The List Nos 40 - 31

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The greatest players in the history of football, Nos 40-31
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 4:55 PM on 02nd June 2009

• Comments (11)
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HAVE YOUR SAY...
Who is the greatest footballer of all time? Sportsmail's team of experts have picked their top 50 footballers of all time for the latest instalment of The List. But who would be at the top of your list as the Beautiful Game's greatest artist - Pele, Maradona, or someone closer to home, perhaps?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK




Lionel Messi staked his claim to be regarded as greatest player in the world with a sublime performance in the Champions League final.
The Barcelona forward was in breathtaking form as he guided the Spanish giants to victory over Manchester United in Rome.
Messi's display again prompted comparisons with his Argentina hero Diego Maradona, one of the game's true superstars.
But just who are the greatest players to ever grace the sport?
In our latest List, Sportsmail's team of experts have selected the Top 50 footballers in history.
This was clearly no easy task and there were stacks of legendary men who failed to make the cut. Now it's your turn - please tell us your greatest ever players by leaving your comments below or on our message boards.
Read Nos 50-41

SPORTSMAIL'S GREATEST FOOTBALLERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME - Nos 40-31

40. Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria)


Loved two things on the pitch. Taking free-kicks and arguing with anyone who'd listen. Bulgaria's finest.

Barca's Bulgar: Stoichkov

True great: Matthews




39 Sir Stanley Matthews (England)


Knighted while still playing, Sir Stanley plied his trade until the ripe old age of 50 and is still considered one of England's very best.
38 Kaka (Brazil)


A regular for his national side and loyal to his club. Kaka, rated as one of the best in the world right now, declined a move to Manchester City despite being offered all the money in the world.





Boys from Brazil: Samba superstars Kaka (left) and Romario


37 Romario (Brazil)


A goal machine, winning the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and scored 71 goals in 85 matches during an international career spanning 18 years.
36 Gheorghe Hagi (Romania)


The finest footballer Romania has ever produced, the midfielder featured for his national side at three successive World Cups.





Catalan crowd pleasers: Barcelona old boys Hagi (left) and Ronaldinho


35 Ronaldinho (Brazil)


An innovator on the pitch, 'Ronnie' has scored some of the greatest goals the game has ever seen. World Cup winner in 2002 and UEFA footballer of the year in 2006 after Barcelona's victorious Champions League campaign.
34 Franco Baresi (Italy)


One of the classiest defenders to have graced the game, Baresi was part of the World Cup winning squad in 1982.

Solid: Baresi

Silky: Ronaldo






33 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)


Will be remembered for blistering free-kicks and more step-overs than any man could ever need, Ronaldo has been the catalyst for Sir Alex's current successful United side.

32 Sandro Mazzola (Italy)


As good a CV as you'll ever see, Mazzola was a consummate play-maker, winning four Serie A titles, two European Cups and one European Championship.



Italian job: Mazzola

Dutch of class: Neeskens





31 Johan Neeskens (Holland)







A player with great ability that deserved more than losers medals at the '74 and '78 World Cups.

[Jangle]

THE LIST: The greatest players in the history of football, Nos 30-21

By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 4:08 PM on 03rd June 2009

• Comments (34)
• Add to My Stories

HAVE YOUR SAY...
Who is the greatest footballer of all time? Sportsmail's team of experts have picked their top 50 footballers of all time for the latest instalment of The List. But who would be at the top of your list as the Beautiful Game's greatest artist - Pele, Maradona, or someone closer to home, perhaps?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK




Lionel Messi staked his claim to be regarded as greatest player in the world with a sublime performance in the Champions League final.
The Barcelona forward was in breathtaking form as he guided the Spanish giants to victory over Manchester United in Rome.
Messi's display again prompted comparisons with his Argentina hero Diego Maradona, one of the game's true superstars.
But just who are the greatest players to ever grace the sport?
In our latest List, Sportsmail's team of experts have selected the Top 50 footballers in history.
This was clearly no easy task and there were stacks of legendary men who failed to make the cut. Now it's your turn - please tell us your greatest ever players by leaving your comments below or on our message boards.
Read Nos 50-41

Read Nos 40-31

SPORTSMAIL'S GREATEST FOOTBALLERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME - Nos 30-21

30 Roberto Baggio (Italy)


Famed for his goals and pony tails, Baggio is the only Italian to have scored in three successive World Cups.





Hair-raising: Italy maestro Baggio (left) and former Spurs star Klinsmann


29 Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany)

For all his diving antics, Tottenham Hotspur legend Klinsmann knew how to score and helped Germany to World Cup and European Championship victories in the 90s.

28 Paolo Rossi (Italy)

1982 was a pretty decent year for the prolific striker. He led Italy to World Cup glory, winning man of the tournament and golden boot along the way.






International superstars: Juventus striker Rossi (left) and Germany's Matthaus


27 Lothar Matthaus (Germany)

Featured in five World Cups, captaining Germany to victory at Italia 90, Lothar was a midfield machine and also part of the Euro 80 winning squad.

26 Rivelino (Brazil)


As fond of long range free-kicks as he was thick, bushy moustaches. Rivelino made Roberto Carlos' free-kicks look tame.


Golden boy: Rivelino in action for the brilliant Brazil side of 1970


25 Thierry Henry (France)


Arsene Wenger discovered that Henry was much better up front than on the wing and when he did, Henry (left) went from strength to strength, winning World Cup and European Championships in the space of two years.

24 Gerd Muller (Germany)


This man liked goals and lots of them. Gerd netted 489 in 565 appearances for club and country. Some record.






Worldies: Gerd Muller (left) wins the World Cup with Germany in 1974 and Dennis Bergkamp in his pomp for Holland at France 98


23 Dennis Bergkamp (Holland)

Fluent with the ball at his feet, Bergkamp was talisman for both his national side and Arsenal, bagging 234 goals in 648 appearances.

22 Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Manchester United fans, look away now. With a profile that has grown over the last couple of years, the Barca striker looks set to be one of the all-time greats.






Silky skills: Barcelona magician Lionel Messi (left) and Holland's Ruud Gullit


21 Ruud Gullit (Holland)

Captained Holland to victory at Euro 88 in a whirlwind of goals, big grins and big hair. Not quite a great manager

[Jangle]

The greatest players in the history of football, Nos 20-11
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:22 AM on 04th June 2009

• Comments (20)
• Add to My Stories

HAVE YOUR SAY...
Who is the greatest footballer of all time? Sportsmail's team of experts have picked their top 50 footballers of all time for the latest instalment of The List. But who would be at the top of your list as the Beautiful Game's greatest artist - Pele, Maradona, or someone closer to home, perhaps?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK




Lionel Messi staked his claim to be regarded as greatest player in the world with a sublime performance in the Champions League final.
The Barcelona forward was in breathtaking form as he guided the Spanish giants to victory over Manchester United in Rome.
Messi's display again prompted comparisons with his Argentina hero Diego Maradona, one of the game's true superstars.
But just who are the greatest players to ever grace the sport?
In our latest List, Sportsmail's team of experts have selected the Top 50 footballers in history.
This was clearly no easy task and there were stacks of legendary men who failed to make the cut. Now it's your turn - please tell us your greatest ever players by leaving your comments below or on our message boards.
Read Nos 50-41

Read Nos 40-31

Read Nos 30-21



SPORTSMAIL'S GREATEST FOOTBALLERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME - Nos 20-11

20 Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)

Some say it was his imposing stature and reflexes that kept the shots out, others say it was his blinding-bright red nose that put off opposing strikers. Captained Manchester United to the treble in 1999 and won the European Championship with Denmark in 1992.

Gret Dane: Schmeichel has a dog in Coronation Street named after him

19 John Charles (Wales)

Rated as one of the best Welsh players of all time, Charles bagged goals wherever he went, including Juventus after signing for a record £65,000 in 1957.

Head and shoulders abover the rest: Charles celebrates Juve's 1958 Italian Cup

18 Lev Yashin (USSR)

Lev the legend once considered a career in ice hockey but chose a life between the posts and went on to save 150 penalties during his career for Dynamo Moscow and USSR.

From Russia with gloves: Yashin is often described as the finest goalkeeper to have ever played the game. Some say even better than Alan Rough

17 Marco van Basten (Holland)

If, for no other reason than his wonder volley against USSR at Euro '88, Van Basten deserves his place in our list.
16 Eusebio (Portugal)

The legendary forward was top goal scorer at World Cup 1966 and scored 727 goals in 715 professional appearances.

Dutch courage: Van Basten

The Black Pearl: Eusebio




15 Garrincha (Brazil)

The man fans called 'the angel with bent legs,' which rates as the worst nickname of all time, helped Brazil to World Cups in 1958 and 1962.
14 Ronaldo (Brazil)

Blistering pace and accuracy has made Ronaldo the highest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup. Just don't mention the occasion where he picked up some 'ladies' of the night.






World beaters: Garrincha and Ronaldo have lifted football's biggest prize


13 Paolo Maldini (Italy)

One of the greatest defenders of all time, he is the most selected player in the history of AC Milan and the Italian national side with 126 caps. Maldini has just retired, only a matter of weeks away from collecting his bus pass.
12 Bobby Moore (England)

The only Englishman to have ever lifted the World Cup, 'Mooro' will be remembered as the personification of classy centre-back.





Case for the defence: Two legends at the back, Maldini and Moore


11 Zico (Brazil)

Scorer of 52 goals in 72 internationals for Brazil, Zico will always be remembered as a free-kick master.


Dead ball expert: Samba superstar Zico even managed to score past Alan Rough in the Scotland goal at the 1982 World Cup. What a player indeed