The World Cup is the most watched sporting tournament around the globe, eclipsing the viewing figures of the Tour de France. Five billion people reportedly watch the competition when it swings around, as the United States of America, Mexico and Canada prepare to host the 2026 edition. Since its inaugural campaign in 1930, a plethora of greats have written their name in history and announced themselves on the world stage.

With that said, GIVEMESPORT has taken a look at the 10 greatest footballers in World Cup history. It’s important to note, the rankings have been decided on the following factors.

• Impact at the World Cup(s)
• Longevity in the competition
• Number of triumphs

19

Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta is the only player in history to collect the Man of the Match award in the Champions League final, European Championship final and World Cup final. All that, and, most importantly, he scored the winner in the latter. The mercurial, almost folkloric, playmaker typified what it meant to be a Spanish midfielder in an era where Spain and Catalonia held dominion over the world.

2010 was the first time La Roja lifted the trophy, and he celebrated the winner by ripping off his shirt and revealing a tribute to the late Espanyol captain Dani Jarque – a lovely touch, even if Howard Webb then booked him. And while it was at that tournament that Iniesta proved he deserves a place on this list, he ran rings around the rest of the world in four separate editions.

18

Lev Yashin

In 1954, Lev Yashin was called up to the Soviet national team, and would go on to earn 74 caps. With the national team, he won the 1956 Summer Olympics as well as the first European championship, the 1960 European Nations’ Cup. He also played in three World Cups, in 1958, 1962 and 1966.

The aptly-nicknamed ‘Black Spider’ became the first goalkeeper to receive the Ballon d’Or in 1963. While not winning the tournament during his career, he helped his country to a fourth-placed finish in ’66, and was included in FIFA’s World Cup Dream Team in 2002.

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Averaging more than a goal per game for West Germany, Gerd Muller’s tally of 68 net bulges in 62 caps is a testament to just how lethal he was in front of goal. ‘Der Bomber’ was named European Footballer of the Year in 1970. After a successful season at Bayern Munich, he scored ten goals in the 1970 FIFA World Cup for West Germany, where he received the Golden Boot as top goalscorer, before winning the Ballon d’Or in the same year.

Muller ranks third in the all-time World Cup top scorers list. His tally of 14 goals sits him marginally behind Ronaldo (15 goals) and Miroslav Klose (16 goals). Yet, his ratio of 1.08 goals per game is superior to his rivals for the coveted record (0.79 and 0.67 respectively).

17

Paolo Rossi

In firing Italy to 1982 World Cup glory with six goals, Paolo Rossi became one of a select group of players to win the Golden Boot, Golden Ball and World Cup itself. He also added that year’s Ballon d’Or for good measure, cementing his place as one of the greatest forgotten footballers to ever play the beautiful game.

The legendary striker scored nine World Cup goals in all – he got going with three during the 1978 tournament, making him one of the Azzurri’s all-time leading marksmen in the competition.

16

Bobby Moore

Are there any World Cup pictures more iconic than seeing Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy in his hand, lofted into the air by his teammates while wearing the simple but instantly recognisable red away shirt of England in 1966? That was the year football came home, and while the Three Lions have tried – and failed- to replicate that success, Moore is a legend of the highest order.

The West Ham and Three Lions icon was one of the best defenders on the planet at the time; indeed, a certain Pele (more on him later…) described him as the toughest player he ever came up against.

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15

Fabio Cannavaro

Italian pride has always lied within the art of defending. As the second most capped Italian footballer of all time, Fabio Cannavaro typified this notion. His ability to read the game, thwart dangerous attacks, and then set them up himself, harked back to the glory days of 60s Italia at the turn of the century.

Excellently nicknamed ‘The Berlin Wall’ after leading his nation to World Cup triumph in Germany in 2006, the former Real Madrid centre-back played a starring role, with Italy earning five clean sheets and only conceding twice en route to the final. As a result, he was named the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year, making him the only defender in history to have won the award. He’s also the last defender to have won the Ballon d’Or for those same exploits.

14

Just Fontaine

Just Fontaine averaged more than two goals a game at the 1958 World Cup, striking 13 times in only six games for France – including four against defending champions West Germany. Famously, he achieved this gold standard all while wearing borrowed boots, making you wonder just how good he would have been with his own pair.

Unsurprisingly, that tally earned Fontaine the Golden Boot – and it took until 1974, when Gerd Muller scored his final World Cup goal, for anyone to surpass his total across World Cups overall, never mind at a single edition. Sadly, though, his supreme scoring ability never amounted to anything more than a third-placed finish for Les Bleus.

13

Jairzinho

Top scorer of Brazil’s legendary 1970 World Cup-winning team with seven goals – eclipsed only by Gerd Muller at that tournament – Jairzinho was a true superstar for his country. A highly versatile winger, ‘O Furacao’ (‘The Hurricane’) found the net in every round of the aforementioned tournament in Mexico – bagging the third goal as Brazil thrashed Italy in the final.

He was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team at the end of the aforementioned success in the biggest international tournament on the planet. He was so good in fact, had he been eligible, he may well have won a Ballon d’Or.

12

Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff not only played football; he philosophised it. The most prominent exponent of the revolutionary ‘Total Football’ system, Cruyff won trophy after trophy with Ajax and Barcelona during the ’70s – most notably three European Cups in a row with the former. In 713 total career appearances, the Dutchman scored 400 goals and provided 358 assists, and it could easily be contested that he was the best footballer of all time whose name isn’t Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo

He also captained the Netherlands to the final of the 1974 World Cup and a bronze medal at the 1976 European Championships, but is no doubt unfortunate to not have more international success than he already has.

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11

Carlos Alberto

For a nation where it’s all about flair and fancy footwork up top, the hard-hitting defenders often went unnoticed, despite doing such a stellar job. Carlos Alberto offered both. While he could charge forward and get in on the act of scoring, Alberto’s defensive capabilities were of a terrific standard.

Not disturbed by the captaincy duties, he was a pivotal part of that famous star-studded Brazil side from the 1970 World Cup. Indeed, his goal in the final victory over Italy goes down as one of the greatest in football history, with nine passes before his brilliant finish summarising Brazil’s football identity.

10

Garrincha

Garrincha won the World Cup with Brazil twice and was the joint-top scorer at the triumphant 1962 edition with four goals. The explosive right-winger won the competition in 1958 and turned provider on two occasions in the final, as his side thumped Sweden 5-2. Pele, who is widely regarded as the greatest Brazilian footballer of all time, was of course the star of the team but Garrincha was heavily influential, too, and is without doubt a World Cup great.

The 50-cap international was nicknamed ‘Little Bird’ in Portuguese for his marvellous dribbling ability, which caused havoc for opposing defenders. Remarkably, Brazil never lost a game in which Garrincha and Pele both played.