and Mediterranean climates. Croatia's Adriatic Sea coast contains more than a thousand islands. The country's population is 4.28 million, most of whom are Croats, with the most common religious denomination being Roman Catholicism.
The Croats arrived in the area of present-day Croatia during the early part of the 7th century AD. They organised the state into two duchies by the 9th century. Tomislav became the first king by 925, elevating Croatia to the status of a kingdom. The Kingdom of Croatia retained its sovereignty for nearly two centuries, reaching its peak during the rule of Kings Peter Krešimir IV and Dmitar Zvonimir. Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102. In 1527, faced with Ottoman conquest, the Croatian Parliament elected Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg to the Croatian throne.

Mexico

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a federal republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Covering almost two million square kilometres, Mexico is the fifth largest country in the Americas by total area and the 13th largest independent nation in the world. With an estimated population of over 113 million, it is the eleventh most populous and the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world and the second most populous country in Latin America. Mexico is a federation comprising thirty-one states and a Federal District, its capital and largest city.
In pre-Columbian Mexico many cultures matured into advanced civilizations such as the Olmec, the Toltec, the Teotihuacan, the Zapotec, the Maya and the Aztec before first contact with Europeans. In 1521, the Spanish Empire conquered and colonized the territory from its base in Mexico-Tenochtitlan, which was administered as the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

Russia

Russia, also officially known as the Russian Federation, is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic. At 17,075,400 square kilometres, Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area. Russia is also the world's ninth most populous nation with nearly 144 million people as of 2015.
Extending across the entirety of northern Asia and much of Eastern Europe, Russia spans nine time zones and incorporates a wide range of environments and landforms. From northwest to southeast, Russia shares land borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and North Korea. It shares maritime borders with Japan by the Sea of Okhotsk and the U.S. state of Alaska across the Bering Strait.
The nation's history began with that of the East Slavs, who emerged as a recognizable group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD. Founded and ruled by a Varangian warrior elite and their descendants, the medieval state of Rus arose in the 9th century.

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Sweden

Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. Sweden borders Norway and Finland, and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund. At 450,295 square kilometres, Sweden is the third-largest country in the European Union by area, with a total population of about 9.7 million. Sweden has a low population density of 21 inhabitants per square kilometre, with the population mostly concentrated in the southern half of the country. About 85% of the population lives in urban areas. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, while the north is heavily forested. Sweden is part of the collective geographical group of nations Fennoscandia.
Germanic peoples have inhabited Sweden since prehistoric times, emerging into history as the Geats/Götar and Swedes/Svear and contributing to the sea peoples known as the Vikings. Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire. The empire grew to be one of the great powers of Europe in the 17th and early 18th centuries.

Denmark

Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The southernmost of the Nordic countries, it is located southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. The Kingdom of Denmark is a sovereign state that comprises Denmark and two autonomous constituent countries in the North Atlantic Ocean: the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Denmark proper has an area of 43,094 square kilometres, and a population of 5,659,715. The country consists of a peninsula, Jutland, and the Danish archipelago of 443 named islands, of which around 70 are inhabited. The islands are characterised by flat, arable land and sandy coasts, low elevation and a temperate climate.
The unified kingdom of Denmark emerged in the 10th century as a proficient seafaring nation in the struggle for control of the Baltic Sea. Danish rule over the personal Kalmar Union, established in 1397, ended with Swedish secession in 1523. However, Denmark still kept a union over Norway which lasted until its dissolution in 1814. Denmark inherited an expansive colonial empire from this union, of which the Faroe Islands and Greenland are remnants.

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Colombia

Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country situated in the northwest of South America, bordered to the northwest by Panama; to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; and it shares maritime limits with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Haiti. It is a unitary, constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments.
The territory of what is now Colombia was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples including the Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona. The Spanish arrived in 1499 and initiated a period of conquest and colonization ultimately creating the Viceroyalty of New Granada, with its capital at Bogotá. Independence from Spain was won in 1819, but by 1830 "Gran Colombia" had collapsed with the secession of Venezuela and Ecuador. What is now Colombia and Panama emerged as the Republic of New Granada. The new nation experimented with federalism as the Granadine Confederation, and then the United States of Colombia, before the Republic of Colombia was finally declared in 1886. Panama seceded in 1903.

Chile

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a American country in the south-west point of South America occupying a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. Chilean territory includes the Pacific islands of Juan Fernández, Salas y Gómez, Desventuradas, and Easter Island in Oceania. Chile also claims about 1,250,000 square kilometres of Antarctica, although all claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
Chile's northern desert contains great mineral wealth, principally copper. The relatively small central area dominates in terms of population and agricultural resources, and is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century when it incorporated its northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in forests and grazing lands, and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands.

Hungary

Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The country's capital and largest city is Budapest. Hungary is a member of the European Union, the OECD, the Visegrád Group, and the Schengen Area. The official language is Hungarian, which is the most widely spoken non-Indo-European language in Europe.

German Democratic Republic

East Germany, formally the German Democratic Republic or GDR, was a state within the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War period. From 1949 to 1990, it administered the region of Germany which was occupied by Soviet forces at the end of the Second World War—the Soviet Occupation Zone of the Potsdam Agreement, bounded on the east by the Oder–Neisse line. The Soviet zone surrounded West Berlin, but did not include it; as a result, West Berlin remained outside the jurisdiction of the GDR.
The German Democratic Republic was established in the Soviet Zone, while the Federal Republic was established in the three western zones. The East was often described as a satellite state of the Soviet Union. Soviet occupation authorities began transferring administrative responsibility to German communist leaders in 1948, and the GDR began to function as a state on 7 October 1949. Soviet forces, however, remained in the country throughout the Cold War. The GDR established the Ministry for State Security, or "Stasi", which aided the Soviet Army in suppressing uprisings in 1953.

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Nigeria

Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Nigeria is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.
Present-day Nigeria has been the site of numerous kingdoms and tribal states spanning over a millennium. The modern state has its origins in British colonization during the late 19th to early 20th centuries, with the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate. During the colonial period, the British set up administrative and legal structures whilst retaining traditional chiefdoms. Nigeria achieved independence in 1960, but plunged into a two-year civil war several years later. It has since alternated between democratically-elected civilian governments and military dictatorships, with its 2011 presidential elections being viewed as the first to be conducted reasonably freely and fairly.

Greece

Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic and known since ancient times as Hellas, is a country located in southeastern Europe. According to the 2011 census, Greece's population is around 11 million. Athens is the nation's capital and largest city, with Thessaloniki being the second largest and referred to as the co-capital.
Greece is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. Situated on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, Greece shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north and Turkey to the northeast. The country consists of nine geographic regions: Macedonia, Central Greece, the Peloponnese, Thessaly, Epirus, the Aegean Islands, Thrace, Crete, and the Ionian Islands. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of the mainland, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean Basin and the 11th longest coastline in the world at 13,676 km in length, featuring a vast number of islands. Eighty percent of Greece is mountainous, of which Mount Olympus is the highest peak at 2,917 m.

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Slovakia

Slovakia is a country in Central Europe.
It has a population of over five million and an area of about 49,000 square kilometres. Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is the capital, Bratislava. Slovakia is a member of the European Union, Eurozone, Schengen Area, NATO, the United Nations, the OECD and the WTO. The official language is Slovak, a member of the Slavic language family.
The Slavs arrived in the territory of present-day Slovakia in the 5th and 6th centuries. In the 7th century, they played a significant role in the creation of Samo's Empire and in the 9th century established the Principality of Nitra. In the 10th century, the territory of today's Slovakia was integrated into the Kingdom of Hungary, which itself became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire or Habsburg Empire. After World War I and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Slovaks and Czechs established Czechoslovakia. A separate Slovak Republic existed in World War II as a client state of Nazi Germany. In 1945, Czechoslovakia was reestablished.

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Iceland

Iceland is a Nordic island country between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. It has a population of 329,100 and an area of 103,000 km², making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík; the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior consists mainly of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers, while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.
According to Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in 874 CE when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island. In the following centuries, Scandinavians settled Iceland, bringing with them thralls of Gaelic origin. From 1262 to 1918, Iceland was ruled by Norway and later Denmark. The country became independent in 1918 and a republic in 1944.
Until the 20th century, Iceland relied largely on fishing and agriculture.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east and Poland to the northeast. Prague, the capital, is the largest city, with 1.3 million residents. The Czech Republic includes the historical territories of Bohemia and Moravia, and Czech Silesia.
The Czech state was formed in the late 9th century as the Duchy of Bohemia under the Great Moravian Empire. After the fall of the Empire in 907, the centre of power transferred from Moravia to Bohemia under the Přemyslids. In 1004, the duchy was formally recognized as part of the Holy Roman Empire, becoming the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1212, and reaching its greatest territorial extent in the 14th century. The King of Bohemia ruled not only Bohemia itself, but also other lands, which together formed the so-called Crown of Bohemia, and he had a vote in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor.


 
 
 The best soccer playing countries of all time. Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, Argentina - all the usual suspects. Where do they fall?&nbsp;
 
