Top 10 forwards of all time

#7 Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff truly made football the 'beautiful game'

The man who created a whole new philosophy of ‘total football’, Johan Cruyff is rightly considered by many to be one of the most important people in football's history. Cruyff redefined the way the game was played and won the Ballon d'Or award an incredible 3 times (1971,1973,1974) during his stellar career.

Playing as a centre-forward and advanced playmaker for the legendary Ajax side of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Cruyff with his brilliant passing, dribbling skills, and finishing ability soon captured the attention of football fans all over the world. A complete player, Cruyff could set up teammates and score stunning goals with equal ease.

In the summer of 1973, FC Barcelona came calling for the “Flying Dutchman” and signed him for a then world record transfer fee of $2 million. His arrival at Barcelona helped the Catalan giants put behind their arch-rivals Real Madrid as they thrashed them 5-0 at the Bernabeu and claimed a first La Liga title in 14 years.

A true visionary and pioneer of the game, Cruyff was also part of probably the greatest ever football team to never win the World Cup when the incredibly entertaining and skilled Netherlands side finished runner-up to West Germany in 1974.

Finally calling time on his incredible career in 1984, where he improbably guided Feyenoord to the League title, Cruyff was a true legend of the game who stayed at the very top level for an incredible 20 years.

Johan Cruyff's style and the grace he brought to the game can be best summarised by this incredible quote by the great man himself:

"Winning is an important thing, but to have your own style, to have people copy you, to admire you, that is the greatest gift."