Welcome to OneFootball’s definitive ranking of the 25 greatest players of the last 25 years.
Over the course of 25 days, we will be counting down our top 25 men’s footballers of the 21st century so far, before revealing the winner on 1st January 2025.
Check out the list so far here
Today, our countdown continues with…
2nd: Cristiano Ronaldo (900 points)
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Nationality: Portuguese (217 caps, 135 goals)
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Main clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus
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Major trophies won: Premier League (x3), LaLiga (x2), Serie A (x2), Champions League (x5), Club World Cup (x4), European Championship (x1)
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Major individual awards: Ballon d’Or (x5), Puskás Award (x1), Champions League top scorer (x7)
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Highest ranking by voters: 1st (two voters)
Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, with a career spanning top clubs including Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
He has won numerous domestic and international titles, including five Ballon d’Or awards, five Champions League trophies, and multiple league titles across different countries.
Known for his exceptional athleticism, stunning goalscoring ability and leadership, Ronaldo has broken countless records, including becoming the all-time top scorer in the Champions League and men’s international football.
Fun fact
📸 Rafal Oleksiewicz – 2024 Getty Images
Ronaldo was named after former US president Ronald Reagan, having been born a month after Reagan was sworn in for a second term in the White House. Since then, Ronaldo’s own name has been used in a variety of ways, having everything ranging from airports to galaxies named after him.
Watch him in action
How we voted
Thirty-eight members of OneFootball’s global editorial team ranked their top 25 players of the 21st century so far. Players ranked at #1 earned 25 points, second place earned 24 points, and so on. In the event of a tie, the player with the highest individual ranking was placed higher on the list.
📸 Denis Doyle – 2015 Getty Images
