World Cup legends ranked: Messi, Maradona and Pele top the list

A ranking of the top 10 World Cup legends ever, featuring Messi, Maradona, Pele and others who defined the tournament.

The challenge of ranking legends Selecting the top 10 World Cup legends from nearly a century of 22 tournaments is a formidable challenge. While the top six or seven names appear clear, the debate intensifies over the remaining spots. Even legends like Miroslav Klose, the tournament’s all-time leading scorer, narrowly miss the cut at 11th place. Others, including Brazil’s Garrincha, Italy’s Roberto Baggio, France’s Just Fontaine, Johan Cruyff, Eusebio and Gerd Muller, also fall outside the top 10. ## England's 1966 hero Sir Geoff Hurst England’s World Cup triumph in 1966 remains unforgettable thanks to Sir Geoff Hurst’s unforgettable final performance. Though Jimmy Greaves was expected to play, manager Sir Alf Ramsey chose Hurst, who repaid the faith with a historic hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over West Germany. Hurst’s feat, matched only by Kylian Mbappe in 2022, cemented his place in football history and gave rise to the iconic “they think it’s all over…” commentary. ## Brazil’s Cafu, three-time finalist Cafu stands as Brazil’s most celebrated World Cup player, the only footballer to appear in three consecutive finals. He lifted the trophy in 1994 after a penalty shootout against Italy, was a runner-up in 1998 and captained the 2002-winning side. Known for his tireless runs up and down the right flank, Cafu wore “100% Jardim Irene” on his shirt in 2002, honoring his upbringing in a Sao Paulo favela. ## Paolo Rossi’s 1982 redemption Italy’s Paolo Rossi delivered one of the World Cup’s greatest individual performances in 1982. After a two-year ban for match-fixing allegations, Rossi returned to score a hat-trick against Brazil in a legendary group-stage clash. He added two more against Poland in the semifinal and one in the final as Italy beat West Germany 3-1, earning both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball. ## Zinedine Zidane’s 1998 magic France’s 1998 World Cup triumph was powered by Zinedine Zidane, the Algerian-French midfielder whose elegance and clutch goals defined the tournament. After being sent off in the group stage, he returned to score twice in the final against Brazil, guiding Les Bleus to their first title. His balletic brilliance and later headbutt in the 2006 final added layers to his legendary status. ## Mbappe’s rising World Cup legacy Kylian Mbappe’s World Cup story is still unfolding. At just 19 in 2018, he became France’s youngest scorer, the first teenager since Pele to score twice in a knockout match and the first since Pele to find the net in a final. His scintillating hat-trick against Argentina in 2022 nearly delivered a second title, though his side fell short against a star-studded lineup. ## Franz Beckenbauer’s dual triumph Franz Beckenbauer, known as Der Kaiser, achieved a rare double by winning the World Cup both as a player and a manager. As captain, he led West Germany to victory in 1974, outplaying a Johan Cruyff-inspired Netherlands side. Later, he returned to the dugout to guide Germany to the 1990 title, becoming the only man to lift the trophy in both roles. ## Messi ends Argentina’s 36-year wait Lionel Messi finally claimed the World Cup in 2022 after a near miss in 2014 and early setbacks in Qatar. At 35, he delivered a masterclass, scoring seven goals including two in the final against France. His performance earned him the Golden Ball, capping a tournament where he led Argentina to victory after a penalty shootout in the final. ## Ronaldo’s tale of two World Cups Brazil’s Ronaldo overcame immense odds to become a World Cup legend. He was an unused substitute in 1994 but broke out in 1998, scoring four goals before a pre-final health scare. After a devastating knee injury, he returned in 2002 to score eight times, including two in the final against Germany, reaffirming his place as one of the game’s greatest strikers. ## Maradona’s 1986 masterclass Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup remains the benchmark for individual brilliance. His infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal and the ‘Goal of the Century’ against England in the quarterfinal defined his genius. He added two more goals in the semifinal and captained Argentina to victory over West Germany, finishing with five goals and five assists in the tournament. ## Pele, the only three-time winner Pele stands alone as the only player with three World Cup titles, winning in 1958, 1962 and 1970. At 17 in 1958, he announced himself with a hat-trick in the semifinal and two more in the final against Sweden. Injuries limited his impact in 1966, but he returned in 1970 to inspire Brazil to a 4-1 victory over Italy, scoring once and assisting twice.