Legendary Players & Icons
59 entries in the FIFA World Cup compendium.
Legendary Players & Icons — Era Chart
Lionel MessiThe most decorated player in football history, Messi has won 46 team trophies and holds rePeléThe only player to win three World Cups as a player (1958, 1962, 1970) and the youngest toDiego MaradonaEl Pibe de Oro: The Golden Boy of football.Michel PlatiniFrench football legend and former UEFA president, known as Le Roi.EusébioThe Portuguese striker who electrified the world with his speed, power, and unforgettable Paolo RossiThe striker who led Italy to World Cup glory in 1982, winning the Golden Boot, Golden BallGerd MüllerThe nation's Bomber: a prolific striker and record goalscorer for Bayern Munich and West GLothar MatthäusThe captain who led West Germany to World Cup glory in 1990 and appeared in five tournamenGarrinchaThe Joy of the People who danced his way to two World Cup titles for Brazil.Roberto BaggioThe Divine Ponytail: Italian legend and World Cup record-holder.Lev YashinThe Black Spider who revolutionised goalkeepingJairzinhoThe Hurricane who scored in every game of the 1970 World Cup.Just FontaineThe Frenchman who scored thirteen goals in one World Cup summer.Oliver KahnThe Titan of German goalkeepingRonaldo NazárioBrazilian striker, three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, and World Cup winner.Dino ZoffThe oldest ever winner of the World Cup, lifting the trophy as Italy's captain at age 40.Carlos Alberto TorresThe captain who scored one of the greatest goals in World Cup history and led Brazil to thGordon BanksEnglish goalkeeper who started every game of England's 1966 World Cup victory and made a lRonaldinhoThe wizard who conquered the worldDiego ForlánThe Golden Ball winner who led Uruguay to the 2010 World Cup semi-finals.Xavi HernandezSpanish football manager and former player, widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielRivaldoThe Brazilian playmaker who scored in five of seven games en route to the 2002 World Cup tRomárioBrazilian legend and 1994 World Cup winnerThierry HenryFrench striker who won the 1998 World Cup and became Arsenal's all-time leading scorer.CafuThe only player to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals, and a two-time World Cup Fabio CannavaroThe only defender to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award, Cannavaro captained ItalFerenc PuskásThe Galloping Major: Hungarian legend and Real Madrid icon.Sandor KocsisThe Hungarian striker who scored 11 goals at the 1954 World Cup, a record at the time.Uwe SeelerThe first player to score in four World Cups, Seeler appeared in 21 World Cup matches for Bobby CharltonEnglish football legend and 1966 World Cup winnerAndrea PirloItalian midfield maestro and World Cup winner.Hristo StoichkovBulgarian legend, Ballon d'Or winner, and 1994 World Cup Golden Boot recipient.MessiFive tournaments, one nation's faith, and a final that rewrote football history.ZidaneZinedine Zidane: the architect who crowned France and etched his name into World Cup legenMbappéFrench forward, World Cup record scorer, and Real Madrid star.MaradonaArgentine football legend, World Cup winner, and one of the greatest players of all time.RonaldoPortuguese professional footballer, forward and captain for Al-Nassr and Portugal, widely DidiDidi: a name shared by footballers, characters, and a ride-hailing giant.VaváBrazilian striker who scored in two World Cup finals.KakáBrazilian midfield maestro who conquered Europe and the world.NeymarBrazilian football legend and all-time top scorer for his country.ZicoZico may refer to various people, places, or things.Paolo MaldiniIl Capitano: AC Milan and Italy legend, five-time Champions League winner, and one of the Carlos AlbertoThe defender who struck in the dying seconds and crowned Brazil's greatest World Cup team.BebetoThree goals, one baby carriage, and a nation's joy made eternal on the 1994 World Cup stagTostãoBrazilian forward who partnered Pelé in the 1970 World Cup triumph.SocratesThe philosopher who passed the ball like a poet and led a nation's dream to the edge of glDungaBrazilian midfield general and World Cup-winning captainFranco BaresiThe wall that made Italy's World Cup dreams possible and their heartaches all the more unbTaffarelBrazil's most capped goalkeeper and hero of the 1994 World Cup triumph.Alessandro Del PieroItalian former professional footballer, mainly a second striker, regarded as one of the grDavid TrezeguetFrench striker who scored the golden goal in Euro 2000 and won the 1998 World Cup.Patrick VieiraA dominating box-to-box midfielder and World Cup winner, now head coach of Senegal.Giuseppe BergomiInter legend and World Cup winner who defined Italian defending.Lilian ThuramFrench defender who won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, known for his versatility at rigSándor KocsisThe Golden Head of the Mighty MagyarsPaul BreitnerGerman left-back and midfielder who scored in two World Cup finals and won the 1974 World Karl-Heinz RummeniggeGerman football legend and executive, two-time Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup runner-up Sepp MaierThe Tiger who'd leave his goal and run you down — at a World Cup.
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