# The 28 Greatest World Cup Players of All Time

> From tournament-defining icons of the 1950s to today's global superstars, this lineup spans generations of World Cup magic across every position. Who tops your list?

*By YPB Team · Published July 11, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-28-greatest-world-cup-players-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Diego Maradona** — score 1000/1000
   Argentine playmaker whose 1986 campaign, including the Hand of God and Goal of the Century, is called the greatest individual World Cup performance ever.
2. **Careca** — score 767/1000
   Brazilian striker known for a lethal strike partnership with Diego Maradona at club level and standout World Cup performances.
3. **Pelé** — score 714/1000
   Brazilian forward who won three World Cups and remains the only man to lift the trophy that many times.
4. **Paolo Rossi** — score 683/1000
   Italian striker whose six goals, including a hat-trick against Brazil, powered Italy to the 1982 title.
5. **Romário** — score 627/1000
   Brazilian striker whose predatory finishing led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title.
6. **Ronaldo Nazário** — score 627/1000
   Brazilian striker whose blend of speed and finishing carried Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title.
7. **Roberto Baggio** — score 488/1000
   Italian forward known as the 'Divine Ponytail' who starred for Italy across three World Cups.
8. **Kylian Mbappé** — score 488/1000
   French striker who scored a World Cup final hat-trick in 2022 after starring as a teenager in 2018.
9. **Lionel Messi** — score 488/1000
   Argentine forward who finally claimed the World Cup in 2022 after producing one of the greatest individual tournaments in history.
10. **Johan Cruyff** — score 488/1000
   Dutch icon who led the Total Football revolution and guided the Netherlands to the 1974 final.
11. **Zico** — score 488/1000
   Brazilian playmaker nicknamed the 'White Pelé' celebrated for his vision across the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
12. **Zinedine Zidane** — score 399/1000
   French midfielder who inspired France to the 1998 title and lit up 2006 with a legendary run to the final.
13. **Ferenc Puskás** — score 399/1000
   Hungarian forward and prolific scorer who led the 'Mighty Magyars' to the 1954 World Cup final.
14. **Eusébio** — score 399/1000
   Portuguese striker who top-scored at the 1966 World Cup and led Portugal to a third-place finish.
15. **Andrés Iniesta** — score 399/1000
   Spanish midfielder whose extra-time goal won Spain the 2010 World Cup final.
16. **Ronaldinho** — score 399/1000
   Brazilian playmaker known for his flair and creativity who won the World Cup in 2002.
17. **Bobby Moore** — score 399/1000
   English defender who captained England to their only World Cup title in 1966.
18. **Just Fontaine** — score 399/1000
   French striker who scored a record 13 goals in a single World Cup tournament in 1958.
19. **Mario Kempes** — score 399/1000
   Argentine striker who top-scored and inspired the host nation to victory at the 1978 World Cup.
20. **Miroslav Klose** — score 399/1000
   German striker who is the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals across four tournaments.
21. **Gerd Müller** — score 399/1000
   German striker whose clinical finishing helped West Germany win the 1974 World Cup.
22. **James Rodríguez** — score 399/1000
   Colombian playmaker who won the Golden Boot with six goals, including a stunning volley, at the 2014 World Cup.
23. **Xavi Hernández** — score 293/1000
   Spanish midfielder whose passing mastery anchored Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning side.
24. **Franz Beckenbauer** — score 293/1000
   German sweeper who redefined defending and captained West Germany to the 1974 World Cup title.
25. **René Higuita** — score 293/1000
   Colombian goalkeeper famed for his eccentric, attacking style and the scorpion-kick save.
26. **Lothar Matthäus** — score 293/1000
   German midfielder who captained West Germany to the 1990 title and holds the record for most World Cup matches played.
27. **Garrincha** — score 163/1000
   Brazilian winger celebrated for his dribbling who helped Brazil win the 1958 and 1962 World Cups.
28. **Luis Suárez** — score 163/1000
   Uruguayan striker known for his clinical finishing and fierce competitiveness across four World Cups.

Tags: football, players, world cup, all-time, national teams