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Legends Database canon

All-Time World XI

763 legends evaluated · Top 25 across all eras and nations
93GK
92DEF
93MID
95ATT
Maradona98 Messi98 Pelé98 Di Stéfano97
93
Overall

A curated all-time canon built from role-adjusted ratings, era context and elite career impact.

Coach Canon
Best Coaches
Ernst Happel Austria 94OVR Pep Guardiola Spain 94OVR Alex Ferguson Scotland 93OVR
Tactical Lineup
Classic
Control
Historical
Expressive
Roster
Player Role OVR DEF PLAY ATT
Hall of Fame
Best Player
Maradona, Diego
98 OVR
Most Caps
Ronaldo, Cristiano
226 apps
Top Scorer
Ronaldo, Cristiano
143 goals
Best Ratio (min 5 caps)
Müller, Gerd
1.09 /game
Fastest
Ronaldo, Luís Nazário
96 SPD
PAC 94 · ACC 97
Strongest
Rijkaard, Franklin
93 STR
Most Technical
Maradona, Diego
99 TEC
Best Header
Van Basten, Marco
95 HEA
Individual Excellence
Most Composed
Yashin, Lev
96 COM
Best Stamina
Cafu
97 STA
Best Shooter
Puskás, Ferenc
96 avg
SHO-P 93 · SHO-A 98
Best Passer
Platini, Michel
97 avg
S-PAS 95 · L-PAS 98
Best Team Player
Baresi, Franco
97 TMW
Most Creative
Maradona, Diego
99 CREA
Best Dribbler
Maradona, Diego
98 DRI
Best Vision
Platini, Michel
96 VIS
Best in the Air
Ronaldo, Cristiano
94 avg
HEA 91 · JMP 96
Most Consistent
Maldini, Paolo
94 CON
Free Kick Specialist
Platini, Michel
95 FRK
Penalty Specialist
Eusébio
93 PEN
Squad DNA
Top Nations
Brazil
5
Italy
4
Germany
4
Netherlands
4
Argentina
3
Hungary
2
France
2
Portugal
2
By Decade
1970s
6
1980s
6
1950s
5
2010s
4
1990s
3
1960s
3
2000s
2
By Continent
Europe
19
South America
10
Preferred Foot
Left Foot
13% (3)
Right Foot
87% (20)
Left Right
Position Breakdown
3
GK
8
DEF
8
MID
10
ATT
Average Height by Department
190 cm
GK
179 cm
DEF
178 cm
MID
176 cm
ATT
179 cm
Squad Avg