16 thoughts on “The Greatest Soccer Players of All-Time”

1. 

   Is the “Falcao” on your overflow list the one born in 1998?

   1. 

      Different Falcao.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Roberto_Falc%C3%A3o

2. 

   Wasn’t Edgar Davids a Midfielder?

   1. 

      Yes, fixed.

3. 

   Hey Jake, do you think you could do your overflow list in order or would that take too long.

   1. 

      Hey Parker,

      When I first got started with this, I thought about doing something like that. However, resumes start getting too similar, and it became much, much more difficult to make decisions. I’ve since gone with the idea of that 100th spot essentially being the gatekeeper to the list. It simplifies the process for me.

4. 

   What did Osvaldo Ardiles do to deserve an honorable mention? Other than his three selections to the World Soccer World 11 I can’t find a single accomplishment (That is, if you exclude championships)

   1. 

      Long, successful career in the Premier League with 3 World XI selections and a World Cup is a top 200 resume.

      FYI-Here’s a synopsis from AI:

      World Cup winner, central contributor (1978): Started every match for Argentina under Menotti’s pioneering possession style. His press-resistance and tempo control were integral to a title—an all-time résumé anchor.

      Era-defining midfielder profile: Among the first globally renowned metronome/creator hybrids from South America to thrive in Europe. Excellent scanning, quick combinations, and line-breaking passes—precursor to the modern “8.”

      Elite European impact: At Tottenham Hotspur (1978–1988, 1989–1991), he transformed midfield play in England’s First Division, helping shift the league toward more technical, possession-based approaches.

      Major club honors and longevity:

      FA Cup winner (1981), UEFA Cup winner (1984) with Spurs.
      Sustained top-flight influence across a decade-plus in England and stints in France/Argentina.
      Durability and consistency against physically intense 80s English football.
      International pedigree:

      63 caps for Argentina across a highly competitive era.
      Key figure in the 1982 team built around Maradona; widely trusted in elite international tournaments.
      Cross-cultural significance: One of the first high-profile Argentine signings to become a cult figure in England (with Ricky Villa), opening pathways and shifting perceptions about South American playmakers in Europe.

      Peer and coach testimony: Consistently cited by teammates/coaches for his intelligence, work rate, and composure—intangibles that scale across eras.

      Advanced-value lens (translated to modern metrics): Ball retention under pressure, progressive passing, and tempo control are high-weight traits in today’s analytics; Ardiles excelled in these before they were formally measured.

      Historical standing within position: While not in the very top tier of all-time midfielders (e.g., Maradona, Xavi), he sits comfortably in the broad second/third tier—plausibly within the top 150–200 overall when balancing peak, honors, impact, and legacy.

      Bottom line: A World Cup-winning, era-shaping midfielder who influenced English football’s evolution and delivered major club silverware with decade-long consistency merits inclusion in a top-200 all-time list.

5. 

   Have you given any consideration to Hidetoshi Nakata? He was on Pele’s list of the top 125 footballers list back in ’04

   1. 

      Everyone on Pele’s list was heavily considered. Nakata didn’t make the cut. Keep in mind that it has been 21 years since Pele’s list came out. There are 39 players in the top 125 who started their careers in the 2000s and several more who began in the 90s and hadn’t played long enough to appear on Pele’s list. That’s close to 50 players on Pele’s list that would be pushed out by players from the last 2+ decades, not to mention a whole slew of honorable mention types who have hit the scene over that time. So, there are definitely several players on Pele’s list who are outside of the top 200 at this point. Nakata is one, IMO.

6. 

   Who was better Willy or Rene Van de Kerkhof?

   1. 

      That one is too close to call. I had them tied on on my Dutch list.

7. 

   I’m gonna take a stab at doing your overflow list in order. I’m also only listing players that I either know a lot about or have seen play. Let me know what you would do differently or if I’m in the ballpark.
   Here are the ranking IMO
   1. Michael Ballack
   2. Christian Vieri
   3. Marco Reus
   4. Arjen Robben
   5. David Trezeguet
   6. Deco
   7. Ryan Giggs
   8. Hernan Crespo
   9. Matthias Sammer
   10. Mesut Ozil
   11. Fernando Torres
   12. Gabriel Batistuta
   13. Rui Costa
   14. Robert Pires
   15. Patrick Kluivert
   16. Clarence Seedorf
   17. Yaya Toure
   18. Juan Sebastian Veron
   19. Robbie Keane
   20. Luis Enrique
   21. Paul Scholes
   22. Edgar Davids
   23. Didier Deschamps
   24. Javier Zanetti

   1. 

      Hey Parker!

      That’s a pretty good list. In no particular order, the 30 players I’d be looking at first if I were ranking the overflow would be:

      Ronald Koeman
      Djalma Santos
      Rinat Dasayev
      Christian Vieri
      Giampiero Boniperti
      Gabriel Batistuta
      Paul Scholes
      Ryan Giggs
      Michael Ballack
      Stanley Matthews
      Paco Gento
      Gerard Pique
      Emilio Butragueno
      Patrick Kluivert
      Clarence Seedorf
      Just Fontaine
      Eric Cantona
      Mesut Ozil
      Bernd Schuster
      Socrates
      Nilton Santos
      Javier Zanetti
      Robbie Keane
      Rui Costa
      Kenny Dalgish
      Fernando Torres
      Yaya Toure
      Marco Reus
      Deco
      Arjen Robben

      1. 

         I’m pretty much only familiar with players that played after 1990 which is why I chose to do those particular players. Thanks for the feedback!

         1. 

            You bet!