2010 World Cup in South Africa: Spain's players celebrating victory Members of Spain's national football (soccer) team celebrating their victory in the FIFA World Cup final, held in Johannesburg, July 11, 2010. (more) List of Greatest Men’s Football (Soccer) Players Written by Andrew Pereira Andrew Pereira is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. He covers a variety of topics, with a focus on Indian politics, foreign policy, and global affairs. Andrew Pereira Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated June 2, 2026 •History Who is the greatest men’s footballer (soccer player) of all time? Do not be deceived by this seemingly simple question. For decades fans, pundits, casual observers, organizations, and even footballers themselves have been trying to find a definitive answer, but consensus has always been in short supply. The question has generated heated debates and divided generations of fans. Any attempt to pin down the greatest men’s footballer is therefore futile at best and highly subjective...

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