Fans pick their own World Cup legends after The Independent’s top 50 sparks debate
Readers have been responding to The Independent’s ranking of the 50 greatest World Cup players by putting forward their own favourites, with the list prompting a wave of alternative selections and personal top 10s.
The ranking from our team of sports reporters focused strictly on World Cup performances – and many commenters responded by putting forward their own selections, nominating players they felt were overlooked or underrated.
At the very top, the consensus around the podium was mixed but passionate. Several readers backed Pele as undisputed No 1, with one insisting: “Pele without a doubt. Yes, Maradona at 2.”
Others were less convinced by the modern era’s place in the hierarchy, questioning whether Messi belongs in the same conversation. “Messi? Are you kidding?” one commenter wrote, while others simply rejected the framing altogether in favour of earlier generations of greats.
Away from the top three, much of the debate focused on players readers felt were left out or ranked too low, from Cruyff, Zidane and Beckenbauer to Baggio, Romario, Maldini and Moore. One commenter argued: “Platini, Xavi, Iniesta and Cruyff… are too far back,” while another lamented the omission of Kenny Dalglish.
Perhaps the loudest criticism was reserved for Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from the top 50. One reader wrote that “CRO has to be there,” arguing that a player who has had such a profound impact on his country’s performances could not be overlooked, even in a World Cup-only ranking.
Here’s what you had to say:
German legends
From a German perspective, I expect Matthaus, Brehme, Klose, Gerd Muller and, of course, Beckenbauer, very far up, not to forget Seeler, Schnellinger, Podolski and Schweinsteiger. There are some more, but who knows where the author made the cut. Walter at 50 indicates some recency bias.
These lists are difficult anyway, so kudos for trying.
Jairzinho’s 1970 World Cup performance
Greatest and most consistent performance in a single World Cup has to be Jairzinho in 1970. It is so overlooked, but he scored at least one goal in every single game in 1970, a feat never replicated, though Klose, as his name implies, came close. He scored more than one as well and had a hand in others that Pele became famous for, but really he is long overdue for celebration of his amazing feat.
Europeans were loath to recognise Brazilian achievement and gave in by recognising Pele and the beautiful game after 1970, but Jairzinho was not playing in Europe and got overshadowed because it was Pele’s third and the team was loaded. But really it was Jairzinho who was responsible for ensuring victory in every game in 1970 for Brazil.
JairzinhoWasBetterThanMostRealize
Messi was an abject failure in 2016
Pele without a doubt. Yes, Maradona at 2, but Messi at 3? Come on. Five World Cups and one win, but more than that, an abject failure in 2016 with a hugely strong squad.
Ronaldo missing
Ronaldo is missing from the list. He is one of the best Portuguese players and has not forgotten his background coming from a poor family.
Like trying to pick your favourite song
Team player with individual talent, not greedy with the ball, can read the game, football brain, humble, doesn’t cheat, no dramatics, passionate about the game, the team, the fans.
Without the points, just thinking aloud and for now, in no particular order:
- Ronaldo, the real one, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima
- Zinedine Zidane
- Roberto Carlos
- Johan Cruyff
- Lionel Messi
- Pele
- Kylian Mbappe
- Iker Casillas
- Gerd Muller
- Bobby Moore
- Franz Beckenbauer
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Jurgen Klinsmann
- Michel Platini
- Eusebio
- Gordon Banks
It’s like trying to pick your favourite song.
All-time greats
The end.
Kenny Dalglish deserves recognition
I’d like to make a case for Kenny Dalglish, without doubt Scotland’s finest player.
His record as a player and player-manager is remarkable. I know it’s an impossible job to compare players from the 1930s against more recent ones, so it’s only a minor complaint.
All-time XI selection
Who needs Pele or Maradona, just take a look at this top 11 squad:
Goalkeeper: Lev Yashin (Russia) Right-back: Cafu (Brazil) Centre-back: Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) Left-back: Paolo Maldini (Italy) Centre-mid: Xavi Hernandez (Spain) Centre-mid: Lothar Matthaus (Germany) Left-mid: Zinedine Zidane (France) Right-mid: Garrincha (Brazil) Right-wing: Lionel Messi (Argentina) Left-wing: Thierry Henry (France) Striker: Ronaldo (Brazil)
Maradona ‘Goal of the Century’
Looking at the video of Maradona’s “goal of the century”, if this was played today then Peter Reid would have cynically fouled him at 10 seconds, got a yellow, and the resulting free kick would have seen players wrestling and diving in the six-yard box, and the ball would have been launched into the crowd. And we say football is better these days! I think not.
Messi, really?
Messi? Are you kidding? He did well in some ways in 2022, that’s all. With five trophies, there are at least five Brazilians in the top 10: Pele, Zagallo, Garrincha, Zico, Ronaldo. Zagallo is the only human being with four canecos!
John Aldridge
John Aldridge has to be included, if only so that a Tranmere player appears.
A proposed top ten list
I’m not saying Martin Peters shouldn’t be on the list, but if so then surely Geoff Hurst should be included ahead of him?
My top ten in descending order:
Gerd Müller Garrincha Klose Zidane Mbappé Ronaldo (Brazil) Beckenbauer Messi Maradona Pele
Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has to be there. I can’t understand why a footballer who has had a profound impact on his country’s performances is missing from the list.
Cruyff and other greats underrated
I was privileged to see Cruyff in his pomp twice. Like all great players, even when not involved in the game for a while, he suddenly created magic. The famous turn alone should have him in the top five.
Platini, Xavi and Iniesta
Platini, Xavi, Iniesta and Cruyff, just to mention four, are too far back…
Omitted legends
There were also a lot of players who played for lesser teams and, as a result, never won anything, but they still did great things at the World Cup. Hristo Stoichkov comes to mind, as does Gheorghe Hagi.
Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.
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