We’re taking on board the old adage that the brightest stars shine on the biggest stage and examining some of the greatest World Cup players in history .
The hard part was who to leave out, but having selected our 10 favourite performers, the next step was to rank them based solely on their performances in FIFA’s showpiece tournament. In reverse order, this is how we placed each one:
Miroslav Klose
10. MIROSLAV KLOSE (Germany)
In this instance, the stats speak for themselves, with Klose netting a record 16 goals from 24 World Cup games across four tournaments. A Golden Boot winner with five strikes on home turf in 2006, Klose finished third twice and was a runner-up before helping Germany to lift the trophy in 2014 , netting his landmark goal in the 7-1 semi-final rout of Brazil .
Zinedine Zidane
9. ZINEDINE ZIDANE (France)
Two headed goals in the 1998 final triumph over Brazil on home soil made Zidane a national hero.
A thigh injury restricted his involvement four years later but he came out of retirement to play a crucial role in France reaching the 2006 decider, during which he put Les Bleus ahead from the penalty spot but later blotted his copybook by getting sent off for head-butting Marco Materazzi. Even so, he was awarded the Golden Ball as player of the tournament .
Garrincha
8. GARRINCHA (Brazil)
Although overshadowed by Pele in 1958, Garrincha took centre stage in Chile four years later when his more illustrious team-mate was hit by injury. The ‘Little Bird’ hit doubles in the 3-1 quarter-final win over England and a 4-2 semi-final defeat of the hosts before Brazil retained the trophy by beating Czechoslovakia 3-1.
Kylian Mbappe
7. KYLIAN MBAPPE (France)
Heading into his third tournament at the age of 27, all the evidence suggests Mbappe has plenty of time left to move much higher up this list. He was on target four times as a teenager when France were crowned champions in 2018 , including the fourth goal in the final defeat of Croatia , while a 2022 Golden Boot tally of eight included a hat-trick in the decider, which Les Bleus lost on penalties.
Gerd Muller
6. GERD MULLER (West Germany)
Der Bomber may have been outscored in terms of total goals by compatriot Klose but his strike rate was far superior, netting 14 times from 13 games at two tournaments. A whopping 10 of those came in the 1970 renewal when West Germany finished third, but Muller’s most precious strike was the match clincher in a 2-1 final triumph over Holland in Munich four years later.
Outright Betting Odds
2026 World Cup Outright Odds
Country | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Spain | 4/1 | 15.4% |
France | 9/2 | 14.3% |
England | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Brazil | 8/1 | 13.3% |
Argentina | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Portugal | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Bar | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.
Spain are the 4/1 favourites for 2026 World Cup glory but France (9/2), England (6/1), Brazil and holders Argentina (8/1) will also be fancying their chances.
Franz Beckenbauer
5. FRANZ BECKENBAUER (West Germany)
We’ve had two great German goalscorers in our list but Der Kaiser will always be regarded as his country’s most influential footballing figure. Beckenbauer scored four times when West Germany were runners-up to England in 1966 and starred as they finished third four years later. As captain in 1974, the cultured sweeper lifted the trophy on home turf and later managed them to glory in 1990 .
Ronaldo
4. RONALDO (Brazil)
Having been an unused 17-year-old squad member in 1994, Ronaldo was the player of the tournament in France four years later, with his four goals and three assists inspiring Brazil’s run to the final, only for a health issue to then hinder him in a 3-0 loss to Les Bleus .
Redemption came in 2002, though, as the formidable forward recovered from a lengthy knee injury to bag eight goals, including a brace in Brazil’s 2-0 final win over Germany . Despite being a fading force, three more goals in 2006 made it 15 from 19 games.
Lionel Messi
3. LIONEL MESSI (Argentina)
After a couple of patchy tournaments in his younger days, Messi was the best player at Brazil 2014 when Argentina were beaten finalists against Germany . There was disappointment in Russia four years later, but a record second MVP Golden Ball effort at Qatar 2022 helped La Albiceleste to be crowned champions for the third time .
Magical talisman Messi scored in all four knockout matches, including a double against France in the final, plus a successful spot-kick in that penalty shoot-out.
Diego Maradona
2. DIEGO MARADONA (Argentina)
Nothing was ever dull when Maradona was around, with a red card against Brazil , the infamous Hand of God goal and a failed drug test being controversial points.
But in between those blips, Maradona was simply sensational in leading Argentina to success in 1986, when he was the most dominant single player of any tournament, scoring the greatest World Cup goal versus England and bagging a brace in the 2-0 semi-final defeat of Belgium . A runner-up effort in 1990 warrants further respect, but Mexico was his crowning moment.
Pele
1. PELE (Brazil)
Edson Arantes do Nascimento burst onto the World Cup scene as a 17-year-old in 1958, hitting a hat-trick in Brazil’s semi-final win versus France and then a double in the decider as the Selecao hammered hosts Sweden 5-2 to lift the trophy for the first time.
An injury cut short Pele’s involvement in the successful title defence of 1962 and more rough treatment followed in 1966, but he was back on top in 1970, scoring the opening goal and providing two assists in a superb 4-1 final triumph over Italy . As well as showing great skill and creativity, it was the sheer joy of Pele’s performances which puts him ahead of the rest.
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