In a comprehensive ranking of the greatest footballers of all time, Daily Mail has crowned Lionel Messi as the undisputed king of the beautiful game. The Argentine legend tops the list, followed by Diego Maradona, Pele, Johan Cruyff, and Zinedine Zidane, in that order. Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi's long-time rival, trails behind at number 10.
The list also honors Brazilian legends like Zico, Garrincha, and Ronaldo Nazario, who occupy the 9th, 8th, and 7th spots, respectively. Alfredo Di Stefano, a Real Madrid icon, ranks 6th. Notably, Neymar, Brazil's all-time top scorer, fails to make the top 50.
Daily Mail's ranking highlights the dominance of Messi, who has won seven Ballon d'Or awards and led Barcelona to numerous titles. Ronaldo, with five Ballon d'Or awards, has achieved immense success, but falls short of Messi's illustrious career.
This ranking sparks debate among football enthusiasts, but Messi's consistency and unparalleled skill make a strong case for his status as the greatest footballer of all time.
Here's the top 10 list:
1. Lionel Messi
2. Diego Maradona
3. Pele
4. Johan Cruyff
5. Zinedine Zidane
6. Alfredo Di Stefano
7. Ronaldo Nazario
8. Garrincha
9. Zico
10. Cristiano Ronaldo