Pele, Maradona or Messi at…

This is the definitive compilation of football legends, evaluated solely on their performances in the world’s most esteemed tournament. While numerous star athletes excel at the club level, who among them has consistently dazzled for their country in the history of the men’s FIFA World Cup?

As we approach the 23rd World Cup, starting in North America on June 11, we’re excited to countdown our all-time greats. From Pele and Messi to Maradona and Beckenbauer, alongside a sprinkle of Zidane, Mbappe, and Ronaldo, these are the athletes who have brightened the “greatest show on Earth” over the past 96 years.

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Now, we present our top 10. Our Chief Football Writer, Miguel Delaney, has elaborated on why the No. 1 pick was clear.

Employing a specific points system, the reporters at The Independent have ranked the top 50 players in World Cup history, from the inaugural tournament in Uruguay in 1930 to the first-ever winter tournament in Qatar in 2022. To clarify, this ranking emphasizes performances in World Cups, rather than merely recognizing the best players who have participated.

Interestingly, one notable omission from the top 50 is Cristiano Ronaldo: the captain of Portugal is set to make his sixth World Cup appearance this summer, but Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly explains here why this footballing icon falls short of the pantheon of World Cup greats.

So, who ranks among the top 10 players in our list of World Cup legends?

50. Fritz Walter (West Germany)

• World Cups played: 1954, 1958

• World Cup record: Winner 1954

• Best moment: Lifting the trophy in an unexpected victory for West Germany

Fritz Walter’s talent saved him from the Soviet gulag during World War II thanks to a Hungarian prison guard who recognized his soccer prowess. Walter rewarded Hungarian football with his impressive career.

The biggest shock in World Cup final history occurred in 1954 when the dominant Hungary team fell to West Germany, who had been excluded from the 1950 tournament and suffered an 8-3 defeat to Hungary in the group stages that year.

Walter was central to the “Miracle of Bern,” contributing to two goals in the final, and alongside his brother Ottmar, is one of only two pairs of brothers to win the World Cup, sharing this distinction with the Charltons.

Richard Jolly