Lists:
Top 100 Goalkeepers of All-Time
Top 100 Centre-Backs of All-Time
Top 50 Right Backs & Top 50 Left-Backs of All-Time
Top 50 Defensive Midfielders & Top 75 Central Midfielders of All-Time
Top 100 Attacking Midfielders of All-Time
Top 100 Wingers/Wide-Forwards of All-Time
Top 100 Strikers/Centre-Forwards of All-Time
Top 50 Players of All-Time
Top Players in every position of the 21st Century
The Best XI of Every Decade since the 1950's
...
These teams aren't based on a player's performance across a whole decade, as it's unfair on players whos peaked at the end of one and the start of another. Instead, it's simply the best players seen in a given decade. A player can only be included in a single decade's team, so I've tried to assess when their peak was.
Pre 1950's:
(4-1-2-1-2 Diamond)
GK: Ricardo Zamora - Spain
RB: Jose Leandro Andrade - Uruguay
CB: Jose Nasazzi - Uruguay
CB: Dominigos Da Guia - Brazil
LB: Renzo De Vecchi - Italy
DM: Gyorgy Sarosi - Hungary
CM: Valentino Mazzola - Italy
AM: Zizinho - Brazil
AM: Jose Manuel Moreno - Argentina
ST: Giuseppe Meazza - Italy
ST: Matthias Sindelar - Austria
Bench: Planicka (CZE), Quincoses (SPA), Janes (GER), Maroso (ITA), Varela (URU), Sastre (ARG), Orsi (ARG), Pederena (ARG), Erico (PAR).
1950's:
(4-2-3-1)
GK: Vladimir Beara (CRO)
RB: Djalma Santos (BRA)
CB: John Charles (WAL)
CB: Jose Santamaria (URU)
LB: Nilton Santos (BRA)
CM: Jozsef Boszik (HUN)
CM: Didi (BRA)
RW: Stanley Matthews (ENG)
SS: Alfredo Di Stefano (ARG)
LW: Paco Gento (SPA)
ST: Ferenc Puskas (HUN)
Bench: Grosics (HUN), Ramos (BRA), Stankovic (SER), V.Andrade (URU), Edwards (ENG), Ocwirk (AUT), Kopa (FRA), Schiaffano (URU), Kubala (HUN).
1960's:
(4-2-3-1)
GK: Lev Yashin (RUS)
RB: Tarcisio Burgnich (ITA)
CB: Velibor Vasovic (SER)
CB: Bobby Moore (ENG)
LB: Giancinto Facchetti (ITA)
CM: Josef Masopust (CZE)
CM: Bobby Charlton (ENG)
RW: Garrincha (BRA)
SS: Pele (BRA)
LW: George Best (NIR)
ST: Eusebio (POR)
Bench: Banks (ENG), Shesternyov (RUS), Eyzaguirre (CHI), Schnellinger (GER), Pirri (SPA), Rivera (ITA), Dzajic (SER), Sivori (ARG), Seeler (GER).
1970's:
(4-1-2-1-2 Diamond)
GK: Dino Zoff (ITA)
RB: Carlos Alberto Torres (BRA)
CB: Franz Beckenbauer (GER)
CB: Daniel Passarella (ARG)
LB: Ruud Krol (NET)
DM: Johan Neeskens (NET)
CM: Paul Breitner (GER)
AM: Rivellino (BRA)
AM: Zico (BRA)
ST: Johan Cruyff (NET)
ST: Gerd Muller (GER)
Bench: Maier (GER), Figueroa (CHI), Vogts (GER), Chagas (BRA), Cubillas (PER), Netzer (GER), Jairzinho (BRA), Blokhin (UKR), Keegan (ENG).
1980's:
(4-1-2-1-2 Diamond)
GK: Jean-Marie Pfaff (BEL)
RB: Giuseppe Bergomi (ITA)
CB: Gaetano Scirea (ITA)
CB: Franco Baresi (ITA)
LB: Antonio Cabrini (ITA)
DM: Frank Rijkaard (NET)
CM: Ruud Gullit (NET)
CM: Michel Platini (FRA)
AM: Diego Maradona (ARG)
ST: Marco Van Basten (NET)
ST: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (GER)
Bench: Dasayev (RUS), Koeman (NET), Gentile (ITA), L.Junior (BRA), Falcao (BRA), Socrates (BRA), Boniek (POL), Dalglish (SCO), Sanchez (MEX).
1990's:
(4-1-2-1-2 Diamond)
GK: Peter Schmeichel (DEN)
RB: Lilian Thuram (FRA)
CB: Matthias Sammer (GER)
CB: Marcel Desailly (FRA)
LB: Paolo Maldini (ITA)
DM: Fernando Redondo (ARG)
CM: Lothar Matthaus (GER)
AM: Zinedine Zidane (FRA)
AM: Roberto Baggio (ITA)
ST: Ronaldo (BRA)
ST: Romario (BRA)
Bench: Chilavert (PAR), Kohler (GER), Jorginho (BRA), Brehme (GER), Davids (NET), M.Laudrup (DEN), Stoichkov (BUL), Rivaldo (BRA), Batistuta (ARG).
2000's:
(4-3-3)
GK: Gianluigi Buffon (ITA)
RB: Cafu (BRA)
CB: Alessandro Nesta (ITA)
CB: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA)
LB: Roberto Carlos (BRA)
DM: Patrick Vieira (FRA)
CM: Andrea Pirlo (ITA)
AM: Kaka (BRA)
RW: Luis Figo (POR)
LW: Ronaldinho (BRA)
ST: Thierry Henry (FRA)
Bench: Kahn (GER), Puyol (SPA), Zanetti (ARG), A.Cole (ENG), Makelele (FRA), Seedorf (NET), Nedved (CZE), Totti (ITA), Raul (SPA).
2010's:
(4-3-3)
GK: Manuel Neuer (GER)
RB: Philipp Lahm (GER)
CB: Sergio Ramos (SPA)
CB: Thiago Silva (BRA)
LB: Marcelo (BRA)
DM: Sergio Busquets (SPA)
CM: Xavi (SPA)
CM: Andres Iniesta (SPA)
RW: Lionel Messi (ARG)
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
ST: Luis Suarez (URU)
Bench: De Gea (SPA), Van Dijk (NET), Alves (BRA), Alaba (AUT), Alonso (SPA), Modric (CRO), Bale (WAL), Neymar (BRA), Rooney (ENG).
2020's: (so far)
(4-2-3-1 Diamond)
GK: Thibaut Courtois (BEL)
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (ENG)
CB: Ruben Dias (POR)
CB: Marquinhos (BRA)
LB: Joao Cancelo (POR)
DM: Joshua Kimmich (GER)
CM: Kevin De Bruyne (BEL)
RW: Mohamed Salah (EGY)
LW: Kylian Mbappe (FRA)
SS: Harry Kane (ENG)
ST: Robert Lewandowski (POL)
Bench: Alisson (BRA), Militao (BRA), K.Walker (ENG), Robertson (SCO), Rodri (SPA), B.Silva (POR), Vinicius Jr. (BRA), Benzema (FRA), Haaland (NOR).
How the players are assessed:
It goes without saying, the assessment of the players I use will never be as accurate as seeing them play live. I have however put a few years of research into this and refined it as well as I can by collating all the data and opinions available.
I've used a range of factors, which culminates in an assessment of players that I believe works well. Maybe most importantly, it has an accurate correlation to my opinion of players when using it to evaluate players from the modern era, so I trust my research methods.
The evaluation of players is generally based on a players peak over a 4-5 year period. In my opinion, this period is long enough to assess a player's standard, and exhibits a certain level of consistency. However, a long (or short) peak can add to how highly I would rate a player, if they show themselves to be adaptable (or not) to different tactical systems, opponents, levels of pressure, their own physical changes, etc.
Some of the main factors of assessing players (some which play into each other) :
The time difference between players however isn't a factor I consider - it is too nuanced of an argument. Some may favour modern players who are much faster, stronger, fitter; while some may favour older players who dealt with two-footed tackles, terrible pitches, & innovated aspects of the game. The idea of throwing players into different eras and tactical systems wouldn't work well, so I found it best to judge them on what they are/were relevant to the time.
There are sometimes anomalies or a lack of correlation with players' factors, which could be down to things such as the personality of a player, sentimentality and propaganda. I take this into consideration where the information is available.
Top 100 Goalkeepers of All-Time
Top 100 Centre-Backs of All-Time
Top 50 Right Backs & Top 50 Left-Backs of All-Time
Top 50 Defensive Midfielders & Top 75 Central Midfielders of All-Time
Top 100 Attacking Midfielders of All-Time
Top 100 Wingers/Wide-Forwards of All-Time
Top 100 Strikers/Centre-Forwards of All-Time
Top 50 Players of All-Time
Top Players in every position of the 21st Century
The Best XI of Every Decade since the 1950's
...
These teams aren't based on a player's performance across a whole decade, as it's unfair on players whos peaked at the end of one and the start of another. Instead, it's simply the best players seen in a given decade. A player can only be included in a single decade's team, so I've tried to assess when their peak was.
Pre 1950's:
(4-1-2-1-2 Diamond)
GK: Ricardo Zamora - Spain
RB: Jose Leandro Andrade - Uruguay
CB: Jose Nasazzi - Uruguay
CB: Dominigos Da Guia - Brazil
LB: Renzo De Vecchi - Italy
DM: Gyorgy Sarosi - Hungary
CM: Valentino Mazzola - Italy
AM: Zizinho - Brazil
AM: Jose Manuel Moreno - Argentina
ST: Giuseppe Meazza - Italy
ST: Matthias Sindelar - Austria
Bench: Planicka (CZE), Quincoses (SPA), Janes (GER), Maroso (ITA), Varela (URU), Sastre (ARG), Orsi (ARG), Pederena (ARG), Erico (PAR).
- Top 3 Players: Meazza, Moreno, Zizinho.
- Nation with most players: Argentina & Italy (4)
- Major club with most players: Flamengo, Independiente, Real Madrid, River Plate, Torino (2)
- 3 Best Players not in squad: Dixie Dean (ENG) , Ademir De Menezes (BRA) , Josef Bican (AUT)
1950's:
(4-2-3-1)
GK: Vladimir Beara (CRO)
RB: Djalma Santos (BRA)
CB: John Charles (WAL)
CB: Jose Santamaria (URU)
LB: Nilton Santos (BRA)
CM: Jozsef Boszik (HUN)
CM: Didi (BRA)
RW: Stanley Matthews (ENG)
SS: Alfredo Di Stefano (ARG)
LW: Paco Gento (SPA)
ST: Ferenc Puskas (HUN)
Bench: Grosics (HUN), Ramos (BRA), Stankovic (SER), V.Andrade (URU), Edwards (ENG), Ocwirk (AUT), Kopa (FRA), Schiaffano (URU), Kubala (HUN).
- Top 3 Players: Di Stefano, Puskas, Matthews
- Nation with most players: Brazil & Hungary (4)
- Major club with most players: Real Madrid (5)
- 3 Best Players not in squad: Sandor Kocsis (HUN) , Fritz Walter (GER) , Gunnar Nordahl (SWE)
1960's:
(4-2-3-1)
GK: Lev Yashin (RUS)
RB: Tarcisio Burgnich (ITA)
CB: Velibor Vasovic (SER)
CB: Bobby Moore (ENG)
LB: Giancinto Facchetti (ITA)
CM: Josef Masopust (CZE)
CM: Bobby Charlton (ENG)
RW: Garrincha (BRA)
SS: Pele (BRA)
LW: George Best (NIR)
ST: Eusebio (POR)
Bench: Banks (ENG), Shesternyov (RUS), Eyzaguirre (CHI), Schnellinger (GER), Pirri (SPA), Rivera (ITA), Dzajic (SER), Sivori (ARG), Seeler (GER).
- Top 3 Players: Pele, Garrincha, Eusebio
- Nation with most players: England & Italy (3)
- Major club with most players: AC Milan, Inter Milan, Manchester United (2)
- 3 Best Players not in squad: Luis Suarez (SPA) , Sandro Mazzola (ITA) , Gigi Riva (ITA)
1970's:
(4-1-2-1-2 Diamond)
GK: Dino Zoff (ITA)
RB: Carlos Alberto Torres (BRA)
CB: Franz Beckenbauer (GER)
CB: Daniel Passarella (ARG)
LB: Ruud Krol (NET)
DM: Johan Neeskens (NET)
CM: Paul Breitner (GER)
AM: Rivellino (BRA)
AM: Zico (BRA)
ST: Johan Cruyff (NET)
ST: Gerd Muller (GER)
Bench: Maier (GER), Figueroa (CHI), Vogts (GER), Chagas (BRA), Cubillas (PER), Netzer (GER), Jairzinho (BRA), Blokhin (UKR), Keegan (ENG).
- Top 3 Players: Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Zico
- Nation with most players: Brazil (6)
- Major club with most players: Bayern Munich (4)
- 3 Best Players not in squad: Gunter Netzer (GER) , Tostao (BRA) , Mario Kempes (ARG)
1980's:
(4-1-2-1-2 Diamond)
GK: Jean-Marie Pfaff (BEL)
RB: Giuseppe Bergomi (ITA)
CB: Gaetano Scirea (ITA)
CB: Franco Baresi (ITA)
LB: Antonio Cabrini (ITA)
DM: Frank Rijkaard (NET)
CM: Ruud Gullit (NET)
CM: Michel Platini (FRA)
AM: Diego Maradona (ARG)
ST: Marco Van Basten (NET)
ST: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (GER)
Bench: Dasayev (RUS), Koeman (NET), Gentile (ITA), L.Junior (BRA), Falcao (BRA), Socrates (BRA), Boniek (POL), Dalglish (SCO), Sanchez (MEX).
- Top 3 Players: Maradona, Platini, Van Basten
- Nation with most players: Italy (5)
- Major club with most players: Juventus (5)
- 3 Best Players not in squad: Bernd Schuster (GER) , Jean Tigana (FRA), Paolo Rossi (ITA)
1990's:
(4-1-2-1-2 Diamond)
GK: Peter Schmeichel (DEN)
RB: Lilian Thuram (FRA)
CB: Matthias Sammer (GER)
CB: Marcel Desailly (FRA)
LB: Paolo Maldini (ITA)
DM: Fernando Redondo (ARG)
CM: Lothar Matthaus (GER)
AM: Zinedine Zidane (FRA)
AM: Roberto Baggio (ITA)
ST: Ronaldo (BRA)
ST: Romario (BRA)
Bench: Chilavert (PAR), Kohler (GER), Jorginho (BRA), Brehme (GER), Davids (NET), M.Laudrup (DEN), Stoichkov (BUL), Rivaldo (BRA), Batistuta (ARG).
- Top 3 Players: Ronaldo, Zidane, Matthaus
- Nation with most players: Brazil (4)
- Major club with most players: Barcelona (4)
- 3 Best Players not in squad: Enzo Francescoli (URU) , Dennis Bergkamp (NET) , Gheorghe Hagi (ROU)
2000's:
(4-3-3)
GK: Gianluigi Buffon (ITA)
RB: Cafu (BRA)
CB: Alessandro Nesta (ITA)
CB: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA)
LB: Roberto Carlos (BRA)
DM: Patrick Vieira (FRA)
CM: Andrea Pirlo (ITA)
AM: Kaka (BRA)
RW: Luis Figo (POR)
LW: Ronaldinho (BRA)
ST: Thierry Henry (FRA)
Bench: Kahn (GER), Puyol (SPA), Zanetti (ARG), A.Cole (ENG), Makelele (FRA), Seedorf (NET), Nedved (CZE), Totti (ITA), Raul (SPA).
- Top 3 Players: Ronaldinho, Henry, Kaka
- Nation with most players: Italy (5)
- Major club with most players: AC Milan (5)
- 3 Best Players not in squad: Andriy Shevchenko (UKR) , Iker Casillas (SPA) , Samuel Eto'o (CAM)
2010's:
(4-3-3)
GK: Manuel Neuer (GER)
RB: Philipp Lahm (GER)
CB: Sergio Ramos (SPA)
CB: Thiago Silva (BRA)
LB: Marcelo (BRA)
DM: Sergio Busquets (SPA)
CM: Xavi (SPA)
CM: Andres Iniesta (SPA)
RW: Lionel Messi (ARG)
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
ST: Luis Suarez (URU)
Bench: De Gea (SPA), Van Dijk (NET), Alves (BRA), Alaba (AUT), Alonso (SPA), Modric (CRO), Bale (WAL), Neymar (BRA), Rooney (ENG).
- Top 3 Players: Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta
- Nation with most players: Spain (6)
- Major club with most players: Barcelona (7)
- 3 Best Players not in squad: Eden Hazard (BEL) , Arjen Robben (NET) , Sergio Aguero (ARG)
2020's: (so far)
(4-2-3-1 Diamond)
GK: Thibaut Courtois (BEL)
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (ENG)
CB: Ruben Dias (POR)
CB: Marquinhos (BRA)
LB: Joao Cancelo (POR)
DM: Joshua Kimmich (GER)
CM: Kevin De Bruyne (BEL)
RW: Mohamed Salah (EGY)
LW: Kylian Mbappe (FRA)
SS: Harry Kane (ENG)
ST: Robert Lewandowski (POL)
Bench: Alisson (BRA), Militao (BRA), K.Walker (ENG), Robertson (SCO), Rodri (SPA), B.Silva (POR), Vinicius Jr. (BRA), Benzema (FRA), Haaland (NOR).
- Top 3 Players: Lewandowski, Mbappe, Benzema
- Nation with most players: Brazil (4)
- Major club with most players: Manchester City (7)
- 3 Best Players not in squad: Bruno Fernandes (POR) , Ilkay Gundogan (GER) , Jude Bellingham (ENG
How the players are assessed:
It goes without saying, the assessment of the players I use will never be as accurate as seeing them play live. I have however put a few years of research into this and refined it as well as I can by collating all the data and opinions available.
I've used a range of factors, which culminates in an assessment of players that I believe works well. Maybe most importantly, it has an accurate correlation to my opinion of players when using it to evaluate players from the modern era, so I trust my research methods.
The evaluation of players is generally based on a players peak over a 4-5 year period. In my opinion, this period is long enough to assess a player's standard, and exhibits a certain level of consistency. However, a long (or short) peak can add to how highly I would rate a player, if they show themselves to be adaptable (or not) to different tactical systems, opponents, levels of pressure, their own physical changes, etc.
Some of the main factors of assessing players (some which play into each other) :
- Historical match ratings, from all sources possible (usually newspapers pre-internet)
- Historical statistical based rankings (eg. IFFHS)
- All reputable/respected opinionated lists/data I could find (eg. World Soccer)
- All reputable nominations I could find (eg. FIFPRO)
- Watching footage
- Trophies won
- World XI's/Individual Award Rankings (many different forms/sources)
- Other fan opinion from the era (eg. Forums, articles, ex-players)
- Special consultants and researchers
- My own opinion
- Many other smaller factors
The time difference between players however isn't a factor I consider - it is too nuanced of an argument. Some may favour modern players who are much faster, stronger, fitter; while some may favour older players who dealt with two-footed tackles, terrible pitches, & innovated aspects of the game. The idea of throwing players into different eras and tactical systems wouldn't work well, so I found it best to judge them on what they are/were relevant to the time.
There are sometimes anomalies or a lack of correlation with players' factors, which could be down to things such as the personality of a player, sentimentality and propaganda. I take this into consideration where the information is available.
