The 20 Greatest South American Footballers of All Time

From the household names that anchor every all-time list to continental icons who barely played a minute in Europe. Where do you stand?

1

Pelé

Brazilian forward who won three World Cups and scored 643 goals for Santos.

1000pts

2

Enzo Francescoli

Uruguayan forward and River Plate icon, Zinedine Zidane's boyhood hero.

1000pts

3

Lionel Messi

Argentine forward with a record haul of Ballons d'Or and the 2022 World Cup.

891pts

4

Romário

Brazilian striker and Golden Ball winner at the 1994 World Cup.

849pts

5

Rivaldo

Brazilian forward, 1999 world player of the year and a 2002 World Cup winner.

818pts

6

Sócrates

Brazilian midfielder and captain of the 1982 team, also a qualified doctor and democracy activist.

818pts

7

Teófilo Cubillas

Peruvian playmaker who scored five goals at each of two World Cups.

734pts

8

Luis Suárez

Uruguayan striker and his country's record goalscorer, a league champion in England, Spain and Italy.

636pts

9

Ronaldinho

Brazilian playmaker who won the 2002 World Cup and two Ballons d'Or-era awards at Barcelona.

636pts

10

Zico

Brazilian playmaker of the celebrated 1982 side, often called the White Pelé.

636pts

11

Juan Román Riquelme

Argentine playmaker and Boca Juniors idol, the last of the classic slow No. 10s.

636pts

12

Diego Maradona

Argentine No. 10 who won the 1986 World Cup almost single-handedly and led Napoli to two Serie A titles.

520pts

13

Roberto Carlos

Brazilian left back famous for a swerving free kick and three Champions League titles.

520pts

14

Ronaldo Nazário

Brazilian striker known as O Fenômeno, twice a World Cup winner and twice FIFA World Player of the Year.

520pts

15

Alfredo Di Stéfano

Argentine-born forward who won five straight European Cups with Real Madrid.

382pts

16

Elías Figueroa

Chilean centre back voted South American Footballer of the Year three times.

382pts

17

Neymar

Brazilian forward and his country's record goalscorer.

382pts

18

Cafu

Brazilian right back and the only player to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals.

212pts

19

Garrincha

Brazilian winger whose dribbling carried Brazil to the 1962 World Cup after Pelé was injured.

212pts

20

Carlos Valderrama

Colombian playmaker whose passing defined his country's golden generation.

212pts