A list of all time great players, and the pantheon of greatest ever

Also looking back at Valeron and Mendieta although I doubt they have the needed longevity.

 

Giovane Elber and Jocelyn Angloma are two more with really strong club careers but not much with the national team. Elber is stuck behind Ronaldo and Angloma behind Thurman so no shame their. Both were excellent in European competitions so it is worth some thought.

 

I will go through the players mentioned. I think moving Zanetti to the next era is a good idea in some ways, but all of his ESM votes come between 98-03, and he has his most high profile decisive national team performances during this time so I will keep him here.

Decisions on players mentioned

Larsson In: I think the seven seasons can come from 95, 99, 01, 02, 03, 04, and 06. There are more seasons that probably work as well. Thinking about him as a player who played in a small league for so long was interesting. But he had a long consistent career with high quality performances for his clubs in Europe and with Sweden. I think he is another example of the Viktor situation, to a lesser extent obvious with Viktor being borderline pantheon vs Larsson being borderline ATG, in that Larsson did everything he could with the opportunities afforded to him. He got Sweden to lots of big tournaments and scored in them, he played well in Europe, especially so against opponents from bigger clubs.

Petit In: Initially I discounted him as a player who had this one late career peak in this era but probably did not have enough longevity (similar to Effenberg and Mihajlovic). I really underestimated his Monaco career. I did not realize he was first choice for the national team in the early mid 90s and would have started in the 94 WC if France qualified. With Monaco he made it to three European semifinals. Then you add that to his 98-00 run with Arsenal and France and I think you have an ATG player. For me his seven seasons at minimum are 92, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 00. You could also make a case for a number of other seasons.

Mihajlovic In: As with Petit I initially thought that he was just a player who had this late peak with Lazio. Now that was definitely his peak but I think he has a lot more seasons that I thought that qualify for my seven season criteria. First upon review he was better and more important that I first thought for Red Star and Yugoslavia in 91 and 92. After a few disappointing years with Roma and no real national team opportunities I think he has a decent run with Sampdoria and being the centerpiece of the reassembled Yugoslavia team which had some really good results from 95-98. Then obviously the two great Lazio seasons in 99 and 00. I think you can make a case for at minimum 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00. There are even some later seasons you might be able to make a case for.

Effenberg In: Again a player I initially discounted as only having the late peak. I think he has enough early seasons that qualify, but on the other hand he needed that late peak to make ATG, because before the 99-01 run with Bayern he was a player with a good individual level that had never really equated to any team success. He was good for Germany initially until the falling out in 94 (Euro 92 TOTT). He has good ratings with Fiorentina despite getting relegated. He has a good individual season in his early Bayern run but is also a part of their worst modern finish in 10th place. Minimum seasons 91, 92, 93, 95, 96, 99, 00, 01. Could also make a case for 97 and 98.

Canizares Out: Just not enough strong seasons outside of the 00-04 run with Valencia.

Makaay Out: I can only make a case for six seasons and I think that is pushing the limits as is with 00, 01, 03, 04, 05, 06 and with 01 and 06 of those seasons not being sure things. Him missing out on the national team is not a huge issue based on who was in front of him, just not enough maintained greatness at the levels he hit in 00, 03, and 05. When you miss out on the national team, the club career has to be extra good especially in Europe to overcome that, something that Effenberg achieved being that star outfield player of a two time CL finalist that Makaay fell a little short of.

Jarni Out: He is not particularly close. Had a good run I was not aware of in 91, but does not succeed at a big club after multiple chances. He only has 91 and 96-98 in my eyes.

Inzaghi Out: He has five strong seasons with 97, 98, 99, 00, and 03 but outside of that struggles to get games at AC Milan and with Italy.

Crespo Out: Never really breaks through with the national team when he was actually at his peak (99-01) because of Batistuta. His club career just fall a little short in longevity. Bounces around a lot between the big clubs and struggles to get games at some of these clubs. I don't think there is a good case for him beyond five seasons with 99, 00, 01, 05, and 06.

Hyppia Out: His initial run at Liverpool from 00-02 is strong. After that I am not sure how good he is in his next four years as starter. A lot of thing you read implicate that he struggled at times and he was only really a decisive player for those first three seasons.

Vieri Out: He has a few really good years in 98, 02, and 03. In that middle run he loses his place in the national team. He also never has any big continental runs. I would say his limit for qualified seasons in at five with 98, 99, 02, 03, and 04.

Valeron Out: There is not enough there outside the 02-05 run.

Mendieta Out: Similar to Valeron only a four year run from 98-01.

Kluivert Out: This one was very close he has a good case for six seasons in 96, 99, 00, 01, 02, and 03. The case for a seventh season is 98 based on what he did in the national team, but the club year was a big failure. He was good in 98 but I am nut sure if he was good/decisive enough in the WC to outweigh and entire disappointing club season. In 98 six dutch players get Ballon d'Or votes and he was not one of them.

Elber Out: I addition to having a suspect peak level I have him at six strong seasons in 97, 99, 00, 01, 02, and 03. Maybe if he had not gotten hurt at Lyon and had a few more good seasons their that might change my mind.

Angloma In: I know this may fall into the trap I was in before about finding a hidden gem, but I have always been intrigued by Angloma and impressed by his resume. Off the bat he is often discounted because he does not appear in the national team after 1996, but this is because he is stuck behind pantheon player in Thurman. He was first choice with he national team during the undefeated 92 Euro Qualifying run, Euro 92, would have been first choice if they qualified for WC 94, and did not lose his place in the team to Thurman until the second game of Euro 96. On a club side I find his career very impressive. His move to right back for PSG in 90/91 was a revelation leading to him being named the top right back in Europe/France by a number of publications (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jocelyn_Angloma). In 92 and 93 he wins two titles with Marseille and wins the European cup and is first choice for the national team. Then he moves to Torino for two year in 94/95 and 95/96. I can't find much information about his time there but he retains his first team status with France. Then he moves to Inter for one season where he makes another European final and is ESM team of the year. Then he moves to Valencia for a strong four season run where he makes two more CL finals and wins two more ESM TOTY awards. I think he has a solid minimum seven seasons of 91, 92, 93, 95, 97, 00, and 01. That is leaving out 96, 98 and 99 which are all full seasons and his performance seems to be good, and there could be a case made for them as part of the seven seasons of significant positive contribution. Obviously he has proven himself on a broader level having a decent run with the national team and being a very important part of four European finalists. Think about the idea of his peak and was he a driver of success vs a cog. I think looking at his ESM record compared to the other great fullbacks of his time is informative.

I will list ESM TOTM(Month)/ESM TOTY for all the famous fullbacks of this time.

Roberto Carlos 34/7
Paulo Maldini 23/3
Lillian Thurman 15/2
Jocelyn Angloma 10/3
Bixente Lizarazu 8/1
Christian Panucci 6/1
Ciro Ferrara 5/1
Cafu 5/0
Gary Neville 4/1
Javier Zanetti 4/0
Sergi 3/0
Vincent Candela 3/0

When you look at this list take into consideration ESM only rated season from 95/96 and later. So Maldini would likely surpass Roberto Carlos. Then you look at Thurman and Angloma, there is a really chance that if 91-93 were part of the ratings for Angloma he would pass Thurman in not only Team of the Year wins but also Team of the Month. Then you compare Angloma to players like Cafu, Lizarazu, and Zanetti he is far ahead of them despite the fact that he was the only one who has strong seasons that may have earned more ESM votes that were before the deadline. Angloma won all his votes from 96/97 to 00/01. This is not a case where he was the only good right back during this time and they had to give the votes to someone, where you see strange things like the huge number of PFA Team of the Year awards for Sansom. Angloma was going head to head with literally the best seasons of Cafu and Thurman from 97-01 (both are almost always in the top 5 right backs ever on any list you look at) and getting more votes than either of them (Thurman received 5 TOTM and 1 TOTY award from 02-05).

Although this may be a little more of a unheralded pick, I think he is appropriate and meets all the criteria as a very underrated player who is an ATG.

 

That leaves two players I am still unsure of in Pires and Emerson. Any more thoughts on either would be appreciated.

I feel like Pires was one his way to ATG and maybe even beyond before the injury in 02. He was running the games for Arsenal in 01/02 more than Bergkamp, Vieira, or Henry, coming centrally pulling all the string, and moving with such power and fluidity. He had also just fully broken through as the starter for France in 01 and he was so good in 01/02 I think France could have won another WC in 02 if he was present.

But after the injury he is much for of a great supporting role with Arsenal rather than a leading one and is again more of a super sub than starter fro France. I think when you count his seasons there is enough good ones. That is not his issue.

With Emerson I think he is underrated by Some here. He has more WC ratings by Kicker than Effenberg despite playing only three seasons there. He was set to captain Brazil to the WC title in 02 before he was injured right before the tournament, which would have greatly changed his profile. My main issue is I am not sure how good/important he was in a lot of the club seasons he played outside of Germany with Roma, Juventus, and Real. Any available ratings of information would be appreciated.

 

This is not true, I rated his 99 and 00 seasons for Parma. Do you think 97 and 98 are worthy? He only scored 12 goals a piece for those seasons. Goalscoring is not everything, but for a player like Crespo, it is a lot, as he is not known as a player who contributes to the rest of the team game in a huge way.

I rated one season of Larsson's with Feyenoord 94/95. This season he made the quarterfinals of the CWC and scored 4 goals including an away hat trick against Werder Bremen, the second place team from Germany. He also scored less with them as he was not a central striker, but more of a winger/wide forward who was a supporting player.

Where do you find the more individual granular voting for the ESM?

This is relevant, but also you need to take into account that voters are not nearly as exposed to seeing Larsson than they are Vieri and Crespo. The only time they see Larsson is in Europe.

I personally think Larsson would have excelled at any top club. His movement, and team play would have done many top teams wonders.

Make an argument for Crespo and Vieri in the context on my criteria. What are the seven strong seasons for either player?

I feel like you enjoy coming out guns blazing "this is ridiculous!" but do not really address arguments in the context of what I am trying to do.

For Crespo I identified 99, 00, 01, 05, and 06

For Vieri I identified 98, 99, 02, 03, and 04

 

You are probably correct Stojkovic was the key player in the most obvious sense of being the #10 and the teams most famous player. They were both given basically every available cap from 94/95 to 99/00, Stojkovic 41 caps, Mihajlovic 44 caps. As you said the key difference is playing in Japan vs Italy. I was a bit hesitant to give Mihajlovic credit for his Sampdoria seasons, as the team is upper half of the table but never really beyond that, and only one run in Europe. But it is the best league int he world in the mid 90s and he has the extensive record with Yugoslavia, which is good results, but falling a little short in big tournaments.

Now Stojkovic had the same record effectively with Yugoslavia, but is playing club football in Japan. The record for Yugoslavia is not overwhelmingly great. There are not team of the tournament type of performances for either player, but a solid track record on above average international play. Combine that with solid play int he best league int he world and in my mind that is a case of seasons of significant positive contribution. Combine a club career in Japan with that international record and I think it falls a little below the line I have in my head for a season of significant positive contribution.

I agree that Laudrup has a better national team career than Larsson.

Looking at Laudrup's possible seasons I would say

90/91, 91/92 (mostly on the strength of the Euro performance), 94/95, 96/97 and 97/98 (mostly on the strength of the WC performance).

To me that is a sure five solid seasons.

The other options are:

88/89 for his performances with the national team.

89/90: His wiki says bundesliga team of the season from kicker, but the kicker ratings show him once international class and once "considered" so not a sure thing in my eyes with a mid table team.

92/93: An interesting idea as I gave this season to Effenberg his teammate with a similar, record. Both played for Fiorentina who were relegated and played a full season of internationals. I will say this, Effenberg got this season by the skin of his teeth, and I am still not sure how I feel about it. What pushed me over the top was two things, one Effenberg I think was one of the top three rated players (maybe foreign players?) for the entire season, and was part of a very successful WC qualifying campaign. Laudrup was also well rated, but I do not believe as highly, and his WC qualifying campaign was less successful.

95/96: This is another possibility, he missed some games in Scotland but seems to have been decisive when he played. He scores three goals in Euro 96 but the team goes out in the group stage. This season also contains the crucial 3-1 away win vs Belgium that qualifies them for the tournament.

He needs two of these seasons to make seven. I think there are reasonable arguments for 90 and 96. Outside of that I think his career passes the other tests. Any more information about these possible seasons would help. There is no obvious black and white issue that excludes him. His club career was successful enough.

I think Pires should probably be in, but I am not sure about the Pires vs Petit comparison. As I have said before in an absolute way Pires was better than Petit. But only looking at things from that angle for all of my players 80% and maybe more players would be attackers. Petit dominated his position with the national for more the Pires ever could, and had a great performance in a WC winning campaign. His career in France I think is also better before moving to England than Pires. Pires had a better run in England clearly.

 

I think going back through one more time and being more strict is a good option.

 

I am going to stop my current run through by era at this point and make a run through the list with the idea of removing some of the more borderline players.

Part of the issue many people have with players I am leaving out is comparing them to players I have slipped in under the line. I am going to go back and rethink my ATG criteria, or maybe just clarify it.

 

I wanted to go back and revisit my criteria.

One issue I have tried to resolve is creating a more concrete definition for a "season of significant positive contribution". Both criteria for All Time Great and the Pantheon rely on this term, All Time Great needing seven of these seasons while the Pantheon needs ten.

As part of this effort I have made tried to make the idea of a significant or strong season more clearly defined and restrictive.

From this point a season will qualify as "significant positive contribution" if it has positive contribution by the player in question at an international level (national team, or important club international/continental matches or tournament for a club like the European Cup). Generally if a player is a national team starter or important contributor over a season this will qualify a season unless the player/team perform particularly poorly. If the player is not a starter/important contributor for the national team, a significant run in the European Cup, Copa Libertadores, or a successful tour or other friendly matches could qualify the season. If a player is only recording achievement on a domestic level for a season, without national team or international/continental club contribution, to qualify the level of achievement must be high. The player needs to be one of the decisive players of the domestic campaign, and the league in which the domestic campaign takes place needs to be a league with a large talent pool. Some allowance will be made for player who are excluded from opportunities with the national team because they player abroad.

All Time Great Criteria

1) Longevity: Seven seasons of significant positive contribution. This can be reduced to six seasons for a player with an exceptionally high peak (players who have a peak that qualifies for the pantheon criteria).

2) Peak: The player needs to be a significant driver of success. He needs to be the major reason his team was winning. Not just a good player on a great team.

3) Career Achievement: The player needs to have significant achievements at both a domestic club level and an international level (country or club).

Pantheon Criteria

1) Longevity: Ten seasons of significant positive contribution.

2) Peak: At their best they need to be considered the best player in the world by a significant portion of contemporary observes. As a general rule that there may be some exceptions to, an attacking player in contemporary times needs strong podium finishes in the Ballon d'Or and preferably a win. This criteria is slightly lowered for non-attacking players.

3) Career Achievement: The player needs to be dominant and have high achievement at all levels available. For example, a contemporary player would need to have a great domestic career, a great career in the champions league, and a great career in the national team.

4) Dominant Run: In addition to the previous longevity criteria, the players needs a run of four to five consecutive or near consecutive seasons where the player is a dominant force in world football, and clearly considered world class. This is a higher level of dominance/achievement then "significant positive contribution".

5) Lack of Career Flaws: A catch all for other significant flaws in a players career that may cause me to think they are not a pantheon player. For example Sandor Kocsis inexplicably not being able to get playing time at Barcelona or Alain Giresse failing to earn any caps in the first two thirds of his career. Both players on a whole still passed the career achievement criteria for the pantheon. Despite the lack of caps early in his career Giresse still had a great career with the national team, and despite Kocsis struggles at Barcleona on a whole he still had a great club career. But in my eyes a pantheon player can't be a player that spends half of their career as a non-factor in the national team as pedestrian as France in the 1970s, or not be able to get playing time at a big club despite being relatively close to their prime in terms of age. Pantheon players should be relatively undeniable at all levels.

I will repost my lists by era, country, and position after some reworking from previously posted additions with the new criteria that has caused both All Time Great and Pantheon qualifications to decrease.

 

All players listed qualified as All Time Great, with a note for players who also qualified as Pantheon

By Era

1) Early Football ~ 1869-1883

Bailey, Norman England Defensive Link
Campbell, Charles Scotland Defensive Link
Kinnaird, Arthur Scotland Attacking Link
MacKinnon, Billy Scotland Forward Goalscorer
McNeil, Henry Scotland Forward Playmaker

2) Amateur/Professional Conflict ~ 1883-1890

Arnott, Walter Scotland Back Supporting (Pantheon)
Hunter, Archie Scotland Forward Goalscorer
Ross, Jimmy Scotland Forward Goalscorer
Ross, Nick Scotland Defensive Link
Walters, Percy England Back Supporting

3) Anglo-Scots ~ 1890-1897

Bassett, Billy England Wide Forward
Bell, Jack Scotland Wide Forward
Cowan, James Scotland Defensive Link
Doig, Ned Scotland Goalkeeper
Doyle, Dan Scotland Back Marking
Goodall, John England Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Trainer, James Wales Goalkeeper
Wilson, Hughie Scotland Midfield Supporting

4) Golden Age of British Football ~ 1897-1904

Bloomer, Steve England Forward Goalscorer
Gibson, Neilly Scotland Midfield Supporting
Needham, Ernest England Midfield Supporting
Raisbeck, Alex Scotland Defensive Link
Robertson, John Scotland Midfield Supporting
Smith, Alex Scotland Wide Attacking Link
Smith, Gilbert England Forward Playmaker
Walker, Bobby Scotland Attacking Link (Pantheon)

5) Professional Era ~ 1904-1915

Aitken, Andy Scotland Midfield Supporting
Crompton, Bob England Back Marking (Pantheon)
Hardy, Sam England Goalkeeper
McMenemy, Jimmy Scotland Attacking Link
Meredith, Billy Wales Wide Forward (Pantheon)
Middelboe, Nils Denmark Defensive Link
Pennington, Jesse England Back Marking
Piendibene, Jose Uruguay Forward Playmaker
Roberts, Charlie England Defensive Link
Roose, Leigh Wales Goalkeeper
Schlosser, Imre Hungary Forward Goalscorer
Thomson, Charlie Scotland Defensive Link

6) World Football ~ 1915-1928

Abegglen, Max Switzerland Forward Playmaker
Andrade, Jose Leandro Uruguay Wide Defensive Link
Baloncieri, Adolfo Italy Forward Playmaker
Bidoglio, Ludovico Argentina Back Marking
Blum, Josef Austria Back Supporting
Denis, Harry Netherlands Back Marking
Fogl, Karoly Hungary Back Marking
Foglino, Alfredo Uruguay Back Marking
Gallacher, Hughie Scotland Forward Goalscorer
Horvath, Hans Austria Forward Playmaker
Jackson, Alex Scotland Wide Forward
Keenor, Fred Wales Midfield Supporting
Kolenaty, Frantisek Czechoslovakia Midfield Supporting
McMullan, Jimmy Scotland Midfield Supporting
Morton, Alan Scotland Wide Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Nasazzi, Jose Uruguay Back Marking (Pantheon)
Orth, Gyorgy Hungary Attacking Link
Pesek, Karel Czechoslovakia Defensive Link (Pantheon)
Petrone, Pedro Uruguay Forward Goalscorer
Plattko, Ferenc Hungary Goalkeeper
Romano, Angel Uruguay Forward Playmaker
Rydell, Sven Sweden Forward Goalscorer
Samitier, Josep Spain Attacking Link
Scarone, Hectore Uruguay Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Scott, Elisha Ireland Goalkeeper
Swartenbroeks, Armand Belgium Back Supporting
Takacs, Jozsef Hungary Forward Goalscorer
Tarp, Fritz Denmark Back Supporting
Tesoriere, Americo Argentina Goalkeeper
Walker, Billy England Forward Playmaker
Wesely, Ferdinand Austria Wide Attacking Link
Zamora, Ricardo Spain Goalkeeper (Pantheon)

 

By Era Continued

7) Interwar Golden Age ~ 1928-1938

Abegglen, Andre Switzerland Forward Goalscorer
Bastin, Cliff England Wide Forward
Braine, Raymond Belgium Forward Playmaker
Brook, Eric England Wide Forward
Caligaris, Umberto Italy Back Marking
Castro, Hector Uruguay Forward Goalscorer
Combi, Giampiero Italy Goalkeeper
Crooks, Sammy England Wide Attacking Link
Fernandez, Lorenzo Uruguay Midfield Supporting
Ferrari, Giovanni Italy Forward Playmaker
Goodall, Roy England Back Marking
Gschweidl, Fritz Austria Forward Playmaker
Hapgood, Eddie England Wide Back (Pantheon)
James, Alex Scotland Attacking Link
Janes, Paul Germany Back Supporting
Jorgensen, Pauli Denmark Forward Goalscorer
Juve, Jorgen Norway Attacking Link
Kostalek, Josef Czechoslovakia Midfield Supporting
Lazar, Gyula Hungary Midfield Supporting
Lehner, Ernst Germany Wide Attacking Link
Marjanovic, Blagoje Yugoslavia Forward Playmaker
Mattler, Etienne France Back Marking
McPhail, Bob Scotland Forward Playmaker
Meazza, Giuseppe Italy Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Minella, Jose Maria Argentina Midfield Supporting
Minelli, Severino Switzerland Back Supporting
Monti, Luis Argentina Defensive Link
Monzeglio, Eraldo Italy Back Marking
Nausch, Walter Austria Midfield Playmaker
Nejedly, Oldrich Czechoslovakia Forward Playmaker
Orsi, Raimundo Argentina Wide Forward (Pantheon)
Peucelle, Carlos Argentina Wide Attacking Link
Planicka, Frantisek Czechoslovakia Goalkeeper (Pantheon)
Puc, Antonin Czechoslovakia Wide Forward
Quincoces, Jacinto Spain Back Marking
Regueiro, Luis Spain Forward Playmaker
Rosetta, Virginio Italy Back Supporting
Sarosi, Gyorgi Hungary Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Sesta, Karl Austria Back Marking
Silny, Josef Czechoslovakia Forward Goalscorer
Sindelar, Matthias Austria Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Smistik, Josef Austria Defensive Link
Smit, Kick Netherlands Forward Goalscorer
Svoboda, Frantisek Czechoslovakia Forward Playmaker
Szepan, Fritz Germany Attacking Link
Toldi, Geza Hungary Forward Goalscorer
Turay, Jozsef Hungary Attacking Link
van Heel, Puck Netherlands Midfield Supporting
Varallo, Francisco Argentina Forward Goalscorer
Zischek, Karl Austria Wide Forward
Andreolo, Michele Uruguay Defensive Link
Biro, Sandor Hungary Back Marking
Piola, Silvio Italy Forward Goalscorer

8) WWII and South American Golden Age ~ 1938-1948

Benbarek, Larbi France Attacking Link
Biavati, Amedeo Italy Wide Attacking Link
Bican, Josef Czechoslovakia Forward Goalscorer
Bickel, Alfred Switzerland Wide Forward
Carey, Johnny Ireland Wide Back (Pantheon)
Carlsson, Henry Sweden Forward Playmaker
Carter, Raich England Forward Playmaker
Darui, Julien France Goalkeeper
Decker, Karl Austria Forward Goalscorer
Domingos da Guia Brazil Back Supporting
Erico, Arsenio Paraguay Forward Goalscorer
Fernandez, Teodoro Peru Forward Goalscorer
Gambetta, Schubert Uruguay Wide Defensive Link
Garcia, Enrique Argentina Wide Forward
Gren, Gunnar Sweden Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Kupfer, Andreas Germany Midfield Supporting
Labruna, Angel Argentina Forward Goalscorer
Langara, Isidro Spain Forward Goalscorer
Lawton, Tommy England Forward Goalscorer
Lenstra, Abe Netherlands Forward Playmaker
Leonidas da Silva Brazil Forward Goalscorer
Livingstone, Sergio Chile Goalkeeper
Loik, Ezio Italy Attacking Link
Loustau, Felix Argentina Wide Attacking Link
Martino, Rinaldo Argentina Forward Playmaker
Matthews, Stanley England Wide Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Mazzola, Valentino Italy Attacking Link
Mendez, Norberto Argentina Forward Playmaker
Mermans, Jef Belgium Forward Goalscorer
Moreno, Jose Manuel Argentina Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Nilsson, Erik Sweden Wide Back
Pedernera, Adolfo Argentina Attacking Link
Pontoni, Rene Argentina Forward Playmaker
Porta, Roberto Uruguay Attacking Link
Rava, Pietro Italy Back Marking
Rudas, Ferenc Hungary Wide Defensive Link
Salomon, Jose Argentina Back Marking
Sastre, Antonio Argentina Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Varela, Severino Uruguay Forward Goalscorer
Walker, Tommy Scotland Forward Playmaker
Walter, Fritz Germany Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Zsengeller, Gyula Hungary Forward Goalscorer

9) Post War ~ 1948-1956

Ademir de Menezes Brazil Forward Goalscorer
Andrade, Víctor Rodríguez Uruguay Wide Defensive Link
Bauer Brazil Midfield Supporting
Beara, Vladimir Yugoslavia Goalkeeper
Bobek, Stjepan Yugoslavia Forward Playmaker
Boniperti, Giampiero Italy Forward Goalscorer
Bozsik, Jozsef Hungary Midfield Playmaker (Pantheon)
Cajkovski, Zlatko Yugoslavia Midfield Supporting
Coppens, Rik Belgium Forward Goalscorer
Czibor, Zoltan Hungary Wide Forward
Fatton, Jacques Switzerland Wide Forward
Finney, Tom England Wide Forward
Grosics, Gyula Hungary Goalkeeper
Hanappi, Gerhard Austria Attacking Link
Happel, Ernst Austria Back Supporting
Hidegkuti, Nandor Hungary Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Jair Da Rosa Brazil Forward Playmaker
Julinho Botelho Brazil Wide Attacking Link
Kocsis, Sandor Hungary Forward Goalscorer
Kubala, Laszlo Hungary Forward Playmaker
Liddell, Billy Scotland Wide Forward
Liedholm, Nils Sweden Attacking Link
Lofthouse, Nat England Forward Goalscorer
Maspoli, Roque Uruguay Goalkeeper
Míguez, Oscar Uruguay Forward Goalscorer
Mortensen, Stan England Forward Goalscorer
Nordahl, Gunnar Sweden Forward Goalscorer (Pantheon)
Nyers, Istvan Hungary Wide Forward
Ocwirk, Ernst Austria Midfield Playmaker (Pantheon)
Praest, Karl Aage Denmark Wide Attacking Link
Puskas, Ferenc Hungary Forward Goalscorer (Pantheon)
Rahn, Helmut Germany Wide Forward
Ramallets, Antoni Spain Goalkeeper
Rijvers, Kees Netherlands Attacking Link
Rossi, Nestor Argentina Midfield Supporting
Schafer, Hans Germany Wide Forward
Schiaffino, Juan Alberto Uruguay Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Skoglund, Lennart Sweden Wide Attacking Link
Stankovic, Branko Yugoslavia Wide Defensive Link
Varela, Obdulio Uruguay Midfield Supporting (Pantheon)
Vukas, Bernard Yugoslavia Forward Playmaker
Wilkes, Faas Netherlands Forward Playmaker
Wright, Billy England Defensive Link
Young, George Scotland Wide Back
Zarra, Telmo Spain Forward Goalscorer
Zeman, Walter Austria Goalkeeper
Zizinho Brazil Attacking Link

 

By Era Continued

10) Rise of Continental Competitions ~ 1956-1963

Aguas, Jose Portugal Forward Goalscorer
Blanchflower, Danny Ireland Midfield Playmaker
Cervato, Sergio Italy Wide Defensive Link
Charles, John Wales Forward Goalscorer
Di Stefano, Alfredo Argentina Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Didi Brazil Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Djalma Santos Brazil Wide Back (Pantheon)
Evaristo Brazil Forward Goalscorer
Garrincha Brazil Wide Attacking Link
Gento, Francisco Spain Wide Attacking Link
Gilmar Brazil Goalkeeper
Goncalves, Nestor Uruguay Midfield Supporting
Greaves, Jimmy England Forward Goalscorer
Hamrin, Kurt Sweden Wide Forward
Ivanov, Valentin Soviet Union Forward Goalscorer
Johansson, Ake Sweden Back Supporting
Jones, Cliff Wales Wide Forward
Jonquet, Robert France Back Supporting
Jose Altafini Brazil Forward Goalscorer
Joya, Juan Peru Wide Forward
Jurion, Jef Belgium Attacking Link
Jusufi, Fahrudin Yugoslavia Wide Defensive Link
Kolev, Ivan Bulgaria Wide Forward
Kopa, Raymond France Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Mackay, Dave Scotland Midfield Supporting
Masopust, Josef Czechoslovakia Midfield Playmaker (Pantheon)
McIlroy, Jimmy Ireland Attacking Link
Moulijn, Coen Netherlands Wide Attacking Link
Netto, Igor Soviet Union Midfield Playmaker
NIlton Santos Brazil Wide Defensive Link (Pantheon)
Novak, Ladislav Czechoslovakia Wide Back
Pepe Brazil Wide Forward
Piantoni, Roger France Forward Playmaker
Pluskal, Svatopluk Czechoslovakia Defensive Link
Popluhar, Jan Czechoslovakia Back Supporting
Sanchez, Leonel Chile Wide Forward
Sandor, Karoly Hungary Wide Forward
Santamaria, Jose Uruguay Back Marking
Seeler, Uwe Germany Forward Goalscorer
Sekularac, Dragoslav Yugoslavia Attacking Link
Sivori, Omar Argentina Forward Playmaker
Spencer, Alberto Ecuador Forward Goalscorer
Szymaniak, Horst Germany Midfield Supporting
Tichy, Lajos Hungary Forward Goalscorer
van der Hart, Cor Netherlands Back Supporting
Vincent, Jean France Wide Forward
Yashin, Lev Soviet Union Goalkeeper (Pantheon)
Zebec, Branko Yugoslavia Attacking Link
Zito Brazil Midfield Supporting

11) British and Italian Dominance in the 60s ~ 1963-1970

Albert, Florian Hungary Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Amancio Spain Wide Forward
Artime, Luis Argentina Forward Goalscorer
Asparuhov, Georgi Bulgaria Forward Goalscorer
Augusto, Jose Portugal Wide Forward
Ball, Alan England Midfield Supporting
Banks, Gordon England Goalkeeper
Bene, Ferenc Hungary Forward Goalscorer
Burgnich, Tarcisio Italy Wide Back
Carlos Alberto Brazil Wide Defensive Link
Charlton, Bobby England Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Charlton, Jack England Back Marking
Chislenko, Igor Soviet Union Wide Forward
Coluna, Mario Portugal Midfield Supporting
Cubilla, Luis Uruguay Wide Attacking Link
Dzajic, Dragan Yugoslavia Wide Attacking Link
Eusebio Portugal Forward Goalscorer (Pantheon)
Facchetti, Giacinto Italy Wide Defensive Link (Pantheon)
Best, George Ireland Wide Attacking Link
Gerson Brazil Midfield Playmaker
Greig, John Scotland Defensive Link
Haller, Helmut Germany Attacking Link
Iribar, José Angel Spain Goalkeeper
Israel, Rinus Netherlands Back Supporting
Jairzinho Brazil Wide Forward (Pantheon)
Johnstone, Jimmy Scotland Wide Attacking Link
Khurtsilava, Murtaz Soviet Union Back Supporting
Kindvall, Ove Sweden Forward Goalscorer
Mazurkiewicz, Ladislao Uruguay Goalkeeper
Law, Denis Scotland Forward Playmaker
Lubanski, Wlodzimierz Poland Forward Goalscorer
Marzolini, Silvio Argentina Wide Back
Mazzola, Sandro Italy Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
McNeill, Billy Scotland Back Marking
Meszoly, Kalman Hungary Defensive Link
Moore, Bobby England Defensive Link
Overath, Wolfgang Germany Midfield Playmaker
Pele Brazil Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Perfumo, Roberto Argentina Back Marking
Peters, Martin England Wide Attacking Link
Rattin, Antonio Argentina Midfield Supporting
Riva, Luigi Italy Wide Forward
Rivera, Gianni Italy Attacking Link
Rocha, Pedro Uruguay Attacking Link
Schnellinger, Karl-Heinz Germany Wide Back (Pantheon)
Schulz, Willi Germany Back Marking
Shesternyov, Albert Soviet Union Back Marking
Simoes, Antonio Portugal Wide Attacking Link
Suarez, Luis Spain Midfield Playmaker (Pantheon)
Tostao Brazil Forward Playmaker
Van Himst, Paul Belgium Forward Playmaker
Van Moer, WIlfried Belgium Midfield Supporting
Vasovic, Velibor Yugoslavia Defensive Link
Voronin, Valery Soviet Union Midfield Supporting
Weber, Wolfgang Germany Back Marking
Wilson Piazza Brazil Defensive Link

12) Dutch and German Dominance in the 70s ~ 1970-1976

Beckenbauer, Franz Germany Defensive Link (Pantheon)
Benetti, Romeo Italy Midfield Supporting
Blokhin, Oleg Soviet Union Wide Forward
Bonev, Hristo Bulgaria Attacking Link
Bremner, Billy Scotland Midfield Supporting
Chumpitaz, Hector Peru Back Marking
Croy, Jurgen Germany Goalkeeper
Cruyff, Johan Netherlands Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Cubillas, Teofilo Peru Attacking Link
Deyna, Kazimierz Poland Midfield Playmaker
Dobias, Karol Czechoslovakia Wide Back
Figueroa, Elias Chile Back Supporting (Pantheon)
Hellstrom, Ronnie Sweden Goalkeeper
Heynckes, Jupp Germany Forward Goalscorer
Hughes, Emlyn England Defensive Link
Jansen, Wim Netherlands Midfield Supporting
Jennings, Pat Ireland Goalkeeper
Jensen, Henning Denmark Forward Playmaker
Keizer, Piet Netherlands Wide Attacking Link
Kolotov, Viktor Soviet Union Midfield Supporting
Lambert, Raoul Belgium Forward Goalscorer
Lato, Grzegorz Poland Wide Forward
Luis Pereira Brazil Back Supporting
Maier, Sepp Germany Goalkeeper (Pantheon)
Muller, Gerd Germany Forward Goalscorer (Pantheon)
Neeskens, Johan Netherlands Midfield Supporting
Netzer, Gunter Germany Attacking Link
Piazza, Osvaldo Argentina Back Supporting
Pirri Spain Defensive Link
Rensenbrink, Rob Netherlands Forward Playmaker
Rivellino Brazil Midfield Playmaker
Rudakov, Yevgeniy Soviet Union Goalkeeper
Skoblar, Josip Yugoslavia Forward Goalscorer
Suurbier, Wim Netherlands Wide Back
Tresor, Marius France Back Supporting
Van Hanegem, Willem Netherlands Midfield Playmaker
Viktor, Ivo Czechoslovakia Goalkeeper (Pantheon)
Vogts, Berti Germany Wide Back (Pantheon)

 

By Era Continued

13) Zico, Platini, and English Club Dominance ~ 1976-1986

Amoros, Manuel France Wide Defensive Link
Ardiles, Osvaldo Argentina Midfield Playmaker
Bettega, Roberto Italy Forward Goalscorer
Bonhof, Rainer Germany Midfield Supporting
Boniek, Zbigniew Poland Forward Playmaker
Bossis, Maxime France Wide Defensive Link
Brady, Liam Ireland Midfield Playmaker
Breitner, Paul Germany Midfield Playmaker
Briegel, Hans-Peter Germany Wide Defensive Link
Cabrini, Antonio Italy Wide Defensive Link
Camacho, Jose Antonio Spain Wide Back
Causio, Franco Italy Wide Attacking Link
Ceulemans, Jan Belgium Attacking Link
Chivadze, Aleksandre Soviet Union Defensive Link
Clemence, Ray England Goalkeeper
Conti, Bruno Italy Wide Attacking Link
Dalglish, Kenny Scotland Forward Playmaker
Dasaev, Rinat Soviet Union Goalkeeper (Pantheon)
Demyanenko, Anatoliy Soviet Union Wide Defensive Link
Elkjaer Larsen, Preben Denmark Forward Goalscorer
Falcao Brazil Midfield Supporting (Pantheon)
Fillol, Ubaldo Argentina Goalkeeper (Pantheon)
Forster, Karlheinz Germany Back Marking
Gentile, Claudio Italy Wide Back
Gerets, Eric Belgium Wide Back
Giresse, Alain France Attacking Link
Gordillo, Rafael Spain Wide Defensive Link
Haan, Arie Netherlands Midfield Playmaker
Hansen, Alan Scotland Defensive Link
Hoddle, Glenn England Midfield Playmaker
Junior Brazil Wide Defensive Link
Kaltz, Manfred Germany Wide Defensive Link
Keegan, Kevin England Forward Goalscorer
Kempes, Mario Argentina Forward Goalscorer
Krankl, Hans Austria Forward Goalscorer
Krol, Ruud Netherlands Defensive Link (Pantheon)
Lerby, Soren Denmark Midfield Supporting
Magath, Felix Germany Midfield Playmaker
Nyilasi, Tibor Hungary Attacking Link
Olsen, Morten Denmark Defensive Link
Passarella, Daniel Argentina Back Supporting
Pezzey, Bruno Austria Defensive Link
Pfaff, Jean Marie Belgium Goalkeeper
Platini, Michel France Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Prohaska, Herbert Austria Midfield Playmaker
Rep, Johnny Netherlands Wide Forward
Robson, Bryan England Midfield Supporting
Rummenigge, Karl-Heinz Germany Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Rush, Ian Wales Forward Goalscorer
Schumacher, Harald Germany Goalkeeper
Schuster, Bernd Germany Midfield Playmaker
Scirea, Gaetano Italy Defensive Link
Shilton, Peter England Goalkeeper (Pantheon)
Simonsen, Allan Denmark Forward Playmaker
Souness, Graeme Scotland Midfield Supporting
Stielike, Uli Germany Defensive Link
Tardelli, Marco Italy Midfield Supporting
Tigana, Jean France Midfield Supporting
Toninho Cerezo Brazil Midfield Supporting
van de Kerkhof, Willy Netherlands Midfield Supporting
Vercauteren, Franky Belgium Wide Attacking Link
Zico Brazil Forward Playmaker (Pantheon)
Zoff, Dino Italy Goalkeeper (Pantheon)

14) Maradona and second Dutch/German Clash ~ 1986-1992

Baresi, Franco Italy Back Supporting (Pantheon)
Bergomi, Giuseppe Italy Wide Back
Bratseth, Rune Norway Back Marking
Brehme, Andreas Germany Wide Defensive Link
Butragueno, Emilio Spain Forward Goalscorer
Careca Brazil Forward Goalscorer
Donadoni, Roberto Italy Wide Attacking Link
Francescoli, Enzo Uruguay Forward Playmaker
Gullit, Ruud Netherlands Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Hassler, Thomas Germany Attacking Link
Hysen, Glenn Sweden Back Marking
Koeman, Ronald Netherlands Back Supporting (Pantheon)
Kohler, Jurgen Germany Back Marking
Lineker, Gary England Forward Goalscorer
Maradona, Diego Argentina Attacking Link (Pantheon)
Matthaus, Lothar Germany Midfield Supporting (Pantheon)
Michel Spain Wide Attacking Link
Papin, Jean-Pierre France Forward Goalscorer
Preud'homme, Michel Belgium Goalkeeper
Ricardo Gomes Brazil Back Supporting
Rijkaard, Frank Netherlands Defensive Link (Pantheon)
Ruggeri, Oscar Argentina Back Marking
Sanchez, Hugo Mexico Forward Goalscorer
Southall, Neville Wales Goalkeeper
van Basten, Marco Netherlands Forward Goalscorer
van Breukelen, Hans Netherlands Goalkeeper
Vialli, Gianluca Italy Forward Goalscorer
Vierchowod, Pietro Italy Back Marking
Voller, Rudi Germany Forward Goalscorer
Waddle, Chris England Wide Attacking Link
Zenga, Walter Italy Goalkeeper
Zubizarreta, Andoni Spain Goalkeeper

15) Mid 90s Transition ~ 1992-1998

Albertini, Demetrio Italy Midfield Playmaker
Baggio, Roberto Italy Forward Playmaker
Baía, Vítor Portugal Goalkeeper
Batistuta, Gabriel Argentina Forward Goalscorer
Bebeto Brazil Forward Playmaker
Bergkamp, Dennis Netherlands Forward Playmaker
Blanc, Laurent France Back Supporting
Blind, Danny Netherlands Back Marking
Chilavert, Jose Luis Paraguay Goalkeeper
Costa, Rui Portugal Attacking Link
de Boer, Frank Netherlands Back Supporting
Desailly, Marcel France Defensive Link (Pantheon)
Deschamps, Didier France Midfield Supporting
Dunga Brazil Midfield Supporting
Ferrara, Ciro Italy Wide Back
Giggs, Ryan Wales Wide Attacking Link
Hagi, Gheorghe Romania Attacking Link
Hierro, Fernando Spain Defensive Link
Klinsmann, Jurgen Germany Forward Goalscorer
Laudrup, Michael Denmark Attacking Link
Maldini, Paolo Italy Wide Back (Pantheon)
Moller, Andreas Germany Attacking Link
Pagliuca, Gianluca Italy Goalkeeper
Romario Brazil Forward Goalscorer
Sammer, Matthias Germany Defensive Link
Savicevic, Dejan Yugoslavia Attacking Link
Schmeichel, Peter Denmark Goalkeeper (Pantheon)
Shearer, Alan England Forward Goalscorer
Simeone, Diego Argentina Midfield Supporting
Stoichkov, Hristo Bulgaria Wide Forward
Weah, George Liberia Forward Playmaker