Surprising facts about football legends

May 30, 2023

Here are some surprising facts about football legends:

  1. Pele, the Brazilian football legend, is considered to be the most successful footballer in history. He won the World Cup three times (1958, 1962, 1970) and scored over 1,000 goals in his career.
  2. Lionel Messi, the Argentine star and football genius, is the only player in history to win six Golden Balls, awarded to the best footballer of the year.
  3. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese footballer, holds the record for the most goals scored in UEFA Champions League history.
  4. Diego Maradona, the Argentine football icon, spent most of his career at club Napoli. Under his leadership, Napoli won two Italian championships in 1987 and 1990.
  5. Zinedine Zidane, French legend and Ballon d’Or winner, coached and led the French national team to victory at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
  6. Johan Cruyff, a Dutch football star, was one of the founders of “total football” and was instrumental in the success of Ajax and the Dutch national team in the 1970s.
  7. Ronaldinho, the Brazilian footballer, was famous for his fantastic feints and ball technique. He won the 2002 World Cup and twice won the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
  8. Franz Beckenbauer, German legend and great defender, was the first player to win a World Cup as captain and coach (1974, 1990).

Pele is the most successful footballer in history

Indeed, Pele is often considered one of the most successful footballers in history. Here are a few reasons why Pele is considered a legend and one of the most successful football players:

  1. Three World Cups: Pele won the Brazilian national team World Cup three times, winning titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970. This means he is the only player to have won the World Cup three times.
  2. High number of goals: Pele scored more than 1,000 goals in his career. He officially scored 767 goals in official matches and 1,281 goals in all matches, including friendlies and unofficial matches.
  3. Success in club football: Pele spent most of his career with club Santos in Brazil. With Santos he won many titles, including 10 São Paulo state championships and two Libertadores Cups.
  4. Individual awards: Pele was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He was also selected for a historic FIFA 100 team, including the top 100 live footballers, and has won numerous other awards and recognitions.
  5. Impact on world football: Pele is regarded as one of the most influential footballers in history. His talent and successes have inspired many generations of footballers around the world and helped popularise football.

Although the question of who is the most successful footballer in history is always a matter of debate, it is undeniable that Pele holds one of the most honourable places in football history and is considered a true legend of the sport.

Lionel Messi – footballer of the year

Messi is truly regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation and has received numerous awards and recognitions. He has won the Ballon d’Or award, given to the best footballer of the year, six times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019). That’s more than any other footballer in history.

Messi also has an impressive record career in club football. He spent most of his career at Barcelona, where he won numerous titles, including 10 Spanish championships, 7 King’s Cups and 4 UEFA Champions League titles. He has also set several records, including the most goals scored in a single La Liga season and the most goals scored in a career in Barcelona’s history.

Messi is known for his fantastic technical skill, his ability to score goals and create scoring chances. He also has a unique vision of the game, allowing him to be creative and effective on the pitch.

However, the question of who is the best footballer of the year is a subjective one and can cause controversy among football fans and experts. There are other outstanding footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Mohamed Salah and others who also display great skills and achievements in football.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the record holder in terms of goals scored

Yes, Cristiano Ronaldo is the record holder for the most goals scored in football history. Throughout his career, he has shown an incredible ability to score goals and has set several records:

  1. UEFA Champions League record number of goals: Ronaldo is the highest scorer in UEFA Champions League history, having scored 134 goals during his time with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. He is also the first player to score 100 goals for the same club in the Champions League.
  2. Record number of goals for Portugal: Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals scored for the Portuguese national team. He has surpassed the mark of 100 goals and continues to increase his record.
  3. Record number of goals in club seasons: Ronaldo set the record in individual seasons, scoring more than 50 goals in several seasons in the Spanish La Liga. In the 2011-2012 season, he scored 60 goals, setting a new record.
  4. Record number of hat-tricks: Ronaldo has more hat-tricks than any other player in La Liga history. He also holds the record for the most hat-tricks in the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to add goals to his record-breaking tally and shows remarkable continuity and consistency at a high level. His goalscoring power and ambition make him one of the greatest strikers in football history.