Messi, Henry, Pele, Ronaldinho: Football's 50 most influential players ever named | OneFootball

Each generation throughout football history has been littered with outstanding players for their time. A select few individuals, however, have left a legacy that still impacts the game as we know it today – and not always for their performances on the pitch.

In recognition of those who have blazed a trail to shape the sport into what it is today, FourFourTwo recently compiled a list of 50 of the most influential players in football history.

From Northern Irish defender Bill McCracken – the pioneer of the offside trap in the 1900s – to some of today’s biggest names, the list delves deep into football’s past to celebrate those that have helped define it.

FourFourTwo stopped short of formally ranking the elite 50, though. As they themselves put it: “We chickened out of ranking how influential they were. Well, how can compare a 1950s Brazilian renegade with a business-savvy 21st Century counterpart?”

A very valid point.

To make the half-century of footballing icons easier to navigate, we’ve decided to group those that made the cut by nationality, rather than simply listing them.

You can check out the list in full below.

The 50 most influential footballers of all time (as per FourFourTwo)

ArgentinaOssy Ardiles (Headed first influx of foreign players into English football)

Amadeo Carrizo (Voted best South American keeper of the 20th century)

Diego Maradona (Argentinian icon)

Lionel Messi (Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner)

Carlos Volante (Pioneer of the Segundo Volante position – a pure defender playing defensive midfield)

BrazilGarrincha (Dribbling pioneer)

Marta (Top goalscorer of either gender for Brazil)

Neymar (Most expensive player ever)

Pele (Football legend. Scored a Guinness World Record 1279 goals in 1363 games)

Ronaldinho (2005 Ballon d’Or winner)

Ronaldo Nazario (Two-time World Cup winner. Revolutionised the role of striker in the late 1990s)

Nilton Santos (Pioneer of the wing-back role)

Czech RepublicAntonin Panenka (Inventor of the Panenka penalty)

Dual Nationality (Argentinian/Spanish)Alfred Di Stefano (Real Madrid legend. Two-time Ballon d’Or winner)

EnglandViv Anderson (First black player to represent England)

David Beckham (115 international caps for England. International celebrity and entrepreneur)

Rio Ferdinand (First ball-playing defender of the Premier League era)

Trevor Francis (First £1 million player)

Stanley Matthews (Inaugral Ballon d’Or winner)

Kelly Smith (England’s first female professional footballer)

Jamie Vardy (127 Premier League goals, having started in non league football)

Ian Wright (113 Premier League goals, after making his PL debut at 29)

FranceThierry Henry (Transformation from winger to striker at Arsenal influenced many other stars)

Zinedine Zidane (Lynchpin of Real Madrid’s ‘Galacticos’ side)

Eric Cantona (First foreign player to become a superstar in the Premier League)

Claude Makelele (Namesake of the ‘Makelele role’)

GermanyFranz Beckenbauer (Perfected the position of sweeper. Two-time Ballon d’Or winner)

Philipp Lahm (Helped popularise the use of inverted wing-backs)

Thomas Muller (Celebrated for his ability to interpret space while operating in a free role)

Manuel Neuer (Evolved the Sweeper-keeper role)

Nandor Hidegkuti (Originator of the ‘false nine’ tactic)

ItalyFranco Baresi (One of the earliest ball-playing centre-backs)

Giacinto Facchetti (First notable attacking full-back)

Andrea Pirlo (Outstanding long-range passer from deep)

Francesco Totti (Roma icon. Further developed the ‘false nine’ role)

Japan

Hidetoshi Nakata (Raised the profile of the game in Japan)

LiberiaGeorge Weah (Only African to ever win the Ballon d’Or)

NetherlandsJohan Cruyff (Inventor of the Cruyff Turn)

Northern IrelandGeorge Best (1968 Ballon d’Or winner)

Bill McCracken (First player to play the offside trap)

PortugalEusebio (First African-born player to star at a World Cup)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Most international goals in men’s football history)

RussiaLev Yashin (Only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d’Or)

SpainAndres Iniesta (Iconic playmaker. Barcelona legend)

USAMia Hamm (US women’s soccer icon. Made international debut at just 15)

WalesJohn Charles (First major player to leave England for an overseas club)

Football mascots quiz: Can you name the weird and wonderful characters at British clubs?

1 of 20

Let’s start easy: who’s this iconic character?

Jurassic Jeff The Green Gunner Gunnersaurus Rex Triassic Tony

A stellar line-up of great names, all rightly recognised for the innovations they have given to the beautiful game.

Many deserving candidates, though, narrowly missed out of the top 50, with FourFourTwo admitting that the likes of Romario (Brazil), N’Golo Kante (France) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (England) were all close to inclusion.

The ever-evolving spectacle of football is one of the reasons for its enduring popularity with fans around the world.

If this list is compiled again in the years to come, then a number of new names will inevitably feature, each recognised for the technical advances or fresh ideas they have contributed since.