9 Players We’re Surprised Missed The Athletic’s List of 100 Greatest Footballers Ever

The Athletic recently published a new book ranking the 100 greatest players in football history, featuring legends like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, and Pele, who all rank near the top.

The site’s writers contributed to the book ‘The Soccer 100‘, providing insights on each of the top 100 footballers of all time. However, several prominent players were left out, leading to some surprising and controversial exclusions.

Here are nine standout players who shockingly didn’t make the list.

Harry Kane

England’s all-time leading goalscorer is notably absent from the ranking.

Had he remained in English football, Kane might have been well on his way to breaking Alan Shearer’s Premier League goalscoring record.

Despite lacking silverware, Kane’s performance warrants serious consideration for greatness.

Witnessing him in peak form at Spurs, or in recent months with Bayern Munich, surely indicates he belongs in the top 100. This isn't merely recency bias; it’s a matter of logic.

Erling Haaland

Including players at the height of their careers poses a challenge. At just 25, Haaland has not yet solidified his full legacy.

However, if he were to face a career-ending injury tomorrow, we’d argue he’s already made a case for being among football's greats.

He’s the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, scored 52 times in Manchester City's treble-winning season, and led Norway back to the World Cup after a long absence. What more could he need to prove?

Luis Suarez

While discussing quick Premier League milestones, Suarez reached 100 La Liga goals in three fewer matches than Haaland.

The all-time top goalscorer for Uruguay, Suarez ranks third in Barcelona's all-time scoring. His trophy cabinet is full from his time wherever he has played, and he formed one of the most formidable attacking trios in the sport's history.

His namesake, the Spanish Ballon d’Or winner from the 1950s, also failed to make the list. It’s time to recognize the Suarezes.

Robert Lewandowski

This omission stands out the most.

Lewandowski’s playing style may lack the flair often associated with legends like Garrincha or George Best.

Nonetheless, his record speaks for itself.

Only Messi and Ronaldo have more goals in the history of Europe’s top five leagues than Lewandowski.

With thirteen league titles across various clubs including Lech Poznan, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, he was unjustly deprived of a Ballon d’Or after his remarkable performance during Bayern's treble in 2020.

While we support Mbappe’s inclusion, omitting Lewandowski given his achievements is questionable.

Steven Gerrard

The previous entries showcased remarkable records and achievements.

While Gerrard may not match them in statistics, The Athletic’s top 100 isn’t solely a tally of goals and trophies.

There’s also space for players who made an emotional impact. We’re certain that chapters on Francesco Totti, Socrates, and Dennis Bergkamp are captivating. Yet, the absence of a chapter on Gerrard is puzzling.

Virgil van Dijk also missed out. Get ready, Waterstones in Merseyside.

N’Golo Kante

Among the names that did make the list, there’s a notable diversity of eras, leagues, and cultures. They likely aimed to avoid an overrepresentation of the present and Premier League.

Kante’s absence is particularly striking.

Forget the World Cup or Antonio Conte’s Chelsea; this man revolutionized Leicester City’s journey to the Premier League title. That achievement alone qualifies him for inclusion.

Thomas Muller

The Bayern Munich squad that dominated 11 consecutive Bundesliga titles may not evoke romance.

The sheer magnitude of their success raises questions about resource distribution and the sport's future.

Manuel Neuer shouldn’t be the only representative from that era-defining team. Muller significantly influenced the game as well, coining the term ‘raumdeuter' that football enthusiasts cherish.

Sergio Ramos

Let’s begin with his contributions to Spain, where he played in all three finals as La Roja made history with two European Championships and a World Cup.

He scored the decisive header that earned Real Madrid their coveted La Decima and later led them to three consecutive Champions League titles.

Even without these accolades, Ramos deserves recognition as football’s foremost expert in the art of savvy play.

Looking up ‘sh*thouse' in a football dictionary would likely feature his image.

Valentino Mazzola

It’s easy to claim that Planet Football’s Soccer 100 leans heavily on recent years. This accusation holds some weight.

To balance this, we highlight Mazzola, a prominent figure from the ‘Grande Torino' team that tragically perished in the 1949 Superga air disaster.

This legendary Italian midfielder ranked as high as 37th in FourFourTwo’s all-time top 100 greatest footballers, yet failed to appear in The Athletic.