Soccer Players The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time  

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10.1k votes 1.9k voters 109.5k views 81 items

List Rules Player must have been born in Colombia or played for the Colombian national team.

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 Rodríguez 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, famous footballers such as Carlos Valderrama and James Rodríguez 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 famous Colombian 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 best soccer players 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 Guarín, 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.

1
1,013 216
James Rodríguez is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
James Rodríguez Forward, Midfielder James David Rodríguez Rubio, usually known as James Rodríguez or simply James, is a Colombian footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Colombian national team, as ...more

2
877 185
Carlos Valderrama is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Carlos Valderrama Midfielder Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio, also known as El Pibe is a Colombian former football player. His distinctive blond hair, coupled with his flamboyant technique on the ball, made him one of ...more

3
619 124
Radamel Falcao is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Radamel Falcao Forward, Midfielder Radamel Falcao García Zárate, also known as Radamel Falcao, Falcao García or simply as Falcao, is a Colombian footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United on loan ...more

4
260 66
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
WMazuera added Juan Guillermo Cuadrado Defender, Forward, Midfielder Juan Guillermo Cuadrado Bello is a Colombian professional footballer who plays primarily as a winger for English club Chelsea and the Colombian national team. He is known for his direct style of ...more

5
352 110
René Higuita is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
René Higuita Goalkeeper José René Higuita Zapata is a Colombian former football goalkeeper nicknamed El Loco. Rene Higuita was well known for his 'sweeper' playing style taking risk in leaving his post ...more

6
277 79
Freddy Rincón is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Freddy Rincón Midfielder Freddy Eusebio Rincón Valencia, is a Colombian football midfielder who played 84 games for the Colombia national team between 1990 and 2001.

7
352 116
Faustino Asprilla is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Faustino Asprilla Forward Faustino Hernán "Tino" Asprilla Hinestroza is a former Colombian football player who most notably played for Parma A.C., Newcastle United F.C. and the Colombia national football ...more

8
266 88
Mario Yepes is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Mario Yepes Defender Mario Alberto Yepes Díaz is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a defender for San Lorenzo. Yepes was well known for his time in Paris Saint-Germain where he was considered ...more

9
289 105
David Ospina is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
David Ospina Goalkeeper David Ospina Ramírez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Arsenal.

10
154 61
Leonel Álvarez is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Leonel Álvarez Midfielder Leonel de Jesús Álvarez Zuleta is a former Colombian football defensive midfielder and former coach of Deportivo Cali. He played 101 times for the Colombia national team between ...more

11
142 58
Willington Ortiz is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Willington Ortiz Forward, Midfielder Willington José Ortiz Palacio is a retired Colombian football player. He played 49 times for the Colombia national team scoring 12 goals and has been ranked by IFFHS as Colombia's ...more

12
136 60
Óscar Córdoba is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Óscar Córdoba Goalkeeper Óscar Eduardo Córdoba Arce is a retired Colombian football goalkeeper who has played more than 70 games for the Colombia national team. He last played in Millonarios from ...more

13
149 75
Fredy Guarín is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Fredy Guarín Midfielder Fredy Alejandro Guarín Vásquez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for Italian club Internazionale. A versatile player, he is comfortable in the centre or on the right ...more

14
139 68
Carlos Bacca is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
WMazuera added Carlos Bacca Forward Carlos Arturo Bacca Ahumada is a Colombian footballer who plays for Spanish club Sevilla FC and the Colombia national football team, as a striker. An international for Colombia since 2010, he ...more

15
93 37
Faryd Mondragón is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Faryd Mondragón Goalkeeper Faryd Camilo Mondragón Alí is a retired Colombian footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for Deportivo Cali in the Colombian First Division. Since his debut in 1993, he has ...more

16
93 38
Jackson Martínez is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
WMazuera added Jackson Martínez Forward Jackson Arley Martínez Valencia, or simply Jackson, is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for, and captains, FC Porto in the Primeira Liga. He is often named Cha Cha Cha for ...more

17
112 56
Alfredo Di Stéfano is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Alfredo Di Stéfano Forward Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé was an Argentine-Spanish footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He was most associated with Real ...more

18
112 58
Juan Camilo Zúñiga is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Juan Camilo Zúñiga Defender, Midfielder Juan Camilo Zúñiga Mosquera is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Napoli and the Colombian national team.

19
66 32
Juan Fernando Quintero is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
WMazuera added Juan Fernando Quintero Midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero Paniagua is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Porto in the Primeira Liga. He has been mentioned among the more coveted young ...more

20
71 39
Juan Pablo Ángel is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Juan Pablo Ángel Forward Juan Pablo Ángel Arango is a retired Colombian footballer who last played for Atlético Nacional in Categoría Primera A. He began his career at Nacional, whom he helped to ...more

21
68 41
Teófilo Gutiérrez is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Teófilo Gutiérrez Forward Teófilo Antonio Gutiérrez Roncancio, known more commonly as Teo, is a Colombian footballer who plays as a striker for Argentine club River Plate.

22
121 94
Pablo Andrés Escobar is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Pablo Andrés Escobar Defender Pablo Andrés Escobar is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for Atlético Huila.

23
48 30
Giovanni Hernández is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Giovanni Hernández Playmaker, Midfielder Giovanni Andrés Hernández Soto is a retired Colombian footballer and currently manager of Uniautónoma. He played for América de Cali, Independiente Medellín, ...more

24
74 56
Víctor Ibarbo is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Víctor Ibarbo Forward, Midfielder Segundo Víctor Ibarbo Guerrero is a Colombian footballer who plays as a second striker for Serie A club Roma, on loan from Cagliari.

25
39 24
Miguel Calero is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Miguel Calero Goalkeeper Miguel Ángel Calero Rodríguez was a Colombian football goalkeeper, who played 50 times for the Colombia national team between 1995 and 2007. While playing in Colombia, Calero won ...more

26
31 18
John Harold Lozano is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
John Harold Lozano Midfielder John Harold Lozano Prado is a Colombian retired footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder. He spent most of his 13-year professional career in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 134 ...more

27
43 31
David Ferreira is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
David Ferreira Defender, Forward, Midfielder David Ferreira is a Colombian footballer.

28
36 24
Luis Fernando Herrera is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Luis Fernando Herrera Defender Luis Fernando Herrera Arango is a retired football defender. He was capped 61 times and scored 1 international goal for Colombia between 1987 and 1996.

29
42 32
Manuel Arboleda is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Manuel Arboleda Defender Manuel Santos Arboleda Sánchez is a Colombian football defender playing for ?. Between Jan 31 and Feb 5, 2011, he is legally able and about to apply for Polish citizenship.

30
38 28
Dayro Moreno is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Dayro Moreno Forward, Midfielder Dayro Mauricio Moreno Galindo is a Colombian footballer currently playing as a forward for Club Tijuana in the Liga MX

31
36 26
Fredy Montero is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Fredy Montero Forward Fredy Henkyer Montero Muñoz, commonly known as Fredy Montero, is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Portuguese club Sporting Clube de Portugal. Montero is ...more

32
32 22
Giovanni Moreno is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Giovanni Moreno Forward, Midfielder Giovanni Andrés Moreno Cardona is a Colombian footballer who plays for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Greenland Shenhua where he primarily operates as a attacking midfielder.

33
24 14
Juan Carlos Mosquera is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Juan Carlos Mosquera Defender Juan Carlos Mosquera Gómez is a Colombian footballer who plays for Deportivo Pasto in the Torneo Postobón. He can play as Center Back and used to be a starter until he was injured

34
43 34
Pedro Franco is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Pedro Franco Defender Pedro Camilo Franco Ulloa is a Colombian footballer who plays as a centre back for Beşiktaş in the Süper Lig. He is frequently used as a playmaker from the defensive end and also as a ...more

35
39 30
Elson Becerra is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Elson Becerra Forward Elson Evelio Becerra Vaca was a Colombian footballer.

36
35 26
Hugo Rodallega is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Hugo Rodallega Forward Hugo Rodallega Martínez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a striker for English club Fulham. Rodallega started his professional career with Deportes Quindío in ...more

37
28 19
Mauricio Serna is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Mauricio Serna Midfielder Mauricio Alberto Serna Valencia is a retired Colombian football player who played 51 games for the Colombia national team between 1993 and 2001 Chicho Serna played for a number of clubs, ...more

38
27 19
Marco Pérez is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Marco Pérez Forward Marco Jhonnier Pérez Murillo is a Colombian football striker who currently plays for Independiente Medellín.

39
19 11
Macnelly Torres is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Macnelly Torres Midfielder Macnelly Torres Berrío is a Colombian footballer who plays for Junior. He is best known for his very accurate through passes. Torres' first name, Macnelly, was given to him by his father ...more

40
28 21
Víctor Montaño is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Víctor Montaño Forward Víctor Hugo Montaño Caicedo is a Colombian footballer who plays as a striker for Liga MX club Toluca.

41
28 21
Pedro Zape is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Pedro Zape Pedro Antonio Zape is a former Colombian football goalkeeper who currently works as a goalkeeping coach. Zape is considered to be one of the most important players in the history of Deportivo ...more

42
24 18
Jefferson Angulo is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Jefferson Angulo Midfielder Jefferson Angulo Murillo, is a professional footballer, who last played for Duque de Caxias in Brazil.

43
23 17
Antony de Ávila is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Antony de Ávila Forward Ántony Wílliam de Ávila Charris is a Colombian former soccer striker, who last played for América de Cali.

44
22 18
Camilo Vargas is listed (or ranked) 44 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Camilo Vargas Goalkeeper Camilo Andrés Vargas Gil is a Colombian football player, who plays as a goalkeeper for Atlético Nacional in the Categoría Primera A.

45
32 29
Johan Vonlanthen is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Johan Vonlanthen Forward, Midfielder Johan Vonlanthen Benavídez is a Swiss footballer who plays as a winger for Swiss Challenge League side FC Schaffhausen on loan from Grasshoppers. His stepfather is a Swiss national, ...more

46
27 24
Ricardo Ciciliano is listed (or ranked) 46 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Ricardo Ciciliano Midfielder Ricardo Manuel Ciciliano Bustillo is a retired Colombian football midfielder.

47
17 13
Gabriel Ochoa Uribe is listed (or ranked) 47 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Gabriel Ochoa Uribe Goalkeeper Gabriel Ochoa Uribe is a former Colombian football player and manager. He won four league titles and the Copa Colombia with Millonarios as a player and a remarkable 14 league titles as a manager ...more

48
18 15
Luis Arturo Peralta is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Luis Arturo Peralta Luis Arturo Peralta is a Colombian footballer currently playing for Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata of the Argentine Primera División.

49
22 20
Juan Toja is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Juan Toja Midfielder Juan Carlos Toja Vega is a Colombian footballer.

50
22 20
Fabián Andrés Vargas is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list The Best Soccer Players from Colombia of All Time
Fabián Andrés Vargas Midfielder Fabián Andrés Vargas Rivera is a Colombian football midfielder who currently plays for Millonarios F.C. He played also as a captain for the Colombia national team, Vargas can ...more