Great Players
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Zinedine Zindane
Zinedine Zidane was one of the most complete players to grace the midfield. He was a combination strength, pace, vision, and elegance. He orchestrated the central midfield with a soft touch and creativity. He was graceful yet fiery in a manner where his play was intimidating. His final professional moment was his darkest and hopefully never shadows his brilliant career. Zizou, as he was as known, played for the French national team winning the 1998 World Cup in Paris and the 2000 European Championships. He also appeared in the 2006 World Cup final with France in which he won the Golden Ball award for the tournament's best player. He won many titles with his club teams (Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, and Real Madrid) including the 2002 Champions League with Real Madrid. He was a record tying FIFA World Player of the year three times (1998, 2000, 2003), European Footballer of the Year (Ballon D'or) in 1998 and European Club Player of the Year in 2002.
"Zidane skills best moves and goals
"Zidane* All in the touch wide #1"
Zidane, A 21st Centruary Portrait
Pelé
Often regarded as the best ever, Brazilian play maker Pelé was the youngest ever when he appeared in the 1958 World Cup at age 17. In the same tournament was the youngest to score and then the youngest to score a hat-trick as he did in the semifinal. Pele won the World Cup with Brazil 1958, 1962 and 1970. He was FIFA Player of the Century (2000) and the International Olympic Committee's Athlete of the Century. He won the FIFA Golden Ball in 1970.
Diego Maradona
Forever in a epic sea-sawing battle with Pelé as the greatest ever, Maradona won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and is the current coach of the Argentina national team. Maradona won the 1986 Golden Ball award for the tournament's best player. His goal in the semifinal where he received the ball just inside his own half and then beat six English defenders is regarded as one of the best ever and even referred to as the Goal of the Century. Although often controversial, Maradona's talent was unmistakable. Rumor is that Maradona was originally voted FIFA Player of the Century by fans but was over turned by FIFA presumably because of the controversy surrounding his personal life and parts of his career. He is such a popular figure in his home country that there is even "Church of Maradona." Maradona appeared in a record number of games as captain of Argentina in the World Cup and scored over an average of 1 goal every two games in club competition.
Maradona's goal v England in the World Cup Semifinal 1986
"Classic Diego Maradona Compilation"
George Best
Pelé once called George Best the best footballer in the world. Some wonder what would have George Best have been if he didn't quit Manchester United at the age of 27. Best was named European Footballer of the Year in 1968. He scored twice in the European Cup quarterfinal verse Benfica where he was given his nickname "El Beetle" by the press. Much like Pelé and Maradona, Best was considered a genius with the ball at his feet and considered by some as the most gifted ever. He was unpredictable as to what was next, or, if you did have a guess you could not stop the quick, agile, and very balanced Best who never seemed to lose control. Discovered at 15 in Northern Ireland by Manchester United, Best debuted at 17 and scored by his second appearance. United won the league the following year and Manchester United won the European Cup in 1968. Best once scored six goals in one game. He was one of the first super stars who lead his life in full view of the public. He involvement in pop culture and its headlines gave him as much attention as his sporting abilities. As one of the best ever with the ball at his feet, it unfortunate that his talent was distracted and finally lost through his personal decline involving alcohol and womanizing.
"The incredible skills of George Best"
"George Best- the video tribute"
Alfredo di Stefano
The instrumental part of the Real Madrid team that won the first five European Cups, di Stefano was lethal to an opponent anywhere on the field. He score 216 goals in 282 league matches between 1953 and 1964 and is the fourth highest scored today in Spain's top division. His list of accolades is one of the finest the game has ever seen. He won the European Cup five times, La Liga eight times, the Cope del Ray, the Intercontinental Cup, the Argentina Premiera division twice, the Colombian Championship four times, the Columbian Cup, and Copa America to name a few. His individual accomplishments are just a plentiful; Argentine League top scorer, Columbian top scored twice, Puchichi Trophy (Spanish top goal scorer) five times, Ballon d'Or (European Footballer of the Year) twice, and Spanish Player of the Year four times. On top of all that he went onto manage teams in Argentina, Columbia, and Spain to six titles including the European Cup Winner's Cup in 1979-80. His team finished runners-up eight times. Clearly di Stefano is one of the greatest winners the game has seen and one of its finest goal scorers of all time.
Johan Cruyff
Cruyff was the center piece of the Dutch total football revolution in the 1970s. He lead the Dutch to the finals of the 1974 World Cup and was named player of the tournament. He was voted European Football Player of the Year a record three times (1971, 73, 74). As a player he won the Dutch Eredivisie nine times, KNVB six times, the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup. He also won La Liga and the Copa del Ray once each with Barcelona. As a manager he won just as often as he won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup twice, the European Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.
"Johan Cryuff Dibbling Compilation"
Ferenc Puskás 
Puskás scored 84 goals in 85 international games for Hungary. His club scoring record is just as impressive as he scored 514 goals in 529 games for clubs in Hungary and Spain. While in Spain playing for Real Madrid he was awarded four Pichichis (Spain's top goal scorer). He won the European Cup with Real Madrid three times and was a finalist on two other occasions. He won La Liga with Madrid five times and Hungarian League five times. In 1952 he lead Hungary to victory in the Olympics and in 1954 the finals of the World Cup. He was World Soccer Player of the Year and European Player of the Year in 1953.
Franz Beckenbauer 
Beckenbauer was a versatile central defender who could play in the central midfield and is thought of as created the role of the modern sweeper. He was twice European Footballer of the Year (1972, 1976) and was runner up on two occasions (1975-75). He was German Footballer of the Year four times. He won the European Cup in with Bayern Munich three straight years (1974-76), the Bundesliga four times, DFB Cup four times, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. His World Cup record could perhaps be the greatest of all time. He lifted the trophy as the West German captain in 1974, was a runner up in 1966 when he was name the Young Player in the tournament, and took third place in 1976 when he as runner up for the Golden Ball (tournament's best player). He also managed West Germany to World Cup victory in 1990 and to the finals in 1986. He also managed Bayern Munich to a Bundesliga tile and UEFA Cup championship. He is commonly thought of as the greatest defender of all time.
Eusébio
Eusébio scored 727 goals in 715 games! Known for his power, speed and great right foot, his performance in the 1966 World Cup in England is legendary as he scored 4 goals as Portugal defeated North Korea 5-3 after trailing 3-0. He was the tournament's top scorer with nine goals as Portugal took third. With club team Benifica he won the Portuguese first division eleven times, Portuguese Cup five times, and the European Cup twice (1961, 1962). He was the World Player of the Year in 1965 and scored a total of 1,137 goals in his career (1957-1978).
Zico
Pelé once said " "throughout the years, the one player that came closest to me was Zico." Zico is often considered on the greatest finishers of all scoring incredible goals and important goals. He could score with either foot, with his head, from distance or with a volley. Zico's free kicks earned attention as his was deadly from nearly anywhere on the attack. In 1974 he set the goal scoring record for Brazilian club Flamengo with 49 (he finished Flamengo's all time top scorer with 568 goals between 1971-83). He was named Brazilian football player of the year that year and World Player of the Year in 1981 by several national newspapers around the world in both South America and Europe as he won the Copa Libertadores and tournaments top player and goal scorer. In 1982 Zico was name South American Player of the Year for the second straight year and 1983 Player of the Year by World Soccer. He was also an essential part in the 1982 Brazilian national team (considered on of the best teams ever) and played in the 1978 and 1986 World Cups.
Christiano Ronaldo
The world player of the year in 2008, Ronaldo was born for the big stage, the dramatic, and is as talented as anyone who has played the game. The Portuguese youngster was bought by Manchester United in 2003 at the age of 18. Now with Real Madrid after a record breaking transfer, Ronaldo has been decorated with just about every award a player could compile at his position on the stages he has performed.
"Christiano Ronaldo... Who said I'm not the best?"
