Top 10 world best players



01

of 10
Lionel Messi



Lionel Messi Barcelona
Manuel Queimadelos Alonso / Getty Images

A multi-year winner of FIFA's Player of the Year Award, Lionel Messi is generally considered to be the best soccer player of all time. His ability to mesmerize defenders with a mix of skill and pace is unmatched, and it often appears as though the ball is glued to his feet. Messi led his home country Argentina to the 2014 World Cup final, losing 1-0 to Germany, and to the finals of the 2015 and 2016 Copas Americas. A serial winner with his club, the Barcelona star is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline.

Teams: Argentina, F.C. Barcelona

Position: Forward

Team number: 10 (both teams)

Birthdate: June 24, 1987


02

of 10
Cristiano Ronaldo



Cristiano Ronaldo playing against Ghana
Cristiano Ronaldo. Adam Pretty / Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player who soccer fans say could be considered Messi's equal—if not superior. Ronaldo is stronger and taller than the Argentine and his goals-to-games ratio is similar. In 2016, Ronaldo was named FIFA's Player of the Year, his fourth such honor. In fact, he and Messi have been the only two players to win that honor since 2007. Since joiningReal Madrid from Manchester United in 2009, Ronaldo has been a revelation, making the world record outlay of $131 million looks less outrageous with every goal heclick here to continue