20. Ruud Gullit
The most-prominent of the Dutch trio that graced AC Milan in the late 1980s to such great effect, Gullit was one of the most versatile footballers in history, playing across a range of different positions throughout his career, all the while without any diminishment in his qualities.
Strong, powerful, comfortable on the ball, tactically adept and elegant with everything he did, Gullit could do it all. A 1987 Ballon d'Or and scoring the opening goal of the 1988 Euros final, which the Netherlands ended up winning, are highlights from an esteemed career.
19. Lev Yashin
The Black Spider was a feared goalkeeper strikers often found impossible to score past, helping him become FourFourTwo's best ever European goalkeeper. Not only a physically imposing goalkeeper, Yashin would also make his voice heard to his defenders with a booming voice, directing them into position.
The Russian also changed the role of goalkeeping. Originally, keepers would stick to their goal lines, but Yashin didn't hesitate to claim crosses, close down approaching attackers and make his presence in goal known. FIFA also credits him with having saved over 150 penalties. Mental.
18. Luka Modric
The diminutive midfielder is one of the most technically gifted players in history. Modric can glide past opponents with such ease that it's almost like they're not their, while his passing range knows no boundaries. He's also become the master of the trivela, scoring and assisting expert goals by using the outside of his foot.
Dragging Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and semis in 2022, Modric's style proved imperative for his nation on both occasions, though most notably in 2018: he won the Golden Ball and Ballon d'Or off the back of his performances. Five Champions League medals with Real Madrid is remarkable, too.
17. Franco Baresi
Italian defences of Baresi's era were famed for keeping clean sheet after clean sheet, shutting out attackers by keeping strong and resolute. Baresi epitomised this quality, though - all while standing at a relatively lowly 5"9. He captained AC Milan for 15 of his 20 years at the club, with his speed of thought and reading of the game ensuring he made up for his lack of physicality at centre-back.
Bringing the ball out from the back didn't prove a problem for the Italian, either, while he has a staggering honours list: a World Cup, three European Cups and six Serie A titles, among plenty of other individual accolades.
16. Lothar Matthaus
The first outfielder to appear at five World Cups, Matthaus is regarded as the greatest German footballer in history. Versatile and complete, Matthaus possessed every ability a midfielder needed to be great: on top of his vision and range of passing, he also had a great goalscoring ability and leadership skills.
Following lifting the 1990 World Cup, a decade after winning the European Championships as a teenager, with West Germany, Matthaus was awarded the Ballon d'Or that same year.
To put his quality into perspective, Diego Maradona's statement sums up all you need to know: "He is the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him".
15. Thierry Henry
Va Va Voom. Thierry Henry was the epitome of speed. The epitome of calmness. The epitome of unstoppable. Stick the Frenchman in that left channel, play a half-decent pass into the space or even to his feet, and let the devastation commence. Henry could dribble round opponents with such ease and flamboyance, and finish with such composure that it seemed effortless.
Our choice as the greatest-ever Premier League player in 2021, we stated: "No one assisted more in a season. No one has terrorised defenders with such a combination of bewitching grace and phenomenal power." Quite.
14. George Best
“I was the one who took football off the back pages and put it on to page one,” was how Best reflected on his career. Best had enough star quality to dominate both, being active both on and off the pitch. Off it, he was a notorious womaniser, on it, there could potentially have been no one better if it weren't for his extra-cirricular activities.
Fleet-footed, graceful, well-balanced and quick, Best would often embarass defenders with his skill, before turning around and doing it all over again. A key figure in the Manchester United 1968 Euorpean Cup-winning side, Best formed part of United's ‘Holy Trinity’ (Bobby Charlton and Denis Law), winning the Ballon d'Or in the same year at the age of 22. His dribble and finish in the final against Benfica just about sums up the genius of the Northern Irishman.
13. Marco van Basten
While many still celebrate the brilliant achievements of Van Basten, not least the unbelievable, iconic volley scored in the 1988 European Championship final, it's still a massive shame that the Dutchman didn't get many more years to display his inordinate talent. Serious injury meant he played his final professional game at just 28-years-old, creating a huge sense of regret over the years supporters were devoid of his talent.
Arguably the most-complete striker in history, Van Basten could score all manner of goals, possessed superior attacking intelligence than many of his contemporaries, and could spring away from his opponents with great movement and speed.
Part of the famous Dutch triumvirate at AC Milan, Van Basten stood above everyone else. Three Ballon d'Ors, two European Cups and 14 domestic trophies could have been so much more if not for some ill-fortune.
12. Eusebio
Unanimously regarded as the first great footballer of African birth, Eusebio left his native Mozambique in 1960 to join Benfica. He immediately earned a Portugal national team call up after being thrust straight into The Eagles first team at the age of 19 - four years later, he won the Ballon d'Or for his dominant performances.
Indeed, a 15-year career at Benfica saw Euesbio average a record better than a goal-per-game, with the striker scoring 473 times in 440 appearances. Known for his near-perfect blend of speed and technical ability, Euesbio was feared by defenders and, without him, Portugal likely would have failed to finish third at the 1966 World Cup, such was his influence on the side.
11. Ferenc Puskas
A prominent member of The Mighty Magyars side that just missed out on World Cup glory in 1954, Puskas helped Hungary batter England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953, which was later named the Match of the Century. At international level he managed a remarkable 84 goals in 85 games - perhaps even more remarkably, Puskas bagged 624 times in 629 club appearances across his time at Budapest Honved and Real Madrid.
After the Hungarian revolution in 1956, the prolific goalscorer decided to leave for Real Madrid. A UEFA ban meant it took him a further two years to turn out for Los Blancos, but once he did, he showed no sign of relenting. He picked up three European Cups in his time at the club, scoring seven goals in the first two finals.
Spain eventually became Puskas' second nation, with the striker even appearing for them at the 1962 World Cup, though to little avail.
