Who is the "GOAT" of Football?

When debating the football GOAT—Greatest Of All Time—there tend to be four players that come to mind in the current football discourse. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, and Diego Maradona.

All four of these players are pillars of their eras, taking football to heights that fans had never seen before.

But often, the names of Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer and Ferenc Puskas get left out.

In this article, I will examine these seven players while also touching on some names from the past who helped define the beautiful game, even if they are no longer part of the mainstream GOAT debate.

Lionel Messi

Nationality - Argentinian

Clubs - Barcelona, PSG, Inter Miami

Years played - 2004-present day

Lionel Messi is a player who needs no introduction. A record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, a two-time winner of the World Cup Golden Ball, and of course, a recent World Cup-winning captain.

La Pulga has lit up our TV screens since he made his debut in 2004. The pinnacle of his career came in the 2022 World Cup, when he helped his nation of Argentina win its third World Cup, and his first.

Messi has left a lasting influence on football. A beautiful mazy dribbler who would not let a single player stand in his way, he truly is one of the greatest players I have set my eyes upon.

No player had ever won FIVE man of the match awards at a single World Cup before Lionel Messi did it in 2022.

He also became the first player to EVER score in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final in a SINGLE World Cup.

He did it all at 35 🤯🐐 pic.twitter.com/J1Cb21CY6u

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 18, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo

Nationality - Portuguese

Clubs - Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr

Years played - 2002-present day

Arguably the greatest goalscorer of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo's career has spanned over two decades, where he has won nearly everything football has to offer.

A five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles with Manchester United and Real Madrid. He is not only the all-time leading goalscorer in the competition, but also the top assister since official records began.

Despite his many accolades, the World Cup remains the one major honour to elude Ronaldo. But that is not to say he has failed on the international stage. With 221 caps and 138 goals for Portugal, Ronaldo holds the records for both the most international appearances and the most goals scored in men’s football history.

🏆 Trophy number 3⃣ for Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal! 🇵🇹✨

🏆 2024/25 Nations League
🏆 2018/19 Nations League
🏆 2016 Euros pic.twitter.com/YkjZoFLjru

— MessivsRonaldo.app (@mvsrapp) June 8, 2025

Pele

Nationality - Brazilian

Clubs - Santos, New York Cosmos

Years played - 1956-1977

The original 'GOAT' Pele is one of the finest players to ever set foot on a pitch. In a career that spanned over two decades, Pele is revered globally as the trailblazer who made football a true global sport.

Pele remains the only player to win three World Cups—1958,1962, and 1970—as he remains the best international player of all time.

At club level, Pele played most of his career in the Brazilian League for Santos. Whilst this may not be the best league in the world in the present day, the Brazilian and other South American leagues were some of the strongest in the world in the 1960s.

To supplement revenue and expand their global brand, Pele and Santos embarked on extensive world tours, taking on Europe’s top clubs in high-profile friendlies. These matches, often labelled as exhibitions, were anything but casual—teams from Europe wanted to test themselves against Pele’s brilliance.

Across over 200 international club friendlies, Pele scored more than 200 goals, delivering world-class performances against giants such as Benfica, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Juventus. His impact transcended continents, and his consistency against elite opposition only strengthened his GOAT credentials.

O Rei de volta em sua casa, depois de conquistar a sua primeira Copa do Mundo. Apenas 17 anos, e todo um reinado pela frente.
.
The King returning home, after winning his first World Cup. Just 17 years, and a long reign ahead. pic.twitter.com/VCkirsTHiw

— Pelé (@Pele) February 15, 2024

Diego Maradona

Nationality - Argentinian

Clubs - Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys

Years played -1976-1997

A polarising player who spits opinion down the middle, Diego Maradona was a silky smooth footballer who knew how to make the ball stick like glue to him.

Maradona’s career-defining moment came at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where he delivered a series of performances that remain etched in football lore—despite the surrounding controversy.

His performances against England in the quarter-finals and Belgium in the semi-finals are remembered as two of the greatest sporting performances of all time.

Signed for a then-record £5 million—surpassing his previous £3 million transfer—Maradona transformed the club. He would lead the city of Naples to its first league titles. One in 1987, and the other in 1990.

OTD 1986

World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Belgium. 140 seconds of Diego Maradona brilliance! pic.twitter.com/o81BaGh3uU

— 📚 Dame Bola (& Tears at La Bombonera) (@BomboneraTears) June 25, 2025

Johan Cruyff

Nationality - Dutch

Clubs - Ajax, Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante (loan), Feyenoord

Years played - 1964-1984

The greatest Dutch player of all time, Johan Cruyff, was a dazzling player whose visionary style revolutionised the modern game.

Forming a deadly partnership with his manager, Rinus Michels, Cruyff, along with the rest of the famous Ajax team in the 1970s, popularised the idea of total football, a revolutionary tactical system where players seamlessly covered multiple positions across the pitch, reshaping football strategy worldwide.

Cruyff would win three European Cups—now known as the Champions League—between 1971-73. He would go on to play for Barcelona, where he would help them win their first La Liga title in 14 years.

For the Netherlands, Cruyff and the rest of the Dutch team would fall at the final hurdle in the 174 World Cup. After having a groundbreaking tournament where they destroyed every team in their path, they would go on to lose 2-1 against West Germany in the final.

Cruyff’s legacy stretches beyond that of just a player. As a manager, he once again transformed FC Barcelona, laying the foundations for their modern identity. Under his leadership, they won four league titles and a solitary European Cup.

On This Day 1974
BBC1…LIVE
7:00-9:30pm
The Netherlands beat Brazil 2-0 and reach the World Cup Final.
Goals from Johan Neeskens & the master Johan Cruyff. But Brazil, a shadow of their former selves were cynical in their play summed up by Luis Pereira.
Commentator David Coleman pic.twitter.com/fbXEEWZRRF

— TV Football 1968-92 (@1968Tv) July 3, 2025

Ferenc Puskas

Nationality - Hungarian

_Clubs - Budapest Honved, Real Madrid _

Years played - 1943-1966

A Hungarian legend, widely regarded as one of football’s first superstars, Ferenc Puskas was a prolific goalscorer whose left foot became the stuff of legend.

Ferenc Puskás’s career is one of both triumph and heartbreak. As a central figure in the legendary "Magical Magyars"—Hungary’s dominant national team of the 1950s—Puskas and the 1954 Hungarian side are often thought of as the greatest team to never win a World Cup.

Between 1950-56, Hungary played 69 games, losing just once. Tragically, that one defeat came in the 1954 FIFA World Cup Final, a controversial 3–2 loss to West Germany that remains one of the most debated matches in football history.

After the 1956 Hungarian revolution, Puskas, along with many of his teammates, refused to head back to a country that was now under the leadership of the brutal Soviet regime. As a result of defying political pressure, FIFA banned Puskás from competitive football for two years

He would go on to play for Real Madrid, where he would win three European Cups. His standout moment came in the 1960 European Cup final, where he scored four goals in a legendary 7–3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt—a performance that is regarded by many as the finest in European Cup history.

In door 3 today is a very special throwback map from the legendary final perfmonance of Ferenc Puskás against Eintracht Frankfurt 1960. Enjoy! https://t.co/INy9t7FDUY pic.twitter.com/ES8aaw2Xhi

— Marius Fischer (@Gegenpressing91) December 3, 2020

Franz Beckenbauer

Nationality - German

Clubs - Bayern Munich, New York Cosmos, Hamburger SV, New York Cosmos

Years played - 1964-1983

‘Der Kaiser’ is the only defender in this list, and for good reason. One of just nine players to have won the World Cup, Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, Franz Beckenbauer is widely regarded as the greatest defender of all time.

Beckenbauer’s most successful part of his career came at Bayern Munich. The elite defender helped Bayern to their first taste of domestic and continental success as they won four league titles, three European Cups and a myriad of other trophies.

For Germany, Franz Beckenbauer remains one of the greatest footballers in the nation's history. The commanding figure at the heart of the 1974 World Cup-winning team, Beckenbauer redefined the role of the sweeper (libero) with his elegance, vision, and tactical intelligence.

Beckenbauer is also one of three footballers to win the World Cup as a player, and as a manager, achieving the latter feat in 1990.

In door 3 today is a very special throwback map from the legendary final perfmonance of Ferenc Puskás against Eintracht Frankfurt 1960. Enjoy! https://t.co/INy9t7FDUY pic.twitter.com/ES8aaw2Xhi

— Marius Fischer (@Gegenpressing91) December 3, 2020

So Who is The Goat?

The question of the greatest comes down truly to what you prefer as an individual. Everyone values different qualities—be it skill, trophies, leadership, longevity, or cultural impact—and that is what makes it such a good debate.

This list focuses only on players from 1950 onwards, yet even within that scope, we've left out dozens of legends who could stake a legitimate claim. Alfredo Di Stefano, Paolo Maldini, Lev Yashin, Michel Platini, are just a few players that deserve serious mention with this discourse.

And what about those who played before the modern era? Dixie Dean, Gyorgy Sarosi, Steve Bloomer, Jose Andrade, just to name a few.

What matters in the GOAT debate, is just your opinion—how you define greatness, and what kind of football moves you.

Who do you think is the greatest of all time?