The report says 14 journalists each submitted a personal top 30. From those ballots, a pool of 80 players emerged across the men’s tournament’s 96-year history.
The scoring system appears straightforward:
That format matters. It rewards broad support as much as passionate backing at the very top. A player consistently placed in the top 10 across multiple ballots can outscore a more divisive choice.
This is where the list becomes more than a talent contest. World Cup legacy is often built on specific tournaments, defining moments and medals, not just club-level brilliance.
The report notes that more than 3,000 players have appeared at the tournament, while 471 different players have been part of World Cup-winning squads. In that crowd, Pelé still stands alone as the only three-time winner, while a smaller group claimed the trophy twice.
That helps explain the brief given to voters. Individual quality counts, but so do iconic performances, decisive interventions and a lasting place in World Cup history.
Lists like this always invite argument, which is part of the appeal. The balance between peak performance, longevity and silverware is never clean, especially in a tournament that can turn on one month every four years.
The full top 10, along with the complete voting breakdown, is due on Thursday. With the next World Cup almost here, that reveal should set off the next great football argument: who truly owned the sport’s biggest stage?