20th Century FIFA World Selection

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 1955Soviet Union 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 1968Brazil 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 RepublicFederal Republic of Germany 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 EnglandEngland 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 1960Brazil Brazil
(1949–1963) 		Botafogo FR (1949-1965) not placed World Cup All-Star Team (1958)
FIFA 100
midfield Johan Cruyff NetherlandsNetherlands 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 ArgentinaArgentina Argentina
(1947) Spain (1957–1961)
Spain 1945Spain
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 1949Hungary Hungary
(1949–1956)

Spain 1945Spain 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 1960Brazil 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 ArgentinaArgentina 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 1968Brazil 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 1955Soviet Union 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 RepublicFederal Republic of Germany 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 EnglandEngland 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 ItalyItaly Italy
(1982-1994) 		AC Milan (1978–1997) 19th World Cup All-Star Team (1990)
FIFA 100
Defense Paolo Maldini ItalyItaly 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 FranceFrance 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 NetherlandsNetherlands 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 EnglandEngland 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 NetherlandsNetherlands 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 PortugalPortugal 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 1949Hungary Hungary
(1949–1956)

Spain 1945Spain 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 ArgentinaArgentina 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 1968Brazil 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 ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina
(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 ChileChile 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 1960Brazil Brazil
(1949–1963) 		Botafogo FR (1949-1965) not placed World Cup All-Star Team (1958)
FIFA 100
midfield Roberto Rivelino Brazil 1968Brazil 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 ArgentinaArgentina Argentina
(1947) Spain (1957–1961)
Spain 1945Spain
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 1960Brazil 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 1960Brazil 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 ArgentinaArgentina 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 1968Brazil 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)

position player Nationality
(national years) 		Clubs
(years) 		official honors
goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal Mexico 1934Mexico Mexico
(1950–1966) 		Club España (1948–1950)
Club León (1950–1966) 		CONCACAF Player of the Year (1953, 1956, 1957, 1961)
World Cup All-Star Team (1962)
Defense Marcelo Balboa United StatesUnited States USA
(1988-2000) 		San Diego Nomads (1987–1989)
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks (1990–1991)
Colorado Foxes (1992–1993)
Club León (1994–1995)
Colorado Rapids (1996–2001)
MetroStars (2002) 		MLS All-Time Best XI
Defense Gilberto Yearwood HondurasHonduras Honduras
(1976-1993) 		Real España (1974–1977)
FC Elche (1977–1978)
Real Valladolid (1978–1984)
CD Tenerife (1984–1986)
Celta de Vigo (1986–1987)
Real España (1987–1988)
CD Motagua (1988–1990)
CD Olimpia (1990-1992) 		CONCACAF Player of the Year (1982)
Defense Bruce Wilson CanadaCanada Canada
(1975–1986) 		Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–1977)
Chicago Sting (1978–1979)
New York Cosmos (1980)
Toronto Blizzard (1981–1987)
Defense Gustavo Peña MexicoMexico Mexico
(1961–1974) 		CD Oro (1959–1967)
CD Cruz Azul (1967–1970)
CSD Jalisco (1970–1974)
CF Monterrey (1974–1976) 		CONCACAF Player of the Year (1969)
midfield Ramón Ramírez MexicoMexico Mexico
(1991-2000) 		Santos Laguna (1989–1994)
Deportivo Guadalajara (1994–1998)
Club América (1999)
UANL Tigres (1999–2001)
Deportivo Guadalajara (2001–2004)
CD Chivas USA (2005–2007)
midfield Mágico González El SalvadorEl Salvador El Salvador
(1979–1998) 		ANTEL (1975–1976)
Independiente (1976–1977)
CD FAS (1977–1982)
FC Cádiz (1982–1984)
Real Valladolid (1984–1986)
FC Cádiz (1986–1991)
CD FAS (1991–1999)
San Salvador FC (2002) 		CONCACAF Player of the Year (1981)
midfield Ramos tab United StatesUnited States USA
(1988-2000) 		New Jersey Eagles (1988)
Miami Sharks (1989)
UE Figueres (1990–1992)
Betis Sevilla (1992–1995)
UANL Tigres (1996)
MetroStars (1996–2002) 		CONCACAF Player of the Year (1994)
attack Julio César Dely Valdés PanamaPanama Panama
(1990-2005) 		Deportivo Paraguayo (1987–1988)
Nacional Montevideo (1989–1993)
Cagliari Calcio (1993–1995)
Paris Saint-Germain (1995–1997)
Real Oviedo (1997–2000)
FC Málaga (2000–2003)
Nacional Montevideo (2003)
Arabe Unido (2004-2006)
attack Hugo Sánchez MexicoMexico Mexico
(1977-1998) 		UNAM Pumas (1976–1981)
Atlético Madrid (1981–1985)
Real Madrid (1985–1992)
Club America (1992–1993)
Rayo Vallecano (1993–1994)
CF Atlante (1994–1995)
FC Linz (1995–1996)
Dallas Burn (1996)
Atlético Celaya (1996-1998) 		CONCACAF Player of the Year (1985–1988, 1990)
FIFA 100
attack Hernan Medford Costa RicaCosta Rica Costa Rica
(1977-1998) 		CD Saprissa (1987–1990)
Dinamo Zagreb (1990)
SK Rapid Wien (1991)
Rayo Vallecano (1991–1992)
Foggia Calcio (1992–1993)
CD Saprissa (1993–1994)
CF Pachuca (1994–1997)
Club León (1997 –2000)
Necaxa (2000–2001)
CD Saprissa (2001–2003)

Africa

position player nationality official honors
goalkeeper Thomas N'Kono CameroonCameroon Cameroon Africa's Footballer of the Year (1979 and 1982)
Defense Ali Shehata EgyptEgypt Egypt
Defense Ibrahim Youssef EgyptEgypt Egypt
Defense Emmanuel Kundé CameroonCameroon Cameroon
Defense Mwepu Ilunga ZaireZaire Zaire
midfield Segun Odegbami NigeriaNigeria Nigeria
midfield Théophile Abega CameroonCameroon Cameroon Africa's Footballer of the Year (1984)
midfield Abedi Pelé GhanaGhana Ghana Africa's Footballer of the Year (1991-1993)
FIFA 100
attack Laurent Pokou Ivory CoastIvory Coast Cote d'Ivoire
attack Roger Milla CameroonCameroon Cameroon Africa's Footballer of the Year (1976, 1990)
World Cup All-Star Team (1990)
number 58 on World Soccer Magazine's FIFA 100 list
attack Rabah Madjer AlgeriaAlgeria Algeria Africa's Footballer of the Year (1987)

Asia / Oceania

position player nationality official honors
goalkeeper Chow Chee-keong MalaysiaMalaysia Malaysia
Defense Kim Ho-kon Korea Sud 1949South Korea South Korea
Defense Masami Ihara JapanJapan Japan Asia's Footballer of the Year (1995)
Defense Soh Chi-aum MalaysiaMalaysia Malaysia
midfield Chen Chi-doi TaiwanRepublic of China (Taiwan) Taiwan
midfield Karim Bagheri IranIran Iran
midfield Kim Joo-sung Korea Sud 1949South Korea South Korea Asia's Footballer of the Year (1989–1991)
attack Majeed Abdullah Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
attack Kunishige Kamamoto JapanJapan Japan
attack Chodadad Azizi IranIran Iran Asia's Footballer of the Year (1996)
attack Cha Bum-kun Korea SouthSouth Korea South Korea

Web links