'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Lev Yashin (Soviet Union) - 1956
Widely regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in football history, Lev Yashin was called up to represent the Soviet national team in 1954. He tasted international glory for the first time just two years later when the Soviet Union won Olympic gold in Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Lev Yashin was voted the best goalkeeper of the 20th century because of his unparalleled exploits and remains the only keeper to have won the Ballon d'Or, which he won in 1963.
#2 Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) - 1952
Yet another absolute legend, Ferenc Puskas is also considered to be one of the best players to have ever played football. By far one of the most prolific strikers in the world, Puskas scored a jaw-dropping total of 84 goals in just 85 international matches for Hungary.
The football tournament at the 1952 Summer Olympics heralded an era of Hungarian dominance in international football as the Golden Team came to the fore. Hungary beat every team they faced in the 1952 Games, including a 7-1 thrashing of Turkey in the quarterfinals and a 6-0 rampage against Sweden in the semifinals.
Hungary went on to win the gold medal rather comfortably by beating Yugoslavia 2-0 in the final. Puskas scored 4 goals in the tournament - two against Turkey, and one each against Sweden and Yugoslavia.
Recounting the 1952 Summer Olympics, Puskas famously said "It was during the Olympics that our football first started to flow with real power."
#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 2008
Was there any doubt about Lionel Messi occupying the top spot on this list? The then 21-year-old helped Argentina win their second consecutive Olympic gold medal in men's football at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Argentina won all six of their matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding just 2.
Messi scored two of those goals and assisted three more, including the only goal in the final against Nigeria. Messi was subsequently named the best player of the tournament as Argentina set a record of 12 consecutive wins at the Summer Olympics, having won 6 matches in the 2004 edition and 6 more in the 2008 edition.
