Great Football Players

The European leagues have been able to attract some of the best football players in the world ever since the early 20th century.

One of the greatest football players of all time is thought to be Alfredo Di Stefano, who moved to Spain in 1953 to sign for Real Madrid, starting an 11-year spell in the Spanish League. The Argentinean striker helped his side to dominate thanks to over 300 goals for the club. Real won the Primera Division on eight occasions between 1954 and 1964. He also played a key part in their five European Cups during the later 1950s and early 1960s.

Di Stefano is still the fourth highest scorer in the history of Spain's top-flight division. He ended his career at Espanyol in 1966.

Another Argentinean footballer to light up the European leagues was Diego Maradona. He signed for Barcelona in 1982 from Boca Juniors. Despite a tough spell through illnesses and injuries, the World Cup winner scored 38 goals in Spain in his 58 appearances before a record transfer move to Napoli in Italy. 

Maradona was thought to have reached his peak at Napoli as he helped them to win their only ever league title in 1986-1987. 

After a brief spell back in Spain with Sevilla, he moved back to South America in 1993 to sign for Newell's Old Boys.

Lionel Messi kept up the tradition of great players from South America to feature in Europe. As a 13-year-old, the youngster moved to Spain to play for Barcelona's youth team. He has been at the Catalan club ever since, going on to become one of the greatest players of all time. 

Messi is Barcelona's all-time leading goalscorer, a record he broke at the age of 24. He has won six La Liga titles with the Spanish club so far and three UEFA Champions Leagues.

In 2009 the Argentine international won the last Ballon d'Or crown, while in 2010 he was named the first ever FIFA Ballon d'Or winner, a title he went on to win in 2011 and 2012.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo is also considered as one of the best football players currently in the world. He started his career at Sporting CP but established himself at Manchester United in the Premier League.

The Portuguese forward moved to Real Madrid in 2009 for a then world record transfer fee of £80 million.

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