Every footballing nation needs a star to represent them on the Global stage. The entire history of football is graced with great players, leading their national teams in big competitions. The fans always rest their hopes on a special player, who they consider their hero.We have numerous examples of such great heroes, who fought for the glory of their Nation. Some of them brought back loads of silverware, while some returned with bruises and tears. But all these great players surely lit up the stadiums, with dazzling fireworks of their own.
The crowds go berserk at the mere sight of these legends. They are worshiped by their countrymen alike, and they are the guiding light for the young footballers. The media chases them with flashlights and microphones. These players are the face of their national football Squads. Some of these legends are still on the field, while some have become immortal after retirement.
So often, we see new talents being compared with these legends. Each time a great talent surfaces, the whole nation hopes their Hero is back, in a new genius. There is nothing, like a nation backing its football squad. And, the joy is unimaginable when their hero delivers the greatest Crowns to them.With the emergence of some great names in the football world, it is a great time, to remember some of the greatest heroes the world has witnessed.
The 30 Greatest heroes include,
1 – Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele) – Brazil
2 - Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima – Brazil
3 – Diego Armando Maradona – Argentina
4 – Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccitini – Argentina
5 - Giuseppe Meazza – Italy
6 - Fabio Cannavaro - Italy
7 - Paolo Maldini - Italy
8 - Franz Beckenbauer – Germany
9 - Friedrich “Fritz” Walter - Germany
10 - Gerhard “Gerd” Muller - Germany
11 - Zinedine Zidane – France
12 - Michel Platini - France
13 – Johan Cruyff – Netherlands
14 - Marco van Basten - Netherlands
15 - George Best – England
16 – David Beckham – England
17 - Luís Figo – Portugal
18 - Eusébio – Portugal
19 - Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal
20 – Jose Nasazzi - Uruguay
21 – Diego Forlan – Uruguay
22 - Xavi Hernández – Spain
23 - Raúl González - Spain
24 - Alfredo Di Stéfano - Spain
25 - Andrés Iniesta – Spain
26 - Ferenc Puskas – Hungary
27 - Lev Yashin – USSR
28 – Arshavin – Russia
28 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Sweden
29 - Andriy Shevchenko – Ukraine
30 – Luka Modric – Croatia
(P.S. – Brazil have had far too many heroes. Please select your favorites from the huge list, here – Didi, Socrates, Zico, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Carlos Alberto, Garrincha….so on)
Honorary Mentions: Didi, Socrates, Zico, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Carlos Alberto, Garrincha, David Villa, Iker Casillas, Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Franc Rijkard, Johan Neeskens, Obdulio Varela, Franco Baresi, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Ballack, Mesut Ozil, Francesco Totti, Pirlo, Luis Suarez, samuel eto’o, Didier Drogba, and many more.