TOP 10 ICONIC FOOTBALLERS

Football, famously put as the game of two halves has captivated us like none other. A civilization has lived with it and with this deep roots it obvious that we would have a lot and lot to talk about. And like any other sport its the players who make the sport .Players who go on to become greats then legends and attain the levels of immortality. Here I am trying to put in numbers , the best ever players, the most influential, the most iconic footballers. Its definitely a tough ask and there will be thousands who will disagree but there will a hundred thousand who will also agree with me. Am trying to put in the 10 most iconic players and I have divided the list into two. The top half will be legends who played an era or two ago and the other half will be the greats and potential greats who still are around.

Pele

Ask anyone, even those who are completely devoid of any kind of knowledge on football; ask them who is Pele. Most of the answers will have the adjectives like great, brilliant, one of its kind. This is the aura of Edison Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pele. He is an icon for the entire football fraternity. Be it of the field or on the field the name Pele demands respect.

Diego Maradonna

There are no two opinions on whose the best ever footballer Latin America has ever produced and there will only be few contradictions on Deigo Maradonna being the greatest footballer of all time. But what has brought him to this list is his iconic stature.1986 world cup is synonymous to Deigo Maradonna. .His infamous “Hand of God” goal and the best ever strike in any World cup are very few of what this great player has achieved. Weather it was with Barcelona, Napoli or Boca Juniors, he brought success where ever he played.

Frranz Beckenbaur

The best defender of all time, Franz was a man of integrity and his nickname Der Kaiser ("The Emperor") indicates how highly he is rated. Franz was a versatile player and inventor of sweeper position in football. Franz's international carried was studded with victories at highest level. A world cup win as a captain in 1974 then as a Manager in 1990 is a feat none other have achieved.

John Cryuff

Football's first ever complete player, he is a legend in Netherlands and a definite icon to world. He showed to the world what free flowing attack means .He was a striker but could very well swap his position into the wings and with amazing dribbling skills and swiftness there was not stopping him in the 1970s. The charismatic player of Ajax Amsterdam put the club from Netherlands into the World Map with 3 European championships on the trot. He later went on to become a great coach putting in his strategic mind at work.

Micheal Platini

This Frenchman is a three time European player of the year. Do you need anything else to question this man's place in this list? He was the icon of Les Blue (France) and Juventus in 1970s and 1980s. He was the original play maker and still is regarded as the best passer in the games history. He was an all round talent. Playing in the midfield he top scored for Juventus on 3 different seasons proving his might as a Talisman for the Italy based club.

NOTE: I would love to put the Portuguese goal machine Eusebio at par with Platini and in the list just because of the sheer number of goals he has scored for Benifica and he is regarded as an icon in Portugual.

ZinadineZidane

Well my personal favorite,  Zizou, was a player possessed, a player blessed, a player with the birth right to play football. He was the magician who mesmerized every football fan from 1990 and still continues to do so . He took the act of Dribbling to new heights and with due respect, he made likes of Romario and Pele look novice. He was the ultimate  playmaker but eventually he became the play himself. If there is an icon for the 21^st century lets proclaim Zizou to be that.

Luis Figo

 Seldom there are great players who play in the same era,But Luis Figo and Zidane played against each other and with each other. Figo was the original Galactico,A national icon of Portugal , his lazy running and pin point passing were a contradiction and he lived on this contradiction becoming a legend. He was the unending source brilliance on field.

Ronaldo

Many might well disagree on this specific choice but  the impact this Brazilian had on  the world was something special. Yes he was a great goal scorer, though one might argue  that he was blessed with the best bunch of midfielders to provide him with the opportunity. And opportunity is what he grabbed all the time. His first touch was so immaculate that there was no need for a second. His playing style was not at all of Brazilian flamboyance but it was pure simple; kick the ball into the target.

David Beckham

David Beckham is probably the only player in the list who is a pure icon, not the greatest of players but a sporting icon nevertheless. Be it any kind of sport, you need a presentable face for the game to be popular and well. Beckham was perfect. Not to ignore his astounding free kicks, he was the dream footballer. He was the face of football.

Lionel Messi

An amazing player, great one in the making and has every possibility of attaining the stardom every other player on this list has achieved. The similarities are just too obvious. He is a fantastic dribbler like Pele, has the charisma like Maradonna, has a strong character like Beckenbuer, is a team player like Cruyff, a total playmaker like Platini and Figo, has a dash of brillance like Zidane and Ronaldo. Well he might not have the looks of Beckham but what the heck, he will be a legend for sure.

NOTE:  I seriously hope that he does not fizz out like Ronaldinho did.