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World Cup's top 100 footballers

A panel of the world's best footballers, Guardian writers and our experts from around the globe rank the greatest players to have graced the World Cup
  • Yaya Toure

    Who's in your African World Cup dream team?

    The Guardian's top 100 World Cup footballers of all time only recognises three African players. Who has been overlooked? Share your all-time African fantasy team

  • Pelé, who has has been named the best ever World Cup footballer in a Guardian ranking, played in four of the tournaments

    The World Cup's top 100 footballers: by nationality, goals scored and votes

    Pelé has taken the top spot in the Guardian's list of the world's top 100 world cup footballers. See the full list and how it breaks down by nationality, decade and goals

  • mardona 1986

    World Cup’s top 100 footballers: how to choose between Pelé and Maradona?

    Barney Ronay: As ever with these lists there is a huge margin for quibble, gripe and dissent – but it is pretty hard to argue with our top 10
  • 1-20 footballers composite

    The World Cup's top 100 footballers of all time – interactive

    Welcome to the Guardian's choice of the World Cup's top 100 footballers. Led by Lothar Matthäus and Zico, our international panel of 40 experts compiled a countdown of the finest players to grace the globe's greatest sporting event.
  • Diego Maradona

    Who should feature in our list of the World Cup's top 100 footballers?

  • The World Cup

    How the Guardian ranked the World Cup’s top 100 footballers

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