Brazilian icon remains the only player with three World Cup titles, while Messi’s Qatar heroics secure his spot

As anticipation builds for the next FIFA World Cup, a new BBC Sport ranking has reignited the debate over football’s greatest global icons, with Brazil’s Pele crowned number one on a fresh top 10 list of all-time World Cup legends.

Pele’s legendary status is anchored by his record as the only player to win three FIFA World Cups—lifting the trophy in 1958, 1962, and 1970. The Brazilian star stunned the world at just 17 in Sweden, netting a hat-trick in the semi-final and scoring twice in the final. He then played a crucial role in Brazil’s celebrated 1970 triumph in Mexico, despite injury setbacks during other editions.

Argentina’s Diego Maradona comes in second, thanks largely to his unforgettable solo efforts at Mexico ’86—including the famous “Hand of God” goal against England and another breathtaking solo run in the same match. Maradona led Argentina to their second World Cup title that year, with further goals against Belgium and West Germany cementing his reputation—even as controversy shadowed earlier and later tournaments.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo claims third place on BBC Sport’s list. After missing out on playing time during Brazil’s 1994 win, Ronaldo was at the heart of their run to the final in 1998 before suffering a health scare prior to defeat by France. He completed his redemption arc in 2002, scoring eight times—including two goals in the final against Germany—and ended his career with a then-record 15 World Cup goals.

Lionel Messi ranks fourth after finally lifting the trophy with Argentina at Qatar 2022. Messi produced seven goals and several key assists during that campaign, guiding Argentina past France in an unforgettable final—erasing past heartbreaks such as defeat in the 2014 final and early exits in other editions.

The BBC Sport article lists Franz Beckenbauer of West Germany at number five but does not provide further details about him or the rest of the top ten within available reports.

For Super Eagles supporters looking to see Nigerian names on such lists, this latest ranking is a reminder of both football’s global stage and Nigeria’s ambition to one day produce players who dominate these conversations. With several young stars already making waves abroad, fans remain hopeful that future editions could feature an Eagle amongst these global greats.

Neither Super Eagles coaching staff nor any Nigerian Football Federation official had commented on the ranking at press time.

Source: https://punchng.com/full-list-top-10-greatest-world-cup-legends/