In 1998, 250 sports journalists selected a selection of eleven football players to represent the best players of the 20th century .
General
The team consists of a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three strikers. The same 250 journalists also chose the continental selections from Europe and South America. The best players from the other continents (Central and North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania) were also selected. However, this choice was made by a smaller selection of sports journalists from the respective continent.
The teams were then presented to the public at the opening ceremony of the 1998 World Cup in France on June 10th.
Choose
world
position
player
Nationality (national years)
Clubs (years)
Placement in World Soccer Magazine's list of the best players of the 20th century
official honors
goalkeeper
Lev Yashin
Soviet Union 1955 Soviet Union (1954–1970)
Dynamo Moscow (1949–1971)
11
European Footballer of the Year (1963) Golden Player ( Russia ) World Cup All-Star Team (1958)
Defense
Carlos Alberto Torres
Brazil 1968 Brazil (1964–1977)
Fluminense Rio de Janeiro (1963–1966, 1974–1977) FC Santos (1966–1974) Flamengo Rio de Janeiro (1977) New York Cosmos (1977–1980, 1982) California Surf (1981)
not placed
FIFA 100
Defense
Franz Beckenbauer
Germany Federal Republic Germany (1965–1977)
FC Bayern Munich (1965–1977) New York Cosmos (1977–1980, 1983) Hamburger SV (1980–1982)
4th
Europe's Footballer of the Year (1972, 1976) CONCACAF Player of the Year (1977) World Cup All-Star Team (1966, 1970, 1974) FIFA 100
Defense
Bobby Moore
England England (1962–1973)
West Ham United (1958–1974) Fulham FC (1974–1977) San Antonio Thunder (1977) Seattle Sounders (1978)
14th
Golden Player ( England ) World Cup All-Star Team (1966)
Defense
Nílton Santos
Brazil 1960 Brazil (1949–1963)
Botafogo FR (1949-1965)
not placed
World Cup All-Star Team (1958) FIFA 100
midfield
Johan Cruyff
Netherlands Netherlands (1966–1978)
Ajax Amsterdam (1964–1973, 1981–1983) FC Barcelona (1973–1978) Los Angeles Aztecs (1979) Washington Diplomats (1980–1981) UD Levante (1981) Feyenoord Rotterdam (1983–1984)
3
European Footballer of the Year (1971, 1973, 1974) Golden Player ( Netherlands ) Golden Ball (1974) World Cup All-Star Team (1974) FIFA 100
midfield
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Argentina Argentina (1947) Spain (1957–1961)
Spain 1945
River Plate (1943–1945, 1947–1949) Club Atlético Huracán (1946–1947) Millonarios (1949–1953) Real Madrid (1953–1964) Espanyol Barcelona (1964–1966)
6th
European Footballer of the Year (1957, 1959) Golden Player ( Spain ) FIFA 100
midfield
Ferenc Puskás
Hungary 1949 Hungary (1949–1956)
Spain 1945 Spain (1961–1962)
Honvéd Budapest (1942–1956) Real Madrid (1958–1966)
7th
Golden Player ( Hungary ) World Cup All-Star Team (1954) FIFA 100 Golden Ball (1954)
attack
Garrincha
Brazil 1960 Brazil (1955–1966)
Botafogo FR (1953–1965) Corinthians São Paulo (1966) Atlético Junior (1968) Flamengo Rio de Janeiro (1968–1969) Olaria AC (1972)
20th
WM All-Star Team (1958, 1962) Golden Ball (1962)
attack
Diego Maradona
Argentina Argentina (1977-1994)
Argentinos Juniors (1976–1981) Boca Juniors (1981–1982, 1995–1997) FC Barcelona (1982–1984) SSC Napoli (1984–1991) FC Sevilla (1992–1993) Newell's Old Boys (1993)
2
Onze d'or (1986, 1987) South America's Footballer of the Year (1979, 1980, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992) Golden Ball (1986), Bronze Ball (1990) World Cup All-Star Team (1986, 1990) World Soccer Player of the Year (1986) FIFA 100
attack
Pelé
Brazil 1968 Brazil (1956–1971)
FC Santos (1956–1974) New York Cosmos (1975–1977)
1
South America's Footballer of the Year (1973) Golden Ball (1970) World Cup All-Star Team (1958, 1970) CONCACAF Player of the Year (1976) FIFA 100
Europe
position
player
Nationality (national years)
Clubs (years)
Placement in World Soccer Magazine's list of the best players of the 20th century
official honors
goalkeeper
Lev Yashin
Soviet Union 1955 Soviet Union (1954–1970)
Dynamo Moscow (1949–1971)
11
European Footballer of the Year (1963) Golden Player ( Russia ) World Cup All-Star Team (1958)
Defense
Franz Beckenbauer
Germany Federal Republic Germany (1965–1977)
FC Bayern Munich (1965–1977) New York Cosmos (1977–1980, 1983) Hamburger SV (1980–1982)
4th
Europe's Footballer of the Year (1972, 1976) CONCACAF Player of the Year (1977) World Cup All-Star Team (1966, 1970, 1974) FIFA 100
Defense
Bobby Moore
England England (1962–1973)
West Ham United (1958–1974) Fulham FC (1974–1977) San Antonio Thunder (1977) Seattle Sounders (1978)
14th
Golden Player ( England ) World Cup All-Star Team (1966)
Defense
Franco Baresi
Italy Italy (1982-1994)
AC Milan (1978–1997)
19th
World Cup All-Star Team (1990) FIFA 100
Defense
Paolo Maldini
Italy Italy (1988-2002)
AC Milan (1984-2008)
21st
World Cup All-Star Team (1990, 1994) World Soccer Player of the Year (1994) FIFA 100
midfield
Michel Platini
France France (1976–1987)
AS Nancy (1972–1979) AS Saint-Étienne (1979–1982) Juventus Turin (1982–1987)
5
Europe's Footballer of the Year (1983, 1984, 1985) Onze d'or (1983, 1984, 1985) World Cup All-Star Team (1982, 1986) World Soccer Player of the Year (1984, 1985) FIFA 100
midfield
Johan Cruyff
Netherlands Netherlands (1966–1977)
Ajax Amsterdam (1964–1973) FC Barcelona (1973–1978) Los Angeles Aztecs (1979–1980) Washington Diplomats (1980–1981) UD Levante (1981) Ajax Amsterdam (1981–1983) Feyenoord Rotterdam (1983–1984)
3
European Footballer of the Year (1971, 1973, 1974) Golden Player ( Netherlands ) Golden Ball (1974) World Cup All-Star Team (1974) FIFA 100
midfield
Bobby Charlton
England England (1958-1970)
Manchester United (1954–1973) Preston North End (1973–1974) Waterford FC (1975)
12
European Footballer of the Year (1966) Golden Ball (1966) World Cup All-Star Team (1966,1970) FIFA 100
attack
Marco van Basten
Netherlands Netherlands (1983-1992)
Ajax Amsterdam (1982–1987) AC Milan (1987–1993)
9
European Footballer of the Year (1988, 1989, 1992) World Soccer Player of the Year (1988, 1992) Onze d'or (1988, 1989) FIFA 100
attack
Eusebio
Portugal Portugal (1961–1973)
Sporting Lourenço Marques (1957–1960) Benfica Lisbon (1960–1975) Rhode Island Oceaneers (1975) Boston Minutemen (1975) CF Monterrey (1975–1976) Toronto Metros-Croatia (1976) SC Beira-Mar (1976–1977) Las Vegas Quicksilvers (1977) New Jersey Americans (1977–1978) União Tomar (1978)
10
European Footballer of the Year (1965) Golden Player ( Portugal ) World Cup All-Star Team (1966) FIFA 100
attack
Ferenc Puskás
Hungary 1949 Hungary (1949–1956)
Spain 1945 Spain (1961–1962)
Honvéd Budapest (1942–1956) Real Madrid (1958–1966)
7th
Golden Player ( Hungary ) World Cup All-Star Team (1954) FIFA 100 Golden Ball (1954)
South America
position
player
Nationality (national years)
Clubs (years)
Placement in World Soccer Magazine's list of the best players of the 20th century
official honors
goalkeeper
Ubaldo Fillol
Argentina Argentina (1974–1985)
Quilmes AC (1969–1971) Racing Club Avellaneda (1972–1973) River Plate (1974–1983) Argentinos Juniors (1983) Flamengo Rio de Janeiro (1984–1985) Atlético Madrid (1985–1986) Racing Club Avellaneda (1987–1989 ) Vélez Sársfield (1989–1990)
not placed
WM All-Star Team (1978)
Defense
Carlos Alberto Torres
Brazil 1968 Brazil (1964–1977)
Fluminense Rio de Janeiro (1963–1966, 1974–1977) FC Santos (1966–1974) Flamengo Rio de Janeiro (1977) New York Cosmos (1977–1980, 1982) California Surf (1981)
not placed
FIFA 100
Defense
Daniel Passarella
Argentina Argentina (1974–1986)
CD Sarmiento (1971–1973) River Plate (1974–1982) Fiorentina (1982–1986) Inter Milan (1986–1988) River Plate (1989)
64
European Footballer of the Year (1972, 1976) CONCACAF Player of the Year (1977) World Cup All-Star Team (1978) FIFA 100
Defense
Elias Figueroa
Chile Chile (1966–1982)
Unión La Calera (1964) Santiago Wanderers (1965–1966) CA Peñarol (1967–1972) SC Internacional (1972–1976) Palestino (1977–1980) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1981) Colo-Colo (1982)
not placed
South American Footballer of the Year (1974-1975-1976) FIFA 100
Defense
Nílton Santos
Brazil 1960 Brazil (1949–1963)
Botafogo FR (1949-1965)
not placed
World Cup All-Star Team (1958) FIFA 100
midfield
Roberto Rivelino
Brazil 1968 Brazil (1965–1978)
Corinthians São Paulo (1965–1974) Fluminense Rio de Janeiro (1974–1978) Al-Hilal (1978–1981)
37
FIFA 100
midfield
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Argentina Argentina (1947) Spain (1957–1961)
Spain 1945
River Plate (1943–1945, 1947–1949) Club Atlético Huracán (1946–1947) Millonarios (1949–1953) Real Madrid (1953–1964) Espanyol Barcelona (1964–1966)
6th
European Footballer of the Year (1957, 1959) Golden Player ( Spain ) FIFA 100
midfield
Didi
Brazil 1960 Brazil (1952–1962)
Fluminense Rio de Janeiro (1949–1956) Botafogo FR (1957–1959, 1960–1965) Real Madrid (1959–1960) CD Veracruz (1965–1966) São Paulo (1966)
38
WM All-Star Team (1958)
attack
Garrincha
Brazil 1960 Brazil (1955–1966)
Botafogo FR (1953–1965) Corinthians São Paulo (1966) Atlético Junior (1968) Flamengo Rio de Janeiro (1968–1969) Olaria AC (1972)
20th
WM All-Star Team (1958, 1962) Golden Ball (1962)
attack
Diego Maradona
Argentina Argentina (1977-1994)
Argentinos Juniors (1976–1981) Boca Juniors (1981–1982, 1995–1997) FC Barcelona (1982–1984) SSC Napoli (1984–1991) FC Sevilla (1992–1993) Newell's Old Boys (1993)
2
Onze d'or (1986, 1987) South America's Footballer of the Year (1979, 1980, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992) Golden Ball (1986), Bronze Ball (1990) World Cup All-Star Team (1986, 1990) World Soccer Player of the Year (1986) FIFA 100
attack
Pelé
Brazil 1968 Brazil (1956–1971)
FC Santos (1956–1974) New York Cosmos (1975–1977)
1
South America's Footballer of the Year (1973) Golden Ball (1970) World Cup All-Star Team (1958, 1970) CONCACAF Player of the Year (1976) FIFA 100
Central and North America (CONCACAF)
Africa
Asia / Oceania
Web links
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