Best Soccer Player in the World - In the Past?

Pelé

Personal information
Full name	Edison Arantes do Nascimento
Date of birth	21 October 1940 (age 69)
Place of birth	Três Corações, Brazil
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
1952–1956	Bauru AC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1956–1974	Santos	438	(474 [1][2][3][4])
1975–1977	New York Cosmos	64	(37[5])
Total		666	(626)
National team
1957–1971	Brazil	92	(77)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Best Soccer Player in the World - In the Past?

Diego Maradona

Personal information
Full name	Diego Armando Maradona
Date of birth	30 October 1960 (age 49)
Place of birth	Lanús, Argentina
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position	Attacking Midfielder/Second Striker
Youth career
1969–1976	Argentinos Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1976–1981	Argentinos Juniors	167	(115)
1981–1982	Boca Juniors	40	(28)
1982–1984	Barcelona	36	(22)
1984–1991	Napoli	188	(81)
1992–1993	Sevilla	26	(5)
1993	Newell's Old Boys	7	(0)
1995–1997	Boca Juniors	30	(7)
Total		490	(258)
National team
1977–1994	Argentina	91	(34)
Teams managed
1994	Mandiyú de Corrientes
1995	Racing Club
2008–	Argentina
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Cesc Fàbregas

Personal information
Full name	Francesc Fàbregas i Soler
Date of birth	4 May 1987 (age 22)
Place of birth	Vilassar de Mar, Spain
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Arsenal
Number	4
Youth career
–1997	Mataró
1997–2003[2]	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–	Arsenal	183	(29)
National team‡
2002–2003	Spain U16	8	(1)
2003–2004	Spain U17	14	(7)
2005	Spain U20	5	(0)
2004–2005	Spain U21	11	(2)
2006–	Spain	47	(5)
2004–	Catalonia	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:54, 20 February 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:54, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Ronaldinho

Personal information
Full name	Ronaldo de Assis Moreira
Date of birth	21 March 1980 (age 29)
Place of birth	Porto Alegre, Brazil
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Milan
Number	80
Youth career
1987–1998	Grêmio
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–2001	Grêmio	44	(21)
2001–2003	Paris Saint-Germain	55	(17)
2003–2008	Barcelona	145	(70)
2008–	Milan	53	(17)
National team‡
1999–	Brazil	87	(32)
Honours[show]
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 February 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 April 2009