Football may have been born in England, but South America is its spiritual home.
From the Favela-born flair of Brazil’s silky ballers to the gritty docks of Argentina that forged magical yet tough-as-nails talents, the continent has produced some of the world’s finest players—decade after decade.
Lethal strikers, elegant playmakers, hard-tackling midfielders, uncompromising defenders, even goalscoring goalkeepers—South America has given the game every type of talent imaginable.
Here are the 50 best, ranked by Sports Illustrated.
50. Alexis Sánchez
Putting his miserable Manchester United spell aside, Alexis Sánchez was once one of the world’s best, striking fear into opponents—especially on the international stage, where he played a key role in Chile’s back-to-back Copa America wins in 2015 and 2016.
He also enjoyed success at club level, winning trophies and individual accolades with Barcelona, Arsenal and later Inter Milan, where he rediscovered his best form after the United disaster—a comeback few manage.
49. Diego Forlán
Like Sánchez, Diego Forlán’s Manchester United stint was underwhelming, but his career took off after leaving Old Trafford in 2004.
The Uruguayan striker thrived at Villarreal and Atlético Madrid, scoring 128 La Liga goals, and reached his peak at the 2010 World Cup, earning the Golden Ball for his Jabulani-defying heroics.
48. José Luis Chilavert
You wouldn’t usually call a goalkeeper “prolific,” but Paraguayan shot-stopper José Luis Chilavert was exactly that.
While club goal tallies vary, he scored eight times for Paraguay and was an outstanding keeper in his own right, earning the title of the world’s best goalkeeper three times from the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.
47. Radamel Falcao
Don’t let Falcao’s short, troubled stint in the Premier League overshadow just how lethal he was in his prime.
The Colombian terrorised defenses at Porto and Atlético Madrid, but a ruptured cruciate ligament ahead of the 2014 World Cup stalled his momentum.
He later regained form with AS Monaco, though it’s tantalising to imagine what he could have achieved without that setback.
46. Roberto Ayala
One of the last greats of a dying breed, Roberto Ayala was a no-nonsense, highly accomplished defender of the 21st century.
Capped 115 times for Argentina, captaining them in 63 matches, Ayala enjoyed a stellar club career with Napoli, Milan and Valencia before retiring in 2011.
45. Javier Mascherano
Javier Mascherano started as a tenacious defensive midfielder and became one of the best after moving to Liverpool in 2007.
One of the most underrated players in Barcelona’s recent history, he successfully transitioned to centre back, forming a rock-solid partnership with Gerard Piqué and making his lack of height almost irrelevant.
44. Claudio Taffarel
Claudio Taffarel featured in three World Cups for Brazil during the '90s, famously keeping four clean sheets en route to lifting the trophy in 1994.
A classic goalkeeper, Taffarel mastered the fundamentals and remained Brazil’s No. 1 for most of a decade before retiring in 2003.
43. Carlos Tevez
Carlos “El Apache” Tevez was a defender’s nightmare—fast, powerful and ruthlessly clinical.
His infamous move to West Ham was quickly forgotten as he almost single-handedly kept them in the Premier League in 2007. Tevez went on to shine at both Manchester clubs—winning league titles with each—and later enjoyed a successful stint at Juventus.
42. Arturo Vidal
Arturo Vidal was a key figure in Chile’s Copa America wins in 2015 and 2016, but his club career has been even more impressive.
Quite remarkably, the combative midfielder won eight consecutive league titles across three countries, lifting trophies with Juventus, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, dominating the midfield wherever he played.
41. Hernán Crespo
Hernán Crespo found the back of the net wherever he played—a fact that’s impossible to dispute.
Despite his prolific scoring record, he’s often underrated and overlooked among the great strikers of the 21st century. Crespo enjoyed a decorated career, winning three Serie A titles with Inter and a Premier League crown with Chelsea.
40. Dani Alves
Only one player—Lionel Messi—has ever won more trophies than Dani Alves, who ended his remarkable career with 44 titles to his name.
The bulk of those came during his glittering spell at Barcelona, where the lightning-quick, powerful right back claimed six La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, and a slew of other honours, playing a key role in what is widely regarded as the greatest club side of all time.
39. Sergio Agüero
Sergio Agüero earned his place among the Premier League’s all-time greats by netting 184 goals for Manchester City—including the legendary winner that secured their first-ever Premier League title in 2012. He added four more league titles before departing the club.
Injuries and a heart condition eventually cut his career short, denying him Champions League glory and a World Cup winner’s medal (though he received an honorary one in 2022 as part of the coaching staff).
On his day, Agüero was unstoppable: Compact, powerful and with arguably the sharpest striker’s instinct in the box the league has ever seen.
38. Teófilo Cubillas
Teófilo Cubillas is the sole Peruvian on this list and one of only three players to score five or more goals at multiple World Cups.
The star of Peru in the 1970s, Cubillas played a leading role at both the 1970 and 1978 World Cups and was instrumental in their 1975 Copa América triumph.
His brilliance was such that even Pelé hailed him as his natural successor following Brazil’s retirement from international football in 1970.
37. Juan Román Riquelme
Juan Román Riquelme is widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation, blessed with extraordinary talent yet never fully capitalised on it.
While brilliant on the ball, he was something of an enigma off it—often clashing with managers throughout his 20-year career due to his occasionally prickly personality.
36. Elias Figueroa
Elias Figueroa is widely recognised as one of the first truly ball-playing central defenders, earning high praise for his revolutionary approach to the role.
The Chilean often operated as a sweeper, displaying a style reminiscent of Franz Beckenbauer. His standout performances came at the 1974 World Cup, where he was named the tournament’s best centre back.
35. Nilton Santos
Before Nilton Santos came along, full backs were largely defensive specialists, tasked with shutting down wingers. The Brazilian revolutionized the role in 1958.
Nilton was among the first full backs to consistently surge forward and support the attack, redefining the position. Gifted, versatile and indispensable, he played a key role in Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 World Cup-winning teams.
34. Ivan Zamorano
Ivan Zamorano may not have been the flashiest striker, but his relentless drive and sheer will to win set him apart.
Loved by Inter and Sevilla fans alike, he reached his peak at Real Madrid, netting an impressive 101 goals in 173 appearances and leaving everything on the pitch every time he played.
33. Djalma Santos
Nilton may have stolen headlines, but Djalma Santos was Brazil’s right back dynamo at the 1958 World Cup.
Equally attack-minded, he forged a near-telepathic link with Garrincha and played a key role in Brazil’s consecutive World Cup triumphs. Remarkably, he became the first player ever named in the tournament’s Best XI at three separate World Cups.
32. Gerson
There’s no doubt that Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team was the greatest assembly of talent ever to grace the international stage, but their triumph wouldn’t have been possible without Gerson.
Nicknamed “The Brain,” he orchestrated play for the Seleção, acting as the vital link between their many stars. His finest moment came in the final against Italy, where his goal helped set Brazil on the path to glory.
31. Marcelo Salas
Even though Alexis Sánchez and Eduardo Vargas eventually overtook him in Chile’s scoring charts, Marcelo Salas remains the country’s greatest-ever player.
Fleet-footed, ruthlessly efficient and fiercely determined, Salas scored consistently throughout his career—only injuries during his troubled spell at Juventus hindered his output.
30. Bebeto
Bebeto often gets overlooked in Brazil’s rich history of legendary forwards—but that doesn’t diminish his quality.
A supremely talented and consistent striker, he delivered when it mattered most, netting six goals in Brazil’s 1989 Copa América triumph and adding three more during their 1994 World Cup-winning campaign.
29. Enzo Francescoli
Slight and unassuming, Enzo Francescoli could easily be underestimated at first glance—but that would be a mistake.
A key figure in the 1980s, he helped define the modern trequartista role, starring for Uruguay during their back-to-back Copa América triumphs in 1983 and 1987. He later enjoyed a brief but brilliant spell in France with Racing Club Paris and Marseille.
28. Rivaldo
Rivaldo is remembered as the engine behind Barcelona’s back-to-back La Liga titles from 1997 to 1999, consistently finding the net and driving the team forward.
Individually, his peak came in 1999 when he claimed the Ballon d’Or, though his most prolific scoring season followed two years later, racking up 35 goals across all competitions.
27. Carlos Alberto
Carlos Alberto, captain of Brazil’s legendary 1970 World Cup team and scorer of one of football’s most iconic goals, is remembered as a true giant of the game.
Although injuries prevented him from replicating that peak, his performances in Mexico cemented his status as arguably Brazil’s greatest right back, leaving a legacy that endures to this day.
26. Luis Suárez
It’s fair to say Luis Suárez doesn’t exactly make it easy to root for him—but he’s never been one to care.
Set aside the controversies, and what you see is a genuinely extraordinary talent.
From Ajax to Liverpool, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Inter Miami and, of course, Uruguay—where he’s the all-time leading scorer—Suárez has consistently delivered.
Without question, he’s the best centre forward of his generation.
25. Tostão
What sets Tostão apart from many on this list is his positional freedom—he rarely stuck to one role, instead drifting effortlessly across the pitch and influencing the game from wherever he pleased.
A key figure in Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning squad, Tostão formed a deadly partnership with Pelé, helping craft one of the most feared attacking duos in football history.
24. Didi
Didi, named Player of the Tournament at the 1958 World Cup, was the heartbeat of Brazil’s midfield in both their 1958 triumph in Sweden and their 1962 victory in Chile.
An elegant and visionary midfielder, he was ahead of his time, but what truly distinguished him was his mastery of set-pieces—12 of his 20 international goals came directly from free kicks.
23. Daniel Passarella
“A defender must be a little like a good thief.”
Those were the words of Daniel Passarella, Argentina’s captain at the 1978 World Cup and one of the toughest defenders of his era.
Renowned for his leadership both on and off the pitch, Passarella also possessed an extraordinary knack for scoring, netting 134 goals in 451 career appearances—a remarkable tally for a defender.
22. Carlos Valderrama
Carlos Valderrama is often remembered more for his iconic hair than his footballing genius—a shame given his immense influence on Colombian football in the 1980s and '90s.
A deep-lying playmaker with an extraordinary eye for long, incisive passes, Valderrama wasn’t a traditional goalscoring No. 10. Yet his tactical intelligence and positional awareness made him a mainstay for Colombia for 13 years, from 1985 to 1998.
21. Falcão
Falcão was the quintessential all-action midfielder, capable of dominating every aspect of the central areas. A key figure in Brazilian football, he even became the world’s highest-paid player during his stint at Roma.
He starred in the legendary 1982 Brazil squad—often hailed as the greatest team never to win the World Cup—contributing three goals along the way.
20. Jairzinho
Jairzinho is still the only player in history to score in every game of a single World Cup—a remarkable feat.
While Pelé grabbed most of the headlines in 1970, it was Jairzinho who proved the most potent attacking threat. He spent much of his career at Botafogo, netting 186 goals, showing that his World Cup brilliance was no mere fluke.
19. Javier Zanetti
Javier Zanetti redefined the South American full back. He wasn’t the type to surge recklessly forward or rely on theatrics—what made him exceptional was his technical mastery and near-perfect consistency, standards he maintained right up to his retirement in 2014.
Despite earning 144 caps for Argentina, Zanetti featured in just two World Cups, inexplicably missing the 2006 and 2010 tournaments—much to the confusion of fans who revered the Inter Milan legend.
18. Kaká
At his peak, Kaká was a phenomenon, blending technical skill with near-perfect precision to devastating effect, orchestrating play for Milan in the mid-2000s.
His brilliance earned him the Ballon d’Or in 2007, and if you need proof of his genius, just watch his sublime goal against Manchester United in the Champions League—pure magic.
17. Mario Kempes
Without Mario Kempes, Argentina’s first World Cup triumph at home in 1978 might never have happened.
The Valencia striker was in sensational form, netting six goals to claim both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball. He famously scored twice in the final, helping Argentina overcome a strong Netherlands side.
16. Roberto Carlos
When Roberto Carlos comes to mind, most remember that outrageous 1997 free-kick against France—a shot that bent the laws of physics and perfectly captured his style: sheer power and audacity.
The former Real Madrid left back was arguably the best in the world during his decade at the club, forming a key part of the Galácticos era. His trophy cabinet reflects his brilliance: A World Cup, three Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns.
15. Neymar Jr.
Often dismissed for his theatrics and big-money moves to PSG and Al-Hilal, Neymar’s genius is too easily underestimated.
The Santos prodigy exploded onto the scene with a stunning goal and secured a 2013 move to Barcelona, where he formed one-third of arguably the greatest attacking trio ever alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez—the trio scoring a combined 363 goals in just three seasons while sweeping every major trophy.
While he never quite reached those same heights at PSG, Neymar still won 13 major trophies and became Brazil’s all-time top scorer, a testament to his extraordinary talent—even without a World Cup to his name.
14. Cafu
The last Brazilian captain to lift the World Cup, Cafu was the epitome of a reliable right back.
A natural leader, he may not have been as flashy as Roberto Carlos on the opposite side, but Cafu excelled in every aspect of his role, consistently delivering top-tier performances and doing whatever was needed for the team.
13. Omar Sivori
Omar Sivori, the 1961 Ballon d’Or winner, was the catalyst for Juventus’ rise as a European powerhouse in the 1950s and 60s.
The Argentine—who also briefly played for Italy—made over 200 appearances for I Bianconeri, netting 161 goals while claiming three Serie A titles and two Coppa Italias. His switch to Juventus came at a price, as it effectively ended his international career with Argentina.
12. Rivellino
Whatever the beautiful game really is, Rivellino had it in spades.
He combined elegance with ruthlessness, his precise dribbling and delicate touch perfectly complementing a deadly long-range shot. A key figure in Brazil’s iconic 1970 squad, his name is forever etched into football history.
11. Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel “Batigol” Batistuta was one of the most lethal strikers of the 1990s.
Graceful yet devastatingly powerful, he seemed unstoppable when in full flow. Batistuta scored 54 goals in 77 appearances for Argentina and consistently hit 20-goal seasons with Fiorentina, before finally securing a Scudetto with Roma in 2001.
10. Sócrates’
Sócrates’ nickname, “The Doctor”, was not solely a nod to his surgical precision on the football pitch. He was, in fact, a fully qualified physician—while also being one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
Often described as the “central intelligence” of Brazil’s iconic 1982 side, Sócrates was the archetypal central midfielder, capable of conjuring something from nothing in an instant.
“Gifted” doesn’t even begin to cover it.
9. Ronaldinho
Few players have shone as brilliantly as Ronaldinho did, even if only for a fleeting period.
From 2004 to 2007, the former AC Milan and Barcelona star was at his peak, widely regarded as the best player on the planet. Since then, no one has matched his ability to light up a stadium and bring pure joy to fans quite like he did.
8. Romário
One of the most clinical forwards of the 1990s, Romário was recalled to the international stage to lead Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994, netting five goals to finish as joint top scorer.
He dazzled at Barcelona alongside Hristo Stoichkov and cemented his place as a Brazilian legend, closing his international career with 55 goals.
7. Garrincha
For a bow-legged upstart who frequently refused to train, Garrincha was one hell of a footballer, boasting dribbling ability that was truly unmatched at his peak.
The Brazilian was irrepressible at the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, earning a place in the Team of the Tournament on both occasions. Defenders were twisted inside out at the very thought of trying to dispossess him.
Simply put, nobody has ever dribbled a football quite like Garrincha.
6. Zico
What truly set Zico apart in the early 1980s was his extraordinary ability to conjure something out of nothing—to spot a pass nobody else had even imagined, let alone attempted, and to execute the unthinkable with ease.
That was Zico in a nutshell: a footballing genius operating five steps ahead of everyone else on the pitch. His performance for Flamengo against Liverpool in the 1981 Intercontinental Cup, where he delivered three sublime assists, remains the perfect snapshot of the player he was.
5. Alfredo Di Stefano
The driving force behind Real Madrid’s five consecutive European Cup triumphs between 1955 and 1960, Alfredo Di Stéfano left a legacy defined by relentless success, scoring more than 200 goals for Los Blancos in fewer than 300 appearances.
Born in Buenos Aires, Di Stéfano represented three different national teams during his career—Argentina, Colombia and Spain.
Remarkably, despite his immense influence on the game, he never appeared at a World Cup, earning him the unwanted distinction of being the greatest player never to grace football’s biggest stage.
4. Ronaldo
The most frightening thing about Ronaldo is that we arguably never saw him reach his true peak. Devastating knee injuries halted his momentum on two separate occasions, denying football the chance to witness just how far he could have gone.
It’s unsettling to imagine what the former Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid striker might have achieved had he remained at full physical capacity for most of his career.
He was the complete forward—explosive, technically flawless and utterly ruthless in front of goal. His eight goals at the 2002 World Cup were proof enough that, when fully fit and in the mood, there was simply no one else like him.
3. Pelé
Pelé wasn’t just one of football’s greatest players—he was football.
He announced himself to the world as a fearless teenager at the 1958 World Cup, sealing his legend with a stunning solo goal in the final against Sweden. From that moment on, his status as one of the finest talents the game has ever seen— and is ever likely to see —was beyond doubt.
Across his career, Pelé won three World Cups, an achievement no other player has ever matched, and scored more goals than anyone else in the history of the sport. When the stage was at its biggest, he delivered.
Some players define an era. Pelé defined the game itself.
2. Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona may not have scored as many goals as Pelé, and he may not match Lionel Messi on pure, sustained individual brilliance. But he achieved something no one else ever has—he won a World Cup almost entirely on his own.
Argentina are eternally indebted to the man who dragged them, often kicking and screaming, to glory in 1986.
Match after match, Maradona delivered performances for the ages, scoring five goals, producing countless moments of genius, and claiming the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. It remains the most dominant individual World Cup campaign the sport has ever seen.
That sense of one-man defiance carried over to club football, most famously at Napoli. In a league ruled by Italian giants, Maradona lifted an unfancied southern club to two Scudetti, turning the city into a shrine and himself into a deity.
1. Lionel Messi
There is absolutely no denying that Lionel Messi is the greatest football player of all time. On pure talent alone, no one else comes close.
Calling him extraordinary almost feels like an understatement. Over the years, Messi dismantled virtually every defence in Europe with Barcelona and dominated on the world stage with Argentina—finally crowning his legacy by lifting the World Cup in 2022.
At his peak, he wasn’t just the best dribbler on the planet. He was also the best finisher, the best passer, the best crosser—the best at everything. Completely unstoppable. Unfathomable. Unrepeatable.
No player has ever done it like Messi, and it’s hard to imagine anyone ever will.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as The 50 Greatest South American Footballers of All Time—Ranked.
