# 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?

*By YPB Team · Published July 30, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-20-greatest-south-american-footballers-of-all-time*

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## Current results (3 votes)

1. **Pelé** — 33.33% (1 votes · score 1000/1000)
   Brazilian forward who won three World Cups and scored 643 goals for Santos.
2. **Enzo Francescoli** — 33.33% (1 votes · score 1000/1000)
   Uruguayan forward and River Plate icon, Zinedine Zidane's boyhood hero.
3. **Lionel Messi** — 0% (0 votes · score 891/1000)
   Argentine forward with a record haul of Ballons d'Or and the 2022 World Cup.
4. **Romário** — 33.33% (1 votes · score 849/1000)
   Brazilian striker and Golden Ball winner at the 1994 World Cup.
5. **Rivaldo** — 0% (0 votes · score 818/1000)
   Brazilian forward, 1999 world player of the year and a 2002 World Cup winner.
6. **Sócrates** — 0% (0 votes · score 818/1000)
   Brazilian midfielder and captain of the 1982 team, also a qualified doctor and democracy activist.
7. **Teófilo Cubillas** — 0% (0 votes · score 734/1000)
   Peruvian playmaker who scored five goals at each of two World Cups.
8. **Luis Suárez** — 0% (0 votes · score 636/1000)
   Uruguayan striker and his country's record goalscorer, a league champion in England, Spain and Italy.
9. **Ronaldinho** — 0% (0 votes · score 636/1000)
   Brazilian playmaker who won the 2002 World Cup and two Ballons d'Or-era awards at Barcelona.
10. **Zico** — 0% (0 votes · score 636/1000)
   Brazilian playmaker of the celebrated 1982 side, often called the White Pelé.
11. **Juan Román Riquelme** — 0% (0 votes · score 636/1000)
   Argentine playmaker and Boca Juniors idol, the last of the classic slow No. 10s.
12. **Diego Maradona** — 0% (0 votes · score 520/1000)
   Argentine No. 10 who won the 1986 World Cup almost single-handedly and led Napoli to two Serie A titles.
13. **Roberto Carlos** — 0% (0 votes · score 520/1000)
   Brazilian left back famous for a swerving free kick and three Champions League titles.
14. **Ronaldo Nazário** — 0% (0 votes · score 520/1000)
   Brazilian striker known as O Fenômeno, twice a World Cup winner and twice FIFA World Player of the Year.
15. **Alfredo Di Stéfano** — 0% (0 votes · score 382/1000)
   Argentine-born forward who won five straight European Cups with Real Madrid.
16. **Elías Figueroa** — 0% (0 votes · score 382/1000)
   Chilean centre back voted South American Footballer of the Year three times.
17. **Neymar** — 0% (0 votes · score 382/1000)
   Brazilian forward and his country's record goalscorer.
18. **Cafu** — 0% (0 votes · score 212/1000)
   Brazilian right back and the only player to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals.
19. **Garrincha** — 0% (0 votes · score 212/1000)
   Brazilian winger whose dribbling carried Brazil to the 1962 World Cup after Pelé was injured.
20. **Carlos Valderrama** — 0% (0 votes · score 212/1000)
   Colombian playmaker whose passing defined his country's golden generation.

Tags: football, players, brazil, argentina, south america