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TOP 50 Best South American Players of All-Time

#1 Pelé "O Rei"

- Pro Period : 1956 - 1977

- International Career : 1957 - 1971

- 831 matches - 767 goals - 353 assists

- Second Striker/False 9/Attacking-Midfielder - 1m72

- 37 Trophies/71 Individual Awards

#2 Lionel Messi "La Pulga"

- Pro Period : 2004 - 

- International Career : 2005 -

- 1105 matches - 856 goals - 418 assists

- Right-Winger/False 9/Attacking-Midfielder - 1m70

- 45 Trophies/98 Individual Awards

#3 Alfredo Di Stéfano "The Blonde Arrow"

- Pro Period : 1945 - 1966

- International Career : 1947 - 1961

- 710 matches - 511 goals - 232 assists

- Second Striker/Attacking-Midfielder/Central-Midfielder - 1m78

- 26 Trophies/26 Individual Awards

#4 Diego Armando Maradona "El Pibe de Oro"

- Pro Period : 1976 - 1997

- International Career : 1977 - 1994

- 679 matches - 346 goals - 205 assists

- Attacking-Midfielder/Second Striker - 1m64

- 13 Trophies/57 Individual Awards

#5 Zico "The White Pelé"

- Pro Period : 1971 - 1994

- International Career : 1976 - 1986

- 749 matches - 514 goals - 230 assists

- Attacking-Midfielder/Second Striker/Left-Winger - 1m72

- 30 Trophies/30 Individual Awards

#6 Didi "Senhor Futebol"

- Pro Period : 1946 - 1966

- International Career : 1952 - 1962

- 601 matches - 193 goals - 158 assists

- Central-Midfielders/AM/DM - 1m71

- 17 Trophies/4 Individual Awards

#7 Ronaldo Nazário "Ô Fenomeno"

- Pro Period : 1993 - 2011

- International Career : 1994 - 2011

- 616 matches - 414 goals - 126 assists

- Striker - 1m83

- 19 Trophies/50 Individual Awards

#8 José Manuel Moreno "El Charro"

- Pro Period : 1935 - 1961

- International Career : 1936 - 1950

- 527 matches - 242 goals - 82 assists

- Second Striker/Attacking-Midfielder/Right-Winger - 1m78

- 23 Trophies/4 Individual Awards

#9 Romário "Baixinho"

- Pro Period : 1985 - 2009

- International Career : 1987 - 2005

- 994 matches - 772 goals - 154 assists

- Striker - 1m69

- 29 Trophies/50 Individual Awards

#10 Garrincha "The Little Bird"

- Pro Period : 1953 - 1972

- International Career : 1955 - 1966

- 702 matches - 264 goals - / assists

- Right-Winger - 1m69

- 19 Trophies/11 Individual Awards

#11 Djalma Santos "La Muralha"

- Pro Period : 1948 - 1971

- International Career : 1952 - 1968

- 1062 matches - 48 goals - / assists

- Right-Back - 1m73

- 21 Trophies/7 Individual Awards

#12 José Leandro Andrade "La Maravilla Negra"

- Pro Period : 1920 - 1934

- International Career : 1923 - 1930

- 317 matches - 40 goals - / assists

- Defensive-Midfielder - 1m79

- 14 Trophies/3 Individual Awards

#13 Nílton Santos "The Enclyclopedia"

- Pro Period : 1948 - 1964

- International Career : 1949 - 1962

- 796 matches - 14 goals - / assists

- Left-Back - 1m80

- 27 Trophies/8 Individual Awards

#14 Neymar "The Prince Who Never Became King"

- Pro Period : 2009 -

- International Career : 2010 -

- 658 matches - 394 goals - 261 assists

- Left-Winger/Attacking-Midfielder/Striker - 1m75

- 31 Trophies/56 Individual Awards

#15 Ronaldinho "R10"

- Pro Period : 1998 - 2015

- International Career : 1999 - 2013

- 825 matches - 311 goals - 196 assists

- Left-Winger/Attacking-Midfielder - 1m81

- 20 Trophies/44 Individual Awards

#16 Zizinho "Master Ziza"

- Pro Period : 1939 - 1962

- International Career : 1942 - 1957

- 717 matches - 322 goals - / assists

- Attacking-Midfielder/Right-Winger/Left-Winger - 1m72

- 14 Trophies/4 Individual Awards

#17 José Nasazzi "El Mariscal"

- Pro Period : 1918 - 1937

- International Career : 1923 - 1936

- / matches - / goals - / assists

- Center-Back/Libero/Right-Back - 1m82

- 14 Trophies/5 Individual Awards

#18 Elías Figueroa "El Coloso"

- Pro Period : 1964 - 1982

- International Career : 1966 - 1982

- 838 matches - 41 goals - / assists

- Libero/Center-Back - 1m85

- 16 Trophies/27 Individual Awards

#19 Héctor Scarone "El Magico"

- Pro Period : 1916 - 1939

- International Career : 1917 - 1930

- 329 matches - 223 goals - 159 assists

- Second Striker/Striker/Right-Winger - 1m73

- 35 Trophies/4 Individual Awards

#20 Carlos Alberto "El Capitan"

- Pro Period : 1963 - 1982

- International Career : 1959 - 1977

- 818 matches - 72 goals - 91 assists

- Right-Back/Center-Back - 1m80

- 25 Trophies/9 Individual Awards

#21 Luis Suárez "El Pistolero"

- Pro Period : 2005 -

- International Career : 2007 - 2024

- 926 matches - 553 goals - 297 assists

- Striker/Right-Winger/Left-Winger - 1m82

- 24 Trophies/53 Individual Awards

#22 Daniel Passarella "El Pistolero"

- Pro Period : 1971 - 1989

- International Career : 1976 - 1986

- 608 matches - 184 goals - / assists

- Libero/Center-Back/Left-Back - 1m73

- 10 Trophies/5 Individual Awards

#23 Cafu "Pendolino"

- Pro Period : 1989 - 2008

- International Career : 1990 - 2006

- 849 matches - 56 goals - / assists

- Right-Back, Right-Midfielder - 1m78

- 26 Trophies/14 Individual Awards

#24 Juan Alberto Schiaffino "El dios de futbol"

- Pro Period : 1943 - 1962

- International Career : 1946 - 1958

- 470 matches - 159 goals - 258 assists

- Attacking-Midfielder/Second Striker/Central-Midfielder - 1m85

- 25 Trophies/5 Individual Awards

#25 José Santamaría

- Pro Period : 1948 - 1966

- International Career : 1952 - 1962

- / matches - / goals - / assists

- Libero/Center-Back - 1m79

- 21 Trophies/1 Individual Award

#26 Omar Sívori "El Gran Zurdo"

- Pro Period : 1954 - 1969

- International Career : 1956 - 1962

- 426 matches - 236 goals - / assists

- Second Striker/Attacking-Midfielder - 1m63

- 12 Trophies/4 Individual Awards

#27 Dani Alves "Dani Boy"

- Pro Period : 2001 - 2023

- International Career : 2006 - 2022

- 995 matches - 69 goals - 199 assists

- Right-Back/Right-Midfielder/Central-Midfielder - 1m73

- 43 Trophies/31 Individual Awards

#28 Jairzinho "Furação"

- Pro Period : 1959 - 1982

- International Career : 1964 - 1982

- 559 matches - 256 goals - / assists

- Right-Winger/Left-Winger/Striker - 1m73

- 16 Trophies/5 Individual Awards

#29 Gérson "Papagaio"

- Pro Period : 1959 - 1974

- International Career : 1961 - 1972

- 598 matches - 205 goals - / assists

- Central-Midfielder/AM/DM - 1m72

- 21 Trophies/2 Individual Awards

#30 Rivaldo "Lhoual"

- Pro Period : 1989 - 2015

- International Career : 1993 - 2003

- 1016 matches - 443 goals - / assists

- Attacking-Midfielder/Left-Winger/Second Striker - 1m86

- 23 Trophies/22 Individual Awards

#31 Antonio Sastre "El Cuila"

- Pro Period : 1931 - 1947

- International Career : 1933 - 1941

- 531 matches - 183 goals - 161 assists

- Attacking-Midfielder/Second Striker/Central-Midfielder - 1m77

- 16 Trophies/2 Individual Awards

#32 Raimundo Orsi "The Violinist"

- Pro Period : 1920 - 1943

- International Career : 1924 - 1936

- 594 matches - 248 goals - / assists

- Left-Back/Center-Back - 1m68

- 15 Trophies/2 Individual Awards

#33 Adolfo Pedernera "El Maestro"

- Pro Period : 1932 - 1955

- International Career : 1940 - 1946

- 438 matches - 177 goals - 180 assists

- Striker/Attacking-Midfielder/Left-Winger - 1m75

- 21 Trophies/2 Individual Awards

#34 Arsenio Erico "The Red Rider"

- Pro Period : 1930 - 1949

- International Career : /

- 338 matches - 302 goals - / assists

- Striker - 1m83

- 7 Trophies/3 Individual Awards

#35 Teofilo Cubillas "El Nene"

- Pro Period : 1966 - 1989

- International Career : 1968 - 1982

- 598 matches - 333 goals - 219 assists

- Attacking-Midfielder - 1m73

- 4 Trophies/12 Individual Awards

#36 Falcão "The Eighth King of Rome"

- Pro Period : 1972 - 1986

- International Career : 1976 - 1986

- 589 matches - 112 goals - / assists

- Central-Midfielder/AM/DM - 1m83

- 17 Trophies/16 Individual Awards

#37 Sócrates "The Doctor"

- Pro Period : 1972 - 1989

- International Career : 1979 - 1986

- 723 matches - 324 goals - 137 assists

-Attacking-Midfielder/Second Striker/Central-Midfielder - 1m93

- 6 Trophies/6 Individual Awards

#38 Mario Kempes "El Matador"

- Pro Period : 1970 - 1996

- International Career : 1973 - 1982

- 678 matches - 371 goals - / assists

- Striker/Second Striker/Left-Winger - 1m82

- 6 Trophies/13 Individual Awards

#39 Marcelo "El Loco"

- Pro Period : 2004 -

- International Career : 2006 - 2018

- 711 matches - 57 goals - 118 assists

- Left-Back/Center-Back - 1m74

- 31 Trophies/31 Individual Awards

#40 Alberto Spencer "Cabeza Magica"

- Pro Period : 1953 - 1972

- International Career : 1959 - 1972

- 663 matches - 451 goals - / assists

- Striker - 1m80

- 14 Trophies/14 Individual Awards

#41 Rivelino "Atomic Kick"

- Pro Period : 1965 - 1981

- International Career : 1965 - 1978

- 781 matches - 246 goals - / assists

- Left-Winger/Attacking-Midfielder/Right-Midfielder - 1m71

- 14 Trophies/9 Individual Awards

#42 Roberto Carlos "Mr Free-Kick"

- Pro Period : 1990 - 2016

- International Career : 1992 - 2006

- 1079 matches - 137 goals - 167 assists

- Left-Back/Left-Midfielder/Defensive-Midfielder - 1m68

- 25 Trophies/23 Individual Awards

#43 Leônidas Da Silva "The Black Diamond"

- Pro Period : 1929 - 1950

- International Career : 1932 - 1946

- 594 matches - 547 goals - 77 assists

- Striker - 1m73

- 22 Trophies/5 Individual Awards

#44 Luis Monti "Doble Ancho"

- Pro Period : 1921 - 1938

- International Career : 1924 - 1936

- 548 matches - 72 goals - 103 assists

- Defensive-Midfielder/Center-Back/Libero - 1m67

- 12 Trophies/2 Individual Awards

#45 Ángel Labruna "The Eternal"

- Pro Period : 1939 - 1961

- International Career : 1942 - 1958

- 604 matches - 337 goals - 127 assists

- Striker - 1m75

- 19 Trophies/2 Individual Awards

#46 Arthur Friedenreich "The King of Kings"

- Pro Period : 1909 - 1935

- International Career : 1914 - 1930

- 580 matches - 566 goals - 126 assists

- Striker - 1m78

- 12 Trophies/12 Individual Awards

#47 Tostão "The White King"

- Pro Period : 1962 - 1973

- International Career : 1966 - 1972

- 503 matches - 303 goals - / assists

- Striker/Second Striker/Attacking-Midfielder - 1m72

- 11 Trophies/9 Individual Awards

#48 Kaká

- Pro Period : 2001 - 2017

- International Career : 2002 - 2016

- 750 matches - 237 goals - 172 assists

- Attacking-Midfielder/Left-Winger/Right-Winger - 1m86

- 12 Trophies/32 Individual Awards

#49 Vinícius Júnior

- Pro Period : 2017 -

- International Career : 2019 -

- 397 matches - 120 goals - 94 assists

- Left-Winger/Striker - 1m76

- 17 Trophies/31 Individual Awards

#50 Fernando Redondo "El Principe"

- Pro Period : 1985 - 2004

- International Career : 1992 - 1999

- 468 matches - 7 goals - / assists

- Defensive-Midfielder/Central-Midfielder - 1m86

- 11 Trophies/5 Individual Awards