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The game of football (soccer) has had a few influential players who have impacted the game like few others. These players have been renowned for they're on-field ability, as well as their commitment and dedication to the sport. They are the great players of the game.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, otherwise known as Pele, is a legend of the sport. He made his debut for Brazil at 16 years and played in four World Cups, inspiring Brazil to two World Cup trophies. At club level, he played all his football for Santos alongside other great Brazilian players. In total, he scored 1120 goals. A fantastic total and many rate him as the best player in the sport's history.

Since retirement from the game, Pele has become something of an ambassador for the sport. In 1992 Pele became UN ambassador for ecology and environment. Aside from that, he was Brazilian Minister for Sport in 1992 and received a Brazilian Gold Medal for outstanding services to sport. He has also been voted Player of the 20th Century.

The player who finished second in that poll is Johan Cruijff. Blessed with technical ability, he was voted the European Player of the Century. With Ajax he spearheaded the Total Football philosophy, which won them three European Cups in the 1970s. With Barcelona, he won the Spanish League title and became European Player of the Year. At international level, with Holland, he took them to the final of the 1974 World Cup and was named player of that tournament.

Not quite as political as Pele, he became a football manager for Ajax and Barcelona post playing. He won European trophies for both clubs along with domestic honors.

Aside from Cruiff and Pele, Maradonna was also blessed with exceptional ability but was more controversial. He really started with Boca Juniors in 1981 where he won his first honor, the league title. Although with Barcelona Mardonna did not win any further honors, with Napoli he became their star player winning two Italian titles and an Italian cup along with a UEFA Cup.

At international level, he featured in the 1982 World Cup but dominated the 1986 World Cup with 5 goals and assists. One of those was illegal; the other regarded as one of the great World Cup goals. This provided the inspiration for Argentina to win that World Cup. At the 1990 World Cup, he was not quite so prolific but Argentina still reached the final. The 1994 World Cup was admittedly not a great success, and saw the curtain close for him on the international stage.

In retirement, he has mainly been involved with Boca Juniors and the football media. He has published an autobiography and received numerous accolades such as Argentina Sports Writers' Sportsman of the century.

Pele, Cruiff and Maradonna are three of the great players in football's history. What they share, is the fact that they were all forward players blessed with exceptional technique and playing ability. At their best, they could win games almost on their own, bypass players as if they weren't there and inspire their teams to victory. Off the pitch their presence is still felt in political bodies like the UN, and through coaching and general promotion of the game via the media. They are truly influential football players in football's history.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Adams.
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