It is no easy task to list the most famous football players of all time in the world. Only social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram give ideas of who are the greatest football players and goal leaders. A few famous football players who influenced Facebook, Twitter & Instagram are listed below.
10 Famous Football Players All Around The World
1- Cristiano Ronaldo
Just look at the social media following of Cristiano Ronaldo, and you will know why he is the most famous football player in the world. His Instagram account recently reached the 300 million mark, making him the first person to achieve such a feat. While his Facebook and Twitter accounts also boast plenty of followers from around the world.
Considering his awe-inspiring on-field performances, it is a little wonder for anyone that he has reached the pinnacle of sporting popularity. His ruthlessness in front of goal, passing, stamina, speed, and aerial threat haven’t mellowed with age. He still scores with a ferocious shot, possesses huge aerial dominance, and takes his free-kicks brilliantly.
The Portuguese superstar displayed his supreme abilities recently in the European Championships. He topped the scoring charts by smashing five goals in the prestigious competition but failed to take Portugal beyond the Round of 16 stages, suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Belgium. The former Real Madrid player could not replicate the feat they produced in the 2016 European Championship. However, that reflects the whole team rather than the brilliant performances of the most famous football player.
Career
Cristiano Ronaldo was an academy graduate of Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon. He quickly progressed through its youth ranks to earn his Primeira Liga debut against Braga in October 2002. Soon his performances started attracting attention from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
However, Manchester United’s shrewd manager Sir Alex Ferguson was determined to bring him to Old Trafford. The Scottish football expert sanctioned a £12.24 million move.
The Red Devils’ squad was full of star players then, but Ronaldo found a way into the team. There was great excitement among fans when he left the bench to make his debut against Bolton in August 2003. That season, he racked up 40 appearances across all competitions, netting six goals, including the opening goal in their FA Cup final victory over Millwall.
In season 2004-05, the most famous footballer notched nine goals and nine assists for United before earning 12 strikes in 47 appearances the following campaign. He was outstanding for the Manchester side in season 2006-07, scoring an incredible 17 goals to help them win the Premier League title. Despite interest from several clubs, the Portuguese decided to stay in Manchester and extended his contract at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo shocked the entire world with his performances in 2008. His staggering 42 goals in a season helped Sir Alex Ferguson’s side win the Premier League title and the Champions League trophy. That was the year when he also landed his first Ballon d’Or at the age of 23.
After swelling his trophy cabinet and claiming several prestigious awards, Ronaldo left Manchester United in 2009 and signed for Real Madrid in a deal worth £80 million.
Real Madrid
Truly great footballers can thrive in any environment, under any coach, and in any formation. Cristiano Ronaldo is one such footballer who excelled in England, Spain, and even Italy. He has been performing brilliantly in all the big football leagues of the world, including the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A.
Following his spell at Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo went to Spain and succeeded at the Santiago Bernabeu. In Madrid, he won his four Ballon d’Or awards and three European Golden Shoes.
During his stay on the Spanish side, Ronaldo won an incredible four Champions League trophies, two La Liga titles and two Spanish Cups. He plundered 450 goals in 438 appearances for Los Blancos before moving to Serie A side Juventus in 2018.
The Portuguese footballer is currently on Serie A club Juventus’s books and is still performing exceptionally well. Ronaldo, one of the most famous football players, has won two Serie A titles with the Italian outfit, with the forward also claiming two Supercoppa Italiana and a Coppa Italia during his stay at the Old Lady.
2- Lionel Messi
There is no way to discuss the most famous football players of all time and not mention Lionel Messi, the highest-paid highest-paid footballer. The Argentine has achieved almost everything there is to succeed in football. At the age of 34, he is still playing at his peak.
The legendary footballer recently led Argentina to victory in the 2022 Copa America final. He wasn’t fully fit but played the important match La Albiceleste won by 1-0 against Brazil, with Angel Di Maria earning his name on the scoresheet. Messi finished Copa America as the joint top scorer, notching four goals in the tournament.
Career
Lionel Messi started his football career at Newell’s Old Boys in 1995, where he stayed until 2000. The immensely talented forward joined the youth academy of Barcelona that year when he was only 13. He showed spectacular progress and quickly rose through its youth ranks.
At the young age of 17, the Argentine earned his competitive debut for the Catalans. He was coming off the bench in the 1-0 victory over Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium. His breakthrough at Camp Nou came in the 2005-06 season when he notched eight goals and five assists in 25 total appearances, despite injury keeping him sidelined for the latter stages of the campaign. The Rosario-born footballer was outstanding in the memorable 3-0 victory over Real Madrid and against Chelsea in the Champions League.
The Argentine has won every prestigious trophy and conquered every frontier with Barcelona. His trophy cabinet has four Champions Leagues, 10 La Liga titles, and six Spanish Cups. The football superstar has also claimed six Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. Even at 33, Messi still performs with that same intensity and goal-scoring prowess. He has clocked up 778 appearances across all competitions for Barca, netting 672 goals and creating 305 assists (stats from Transfermarkt).
Reserved Personality
Unlike Ronaldo, the Argentina international doesn’t use a Twitter account. He is known as a reserved person & doesn’t like to share his personal life. This can be observed from his social media posts that are mostly team-related & also aimed at creating awareness, etc.
3- Neymar
Neymar loves the limelight as much as he loves football. The Brazilian likes to share almost every aspect of his life with his social media followers. Being one of the most famous football players, his followers are also millions. An incredible 147m people follow him on Instagram, while his Facebook and Twitter accounts boast more than 100m followers.
Neymar is notorious for his propensity for luxury and partying. He also always delivers excellent performances on the pitch, which softens the attitude of neutrals towards him.
The talented forward first came into prominence at Santos, where his incredible performances landed him a move to one of the richest football club Barcelona in 2013. Partnering with Messi and Luis Suarez, the 29-year-old formed the most formidable attacking trio at Camp Nou.
Achievements
Neymar struck 68 La Liga goals in 123 matches during his successful career at Barca. The Brazilian became the most expensive player in history after he made a €222 million move to PSG in 2017. He greatly swelled his trophy cabinet there, winning three Ligue 1 titles, two Coupe de France and two Coupe de la Ligue.
The forward’s achievements for Brazil are also noteworthy. With his 64 goals, Neymar, one of the most famous football players, is the second-highest goal-scorer for the Selecao.
4- David Beckham
Fame always chases those footballers who are highly gifted. But their popularity reaches incredible proportions if they are handsome and possess an excellent fashion sense. Both highly good-looking and exceptionally talented, David Beckham had it all to become one of the most famous football players ever.
The current president and co-owner of Inter Miami joined Manchester United in 1991, earning his senior debut the following year. His exceptional displays made David Beckham a household name over the following years. With the Red Devils, the immensely talented midfielder won six Premier League titles while lifting a Champions League trophy and two FA Cups.
The London-born player landed a big move to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2003 and then spent four seasons with Los Blancos before moving to LA Galaxy. In 45-year-old, he is the first English player to win league titles in four countries – England, Spain, the US, and France. He is widely regarded as the best midfielder of all time in football history.
In the summer of 2013, Beckham retired from the football world as a player. Still, he remained associated with football as the current president & co-owner of Inter Miami, which plays in Major League Soccer. Beckham was a highly successful footballer and famous as one of the most stylish footballers of all time. He married an internationally recognised style icon and fashion designer- Victoria Beckham.
Social Media Star
The former Manchester United player’s successes on the field alone would have been sufficient to make him one of the most popular football players. However, he also happened to be one of the most handsome footballers with an excellent fashion sense that immensely helped to increase his fame. His social media following is enormous, with more than 50m followers on his Facebook and Instagram.
5- Ronaldinho
One of the most famous players of all time is Ronaldinho. He played at some of the top European clubs and earned a big name in football. He became greatly popular for his creativity, dribbling, and technical skills. Ronaldinho started at Gremio and moved to PSG when he was only 20.
However, he reached the actual heights of his football career in Barcelona. The great footballer won several trophies at Camp Nou, including two La Liga titles and a Champions League trophy. He earned 207 appearances across all Catalan competitions, netting 94 goals and creating 71 assists (stats from Transfermarkt). Ronaldinho departed Barcelona in 2008 and joined several other clubs over the following years, including Milan, Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro, Queretaro, and Fluminense.
Achievements
He claimed two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d’Or at Barca during his price. The Brazilian also played an essential role in the 2006 Champions League victory for Barcelona and entertained fans around the globe with his tricks, feints, overhead kicks, etc.
6- Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe is one of the few footballers in the world who achieved tremendous success at a very young age. At just 22, the France international has the distinction of winning the 2018 World Cup and four Ligue 1 and three Coupe de France titles. If that’s not enough, he has also finished as Ligue 1 top scorer for three consecutive seasons, winning twice as well as the Ligue 1 Player of the Year.
Career
Beginning his football career at AS Bondy, Kylian Mbappe started attracting the attention of several European clubs, including Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich, from the very start of his career. However, he chose Monaco to improve his skills and further his career.
Considering his skill level and maturity, he was immediately promoted to the first team, earning his senior debut in December 2015 in a home match against Caen. Thus, he became the club’s youngest-ever first-team player, beating the previous record held by Thierry Henry.
Season 2016-17 was highly successful for the Frenchman. Despite a slow start, he played a pivotal role in the success of Leonardo Jardim’s team in that campaign. He plundered 15 league goals to help them to the Ligue 1 title. Les Monegasques also made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League, with Mbappe scoring six goals in the tournament.
Kylian Mbappe, one of the most famous football players, joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 on a loan deal later made permanent in 2018 in a transfer worth €180m. His stint at Parc des Princes was highly successful. The excellent footballer has notched 132 goals and 61 assists in 171 appearances across all competitions for Les Parisiens so far.
Kylian Mbappe’s Instagram account boasts about 54m followers, while he also has a good Twitter following.
7- Gareth Bale
If you love football, you must be addressed by Gareth Bale, the Real Madrid winger known for his speed, strength, stamina, and heading ability.
Career
Gareth Bale started his professional career at Southampton, playing left-back. The Wales international joined Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2007 for a reported £7m transfer fee. He was given a more attacking role at Spurs and thrived in that position under the guidance of Harry Redknapp. He garnered massive fame after performing in 2010-11’s Champions League for Spurs. The London side made it to the quarter-finals, eventually leaving the competition after defeating Real Madrid. He clocked up 146 Premier League appearances for the Lilywhites, netting 42 goals.
Real Madrid
Bale landed a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2013 in a deal worth €100.8m, making him the eighth most expensive player of all time. From the beginning, he was impressive for Los Blancos, with the fantastic winger plundering 22 goals in the 2013-14 season. The Spanish side won the Copa del Rey and Champions League that campaign, with Bale scoring in both finals.
Gareth Bale has won four Champions League trophies with Real Madrid, with the Welsh footballer notching 55 appearances and netting 16 goals.
He is currently one of the most famous football players in the world. The Wales international boasts a vast social media following, having 43m followers on his Instagram.
8- James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez is also one of the most famous football players in the world. He has about 95m followers on social media, with 45m on Instagram alone.
Career
Rodriguez started his career at Envigado before moving to Banfield in 2008. His reputation significantly increased after his stint at Primeira Liga side Porto where he clocked up 108 total. He made appearances and earned 32 goals and 41 assists to his name.
His performances in Portugal attracted the attention of Monaco, who splashed €45m to bring him to France. However, he didn’t stay long at the Monegasques and landed a move to his dream club Real Madrid in 2014 in a record transfer deal. He made 125 appearances across all competitions for Los Blancos. He was netting 37 goals and creating 42 assists (stats from Transfermarkt).
The Colombian footballer went on to sign for Bayern Munich on a two-year loan deal before joining Everton in the summer of 2020.
2014 World Cup
James Rodriguez’s fame hugely increased after his performance at the 2014 World Cup. Colombia reached the quarter-finals of the tournament as Rodriguez racked up six goals. And four assists to contribute heavily to his country. He has earned 80 caps for the national side so far, with the talented winger making 23 goals to his name.
Rodriguez has about 47m followers on Instagram, while his Twitter account also boasts around 19m followers.
9- Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba also lists famous football players as he has a big social media following. He has more than 45m followers on Instagram alone.
Career
Pogba joined the youth academy of Manchester United in the summer of 2009. He went on to earn his Premier League debut for the Red Devils in January 2012. However, due to limited opportunities at Old Trafford, the French footballer left for Juventus on a free transfer that year. His stint at the Old Lady was highly successful, as he won four consecutive Serie A titles. As well as two Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. The French footballer made 178 appearances for the Italian outfit, netting 34 goals and creating 40 assists.
Manchester United
Paul Pogba’s impressive performances in the Serie A persuaded United to splash £89.3m to bring him back to England. Although he isn’t universally liked at Old Trafford. There is no doubt that the Frenchman brings quality to the United team.
So far, the 28-year-old has made 206 appearances across all competitions for the Manchester side. He is netting 38 goals and creating 42 assists (stats from Transfermarkt). During his stay in Manchester, he has also won the League Cup and the Europa League. The Frenchman was named to the PFA Team of the Year in the 2018-19 season.
10- Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders ever. He plays for the Japanese side Vissel Kobe, joining the J1 League side in 2018.
Career
A product of La Masia, Iniesta began impressing everyone with his football skills very early. He earned his first-team debut for Barcelona in 2002 at 18. Over the following years, the Spanish footballer contributed a great deal to all the successes of the Catalans. At Camp Nou, he won an incredible 35 trophies, including four Champions League titles and nine La Ligas. He clocked up 674 appearances across all competitions for the Catalans. He was netting 57 goals and creating 138 assists in the process.
Andres Iniesta was also highly successful for the Spain national team. He played an essential role in the 2010 World Cup victory for La Roja, with the central midfielder scoring the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands.
He also boasts a huge social media following. The Spaniard has 37m followers on Instagram plus above 25m followers on Twitter.
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