Soccer is a beloved sport that is played around the world, and professional soccer leagues have seen some of the best players in history take to their respective fields. From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Zinedine Zidane, these top players are renowned for their spectacular goals, incredible skill on the ball, and overall dominance of the game. With an array of accolades between them such as Ballon d’Or awards, Champions League titles, and even World Cup victories amongst many others; these legendary figures have truly made an impact in professional soccer. Let’s take a look at three of the top players in professional soccer today.
Lionel Messi has become one of the most well-known names when it comes to modern-day footballers due to his prolific career with Barcelona FC since 2003. Since then he has gone on to win four Ballon d’Or awards which recognize him as being Europe’s greatest player over any given season from 2009 onwards. He also holds records for most La Liga titles (10) and European Golden Shoes (6). His astounding goal tally stands at 623 goals across all competitions making him Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer despite only being 5 feet 7 inches tall.
Getty Images/ UEFA/ Harold Cunningham
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the most popular soccer player of this generation, with an impressive trophy cabinet to back up his claim. He has won five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Shoes adding to his nine league titles across three different countries. His career goal tally surpasses the 700 mark and he’s scored the most-ever Champions League goals (130) in the process. His dominant presence on the pitch is renowned worldwide, with his impressive physical attributes allowing him to outrun defenders with ease.
The French international Zinedine Zidane will undoubtedly go down as one of the all-time greats and his legacy will live on for many years to come. His dominant presence on the pitch was something seldom seen, with an array of spectacular volleys, pinpoint passes and audacious solo dribbles. He won two Ballon d’Or awards in 1998 and 2000 as well as inspired France to World Cup glory in 1998. As a coach, Zidane has won three Champions League titles and one La Liga title with Real Madrid, further solidifying his status as an elite level footballer.