Lionel Messi: Barcelona star beats Pele, Maradona in top 50 greatest footballers
- Lionel Messi is arguably one of the greatest players who ever grace the football pitch
- Latest ranking by UK outlet FourFourTwo puts the Barcelona star No.1 in top 50 greatest footballers
- Countryman Diego Maradona and Brazilian legend Pele are second and third respectively
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UK based outlet FourFourTwo has named Barcelona star Lionel Messi ahead of countryman Diego Maradona as well as legendary Brazilian Pele in the top 50 greatest footballers of all time.
Despite inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 as well as his superb show of class for Italian side Napoli during his playing career, Maradona was left in the second position.
However, he would still be delighted as he is ahead of arch rival Pele who clocked 80 years October 23, with FFT describing the Brazil icon the most complete footballer.
Cristiano Ronaldo is fifth on the list as late Dutch footballer Johan Cryuff beat the Portuguese star to the fourth position.
However in the top 50, expectedly, Brazilian stars dominate as there are 11 ex-Samba stars who made the list including Ronaldinho.
The highest British player is George Best in 14th, while Bobby Charlton who lands in 19th spot.
Below are top 50 greatest footballers according to FourFourTwo.
50. Xavi
49. Nilton Santos
48. Michael Laudrup
47. Rivellino
46. Juan Alberto Schiaffino
45. Oleg Blokhin
44. Didi
43. Fritz Walter
42. Matthias Sindelar
41. Gianluigi Buffon
40. Kenny Dalglish
Source: Getty Images
39. Nandor Hidegkuti
38. Gianni Rivera
37. Ruud Gullit
36. Paco Gento
35. Luis Suarez
34. Stanley Matthews
33. Gunter Netzer
32. Paolo Rossi
31. Juan Manuel Moreno
30. Lothar Matthaus
29. Raymond Kopa
28. Socrates
27. Bobby Moore
26. Valentino Mazzola
25. Carlos Alberto
24. Ronaldinho
23. Eusebio
22. Lev Yashin
21. Romario
20. Paolo Maldini
19. Bobby Charlton
18. Giuseppe Meazza
17. Gerd Muller
16. Zico
15. Franco Baresi
14. George Best
13. Marco van Basten
12. Michel Platini
11. Garrincha
10. Ronaldo
9. Ferenc Puskas
8. Zinedine Zidane
7. Franz Beckenbauer
6. Alfredo Di Stefano
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
4. Johan Cruyff
3. Pele
2. Diego Maradona
1. Lionel Messi
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a brilliant birthday message to Argentine legend Diego Amando Maradona who clocked 60 on Friday, October 30.
Ronaldo trolled the celebrant Maradona saying the legend is the number one, but after Cristiano.
I still don't have the €250,000 I need for my FIFA ban appeal - Samson Siasia | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
