GO Mammoth's take on the top 5 footballers of all time.
Who is the best footballer of all time? This question is probably the most widely debated topic in the world (well maybe in the world of football). To commemorate the end of the Euro’s 2012, we have compiled a list of 5 of who we think are the greatest footballers of all time. Hopefully this will help inspire you in your own 5aside London football league.
Number 5. Roberto Baggio – the potent Italian striker who scored 218 goals in 488 appearances has cemented our fifth spot. Baggio is arguably the greatest Italian player ever and has beaten the likes of David Beckham, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Roberto Carlos, and Zinedine Zidane. Baggio will unfortunately be remembered as the player who fired the penalty kick high over the cross bar in the shootout in the 1994 World Cup where Italy eventually lost to Brazil.
Number 4. Cristiano Ronaldo – the Portuguese, so called “heart throb” (debatable) has excited the world’s football scene in recent years and finished the current season with a huge 60 goals in all competitions. Ronaldo has caused controversy with his ‘selfish, all about me’ attitude to the dislike of many critics but his skills on the ball have earned a place in our top 5.
Number 3. Lionel Messi – many argue Messi as the greatest player of all time (and we almost did as well). His lack of success on the international arena has pushed him down to third spot. However, he is still a magician on the pitch and somehow managed to score 73 goals in all competitions last season (that’s a goal every 69 minutes).
Number 2. Diego Maradona – The character of Diego Maradona has secured our second spot. His eventful and controversial career saw him win a World Cup with Argentina in 1986 the tournament in which the famous ‘hand of god’ was exposed to the world. However, his second goal in that same match saw him dribble past five English players and finished what was voted ‘the goal of the century’. This match without a doubt sums up his career.
Number 1. Pele – Where would a top footballer list be without the presence of the Brazilian hero, Pele. Pele scored 620 goals in only 661 appearances and astonishingly won the World Cup three times in 1958/62 and 1970. Pelé’s technique and natural athleticism have been admired, and throughout his career he was renowned for his outstanding dribbling and passing, his pace, powerful shot, remarkable heading ability, and constant goalscoring ability.
So there’s our list of the top 5 footballers of all time. We feel our current list is pretty solid but I’m sure you may disagree? Can you challenge our list, who are your top 5 footballers of all time?