1 PELE
Edson Arantes do Nascimento came to world attention as a 17-year-old at the 1958 finals in Sweden, where he helped Brazil win the competition for the first time and become the first side to win away from their home continent. Scored over 1,000 goals in a career spent almost entirely with Brazilian side Santos but Pele was far more than a simple predator and created openings for others with his astonishing and audacious skills. Injury curtailed his appearances in the 1962 and 1966 competitions but he returned at the peak of his powers in 1970, leading arguably the greatest football team ever assembled to a third World Cup crown in Mexico.
2 DIEGO MARADONA
Maradona's promise was spotted in the slums of Buenos Aires and he became the undoubted star footballer of the 1980s with Argentina and with Italian side Napoli. He hit his peak in the 1986 finals in Mexico, leading an otherwise average Argentina side to glory with his dazzling skill and will to win, plus a little help from the 'Hand of God'. Drug problems blighted his career thereafter but his talents as a playmaker were unrivalled.
3 JOHANN CRUYFF
The lithe forward was the star attraction of Holland's 1974 World Cup team, a side so talented and versatile that their play spawned the phrase 'Total Football'. Inventive, original and most definitely a one-off, Cruyff was imperious as the Dutch cruised to the 1974 final. They were surprisingly beaten by hosts West Germany, denying Cruyff international honours to go alongside his incredible club achievements with Ajax and Barcelona. He went on to manage the latter with spectacular results and is still highly influential in Catalonia.
4 FRANZ BECKENBAUER
Caught the eye at the 1966 World Cup as an all-action midfielder but his finest hour was as West Germany's sweeper and skipper on home territory in 1974. His commanding presence and automatic leadership qualities earned him the nickname 'Der Kaiser' and he also enjoyed great club success with Bayern Munich in the 1970s. He became the first man to win the World Cup as player and manager when he led his country to glory in 1990 and is the head of the organising committee for the 2006 finals in Germany. He may put his qualities as a figurehead to a new test after that, with Beckenbauer tipped as a future president of UEFA.
5 DINO ZOFF
One of the great goalkeepers of all-time and the oldest player to win the World Cup at the age of 40 in 1982. Began his international career in glorious fashion too as part of Italy's 1968 European Championship-winning side but was dropped for the 1970 finals. Upon regaining his place in the Azzurri line-up he went 1,142 minutes without conceding a goal, with the run ending against Haiti of all teams in the 1974 finals. Appeared again in 1978 and ended his international career on a huge high with victory over West Germany in the 1982 final. | 
