Pelé, Lionel Messi, and Diego Maradona headline a list of the 10 greatest players in FIFA World Cup history, according to a recent ranking that evaluates only players' performances in the tournament.
Pelé, the only player to win three World Cups, secured the top spot. He scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup matches and was twice named the greatest player in soccer history by FIFA. His dominance on the world stage has inspired generations of players, including fellow Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario.
Lionel Messi, who recently led Argentina to a 2022 World Cup title, is ranked second. Messi holds the World Cup goal-scoring record and is the only player to have won the FIFA Golden Ball twice. He scored two goals in the 2022 final against France.
Diego Maradona's iconic 1986 World Cup campaign, where he led Argentina to victory and scored "The Goal of the Century" against England, places him third. His performance in that tournament is often cited as one of the greatest individual efforts in World Cup history.
All-Time World Cup Standouts
Miroslav Klose of Germany ranks fourth. Klose, the former World Cup all-time leading scorer with 16 goals, was a key part of Germany's success, helping them reach four consecutive semifinals and winning the 2014 title.
France's Zinedine Zidane is fifth. Zidane captained France to victory on home soil in 1998 and nearly repeated the feat in 2006, leading his team to the final before being sent off.
Ronaldo Nazario, the Brazilian striker, is ranked sixth. He scored 15 goals in World Cup play and was instrumental in Brazil's fifth World Cup title in 2002, earning him the Golden Boot that year.
France's Kylian Mbappé, the youngest player on the list, is seventh. At just 27 years old, he has already won a World Cup at 19 and scored a hat trick in the 2022 final. He is on pace to challenge scoring records.
Spain's Andres Iniesta is eighth. His extra-time goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands secured Spain's first and only World Cup title and is considered one of the sport's most iconic moments.
England's Sir Bobby Charlton, the driving force behind England's 1966 World Cup victory, is ninth. His leadership and goal-scoring were crucial to his country's lone World Cup triumph.
Italy's Fabio Cannavaro rounds out the list at tenth. As captain of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, he anchored a defense that conceded only two goals throughout the tournament. His performance earned him the Ballon d'Or that year, a rare achievement for a defender.