5 greatest footballers to wear the number 10 jersey

#1 Pele

The original G.O.A.T - Pele's legacy and impact are second to none in the history of this beautiful game

There are a lot of factors which make Pele's argument to be the number one on this list the strongest. According to the IFFHS, Pelé is the most successful domestic league goal-scorer in football history scoring 650 goals in 694 league matches, and in total 1281 goals in 1363 games, which included unofficial friendlies and is a Guinness World Record.

Pele is the only player in the history of the game to have won three World Cups, a record which may never be broken in the modern era. Pele is also known for connecting the phrase, "the beautiful game" with football, due to his playing style and his prowess at the pitch on his peak.

At his peak, Pele's popularity was such that his mere presence was enough to fill out stadiums, and as a player, he was an unstoppable freak of nature who could rip any defence into shreds.

Averaging almost a goal per game throughout his career, Pelé was adept at striking the ball with either foot in addition to anticipating his opponents' movements on the field. Although he primarily played as a striker, he could also drop deep and take on a playmaking role, providing assists with his vision and passing ability, and he would also use his dribbling skills to go past opponents.

Pele has numerous records to his name, but the reason he ranks the highest on most such lists is his legacy. Pele made football the global sport we know it as today, and his contribution to connecting the game with the masses will remain unparalleled.

Dutch star Johan Cruyff stated; "Pelé was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic", while Ferenc Puskas said, "The greatest player in history was Di Stéfano. I refuse to classify Pelé as a player. He was above that."

Even though Lionel Messi has individually performed at the highest level with consistency that rivals that of Pele's, no player will be ever able to match his legacy and his international resume. As such, Pele is a deserving first position on this list.

Honourable mentions -

Michel Platini

Zico

Francesco Totti

Lothar Matthaus