Lionel Messi<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n10. Michel Platini<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Number ten on our list of the best soccer players of all time is French midfield master, Michel Platini. He was an icon of football in the 70s and 80s, especially on the European stage, ultimately becoming the 6th president of UEFA from 2007 to 2015. His crowning glory came in leading France to victory in the 1984 European Championship and being named player of the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nNational team: <\/strong>France<\/li>\n\n\n\nBest World Cup performance:<\/strong> Semi-finalist (1986)<\/li>\n\n\n\nClub teams: <\/strong>Nancy, Saint-\u00c9tienne, Juventus<\/li>\n\n\n\nPosition:<\/strong> Attacking midfielder<\/li>\n\n\n\nTotal number of games:<\/strong> 653<\/li>\n\n\n\nTotal number of goals: <\/strong>353<\/li>\n\n\n\nMajor honors (team): <\/strong>European Championship (1984), Serie A (1983\u201384, 1985\u201386), European Cup (1984\u201385), Coppa Italia (1982\u201383), Cup Winners’ Cup (1983\u201384), Ligue 1 (1980\u201381), Coupe de France (1977\u201378). <\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\nMajor honors (individual):<\/strong> <\/span>Ballon d’Or: (1983, 1984, 1985), European Championship Player of the Tournament (1984).<\/li>\n\n\n\nPeak years:<\/strong> Late 1970s to mid-1980s<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n9. Alfredo Di Stefano<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Image credit: Wikipedia Commons <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAn Argentinian and Spanish soccer legend, Alfredo Di Stefano is most known for being part of the dominant Real Madrid side that won the first five European Cups between 1955 and 1960. His versatility meant he could operate as either a striker or attacking midfielder, and his game-to-goal ratio (0.72) is up there with the very best in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nNational team: <\/strong>Argentina, Spain<\/li>\n\n\n\nBest World Cup performance: <\/strong>Did not play in a World Cup<\/li>\n\n\n\nClub teams: <\/strong>River Plate, Millionarios, Real Madrid, Espanyol<\/li>\n\n\n\nPosition: <\/strong>Forward\/Attacking midfielder<\/li>\n\n\n\nTotal number of games: <\/strong>706<\/li>\n\n\n\nTotal number of goals: <\/strong>509<\/li>\n\n\n\nMajor honors (team):<\/strong> Argentine Primera Divisi\u00f3n (1945, 1947), Campeonato Profesional (1949, 1951, 1952), La Liga (1953\u201354, 1954\u201355, 1956\u201357, 1957\u201358, 1960\u201361, 1961\u201362, 1962\u201363, 1963\u201364), Copa del Rey (1961\u201362), European Cup (1955\u201356, 1956\u201357, 1957\u201358, 1958\u201359, 1959\u201360). <\/li>\n\n\n\nMajor honors (individual):<\/strong> Ballon d’Or (1957, 1959)<\/li>\n\n\n\nPeak years: <\/strong>Late 1940s to early 1960s<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n8. Zinedine Zidane<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Zinedine Zidane was a mercurial talent that sometimes springs to mind for the wrong reasons (we\u2019re looking at you, Marco Materazzi). But \u201cZizou\u201d was undoubtedly the best player in the world for some years and the crucial part of the dominant French team of the late 90s and early 00s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n