Who is the Best Soccer Player in the World?

Many fans of soccer commonly debate who the highest skilled player of all time is. Many old school fans believe it is someone from the past, while many newer fans say the more popular players of today’s age. Here are some of the consensus picks for the best soccer player in the world. 

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is often called the best current soccer player, and some even go to say he is the best of all time. These people have a very strong argument, as Ronaldo has the record for the most goals and assists in the UEFA Champions League (134 and 42), most goals in the UEFA European Championship (14) and the European Championship qualifiers (31). He has scored a total of 783 goals for his club and country, another record. He has also made 1,109 appearances in professional soccer, good enough for 11th all time. The Portuguese native has also won 32 senior trophies in his impressive career. All in all, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, and he has the stats and awards to back it up. 

Lionel Messi

Sometimes people take for granted how 2 of the best soccer players of all time are in the same generation, and we are witnessing their battle for greatness with our own eyes. Lionel Messi is another answer people give when asked for the best player in the world, and he sure has the stats to prove so. Messi has won 6 Ballon d’Or awards since 2009, an award given to the player who performed the best in the world during the season. He has also won 2 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards, as well as six Best Player awards in La Liga. After recently signing with PSG, it will be interesting to see Messi continue his great career with his new club and try and separate from Ronaldo for the greatest in the world.

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Pelé

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or commonly known as Pelé, is recognized as “the greatest” by FIFA, and for good reason. His dominance in soccer showed as he led Brazil to 3 World Cup wins in 1958, 1962, and 1970, making him the only player to win 3 World Cups. He finished his career with Brazil scoring 77 goals in 92 games, solidifying himself as the all-time leading goalscorer for his nation. He started playing for his club, Santos F.C, in 1956 when he was 15, all the way until his age 33 season in 1974. In that time, he scored 643 goals in 659 games, which is a club record. Known for his electrifying and flashy plays, Pelé is one of the first names in discussion of greatest soccer players of all time.