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#8 Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain) - two-time Ballon d'Or winner
Ferenc Puskas narrowly misses out on our list. But his Real Madrid teammate Alfredo Di Stefano remains a staple in debates about the greatest players of all time.
Born in Argentina, the Blond Arrow only played a handful of games for his country of birth. He chose to represent Spain, where he spent most of his club career. Di Stefano arrived in Madrid in 1953 at the start of the most successful period in Los Blancos' history. A decade later, he departed as the greatest player to have represented the iconic club.
Di Stefano and Real Madrid won an astonishing five European Cups before his exit from the Spanish capital in 1964. The Blond Arrow scored in all five finals.
They also won eight La Liga titles, with Di Stefano clinching five Pichichi awards. Two Ballon d'Or awards followed, in 1957 and 1959, as Di Stefano ended with 267 goals in 348 appearances for Real Madrid.
Legendary football coach Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Di Stefano, saying:
"The great question which always comes up is ‘who are the greatest footballers?’ There is a phalanx of great ones – Cruyff, Maradona, Pele, Puskas and Di Stefano. Di Stefano was one of the greatest in my mind."
#7 Zinedine Zidane (France) - 1998 Ballon d'Or winner
Zinedine Zidane is the bridge between modern football and eras gone by. Silky and languid in possession yet powerful and efficient, Zizou was a complete midfielder. Despite Platini's undeniable quality, Zidane gets the edge because of his long, decorated career and his 1998 FIFA World Cup triumph.
Zidane famously led France to their first World Cup trophy, scoring twice in a 3-0 demolition of Brazil in the 1998 Paris final. Two years later, France were Euro 2000 champions, with Zidane being named the Player of the Tournament.
He then led them on a surprise run to the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, putting in a Man of the Match performance against Brazil in the quarter-final. Despite the heartbreak and controversy in the final, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball for Best Player of the Tournament.
Zizou's club career was equally successful. After making his name with Bordeaux, Zidane truly established himself as a global superstar with Juventus. He made 212 appearances for the Bianconeri, scoring 31 goals and assisting 38 times, and winning two Serie A titles. The highlight of Zidane's time in Italy was winning the 1998 Ballon d'Or award. He was also named the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998 and 2000.
He then completed a blockbuster transfer to Real Madrid ahead of the 2001-02 season for an enormous €76 million, a record fee at that time. The Frenchman made 227 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 49 goals and assisting 67 strikes. Zidane was named FIFA Player of the Year again in 2003; Real Madrid won the 2002 Champions League and the 2003 La Liga title with the Frenchman.
Zidane was the only player in history to be named Player of the Year in three of Europe's top five domestic leagues before Cristiano Ronaldo emulated the feat in 2019. L'Equipe later named Zidane the Best French Player of All Time.
Ronaldinho, who got a close-up view of Zidane's greatness while playing for Brazil and Barcelona, said:
“Zidane is one of the best footballers of all time, one of my idols. He had such elegance and grace, a wonderful touch and superb vision.”
#6 Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) - two-time Ballon d'Or winner
Der Kaiser was the embodiment of German football: simple, ruthless, effective and immensely successful. But more importantly, Franz Beckenbauer is one of the most influential players to have graced the game. Credited with inventing the role of a sweeper, the German star showed that defenders could do so much more than stop opposition attacks and clear the ball into the stands.
Before Beckenbauer's innovation, defenders were content to sit back deep, hold their position and hoof the ball out of play after breaking up attacks. Der Kaiser redefined the role by winning the ball back and carrying it up the pitch or playing quick forward passes to launch counter-attacks.
The German national team is acknowledged as one of the most consistent in history, and Franz Beckenbauer deserves enormous credit for that. The inspirational captain led West Germany to glory at the 1972 FIFA World Cup and the 1974 Euros. Der Kaiser was also named German Footballer of the Year four times.
Beckenbauer is also undisputedly the greatest player in Bayern Munich history. He made 546 appearances for the Bavarian giants, scoring 58 times and assisting 74 goals. Bayern were the greatest team in Europe during Beckenbauer's time at the club. He won three consecutive European Cups between 1974 and 1976, along with five Bundesliga titles and four DFB Pokal trophies.
Beckenbauer won Ballon d'Or awards in 1972 and 1976. But he is best remembered as the most complete player in the game's history, one who could play as a centre-back, winger or up front.
French legend Eric Cantona applauded Franz Beckenbauer by saying:
“He was a leader of men, a dominant presence who could bring the ball out with grace and skill. But I tell you this: he broke my heart. As an eight-year-old, I watched the 1974 World Cup final between West Germany and Holland, and I was supporting the Dutch. I cried my eyes out when they lost. I was very sad, but now I understand all about the brilliance of the Kaiser.”
