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Football has had stellar forwards in the history of the game. They are responsible for scoring the goals, which is the hardest part of the game. These ten forwards played for a long time and carved a niche for themselves by scoring a huge amount of goals with perfect technique, and temperament.
The fans loved them for their skills and thronged to the stadium to watch a glimpse of them with the ball. There have been plenty of forwards in the history of the game, but these ten forwards have been chosen due to their goal-scoring ability, fame, contribution to the game, and sterling career.
10. Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio is considered one of the most famous football players of all time. He played as a creative forward with excellent dribbling skills. Baggio was a free-kick specialist and could penetrate any defense. He steered Italy to the 1994 World Cup final with his stellar on-field performance.
They nicknamed him Il Divin Codino (The Divine Ponytail), for his hairstyle. He made 56 appearances for Italy and scored 27 goals with three assists. Baggio played for AC Milan, Brescia, Juventus, and other clubs for the most part of his career. He played 597 club matches and scored 269 goals with 20 assists.
The French weekly magazine France Football put him on the eighteenth spot in a poll conducted by them.
9. Giuseppe Meazza
They consider Giuseppe Meazza as the best Italian player of all time. He started out as a striker but later became an accomplished midfielder. For the most part of his career, Meazza played as an inside forward. He was famous for his dribbling and shooting skills. Meazza was a great passer and was admired for his spins and turns.
He played for Juventus, Milan, and other clubs in Italy. They nicknamed him il Balilla. He played 367 club matches and scored 214 goals. Meazza captained Italy in the 1938 World Cup. He played 53 matches and scored 33 goals for his country.
The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) selected him as the second best Italian player and 21st World Player of the Century. The Italian government honoured him by naming the home stadium of Inter Milan and AC Milan as the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.
8. Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff was the eminent exponent of Total Football. He was a complete forward to ever play the game. They knew him for his speed, acceleration, and technical ability. Cruyff also invented a move now known as the 'Cruyff Turn'.
He won the Ballon d'Or award three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974 during his extraordinary career. Cruyff played 48 matches for the Netherlands and scored 33 goals. At the club level, he scored 74 goals in 178 matches.
The UEFA Jubilee Poll.placed him third in the best European footballer in the last 50 years.
7. Eusebio
Eusebio Ferreira Da Silva is the greatest footballer ever to come from Africa, who played for Portugal. He possessed powerful stamina and was admired for his fearsome shot-making ability. Da Silva played for the club Benfica alongside another legend, Mario Coluna.
He helped Portugal win the only medal in their World Cup history. Da Silva scored 34 hat-tricks in his entire career. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1965 and lost to Bobby Charlton in 1966 to win Ball.
The IFFHS and World Soccer voted him the ninth and tenth greatest footballer of the century, respectively.
6. Ferenc Puskas
They rate Ferenc Puskas as the best Eastern European footballer of all time. His striking technique and goal-finishing skills made him one of the best shooters. He was highly professional and consistent in his performances.
Puskas captained the Hungarian national team. In 1958, he moved to Spain to play for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. At the club level, he played 223 matches and scored 194 goals. For Hungary and Spain, he scored 84 goals in 89 matches.
The IFFHS and World Soccer voted him the sixth and seventh in the 'greatest player of the century' list, respectively.
5. Alfredo Di Stefano
Alfredo Di Stefano was rated as the complete footballer of all time. He controlled the game from all angles and positions in the central midfield area. He played as a forward but excelled in the midfield and defense positions also.
He was tactical, visionary and possessed great stamina. Di Stefano was instrumental in Real Madrid's domination of the European Cup during the 1950s. At the club level, he played 232 matches and scored 156 goals. He also played 41 matches for Spain, Argentina, and Colombia with 29 goals.
The IFFHS and World Soccer put him on the fourth and sixth position in the 'greatest player of the century' poll, respectively.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the modern day greatest football players. He started out by playing in the left or right-wing but soon became one of the fastest forwards in the history of the game. They call him 'machine' for his physical abilities, moves, and dribbling skills.
He has played 773 club matches and scored 580 goals with 206 assists. For his national side, Portugal, he has played 154 matches and scored 85 goals with 37 assists. Ronaldo led Portugal to Euro 2016 as a captain.
He won Ballon d'Or award five times in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
3. Diego Maradona
They considered Diego Maradona as one of the greatest football players of all time. His dribbling, passing, and ball control was phenomenal. They called him "El Pibe de Oro" ("The Golden Boy"). He mostly played as an attacking midfielder and second striker.
For the clubs, he played 588 matches and scored 312 goals with 24 assists. He played 91 matches as a senior for Argentina and scored 34 goals with 11 assists.
He led Argentina to their 1986 World Cup win with two sensational goals, which are remembered even today.
2. Lionel Messi
They consider Lionel Messi as one of the greatest players to play the game. He is 'magical' in agility, dribbling, and creativity. Messi helped Argentina win FIFA World Cup U-20 in 2005. Messi started as a wing-forward but switched to free role center-forward later in his career.
He has played 651 club matches and scored 566 goals with 220 assists. For his national side, he played 128 matches and scored 65 goals with 42 assists.
Messi won the Ballon d'Or award five times in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015.
1. Pele
Pele is known as the “The King of Football.” He is considered to be the greatest footballer of all time. He won his first World Cup at 17. Pele played as an inside forward, striker and later as the playmaker. They praised him for his pace, dribbling and exceptional heading ability. He is the leading scorer for Brazil and the only player to win the World Cup three times in his career.
Pele played 93 matches for Brazil and scored 77 goals. He also played 694 club matches and scored 650 goals.
The IFFHS voted him 'World Player of the Century' in 1999.
