Messi Tops the All-Time List: Modrić Among the 50 Greatest
Daily Sabah has released its ranking of the 50 greatest footballers of all time. Lionel Messi takes the top spot, with Croatian captain Luka Modrić also making the list.
Daily Sabah has released its ranking of the 50 greatest footballers of all time. Lionel Messi takes the top spot, with Croatian captain Luka Modrić also making the list.
The debate over the greatest footballer in history will likely never be definitively settled, but a few names always dominate those conversations. Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah has published its ranking of the 50 greatest players of all time, with Lionel Messi at the very top, closing another chapter in the eternal sporting question.
The Argentine virtuoso, with a record eight Ballon d'Or titles and finally winning the World Cup in 2022, has been set as the benchmark of greatness in modern football. His career, which includes numerous club trophies and the Copa America in 2021, has been marked by over 800 official goals and countless assists, making his impact far exceed mere statistics.
Right behind Messi is the legendary Brazilian Pelé, the only player in history with three World Cup titles (1958, 1962, and 1970). His explosiveness and goal-scoring instinct made him the first global football superstar. Third place belongs to Diego Maradona, whose 1986 World Cup campaign remains etched in history. Along with the famous "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" against England, Maradona transformed Napoli, leading the club to two Serie A titles and a UEFA Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo took fourth place, and his incredible longevity and five Champions League titles, along with five Ballon d'Or awards, make him one of the greatest athletes of all time. Leading Portugal to their historic Euro 2016 title further cemented his status. The top five is rounded out by Dutchman Johan Cruyff, a three-time Ballon d'Or winner whose football philosophy as both a player and coach changed the game forever.
A special place on the list for Croatian fans is held by Luka Modrić, who sits at 33rd position. The captain of the Vatreni is one of the few active players on the list, alongside Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Manuel Neuer, Sergio Ramos, Luis Suárez, and Neymar, who are still writing their careers.
In the elite company from sixth to tenth place are Franz Beckenbauer, a World Cup winner as captain (1974) and as coach (1990), Brazilian Ronaldo Nazário, hero of the 2002 final with two goals, Frenchman Zinedine Zidane, scorer of two goals in the 1998 final and author of a stunning volley in the 2002 Champions League final, Alfredo Di Stefano, who led Real Madrid to five consecutive European Cups, and Michel Platini, who won three consecutive Ballon d'Or awards from 1983 to 1985 and led France to the European Championship title in 1984.
The list, which spans players from different eras, from Lev Yashin and George Best to Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta, inevitably raises questions about the criteria. Daily Sabah notes that defenders and goalkeepers are often undervalued in such selections, and historical data before the 1960s is less complete. Nevertheless, the eternal debate between Messi's versatile brilliance, Pelé's unmatched collection of World Cup titles, Maradona's peak, and Ronaldo's longevity will remain everlasting fuel for football fans' conversations worldwide.
