The FIFA World Cup is an international soccer competition held every four years. It is the most prestigious event in the sport, and the best players in the world always hope to shine on the biggest stage. They are also there to ensure the World cup odds are boosted.
In this article, we will look at some of the best players in World Cup history. Some of these players have inspired their teams to victory, while others have left us with some unforgettable moments.
Diego Maradona (Argentina)
Maradona is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time. He played in four World Cups, including the 1986 tournament where he led Argentina to victory. Maradona scored five goals in that tournament, including the famous “Hand of God” goal against England in the quarter-finals.
Pelé (Brazil)
Pelé is another player who is widely considered to be one of the greatest of all time. He played in three World Cups, helping Brazil win the tournament in 1958, 1962, and 1970. In total, Pelé scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup appearances.
Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
Cruyff was a key player on the Dutch team that reached the 1974 World Cup final. He is famous for his “Cruyff Turn” move, which helped him score a goal against Sweden in the group stage. Cruyff scored five goals in that tournament.
Garrincha (Brazil)
Garrincha was a winger who played in the 1958 and 1962 World Cups. He was a vital member of the Brazilian team that won the 1962 World Cup, scoring two goals in the tournament.
Ronaldo (Brazil)
Ronaldo is the second player on this list from Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning team. He is the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history with 15 goals. Ronaldo scored two goals in the 2002 final, helping Brazil defeat Germany.
Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Klose is the all-time leading goal scorer for Germany with 71 goals. He played in four World Cups, winning the tournament with Germany in 2014. Klose scored 16 goals in World Cup play, second only to Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Messi is widely considered to be the best player in the world today. He has played in two World Cups, reaching the final with Argentina in 2014. Messi has yet to score a goal in World Cup play, but he has been one of the best players in the tournament.
Zinedine Zidane (France)
Zidane was a star player on the French team that won the 1998 World Cup. He scored two goals in that tournament, including a stunning volley in the final against Brazil. Zidane was named the tournament’s best player.
Xavi (Spain)
Xavi was a key player on the Spanish team that won the 2010 World Cup. He is considered to be one of the best midfielders of all time. Xavi helped Spain dominate possession in that tournament and was named the best player in the tournament. He now has players from his club Barcelona in the 2022 World Cup.
Lothar Matthäus (Germany)
Matthäus is the only player on this list who played in five different World Cups. He is the most capped player in German history with 150 appearances. Matthäus was named the best player in the 1990 World Cup, where he helped Germany reach the final.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Ronaldo is among the most gifted footballers and has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award twice. He inspired Portugal to the European Championship final and was their leading goalscorer in the 2006 World Cup. A superb athlete, Ronaldo is rivaled only by Messi when it comes to pure talent. He is set to take part in the World Cup soccer 2022.
Mario Kempes (Argentina)
Kempes was the star man for Argentina in their 1978 World Cup triumph, scoring six goals in the tournament, including two in the final against the Netherlands. A powerful and skillful striker, Kempes was almost impossible to stop when he was in full flow. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1978 and is still revered in his native Argentina.
Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)
Beckenbauer is one of only two men to have won the World Cup as a player and a manager. He was the captain of West Germany’s 1974 World Cup winning team and led his country to victory as a manager in 1990. A supremely gifted player, Beckenbauer was a class act on and off the pitch.
Michel Platini (France)
Michel Platini is a former French soccer player considered one of the greatest of all time. He played in the 1984 European Championship and the 1986 World Cup, both of which France won. Platini is the all-time leading scorer in the European Championship, with nine goals.
Verdict
These are just some of the many great players who have graced the World Cup stage. The tournament has witnessed some of the most unforgettable moments in soccer history and will continue to be the world’s premier soccer competition for years to come.
