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#3 Fritz Walter
Fritz Walter is arguably Kaiserslautern's greatest ever player, having spent his entire career at the German club. In fact, the club has named their stadium after him. Walter scored 357 goals in 364 appearances for Kaiserslautern and has etched his name in German football history.
The attacking midfielder was involved in a war as the Nazis forced him to fight against the Soviets on the eastern front. Walter was held hostage at the end of the battle and wasn't expected to live for more than five years.
Interestingly, at the holding camp, he got a chance to showcase his football skills.
One guard spoke up for Walter when it was time for the inmates to board the train to Gulag. The soldier persuaded his superiors that Walter was Austrian, not German, and that the sentence was unjust.
He eventually went on to captain West Germany to FIFA World Cup glory in 1954.
#2 Raymond Kopa
Raymond Kopa is one of the most gifted French players of all time. Kopa is renowned for his spells at both Reims and Real Madrid. The attacking midfielder was a pivotal part of the Los Blancos side that won three European Cups during the late 1950s.
Kopa worked in the coal mines of northern France with his father and brother during the war, producing fuel for the French while under Nazi rule. He even lost a finger in a mining accident.
Kopa then tried out for professional football after the war to avoid the early deaths that most miners experienced.
The Frenchman's decision turned out to be highly successful as he enjoyed playing at the highest level for around a decade. At his peak, Kopa was among the best players in the world. He won the Ballon d'Or once and narrowly missed out on the award thrice in a tremendous career.
#1 Lev Yashin
Lev Yashin is arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time. Known for his positioning, quick reflexes, and extraordinary penalty-saving capabilities, Yashin remains the benchmark for goalkeepers across the world. He is the only shot-stopper ever to win the Ballon d'Or.
Yashin was compelled to work in a factory at the age of 12. However, at 18, he was unable to work due to a health condition. As a result, he was assigned to a military factory in Moscow. Yashin was then invited to join the Dynamo Moscow youth squad after impressing while playing for the factory team.
The Soviet Union international played 74 times for his nation and on 326 occasions for Dynamo Moscow. "The Black Spider" almost single-handedly carried the Soviet Union to the 1996 FIFA World Cup semi-finals. He also won an Olympic Gold Medal and saved more than 150 penalties in an accomplished career.
In honor of his incredible contributions to the sport, France Football created the Yashin Trophy, which is presented to the best goalkeeper over the course of a year. The award was established in 2019.
