Top Five Best Football Players in FIFA World Cup History

Football is the most followed sport in the world. The popular global sport is also considered an intensely emotional game. While the Football players try to ensure that the game is played fairly, tensions are so high that players from opposite teams, or even the same teams, feel the heat. The World Cup is the most watched sporting tournament around the globe, after the Tour de France. Five billion people reportedly watch the competition as the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada prepare to host the 2026 edition. Since its inaugural campaign in 1930, many legends have written their name in history and announced themselves on the world stage. Considering their impact at the World Cups, longevity and the number of triumphs, here are the top five best Football players in FIFA World Cup history.

Top five best Football players in FIFA World Cup history

1. Pele (Brazil) - 3 World Cup titles

Pelé is the only player to have won the FIFA World Cup three times. No player in the competition's history has won it more. He scored 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil and 1,283 goals in 1,363 games overall. If the Ballon d'Or could have gone to non-Europeans before 1995, Pelé would have won it seven times. Pelé made his debut for Brazil in 1957, aged 16. The 17-year-old Brazilian centre-forward's first triumph came in 1958. Pele was the youngest goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup history when he scored the winning goal in the quarter-final victory against Wales, and he continued his form, scoring a hat-trick against France in the semis and a brace in the final as Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 to claim their first ever title. Pelé, who is one of the world's best footballers, won the Football World Cup again in 1962 and 1970, proving his class in the latter as he scored four goals and six assists to collect the Golden Ball award.

2. Ronaldo (Brazil) - 2 World Cup titles

The "original" Ronaldo won the FIFA World Cup twice. Ronaldo scored 62 goals in 98 games for Brazil. The Brazillian legend was a complete package with brutal strength, pace and skill. Ronaldo was famous for making runs, bypassing the goalkeeper with stylish "step-over" Football skills. 17-year-old Ronaldo was in the squad for the 1994 World Cup but did not play. He made his name at the 1998 World Cup, scoring four and assisting three. Ronaldo partnered with Rivaldo and Ronaldinho at the 2002 World Cup, destroying the opposition. At the 2002 World Cup, Ronaldo was at the peak of his powers. He scored 8 goals to top the goalscoring charts. Ronaldo also scored two goals in the final as Brazil defeated Germany 2-0. Although Ronaldo won the World Cup twice, it was at the 2002 edition where he made an impact.

3. Diego Maradona (Argentina) - 1 World Cup title

Diego Maradona was the hero of Argentina before Messi. Maradona was at his best as a midfielder. He scored 34 goals in 91 games for Argentina, won the Ballon d'Or in 1986 and 1990, and is one of the best Football players of all time. Maradona captained Argentina in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Maradona scored five goals, assisting five, leading Argentina to the World Cup glory by himself. His two goals came in the quarter-final against England, including his famous "hand of God". Two goals came against Belgium (semi final), and he provided the assist for the winning goal against Germany in the final. In 1990, Maradona was recovering from injury. Maradona only played twice in the 1994 World Cup, scoring one goal before being sent home for a failed drug test. Even though the legendary Maradona has passed away, he remains one of the world's top players in Football news, even if fans believe his career was full of controversies.

4. Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 1 World Cup title

There is absolutely no doubt Lionel Messi is just one of those football greats of all time, and his brilliance is unstoppable. He keeps surprising his fans with his breathtaking skills. Every second passes by this year makes him a living god. Lionel Messi finally tasted World Cup glory at the FIFA World Cup 2022 for the first time in his career. The Argentina captain guided his nation to their first triumph in the ultimate event since 1986. Messi scored seven goals, two in the final, as Argentina defeated France on penalties. The 36-year-old is the first player in World Cup history to win the Golden Ball twice. Messi, who is one of the top 7 best football players in 2024, is also the 4th all-time top scorer in the Football World Cup history. He is often considered among the best footballers ever. Even though it is unclear whether Messi will continue playing, there is no doubt that he will go down as the greatest footballer in the history of the sport.

5. Kylian Mbappe (France) - 1 World Cup title

Kylian Mbappe is still in the early stages of his glittering career and is already one of the greatest players in the Football World Cup history. After his greatest peak at the FIFA World Cup 2022, Kylian Mbappe took the football world by storm and became a youth icon. Mbappe made his World Cup debut at the age of 19 in 2018 and became the second teenager in the FIFA World Cup history to score in the final after Pele. The French international won the Golden Boot award at the 2022 edition and scored a hat-trick in the final, though Argentina won the World Cup Final on penalties. Mbappe's 12 goals in the World Cup make him the competition's joint-sixth all-time top scorer. Known for his incredible skills as a striker and exciting dribbling talent, Mbappe is the epitome of the complete player. With unlimited potential, he is ready to finish this next famous athlete of his time. He is placed third on the list of top five football transfers. With many more years left in him, Mbappe has a golden chance to finish as an all-time great.