Football player is a dream profession for most boys and even girls. If parents had not insisted on other professions for their children, almost all boys would have become football players. But, of course, not everyone becomes real professionals. And only a few become football legends. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in physical education (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).
Some people believe that football is a matter of life and death. They are wrong: football is much more important.
Bill Shankly
By definition, a football player is a player on a football team whose main task is to defeat the opposing team by kicking the ball into someone else's goal and preventing it from entering their own goal. Despite the incredible popularity of this profession, you won’t find advertisements on employment sites with the topic “Footballer wanted.” After all, football players are a special caste, in whose professional environment only the most gifted, purposeful and successful can get into.
Football (from the English foot - foot, ball - ball) is the “King of Sports”, sport No. 1 in the whole world: the most popular, financially invested and spectacular. No other sport can compare with football in terms of emotionality, tension, euphoria from victory and bitterness from defeat! Moreover, this applies not only to the players themselves, but to a greater extent to the fans. This sport has more fans and admirers than any other. There are even special bookmakers. But to become a great player you need to have not only outstanding physical characteristics, persistent character and perseverance. The main thing is to give yourself 100% to the profession, to devote all your strength, time, and energy to it.
Football is a team sport. But each team player is a star in his own role, whom fans know not only by numbers, but by names and faces.
Features of the profession
The main task of the entire football team is to score as many goals as possible into the opponent’s goal. But each player has his own specific responsibilities. A football team consists of a goalkeeper, forwards and defenders. In modern football, the following tactical scheme for conducting competitions is common: 4-4-2-1, which means 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, 2 attackers, 1 goalkeeper. Accordingly, each player solves the individual tasks assigned to him.
Defender(English " defender"; Previously it was called "back" or "fullback" from the word " back» - rear) performs protective functions:
- creates obstacles for attacking opponents;
- if necessary, helps attack the forwards of his team;
- provides support for teammates;
- handles the ball.
Defenders are divided into the following categories:
- central defender(from English “Center back”, “central defender” or “stopper”) operates at the central axis of the football field (Bobby Moore);
- free defender (Sweeperfrom English "sweep up» - sweep), which does not have a specific place on the field, which is why it is called free. His task is to take the ball away from an opponent approaching the goal (Franco Baresi).
- full backs or wing backs(from English " lateral» - « lateral») , located on the sideline of the field, on both sides of the central defenders. They join the attack as needed depending on the situation on the playing field (Cafu, Roberto Carlos).
Midfielder (midfielder, from English " half- back» - semi-posterior) is in an intermediate position between attack and defense. He provides assistance to defenders or attackers depending on the specific situation. Based on their position on the field, midfielders are divided into categories:
- central a midfielder who creates scoring situations in the game;
- supporting midfielder - helps the center in defense, interrupting the opponent's ball passes, insuring the flank defenders (Gilberto Silva);
- playmaker(from English " play» - game and " maker» - organizer) - organizes the attack of his team (Josep Guardiola, Xabi Alonso);
- attacking midfielder - creates scoring chances for attackers and can score goals into the opponent’s goal (Pelé, Michel Platini);
- midfielder "from penalty to penalty area" or “box-to-box” performs both defensive and attacking functions, moving across the entire field (Brian Robson);
- extreme the midfielder operates close to the sideline, protecting his playing area from the wingers and defensive midfielders of the opposing team (Cristiano Ronaldo, Garrincha).
Attack(in foreign clubs he is called “forward” from the English. “ forward» - front) is an attacking player whose task is to score as many goals as possible.
Attackers are also divided into categories:
- central the forward (center forward) solves the main task - to score a goal against the opponent; they operate close to the penalty line (Ronaldo);
- extreme striker (winger from English. " winger"— flanker) acts on the attack flank, instantly passing along the flank with the ball, passing it;
- welterweight forward (insider) acts between the central and extreme forwards;
- drawn the striker acts between the forwards and midfield, performing simultaneously the functions of attack and defense (Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi);
- false nine- This is an attacker on the center forward line, but is not intended to score goals, but to draw the opposing team’s defenders to the side, freeing up space for the center forward.
Goalkeeper(or goalkeeper from English. " goalkeeper") protects the goal, preventing the opposing team from scoring a goal. Operates on the goalkeeper's court near the goal. During the game, he uses such game techniques as fixing the ball, hitting or knocking the ball out after a strike, intercepting the ball.
But the main thing in the game and the key to victory is the coordinated interaction and mutual understanding of all players, the ability to competently cooperate on the field, and strive for victory in a single impulse.
All of the above relates to the responsibilities of football players during a match (competition). But the main preparatory work is carried out before the competition and the responsibilities of each player include:
- daily training;
- compliance with the regime;
- regular medical examination;
- participation in the work of your football club.
Pros and cons of the profession
Pros:
- High level of remuneration;
- demand;
- the opportunity to do what you love;
- constant travel around the world (for some this is a minus);
- healthy lifestyle;
- opportunity for professional growth;
- positive emotions in case of victory.
Minuses:
- daily training with serious physical activity;
- frequent travel;
- increased risk of injury;
- the risk of losing your job as a result;
- negative emotions if the team loses.
Place of work
Football clubs that unite football players, coaches, staff and related organizations.
Important qualities
- physical endurance;
- high efficiency;
- speed of reaction;
- excellent coordination of movements;
- good game thinking;
- speed;
- responsibility;
- focus;
- communication skills;
- skill to work in team;
- organization;
- ability to concentrate;
- patience;
- constant desire to improve professional skills.
Goalkeeper Qualities:
- jumping ability;
- high growth;
- agility, mobility and strength like an acrobat;
- speed of reaction.
Where to study to be a football player
The profession of a football player is not taught in any university or college. As a rule, a career begins in childhood in a youth team at one of the football clubs. Then everything depends on the talent and perseverance of the football player. Coaches recognize particularly outstanding children and send them to a professional team.
Salary
Salary as of 02/20/2020
Russia 100000—50000 ₽
The level of remuneration of football players depends on the league in which he plays and on his popularity. In case of victory, significant bonuses are added to the fixed salary. In addition, major league football players receive income from advertising contracts.
Career steps and prospects
The professional career of a football player is built in an ascending manner as follows: children's sports school, junior, youth, youth, national teams and, as the peak of his career, elite football clubs of the world. At the end of their sports career, many football players become coaches or referees, open their own sports schools, and occupy various administrative positions.
Facts about football
- Football matches involve 2 teams, each of which consists of 11 people: 10 field players and 1 goalkeeper.
- To play football, a round ball with a circumference of no more than 70 cm (28 inches) and no less than 68 cm (27 inches) is used.
- Football competitions are held on a rectangular football field: the permissible field length is from 90 to 120 meters, width is from 45 to 90 meters. The optimal size is 105 m by 68 m.
- A football match is divided into 2 halves of 45 minutes each. The break between halves is 15 minutes. After the break, the teams change goals.
- Football as a game with rules dates back to 1846, when the rules of the game were first established. Although ball games in different forms existed in Ancient India (Tapa Banka Yal - throwing a ball), in China among the military Tsu-jiu (kick), in Italy calcio (kick).
- Football competitions are organized by the Federation. For each football tournament, special regulations are drawn up, which indicate the following components: tournament scheme; list of participants; rules for determining the winner.
- Competitions come at different levels: internal; international; club; national.
Ratings of the best football players
- 100 best football players of the year according to FIFA;
- top 100 football players of the World or European Championship;
- best football players of the century from IFFIS ( Football player of the Century);
- list of the best goalkeepers.
For those who are interested in sports and interested in football life, they are of great interest soccer stars. Their sports and personal lives are always visible; they are a kind of integral part of the theater called “football”. Surely every fan who has loved the number one sport in the world since childhood has a favorite player whom he watched and experienced his ups and downs with. While playing football in the yard, many had the name of their favorite football player emblazoned on their backs. These little fans grew up, and with them, from ordinary famous players, football players gradually turned into real football legends. Francesco Totti, Ronaldo, Gabriel Batistuta, Raul, Alessandro Del Piero, Thierry Henry - this is not a complete list of legends whose careers ended a real football era. Some of them became a coach, some a businessman, all have different destinies, but they have one thing in common - they forever inscribed their names not only in the chronicle of football life, but also in our hearts, the hearts of fans and connoisseurs of real football.
Football legends
Some famous football players They are reluctant to share stories from their biography, since not everyone’s life is bright and rosy. Some parents brought them to football school, providing them with everything they needed, while others went hungry to training, combining them with hard work not intended for minors. But, as a rule, any history of the legend just starts with unpleasant memories. It is the difficult fate that prepares obstacles on the path to glory that fosters in people a strong spirit and incredible perseverance. Thanks to this, in the future, from an ordinary football player, a personality grows, whose name is “ Football star».
Having overcome all obstacles and achieved recognition, star football players they get almost everything they dreamed of. Expensive cars, beautiful wives, big salaries, but not always all this is beneficial. There are many cases in history when legendary football players, world stars stop being like that. After a stunning start to a career, an equally rapid and painful fall follows. And it turns out that the most famous football player is remembered not for its sporting achievements, but for its scandals and public disgrace.
Famous football players
The most famous football players have an interesting biography, which we will introduce you to on our website in the “football stars” section. We will talk about many legendary football players. We will show their best goals, matches, interviews. Let's tell you how their lives turned out and how they live without football. We'll show you photos of famous football players of the world, having fun and crying, sad and happy. Together with you we will see outstanding moments of glory of football players and farewell to fans. Many legends are still present and work in the football field, many are no longer with us... But the memory of them will live forever, and even if in the distant future football ceases to exist, the myths about legendary football players will not be erased from the memory of many generations, because football is Not just a sport, football is life with its own unique history!
Popular football portal "FourFourTwo"formed the hundred best football players of all time. “Sokker.ru” introduces readers to an interesting rating.
Places 100 to 91:
100. Gheorghe Hagi (Romania)
99. Mario Coluna (Portugal)
98. Mario Kempes (Argentina)
97. Neymar (Brazil)
96. Obdulio Varela (Uruguay)
95. Jalma Santos (Brazil)
94. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
93. Philipp Lahm (Germany)
92. Sandor Kocsis (Hungary)
91. Sepp Mayer (Germany)
Getting into the top 100 players in the history of the Game is a huge honor, so if someone's position seems unfairly low to you, remember how many thousands of players remained outside the top 100. Therefore, we take the “FourFourTwo” rating as a given, because we can argue on this topic ad infinitum, especially when it comes to the distribution of positions at the very top. In the top ten from the end we see the “Carpathian Maradona” Hadji and the Swedish star of all times Ibrahimovic. There are four world champions here: Brazilian Jalma Santos, German Philipp Lahm, Uruguayan Obdulio Varela and Argentinean Mario Kempes. The great German goalkeeper Mayer, the Hungarian goalscorer Kocsis, the Benfica legend Coluna are here, as is Neymar, who has the best years of his career ahead of him.
Places 90 to 81:
90. Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
89. Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria)
88. Allan Simonsen (Denmark)
87. Javier Zanetti (Argentina)
86. Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina)
85. Uwe Seeler (Germany)
84. Giacinto Facchetti (Italy)
83. Ryan Giggs (Wales)
82. Hugo Sanchez (Mexico)
81. Dragan Dzajic (Yugoslavia)
Of the world champions, only Roberto Carlos is here, but we see two Golden Ball winners - Stoichkov and Simonsen. Giggs and Batistuta don’t need additional introductions; Hugo Sanchez’s goals for Atlético and Real Madrid will tell the story. We note the presence of two legends of Inter Milan from different eras - Facchetti and Zanetti. Uwe Seeler, nicknamed “Furious”, was the brightest German player in the interval between the first two world championships. Well, Dragan Dzhajic in general is perhaps the greatest Serbian player in history.
Places 80 to 71:
80. Thierry Henry (France)
79. Gigi Riva (Italy)
78. Juste Fontaine (France)
77. Frank Rijkaard (Netherlands)
76. Dennis Lowe (Scotland)
75. Cafu (Brazil)
74. Josef Masopust (Czechoslovakia)
73. Omar Sivori (Argentina)
72. Jose Andrade (Uruguay)
71. John Charles (Wales)
Masopust, Sivori and Low won the Ballon d'Or in the first half of the 60s, with only Lev Yashin wedged between them. Jose Andrade, Cafu and Henry are world champions. John Charles is one of the top 20 Welsh heroes in the history of Wales, and Juste Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup (13 goals scored, 1958 World Cup). Riva and Rijkaard were each stars in their respective eras, and Gigi spent almost his entire career at Cagliari, he is the main symbol of this club.
Places 70 to 61:
70. Paul Breitner (Germany)
69. Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands)
68. Sandro Mazzola (Italy)
67. Florian Albert (Hungary)
66. Teofilo Cubillas (Peru)
65. Jimmy Johnston (Scotland)
64. Johan Neeskens (Netherlands)
63. Gordon Banks (England)
62. Dixie Dean (England)
61. Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)
Three Britons at once: the cult Celtic player Jimmy Johnston, the great goalkeeper and world champion Banks, and the hero of the early 20th century Dixie Dean. The Dutch Bergkamp and Neeskens worked magic, although they never became world champions, Johan even scored in one of his finals, but Paul Breitner responded in kind and eventually celebrated the victory as part of the West German team. Mazzola is another Inter legend and the idol of future generations, Florian Albert can boast of the Ballon d'Or, and Theo Cubillas is the best player in the history of Peru. You probably already recognized Peter Schmeichel: the famous goalkeeper of Manchester United and accomplice of the “Danish Fairy Tale 1992”.
Places 60 to 51:
60. Kevin Keegan (England)
59. Andres Iniesta (Spain)
58. Adolfo Pedernera (Argentina)
57. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Germany)
56. Daniel Passarella (Argentina)
55. Dino Zoff (Italy)
54. Gunnar Nordahl (Sweden)
53. Gaetano Scirea (Italy)
52. Roberto Baggio (Italy)
51. Jairzinho (Brazil)
There are three Italians at once - the winners of the 1982 World Cup Zoff and Scirea, as well as Roberto Baggio, who missed the decisive penalty in 1994 and was left with silver. But Andres Iniesta scored the only goal in the 2010 World Cup final, for which he has since been applauded in all stadiums in Spain. Jairzinho and Passarella are also world champions, but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge did not win the world championship with Germany, but he has two Golden Balls to his name, like Kevin Keegan. Nordahl rocked Serie A in the mid-20th century, where he played for Milan and Roma, but the Argentine Pedernera is the most mysterious figure in this top ten. It is known that his names were Genius, Maestro and Football Napoleon, but Adolfo’s career took place in South America in the 30s, 40s and 50s of the last century, so there is not much evidence of his greatness.
Places 50 to 41:
50. Xavi (Spain)
49. Nilton Santos (Brazil)
48. Mikael Laudrup (Denmark)
47. Roberto Rivellino (Brazil)
46. Juan Alberto Schiaffino (Uruguay)
45. Oleg Blokhin (USSR/Ukraine)
44. Didi (Brazil)
43. Fritz Walter (Germany)
42. Matthias Sindelar (Austria)
41. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
This ten has a diverse composition. Here are a bunch of world champions from different countries and different eras, and the famous scorer of Dynamo Kiev, winner of the Golden Ball Oleg Blokhin, and the Austrian Sindelar with a tragic fate, and Buffon, who is still performing at a high level, and the iconic German captain Fritz Walter, who was in Soviet captivity during World War II. And also the ex-coach of Moscow “Spartak” Mikael Laudrup and Didi, who did not give in to Di Stefano and Puskas at Real, who did not want to share the glory.
Places 40 to 31:
40. Kenny Dalglish (Scotland)
39. Nandor Hidegkuti (Hungary)
38. Gianni Rivera (Italy)
37. Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)
36. Paco Gento (Spain)
35. Luis Suarez Miramontes (Spain)
34. Stanley Matthews (England)
33. Gunther Netzer (Germany)
32. Paolo Rossi (Italy)
31. Jose Manuel Moreno (Argentina)
There is not a single active player in this top ten, although all these names are well-known to this day. For example, Paco Gento is the record holder for the number of European Cups; the Spaniard won this trophy six times. Paolo Rossi scored in the World Cup final and won the Ballon d'Or, and Nandor Hidegkuti was part of the Hungarian Golden Squad. A special place here goes to Sir Stanley Matthews, who played football until he was 50, was a model gentleman and won the first ever Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year. A few years later, this award went to Luis Suarez Miramontes, who at the time of the award played for Barcelona, and then moved to Inter, where he spent nine years.
Places 30 to 21:
30. Lothar Matthäus (Germany)
29. Raymond Kopa (France)
28. Socrates (Brazil)
27. Bobby Moore (England)
26. Valentino Mazzola (Italy)
25. Carlos Alberto (Brazil)
24. Ronaldinho (Brazil)
23. Eusebio (Portugal)
22. Lev Yashin (USSR/Russia)
21. Romario (Brazil)
We note the high position of Lev Ivanovich Yashin: he is the only goalkeeper to win the Golden Ball in 22nd place in the ranking. There are four Brazilians in the top ten with him, and Romario is higher than Ronaldinho, Carlos Alberto and Socrates. Why, Shorty even bypassed Eusebio, who, symbolically, took the next place with his friend Yashin. Bobby Moore and Lottar Matthäus are the captains of their teams at the victorious world championships and cult football players of their countries. Special attention should be paid to Valentino Mazzola, who is seriously ahead of his son. Valentino and Sandro are the only father and son to be in the top 100 strongest football players of all time. A unique achievement.
Places 20 to 11:
20. Paolo Maldini (Italy)
19. Bobby Charlton (England)
18. Giuseppe Meazza (Italy)
17. Gerd Müller (Germany)
16. Zico (Brazil)
15. Franco Baresi (Italy)
14. George Best (Northern Ireland)
13. Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
12. Michel Platini (France)
11. Garrincha (Brazil)
Everyone is a world football star, although it is clear that it is impossible to create an “all-time” ranking based on objective indicators, because such indicators do not exist. How can we compare, say, Giuseppe Meazza and Paolo Maldini? It turns out that the basis is a certain historical “media rating”: the names of the big stars of the past still ring loudly, although decades have passed. Thanks to this, Garrincha and Muller, Charlton and van Basten, Best and Maldini, Meazza and Platini, Zico and Baresi can be located in neighboring positions. But who is cooler than them and who got No. 1, the end is near!
Places 10 to 1:
10. Ronaldo (Brazil)
9. Ferenc Puskás (Hungary)
8. Zinedine Zidane (France)
7. Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
6. Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentina)
5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
4. Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
3. Pele (Brazil)
2. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
1. Diego Maradona (Argentina)
Led by two Argentines, the King of Football Pele has dropped to third place, and Cristiano Ronaldo is only fifth. Eight of the top ten players, besides Pelé and Beckenbauer, played for Real Madrid or Barcelona in their careers. This is how “FourFourTwo” got a hundred. How do you like it?
The English publication The Guardian, with the help of experts, including SE, conducted a large-scale survey and identified the hundred best players of the world championships.
The top 100 included three representatives of Soviet football - Lev Yashin (No. 30), Igor Belanov (No. 82) and Rinat Dasaev (No. 94). The Brazilian Pele is recognized as the brightest football player in the history of world championships.
The list is compiled based on the opinions of 40 experts from three categories: leading authors of The Guardian, foreign journalists from around the world (including the editor-in-chief of the Internet portal "Sport Express" Arthur Petrosyan) and legends of the world championships, including Lothar Matthäus, Zico , Sunday Olise and John Barnes.
Each expert had to name the top 40 best players. First place brought 40 points, second - 39, and 40th, respectively, one. Then the total number of points for each of the three groups was displayed and multiplied by the coefficient assigned to each group. The opinion of the World Cup legends was the most significant.
Football player |
Matches/goals |
||
Brazil |
1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 |
||
2. Diego MARADONA |
Argentina |
1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 |
|
3. Franz BECKENBAUER |
1966, 1970, 1974 |
||
4. RONALDO |
Brazil |
1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 |
|
5. Zinedine ZIDANE |
1998, 2002, 2006 |
||
6. Johan Cruyff |
Holland |
||
7. Lothar MATTHEUS |
FRG/Germany |
1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 |
|
8. Gerd MÜLLER |
|||
9. GARRINCHA |
Brazil |
1958, 1962, 1966 |
|
10. Michel Platini |
1978, 1982, 1986 |
||
11. EUSEBIO |
Portugal |
||
12. Paolo MALDINI |
1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 |
||
13. JAIRZINHO |
Brazil |
1966, 1970, 1974 |
|
14. Bobby CHARLTON |
1962, 1966, 1970 |
||
2002, 2006, 2010 |
|||
16. ROMARIO |
Brazil |
||
17. Just FONTAINE |
|||
18. Paolo ROSSI |
1978, 1982, 1986 |
||
19. Dino ZOFF |
1970, 1974, 1978, 1982 |
||
20. Bobby MOORE |
1962, 1966, 1970 |
||
21. Ferenc PUSKASH |
|||
Brazil |
1978, 1982, 1986 |
||
23. RONALDINHO |
Brazil |
||
24. Roberto BAGGIO |
1990, 1994, 1998 |
||
Brazil |
1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 |
||
26. Fabio CANNAVARO |
1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 |
||
27. RIVALDO |
Brazil |
||
28. Mario ZAGALLO |
Brazil |
||
29. Johan NESKENS |
Holland |
||
30. Lev YASHIN |
1958, 1962, 1966 |
||
31. Mario KEMPES |
Argentina |
1974, 1978, 1982 |
|
32. Roberto RIVELINO |
Brazil |
1970, 1974, 1978 |
|
33. CRISTIANO RONALDO |
Portugal |
||
34. CARLOS ALBERTO |
Brazil |
||
35. ROBERTO CARLOS |
Brazil |
1998, 2002, 2006 |
|
36. Roger MILLA |
1982, 1990, 1994 |
||
37. Paul BREITNER |
|||
38. Lilian Thuram |
1998, 2002, 2006 |
||
39. Karl-Heinz RUMMENIGGE |
1978, 1982, 1986 |
||
40. Giuseppe MEAZZA |
|||
41. Gordon BANKS |
|||
42. Oliver KAHN |
Germany |
1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 |
|
43. Zbigniew BONEK |
1978, 1982, 1986 |
||
44. Gianluigi BUFFON |
1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 |
||
45. Daniel PASSARELLA |
Argentina |
1978, 1982, 1986 |
|
46. Franco BARESI |
1982, 1990, 1994 |
||
47. Gary LINEKER |
|||
48. Jalma SANTOS |
Brazil |
1954, 1958, 1962, 1966 |
|
49. Nilton SANTOS |
Brazil |
1950, 1954, 1958, 1962 |
|
50. Uwe SEELER |
1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 |
||
51. Lionel MESSI |
Argentina |
||
52. TOASTAO |
Brazil |
||
53. Andreas BREHME |
FRG/Germany |
1986, 1990, 1994 |
|
54. Jeff HURST |
|||
55. Sepp MAYER |
1970, 1974, 1978 |
||
56. Hristo STOICHKOV |
Bulgaria |
||
Brazil |
|||
58. Sandor KOCIS |
|||
59. Luis FIGOO |
Portugal |
||
60. Marcel DESAILLY |
|||
61. Gheorghe HAGI |
1990, 1994, 1998 |
||
62. Giuseppe BERGOMI |
1982, 1986, 1990, 1998 |
||
63. Fritz WALTER |
|||
64. Carles PUYOL |
2002, 2006, 2010 |
||
65. Andres INIESTA |
|||
66. Paul GASCOINE |
|||
67. Grzegorz LATO |
1974, 1978, 1982 |
||
68. Obdulio VARELA |
|||
69. Juan SCHIAFFINO |
|||
70. Alcides GIJA |
|||
71. Helmut RAS |
Germany |
||
72. Frank DE BOER |
Holland |
||
73. Rud KROL |
Holland |
||
74. Elias FIGUEROA |
1966, 1974, 1982 |
||
75. LEONIDAS |
Brazil |
||
76. Gheorghe POPESCU |
1990, 1994, 1998 |
||
77. Teofilo CUBILLAS |
1970, 1978, 1982 |
||
78. JJ OKOCHA |
1994, 1998, 2002 |
||
Brazil |
1954, 1958, 1962 |
||
80. Gianni RIVERA |
1962, 1966, 1970, 1974 |
||
81. Sergio BATISTA |
Argentina |
||
82. Igor BELANOV |
|||
83. Salvatore SCILLACHI |
|||
84. Wesley SNYDER |
Holland |
||
85. BELLINI |
Brazil |
1958, 1962, 1966 |
|
86. Alessandro DEL PIERO |
1998, 2002, 2006 |
||
87. Louis MONTI |
Argentina/Italy |
||
88. Thomas N'KONO |
1982, 1990, 1994 |
||
89. Claudio GENTILE |
|||
90. BEBETO |
Brazil |
1990, 1994, 1998 |
|
91. Héctor CHUMPITAS |
|||
92. Dragan STOJKOVIC |
Yugoslavia |
||
93. Matthias ZINDELAR |
|||
94. Rinat DASAEV |
1982, 1986, 1990 |
||
95. Philip LAM |
Germany |
||
96. Jurgen KLINSMANN |
Germany |
1990, 1994, 1998 |
|
97. Antonio CABRINI |
1978, 1982, 1986 |
||
98. LEONARDO |
Brazil |
||
99. Giacinto FACCHETTI |
1966, 1970, 1974 |
||
100. Thomas BROLIN |
PELE
Diego MARADONA
Franz BECKENBAUER
RONALDO
Zinedine ZIDANE
Johan Cruyff
Lothar MATTHEUS
Gerd MÜLLER
GARRINCHA
Michel Platini
Lev YASHIN
Igor BELANOV
Football is by far the most popular sport, played in almost all countries of the world. And naturally, as in any other form, there are the most outstanding personalities in football. This article will highlight the most famous football players who are currently performing at the highest level. Of course, choosing the most outstanding players among thousands of players is not so easy, so you should understand that this ranking is subjective and may differ from the opinions of other people. So, who are the biggest names in football right now taking to the pitches around the world?
Lionel Messi
Famous football players appear in many different parts of the world, but most of them come from Europe or Latin America. And Lionel Messi is one of the most striking examples of star players who came to play in Europe from overseas. He was born in Argentina and plays for this national team, but from an early age he has been in the system of the Catalan Barcelona. It was there that he grew into one of the best football players of our time.
The numbers of famous football players are most often standard, that is, few people choose a T-shirt number that differs from the first eleven digits. Messi is no exception - he wears number ten on his T-shirt and is by far the best football player in the world. He won five Ballon d'Or and also led his club to victories in the Spanish Championship, the Spanish Cup and the Champions League more than once. He is 29 years old, which means that many more successful years await him, and he will be able to lead his team to more than one victory in major tournaments.
Cristiano Ronaldo
If we're talking about Lionel Messi, then famous football players don't end with his name. Whenever an Argentine genius is mentioned, it is worth putting the Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo next to him. Today, absolutely everyone agrees that these two athletes are the best among all, and the competition for the title of the best is waged between them.
Ronaldo began his career in Portugal, from where he moved to England, joining Manchester United, with whom he began to win his first trophies. But he reached the peak of his career in Real Madrid, where he still plays number seven. Ronaldo is older than Messi, turning 32 this year, but he continues to play incredible football and win trophies with Madrid.
There are other famous football players in the world who are still one step lower than these two geniuses, but are also incredible talents.
Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who is Polish by nationality, deserves special attention. In most cases, the most famous football players are born in countries that are quite strong in terms of football, but Poland has shown practically nothing at the highest level in its entire history. And that makes the achievements of Robert, who is now one of the best center forwards in the world, seem even more impressive. Being a classic center forward, he wears the corresponding number on his back - 9.
Antoine Griezmann
Photos of famous football players are usually pleasing to the eye, since in most cases they not only play well, but also look stunning. Take Antoine Griezmann - this young French talent has already shown the world what he is capable of, winning the Spanish Championship with Atlético Madrid, leaving behind Barcelona with Messi and Real Madrid with Ronaldo, reaching the final of the Champions League and the European Championship . He is currently only 25 years old, so he still has a full-fledged career ahead of him, but it is not a fact that the French striker will remain at Atlético, since almost all clubs in the world are interested in his services.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
As mentioned above, in most cases, the most outstanding and famous football players are born either in Europe or South America. But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is an incredible exception. He was born in Gabon and plays for the national team of that country. But at the same time, he defends the colors of Borussia Dortmund, competing for the title of best striker in the Bundesliga with the above-mentioned Robert Lewandowski. However, this will not last long, as this is not the first time Aubameyang has hinted that he would like to take it to the next level and join a Spanish club, preferably Real Madrid.
Eden Hazard
The English Premier League was once the strongest in the world, but now the situation has changed. However, this does not mean that there are no strong players there - for example, the Belgian Eden Hazard is one of the most impressive football players not only in this league, but in the whole world. He has incredible technique, a great shot and great vision. As a result, right now the game of Chelsea is being built around him, which went through a not very successful period and is now being revived. Moreover, Hazard is a key player in the Belgian national team, which everyone considers the most promising national team in Europe, and at the last European Championship 2016 it showed that it is capable of much.
Thomas Muller
There is also a place on the list for German football star Thomas Müller, who, like Robert Lewandowski, plays for Bayern Munich. However, unlike Robert, who came to the club from Borussia, Müller is a graduate of Munich. He is already 27 years old, but has been playing for Bayern since early childhood. And during this time he grew into one of the strongest and most famous football players.
He is distinguished by his scoring instincts and unpredictable style of play, which is unlikely to be repeated by anyone. It was Müller who became the key player who helped Bayern win the Champions League, a series of victories in the German championship, as well as success at the 2014 World Cup. Today, after a change of coach at the club and a missed penalty at the European Championship, he is not going through the best period, but all experts are confident that he will soon be able to return to form and will begin to delight everyone with his unpredictability.