by Ian Farquharson

Created on: December 05, 2009   Last Updated: December 06, 2009

Influential Soccer Players

Soccer has been played around the world for more than one hundred years and during this time there have been many great players with the skill and talent to get a crowd on their feet with their exciting play. These were the type of footballers who had the ability to go past opponents with ease, score great goals and bring others into the game with their vision. They were able to do this in league games when there was no real pressure but also in the big match atmosphere when the pressure was on and their team needed some inspiration. Some of the games greatest and most influential players include the following.

Pele

Pele is considered by many to be the greatest footballer ever to play the game. His record would back this up and he played for Brazil when they won the World Cup three times in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He was also part of the Brazil team that played in the 1954 tournament and at that time he was the youngest footballer ever to have played in a World Cup. The 1970 winning side is considered as one of the greatest football teams ever and Pele was a big part of that. His club career was spent mostly at Santos in Brazil where he scored more than 1000 goals, although towards the end of his career he graced the football fields of America. He had the talent and vision to try things on a football pitch that other players wouldn't even have thought about and had the great skills that all Brazilian footballers seem to be blessed with. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest players ever and probably influenced a generation of Brazilian kids to play the game.

George Best

George Best was probably the first real celebrity footballer when he played for Manchester United during the 1960's. He was as famous for his off-field life as he was for his exploits on the football field, but during his early career with United he was one of the best players in the world. His skill was legendary and his ability to go past players and score superb goals made him the undoubted star of the famous United side of the late 1960's and early 1970's. He helped the team win two league titles during this time and United also became the first English team to win the European Cup in 1968. Once he left United he played in a number of countries including America, but his career never really hit the heights of his time at United. Nevertheless, anyone who saw him play will probably tell you he was one of the greatest ever footballers.

Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer

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