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Hungarian Footballer from the 1940's who refused to represent Nazi Germany. He was their best defender, and was killed for defying the Nazi rule... Superstar no doubt because although vilified by the national media, he gave a voice to those who were too terrified to speak up!

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Dynamo Moscow/Soviet Union (1950-1970)

·        Worked in factory aged 12-18 to help Soviet Union during World War II.

·        Volunteered for military.

·        100,000 people turned out to his FIFA testimonial (including Pele, Beckenbauer).

·        “This is the same man that would be known for the rest of his days and beyond as a showman, a Hollywood footballer with a Hollywood personality” (Walsh, 2020).

·        One of the biggest legacies in football, only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or (beat Bobby Charlton, Eusebio, Dennis Law, Jimmy Greaves etc.)

·        According to FIFA: Over 150 penalty kicks saved, over 270 career clean sheets.

·        Gold medal at 1956 Olympic football tournament and 1960 European Championships.

·        Inspirational goalkeeper. The best there ever was?

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Temporarily halted the civil war in the Ivory Coast after appealing to both parties following their first ever qualification to the World Cup

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Surrounded by controversies

moved to United after denying them the league to win it with Leeds - only joined Leeds in the January.

Champions League trip to Galatasaray in November 1993

Kung-fu kicked Palace fan Matthew Simmons

Charisma

Never misunderstood at Old Trafford but being barely understood by his public added to his status .

Iconic quote “when seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea” at the infamous press conference after an appeal hearing at Croydon Magistrates’ Court

Did not only bring goals but a swagger (iconic collar) and a confidence that inspired his team mates

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Not only a footballer but world famous celebrity
-marriage with Posh Spice
-UNICEF ambassador
-model

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A footballer who revolutionised the game from the way he dribbled, his diet and super star status for footballers in days where they were lucky to pick up £20 a week. He was mobbed from Malaysia to South Africa to Manchester and that was before television had transformed footballers into the icons they are today in a career lasting over 31 years, retiring at the age of 50 and won the first ever Balon D'or in 1956. Also the first footballer to be knighted and is still the first to be knighted whilst playing. Stanley Matthews promoted Craven A cigarettes in 1950 making him one of the first footballers to promote a product in a time where smoking was massively popular and therefore they needed someone marketable to promote it, even though he never smoked.

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Arguably the first super star whose antics extended beyond the knowledge and interest of just football fans and into the mainstream media. He was / is worshipped like a God in Argentina – one of his nicknames was even D10S, reading as dios which translates to God. The national mourning following his death indicated just how adored, idolised and worshipped he is.

His legacy can be seen at nearly all of the clubs Maradona has played at: Napoli’s stadium is now named after Maradona and the Argentine was the first man to make the number 10 shirt at Barcelona as iconic as it now is.

A loveable rogue. Controversial no doubt but you couldn’t help but love and respect him. Such a unique character in the game – when he spoke you listened. His controversial but alluring character – a certain mystique surrounded him, had an aura. A pioneer on the pitch, creating iconic moments of true glory and magic singlehandedly – defined a generation and played football his way. Paved the way for the likes of Messi.

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German soldier in WW2, signed for Manchester City.

Season ticket holders threatened to boycott because they were unhappy that a former member of the German Army was playing for City. But won the love of the fans by his performance, only missing 5 of the next 250 City games.

Broke his spine in the FA Cup final but played on, City went on to win the final.

Given an OBE for promoting Anglo-German understanding through football

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-has appeared in UNICEF adverts during 2002 and 2006 world cup and has supported a number of charities and foundations, including starting the stand up speak up campaign against racism in sport with Nike
- he's been a regular partner of the princes trust and has also provided funding for projects through the one4all foundation
- helped drag English football to the forefront of continental conversations
- one of the first footballers to bridge the gap between the premier league being full of homegrown talent or unwanted foreigners to the point now where the best youngsters choose it over most clubs unless big offers from barca or real or a couple of others come in

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Ronaldinho was one of the best players on the planet in the mid-2000s and routinely made the outrageous look easy.  He was twice named FIFA World Player of the Year and led Barcelona to a couple of league titles and a Champions League victory in the five seasons he spent in Catalonia – all while Real Madrid were at the height of the Galactico era.

Ronaldinho has had endorsements with many companies, including Nike, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and EA Sports. One of the world's highest paid players, in 2006 he earned over $19 million from endorsements.

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Everton reserve-team debut aged 15
Made over 100 appearances for Everton's first-team
At Sunderland his performances in November earned him a nomination for the PFA Fans Player of the Month award during 2016/17.
Somehow only 33
Known by all football fans

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Bendtner started his international career with three matches for the Denmark under-16 team in February 2004. During his third game he scored a hat-trick against Armenia. On 16 August 2006, Bendtner made his first senior appearance for Denmark aged 18 years and 212 days, he was the seventh youngest debutant ever. He started the match, a friendly against Poland, and scored after 32 minutes, helping Denmark to a 2–0 win.

Bendtner has a cult following who refer to him as "Lord Bendtner". In March 2015, Danish celebrity tabloid Se og Hør bought him a square foot of land in Scotland to bestow him the title of "Lord", and according to his agent, he considered it a "fun gimmick". Bendtner has also taken part in the joke, uploading on Instagram a poster of him holding the Ballon d'Or and running as a candidate for Prime Minister in the June 2015 Danish election. During his time at Rosenborg, Bendtner was dubbed "Emperor" as Mushaga Bakenga was already the Lord at Rosenborg.