Football is a game that rules the hearts of millions of people across the globe. This sport has given the world some of the best athletes. Whenever there is talk of the best players of this game, a question always arises who is the Goat of football history? So in this post, we are going to discuss the players who are deserving of this title.
Who is the Goat of Football History 2023
It has been a topic of discussion for years about who is the “Goat” the best football player of all time. Fans and pundits alike have argued over who is deserving of the label of greatest throughout the history of the sport because so many players have contributed significantly to the activity. Here are some of the best players who must be included in this list.
Pele (Edson Arantes do Nascimento)
Whenever there is talk of who is the goat in football, one name always comes to the fore and that name is Pele a Brazilian striker. He scored more than 1,000 goals throughout his playing career, which included three World Cup championships. Pelé became well-known for his superb ball-handling abilities, agility, and capacity to score from improbable angles. His essential contribution to Brazil’s hegemonic control of football in the 1960s and 1970s won him a berth among football’s all-time greats. His name is written in golden letters in the list of Who is the Goat of football history.
Pele Stats
Trophies won with his Country
| Competition | Year Won | No. of Titles |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup | 1958, 1962, 1970 | 3 |
Trophies he won for Santos
| Competitions | Year Won | No. of Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Intercontinental Cup | 2 | 1962, 1963 |
| Intercontinental Supercup | 1 | 1968 |
| Copa Libertadores | 2 | 1962, 1963 |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A | 6 | 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968 |
| Campeonato Paulista | 10 | 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973 |
Trophies he won for New York Cosmos
| Competitions | Year Won | No.of Titles |
|---|---|---|
| North American Soccer League Atlantic Conference | 1997 | 1 |
| North American Soccer League Bowl | 1997 | 1 |
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona, the Argentine forward who led his country to the 1986 World Cup victory, is another player that commonly comes up when discussing the GOAT. The “Hand of God” goal in the semifinal of the 1986 World Cup and Maradona’s precise ball-handling abilities and rapid movement have made him famous. Due to his contributions to the game both on and off the play, he is a tremendous football icon. Diego Maradona, known as the Goat of football history, must be on the list of admirers.
| Competitions | Appearance | Goals | Assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serie A | 187 | 81 | 45 |
| LaLiga | 62 | 27 | 16 |
| Italy Cup | 44 | 29 | 10 |
| UEFA Cup | 19 | 3 | 8 |
| Copa del Rey | 11 | 5 | — |
| Cup Winners’ Cup | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| Supercoppa Italiana | 1 | — | 1 |
| Copa de la Liga | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| European Cup | 6 | 2 | — |
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is another player who is frequently cited as a potential winner of the GOAT award. Eight Ballon d’Or victories are among the many accolades the Argentine forward has achieved. He has assisted Barcelona in capturing a number of national and international titles. For his breakaway speed, deft dribbling, and uncanny accuracy in front of goal, Messi is known. Because of his contributions to the game and his dominance for more than 10 years, he is today acknowledged as one of football’s all-time greats. In the list of Who is the Goat of football history, this player’s name will be in every fan’s list.
| Nationality | Argentina |
| Club | PSG |
| International Appearances | 179 |
| International Goals | 106 |
| International Trophies | 5 |
| Club Appearances | 899 |
| Club Goals | 726 |
| Club Trophies | 44 |
| Hat tricks | 57 |
| Ballon d’Or | 8 |
Cristiano Ronaldo
Athletically unique and frequently brought up in GOAT discussions is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward has garnered numerous individual honours, including five Ballon d’Or awards, and has supported his clubs in winning numerous local, national, and international titles. Ronaldo is well known for his blazing quick reflexes, accurate shooting, and the tendency for scoring in crucial circumstances. He enjoyed a period of domination that lasted close to ten years as a result of his contributions to football, and he is today regarded as one of the all-time greats. Cristiano Ronaldo is a player whose name holds a special place in the list of Who is the Goat of football history.
There are surely additional players who have contributed significantly to the game and deserve to be on this list, despite the fact that Ronaldo, Messi, Maradona, and Pelé are commonly considered the top contenders for the title of finest player in football history.
| Nationality | Portugal |
| Club | Al-Nassr |
| International Appearances | 205 |
| International Goals | 128 |
| International Trophies | 2 |
| Club Appearances | 993 |
| Club Goals | 737 |
| Club Trophies | 35 |
| Hat tricks | 63 |
| Ballon d’Or | 5 |
Johan Cruyff
One of these athletes is the highly recognised all-time great Dutch forward Johan Cruyff. The Netherlands reached the World Cup final in 1974 with Cruyff’s help. Ajax and Barcelona also won many domestic and international championships thanks to him. His vision, great ball-handling skills, and ability to set up himself and his teammates for goals made him a legend.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 689 |
| Goals | 328 |
| Assists | N/A (not recorded during his era) |
| International Caps | 48 |
| International Goals | 33 |
| Club Career Goals | 290 |
| Club Career Assists | N/A (not recorded during his era) |
| Ballon d’Or Awards | 3 (1971, 1973, 1974) |
Zinedine Zidane
Another player frequently considered while discussing the GOAT is Zinedine Zidane, a French midfielder who represented France in the 1998 World Cup and helped Real Madrid win many national and international trophies. Zidane was recognised for his incredible talent, inclination to keep the ball in the centre of the field, and remarkable understanding of the game’s laws.
It’s probable that there may never be a conclusive response to the question Who is the Goat of Football History? Each of these athletes has made a substantial contribution to the sport, leaving their mark and motivating upcoming players. There shouldn’t be any disagreement about the fact that all these players have brought football to life and have earned their place as the best players, even though everyone may have different views on who is the best.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | N/A (notable club appearances: 506) |
| Goals | N/A (notable club goals: 95) |
| Assists | N/A (not recorded during his era) |
| International Caps | 108 |
| International Goals | 31 |
| Club Career Goals | 95 |
| Club Career Assists | N/A (not recorded during his era) |
| Ballon d’Or Awards | 1 (1998) |
so this is the end of this post. Here we have discussed Who is the Goat of football history. Hope you liked it.
FAQ on Who is the goat of football history 2023
Question 1. Who is the goat of football history of all time? Answer. One of the greatest players to ever play the game was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele.
Question 2. Who is the number 1 player in football history? Answer. Al Nassr and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (Total Football Goals: 824) 17 Feb. 2023 While representing his Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 500th league goal. Ronaldo earns $200 million a year and is under contract until 2025, making it the largest football pay in history.
Question 3. Who is the goat of football history, Messi or Ronaldo? Answer. Many football fans believed the argument was over as soon as Messi raised the World Cup in Qatar just before Christmas. While it lasted, it had been enjoyable, but Messi was now the all-time greatest.
Question 4. Who is the boss of football skills? Answer. Football legend Lionel Messi is recognised as having the best dribbling abilities. The most in the history of world football, Messi has won the Ballon d’Or eight times in the course of his career for being the finest player in the world for an entire calendar year.
Question 5. Who is faster Messi or Ronaldo? Answer. Although Messi is undoubtedly quicker than Ronaldo, the argument over who is the world’s quickest football player never really ends. Both athletes have exceptional footwork, making it difficult to determine who is actually faster.
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