Messi is third, Ronaldo is not on the list: The Independent names the best players of the World Cup
The British newspaper The Independent has published a ranking of the greatest soccer players in World Cup history. The list includes legendary players, with Lionel Messi coming in third, while Cristiano Ronaldo did not make the list at all.
Fourteen journalists from The Independent participated in the poll, each submitting their own list of the top 30 soccer players in World Cup history.
Brazil’s Pelé took first place on the list. He is the only player in history to have won the World Cup three times (1958, 1962, 1970).
Diego Maradona, who won the World Cup with the Argentine national team in 1986, took second place.
Rounding out the top three is Lionel Messi, who won the 2022 World Cup with the Argentine national team.
The top ten also includes: Franz Beckenbauer (Germany), Ronaldo (Brazil), Zinedine Zidane (France), Garrincha (Brazil), Kylian Mbappé (France), Gerd Müller (West Germany), and Miroslav Klose (Germany).
It should be noted that Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo did not make the list.
As a reminder, the 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 48 national teams participating for the first time in history instead of the traditional 32.
As a reminder, the Ukrainian national soccer team will play a friendly match against Poland on Sunday, May 31, as part of their preparation for the fall tournaments.
Kyiv Dynamo forward Matviy Ponomarenko was named the top scorer of the Ukrainian Premier League for the 2025/26 season.
Isaquias Silva’s goal was named the best of the Conference League season.
