With just two weeks until the 23rd World Cup kicks off in North America on 11 June, The Independent has compiled a definitive ranking of the 50 greatest players in the tournament's history. Based solely on performances at the World Cup, the list spans from the inaugural 1930 edition in Uruguay to the 2022 winter tournament in Qatar.
Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney explains why the number one pick was beyond doubt, while Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly details why Cristiano Ronaldo, despite being one of football's all-time greats, does not make the top 50. The Portugal captain is set to appear at his sixth World Cup this summer.
The top ten includes iconic figures such as Fritz Walter, who inspired West Germany's 'Miracle of Bern' in 1954, and Vava, whose clinical finishing proved decisive in Brazil's 1958 and 1962 triumphs. Leonidas, the 'Black Diamond', won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in 1938, while Didier Deschamps captained France to victory in 1998, keeping five clean sheets in six games. Daniel Passarella led Argentina to their first World Cup win in 1978 and remains the only Argentine to win two World Cups. Rudi Voller's career featured goals, a red card, and both victory and defeat in finals.
The list was compiled using a specific formula and points system by The Independent's team of sports reporters, focusing exclusively on World Cup performances rather than overall career achievements.
