Pelé named best World Cup footballer as six English players make top 100 list

Brazilian legend Pelé has been named best World Cup footballer of all time in a top 100 list compiled by the Guardian.

Unsurprisingly, Diego Maradona and Franz Beckenbauer take second and third respectively while there are six Englishmen on the list.

Bobby Charlton ranks highest of those in 14th position, while his captain in 1966 Bobby Moore comes in at number 20.

They are joined by Gordon Banks (41), Gary Lineker (47), Geoff Hurst (54) and Paul Gascoigne (66).

Unsurprisingly Brazil lead the way with 22 nominations, while Italy have 15 and Germany/West Germany have nine.

Three of Spain's 2010 World Cup squad - Xavi (15), Carles Puyol (64) and Andres Iniesta (65) - also make the cut.

The players were also broken down by the first tournament each of them played in, with the 1990s the standout decade after 22 from that decade made the list.

Ten players made the list despite appearing at just one World Cup, while Lothar Matthaus (7) featured in five tournaments through the 80s and 90s - making 25 appearances.

Rank	Player	Country	Appearances	Goals
1	Pelé	Brazil	14	12
2	Diego Maradona	Argentina	21	8
3	Franz Beckenbauer	West Germany	18	5
4	Ronaldo	Brazil	19	15
5	Zinedine Zidane	France	12	5
6	Johan Cruyff	Holland	7	3
7	Lothar Matthaus	West Germany/Germany	25	6
8	Gerd Muller	West Germany	13	14
9	Garrincha	Brazil	12	5
10	Michel Platini	France	14	5
11	Eusebio	Portugal	6	9
12	Paolo Maldini	Italy	23	0
13	Jairzinho	Brazil	16	9
14	Bobby Charlton	England	14	4
15	Xavi	Spain	14	0
16	Romario	Brazil	8	5
17	Just Fontaine	France	6	13
18	Paolo Rossi	Italy	14	9
19	Dino Zoff	Italy	17	17 (conceded)
20	Bobby Moore	England	14	0
21	Ferenc Puskas	Hungary	6	4
22	Zico	Brazil	14	5
23	Ronaldinho	Brazil	10	2
24	Roberto Baggio	Italy	16	9
25	Cafu	Brazil	20	0