World Soccer (magazine)

World Soccer is an English-language football magazine, published by Kelsey Media. The magazine was established in 1960 and is the oldest continually published football magazine in the United Kingdom.^[2][3] It specialises in the international football scene. Its regular contributing writers include Brian Glanville, Keir Radnedge, Sid Lowe, Tim Vickery, and Henry Winter. World Soccer is a member of the European Sports Media (ESM), an umbrella group of similar magazines printed in other languages. The members of this group elect a European "Team of the Month" and a European "Team of the Year".

World Soccer

Cover of the October 2024 issue
Editor	Stephen Fishlock
Categories	Football
Frequency	Monthly
Circulation	331,000 (Jan–Dec 2013)[1]
Founded	1960
Company	Kelsey Media
Based in	Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Language	English
Website	worldsoccer.com
ISSN	0043-9037

Since 1982, World Soccer has also organised "Player of the Year", "Manager of the Year" and "Team of the Year" awards.^[4][5]

History

The magazine was first published in London in October 1960, by Echo Publications. The first edition featured an image of Titus Buberník and Svatopluk Pluskal on the front cover.^[6] It was edited by Robert Bolle, with Graham Payne, editor of weekly sister publication Soccer Star, as features editor; Jack Rollin, who later edited The Football Yearbook for many years, as home editor; and Eric Batty as overseas editor.^[7][8] Batty, who later edited the magazine, published an annual World XI from 1960 to 1992.^[9] Brian Glanville has written a column for the magazine since April 1963.^[10][11] In 1970, Soccer Star, which was first published on 20 September 1952 as Raich Carter's Soccer Star, was incorporated into World Soccer.^[12] Keir Radnedge, who had been associate editor, took over from Philip Rising as editor in the late 1980s and was replaced by deputy editor Gavin Hamilton in January 1998 and became executive editor.^[13] Radnedge continues to have a monthly column in the magazine.^[14][15][16]

TI Media (formerly IPC Magazines, IPC Media and Time Inc. UK) published the magazine until the May 2020 issue with Kelsey Media taking over the following issue after they acquired the title from Future plc (owner of competing title FourFourTwo), the corporate successor of TI Media.^[17] Hamilton, who had worked for World Soccer for 26 years, stepped down as editor after publishing the 60th anniversary edition in June 2020.^[18]

Other regular contributors have included Paul Gardner, with a focus on football in the United States; David Conn; Jonathan Wilson; Mark Gleeson on African football; Tim Vickery, Brian Homewood and Eric Weil on South American football.

Award winners

Lionel Messi is the record winner of World Soccer awards having won a total of nine: six men's world player of the year awards and three (consecutive) young player of the year awards. He has also been included in the greatest XI of all time.

Men's World Player of the Year

Year	Player	Club
1982	Paolo Rossi (ITA) (23%)	Juventus
1983	Zico (BRA) (28%)	Udinese Calcio
1984	Michel Platini (FRA) (54%)	Juventus
1985	Michel Platini (FRA) (21%)	Juventus
1986	Diego Maradona (ARG) (36%)	S.S.C. Napoli
1987	Ruud Gullit (NED) (39%)	A.C. Milan
1988	Marco van Basten (NED) (43%)	A.C. Milan
1989	Ruud Gullit (NED) (24%)	A.C. Milan
1990	Lothar Matthäus (GER) (22%)	Inter Milan
1991	Jean-Pierre Papin (FRA) (25%)	Olympique de Marseille
1992	Marco van Basten (NED) (19%)	A.C. Milan
1993	Roberto Baggio (ITA) (14%)	Juventus
1994	Paolo Maldini (ITA) (27%)	A.C. Milan
1995	Gianluca Vialli (ITA) (18%)	Juventus
1996	Ronaldo (BRA) (17%)	FC Barcelona
1997	Ronaldo (BRA) (27%)	FC Barcelona & Inter Milan
1998	Zinedine Zidane (FRA) (23%)	Juventus
1999	Rivaldo (BRA) (42%)	FC Barcelona
2000	Luís Figo (POR) (26%)	FC Barcelona & Real Madrid
2001	Michael Owen (ENG) (31%)	Liverpool F.C.
2002	Ronaldo (BRA) (26%)	Inter Milan & Real Madrid
2003	Pavel Nedvěd (CZE) (36%)	Juventus
2004	Ronaldinho (BRA) (29%)	FC Barcelona
2005	Ronaldinho (BRA) (39%)	FC Barcelona
2006	Fabio Cannavaro (ITA) (40%)	Juventus & Real Madrid
2007	Kaká (BRA) (52%)	A.C. Milan[19]
2008	Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) (48.4%)	Manchester United[20]
2009	Lionel Messi (ARG) (43.2%)	FC Barcelona[21]
2010	Xavi (ESP) (25.8%)	FC Barcelona[22]
2011	Lionel Messi (ARG) (60.2%)	FC Barcelona[23]
2012	Lionel Messi (ARG) (47.33%)	FC Barcelona[24]
2013	Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)	Real Madrid[25]
2014	Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)	Real Madrid[26]
2015	Lionel Messi (ARG)	FC Barcelona[27]
2016	Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)	Real Madrid[28]
2017	Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)	Real Madrid[29]
2018	Luka Modrić (CRO)	Real Madrid[30]
2019	Lionel Messi (ARG)	FC Barcelona[31]
2020	Robert Lewandowski (POL)	Bayern Munich[32]
2021	Robert Lewandowski (POL)	Bayern Munich[33]
2022	Lionel Messi (ARG)	Paris Saint-Germain[34][35]
2023	Erling Haaland (NOR)	Manchester City[36]
2024	Rodri (ESP)	Manchester City[37][38]

All-time wins By player # Player Wins 1  Lionel Messi (ARG) 6 2  Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) 5 3  Ronaldo (BRA) 3 4  Michel Platini (FRA) 2  Ruud Gullit (NED)  Marco van Basten (NED)  Ronaldinho (BRA)  Robert Lewandowski (POL) 9  Paolo Rossi (ITA) 1  Zico (BRA)  Diego Maradona (ARG)  Lothar Matthäus (GER)  Jean-Pierre Papin (FRA)  Roberto Baggio (ITA)  Paolo Maldini (ITA)  Gianluca Vialli (ITA)  Zinedine Zidane (FRA)  Rivaldo (BRA)  Luís Figo (POR)  Michael Owen (ENG)  Pavel Nedvěd (CZE)  Fabio Cannavaro (ITA)  Kaká (BRA)  Xavi (ESP)  Luka Modrić (CRO)  Erling Haaland (NOR)  Rodri (ESP)

By country # Country Wins 1  Brazil 8 2  Argentina 7 3  Portugal 6 4  Italy 5 5  France 4  Netherlands 7  Poland 2  Spain 9  Germany 1  Czech Republic  England  Croatia  Norway

By league # League Wins 1  La Liga (SPA) 20 2  Serie A (ITA) 19 3  Premier League (ENG) 4 4  Bundesliga (GER) 2  Ligue 1 (FRA)

Young Player of the Year

Year	Player	Club
2005	Robinho (BRA) (30%)	Santos FC & Real Madrid
2006	Lionel Messi (ARG) (36%)	FC Barcelona[39]
2007	Lionel Messi (ARG) (34%)	FC Barcelona[40]
2008	Lionel Messi (ARG) (44%)	FC Barcelona[20]
2009	Sergio Agüero (ARG) (45.1)	Atlético Madrid[21]
2010	Thomas Müller (GER) (45.8)	Bayern Munich[22]
2011	Neymar (BRA) (29.2%)	Santos FC[23]

Men's World Manager of the Year

Year	Manager	Team
1982	Enzo Bearzot (ITA) (49%)	Italy
1983	Sepp Piontek (GER) (29%)	Denmark
1984	Michel Hidalgo (FRA) (30%)	France
1985	Terry Venables (ENG) (30%)	FC Barcelona
1986	Guy Thys (BEL) (15%)	Belgium
1987	Johan Cruijff (NED) (25%)	Ajax Amsterdam
1988	Rinus Michels (NED) (48%)	Netherlands & Bayer Leverkusen
1989	Arrigo Sacchi (ITA) (42%)	AC Milan
1990	Franz Beckenbauer (GER) (53%)	Germany
1991	Michel Platini (FRA) (42%)	France
1992	Richard Møller-Nielsen (DEN) (28%)	Denmark
1993	Alex Ferguson (SCO) (21%)	Manchester United
1994	Carlos Alberto Parreira (BRA) (17%)	Brazil
1995	Louis van Gaal (NED) (42%)	Ajax Amsterdam
1996	Berti Vogts (GER) (28%)	Germany
1997	Ottmar Hitzfeld (GER) (17%)	Borussia Dortmund
1998	Arsène Wenger (FRA) (28%)	Arsenal
1999	Alex Ferguson (SCO) (60%)	Manchester United
2000	Dino Zoff (ITA) (18%)	Italy
2001	Gérard Houllier (FRA) (28%)	Liverpool F.C.
2002	Guus Hiddink (NED) (28%)	South Korea
2003	Carlo Ancelotti (ITA) (20%)	A.C. Milan
2004	José Mourinho (POR) (36%)	FC Porto & Chelsea
2005	José Mourinho (POR) (34.1%)	Chelsea[41]
2006	Marcello Lippi (ITA) (36%)	Italy
2007	Alex Ferguson (SCO) (26%)	Manchester United
2008	Alex Ferguson (SCO) (38%)	Manchester United
2009	Pep Guardiola (ESP) (62.1%)	FC Barcelona[21]
2010	José Mourinho (POR) (48.3%)	Inter Milan & Real Madrid[22]
2011	Pep Guardiola (ESP) (33.1%)	FC Barcelona[23]
2012	Vicente del Bosque (ESP) (28.49%)	Spain[24]
2013	Jupp Heynckes (GER)	Bayern Munich[25]
2014	Joachim Löw (GER)	Germany[26]
2015	Luis Enrique (ESP)	FC Barcelona[27]
2016	Claudio Ranieri (ITA)	Leicester City[42]
2017	Zinedine Zidane (FRA)	Real Madrid[29]
2018	Didier Deschamps (FRA)	France[43]
2019	Jürgen Klopp (GER)	Liverpool F.C.[31]
2020	Hansi Flick (GER)	Bayern Munich[32]
2021	Roberto Mancini (ITA)	Italy[33]
2022	Lionel Scaloni (ARG)	Argentina[35]
2023	Pep Guardiola (ESP)	Manchester City[44]
2024	Carlo Ancelotti (ITA)	Real Madrid[38]

All-time wins

By manager

#	Manager	Wins
1	Alex Ferguson (SCO)	4
2	José Mourinho (POR)	3
	Pep Guardiola (ESP)
3	Carlo Ancelotti (ITA)	2

By country

#	Country	Wins
1	Germany	8
Italy
3	France	6
4	Spain	5
5	Netherlands	4
	Scotland
7	Portugal	3
8	England	1
	Belgium
	Denmark
	Brazil
	Argentina

Men's World Team of the Year

1982 –  Brazil (30%) 1983 –  Hamburger SV (GER) (29%) 1984 –  France (45%) 1985 –  Everton (ENG) (42%) 1986 –  Argentina (15%) 1987 –  Porto (POR) (38%) 1988 –  Netherlands (43%) 1989 –  Milan (ITA) (51%) 1990 –  West Germany (28%) 1991 –  France (20%) 1992 –  Denmark (37%) 1993 –  Parma (ITA) (24%) 1994 –  Milan (ITA) (33%) 1995 –  Ajax (NED) (50%) 1996 –  Nigeria (31%) 1997 –  Borussia Dortmund (GER) (20%) 1998 –  France (35%) 1999 –  Manchester United (ENG) (61%) 2000 –  France (33%) 2001 –  Liverpool (ENG) (26%) 2002 –  Brazil (24%) 2003 –  Milan (ITA) (23%) 2004 –  Greece (25%) 2005 –  Liverpool (ENG) (27%) 2006 –  Barcelona (ESP) (42%) 2007 –  Iraq (22%)[45] 2008 –  Spain (41%)[46] 2009 –  Barcelona (ESP) (75.9%)[21] 2010 –  Spain (63.3%)[22] 2011 –  Barcelona (ESP) (44.2%)[23] 2012 –  Spain (47.4%) 2013 –  Bayern Munich (GER)[25] 2014 –  Germany[26] 2015 –  Barcelona (ESP)[27] 2016 –  Leicester City (ENG) 2017 –  Real Madrid (ESP)[29] 2018 –  France[43] 2019 –  Liverpool (ENG)[31] 2020 –  Bayern Munich (GER)[32] 2021 –  Italy[33] 2022 –  Argentina[35] 2023 –  Manchester City (ENG)[47] 2024 –  Spain[38]

By team

#	Team	Wins
1	France	5
2	Barcelona (ESP)	4
	Spain
4	Liverpool (ENG)	3
	Milan (ITA)
6	Brazil	2
	Germany
	Bayern Munich (GER)
	Argentina

Women's World Player of the Year

Year	Player	Team
2020	Pernille Harder (DEN)	Wolfsburg Chelsea[32][48]
2021	Alexia Putellas (SPA)	Barcelona[33][49]
2022	Beth Mead (ENG)	Arsenal[35]
2023	Aitana Bonmatí (ESP)	Barcelona[50]
2024	Aitana Bonmatí (ESP)	Barcelona[38]

Women's World Manager of the Year

• 2020 –  Jean-Luc Vasseur (FRA), Lyon^[32]
• 2021 –  Lluís Cortés (ESP), Barcelona^[33]
• 2022 –  Sarina Wiegman (NED), England^[35]
• 2023 –  Sarina Wiegman (NED), England^[51]
• 2024 –  Emma Hayes (ENG), Chelsea/USA^[38]

Women's World Team of the Year

• 2020 –  Lyon (FRA)^[32]
• 2021 –  Barcelona (ESP)^[33]
• 2022 –  England (ENG)^[35]
• 2023 –  Spain (ESP)^[52]
• 2024 –  Barcelona (ESP)^[38]

Referee of the Year

Source:^[39][53][54]

Year	Rank	Referee	Points
2005	1st	Pierluigi Collina	30.6%
	2nd	Kim Milton Nielsen	19.7%
	3rd	Markus Merk	16.3%
2006	1st	Horacio Elizondo	38.7%
	2nd	Benito Archundia	30.5%
	3rd	Ľuboš Micheľ	8.5%

Greatest XI of All Time

The list is based on the voting poll consisted of 74 experts (journalists, TV pundits, current and former players and managers) from around the world.^[55]

(Published July 2013)^[55]

Goalkeeper	Defenders	Midfielders	Forwards
Lev Yashin (URS)	Cafu (BRA)  Franz Beckenbauer (GER)  Bobby Moore (ENG)  Paolo Maldini (ITA)	Alfredo Di Stéfano (ARG)  Zinedine Zidane (FRA)  Diego Maradona (ARG)  Johan Cruyff (NED)	Lionel Messi (ARG)  Pelé (BRA)

Goalkeepers

Lev Yashin

Pos.	Name	Votes	% of votes
1	Lev Yashin (URS)	31	41.89%
2	Gordon Banks (ENG)	6	8.11%
	Dino Zoff (ITA)
4	Gianluigi Buffon (ITA)	5	6.76%
	Peter Schmeichel (DEN)
6	Iker Casillas (ESP)	4	5.41%
7	Sepp Maier (GER)	3	4.05%
8	Pat Jennings (NIR)	2	2.70%
	Oliver Kahn (GER)
	Edwin van der Sar (NED)

Full backs

Paolo Maldini

Pos.	Name	Votes	% of votes
1	Paolo Maldini (ITA)	48	64.86%
2	Cafu (BRA)	24	32.43%
3	Carlos Alberto Torres (BRA)	18	24.32%
4	Roberto Carlos (BRA)	13	17.57%
5	Djalma Santos (BRA)	11	14.86%
6	Giacinto Facchetti (ITA)	7	9.46%
7	Nílton Santos (BRA)	6	8.11%
8	Berti Vogts (GER)	4	5.41%
9	Lilian Thuram (FRA)	3	4.05%
10	Ruud Krol (NED)	2	2.70%
	Víctor Rodríguez Andrade (URU)
	Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (GER)

Central defenders

Franz Beckenbauer

Pos.	Name	Votes	% of votes
1	Franz Beckenbauer (GER)	68	91.89%
2	Bobby Moore (ENG)	23	31.08%
3	Franco Baresi (ITA)	22	29.73%
4	Daniel Passarella (ARG)	4	5.41%
5	Fabio Cannavaro (ITA)	3	4.05%
	John Charles (WAL)
	Marcel Desailly (FRA)
	Paul McGrath (IRE)
9	Giuseppe Bergomi (ITA)	2	2.70%

Midfielders

Pos.	Name	Votes	% of votes
1	Diego Maradona (ARG)	64	86.49%
2	Johan Cruyff (NED)	58	78.38%
3	Zinedine Zidane (FRA)	28	37.84%
4	Alfredo Di Stéfano (ARG)	24	32.43%
5	Michel Platini (FRA)	18	24.32%
6	Garrincha (BRA)	15	20.27%
7	George Best (NIR)	12	16.22%
8	Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)	7	9.46%
9	Bobby Charlton (ENG)	5	6.76%
	Lothar Matthäus (GER)
11	Andrés Iniesta (ESP)	4	5.41%
	Xavi (ESP)
13	Didi (BRA)	3	4.05%
	Sócrates (BRA)
15	Roberto Baggio (ITA)	2	2.70%
	Toninho Cerezo (BRA)
	Francisco Gento (ESP)
	Ryan Giggs (WAL)
	Stanley Matthews (ENG)
	Johan Neeskens (NED)
	Rivellino (BRA)
	Zico (BRA)

Strikers

Pos.	Name	Votes	% of votes
1	Pelé (BRA)	56	75.68%
2	Lionel Messi (ARG)	46	62.16%
3	Ferenc Puskas (HUN)	11	14.86%
4	Ronaldo (BRA)	9	12.16%
5	Marco van Basten (NED)	5	6.76%
6	Gerd Müller (GER)	4	5.41%
7	Oleh Blokhin (URS)	2	2.70%
	Eusébio (POR)

Greatest Managers of All Time

Map of FIFA members by number of managers ranked by France Football (2019), World Soccer (2013) or ESPN (2013)

Map of FIFA members by number of managers ranked by France Football (2019), World Soccer (2013) and ESPN (2013)

• 
  Alex Ferguson
• 
  Rinus Michels
• 
  Helenio Herrera
• 
  Valeriy Lobanovskyi

The list is based on the voting poll consisting of 74 experts (journalists, TV pundits, current and former players and managers) from around the world with each having been allotted 5 managerial picks.

(Published July 2013)^[55][56]

Key

Managers in bold are ranked by World Soccer, France Football and ESPN^[57][58][59]

  Managers ranked top 10 by World Soccer, France Football and ESPN^{[57][58][59][60]}

Pos.	Name	Years	Notable teams	Votes	% of votes
1	Alex Ferguson (SCO)	1974–2013	Aberdeen, Scotland national team, Manchester United	49	66.22%
2	Rinus Michels (NED)	1960–1992	AFC Ajax, Barcelona, Netherlands national team	46	62.16%
3	José Mourinho (POR)	2000–	Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma	21	28.38%
4	Helenio Herrera (ARG)	1944–1970, 1973–1981	Sevilla, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan	19	25.68%
5	Pep Guardiola (ESP)	2007–	Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City	18	24.32%
6	Arrigo Sacchi (ITA)	1985–1999, 2001	Parma, Milan, Italy national team, Atlético Madrid	15	20.27%
7	Valeriy Lobanovskyi (UKR)	1969–2002	Dnipro, Dynamo Kyiv, Soviet Union national team, Ukraine national team	14	18.92%
8	Bob Paisley (ENG)	1974–1983	Liverpool	12	16.22%
9	Herbert Chapman (ENG)	1907–1918, 1921–1934	Northampton Town, Leeds City, Huddersfield Town, Arsenal	9	12.16%
	Béla Guttmann (HUN)	1933–1939, 1945–1951, 1953–1962, 1964–1967, 1973	Milan, São Paulo, Porto, Benfica, Peñarol
	Ernst Happel (AUT)	1962–1992	Feyenoord, Sevilla, Netherlands national team, Brugge, Hamburger SV
	Mário Zagallo (BRA)	1966–1991, 1994–2001	Botafogo, Flamengo, Brazil national team, Vasco da Gama
13	Vittorio Pozzo (ITA)	1912–1922, 1924–1926, 1929–1948	Italy national team, Torino, Milan	8	10.81%
	Vicente del Bosque (ESP)	1987–1990, 1994, 1996, 1999–2005, 2008–2016	Real Madrid, Beşiktaş, Spain national team
	Marcello Lippi (ITA)	1982–2006, 2008–2010, 2012–2014, 2016–2019	Napoli, Juventus, Inter Milan, Italy national team, Guangzhou Evergrande, China national team
	Telê Santana (BRA)	1969–1996	Atlético Mineiro, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Botafogo, Flamengo, Brazil national team
17	Brian Clough (ENG)	1965–1993	Derby County, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest	7	9.46%
18	Ottmar Hitzfeld (GER)	1983–2004, 2007–2014	Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Switzerland national team	6	8.11%
19	Sepp Herberger (GER)	1930–1942, 1945–1946, 1950–1964	Germany national team, Eintracht Frankfurt	5	6.76%
	Bill Shankly (SCO)	1949–1974	Carlisle United, Huddersfield Town, Liverpool
	Giovanni Trapattoni (ITA)	1974–2013	Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Fiorentina, Italy national team
22	César Luis Menotti (ARG)	1970, 1972–1984, 1986–1994, 1996–1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007	Argentina national team, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Boca Juniors, Independiente	4	5.41%
23	Enzo Bearzot (ITA)	1964–1986	Italy national team	3	4.05%
	Jimmy Hogan (ENG)	1910–1912, 1914–1921, 1924, 1924–1927, 1931–1939	MTK Budapest, Netherlands national team, Fulham, Aston Villa
	Hennes Weisweiler (GER)	1948–1983	Borussia Mönchengladbach, Barcelona, 1. FC Köln
	Helmut Schön (GER)	1952–1984	Germany national team
	Fabio Capello (ITA)	1991–2015, 2017–2018	Milan, Real Madrid, Roma, Juventus, England national team
28	Franz Beckenbauer (GER)	1984–1991, 1993–1994, 1996	Germany national team, Bayern Munich, Marseille	2	2.70%
	Carlos Bilardo (ARG)	1971, 1973–1993, 1996, 1998–2000, 2003–2004	Estudiantes, Colombia national team, Argentina national team, Sevilla, Boca Juniors
	Johan Cruyff (NED)	1985–1996	AFC Ajax, Barcelona
	Vicente Feola (BRA)	1937–1942, 1947–1950, 1955–1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1966	São Paulo, Brazil national team, Boca Juniors
	Alf Ramsey (ENG)	1955–1974, 1977–1978	Ipswich Town, England national team
	Gusztáv Sebes (HUN)	1940–1946, 1949–1957	Hungary national team
	Jock Stein (SCO)	1960–1985	Celtic Glasgow, Scotland national team, Leeds United
	Luiz Felipe Scolari (BRA)	1982–2019	Brazil national team, Portugal national team, Grêmio, Palmeiras, Chelsea
36	Luis Aragonés (ESP)	1974–2009	Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, Barcelona, Sevilla, Spain national team	1	1.35%
	Leo Beenhakker (NED)	1965–	AFC Ajax, Netherlands national team, Real Madrid, Feyenoord
	Rafael Benítez (ESP)	1993–	Valencia, Liverpool, Internazionale, Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Newcastle United
	Marcelo Bielsa (ARG)	1990–	Newell's Old Boys, América, Vélez Sarsfield, Argentina, Chile, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Leeds United
	Bob Bradley (USA)	1981–	Chicago Fire, MetroStars, United States national team, Egypt national team, Los Angeles FC
	Matt Busby (SCO)	1945–1969, 1970–1971	Manchester United
	Jack Charlton (ENG)	1973–1996	Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United, Republic of Ireland national team
	Kazimierz Górski (POL)	1959–1985	Legia Warsaw, Poland national team, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos
	Jupp Heynckes (GER)	1979–2018	Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Benfica, Schalke
	Gérard Houllier (FRA)	1973–2011	Paris Saint-Germain, France national team, Liverpool, Lyon
	Tomislav Ivić (CRO)	1967–2004	Hajduk Split, Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia national team, Ajax, Anderlecht, Standard Liège, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Panathinaikos, Porto, Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, Marseille
	Ștefan Kovács (ROM)	1952–1987	Steaua București, Ajax, France national team, Romania national team, Panathinaikos, Monaco
	Udo Lattek (GER)	1970–2000	Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Barcelona
	Hugo Meisl (AUT)	1912–14, 1919–37	Austria national team
	Otto Rehhagel (GER)	1972–2010, 2012	Fortuna Düsseldorf, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Greece national team
	Carlos Alberto Parreira (BRA)	1968–2010	Fluminense, Brazil national team, Valencia, Fenerbahçe, Corinthians, South Africa national team
	Antoni Piechniczek (POL)	1973–1990, 1993–1997	Polish national team
	Nereo Rocco (ITA)	1947–1977	Padova, Milan
	Árpád Weisz (HUN)	1926–1940	Internazionale, Bologna
	Arsène Wenger (FRA)	1984–2018	Monaco, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Arsenal
	Walter Winterbottom (ENG)	1946–1962	England national team

Greatest Players of the 20th century

In the December 1999 issue, a readers' poll listing the 100 greatest football players of the 20th century was published.^[61]

# Player 1 Pelé 2 Diego Maradona 3 Johan Cruyff 4 Franz Beckenbauer 5 Michel Platini 6 Alfredo Di Stéfano 7 Ferenc Puskás 8 George Best 9 Marco van Basten 10 Eusébio 11 Lev Yashin 12 Bobby Charlton 13 Ronaldo 14 Bobby Moore 15 Gerd Müller 16 Roberto Baggio 17 Stanley Matthews 18 Zico 19 Franco Baresi 20 Garrincha 21 Paolo Maldini 22 Kenny Dalglish 23 Gabriel Batistuta 24 Eric Cantona 25 Gheorghe Hagi

# Player 26 Romário 27 Jairzinho 28 Zinedine Zidane 29 Ruud Gullit 30 John Charles 31 Lothar Matthäus 32 Gordon Banks 33 Jürgen Klinsmann 34 Dennis Bergkamp 35 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 36 Gary Lineker 37 Giuseppe Meazza 38 Rivellino 39 Didi 40 Ian Rush 41 Peter Schmeichel Paolo Rossi 43 George Weah 44 Michael Owen 45 Just Fontaine 46 Duncan Edwards 47 Dino Zoff 48 Hristo Stoichkov 49 David Beckham 50 Tom Finney

# Player 51 Rivaldo 52 Claudio Caniggia 53 Tostão 54 Frank Rijkaard 55 José Luis Chilavert 56 Kevin Keegan 57 Paul Gascoigne 58 Roger Milla 59 Michael Laudrup 60 Andriy Shevchenko 61 David Ginola Glenn Hoddle Sócrates 64 Roberto Carlos Alan Shearer 66 Daniel Passarella 67 Davor Šuker 68 Dixie Dean Sándor Kocsis Juan Alberto Schiaffino Christian Vieri 72 Mario Kempes Johan Neeskens Luigi Riva =75 José Nasazzi

# Player =75 Günter Netzer 77 Alessandro Del Piero Carlos Valderrama 79 Ricardo Zamora 80 Enzo Francescoli 81 Edgar Davids Francisco Gento 83 Jim Baxter Falcão Ryan Giggs Sepp Maier 87 Zbigniew Boniek Pat Jennings György Sárosi 90 Giacinto Facchetti 91 Alan Hansen Raymond Kopa Bryan Robson Matthias Sammer 95 Ladislao Kubala Neville Southall 97 Gérson 98 Paulo Futre Preben Elkjær 100 Bebeto

World Player of the Decade 2000s

In 2009, a World Player of the Decade was announced based on the reader's votes from 2000 to 2009 in the annual Player of the Year polls.^[62]

World Player of the Decade 2000s

# Player Points 1 Ronaldinho 781 2 Lionel Messi 759 3 Cristiano Ronaldo 708 4 Thierry Henry 619 5 Kaká 567 6 Fabio Cannavaro 401 7 Pavel Nedvěd 394 8 Michael Owen 330 9 Luís Figo 290 10 Zinedine Zidane 270 11 Raúl 261 12 Ronaldo 260 13 Andriy Shevchenko 230 14 Andrés Iniesta 215 15 Michael Ballack 180 16 Xavi 163 17 Rivaldo 150 18 Fernando Torres 149 19 Samuel Eto'o 146 Frank Lampard

# Player Points 21 Steven Gerrard 134 22 Deco 130 23 Francesco Totti 107 24 Ruud van Nistelrooy 99 25 Oliver Kahn 90 26 Paolo Maldini 82 27 Didier Drogba 79 28 Juan Román Riquelme 77 29 Adriano 73 30 Iker Casillas 59 31 Andrey Arshavin 54 32 Zlatan Ibrahimović 53 33 Gianluigi Buffon 49 34 David Villa 46 35 Roy Makaay 40 36 David Beckham 37 37 Wayne Rooney 36 38 Diego Forlán 21 39 Gabriel Batistuta 20 Henrik Larsson

Eric Batty's World XI

Since the first year of publication of World Soccer and over a 30-year period, overseas editor Eric Batty published his team selection of the best players over the season.

Eric Batty's World XI
Year	Goalkeeper	Defenders	Midfielders	Forwards
1960[63]	Gyula Grosics (HUN)	Orvar Bergmark (SWE)  José Santamaría (ESP)  Nílton Santos (BRA)	Martí Vergés (ESP)  Julinho (BRA)  Ante Žanetić (YUG)  Francisco Gento (ESP)	Pelé (BRA)  Alfredo Di Stéfano (ESP)  Ferenc Puskás (HUN)
1961[63]	Gyula Grosics	Orvar Bergmark  Germano (POR) Nílton Santos	Danny Blanchflower (NIR)  Paul Bonga Bonga (DRC) Francisco Gento	László Kubala (ESP) Pelé Alfredo Di Stéfano Ferenc Puskás
1962[63]	Gernot Fraydl (AUT)	Djalma Santos (BRA) Germano  Fahrudin Jusufi (YUG)	Zito (BRA)  Josef Masopust (TCH) Francisco Gento	Garrincha (BRA) Pelé Alfredo Di Stéfano Ferenc Puskás
1963[63]	Lev Yashin (URS)	Djalma Santos  Cesare Maldini (ITA) Fahrudin Jusufi	Mário Coluna (POR)  Raymond Kopa (FRA)  Jim Baxter (SCO)  Luis Suárez (ESP)	Pelé Alfredo Di Stéfano Ferenc Puskás
1964[63]	Lev Yashin	Tarcisio Burgnich (ITA)  Ján Popluhár (TCH)  Giacinto Facchetti (ITA)	Mário Coluna  José Augusto (POR) Josef Masopust Luis Suárez	Pelé Alfredo Di Stéfano  Denis Law (SCO)
1965[63]	Costa Pereira (POR)	Djalma Santos Germano Giacinto Facchetti  Orlando (BRA)	Mário Coluna José Augusto Luis Suárez	Sandro Mazzola (ITA)  Eusébio (POR) Pelé
1966[63]	Lev Yashin	Aleksandar Shalamanov (BUL)  Franz Beckenbauer (FRG) Giacinto Facchetti	Néstor Gonçalves (URU)  Dimitar Yakimov (BUL) Mário Coluna  Mario Corso (ITA)	Pelé  Ferenc Bene (HUN)  János Farkas (HUN)
1967[63]	Lev Yashin	Mário Coluna Ján Popluhár Giacinto Facchetti	Franz Beckenbauer  Kálmán Mészöly (HUN) Dimitar Yakimov	Sandro Mazzola Ferenc Bene  Geoff Hurst (ENG) János Farkas
1968[63]	Dino Zoff (ITA)	Fahrudin Jusufi Ján Popluhár Giacinto Facchetti	Franz Beckenbauer  Martin Peters (ENG)  Bobby Moore (ENG)	Ferenc Bene Sandro Mazzola Geoff Hurst  Włodzimierz Lubański (POL)
1969[63]	Gordon Banks (ENG)	Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (FRG) Franz Beckenbauer Giacinto Facchetti	Martin Peters Bobby Moore  Dragan Džajić (YUG)	Ferenc Bene Geoff Hurst  Gerd Müller (FRG) Włodzimierz Lubański
1970	did not publish
1971[64]	Gordon Banks	Carlos Alberto (BRA) Franz Beckenbauer Bobby Moore  Berti Vogts (FRG)	Sandro Mazzola  Gérson (BRA)  Rivellino (BRA)	Jairzinho (BRA) Gerd Müller  Gigi Riva (ITA)
1972[64]	Gordon Banks	Paul Breitner (FRG) Bobby Moore  Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck (FRG)  Karol Dobiaš (TCH)	Günter Netzer (FRG) Franz Beckenbauer	Włodzimierz Lubański Gerd Müller  Johan Cruyff (NED) Jairzinho
1973[64]	Pat Jennings (NIR)	Dragoslav Stepanović (YUG) Bobby Moore  Barry Hulshoff (NED)  Petar Krivokuća (YUG)	Ladislav Kuna (TCH) Günter Netzer Franz Beckenbauer	Dragan Džajić Gerd Müller Włodzimierz Lubański
1974[64]	David Harvey (SCO)	Paul Breitner Franz Beckenbauer  Luís Pereira (BRA)  Rolando García (CHI)	Jovan Aćimović (YUG)  Kazimierz Deyna (POL) Sandro Mazzola	Robert Gadocha (POL) Gerd Müller  Grzegorz Lato (POL)
1975[64]	Dino Zoff	Rainer Bonhof (FRG)  Colin Todd (ENG)  Humberto Coelho (POR) Berti Vogts	Paul Breitner Günter Netzer Franz Beckenbauer	Jupp Heynckes (FRG)  Ralf Edström (SWE) Grzegorz Lato
1976[64]	Ivo Viktor (TCH)	Paul Breitner Franz Beckenbauer  Anton Ondruš (TCH) Colin Todd	Branko Oblak (YUG)  Viktor Kolotov (URS)  Antonín Panenka (TCH)	Oleg Blokhin (URS) Gerd Müller  Ruud Geels (NED)
1977[64]	Sepp Maier (FRG)	Ruud Krol (NED) Luís Pereira Franz Beckenbauer Berti Vogts	Johan Cruyff Rainer Bonhof  Jan Peters (NED)	Rob Rensenbrink (NED) Gerd Müller  Franco Causio (ITA)
1978[64]	Peter Shilton (ENG)	Alberto Tarantini (ARG) Luís Pereira  David Watson (ENG) Ruud Krol	Teófilo Cubillas (PER)  Osvaldo Ardiles (ARG)	Rob Rensenbrink  Roberto Bettega (ITA) Gerd Müller Franco Causio
1979	did not publish
1980	did not publish
1981	did not publish
1982[65]	Peter Shilton	Alain Giresse (FRA)  Jaime Duarte (PER)  Daniel Passarella (ARG)  Marius Trésor (FRA)	Sócrates (BRA) Osvaldo Ardiles  Michel Platini (FRA)  Falcão (BRA)	Paolo Rossi (ITA)  Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (FRG)
1983[65]	Peter Shilton	Alain Giresse Daniel Passarella Marius Trésor Jaime Duarte	Sócrates Osvaldo Ardiles  Toninho Cerezo (BRA) Michel Platini Falcão	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
1984[65]	Rinat Dasayev (URS)	Alain Giresse  Morten Olsen (DEN)  Maxime Bossis (FRA)	Allan Simonsen (DEN) Sócrates  Jean Tigana (FRA) Michel Platini  Diego Maradona (ARG)	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge  Bruno Conti (ITA)
1985[65]	Peter Shilton	Morten Olsen  Antonio Maceda (ESP)	Ray Wilkins (ENG) Jean Tigana Alain Giresse  Carlos Manuel (POR) Michel Platini  Søren Lerby (DEN)  Khoren Oganesian (URS)	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
1986[65]	Rinat Dasayev	Manuel Amoros (FRA) Morten Olsen Antonio Maceda Maxime Bossis	Luis Fernández (FRA) Jean Tigana  Frank Arnesen (DEN) Alain Giresse  Míchel (ESP)	Gary Lineker (ENG)
1987[65]	Rinat Dasayev	Manuel Amoros  Celso (BRA)  Glenn Hysén (SWE)  Giovanni Francini (ITA)	Luis Fernández Jean Tigana Diego Maradona Míchel	Gary Lineker  Hugo Sánchez (MEX)
1988	did not publish
1989[65]	Peter Shilton	Ronald Koeman (NED)  Franco Baresi (ITA)  Aron Winter (NED)  Luis Carlos Perea (COL)	Frank Rijkaard (NED) Míchel  Paulo Silas (BRA)  Rafael Martín Vázquez (ESP)	Ruud Gullit (NED)  Marco van Basten (NED)
1990[65]	Peter Shilton	Stéphane Demol (BEL) Franco Baresi  Dunga (BRA)  Riccardo Ferri (ITA)	Paulo Silas  Jan Ceulemans (BEL)  Valdo (BRA) Rafael Martín Vázquez	Ian Rush (WAL) Marco van Basten
1991[65]	Neville Southall (WAL)	Riccardo Ferri  Laurent Blanc (FRA)  Basile Boli (FRA)	Robert Prosinečki (YUG) Valdo Dunga Rafael Martín Vázquez  Dejan Savićević (YUG)	Mark Hughes Darko Pančev
1992[65]	Peter Schmeichel (DEN)	Ronald Koeman Laurent Blanc  Mauro Silva (BRA)  Des Walker (ENG)	Frank Rijkaard  Brian Laudrup (DEN)  Srečko Katanec (YUG)	Attilio Lombardo (ITA) Marco van Basten  Bebeto (BRA)
World Soccer World XI
2012[66]	Iker Casillas	Jordi Alba Sergio Ramos Vincent Kompany Philipp Lahm	Andrés Iniesta Andrea Pirlo Xavi	Cristiano Ronaldo Radamel Falcao Lionel Messi

By player

Appearances	Player	First	Last
11	Franz Beckenbauer (FRG)	1966	1977
8	Gerd Müller (FRG)	1969	1978
7	Pelé (BRA)	1960	1966
6	Giacinto Facchetti (ITA)	1964	1969
	Peter Shilton (ENG)	1978	1990
5	Alfredo Di Stéfano (ESP)	1960	1965
	Mário Coluna (POR)	1963	1967
	Sandro Mazzola (ITA)	1965	1974
	Bobby Moore (ENG)	1968	1973
	Alain Giresse (FRA)	1982	1986
4	Ferenc Puskás (ESP)	1960	1963
	Lev Yashin (URS)	1963	1967
	Ferenc Bene (HUN)	1966	1969
	Włodzimierz Lubański (POL)	1968	1973
	Paul Breitner (FRG)	1972	1976
	Michel Platini (FRA)	1982	1985
	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (FRG)	1982	1985
	Jean Tigana (FRA)	1984	1987
3	Francisco Gento (ESP)	1960	1962
	Germano (POR)	1961	1965
	Djalma Santos (BRA)	1962	1965
	Fahrudin Jusufi (YUG)	1962	1968
	Luis Suárez (ESP)	1963	1965
	Ján Popluhár (TCH)	1964	1968
	Geoff Hurst (ENG)	1967	1969
	Gordon Banks (ENG)	1969	1972
	Berti Vogts (FRG)	1971	1977
	Günter Netzer (FRG)	1972	1975
	Luís Pereira (BRA)	1974	1978
	Osvaldo Ardiles (ARG)	1978	1983
	Sócrates (BRA)	1982	1984
	Morten Olsen (DEN)	1984	1986
	Rinat Dasayev (URS)	1984	1987
	Míchel (ESP)	1986	1989
	Rafael Martín Vázquez (ESP)	1989	1991
	Marco van Basten (NED)	1989	1992

See also

• FIFA World Cup Dream Team
• FIFA 100
• FIFA Player of the Century
• World Team of the 20th Century
• ESM Team of the Season