Every fan has an opinion about the world's best soccer players, but nearly everyone agrees on a few players. Many of these stars play for the elite soccer teams — Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester figure prominently in this list — and a few of them are already considered legends, like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. All of them contribute to the global appeal that soccer fans call the "beautiful game."
1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player who soccer fans say could be considered Messi's equal — if not superior. Ronaldo is stronger and taller than the Argentine, and his goals-to-games ratio is similar. In 2016, Ronaldo was named FIFA's Player of the Year, his fourth such honor. In fact, he and Messi have been the only two players to win that honor since 2007. Since joining Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009, Ronaldo has been a revelation, making the world-record outlay of $131 million look less outrageous with every goal he scores. His famous stopover is imitated in parks right across the world.
Teams: Portugal, Real Madrid
Position: Forward
Team number: 7 (both teams)
Birthdate: Feb. 5, 1985
2 Lionel Messi
A multiyear winner of FIFA's Player of the Year Award, Lionel Messi is generally considered to be the best soccer player of all time. His ability to mesmerize defenders with a mix of skill and pace is unmatched, and it often appears as though the ball is glued to his feet. Messi led his home country, Argentina, to the 2014 World Cup final, losing 1-0 to Germany, and to the finals of the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas. A serial winner with his club, the Barcelona star is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline.
Teams: Argentina, F.C. Barcelona
Position: Forward
Team number: 10 (both teams)
Birthdate: June 24, 1987
3 Neymar
Neymar has been playing pro soccer since he was 17, and he quickly established his bona fides in the sport. Neymar has scored more goals than Messi and Ronaldo at the same stage of their careers and has the capacity to be the very best once Messi's career begins to wind down. Alongside the Argentine and Suarez, he forms one of the best-attacking lineups in the history of the sport. In 2016, Neymar was named the captain of Brazil's soccer team at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Teams: Brazil, PSG
Position: Forward
Team number: 10 (Brazil)(psg)
Birthdate: Feb. 5, 1992
4 Luis surez
The Barcelona striker is not everyone’s cup of tea, but his ability is not up for debate. Luis Suarez is a master at weaving his way into the penalty box, deadly in one-on-one situations, and an excellent free-kick taker. His link-up play with teammates is of the highest order, and he is a fighter who will always give 100 percent for the cause. A penchant for conning referees remains his Achilles heel, but that did not stop Barcelona from paying Liverpool $128.5 million for the player in July 2014. Suarez quickly helped them to the treble.
Teams: Uruguay, F.C. Barcelona
Position: Forward
Team number: 9 (both teams)
Birthdate: Jan. 24, 1987
5 Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale, the Welsh attacker, is a supreme dribbler who boasts the pace and skill to beat multiple opponents. Bale is also a great finisher and capable of scoring consistently from long range. His performance in the 2016 UEFA Champions League title game win over Atlético Madrid is a career standout, as is his goal against Barcelona in the 2014 Copa del Rey final.
Teams: Wales, Real Madrid
Position: Midfield/Forward (Wales), Forward (Real Madrid)
Team number: 11 (both teams)
Birthdate: July 16, 1989