Sports
10 Most Underrated Players in Football History [Ranked]
At present, players are continually assessed and ranked on who is the best footballer in the world today. Sometimes these ratings can change radically, even within the course of a single game. With so much data and statistics on players publicly available, the fan on the street can conjure up their beliefs and opinions on players. Managers and head coaches will argue that no amount of data will be a sufficient substitute for what they see with their own eyes.
At the same time, managers and supporters will have their favourite players. Players they feel they can trust and deliver. On the flip side, there are some who can be less popular. Then there is a third category. These are players who maybe don’t get the praise they deserve – players whose ability and skill has perhaps not been fully appreciated. So to explore that theme, here are the 10 most underrated players in football history.
Ranking Factors
- Public and fan perception of the player
- Honours won and any individual awards
10
Jordan Henderson
England, Sunderland, Liverpool, Ajax, Brentford
Few players have had as much passive aggressiveness thrown their way as much as Jordan Henderson. While nobody is suggesting he has been a better player than Steven Gerrard, Henderson did what Gerrard could not. That is, lead Liverpool to the Premier League title.
Under Henderson’s captaincy, Liverpool won their first English title in 30 long years. That added to the Champions League and the FIFA World Club Cup, Henderson lifted every club honour there was to win. He also popped up with vital goals for England in the knock-out stages of Euro 2020 and World Cup 2022. Henderson always had leadership qualities, but he could play too.
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9
Rudi Voller
Germany, Werder Bremen, Roma, Marseille
German striker Rudi Voller was a more than dependable player for club and country. For Germany, he came off the bench to equalise in the 1986 World Cup Final. This after scoring in the semi-final against France. Sadly for the Germans, they lost the final to a late goal from Argentina. Four years later, he was a vital part of the team that went one step better and became World Champions at Italia ’90.
It was Jurgen Klinsmann who tended to get most of the limelight up front for that German side. With blonde locks and acrobatics, he was perhaps the more flamboyant player than Voller. Yet Voller’s international goal-scoring record is excellent. With 47 goals in 90 caps, he averaged more than a goal every other game. This was a time when Voller was always under the spotlight when the Germans were always expected to reach major finals. More often than not, they did.
8
Michael Carrick
England, West Ham, Spurs, Manchester United
Michael Carrick was a confident ball player who dictated play, yet also one of British football’s most underrated players. He showed he was more than capable of handling the pressure of playing for a big club, when he went to Manchester United. At Old Trafford, he won five Premier League titles and the Champions League. This didn’t equate to as many England caps as perhaps it should have done.
Whereas he may not have been as highly rated as he should have been by the wider football world, his teammates understood how good he was. Carrick was named Manchester United’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2013, the last year United won the Premier League title.
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7
Gheorghe Hagi
Romania, Steaua Bucharest, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Galatasaray
Gheorghe Hagi was the jewel in the fabulously entertaining Romania side of the 1990s. He had a wand of a left foot and would arguably get in an all-time eleven of left-footed players. One wonders if his star would have been higher had he been born French or Italian. This is a midfielder who could and did change games with a moment of brilliance.
Not many attempt to score 45-yard lobs in the World Cup, but this is how Hagi scored for Romania in the 1994 World Cup. The little Romanian was a talisman on the international stage. Although he was highly rated, he was perhaps not as appreciated as much as his enormous talent deserved.
6
Sergio Busquets
Spain, Barcelona, Inter Miami
Sergio Busquets may well be considered one of Barcelona’s best-ever players, as well as one of Spain’s greatest, but he is still underrated. When pundits and the media talk about those great Spanish and Barcelona teams, they always name-check the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta. They don’t always include Busquets. Yet he was just as crucial to the success of Spain and Barcelona.
Perhaps his underrated quality is how he made his position look so easy. He could drop his shoulder or sell a dummy to help him gain time in delicate areas of the pitch, deep in his own half, before starting attacks. He did this time and again and went on to win everything there is in the game, both domestically and on the international stage.
5
Franck Ribery
France, Marseille, Bayern Munich
Franck Ribery remains adamant he should have won the 2013 Ballon d’Or. That was the year he inspired Bayern Munich to win the Champions League. That honour instead went to Cristiano Ronaldo. While some may have seen him as a luxury player early in his career, he delivered consistently at Bayern.
Arguably, his best season was in 2013, when he was a big reason Bayern won the treble of league and national cup and the Champions League. This was at a time when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were at the peak of their powers. Yet Ribery, while seen as a good player is not often rated as highly as his talent and what he did in the game fully deserves.
4
Robert Prosinecki
Yugoslavia, Croatia, Red Star Belgrade, Real Madrid, Barcelona
Robert Prosinecki was part of the Yugoslavia team that won the 1987 under-20 World Cup. He was also a key cog in the wonderful Red Star Belgrade side that won the European Cup in 1991. Mesmeric on the ball and very talented on set pieces, Prosinecki attracted attention from the world’s biggest clubs.
He played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, but neither quite saw his true brilliance over his time in La Liga. Prosinecki would often save that for the international stage. After Croatia declared independence, he was a key part of the side that finished third in the 1998 World Cup. Later in his career, he even had a brief stint at Portsmouth. Fans of the south coast club often rank him as their favourite ever player.
3
Dani Carvajal
Spain, Real Madrid
Dani Carvajal as often described as a stalwart or a dependable player. These always seem like begrudging descriptions of the Spaniard, who now has six Champions League winners’ medals. Although considered one of the Champions League’s greatest ever right-backs, it feels it’s purely because of the medal tally not the ability.
Real Madrid have had superstar names in their ranks over the years, so those players who do a job well are not always noticed. Yet with the amount of attacking flair in their side, it’s vital that they have someone who can defend. Carvajal has proved himself a dogged competitor who can handle the pressure of one of the world’s biggest clubs.
2
Thomas Muller
Germany, Bayern Munich, Vancouver Whitecaps
Not only is Thomas Muller in the top 20 all-time Champions League goal scorers, he also has the same number of assists in Europe’s leading club competition as Xavi. Taking those goals and assists into consideration, Muller does not get the appreciation he deserves.
To make this totally clear, the German has more Champions League assists than Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Luis Suarez – while he has more goals than Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Neymar. He also, of course, was a part of the German team that won the 2014 World Cup. Yet the man himself is self-depreciating when describing his own ability:
“I know that every goal counts the same, always one. I also know that if you only took the nice goals, I wouldn’t have that many to my name.”
1
Michael Laudrup
Denmark, Lazio, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid
While Michael Laudrup is widely regarded as the best Danish player of all time, he doesn’t always get the full recognition perhaps his undeniable talent fully deserved. He was magnificent at times for Denmark and he also very much delivered for club too. He was a huge part of the Barcelona side that, under Johan Cruyff, won the European Cup in 1992. After falling out with the Dutch legend, Laudrup then made a hugely controversial move to Real Madrid.
There in the Spanish capital, he turned on the style and led Madrid to their first La Liga title in five years. Some in the game did recognise his brilliance. They put Laudrup’s stock very highly indeed. That was certainly the case when Franz Beckenbauer described the Danish maestro:
“Pele was the best in the 60s, Cruyff in the 70s, Maradona in the 80s and Laudrup in the 90s.”
All stats courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 24/09/2025)
The son of England legend Jack Charlton has told of an inheritance tax row surrounding ownership of his father’s World Cup winners’ medal.
Charlton, who played over 750 games for Leeds United, immortalised himself as part of England’s World Cup-winning squad of 1966. The older brother of Bobby, Jack started at centre back alongside captain Bobby Moore in the final, with England defeating West Germany 4-2 after extra time.
However, on the 60th anniversary of England’s triumph, his son John has revealed that he is no longer in possession of his father’s medal. John Charlton was left the incredible piece of sporting memorabilia in his father’s will, but has had to give it back to his mother.
Jack Charlton’s World Cup Winners’ Medal
John appeared on talkSPORT Breakfast to discuss the 60th anniversary of England’s World Cup win, as well as Eddie Howe’s departure as Newcastle manager. Speaking about his father and uncle’s medals, he stated, “Funny enough, me and Eddie (Howe) were talking about his medal.
“I think there’s only him and my uncle Bobby who have kept their medals. Everybody else doesn’t have them anymore.”
When asked about the whereabouts of his father’s medal, John replied, “I’ve got it. Well, there’s a bit of a problem with it, actually.”
Inheritance Tax Row
The interview with Stuart Pearce and Andy Goldstein took an unexpected turn, as John revealed that the medal belonged to him, but was not actually in his possession.
“When I say I’ve got it, it was left to me in my dad’s will, but the tax man wants £200,000 off me in Inheritance Tax.”
But when asked whether he plans to sell his father’s prized possession, he seemed reluctant to do so. “No, I’ve given it back to my mother because, whilst she’s got it, I don’t have to pay that money.”
Despite being taken aback by the stipulations of UK tax law, John remained optimistic that a solution could be reached. “There’s a journalist from the Daily Mirror who’s been working on it and helping us to try and sort it, but the same applies to Olympic gymnasts and people like that.
“If they decide to sell their gold medals, they’re going to have to pay. Their family, sorry, pass it on, they’re going to have to pay Inheritance Tax on that. This is something that they’ve been trying to sort out.”
Currently, Inheritance Tax in the UK is 40% on estates that surpass the £325,000 threshold. And as for John Charlton’s situation, he also has to consider other World Cup memorabilia into that figure. He is also in possession of Jack Charlton’s World Cup final shirt and England cap, with the latter being the only one he retained from his football career.
“His shirt and his medal are in a safe place, tucked away,” revealed John. “And the England cap that he got because he only got one cap for the tournament and that’s the only cap that he left. He gave the rest away.”
Jack Charlton played 35 times for England over five years, with his first cap coming a year prior to England’s successful 1966 campaign. In domestic football, he was a one-club man. Having played for Leeds United for 21 years, Charlton is still the all-time leading appearance maker for the club.
After retiring from club football, Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle, and the Republic of Ireland. He led the latter to their first World Cup in 1990.
You can pre-order EA Sports FC 27 now, with the game being launched with a slick trailer and informative deep dives.
EA has spiced things up a little bit this year by introducing a boosted tier system for the game’s release. Alongside the Standard and Ultimate editions, gamers will have the new option of the Ultimate Plus edition.
Each edition comes with its own unique features, bonuses, and price structure, and GIVEMESPORT have broken down these key characteristics to help users choose the edition that best suits their gaming experience.
EA Sports FC 27 Ultimate Plus Edition Bonuses
The Ultimate Plus Edition offers gamers the biggest pre-order bonus bundle in the series’ history, designed for serious fans of the Ultimate Team gameplay mode.
However, there is a caveat that players must be aware of: this edition is only available from July 23 to August 31, and players cannot purchase it after this date nor upgrade to it later.
|
Ultimate Plus Edition Core Bonuses |
|---|
|
Full game with up to 7 days Early Access |
|
10,000 FC Points |
|
Premium Season Passes for Seasons 1 through 5 |
|
85+ OVR International ICON Player Item |
|
Additional Player Evolution Slot |
|
1 of 5 Hall of FUT Direct Player Pick (Akinfenwa, Giovani dos Santos, Remy, Fellaini, or Elia) |
EA Sports FC 27 Ultimate Edition Bonuses
The Ultimate Edition returns as the longstanding premium option, but the rewards and bonuses available to players differ depending on when the game is bought.
August 31 Pre-Order (Early Bird)
|
Ultimate Edition Bonuses |
|---|
|
FUT Bonuses: 85+ OVR International ICON, 7 days Early Access, Season 1 Premium Pass, 6,000 FC Points, and an Extra Evo Slot. |
|
The Grounds: Signature Sweatsuit, Mbappé Tier 3 AMP, and 2x AXP for 10 Matches. |
|
Career Mode: Pre-Order Challenges, Dynamic OVR Pre-Season Boost, 3 ICONs/Heroes, 5-Star Coach, 5-Star Youth/Senior Scouts, and 5 Manager Live Challenge Slots. |
|
FC 26 Bonuses: 99 DRI Stat Evo and a 93+ OVR ICON Player Pick. |
Pre-Order after August 31 but before September 24
The user will receive everything listed above, except for the 85+ OVR International ICON item.
Purchase on or after September 25 (Global Release Date)
Users will only receive the base FC Points, Evolution Slot, Career Mode items, and The Grounds items. They will not be granted Early Access, the Season 1 Pass, or the 85+ OVR International ICON.
Ultimate Plus vs Ultimate: Which Edition Should You Buy?
For players aiming to pre-order before August 31, the decision comes down to how much you play Ultimate Team. The increased bonuses, particularly the four additional Premium Passes and the boosted FC Points, justify putting the extra pennies down for the Ultimate Plus Edition.
Still, for players who aren’t sure whether they want to commit to future season passes, or how much time they can commit to the Ultimate Team experience, pre-ordering the Ultimate Edition before that August 31 deadline is still a great way to grab a good haul of bonuses for your money.
EA Sports FC 27 Pre-Order Prices: All Editions
Here is the pricing structure for each edition of EA Sports FC 27:
|
Edition |
UK Price |
US Price |
Canada Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Standard |
£69.99 |
$69.99 |
$89.99 |
|
Ultimate |
£99.99 |
$99.99 |
$129.99 |
|
Ultimate Plus |
£139.99 |
$149.99 |
$199.99 |
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is officially available to return to professional football after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld his appeal against his ban for doping.
Mudryk, who signed for Chelsea in 2023 for an initial fee of £62m, has not played a competitive match since November 2024, following a provisional suspension by the FA. Subsequent tests delivered an “adverse finding” for the banned substance meldonium.
The Ukraine international was hit with a significant ban of four years by the FA, but lodged an appeal to CAS against the punishment. The longstanding governing body agreed to allow the 25-year-old to return to professional football “with immediate effect.” Mudryk conceded that he had broken anti-doping rules, agreeing to a suspension that equalled the time he had already served.
Mudryk has shared his gratitude at returning to football, stating that the ban led to the “most difficult period” of his career.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk star added: “As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance.”
Chelsea has already commented on the positive verdict regarding the Ukrainian winger, stating that the club looks forward to returning Mudryk to “full fitness, [and reintegrating him] back into the squad and back on to the pitch.” The 25-year-old is expected to join their pre-season tour.
FA Update on Mykhailo Mudryk
The English FA shared the following statement on their website in relation to Mudryk’s four-year ban being lifted:
“The FA can confirm that the anti-doping disciplinary proceedings against Mykhailo Mudryk were resolved with the agreement of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 30 July 2026. In the context of that agreement, Mr Mudryk has accepted his commission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and accepted a period of ineligibility.
“On 22 October 2024, Mr Mudryk was subject to an out-of-competition doping control, which revealed the presence of a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance. The FA notified Mr Mudryk of that finding on 4 December 2024 and imposed a provisional suspension. On 23 May 2025, the FA charged Mr Mudryk with ADRVs in breach of Regulations 3 and 4 of its 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations.
“On 7 to 9 January 2026, a hearing took place before an independent Regulatory Commission. The Regulatory Commission found that Mr Mudryk had committed the charged ADRVs and imposed a four-year period of ineligibility. Subsequently, Mr Mudryk filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Since then, changes have been made to WADA Technical Document (TD2027MRL) which, while not retroactive, mean that if Mr Mudryk’s sample was collected today, the concentration of meldonium in the sample would not have been reported and no ADRVs would have resulted.
“Further to that development and to other circumstances of the case, The FA and Mr Mudryk have now – with the agreement of WADA – resolved the appeal proceedings in accordance with Article 10.8.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code and Regulation 90 of the 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations. As a part of the agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the ADRVs charged and acceded to a period of ineligibility equal to the time served at the date of the agreement.
“Mr Mudryk is no longer ineligible and may return to competition with immediate effect.”
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