Asked by: Who is the No 1 player of football history
Top 10 football players of all time
| Rank | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | 802 |
| 2 | Pele | 767 |
| 3 | Diego Maradona | 353 |
| 4 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 819 |
Who is the best skill player in football history?
Pele – There’s a school of thought that fervently believes that irrespective of what skill we see today, Pele was the first to execute it on the football field. A three-time World Cup winner, Pele is considered the greatest player of all-time. He scored several goals for Brazil during his time with the national team but when looked at closely, it can be asserted that Pele was a pioneer of outrageous dribbling.
Why Messi is the best player of all time?
The False Nine – Some players are born to score goals. Others set them up. Most play further back, passing and moving to help get their team upfield. Every once in a while you’ll see a prodigy who can do it all, dreaming up attacking moves they are good enough to construct and finish themselves.
- Check the back of that player’s shirt and chances are they’ll be wearing the No 10.
- Back when football squad numbers were first assigned by position, the No 10 belonged to the inside left forward — the natural slot for a right-footed playmaker.
- Formations evolved over decades, but the No 10’s role stayed more or less the same: he worked behind the striker, between the opponent’s lines, creating and scoring in the most crowded part of the pitch.
Due to the sheer difficulty of the job, the shirt itself came to be a sort of honour. Pele wore it by accident, after Brazil forgot to assign kits at the 1958 World Cup, but he helped seal the No 10’s association with greatness. Maradona, with Argentina, refused to wear anything else.
- Messi didn’t get the No 10 when he joined Barcelona.
- That belonged to the reigning best player on the planet, Ronaldinho, a Brazilian playmaker who lined up as a winger but led the attack with so much verve and imagination that it would have felt wrong to see the shirt on anyone else.
- The teenage Messi’s job was to be a dribbling, goalscoring gremlin on the opposite wing, the electric guitar punctuating Ronaldinho’s lead vocals.
His first professional goal came from an ingenious Ronaldinho scoop over the back line that Messi brought down in the box, then lobbed over the goalkeeper’s head to complete a double rainbow. In 2008, the summer Messi turned 21, Ronaldinho left Barcelona and a new coach named Pep Guardiola gave the No 10 shirt to his young right winger. It was a turning point in Messi’s career. Otherworldly highlights wouldn’t be enough anymore — he needed to be the star around whom the whole system would spin. At first, Messi interpreted the playmaker role as the wing-like Ronaldinho did, cutting inside behind the centre-forward Samuel Eto’o to undo defences. He had a stellar first season under Guardiola, scoring and assisting more goals than all but two players in Europe’s top five leagues — and one of those two was Eto’o, enjoying a career year thanks to Messi’s largesse.
- But in May 2009, the night before Barca travelled to Madrid for El Clasico, football’s biggest rivalry, Guardiola decided to change things up.
- Messi and Eto’o were told to start in their regular positions, but eight minutes into the game they would switch places: the centre-forward out wide to the right, the playmaker into the middle.
The idea was to scramble Real Madrid ‘s central defenders, who couldn’t just sit deep to protect the goal but would now have to decide when to follow Messi into midfield. This unusual attacking role — neither a traditional No 9 in the box nor a No 10 behind a striker — was known as a “false nine”. The gambit worked better than anyone could have hoped. Messi assisted Barcelona’s first goal in that Clasico by luring a centre-back out of the back line and shovelling a pass to Thierry Henry in the space behind him. He scored two more himself and generally terrorised the Madrid defence up the middle en route to a 6-2 win. As he gradually became a full-time centre-forward over the next few years, Messi went supernova. We’re talking absolutely bonkers. In the first eight decades of La Liga to that point, its record for goals scored in a season was 38, shared by Telmo Zarra in 1950 and Hugo Sanchez in 1990.
- From 2009 to 2013, Messi averaged — averaged! — more than 40 league goals per season, peaking at 50 in 2011-12, while at the same time assisting the second-most goals in the top five European leagues.
- He won the Ballon d’Or, the award for the best player in the world, four years running.
- After taking home every trophy they competed for in 2008-09, Barcelona won La Liga three out of the next four seasons, topping things off with another Champions League in 2011.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary Manchester United manager unlucky enough to go up against Barca in both those Champions League finals, called them the best side he’d ever faced. The secret to all this success was that Messi was holding down two jobs at once.
- Barcelona’s “tiki-taka” possession game was led by a telepathic midfield trio — Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets — who had been practising the same pass-and-move principles since childhood in the club’s academy.
- When Messi dropped off the front line, he made a natural fourth midfielder at the tip of a diamond, just as intuitive as the other three at pinging short passes around in tight spaces.
Together, these four outnumbered and outclassed opposing midfields, passing their way straight up the heart of the pitch and swarming to recover lost balls so quickly that it felt like the other team were just there to watch. The reason most teams don’t use their centre-forward as a spare midfielder, of course, is that they need them to be in the box, scoring goals.
Messi’s genius was that he could do both. He played like a midfielder in the build-up, accounting for eight per cent of Barcelona’s pass attempts in open play, but somehow always found a way to finish moves around the penalty spot, scoring up to 50 per cent of the team’s open-play goals at his false-nine peak.
LIONEL MESSI VS CRISTIANO RONALDO all trophy and awards Compared 2022/2023
He scored every way you can imagine, plus a few you probably couldn’t, but two finishes in particular became signatures during Messi’s false-nine years. One was the running chip, which usually happened when he dropped off and centre-backs pushed up behind him, leaving naked grass in front of goal. Messi chips Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia in a Champions League game in 2010 (Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images) His other favourite kind of shot, carving through the middle with a one-two, was the purest expression of what a false nine could be.
These moves started in midfield, where he would swap a pass or two and turn to dribble at the defence. That got people’s attention. When someone stepped out to stop him, it would open a lane for Messi to play a pass. Then, suddenly, he would vanish. This part is a little hard to explain. For a second or two after he released the ball, everyone would lose track of the best player on the pitch, and the next thing you knew he had teleported into the box to collect the return pass and score.
How did he keep pulling it off? It didn’t hurt that the team-mates he played those one-twos with were very good themselves. A line-breaking pass to a player like that has a way of causing panic, like a shoe on an anthill. But the main thing was that Messi was always arriving in space, not occupying it. Like most magic, Messi’s game worked by simple misdirection. He was a playmaking No 10. He passed. You looked away. Abracadabra, he was a goalscoring No 9. “Don’t write about him, don’t try to describe him,” Guardiola once advised journalists. “Just watch him.” His gift was that nobody could even do that.
Why Messi is the best player in the world?
Rooney: Messi is “the best player to ever play the game” | MLSSoccer.com Back in 2007, Wayne Rooney observed his then-England teammate David Beckham join the from Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid. Flash forward 16 years and Rooney, like fans worldwide, is reading headlines about Lionel Messi this summer after playing for Paris-Saint Germain, another one of Europe’s big-name clubs.
- So, what’s the difference between the two paradigm-shifting moves in Major League Soccer’s growth? “He’s the best, simple as that,” ‘s head coach said last week.
- In my view, he’s the best player to ever play the game, so that’s how he’s different.
- Obviously, the fan base around him will be huge and commercially for the league I’m sure it will be huge as well.
It’s massive for MLS.” Rooney stressed there’s something different about the Messi effect, especially since the 35-year-old lifted a title only six months ago with Argentina. “I think over the years, we’ve all seen the impact of David Beckham coming in, Zlatan coming in – different players obviously from overseas,” Rooney said.
To get Messi in the league, arguably the greatest player of all-time and still – yeah he’s a little bit older – but recently won the World Cup almost singlehandedly. I think it’s great for the league and it’s going to have a huge impact, I’m sure for Miami, for MLS.” Messi would arrive with an astounding 806 goals in 1,027 career games for FC Barcelona, PSG and Argentina.
He has also won 43 trophies for club and country, a series of stats underlining his GOAT (greatest of all-time) status. Rooney, a legendary striker for Manchester United and England, experienced his own big move to MLS in 2018 when playing for D.C. United.
- With that background, he’s seen the quality of imported players improve over time.
- I know MLS has always brought players in, but I think it will do that again,” said Rooney, who played with Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd.
- It shows MLS can compete with them leagues who are trying to grow in the world of football, which is a positive because I think it shows it’s a league where players want to come, players want to play.
It’s another huge step.” Rooney also offered some words of caution to Messi, whose debut date is not yet known and hinges on his contract being formally signed. “I think the one thing I will say: It’s not going to be easy for him,” said Rooney. “The league’s a difficult league and I don’t think he’s coming to come over and just absolutely tear it up immediately.
Who has the most trophies in football history
Most trophies won by a player in football Regarded as the, Argentine legend Lionel Messi has won a whopping 44 titles – the most trophies by a player in football, Messi won 35 of his club career titles during his career at Barcelona (2004-2021) while he won five trophies on national duty, including the Copa America 2021.
- The Argentine also won the Olympic gold medal at Beijing 2008.
- After joining Paris Saint Germain in 2021, Lionel Messi added three trophies to his cabinet – Ligue 1 (2021-22), (2022-23) and Trophee des Champions (2022).
- He also won the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina and became the player with the most trophies in football after winning the Leagues Cup 2023 trophy in America with his new club Inter Miami.
Messi’s former teammate Dani Alves is next on the list for most trophies by a player in football having won a whopping 43 titles over the course of his career, The Brazilian defender Dani Alves won his first professional honours with home town club Bahia.
After winning five trophies in six years with Sevilla, Dani Alves made a £23 million move to Barcelona and would go on to win 23 titles – including six La Liga crowns and three UEFA Champions League titles. Following trophy-laden spells at Juventus (2016-17 – two titles), Paris Saint-Germain (2017-19 – six titles) and Sao Paulo (2019-21 – one trophy), Alves signed for Mexican team UNAM in 2022 after ending his second spell at Barcelona.
On the international front, Dani Alves has won the Copa America and Confederation Cup twice and the men’s football gold medal at Tokyo 2020. The FIFA World Cup is the only trophy that is missing from his collection. In a 17-year association with Al Hyly (2003-2020), Egyptian midfielder Hossam Ashour won 39 trophies (6 CAF Champions League, 1 CAF Confederation Cup, 5 CAF Super Cups, 13 Egyptian Premier League, 4 Egypt Cups, 10 Egyptian Super Cups).
- He is the player who has won the most trophies while playing for a single club.
- Maxwell and Andres Iniesta are joint fourth for most trophies won by a player in football.
- The pair, who were once team-mates at Barcelona, have 37 trophies each.
- Of the two, Iniesta earned a name for himself as one of the most gifted midfielders of all time and is revered for scoring the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The Spanish midfielder, who won 32 trophies with boyhood club Barcelona, has two titles (Emperor’s Cup and Japanese Super Cup) with current team Vissel Kobe. Former Manchester United great Ryan Giggs completes the top five. The Welsh legend, one of the few one-club players in history, made 672 appearances for the Red Devils and won an incredible 36 trophies including 13 Premier League titles.
Does Messi have every trophy?
After helping Argentina win the FIFA World Cup, supporters may believe that Lionel Messi has achieved all of his goals and cemented his place as one of the all-time greats, but there is one trophy he has yet to take home. Lionel Messi has won practically most of the competitions he has played in and 42 trophies during his career,
Who is the real goat in football history?
1. Pele – Regarded as the ‘GOAT’ in just about all publications, Pele is celebrated as a global icon and revered by millions of fans for his role in football development. Pele is credited with the globalization of football and, most importantly, for leading the recognition of racially diverse players in the sport. Brazilian footballer Pele was playing for Brazil in 1958. Photo by Pictorial Parade/Archive photos. Source: Getty Images The Brazilian national treasure fondly referred to as ‘ O Rei,’ scored over 1000 goals in his career, with 12 in the World Cup. Pele, who undoubtedly takes the position of the greatest sports legend of all time, received the FIFA Player of the Century award in 1999.
To answer the question of whether Pele is the GOAT of soccer, one would measure his success and contribution to today’s soccer compared to Cruyff and Maradona. A recent report by AndScape that eulogized the mythical legend recognized the player’s influence on the positive representation of black Brazilians and black footballers in general.
Top 10 fastest soccer players to score 100 goals for a club Football
Who is statistically better Messi or Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi European Golden Shoes –
| Player | Won | Total |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 2007-08, 2010-11, 2013-14, 2014-15 | 4 |
| Lionel Messi | 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 | 6 |
In his illustrious career, Cristiano Ronaldo has represented five clubs namely Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr FC. Ronaldo has netted 706 club goals and provided 225 assists in 954 appearances so far. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, spent most of his professional career at Barcelona before moving to Paris Saint-Germain.
