Who is the greatest Football player of all time?

Lionel Messi leads Football with a verified GOAT Score of 97.0/100.

How is the Football GOAT ranking calculated?

Five verified categories are weighted against 4271 reference records. Only eligible profiles receive a score.

How many Football players are ranked?

674 eligible Football athletes currently have a published GOAT Score, from 4271 reference records.

Sport hub

Football: the greatest of all time

GOAT Rank's data-driven ranking

Club and international output normalised across eras, leagues and defensive contexts. Each players below is scored on verified career data and normalised against the full Football reference cohort — no shortlists, no unverified provisional numbers.

Quick answer

According to GOAT Rank's current model, Lionel Messi is the highest-ranked of the players in Football, with an in-sport GOAT Score of 97.0. Next are Cristiano Ronaldo (95.5), Marta Vieira da Silva (95.0).

How the GOAT Score is calculated →

3597 records fall below the data threshold and are excluded from this ranking. Eligibility rules →

Showing 674 of 674 ranked players# = official in-sport rank

Category

PositionCountryEraStatusSort

#	Athlete	Era	Career goals	Career assists	Ballon d'Or	World Cups	Champions League titles	GOAT
1	🇦🇷Lionel MessiActive	2004–present	879	383	8	1	4	97.0
2	🇵🇹Cristiano RonaldoActive	2002–present	924	260	5	0	5	95.5
3	🇧🇷Marta Vieira da SilvaActive	2002–present	—	—	—	—	—	95.0
4	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Bobby MooreRetired	1958–1977	—	—	—	—	—	94.6
5	🇧🇷PeléRetired	1956–1977	767	229	0	3	0	94.2
6	🇮🇹Giacinto FacchettiRetired	1960–1978	—	—	—	—	—	94.0
7	🇪🇸Luis Suárez MiramontesRetired	1953–1973	—	—	—	—	—	93.3
8	🇳🇱Johan CruyffRetired	1964–1984	401	—	3	—	—	92.9
9	🇦🇷Alfredo Di StéfanoRetired	1945–1966	511	—	2	—	—	92.9
10	🇩🇪Franz BeckenbauerRetired	1964–1983	105	—	2	1	—	92.6
11	🇦🇷Ángel LabrunaRetired	1939–1961	—	—	—	—	—	92.1
12	🇦🇷Diego MaradonaRetired	1976–1997	353	213	0	1	0	92.0
13	🇧🇷Ronaldo NazárioRetired	1993–2011	414	—	2	2	—	92.0
14	🇺🇸Kristine LillyRetired	1987–2010	—	—	—	—	—	92.0
15	🇺🇾Luis SuárezActive	2005–present	580	—	—	—	1	92.0
16	🇭🇺Ferenc PuskásRetired	1943–1966	625	—	—	—	—	91.8
17	🇷🇸Dragan DžajićRetired	1963–1978	—	—	—	—	—	91.6
18	🇺🇸Mia HammRetired	1987–2004	—	—	—	2	—	91.4
19	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Kenny DalglishRetired	1969–1990	—	—	—	—	—	91.4
20	🇳🇴Hege RiiseRetired	1990–2004	—	—	—	—	—	91.4
21	🇺🇾Juan Alberto SchiaffinoRetired	1946–1962	—	—	—	—	—	91.2
22	🇧🇷RivaldoRetired	1991–2015	512	—	—	—	1	91.0
23	🇷🇺Lev YashinRetired	1950–1971	—	—	—	—	—	90.9
24	🇧🇷ZicoRetired	1971–1994	527	—	—	—	—	90.9
25	🇮🇹Betty VignottoRetired	1970–1990	550	—	—	—	—	90.9
26	🇳🇱Edwin van der SarRetired	1991–2011	—	—	—	—	2	90.8
27	🇫🇷Zinedine ZidaneRetired	1989–2006	156	—	1	1	1	90.6
28	🇺🇸Carli LloydRetired	2005–2021	—	—	—	—	—	90.5
29	🇦🇷Ricardo BochiniRetired	1972–1991	—	—	—	—	—	90.2
30	🇧🇷RomárioRetired	1985–2009	—	—	—	—	—	90.1
31	🇫🇷Antoine GriezmannActive	2009–present	300	—	—	—	—	90.1
32	🇮🇹Patrizia PanicoRetired	1991–2016	500	—	—	—	—	90.0
33	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Bobby CharltonRetired	1956–1975	—	—	—	—	—	89.9
34	🇧🇷Cristiane RozeiraActive	2002–present	—	—	—	—	—	89.9
35	🇸🇳Sadio ManéActive	2011–present	280	—	—	—	1	89.8
36	🇪🇸Xabi AlonsoRetired	2000–2017	—	—	—	—	2	89.8
37	🇨🇮Yaya TouréRetired	2002–2020	—	—	—	—	1	89.8
38	🇪🇸Alexia PutellasActive	2010–present	—	—	—	—	3	89.7
39	🇨🇦Christine SinclairRetired	2000–2023	—	—	—	—	—	89.7
40	🇺🇸Tiffeny MilbrettRetired	1991–2006	—	—	—	—	—	89.6
41	🇺🇸Joy FawcettRetired	1987–2004	—	—	—	—	—	89.6
42	🇫🇷Fabien BarthezRetired	1991–2007	—	—	—	—	1	89.6
43	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Ian RushRetired	1979–1999	—	—	—	—	—	89.5
44	🇺🇸Megan RapinoeRetired	2006–2023	—	—	—	—	—	89.5
45	🇩🇪Inka GringsRetired	1996–2013	—	—	—	—	—	89.5
46	🇪🇸Aitana BonmatíActive	2016–present	—	—	—	—	3	89.4
47	🇩🇪Nadine AngererRetired	1996–2015	—	—	—	—	—	89.4
48	🇩🇪Gerd MüllerRetired	1963–1981	735	—	1	1	—	89.3
49	🇺🇸Julie FoudyRetired	1987–2004	—	—	—	—	—	89.2
50	🇪🇸Jenni HermosoActive	2008–present	—	—	—	—	1	89.2

1–50 of 674 athletes

Per page

Page 1 / 14

Compare top two: Messi vs Ronaldo

Coaches

Coaching career — listed separately from the player ranking.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Sir Alex FergusonManager 🇪🇸 Pep GuardiolaManager 🇮🇹 Carlo AncelottiManager 🇳🇱 Rinus MichelsManager 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bob PaisleyManager 🇵🇹 José MourinhoManager 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Bill ShanklyManager 🇮🇹 Arrigo SacchiManager

Top 10 Football players of all time

The ten highest verified GOAT Scores across every era.

1🇦🇷Lionel Messi2004–present97.0
2🇵🇹Cristiano Ronaldo2002–present95.5
3🇧🇷Marta Vieira da Silva2002–present95.0
4🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Bobby Moore1958–197794.6
5🇧🇷Pelé1956–197794.2
6🇮🇹Giacinto Facchetti1960–197894.0
7🇪🇸Luis Suárez Miramontes1953–197393.3
8🇳🇱Johan Cruyff1964–198492.9
9🇦🇷Alfredo Di Stéfano1945–196692.9
10🇩🇪Franz Beckenbauer1964–198392.6

By position

Forward

1🇦🇷Lionel Messi2004–present97.0
2🇵🇹Cristiano Ronaldo2002–present95.5
3🇧🇷Marta Vieira da Silva2002–present95.0
4🇧🇷Pelé1956–197794.2
5🇳🇱Johan Cruyff1964–198492.9

Centre-back

1🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Bobby Moore1958–197794.6
2🇫🇷Raphaël Varane2010–202488.9
3🇫🇷Wendie Renard2006–present88.7
4🇮🇹Leonardo Bonucci2005–202488.4
5🇨🇦Kadeisha Buchanan2013–present87.6

Left-back

1🇮🇹Giacinto Facchetti1960–197894.0
2🇧🇷Roberto Carlos1991–201585.4

Midfielder

1🇪🇸Luis Suárez Miramontes1953–197393.3
2🇺🇸Kristine Lilly1987–201092.0
3🇳🇴Hege Riise1990–200491.4
4🇺🇾Juan Alberto Schiaffino1946–196291.2
5🇺🇸Carli Lloyd2005–202190.5

Sweeper

1🇩🇪Franz Beckenbauer1964–198392.6
2🇮🇹Franco Baresi1977–199785.4
3🇩🇪Matthias Sammer1985–199883.9

Attacking midfielder

1🇦🇷Diego Maradona1976–199792.0
2🇧🇷Rivaldo1991–201591.0
3🇧🇷Zico1971–199490.9
4🇫🇷Zinedine Zidane1989–200690.6
5🇫🇷Michel Platini1972–198788.1

Striker

1🇧🇷Ronaldo Nazário1993–201192.0
2🇺🇾Luis Suárez2005–present92.0
3🇮🇹Betty Vignotto1970–199090.9
4🇮🇹Patrizia Panico1991–201690.0
5🇧🇷Cristiane Rozeira2002–present89.9

Goalkeeper

1🇷🇺Lev Yashin1950–197190.9
2🇳🇱Edwin van der Sar1991–201190.8
3🇫🇷Fabien Barthez1991–200789.6
4🇩🇪Nadine Angerer1996–201589.4
5🇧🇪Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois2009–present89.1

By country

Argentina

1🇦🇷Lionel Messi2004–present97.0
2🇦🇷Alfredo Di Stéfano1945–196692.9
3🇦🇷Ángel Labruna1939–196192.1
4🇦🇷Diego Maradona1976–199792.0
5🇦🇷Ricardo Bochini1972–199190.2

Portugal

1🇵🇹Cristiano Ronaldo2002–present95.5
2🇵🇹Eusébio1960–197988.2
3🇵🇹Luís Figo1989–200987.9
4🇵🇹Deco1997–201384.2
5🇵🇹Bernardo Silva2013–present83.3

Brazil

1🇧🇷Marta Vieira da Silva2002–present95.0
2🇧🇷Pelé1956–197794.2
3🇧🇷Ronaldo Nazário1993–201192.0
4🇧🇷Rivaldo1991–201591.0
5🇧🇷Zico1971–199490.9

England

1🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Bobby Moore1958–197794.6
2🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Bobby Charlton1956–197589.9
3🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Stanley Matthews1932–196588.8
4🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Kelly Smith1994–201788.7
5🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Peter Shilton1966–199788.4

Italy

1🇮🇹Giacinto Facchetti1960–197894.0
2🇮🇹Betty Vignotto1970–199090.9
3🇮🇹Patrizia Panico1991–201690.0
4🇮🇹Antonio Cabrini1974–199189.2
5🇮🇹Gianluigi Buffon1995–202389.0

Spain

1🇪🇸Luis Suárez Miramontes1953–197393.3
2🇪🇸Xabi Alonso2000–201789.8
3🇪🇸Alexia Putellas2010–present89.7
4🇪🇸Aitana Bonmatí2016–present89.4
5🇪🇸Jenni Hermoso2008–present89.2

Netherlands

1🇳🇱Johan Cruyff1964–198492.9
2🇳🇱Edwin van der Sar1991–201190.8
3🇳🇱Sherida Spitse2006–present87.7
4🇳🇱Wesley Sneijder2003–201987.5
5🇳🇱Johan Neeskens1968–199187.2

Germany

1🇩🇪Franz Beckenbauer1964–198392.6
2🇩🇪Inka Grings1996–201389.5
3🇩🇪Nadine Angerer1996–201589.4
4🇩🇪Gerd Müller1963–198189.3
5🇩🇪Renate Lingor1991–200888.8

By era

1920s

1🇮🇹Giuseppe Meazza1927–194787.2
2🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Dixie Dean1923–193986.6

1930s

1🇦🇷Ángel Labruna1939–196192.1
2🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Stanley Matthews1932–196588.8
3🇩🇪Fritz Walter1937–195986.7
4🇸🇪Gunnar Gren1938–196085.0

1940s

1🇦🇷Alfredo Di Stéfano1945–196692.9
2🇭🇺Ferenc Puskás1943–196691.8
3🇺🇾Juan Alberto Schiaffino1946–196291.2
4🇦🇷Norberto Méndez1941–195888.9
5🇧🇷Thomaz Soares da Silva1940–195887.2

1950s

1🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Bobby Moore1958–197794.6
2🇧🇷Pelé1956–197794.2
3🇪🇸Luis Suárez Miramontes1953–197393.3
4🇷🇺Lev Yashin1950–197190.9
5🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Bobby Charlton1956–197589.9

1960s

1🇮🇹Giacinto Facchetti1960–197894.0
2🇳🇱Johan Cruyff1964–198492.9
3🇩🇪Franz Beckenbauer1964–198392.6
4🇷🇸Dragan Džajić1963–197891.6
5🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Kenny Dalglish1969–199091.4

1970s

1🇦🇷Diego Maradona1976–199792.0
2🇧🇷Zico1971–199490.9
3🇮🇹Betty Vignotto1970–199090.9
4🇦🇷Ricardo Bochini1972–199190.2
5🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Ian Rush1979–199989.5

1980s

1🇺🇸Kristine Lilly1987–201092.0
2🇺🇸Mia Hamm1987–200491.4
3🇫🇷Zinedine Zidane1989–200690.6
4🇧🇷Romário1985–200990.1
5🇺🇸Joy Fawcett1987–200489.6

1990s

1🇧🇷Ronaldo Nazário1993–201192.0
2🇳🇴Hege Riise1990–200491.4
3🇧🇷Rivaldo1991–201591.0
4🇳🇱Edwin van der Sar1991–201190.8
5🇮🇹Patrizia Panico1991–201690.0

2000s

1🇦🇷Lionel Messi2004–present97.0
2🇵🇹Cristiano Ronaldo2002–present95.5
3🇧🇷Marta Vieira da Silva2002–present95.0
4🇺🇾Luis Suárez2005–present92.0
5🇺🇸Carli Lloyd2005–202190.5

2010s

1🇸🇳Sadio Mané2011–present89.8
2🇪🇸Alexia Putellas2010–present89.7
3🇪🇸Aitana Bonmatí2016–present89.4
4🇫🇷Raphaël Varane2010–202488.9
5🇫🇷N'Golo Kanté2012–present88.5

By country · By position · By era

Football GOAT debates

The closest calls in the ranking, with a full side-by-side breakdown.

Messi vs Ronaldo· Messi ranks higher at 97.0 versus Ronaldo at 95.5, a margin of 1.5 points.Ronaldo vs Marta· Ronaldo ranks higher at 95.5 versus Marta at 95.0, a margin of 0.5 points.Marta vs Moore· Marta ranks higher at 95.0 versus Moore at 94.6, a margin of 0.4 points.Moore vs Pelé· Moore ranks higher at 94.6 versus Pelé at 94.2, a margin of 0.4 points.Pelé vs Facchetti· Pelé ranks higher at 94.2 versus Facchetti at 94.0, a margin of 0.2 points.

How the Football ranking works

Every athlete is scored on five verified components — Dominance (25%), Peak (20%), Longevity (20%), Honours (20%) and Statistics (15%) — normalised against the full Football reference cohort rather than a shortlist. A record only receives a published score once it is editorially verified and complete: a season-by-season series, at least three career metrics, documented honours and independent sources. Read the full methodology.

Football GOAT — frequently asked

Who is the greatest Football player of all time?: Lionel Messi leads Football with a verified GOAT Score of 97.0/100.
How is the Football GOAT ranking calculated?: Five verified categories are weighted against 4271 reference records. Only eligible profiles receive a score.
How many Football players are ranked?: 674 eligible Football athletes currently have a published GOAT Score, from 4271 reference records.