The 27 Greatest Soccer Referees of All Time

Dive into the intriguing world of soccer officiating, where iconic legends clash with emerging stars, and every choice offers a blend of authority, experience, and groundbreaking moments. Which referee will claim the title in this thrilling showdown of whistle-blowing prowess?

1. 1
   Pierluigi Collina

   Renowned Italian referee known for his distinctive appearance and authority
   1000pts
2. 2
   Felix Brych

   German referee recognized for his experience in UEFA competitions
   769pts
3. 3
   Wilmar Roldán

   Colombian referee who worked at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and is one of South America's most experienced officials.
   738pts
4. 4
   Stéphanie Frappart

   Pioneering French referee, first woman to officiate a major men's match
   593pts
5. 5
   Bibiana Steinhaus

   German trailblazer who refereed the 2011 Women's World Cup final and in 2017 became the first woman to referee a Bundesliga match.
   576pts
6. 6
   Markus Merk

   German dentist-turned-referee who handled the 2003 Champions League final and the Euro 2004 final, three times named IFFHS World's Best Referee.
   523pts
7. 7
   Daniele Orsato

   Italian referee of the 2020 Champions League final and a 2022 World Cup semi-final, renowned for his authority in big matches.
   523pts
8. 8
   Ravshan Irmatov

   Uzbek referee who holds the record for most World Cup matches officiated, working at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 tournaments.
   523pts
9. 9
   Clément Turpin

   French referee who took charge of the 2021 Europa League final and the 2022 Champions League final in Paris.
   461pts
10. 10
    Michael Oliver

    Became the Premier League's youngest referee at 25 in 2010 and has since taken charge of World Cup and European Championship matches.
    461pts
11. 11
    Horacio Elizondo

    Argentine referee of the 2006 World Cup opener and final, where he sent off Zinedine Zidane for his headbutt on Marco Materazzi.
    461pts
12. 12
    Sándor Puhl

    Hungarian who refereed the 1994 World Cup final and the 1997 Champions League final, named IFFHS World's Best Referee four years running.
    461pts
13. 13
    Massimo Busacca

    Swiss referee who took charge of the 2009 Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United before becoming FIFA's head of refereeing.
    461pts
14. 14
    Ken Aston

    English referee of the 1962 'Battle of Santiago' who later invented the yellow and red card system first used at the 1970 World Cup.
    390pts
15. 15
    Mark Clattenburg

    English referee known for officiating major finals, including the UEFA Euro 2016
    390pts
16. 16
    Szymon Marciniak

    Polish referee who handled the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France and the 2023 Champions League final.
    390pts
17. 17
    Howard Webb

    English referee famous for officiating the 2010 World Cup final
    307pts
18. 18
    Danny Makkelie

    Dutch referee who handled the Euro 2020 semi-final between England and Denmark and went on to officiate at the 2026 World Cup.
    307pts
19. 19
    Jack Taylor

    English referee who awarded a penalty in the first minute of the 1974 World Cup final between West Germany and the Netherlands.
    307pts
20. 20
    Nicola Rizzoli

    Italian referee who officiated the 2014 World Cup final
    210pts
21. 21
    Viktor Kassai

    Hungarian who refereed the 2010 World Cup semi-final between Spain and Germany and the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.
    210pts
22. 22
    Néstor Pitana

    Argentine referee who took charge of both the opening match and the final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
    210pts
23. 23
    Cüneyt Çakır

    Turkish referee with a reputation for handling high-stakes matches
    210pts
24. 24
    Björn Kuipers

    Dutch referee known for his calm demeanor and experience in international tournaments
    210pts
25. 25
    Kim Milton Nielsen

    Danish referee who sent off David Beckham at the 1998 World Cup and took charge of the 2004 Champions League final.
    210pts
26. 26
    Anthony Taylor

    English Premier League mainstay who refereed the 2023 Europa League final and was praised for his handling of Christian Eriksen's collapse at Euro 2020.
    210pts
27. 27
    Pedro Proença

    Portuguese referee who in 2012 took charge of both the Champions League final and the Euro 2012 final, later leading Portugal's football federation.
    210pts

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