Ranking the top 10 players who revolutionised football

Change is the law of nature, isn't it? Nothing remains the same forever; mankind and the things around him have been evolving since the day when the universe came into being. And, that is what revolutionising actually means - to make a major change.

Football, too, has changed a lot since it was born. The version of the beautiful game that we see today has morphed over centuries. And, a number of footballing connoisseurs deserve the credit for their priceless contributions in the development of football as a sport.

Some of the game's greatest souls have revolutionised it in a way like no other. Their services have ensured them a place amongst the greatest members of the footballing pantheon. The impact of their contributions have left a lasting mark and made them immortals in history.

Without further ado, let's look at 10 such celebrated names that have revolutionised and shaped the game that we see today.

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#10 George Best

George Best was football's first global superstar

George Best was one of the finest footballers of his age. But, the extent of his fame wasn't limited just to the football field. Nicknamed as 'The Belfast Boy', the Irishman was the first rock 'n' roll footballer, the first superstar of the game.

Apart from his dazzling dribbles and bamboozling feints, Best is well-remembered for introducing football and glamour to each other. George Best was equally well-gifted with good looks as he was with a fine technique in the game. His popstar image made him famous equally amongst women.

The stardom of Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham are well-known to the masses but hardly do they know that it was the fifth Beatle who actually initiated that glamorous clan of footballers.

#9 Rogerio Ceni

Rogerio Ceni is the greatest goalscoring goalkeeper of all time

To all those who believe goalkeepers can't contribute more than saving shots and distributing the ball clinically, the name Rogerio Ceni will definitely make them fall flat on their face. The Brazilian has gone down in the history books as the greatest goalscoring goalkeeper of all time.

Ceni was a dead-ball specialist well-known for his inch-perfect penalties and free-kicks. He found the net 131 times in a 25-year career for Sao Paolo. That number itself speaks volume about how influential he was. Just to let you know, his goal tally is better than a bunch of legends such as Andres Iniesta, Paolo Maldini, Dennis Bergkamp, Roberto Carlos and Zinedine Zidane.

Ceni clinched a vast number of major titles but more than that, he changed the perception of the role of a goalkeeper in the minds of people. Quite a unique legend, isn't he?

#8 Lev Yashin

Lev Yashin is the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or

All of us are accustomed to appreciating Lev Yashin, the USSR goalkeeper, as the only player in his position to win the Ballon d'Or. However, the praise he deserves stretches far deeper than that.

In his days, goalkeepers were used to kicking the ball aimlessly to start the game after making a save from set-pieces or open play. And, Lev Yashin changed exactly that. In a literal sense, he showed that goalkeepers could be used for more than just stopping the opponents from scoring.

The Russian shot-stopper invented the sweeper keeper technique that is followed in modern football to this date. He started acting like another defender and taking part in the passing play outside the penalty area to help out his teammates by building up play from the back.

The fact that his style of play is still followed speaks in abundance about his fundamental contribution to the beautiful game.

#7 Alfredo Di Stefano

Alfredo Di Stefano scored in all the five European Cup finals

We all know Real Madrid as the most successful history of world football, predominantly for their fascinating fairytale in the European Cup competitions. Los Blancos clinched the European Cup 5 times in a row when the competition started, and Alfredo Di Stefano was the crowned jewel who spearheaded that side.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever to grace the pitch, the Argentinian took Spain by storm during his highly successful years with Real Madrid. He was known for his terrific dribbling and goalscoring skills that helped the club win a massive chunk of trophies in the 60s.

Di Stefano netted in all the five finals for Los Blancos in the European Cup, including a hattrick in the last one. His priceless contribution is the reason why Real Madrid richly deserve the crown they so willingly boast in their badge - the crown that also sort of signifies their claim as the greatest football club of all time.

#6 Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer earned the nickname 'Der Kaiser' during his playing days

In the times when he played, Franz Beckenbauer earned the nickname 'Der Kaiser' meaning 'The King'. The German legend built a massive reputation for his leadership abilities, and above all, for his elegant style of play.

Beckenbauer is often credited for inventing the role of libero or the modern sweeper, a defender who also helps the team during attacks.

It isn't only his exploits on the pitch that need to be mentioned. Regarded as the greatest German footballer of all time, Beckenbauer also has the right to be known as the greatest manager the country has ever produced. After all, he remains one of the only three players to have won the World Cup both as a player and a manager.

Also, let's not forget that Franz Beckenbauer is one of those rare players who has lifted every major individual and collective laurel that the game has to offer: the World Cup, the European Cup and the Ballon d'Or.

#5 Ferenc Puskas

Ferenc Puskas scored goals at a jaw-dropping rate

We are well-acquainted with how Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have revolutionised goalscoring. But before they played their parts, a certain giant named Ferenc Puskas contributed importantly in the evolution of that art.

The captain of Hungary's team well-known as 'Mighty Magyars', Puskas isn't known for scoring oodles of goals, but the rate at which he scored them.

The Real Madrid legend found the net 622 times in just 629 appearances. He also showcased his lethal brilliance at goalscoring on the international level, netting 84 goals in 85 games for Hungary. And for all those who don't know, Puskas was declared as the greatest goalscorer of the 20th century by IFFHS. He was also honoured by FIFA, who named the Goal of the Year award after him.

With the rate at which he scored goals, it's safe to admit that Ferenc Puskas was probably the deadliest goalscorer in the history of football.

#4 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is regarded by many as the GOAT

Modern football fans, or least those who started watching the beautiful game at the start of the decade, will surely not carry regrets about not being able to watch the likes of Zidane, Beckham, Ronaldo and many other luminaries. Lionel Messi has made sure they feel blessed instead of unlucky.

The Barcelona hitman's long-lasting relationship with the goal net seems to be lasting till Doomsday. His habit of dispatching the ball into the net has revolutionised the art of scoring goals. Moreover, it's the perceptions of the fan base that he has changed.

A 40+ goal season before Leo Messi was born used to leave people awestruck. Ever since he started playing football, even a 50+ goal tally in a single season seems as normal as a 30-goal season. He has raised bars that will definitely be no piece of cake to even match, let alone surpass them.

Apart from his goalscoring exploits, Lionel Messi has also been credited for his flawless execution of the false 9 tactic. Pretty much, if it wasn't for his failures at the international stage, the Argentine magician would already have usurped the title of GOAT from Pele.

#3 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has revolutionized the art of goalscoring

You cannot talk about one without mentioning the other, can you? It seems as if the juxtaposing Cristiano Ronaldo alongside Lionel Messi will never cease to be.

While his nemesis was born a natural at the art of playing football, the Portuguese giant's hunger for silverware has enabled him to match, and at times, even beat his arch-rival.

The mammoth number of records that Ronaldo has in his name is downright maddening. He hasn't just fulfilled his potential, but broken its boundaries with his praiseworthy hard work.

While CR7's heroics on the pitch need no special introduction, the meteoric effects of it are worth a mention. The way he has morphed himself into a brand is worth appreciating.

The extent of Ronaldo's popularity was laid bare to the world when he joined Juventus from Real Madrid. The Old Lady saw a massive increase in its shares after they bought the Portuguese skipper during the summer transfer window, also hiking their fan-following on social media. Plus, his arrival will definitely help Serie A gain much-needed popularity.

A man changing the face of an entire league and not only a club; ain't that enough revolutionary stuff?

#2 Pele

Pele is unarguably the greatest footballer of all time

The eternal deity of football. Footballers have impacted their societies in different ways, but none may have done it as good as the Brazilian.

With his innate goalscoring skills and out-of-the-world craft of beating defenders with myriads of tricks, Pele bought more than just joy to the world. He stopped a war.

Back in 1969 when he played for his beloved Santos, the club travelled parts of Nigeria during the times of the Biafran war. A ceasefire of 48 hours was agreed upon so as to allow people to watch O Rei displaying his godliness on the pitch.

It was strange because the whole country was divided and in conflict. But as soon as they found out the game was to take place that was put on hold. It was a tiny pitch, I remember it well, the people arrived carrying chairs on their heads in order to watch the game. - Lima, his teammate in Santos

Pele also played a massive role in popularising the sport that he branded as the beautiful game when he joined New York Cosmos in 1975. He is definitely the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) for all that he did on the pitch.

Last but not the least - 1281 goals in 1363 games over 22 years. Just how dare we not talk about those numbers?

#1 Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff revolutionized football like no other

Johan Cruyff's inclusion in this list is not rocket science to understand, but his position on this list might be perplexing for many.

As a player, we need no special introduction to the great Dutchman's endless list of achievements. However, for the way he reimagined the beautiful game both as a player and as a manager, even the first position on this list seems kind of inadequate to commemorate his contributions.

Total football, as the majority of us are aware, is a style of play that was popularised by Johan Cruyff and co in the 70s at Ajax. The tactic allowed any player, regardless of his position, to change his position and pop up anywhere on the pitch; it gave them complete freedom.

While the definition of Total football is easily comprehensible, realising it isn't as much. It is a system that requires the finest of footballers, and above all, a set of players that boast a positional sense and flexibility of the highest class. Although Cruyff had a number of greats like Johan Neeskens, Arie Hann, Piet Keizer and Rudd Krol, he was the crowned king of Ajax who flourished the most amongst them.

Further, as a manager, he shaped the values and philosophy of the Barcelona that we see today. For all his priceless involvement in football, the beautiful game will always consider itself lucky to have given birth to such a great polymath. Make no mistake, his philosophy has also gifted us one of the greatest footballing minds of the sport in Pep Guardiola.

What Johan Cruyff delivered wasn't just football. It was artistry.