The FIFA 100 is a list compiled by Brazilian professional footballer Pelé featuring his choices of the "greatest living footballers" at the time of its release. The list was unveiled on 4 March 2004 during a gala ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London, England, as part of the celebrations commemorating the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international governing body of football.[1][2]
The figure 100 does not refer number of players nominated in the list, which is actually 125. Pelé was asked by FIFA to select 50 active players and 50 retired players from a shortlist of 300, but found it too difficult to limit himself and therefore picked 50 current and 75 former players.[1][3] The list contains 123 men and two women (Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm).
The list was controversial. Writing in the Evening Standard, politician turned football pundit, David Mellor, felt the selections were politically motivated rather than being made on purely footballing grounds.[4] He suggested the geographical spread of inclusions indicated the list came from then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter rather than Pelé himself. BBC columnist Tim Vickery expressed similar assertions.[5]
Brazilian midfielder Gérson, who played alongside Pelé at the 1966 and 1970 FIFA World Cups, reacted to his omission by tearing up a copy of the list on a Brazilian television programme. Marco van Basten and Uwe Seeler refused to take part in the project on a point of principle.[3]
Players
Statistics
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See also
Notes
- ^ Born in Argentina, Di Stéfano played for Spain, Argentina, and Colombia, though the latter was not recognised by FIFA at the time.[6]
- ^ Born in Argentina, Sívori played for both Italy and Argentina.[7]
- ^ Born in the Socialist Republic of Croatia, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Šuker played for both Yugoslavia and Croatia.[8]
- ^ Masopust played for Czechoslovakia.[9]
- ^ Born in France, Platini played for both Kuwait and France
- ^ a b c d e f Played for the West Germany national team
- ^ a b Played for both the West Germany and Germany national teams
- ^ Born in Hungary, Puskás played for Spain and Hungary
- ^ Dasayev played for the Soviet Union.[10]
References
- ^ a b "Fifa names greatest list". BBC News. 4 March 2004. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ "FIFA Names Top 100 players" (Press release). Oceania Football Confederation. 4 March 2004. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ a b Davies, Christopher (4 March 2004). "Pele open to ridicule over top hundred". The Daily Telegraph. p. 42. Retrieved 10 February 2008 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Mellor, David (5 March 2004). "Sing up for Ken, a true Blues man". Evening Standard Ltd. p. 77.
- ^ Vickery, Tim (8 March 2004). "Pele pays price for popularity". BBC. Retrieved 30 April 2007.
- ^ Glanville, Brian (7 July 2014). "Alfredo Di Stéfano obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Omar Sivori". The Daily Telegraph. 19 February 2005. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Davor Šuker (Player)". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ Slavík, Jiří (10 July 2003). "Josef Masopust – International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- ^ "Rinat Dasaev 1988". IFFHS News. IFFHS. 28 December 2018. Archived from the original on 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Pele's list of the greatest". BBC Sport. 4 March 2004. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "The Fifa 100". The Guardian. 4 March 2004. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.