Top 10 greatest World Cup players of all time: Does Lionel Messi make the cut?

The debate about who might be the greatest footballer of all time has spanned generations, and opinions will differ depending on which era fans grew up in.

But who has made the most impact when it really matters most?

Whether a player has won multiple World Cups or fallen agonisingly short after dragging their nation through a tournament, certain names always instigate thoughts about the game's biggest show.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Sports Mole ranks the 10 greatest players in the tournament's history.

10. Miroslav Klose, Germany (24 appearances, 16 goals)

German striker Miroslav Klose confirmed his status as a World Cup great in his fourth and final tournament appearance at Brazil 2014, not only by helping his side to the trophy, but also by becoming the competition's all-time top scorer, thanks to his goal in that 7-1 win over Brazil.

Germany enjoyed relative success at the other three finals Klose was involved in too, reaching the 2002 decider before claiming third place at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

Klose finished second in the running for the Golden Boot at the 2002 finals, before finally claiming it himself at Germany's home finals four years later.

But the one accolade still missing was the trophy itself; in his last international appearance, he helped Germany defeat Argentina to win a first World Cup in 24 years.

9. Johan Cruyff, Netherlands (Seven appearances, three goals)

Playing at only one World Cup - without actually winning it - and still making an all-time list suggests a player must be a once-in-a-generation talent, and Johan Cruyff fits that profile.

The Dutch icon was the key protagonist in the side that revolutionised modern football with their brand of 'Total Football', which helped take them through to the 1974 World Cup final.

There, they eventually succumbed to hosts West Germany, despite taking the lead early on from a penalty which Cruyff had won with a mazy run through the German defence.

Cruyff was awarded the Golden Ball, but did not feature four years later when his nation reached another final; he later stated that a kidnapping attempt dissuaded him from continuing with the national team, especially at a World Cup overseen by a military dictatorship in Argentina.

8. Roberto Baggio, Italy (16 appearances, nine goals)

Another player who never went all the way and won the World Cup itself, but remains synonymous with the competition, is Roberto Baggio of Italy.

'The Divine Ponytail' was used sparingly at Italia '90 but still managed to score the goal of the tournament against Czechoslovakia, going on one of his signature dribbles and leaving half of the opposing defence in his wake before having enough composure to find the net.

It was during USA '94 that he gained notoriety, though, as he almost single-handedly guided Italy into the final with a series of match-winning performances, netting five goals in three knockout games before the final, scoring the winner in each.

After pulling his hamstring in the semis, he only played in the final thanks to receiving painkilling injections. Despite obviously not being at his best, he still offered the most threat of any player on the pitch during a drab 0-0 draw which went all the way to penalties.

Baggio then stepped up to take Italy's final spot kick, needing to score to keep them in the shootout; however, he famously blazed it high over the bar, in one of the most gut-wrenching World Cup moments of all time.

Yet, his reputation remained untarnished following the miss, as there was nothing but widespread adoration for his performances throughout the tournament.

7. Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany (18 appearances, five goals)

One of the greatest defenders of all time, Franz Beckenbauer is a legend of the game both as a player and a manager, with an honours list including virtually every trophy there is to win.

Der Kaiser was one of the most elegant footballers of his generation, and was given that nickname thanks to his leadership qualities at club level for Bayern Munich and with the national side, as he was a vital cog in West Germany's 1974 World Cup win, pioneering the role of a modern sweeper.

A world champion in 1974, he also won the Ballon d'Or on two occasions - in 1972 and 1976 - something almost unheard of for a defender to achieve, as well featuring in the FIFA Team of the Tournament at the 1966, 1970 and 1974 World Cups.

Winning the World Cup once was seemingly not enough for Beckenbauer, as he became just the second man to that point to win it both as a player and a manager, after he led West Germany to glory at Italia '90 - a feat only matched previously by Mario Zagallo, and since by Didier Deschamps.

6. Garrincha, Brazil (12 appearances, five goals)

To be selected above an almost endless list of Brazilian legends takes some doing, but Garrincha's performances at the 1958 and 1962 World Cup merit his place on this list.

While the likes of Jairzinho and Zico have excelled, Garrincha's accolades clinch a spot over his compatriots, mainly due to his exploits at the 1962 edition.

Garrincha helped Brazil to a second consecutive global crown, taking the mantle from the injured Pele to fire them to glory; he won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball along the way, with numerous man-of-the-match performances.

Four years earlier, when young Pele had stolen the show at the 1958 finals, Garrincha also earned himself a spot in the Team of the Tournament, with his pace and trickery a critical facet of Brazil's success in Sweden.

5. Lionel Messi, Argentina (26 appearances, 13 goals)

Lionel Messi played his first World Cup game while still a teenager, at Germany 2006, where he became the youngest player both to represent and score for Argentina at a global finals.

Four years later, he failed to score but still impressed in South Africa, before taking on the captaincy ahead of the 2014 finals in neighbouring Brazil. That summer, Messi's men went all the way to the decider, and despite Argentina losing to a dramatic extra-time goal against Germany he was awarded the Golden Ball.

After a brief retirement from international football, the Barcelona legend added one goal and two assists to his overall record at the 2018 tournament - but some remained critical of his performances for La Albiceleste.

With time running out, a new attitude saw Argentina's inspirational skipper hit another level in Qatar: Messi scored seven goals and set up three more in seven games, including a brace in an epic final against France. Catharsis was complete when he also converted a penalty in the shootout that earned his nation the much-coveted trophy.

If that were not enough, the Inter Miami star has stayed on for a record sixth crack at global glory: Messi will turn 39 during the 2026 World Cup and remains Argentina's talisman as they aim to retain the title.

4. Ronaldo, Brazil (19 appearances, 15 goals)

While a turbulent, injury-ridden club career ultimately curtailed his time at the top, Ronaldo always saved his very best for the World Cup.

Becoming a world champion at the age of 17 drew comparisons with his legendary compatriot Pele, and Ronaldo duly went on to produce an international career that the great man would have been proud of.

O Fenomeno won the Golden Ball at France '98, but after suffering a seizure on the morning of the final, he was inexplicably allowed to play despite being completely off his game as Brazil fell to a 3-0 defeat.

However, Ronaldo would get his opportunity on the big stage again, and he took it with both hands, scoring twice in their 2-0 win over Germany in the 2002 final to secure the trophy and the Golden Boot, having netted in all but one of Brazil's seven games at the tournament.

Success eluded the Selecao four years later, but in his final major tournament, Ronaldo became the all-time World Cup top scorer at the time, netting his 15th goal against Ghana - a record only bettered now by Klose.

3. Zinedine Zidane, France (12 appearances, five goals)

A centurion with the French national team, Zinedine Zidane is arguably the best footballer ever to represent the European nation.

Scoring twice in the 1998 World Cup final on home soil secured hero status in the country and warranted his image being projected on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Injury prevented Zidane from featuring much in France's horror show in 2002, but he was back on form in 2006 at a tournament which would be his swansong.

Zidane was the star man once again, involved heavily en route to the final, before opening the scoring in the showpiece event by chipping a penalty past the great Gianluigi Buffon.

However, his career would end in huge controversy as he was then sent off for headbutting arch-antagonist Marco Materazzi with just 10 minutes remaining.

As French captain, he was then unable to take part in the subsequent penalty shootout, which Les Bleus went on to lose, bringing an illustrious career to a very bitter end.

2. Diego Maradona, Argentina (21 appearances, eight goals)

No World Cup list is complete without the mention of Diego Maradona somewhere, whether it be for his sheer brilliance, his outrageous gamesmanship, or his controversy by being sent home early from USA '94 for failing a drugs test.

Putting his many faults to one side, there is no disputing Maradona's status as one of the greatest footballers ever, and he used the World Cup to showcase that genius on more than one occasion.

After being left out of their 1978 winning squad, Maradona was desperate for glory with the national side, and after a poor 1982 campaign for Argentina, this was ramped up even more in 1986 - a year that would prove very successful.

On his way to captaining Argentina to glory, Maradona arguably scored both the most controversial and best World Cup goals in the space of four minutes against England - the infamous 'Hand of God' goal, and the slaloming run and finish which would later be voted Goal of the Century.

Not yet sated, Maradona would score another two in the semis and set up the winning goal in the final, claiming the Golden Ball in the process.

Four years later, he led Argentina to another final in his adopted home of Italy, despite La Albiceleste having a much weaker squad than in 1986; on that occasion, they fell agonisingly short against West Germany.

1. Pele, Brazil (14 appearances, 12 goals)

No man deserves to top this list more than the legendary three-time World Cup winner and Brazilian icon Pele.

While injury cut short his tournament in 1962, where Brazil retained their crown, Pele played a pivotal role in their 1958 and 1970 successes, becoming the first truly global football superstar.

Loyal to Santos in his home country before moving to the USA later on, he was only seen by the masses once every four years, and his breakout as a 17-year-old in 1958 set the world alight.

Pele ripped up the record books in 1958 with multiple achievements which still stand today, including being the youngest player to feature, score in and win a World Cup final, after scoring twice in their 5-2 win over Sweden; he was also the youngest player to hit a hat-trick at the finals.

His first goal in that decider is widely regarded as one of the best World Cup goals of all time, while the team he played in at the 1970 tournament has often been dubbed the best football team in history; Pele was the leading light, winning the Golden Ball as Brazil won a third World Cup in 12 years.

Pele scored four goals at that finals - including one in the final - as well as setting up Carlos Alberto's finish to seal the win against Italy - a strike that remains possibly the best team goal of all time.