The Pantheon of football greats

In the realm of football, there are run-of-the-mill players, and then there are the gifted gems, who have been blessed with extraordinary talents.

Indeed, the debate over which football luminary is the GOAT (Greatest of all time) is always a heated conversation that rarely produces any consensual views.

Despite this though, there is arguably broad agreement over the following five legends, who have unforgettably graced the sport:

1. Pele

In the annals of football history, Pele is a name that definitely needs no introduction. Endowed with break-neck speed, bedazzling dribbling skills and an uncanny ability to score all manner of goals, 

Pele remains the lone famous football figure to have clinched the highly coveted World Cup a record three times in: 1958, 1962, and quite memorably in 1970.

2. Johan Cruyff

Famously dubbed the ‘white Pele’, the Dutch football wizard was renowned for his complete mastery of the sport.

Although he sadly never claimed a world cup title, Cruyff will forever be remembered for inspiring the Dutch side, Ajax Amsterdam to secure three straight UEFA Champions League trophies in the early 1970s.

You Tube Video From Football Cult : Maradona wonder goal v England Mexico 86.⚽ 

3. Diego Maradona

Blessed with lightning speed and bags of skill, Maradona was an Argentinean superstar, who could single-handedly change the course of a game with unbelievable moments of pure magic.

These magical attributes were fully on display in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England when the diminutive Argentinean midfielder outstandingly dribbled his way past five England players en route to scoring a truly sensational goal that was universally hailed as a football tour de force.

4. Lionel Messi

This pint-sized Argentinean forward has carved out a name for himself as being arguably the most glittering star of his generation.

Indeed, Messi is the complete package: he is a prolific attacker, he can effortlessly make defense-splitting passes and he is particularly lethal in ‘dead ball’ situations.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo

This Portuguese big gun originally built a reputation as being one of the most skillful wingers in the world during his spell at Manchester United.

However, once ‘CR 7’ had moved to Spanish juggernauts Real Madrid, the Portuguese sensation morphed seemingly overnight into an especially devastating center-forward with an incredible strike-rate.

For a large chunk of his career, Ronaldo’s biggest foe was Lionel Messi and it is unequivocally true that these two one-of-a-kind attackers pushed each other to stratospheric heights.

And with that, this likely contentious list is complete. 

Which players would be in your top five? Do send me an email to let me know.