- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1993–2013
- Country
- 🏴 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
GOAT Rank · 96
Greatest Football Midfielder of all time
This ranking uses verified career records and GOAT Rank's published model. Every listed athlete clears the data eligibility threshold.
#AthleteGOAT Score
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1985–2002
- Country
- 🇭🇷 Croatia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1987–2006
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1997–2016
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2013–active
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 89.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2014–active
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 89.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2006–2016
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2006–2019
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1998–2016
- Country
- 🏴 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2018–active
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 91.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2013–active
- Country
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2006–active
- Country
- 🇨🇱 Chile
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1999–2018
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 87.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2019
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1988–2004
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1992–2000
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 87.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1970–1988
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2007–active
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1998–2013
- Country
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2010–active
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2019
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1990–2006
- Country
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1994–2011
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–2023
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1991–2014
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 76.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2016–active
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1987–2006
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2011–active
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2004–2023
- Country
- 🇸🇰 Slovakia
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1995–2012
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1995–2013
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1992–2013
- Country
- 🏴 England
- Peak
- 80.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2012–active
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2015–active
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2000–2014
- Country
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2007–active
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 83.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–2016
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 76.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1993–2013
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1995–2006
- Country
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1998–2017
- Country
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2004–2024
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 64.0
- Dominance
- 64.0
- Statistics
- 66.0
- Honours
- 62.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1984–1997
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 44.0
- Dominance
- 42.0
- Statistics
- 44.0
- Honours
- 40.0
- Longevity
- 46.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1977–1993
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 30.0
- Dominance
- 24.0
- Statistics
- 28.0
- Honours
- 18.0
- Longevity
- 46.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1970–1982
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 28.0
- Dominance
- 22.0
- Statistics
- 26.0
- Honours
- 18.0
- Longevity
- 44.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 254 | Paul Scholes | Football | 🏴 United Kingdom | 1993–2013 | 83.9 |
| 261 | Zvonimir Boban | Football | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 1985–2002 | 83.8 |
| 262 | Diego Simeone | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1987–2006 | 83.8 |
| 263 | Sandrine Soubeyrand | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 1997–2016 | 83.8 |
| 265 | Manuela Giugliano | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2013–— | 83.7 |
| 271 | Grace Geyoro | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 2014–— | 83.6 |
| 274 | Nadine Keßler | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2006–2016 | 83.5 |
| 275 | Claudio Marchisio | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2006–2019 | 83.5 |
| 277 | Steven Gerrard | Football | 🏴 United Kingdom | 1998–2016 | 83.4 |
| 280 | Lena Oberdorf | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2018–— | 83.4 |
| 283 | Bernardo Silva | Football | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 2013–— | 83.3 |
| 291 | Arturo Vidal | Football | 🇨🇱 Chile | 2006–— | 83.2 |
| 298 | Kim Källström | Football | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1999–2018 | 83.1 |
| 306 | Rosana dos Santos | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2002–2019 | 82.9 |
| 314 | Emmanuel Petit | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 1988–2004 | 82.6 |
| 318 | Tisha Venturini | Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 1992–2000 | 82.4 |
| 331 | Alain Giresse | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 1970–1988 | 82.1 |
| 334 | Amandine Henry | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 2007–— | 82.1 |
| 338 | Solveig Gulbrandsen | Football | 🇳🇴 Norway | 1998–2013 | 82.1 |
| 339 | Amanda Sampedro | Football | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2010–— | 82.1 |
| 346 | Valentina Cernoia | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2008–— | 82 |
| 351 | Bastian Schweinsteiger | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2002–2019 | 81.9 |
| 364 | Roy Keane | Football | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 1990–2006 | 81.3 |
| 368 | Patrick Vieira | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 1994–2011 | 81.2 |
| 375 | Sebastian Larsson | Football | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 2005–2023 | 81.2 |
| 378 | Edgar Davids | Football | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1991–2014 | 81 |
| 382 | Arianna Caruso | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2016–— | 80.9 |
| 383 | Katia Serra | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1987–2006 | 80.9 |
| 385 | Elin Rubensson | Football | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 2011–— | 80.8 |
| 389 | Marek Hamšík | Football | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 2004–2023 | 80.6 |
| 392 | Michael Ballack | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1995–2012 | 80.5 |
| 394 | Pamela Conti | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1995–2013 | 80.5 |
| 396 | David Beckham | Football | 🏴 England | 1992–2013 | 80.2 |
| 404 | Virginia Torrecilla | Football | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2012–— | 79.9 |
| 409 | Patri Guijarro | Football | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2015–— | 79.6 |
| 410 | Park Ji-sung | Football | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 2000–2014 | 79.4 |
| 413 | Adriana Silva | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2007–— | 79.4 |
| 415 | Louisa Nécib | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 2005–2016 | 79.3 |
| 417 | Verónica Boquete | Football | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2005–— | 78.8 |
| 427 | Juninho Pernambucano | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1993–2013 | 77.4 |
| 429 | Hidetoshi Nakata | Football | 🇯🇵 Japan | 1995–2006 | 76.5 |
| 430 | Tomáš Rosický | Football | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 1998–2017 | 76.4 |
| 434 | Caroline Seger | Football | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 2004–2024 | 66.7 |
| 437 | Jonas Thern | Football | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1984–1997 | 43.1 |
| 444 | Robert Prytz | Football | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1977–1993 | 29 |
| 447 | Staffan Tapper | Football | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1970–1982 | 27.4 |
Compare the leaders
Kristine Lilly vs Hege RiiseRead the full methodology
Sport lists use the raw In-Sport GOAT Score. Cross-sport lists use the official competition-depth adjustment. No scores are recalculated for this page.
Read the full methodologyFrequently asked questions
How is this ranking calculated?
Five verified components are weighted consistently: dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Who is included?
Only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible.
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