Top 11 Best Ever Footballers

Top 11 best ever footballers

JOHANN CRUYYF
Johan Cruyff (1947) was the star of the exciting 1974 Dutch "Total Football" World Cup team and the Ajax team that won a hat-trick of European Cups in the early Seventies. Three times European footballer of the year, he was by far the most naturally gifted European player of his generation, and probably of all time. His supreme technical skills, speed and acceleration made Cruyff virtually impossible to defend against. He usually played the centre forward position, but would often drop deep or move to the wing to confuse and draw out his markers. His tremendous tactical insight meant that Cruyff was one of the few players in this top 10 that went on to become a world class coach.

GEORGE BEST
A superb dribbler of the ball, George Best (1946) was probably the most naturally gifted British player ever. A combination of lightning pace, perfect balance, and ability to produce goals with both feet meant that, in his prime, Best was a handful for even the most skilled of defenders. Best's annus mirabilis came in 1968, when he won the European Cup with Manchester United and was voted European Player of the Year. In the years that followed his performances on the pitch were increasingly eclipsed by his problems with gambling, womanising and drinking. In 1974 Best left Manchester United, effectively ending his career at the highest level at the age of only 27 years old.

DIEGO MARADONA
Diego Maradona (1960) won the 1986 World Cup almost single-handedly and and guided Napoli to it's only two Serie A titles. By far the best player of his generation, Maradona's main strength was his incredible technique, which allowed him to move the ball with pin-point accuracy. Maradona was voted best player of all time in an internet poll held by FIFA, much to the chagrin of Pelé-fans, who contended that such a poll was bound to attract voters who had never seen Pelé play. The title of greatest ever footballer is probably a bit too much credit for a player who also had clear short comings. Since his retirement from football, Maradona's life has been marred by drugs abuse and health issues.

PELE
Obviously Pele (1940) is not the most original choice as greatest ever football player, but there is no denying his pedigree. His deft touch, dribbling skills and tremendous goalscoring ability, would see him notch up more than a thousand goals and play a key role in two of Brazil's first three World Cup victories. He helped his club Santos win the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup twice. His finest hour came in 1970. Playing in perhaps the greatest ever World Cup winning team, Pelé was universally acknowledged as the world's best player. In 1975 he joined the NASL, and became a goodwill ambassador for football in the USA. It’s a role he has been playing ever since.