The Greatest Soccer Players of Each Decade

Alfredo Di Stéfano

[{"selector":"#anim-116480d7-a70f-4437-993a-85b814fbbe08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b27d972-e448-4faf-9b91-1d109258d068","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -493.77773%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Argentine-born footballer nicknamed the "Blond Arrow" is regarded as one of the greatest center-forwards in football history. Stefano became a Spanish citizen while staying in Madrid and retired after having played 521 club games and scoring 37 7 goals. Image Credits-afp

Pelé

[{"selector":"#anim-dbc2af6f-affd-405d-846b-df5d59a238f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7f8b8f0-18ff-437f-bd85-e8bf12df5cd3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -493.77773%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Known as the greatest footballer, this Brazilian player was recognized as the Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999. He holds the Guinness record for scoring 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies. Image Credits-Wikimedia Commons

johan cruyff

[{"selector":"#anim-db38dde3-32a8-4d4c-8968-3664ddf46c8f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52879b15-d032-4850-94e6-39320e41f48e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -492.97774%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Hendrik Johannes Cruijff came from a humble background. He lost his father at only 12 and was always conscious of financial security. Blessed with great talent on the field as well as off it, Cruyff led the Dutch team to prominence in the '70s and won the Ballon d'Or thre e times. Image Credits-imago

diego maradona

[{"selector":"#anim-7f9b1188-d1c2-4bd5-a028-cc9cc0b233e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ffd2089-011a-482b-904f-c817a91a70c0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -492.97774%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] There is no denying the genius and controversy surrounding the stocky wizard. Co-voted as the FIFA Player of the Century, he was well-known for his exceptional dribbling skills and free kicks, which also earned him the nickname El Pibe de Oro ("The Golden Boy"). Image Credits-MARK LEECH/OFFSIDE/GETTY IMAGES

ronaldo

[{"selector":"#anim-889f7f42-83ff-4d3d-8240-94e536c2535d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b187aba5-1d3e-4d7b-ada9-d19b217138cf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -492.97774%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A child prodigy who dropped out of school to play football on the streets, Ronaldo quickly made his way to the top as a fierce striker with a knack for scoring goals. At age 21 he received his first Ballon d'Or or and remains the youngest recipient till date . Image Credits-al jazeera

zinedine zidane

[{"selector":"#anim-ec0697a2-e539-4495-800d-869542def1ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7dde3d87-d4b4-418e-a1b4-88d53bd3fc19","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -438.77401%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A national hero in France for winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Zizou, as he is nicknamed, also won the Euro 2000 cup and is one of nine players to have won the World Cup, the Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or. Zidane is said to be proud of his French nationality as well as his Arab roots. Image Credits-Sportinglife

lionel messi and cristiano ronaldo

[{"selector":"#anim-f3bee9eb-783c-4787-a620-8208f7f27494","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b2af291-a50d-41e9-a2f7-71310ad89d1f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -426.36022%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Undoubtedly the greatest footballers of our time, the two hold a close rivalry, and their career graphs almost coincide. While Messi scores more goals per minute, Ronaldo has scored more goals (871) than Messi (821). Together, they have a combined 79 official trophies. Image Credits-youtube read more