# Who is the best player in Switzerland national team history?

> From industrious midfield generals to explosive wingers who light up the Champions League, Switzerland's 'Nati' has quietly produced world-class talent for decades. Who stands above the rest?

*By YPB Team · Published May 22, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-player-in-switzerland-national-team-history*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Granit Xhaka**
   Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen captain and Switzerland's most capped player, a combative, technically composed midfielder who has anchored the national team midfield for over a decade.
2. **Xherdan Shaqiri**
   Explosive, versatile forward whose acrobatic bicycle kick at the 2018 World Cup became one of the tournament's most iconic moments, a consistent performer for Switzerland across multiple tournaments.
3. **Stéphane Chapuisat**
   Swiss football's first true European superstar, a silky, intelligent striker who won two Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund and starred for Switzerland in the 1990s.
4. **Yann Sommer**
   Elite goalkeeper with outstanding reflexes, famous for stopping Mbappé's penalty at Euro 2020 and anchoring Switzerland's backline through multiple successful tournament campaigns.
5. **Alain Geiger**
   Elegant, composed central defender and long-serving captain of the 1980s and early 1990s who skippered the Nati across 112 appearances and was the leader of their best generation of that era.
6. **Hakan Yakin**
   Gifted, creative attacking midfielder who was Switzerland's most technically brilliant player of the 2000s, capable of moments of genuine genius in major tournaments.
7. **Breel Embolo**
   Physical, powerful striker born in Cameroon who chose Switzerland and has been a consistent scorer and creator for the Nati across multiple tournaments.
8. **Manuel Akanji**
   Technically polished, ball-playing centre-back who starred for Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City while developing into one of Switzerland's finest modern defenders.
9. **Fabian Schär**
   Versatile, technically accomplished defender and occasional creative spark from set-pieces, a reliable performer who gave Switzerland decade-long service.
10. **Heinz Hermann**
   Switzerland's record cap-holder for many years, a technically gifted playmaker from the 1970s-80s who was the creative fulcrum of the Nati for over a decade.
11. **Johan Vonlanthen**
   Became the youngest scorer in European Championship history at Euro 2004 aged 18, a bright but ultimately unfulfilled talent who hinted at what might have been for Swiss football.
12. **Ricardo Cabanas**
   Energetic, two-footed midfielder who was a key creative presence for Switzerland throughout the 2000s and featured prominently in their 2006 World Cup campaign on home territory.
13. **Remo Freuler**
   Industrious, technically sound central midfielder who has been one of Switzerland's most dependable players of the 2020s, performing consistently for Atalanta and Bologna.
14. **Tranquillo Barnetta**
   Highly regarded attacking midfielder who starred for Bayer Leverkusen and was one of Switzerland's most creative players in the late 2000s, known for his technical skills and vision.

Tags: sports, football, players, legends, national teams, switzerland