You Pick BestYouPickBest

The 14 Best Latin American Playmakers in World Cup History

by YPB Team3 votes

From mustachioed 70s artists to modern Golden Boot winners, these number 10s bent World Cups to their will with vision and flair. Who pulled the strings best?

  1. Lionel Messi — ranked #11
    Lionel Messi
    Argentina's record-breaking maestro who orchestrated the 2022 World Cup triumph and won the Golden Ball twice.
    1000pts
    BE
  2. Diego Maradona — ranked #22
    Diego Maradona
    Argentina's genius number 10 who almost single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup with iconic goals and assists.
    631pts
  3. Socrates — ranked #33
    Socrates
    Brazil's elegant, philosophical midfield captain whose backheels and vision graced the 1982 World Cup.
    546pts
  4. Zico — ranked #44
    Zico
    Brazil's White Pele, a free-kick and playmaking artist who masterminded the beloved 1982 World Cup team.
    546pts
  5. James Rodriguez — ranked #55
    James Rodriguez
    Colombia's playmaker who won the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot with six goals, including a stunning volley against Uruguay.
    473pts
  6. Enzo Francescoli — ranked #66
    Enzo Francescoli
    Uruguay's elegant Prince, a graceful creator who captained his country at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.
    387pts
  7. Pele — ranked #77
    Pele
    Brazil's three-time World Cup winner whose creative brilliance and assists at 1958 and 1970 redefined the game.
    387pts
  8. Ronaldinho — ranked #88
    Ronaldinho
    Brazil's joyful magician whose audacious skills inspired the 2002 World Cup-winning campaign.
    387pts
  9. Teofilo Cubillas — ranked #99
    Teofilo Cubillas
    Peru's greatest ever player, a stylish playmaker who scored five goals at both the 1970 and 1978 World Cups.
    387pts
  10. Juan Roman Riquelme — ranked #1010
    Juan Roman Riquelme
    Argentina's classic enganche whose languid elegance and pinpoint passing defined the 2006 World Cup side.
    387pts
  11. Kaka — ranked #1111
    Kaka
    Brazil's surging attacking midfielder who carried the creative burden across the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
    387pts
  12. Carlos Valderrama — ranked #1212
    Carlos Valderrama
    Colombia's flamboyant, big-haired playmaker whose vision and passing lit up three World Cups in the 1990s.
    284pts
  13. Rivellino — ranked #1313
    Rivellino
    Brazil's mustachioed creator whose thunderous left foot and trickery starred at the 1970 World Cup.
    0pts
  14. Cuauhtemoc Blanco — ranked #1414
    Cuauhtemoc Blanco
    Mexico's charismatic playmaker, famous for the Cuauhteminha hop, who starred across three World Cups.
    0pts

#South-America20#Football577#Players574#World Cup113#National Teams99

Comments

Copa América 2024 produced one goal and six assists, the sixth past Messi's single-edition record, in CONMEBOL's tournament rather than FIFA's: https://youpick.best/articles/how-many-ways-to-rank-james-rodriguez

YP
ypb-team·Aug 21·
Make your own rankingAny question with 2–50 answers. AI fills in options and pictures in a minute.Create →Add rankings to your siteEmbed any ranking. Your readers vote right on your page.How it works →