Football has produced some of the most stylish men on the planet. From David Beckham's trendsetting outfits and George Best's rock-star swagger to Paul Pogba's runway-ready looks — which footballer has the most iconic fashion legacy of all time?
1David BeckhamThe ultimate crossover between football and fashion — Beckham turned every press conference into a runway show, collaborated with the world's top brands, and permanently redefined what a footballer could look like.1000pts
2Freddie LjungbergThe Arsenal winger's red-streaked haircut and Calvin Klein underwear campaigns of the mid-2000s made him one of the first footballers to front a global fashion brand.750pts
3Ronaldo NazárioR9's off-pitch wardrobe combined tropical Brazilian colour with 2000s blinged-up excess — a time-capsule look as memorable as his football.700pts
4Cristiano RonaldoRonaldo's obsessively curated, suit-heavy wardrobe and brand empire have made him one of the highest-grossing athlete-fashion collaborators in history.625pts
5Carlos ValderramaEl Pibe's enormous blond afro is perhaps the most recognisable hairstyle in football history, a look that defined Colombia at three World Cups.625pts
6Roberto BaggioIl Divin Codino's ponytail became a 1990s icon, so famous it gave the Italian forward his nickname.566pts
7Thierry HenryHenry's understated tailoring and on-pitch trademarks — gloves, long sleeves and socks pulled over the knee — made him a style reference of the 2000s Premier League.566pts
8Mohamed SalahThe Egyptian King's sleek suits and GQ cover shoots have transformed his image from football workhorse to polished global style icon.500pts
9Dominic Calvert-LewinThe Everton striker's painted nails, pearl necklaces and bold tailoring brought gender-fluid fashion into the mainstream of the Premier League.500pts
10Kylian MbappéThe Paris-born superstar's Parisian streetwear sensibility and collaborations with Nike and Dior have made him the reigning style icon of modern football.500pts
11Neymar Jr.Paris fashion weeks, Louis Vuitton campaigns and bold hair-and-tattoo combos — Neymar has built a personal brand that rivals any of his Ballon d'Or rivals.500pts
12PeléThe Brazilian legend brought a dignified, tailored elegance to public appearances that elevated the image of footballers as cultural ambassadors globally.423pts
13Roberto CarlosThe Brazilian full-back's vibrant, colourful off-pitch wardrobe and gold accessories embodied the joyful flamboyance of the late-1990s football fashion peak.423pts
14Memphis DepayDepay's flamboyant streetwear, statement coats and own fashion and music ventures have made him a constant presence in football style coverage.423pts
15Andrea PirloThe Italian maestro's effortlessly cool rolled-sleeves-and-sunglasses look became so recognisable it spawned a thousand memes — smart casual perfected.423pts
16George BestThe Belfast Boy was the original footballer-celebrity, photographed in boutique mod fashion and sharp suits throughout the 1960s and 1970s, decades before 'footballer style' existed as a concept.423pts
17Ruud GullitGullit's dreadlocks and moustache made him one of the most recognisable looks of the late 1980s as the frontman of the great Milan and Dutch sides.333pts
18Jack GrealishGrealish's slicked-back hair, headband and socks rolled down to his ankles made his on-pitch look instantly recognisable and earned him a Gucci campaign.333pts
19Paul PogbaThe French midfielder's outlandish colour-blocked suits and custom jewellery in the late 2010s made him the most talked-about dresser in the Premier League.333pts
20Zlatan IbrahimovićIbrahimović's man bun, tattoos and long dark coats created a larger-than-life image to match his acrobatic goals.333pts
21Héctor BellerínThe Spanish right-back turned Arsenal's Emirates Stadium into a fashion week venue, working with designers like Kenzo and Burberry to become the most genuinely fashion-forward player of the 2010s.333pts
22Paolo MaldiniMaldini's sharp tailoring and long hair made him a lasting symbol of Milanese elegance, and he co-founded the Sweet Years clothing brand with Christian Vieri.333pts
23Jules KoundéThe France defender's bold tunnel outfits and fondness for jewellery made him one of football's most experimental dressers of the 2020s.227pts
24Johan CruyffThe Dutch master wore puma shirts, flared trousers and an effortless cool that made him look like a European art-house film director rather than a footballer.227pts
Photo credits
- David Beckham — Soccer Aid for Unicef, CC BY 3.0
- Freddie Ljungberg — Ludovic Péron, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ronaldo Nazário — Web Summit, CC BY 2.0
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Анна Нэсси, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carlos Valderrama — Biser Todorov, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Roberto Baggio — AbolfaZl0990, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Thierry Henry — Web Summit, CC BY 2.0
- Mohamed Salah — Анна Нэсси, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Neymar Jr. — checkbrazil, CC BY 2.0
- Roberto Carlos — Web Summit, CC BY 2.0
- Memphis Depay — Derivative work: Joe Sins, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Andrea Pirlo — Muhammad Ashiq from Singapore, Singapore, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ruud Gullit — Barcex, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jack Grealish — Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Paul Pogba — Gabriel Hutchinson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Zlatan Ibrahimović — Colleen Sturtevant, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Héctor Bellerín — Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Paolo Maldini — GOAL TV, CC BY 3.0
- Jules Koundé — Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments 1
Dior made him a global ambassador in 2021 and the first face of its Anderson menswear in 2025; Beckham is in the field: https://youpick.best/articles/kylian-mbappe-ranked-every-way
YP
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