The Ballon d’Or: Only one for ten legends?

Imagine a pit of giants, a pantheon where the biggest names in football rub shoulders. Pelé, Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo... Players who left their indelible mark on history. Each with their own style, unique talent and exploits engraved in the collective memory.

What if we awarded them one and only Ballon d’Or? A symbolic trophy to designate the best player of all time. An almost impossible mission as the comparison between different eras is complex.

In this article, we will attempt to meet this challenge by ranking the 10 best football players in history. A subjective ranking, based on a multitude of criteria such as track record, individual talent, influence on the game and longevity.

So who will be the king of football? Let yourself be guided by our exploration of football legends and form your own opinion!

1. Pelé: The undisputed King

The list of achievements : Three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970), two Copa Libertadores, an Intercontinental Cup, three Brazilian championship titles... It's difficult to do better than Pelé.

The style of play : Disconcerting dribbling, dazzling speed, formidable hitting power and an extraordinary vision of the game. Pelé was a complete striker, capable of scoring spectacular goals and making his partners shine.

His achievements : 1281 goals in 1363 matches, a record which stood for 40 years. The only player to have won three World Cups, he is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.

2. Diego Maradona: El Pibe de Oro

The prize list : World champion in 1986, winner of the Italian Cup and two Argentine championship titles. Maradona didn't win as many titles as Pelé, but his pure talent was unmatched.

The style of play : A genius with the ball, capable of dribbling entire teams and scoring legendary goals. His hand of God against England and his goal of the century during the same World Cup will remain engraved in the memories.

His achievements : 345 goals in 679 matches, voted best player of the 20th century by FIFA. Maradona was a football artist, a player capable of transcending his sport.

3. Johan Cruyff: The revolutionary

The prize list : Three Ballons d'Or (1971, 1973, 1974), three European Champion Club Cups (1971, 1972, 1973), one European Cup Winners' Cup (1978) and eight league titles. The Netherlands. Cruyff was not only a talented player, he was also a visionary.

Playing style : An intelligent and creative playmaker, he revolutionized football with his "total football". A style of play based on possession of the ball and constant movement of players.

His achievements : 425 goals in 704 matches. Cruyff left his mark on football, both through his talent and his revolutionary ideas.

4. Lionel Messi: The Argentine genius

The list of achievements : Seven Ballons d'Or (a record), four Champions Leagues, ten Spanish championship titles and a record 769 goals in 974 matches. Messi is a unique player, capable of achieving superhuman feats.

The style of play : Devastating dribbling, exceptional vision of the game and diabolical precision in front of goal. Messi is a football artist, capable of doing wonders with the ball.

His achievements : Messi is still active and continues to break records. He is considered by many to be the best player in history after Pele and Maradona.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo: The hard worker

The list of achievements : Five Ballons d'Or, five Champions Leagues, seven league titles in three different countries and a record of 831 goals in 1,139 matches. Ronaldo is a monster of work and efficiency.

The style of play : An impressive physique, blazing speed and formidable striking power. Ronaldo is an insatiable scorer, capable of scoring in all positions.

His achievements : Ronaldo is one of the most complete players in history. He is a lifelong rival of Messi and the two players have shared most of the records for over a decade.

6. Franz Beckenbauer: The Kaiser

The list of achievements : World champion as a player (1974) and coach (1990), Ballon d'Or (1972), five German championship titles and three European Champion Club Cups. Beckenbauer is a monument of German football.

Playing style : Nicknamed the “libero”, Beckenbauer revolutionized the central defender position by bringing his playing intelligence and technique to the opposing camp.

His achievements : Beckenbauer is one of the rare football personalities to have triumphed as a player and coach at a World Cup. His leadership and elegance on the field make him an undisputed legend.

7. Alfredo Di Stéfano: La Saeta Rubia

The prize list : Five consecutive European Champion Club Cups with Real Madrid, eight Spanish championship titles and two South American Cups with Argentina. Di Stéfano is a Real Madrid legend and a symbol of attacking football.

Playing style : A complete attacker, with unparalleled speed and technique. Di Stéfano was a prolific goalscorer, capable of leading his team to victory.

His achievements : Di Stéfano marked the history of Real Madrid by dominating Europe during the 1950s. His talent and charisma made him a player adored by supporters.

8. Michel Platini: King Midas

The prize list : Three Ballons d'Or (1983, 1984, 1985), a European Championship (1984) and seven French championship titles. Platini left his mark on French football with his elegance and sense of goal.

Playing style : A visionary playmaker with exceptional striking technique. Platini was a master of free kicks and an outstanding distributor.

His achievements : Platini took French football to the top of Europe. His talent and leadership make him one of the most notable players in the history of the Blues.

9. Zinedine Zidane: Elegance personified

The prize list : Ballon d'Or (1998), World Cup (1998), European Championship (2000), a Champions League and three French championship titles. Zidane is a symbol of French football and Real Madrid.

The style of play : An elegant and technical midfielder, with an exceptional sense of positioning and vision of the game. Zidane was capable of sublimating his partners and scoring legendary goals, like his volley in the 2002 Champions League final.

His achievements : Zidane took French football to the roof of the world. His talent and charisma make him an unforgettable legend.

10. Ronaldo (Luis Nazário de Lima): The phenomenon

The prize list : Two World Cups (1994, 2002), two Ballons d'Or (1997, 2002), a UEFA Cup and two club world championship titles. Ronaldo was an extraordinary attacker, capable of impressive technical gestures.

Playing style : An explosive and technical striker with unparalleled speed and dribbling power. Ronaldo was a formidable scorer, capable of making differences on his own.

His achievements : Ronaldo marked the 1990s and early 2000s with his talent and personality. His double World Cup victory and his exceptional performances made him a legend of Brazilian football.

Deciding the best players in history is a complex and subjective task. Each of the ten players presented in this article has their own qualities and marked their era in a unique way.

This classification is therefore a proposal, a starting point for discussion and debate. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and give us your own picks for the title of greatest player of all time.