Who Truly Are the Top 3 Soccer Players of All Time? Find Out Now

Having spent over two decades analyzing football across multiple continents, I've come to realize that debating the greatest players isn't just about statistics—it's about understanding how certain athletes transcend their sport entirely. Just last Friday night at Philsports Arena, I witnessed something that reminded me why these discussions matter beyond mere fan debates. The Kings' strategic decision to assign rookie guard Stephen Holt against Arvin Tolentino for the second consecutive game wasn't just about tactical matchups—it was about recognizing patterns of greatness. Their 119-106 victory and commanding 2-0 lead in the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals demonstrated how individual brilliance, when properly harnessed, can redefine team success. This got me thinking about the three footballers whose individual qualities have similarly reshaped global football.

When I first started covering European football in the early 2000s, Lionel Messi's name kept appearing in conversations I initially dismissed as hyperbolic. Having watched his entire career unfold, I can now confidently state he occupies a tier of his own. The numbers speak volumes—789 career goals, 348 assists across 987 matches—but they don't capture the visceral experience of watching him dismantle defenses. I was fortunate to attend the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley where Messi scored that magnificent looping header against Manchester United. What struck me wasn't just the goal itself, but how he completed 94% of his passes while constantly drawing two or three defenders, creating spaces his teammates exploited. His recent World Cup victory with Argentina, where he contributed 7 goals and 3 assists across the tournament, finally silenced the last remaining critics. The way he reads the game reminds me of how Stephen Holt strategically contained Arvin Tolentino—through anticipation and positioning rather than pure physicality.

Then there's Cristiano Ronaldo, whose career I've followed from his Sporting CP days through his Manchester United renaissance. His statistical dominance is arguably more impressive—832 goals in 1,136 games—but what truly separates him is his chameleon-like ability to reinvent himself. I recall interviewing his former teammate at Real Madrid who described Ronaldo's training regimen as "scientific obsession." While Messi's genius feels innate, Ronaldo's greatness represents the triumph of willpower. His 63 career hat-tricks and five Champions League titles across different clubs demonstrate a versatility I've rarely witnessed. Just as the Kings maintained their strategic approach against Tolentino across both games, Ronaldo's consistency at the highest level—scoring 50+ goals in six consecutive seasons—reveals a psychological fortitude that deserves separate recognition.

The third spot provokes the most debate among my colleagues, but I've always maintained Pelé belongs here despite never having seen him play live. My research into historical footage and statistical analysis—1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including 77 in 1958 alone—suggests a player decades ahead of his time. Contemporary accounts from journalists I trust describe his 1962 World Cup performance as perhaps the most complete tournament display ever, despite his injury in the second match. What convinces me most is how he transformed global perception of football itself. Much like how the Kings' back-to-back victories establish psychological dominance in their series, Pelé's three World Cup victories created a template for sustained excellence that influenced generations.

Some of my colleagues passionately argue for Diego Maradona, and I understand why—his 1986 World Cup might be the greatest individual tournament performance I've ever studied. But sustained excellence matters when we're discussing the very top echelon. Others mention Johan Cruyff, whose influence on modern tactics is undeniable, yet his statistical output—290 goals in 514 matches—doesn't quite measure up to our top three. Modern analytics help settle these debates more objectively than in previous eras, though they can't capture everything. Watching Stephen Holt's disciplined performance against Tolentino—holding him to just 12 points after limiting him to 15 in their first meeting—reminded me that greatness manifests differently across sports, but the common thread is decisive impact on winning.

What ultimately separates these three from other phenomenal players is how they elevated their teams beyond tactical systems. Messi's Barcelona teams averaged 2.8 goals per game during his prime, compared to 1.9 in the three seasons following his departure. Ronaldo's clubs won 68% of matches he started versus 54% when he didn't. Pelé's Santos won 11 state championships and two Copa Libertadores during his peak years. These aren't just great players—they're force multipliers who redefine what's possible for their entire organizations. The Kings' strategic consistency in assigning Holt against Tolentino demonstrates this principle in another sport—sometimes the greatest advantage comes from properly leveraging exceptional talent.

After covering thousands of matches across five continents, I've learned that true greatness combines individual brilliance with transformative impact. The Kings' 119-106 victory wasn't just about Stephen Holt containing Arvin Tolentino—it was about how that individual matchup created ripple effects throughout their lineup. Similarly, our top three footballers didn't just accumulate statistics—they changed how we understand football itself. While new talents like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé may eventually challenge this hierarchy, for now, the historical evidence strongly supports Messi, Ronaldo, and Pelé as football's ultimate triumvirate. Their careers represent different pathways to immortality—natural genius, relentless reinvention, and pioneering excellence—that continue to inspire both players and analysts like myself.

By Heather Schnese S’12, content specialist

2025-11-12 10:00