Lionel Messi: The Greatest Footballer of All Time!

In a landmark announcement, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) has unveiled its final ranking of the top 10 greatest footballers in history. Leading the list is none other than Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who edges past Brazilian legend Pelé and fellow Argentine icon Diego Maradona.

Founded in 1984 in Leipzig, Germany, by sports historian Alfred Pöge, the IFFHS is dedicated to preserving football's rich history through statistics, records, and archival documentation. While the organisation operates independently of FIFA, several of its awards are recognised on FIFA's official website. Today, the IFFHS has representation from over 211 countries worldwide.

Ranking Highlights
Cristiano Ronaldo, despite an extraordinary career, is placed fourth, behind Pelé (2nd) and Maradona (3rd)—but ahead of several other legends, including Brazil's Ronaldo Nazário and France's Zinedine Zidane. Dutch maestro Johan Cruyff rounds out the top five.

While the IFFHS did not reveal its full methodology, reports suggest that a combination of factors, such as team and individual achievements, number of goals, trophies, and overall impact on the sport, were taken into account. According to Spanish outlet Marca, statistics played a central role in the ranking process.

Why Messi Tops the List
Lionel Messi's record is nothing short of historic. So far, he has secured 46 major titles—35 with Barcelona, 3 with Paris Saint-Germain, 2 with Inter Miami, and 6 with the Argentine national team. His individual accolades are equally impressive: a record 8 Ballon d'Or titles, Golden Boots, the World Cup Golden Ball, Copa América Golden Ball, and many more. These achievements have firmly cemented his place at the top of the footballing world.

Pelé and Maradona: The Legends Behind
Pelé, in second place, boasts 29 career titles and remains the only player in history to win three FIFA World Cups. Although the Ballon d'Or was once restricted to European players, France Football later acknowledged that Pelé would have won the award seven times had the rule been different.

Diego Maradona, ranked third, won 11 titles throughout his club and international career. His iconic 1986 World Cup performance—where he almost single-handedly led Argentina to victory—and his transformation of Napoli into a football powerhouse continue to inspire generations.

Ronaldo's Historic Numbers
Cristiano Ronaldo, fourth on the list, holds the all-time goal-scoring record with 935 career goals and 35 trophies. However, the absence of a World Cup title may have kept him just outside the top three. While he did lead Portugal to a historic Euro victory, the sport's highest honour still eludes him.

IFFHS All-Time Top 10 Footballers:

• Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• Pelé (Brazil)
• Diego Maradona (Argentina)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
• Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
• Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil)
• Zinedine Zidane (France)
• Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
• Alfredo Di Stéfano (Argentina/Spain)
• Ronaldinho (Brazil)