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Reading about famous football players can help students stay up-to-date with important information about the world of sports. It can enhance one’s general knowledge for competitive exams, where questions about famous personalities in different fields like sports, politics, and entertainment, to name a few, often appear. However, using multiple sources of information can be confusing and time-consuming. Luckily, this blog is their one-stop solution. How? In this blog, you will read about the famous football players of the world.
Table of Contents
15 Famous England Football Players
In this section, you will read about the 15 most famous England football players. Each of these players has made numerous significant contributions to their national team as well as their clubs.
| Famous England Football Players | Position on Field |
| Wayne Rooney | Forward |
| Alan Shearer | Forward |
| Bobby Charlton | Forward |
| Steven Gerrard | Mid-fielder |
| David Beckham | Mid-fielder |
| Ashley Cole | Defender |
| Bobby Moore | Defender |
| Frank Lampard | Mid-fielder |
| Paul Scholes | Mid-fielder |
| Michael Owen | Forward |
| Gordon Banks | Goalkeeper |
| Peter Shilton | Goalkeeper |
| Gary Lineker | Forward |
| John Terry | Defender |
| Rio Ferdinand | Defender |
1. Wayne Rooney
Born on October 24, 1985, Wayne Rooney is an English professional football player. Wayne rose to stardom from an early teenage age while playing with Manchester United. He made his debut in the football world with Everton, a local club, at the tender age of 16. Fast forward to 2 years later, Wayne transferred to Manchester United in 2004. It was during this time that he became one of the most popular football players in the UK.
Major Achievements of Wayne Rooney
- He became the youngest goal scorer in Premier League history in his first season
- Wayne was named England’s Young Player of the Year in his first two seasons in Manchester
- In 2010, he was named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year as the best player in English football for the 2009–10 season
2. Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton was a football player and manager. He is remembered as one of the greatest England Football Players in the history. His football journey began in 1954 and witnessed many glorious years until his retirement in 1973. Prior to this, Bobby Charlton played on the English national team that won the World Cup in 1966.
Bobby Charlton – Major Achievements
- He made the national record for 106 international appearances for England
- Bobby Charlton was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1966
- He led Manchester to three First Division league championships (1957, 1965, 1967).
3. Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole began his football career as a defender. However, over the years, he switched to the left-back position. Cole joined the Arsenal club, a local club, in 1997 to pursue his dreams of playing professional football. It was during his initial days that he got the golden opportunity to play for the junior national team. After Arsenal, Cole joined Chelsea FC and played about 229 matches for Chelsea from 2006-2014.
4. Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore is also on the list of famous England Football players, widely renowned as the golden boy of English football. Moore made his professional debut in 1968 with West Ham United. He became the captain of the England Youth side within the span of a few months. He played about 544 games with West Ham before transferring to Fulham FC in 1973. Then Moore played another 124 games before finally retiring in 1977.
Major Achievements of Bobby Moore
- Bobby Moore won Footballer of the Year in 1964
- He was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1966
- He captained West Ham United to victory in the 1964 FA Cup
5. Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard played for Liverpool’s youth squad. He also signed a professional contract with them at the tender age of 17. Gerrard made his first-team debut in 1998 and quickly became a frequent contributor the following year. Soon enough, Gerrad established himself as an impeccable midfielder by the 2000-01 season. He was transferred to Chelsea FC due to a high-profile contract distributed with Liverpool. However, soon he re-signed with the former and helped Liverpool win both the 2005–06 FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Major Achievements of Steven Gerrard
- He earned England’s Young Player of the Year honours
- Gerrad was named Liverpool’s captain in 2003
- He led Liverpool to the club’s first Champions League title in 21 years in 2004-05
15 Famous USA Football Players
The table below features the most famous USA football players in the history. Learning about these players can enhance your understanding of how each one of them has contributed to the popularity and development of football.
| Famous USA Football Player | Position on the Field |
| Landon Donovan | Forward |
| Claudio Reyna | Midfielder |
| Clint Dempsey | Forward |
| Brad Friedel | Goalkeeper |
| Brian McBride | Forward |
| Tim Howard | Goalkeeper |
| Tab Ramos | Midfielder |
| Eric Wynalda | Forward |
| Kasey Keller | Goalkeeper |
| Michael Bradley | Midfielder |
| Eddie Pope | Defender |
| Carlos Bocanegra | Defender |
| Cobi Jones | Midfielder |
| Marcelo Balboa | Defender |
| Steve Cherundolo | Defender |
1. Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan is an American professional football player. He is considered one of the most famous football players in the world. In 1998, Donovan joined the US National under-17 team. His excellent performance drew him success and immense popularity. He made 3 FIFA World Cup appearances as a player for the USA and finally retired in 2018.
Landon Donovan – Major Achievements
- He won Footballer of the Year 4 times in 2003, 2004, 2009, and 2010
- He was the 4 times Gold Cup Winner in 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2013
- The MLS renamed its Most Valuable Player Award after Landon Donovan in 2015
2. Claudio Reyna
Born in 1973, Claudio Reyna is considered one of the greatest and most influential players of his time. He played the crucial midfield for a decade before finally retiring from the international game after the 2006 World Cup. Claudio Reyna made his debut in 1994 with Bayer Leverkusen (a German professional football club).
Major Achievements of Claudio Reyna
- Claudio Reyna played three seasons and scored 21 goals on the UVA men’s soccer team
- He is the first American to ever captain a European club team.
- He received his first cap in January 1994
3. Tab Ramos
Tab Ramos was a great football player. However, his injuries continued to keep him off the field for longer durations. Despite that, he played some of the most glorious football matches in the history. Even today, he is remembered for his powerful goal against Costa Rica in the 1998 World Cup Qualifying.
Major Achievements of Tab Ramos
- One of the first American players to establish himself in Europe
- The first player to sign with Major League Soccer
- The first player in U.S. history to appear in three World Cups
4. Carlos Bocanegra
Carlos Bocanegra was selected for the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups in which he appeared for a total of 6 matches. During his international football career, Bocanegra scored 14 goals. He was also the captain when the US won against the world’s No.-1-ranked Spain at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Carlos Bocanegra – Major Achievements
- One of the few US players to captain both club and country
- He was named 2000 Rookie of the Year
- In 2003, he became the first US defender to score 4 goals since 1994
5. Eric Wynalda
Eric Wynalda is famously known as the first American-born player with a Bundesliga club. He is an American soccer coach and television commentator. Unlike many other football players, it is believed that Eric Wynalda’s playing style relied on good knowledge of the game and exploiting other teams’ weaknesses. In 2004, Wynalda was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Eric Wynalda – Major Achievements
- He holds the record for most goals scored for the US
- He earned the prestigious Honda Player of the Decade Award
- Eric Wynalda was named the US Player of the Year for the 2nd time after scoring nine goals in 13 games
15 Famous Football Players of India
India has produced some exceptionally talented football players for the industry. These athletes have represented the country across various positions. Below is a table consisting 15 most famous football players of India, their playing years, and positions.
| Famous Football Players of India | Career Timeline | Position on the Field |
| Bhaichung Bhutia | 1993-2015 | Striker |
| Gurpreet Singh Sandhu | 2009- Present | Goalkeeper |
| Jeje Lalpekhlua | 2008 – 2023 | Forward |
| Sunil Chhetri | 2002- Present | Forward |
| Ashique Kuruniyan | 2017 – Present | Winger |
| Subrata Pal | 2004 – Present | Goalkeeper |
| Sandesh Jhinghan | 2011- Present | Center-back |
| Pronay Halder | 2011 – Present | Mid-fielder |
| Sailen Manna | 1940-1960 | Defender |
| Kumam Udanta Singh | 2014 – Present | Winger |
| P.K. Banerjee | 1954-1967 | Striker |
| Tulsidas Balaram | 1956-1962 | Striker |
| Telem Jackichand Singh | 2014 – Present | Winger |
| Mohammed Salim | 1926-1938 | Winger |
| Dheeraj Singh | 2015 – Present | Goalkeeper |
1. Sunil Chhetri
Sunil Chhetri is the captain of the Indian football team. He is one of the best football players in the world. He has won several awards for his exceptional performance and speed in football matches. Moreover, he won his first international trophy when India defeated Syria in the final of the 2007 Nehru Cup. On June 6, 2024, Sunil Chhetri announced his retirement from international football with the game for the Blue Tiger being the final one.
Major Achievements of Sunil Chhetri
- He has played for several international teams including the US Major League Soccer.
- He is the leading goalscorer for the Indian football team.
- He has played more matches than anyone in the history of the Indian football team.
Must Read: Biography Of Sunil Chhetri
2. Bhaichung Bhutia
Born on December 15, 1976, Bhaichung Bhutia is considered one of the most famous football players in India. He earned the prestigious title of Sikkimese Sniper for his impressive shooting skills on the field. Moreover, Bhaichung Bhutia gained popularity not only for his skills on the field but also for winning Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, a reality TV show.
Major Achievements of Bhaichung Bhutia
- He is the first Indian athlete to boycott the Olympic torch relay in support of the Tibetan independence movement.
- There is a stadium named after Bhaichung Bhutia.
- He established the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, offering coaching through 49 training centres across India.
3. P K Banerjee
P K Banerjee was a striker in the Indian football team during the 50s and 60s. Banerjee’s partnership with Chuni Goswami and Tulsidas Balaram led to people revering referring to them as the “holy trinity” of Indian football. In 1956, P K Banerjee was part of a glorious team that became the first Asian team to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics.
Major Achievements
- He became the first recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1961.
- He was honoured with Padma Shri in 1990.
- P K Banerjee received the FIFA Order of Merit.
4. Subrata Pal
Source: Wikipedia
Subrata Pal was born on 24 November 1986. He currently plays for Hyderabad FB of the Indian Super League. Moreover, Subrata gained fame and popularity as the first well-known name football player to be featured for U-23 in pre-Olympic qualifiers. He is an active participant in international matches. He also helped and led the Indian National team to victory during the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, held in India.
Major Achievements
- He was a nominee for the Times of India Sports Awards in 2015
- He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2016
- Subrata Pal a key role in India’s victory at the 2009 Nehru Cup International Football Tournament
5. Jeje Lalpekhlua
Born in Mizorum in 1991, Jeje started playing football at a very young age. Within a few years, he earned fame and a reputation as one of the best and most famous Indian football players. In 2009, he signed a contract with Pune FC. However, he later joined the Indian Super League team Chennaiyin in 2014 and has been a key player ever since. In 2010, he was named the I-League’s Emerging Player of the Year.
Major Achievements
- He has won the I-League twice with Mahindra United
- Jeje Lalpekhlua won the Footballer of the Year award in 2016
- He won the title of South Asian Champion thrice
Top 10 Famous Football Players of All Time in the World
The world of football has undoubtedly produced some of the most legendary athletes. Below you will find a list of the top 10 football players of all time, representing various countries, known for their historic contributions to the game and nations, known for their unmatched talent and contributions to the game. These names are mentioned in no particular order.
| S.No | All Time Famous Football Player | Country |
| 1. | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2. | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal |
| 3. | Diego Maradona | Argentina |
| 4. | Gerd Muller | Germany |
| 5. | Zinedine Zidane | France |
| 6. | Ronaldo Nazario | Brazil |
| 7. | Alfredo di Stefano | Argentina |
| 8. | Pele | Brazil |
| 9. | Michel Platini | France |
| 10. | Johan Cruyff | Netherlands |
FAQs
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Gerd Muller (Germany), and Sunil Chhetri (India) are some of the most famous football players in the world.
Sunil Chhetri is one of the most famous Indian football players. His impressive performance on the field honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2019, the Arjuna Award in 2011, and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.
Walter Camp is known as the Father of Football in America. He was a Yale player, a coach, and a prestigious member of the Intercollegiate Football Rules Committee.
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