[NOTE: The term “football” in this post refers to Soccer, not American Football.] The debate over who truly belongs among the greatest footballers is as lively as a derby on a rainy night, and rightfully so – the sport’s history is brimming with talent. With FIFA boasting more member nations than the United Nations, the game truly spans the globe. Below is my take on the top 20 football legends, a list that will surely spark discussion, and I welcome any constructive criticism you might have!

20. Lilian Thuram

One of France’s most celebrated defenders, Thuram etched his name into history by netting two decisive goals in the 1998 World Cup semi‑final against Croatia, overturning a deficit to secure a 2‑1 victory. France went on to clinch the trophy with a 3‑0 win over Brazil. At club level, Thuram showcased his talent with stints at AS Monaco, Juventus and FC Barcelona, cementing his reputation as a world‑class defender.

19. Raúl González

Raúl spent eleven glorious years at Real Madrid, where he amassed four La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions League crowns, and two Intercontinental Cups. He joins an elite group of players who have featured in over a hundred Champions League matches. Notably, he dazzled fans with a thunderous free kick against France on June 3, 1997, striking from 35 metres out.

18. David Beckham

David Beckham rose to fame at Manchester United before his high‑profile marriage to Spice Girl Victoria Adams in 1999, turning the duo into one of Britain’s most famous couples. Renowned for his curling free kicks and powerful long‑range shots, Beckham’s right foot became a national treasure for England, cementing his status as both a football star and a cultural phenomenon.

17. Oliver Kahn

Oliver Kahn stands among Germany’s most successful players, having secured eight Bundesliga titles, six German Cups, a UEFA Cup in 1996, and both the UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup in 2001. His individual brilliance earned him four straight UEFA Best European Goalkeeper awards, three IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year honors, and two German Footballer of the Year trophies.

16. Zico

Often dubbed the White Pelé, Zico is celebrated as one of the most skilled dribblers and finishers of his era, and arguably the best player of the early 1980s. A master of free kicks, he could bend the ball with both pace and precision, while his powerful shot made him a feared opponent in any match.

15. Lev Yashin

Lev Yashin, affectionately known as the Black Spider, is regarded as perhaps the greatest goalkeeper ever. Spending his entire club career at Dynamo Moscow, he helped the team capture five league championships and three cups. Internationally, Yashin guarded the Soviet net in three World Cups and was instrumental in their 1956 Olympic gold medal triumph. He remains the sole goalkeeper ever to be named European Footballer of the Year.

14. Ronald Koeman

While primarily a centre‑back, Ronald Koeman was equally feared for his thunderous right‑footed free kicks. He famously scored the winning goal for FC Barcelona in the 1992 European Cup final from a set‑piece. Over his career, Koeman netted 193 league goals in 503 matches, outscoring many pure attackers and holding the record for most goals by a defender.

13. Luis Figo

Born in Portugal, Luis Figo first shone at Sporting CP before moving to Spain’s FC Barcelona and later Real Madrid, before finishing his career at Inter Milan in 2005. Known for his swift stop‑and‑go dribbling and aggressive style, Figo was more a creator than a pure scorer. He burst onto the scene in 2000, guiding Portugal to the Euro 2000 semifinals and earning the European Footballer of the Year award, before his record‑breaking €56 million transfer to Real Madrid.

12. Alberto Recoba

Alberto Recoba’s game was built on dazzling dribbling, technical finesse, blistering pace, and a lethal left‑foot shot. A free‑kick specialist, he delivered memorable goals, including a brace on his Inter debut and a slew of strikes for Venezia. While his natural ability seemed otherworldly, critics often pointed to his occasional lapses in crucial moments.

11. Alfredo Di Stéfano

Nicknamed the “Blond Arrow,” Di Stéfano was a powerful, versatile forward with exceptional stamina. Capable of playing anywhere on the pitch, he also contributed defensively. He ranks third in all‑time Spanish league scoring with 228 goals in 329 games and remains Real Madrid’s top league scorer with 216 goals in 282 matches.

10. Michel Platini

Michel Platini captained France to the 1984 European Championship, earning both the tournament’s best player and top scorer honors. As part of France’s famed “carré magique” midfield quartet, Platini was renowned for his passing precision, free‑kick expertise, and finishing ability, holding the record for most goals in a European Championship final.

9. Carlos Alberto Torres

Carlos Alberto Torres is celebrated as one of Brazil’s finest defenders. He captained the 1970 World Cup‑winning side and was named to the World Team of the 20th Century, as well as the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. His iconic strike against Italy in the 1970 final is widely regarded as one of the tournament’s greatest goals.

8. Ronaldo Nazário

Ronaldo, nicknamed “The Phenomenon,” dazzled the 1990s as Brazil’s premier striker. His club journey spanned Cruzeiro, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, amassing countless titles. Internationally, he featured in Brazil’s World Cup triumphs in 1998 and 2002, finishing as the top scorer in the latter tournament.

7. Gerd Müller

Gerd Müller’s unorthodox build belied his lethal instincts: explosive short‑distance acceleration, aerial dominance, and uncanny goal‑scoring sense. He could turn on a dime, maintaining perfect balance in tight spaces, and often scored in the most improbable situations. His records include 68 goals in 62 international caps, 365 Bundesliga goals in 427 matches, and a European Club record of 66 goals in 74 games.

6. Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff, a Dutch legend, earned three European Footballer of the Year awards and was voted European Player of the Century in 1999, second only to Pelé in the World Player of the Century poll. Celebrated for technical flair, speed, and vision, his greatest asset was his ability to read the game and orchestrate attacks, extracting the utmost from his teammates.

5. Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer, dubbed “Der Kaiser,” revolutionized the sweeper role, blending defensive solidity with attacking flair. He uniquely captained (1974) and later managed (1990) World Cup‑winning German sides. His club career at Bayern Munich yielded three European Cups and four domestic titles. He claimed European Footballer of the Year in 1972 and 1976, cementing his status as Germany’s greatest ever player.

4. Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona remains an Argentine legend, revered for taking his nation to unprecedented heights. His career highlights include the infamous “Hand of God” goal and the breathtaking solo effort against England in the 1986 World Cup, both etched into football folklore. Despite off‑field struggles, his on‑field brilliance made him a cultural and sporting icon.

3. Pelé

Pelé, known as the “Black Pearl,” is widely hailed as the greatest footballer ever. Scoring a staggering 1,280 career goals, he became a global phenomenon and was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999. Though he never competed in the Olympics, his 1970 World Cup jersey fetched $220,850 at auction, underscoring his enduring legacy.

2. Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine “Zizou” Zidane, a French midfield genius, lifted the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, and claimed the 2002 UEFA Champions League. He is one of only two players to win FIFA World Player of the Year three times. Zidane earned Golden Ball honors in the 1998 and 2006 World Cups, famously scoring twice in the 1998 final to help France defeat Brazil.

1. Antonio Gentile

Antonio Gentile earned his reputation as one of football’s most tenacious man‑markers during the 1982 World Cup. His defining moment arrived on July 11, 1982, when he helped Italy defeat West Germany 3‑1 to claim the title. Gentile’s aggressive defending shone in the second‑phase clash against Argentina, where he relentlessly contained Diego Maradona, and later in the showdown with Brazil, delivering a hard tackle on Zico and even ripping the Brazilian’s shirt in the heat of battle.

Football (or soccer, to you Americans) was first invented in 1863—that’s nearly 160 years of the beautiful game. In that time, we’ve seen the good, the amazing, the ugly, and the downright weird. Many football-holics may believe they’ve seen everything there is to see, only for an event on or off the pitch to capture a sense of awe and amazement—or just a sense of disbelief.

This list compiles 10 of the moments in the world of football where fans have had no option but to say “huh?” and rub their eyes in amazement. These are the 10 weirdest things to have happened in the history of the beautiful game.

Related: 10 Sports Superstars Who Ruined Their Careers

10 The “Drunk” Belarusian Referee

It is not uncommon for fans to berate the referee after a few poor decisions, but it is a little less common for fans’ protestations of “Is the ref drunk?” to hold any weight, let alone be potentially true. This was the case in a 2008 Belarusian Premier Division match between Vitebsk and Naftan. The referee in question was Sergei Shmolik (who, coincidentally, was voted as Belarus’s best ref in 2007). According to reports, he spent most of the time hurled over, staggering around the pitch and refusing even to watch the events of the match unfold.

Claiming his actions were due to a “bad back,” Shmolik was unceremoniously suspended by the Belarus FA after being dragged off the pitch by the linesmen. He was found to have very high levels of alcohol in his system, and suffice to say, he has never refereed a professional game again. Turns out there is a time and a place not to act like a drunk uncle.^[1]

9 The Chloroformed Coach

At the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, a semi-final match between Argentina and the USA descended into chaos. The U.S. coaches were frustrated at the “rough house tactics” of the Argentinians, who were kicking and hacking down the Americans all over the pitch. After a particularly bad incident, the coaches had had enough, venting their anger. Now, under any other circumstance, this may not have been too bad or shocking. After all, the early World Cups were synonymous with angry players, coach remonstrations, and badly-behaving fans.

But the issue wasn’t with the angry coach. As part of his job, Jack Coll, a trainer, raced to the downed player, throwing his medical bag to the ground in his rush. However, in this instance, the act of throwing the bag to the ground cracked open a bottle of chloroform and bizarrely knocked the trainer out. He, not th einjured player, had to carted off on a stretcher. And it was not only him who was knocked out—the U.S. proceeded to lose the game 6-1.^[2]

8 Bent’s Beach Ball

In one of the most bizarre goals in history, Sunderland striker Darren Bent could hardly believe his luck when a tame effort from 18 meters (20 yards) out somehow found its way into the back of Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina’s net in 2009.

The striker, signed from the Spurs for $22 million in the summer, turned on the edge of the box and unleashed an average shot that should have been comfortably collected by Reina. Only—it wasn’t. Unbeknownst to Bent, fans behind the goal had thrown a Liverpool-branded beach ball onto the pitch. Bent’s strike would have ended up in the mid-left of the goal, but the massive deflection it took from hitting the beach ball meant it cannoned off to the right and past a dumbfounded Reina.

Both teams, and both sets of fans, were dumbstruck. It wasn’t until the referee shrugged and pointed to the center circle was the goal actually cheered by the traveling Sunderland fans. A complete moment of madness.^[3]

7 Cantona’s Kung-Fu Kick

Perhaps the most infamous incident in the flamboyant Frenchman’s storied career, the Kung-Fu kick then-Manchester United player Erik Cantona launched at Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons remains one of the weirdest events in Premier League history. Accounts of the event are contested, with Cantona claiming he had been racially abused. At the same time, Simmons protested that he had only shouted, “It’s an early bath for you, Cantona!”

Either way, something inside Cantona snapped, and he launched himself over the advertising hoardings to aim an amazing two-footed WWE-style dropkick to Simmons’s chest. After a lengthy investigation, he was banned for eight months and forced to serve 120 hours of community service. A moment of insanity that represented nothing less than what we’d expect from “Erik the Red.”^[4]

6 Team Invader

It is every football fan’s dream to stroll out in a big stadium, side by side with some of their idols. For Karl Power, this is exactly what happened in April 2001. Power, an unemployed metalworker from Manchester, managed to evade security at Bayern Munich’s Olympic Stadium to walk out into the floodlights with the Manchester United team. He even posed with the team in the pre-match photo!

Gary Neville, the Manchester United right-back, eventually noticed and had him removed. But Power had managed to do what every football fan wants to do—brush shoulders with some of the best players in the world. Absolutely amazing.^[5]

5 POAK President Protests Disallowed Goal

Now, this isn’t something that we would expect to see again. Greek owner of POAK Salonika, Ivan Savvidis, took the concept of “power trip” to a whole new level when he protested a goal that was ruled out for offside in 2018.

He stormed the pitch to confront the linesman and referee but was spotted carrying a gun on his hip. The opposing team, AEK Athens, left the pitch in fear of their lives, and the entire league was suspended in the wake of his actions. He was barred from attending matches for three years, and POAK was docked three points. If only offside wasn’t a thing…^[6]

4 Aston Villa Manager Targeted In Cabbage Attack

Villa manager Steve Bruce found his new job in 2018 particularly hard. This wasn’t just due to poor results on the pitch, but also due to the actions of fans off it. A poor start to the season left many supporters disgruntled. One, in particular, decided it was best to take their actions out on the manager.

Bruce was clattered by a cabbage—yes, a cabbage—while standing in his dugout. The perpetrator was never found or prosecuted, and Bruce’s dignity was significantly tarnished. He left Villa at the end of the season. Ouch, all around.^[7]

3 Referee Loses Teeth—Unable to Blow His Whistle to End Game

This entry comes from Norway—all the way back in 1957—from a match between Norager and Ebeltoft. Norager was leading 4-3 with a few minutes to go; the team was clinging on desperately despite the attacking onslaught from Ebeltoft. They were clinging on and still clinging on long after full time was meant to have been called. When the referee, Henning Erikstrup, went to blow the whistle to end the match five minutes earlier, he lost his false teeth.

Play continued while he tried to pick up his teeth, and Ebeltoft did indeed equalize before he managed to find them and blow the whistle. However, Erikstrup—who did not see the goal as he was too busy trying to find his chompers—was forced to rule it out because it technically should not have counted. Madness.^[8]

2 Leeds Manager Forces His Team to Concede

In a 2019 English Championship match between Leeds United and Aston Villa, Leeds took the lead after Mateusz Klich scored a controversial goal. While Villa players were expecting Leeds to kick the ball out after one of their players was injured on the pitch, Klich did not stop and ran from the halfway line to score.

The repercussions of this came instantly, with Villa players and staff rushing onto the pitch to confront the player and the referee. The Leeds manager, Marcelo Bielsa, clearly empathized with the complaints as he forced his team to let Villa score the goal that drew the scoreboard. A rare piece of sportsmanship, yet an act of compassion that did not sit well with the home fans.^[9]

1 Ali Dia Makes It Big with Zero Experience

Perhaps the weirdest moment in football history goes to the biggest fraud in football history. In 1996, Southampton and Graeme Souness made the worst signing of all time when they signed Ali Dia, a “Senegalese international” allegedly recommended to the Saints by former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah. Or at least that’s what they thought. “Weah” turned out to be Dia’s roommate from his university days.

Believing they were about to sign a massive hidden gem, Southampton landed him in 1996 and even got him to play one game. Bear in mind, again, that Dia had never played a match of professional football in his life. He “pranced” about on the pitch like a horse for 10 minutes, in the words of Souness, and was substituted early in the second half. A success story for Dia and a moment of red-faced embarrassment for Southampton.^[10]

The Ancient Greeks are credited with inventing sports stadiums for their Olympic and Panhellenic athletic contests. The word stadium itself is of Latin origin, however, and the most famous stadium in the world is, without doubt, the Coliseum in Rome. Intended for gladiatorial shows, the Flavian Amphitheatre (as the Romans called it) held over 50,000 spectators and remains a marvel of ancient architecture.

In the 21st century, football (soccer to those of you across the pond) has become the world’s most popular sport, and there are thousands of football stadiums all around the world. Not all of them can be said to match the Coliseum for its architectural grace and beauty, however. So here are ten bizarre and fascinating football stadiums which have taken the ancient concept of the sports arena in new and surprising directions.

10 Timsah Park, Turkey

Bursaspor is a Turkish football club that won its first-ever Süper Lig title in 2010. They were only the second non-Istanbul club to win the league in Turkey, so this represented a huge achievement. To celebrate this victory, the club commissioned a new stadium. Their former ground, the Bursa Atatürk, had a relatively small capacity of only 25,000 spectators, so it seemed appropriate for the newly crowned Turkish champions to upgrade.

Sports teams often look for ideas in their club identity, and since Bursaspor’s nickname is the Green Crocodiles, this was used as the very literal inspiration for a new stadium. Called the Timsah Arena (Timsah means crocodile in Turkish), Bursaspor’s home since 2016 is exactly what its name suggests—a crocodile. With an exterior built from green glass and overlapping membranes, this 45,000-seat stadium was met with both amazement and ridicule when it was finished. Complete with a gaping mouth, eyes, teeth, and scales, the Timsah Arena is certainly memorable. Unfortunately, Bursaspor hasn’t won a league title since that famous 2010 victory.^[1]

9 TJ Tatran Cierny Balog Stadium, Slovakia

Far from a masterpiece of modern architecture, the Cierny Balog appears at first glance to be an inconsequential little ground. Situated in the picturesque, pine-clad hills of the Slovakian countryside, it is home to a tiny club called TJ Tatran Cierny Balog. However, if you chose to attend a match, you would be in for a genuinely unique surprise.

That is because the Cierny Hron railway line runs directly between the pitch and the ground’s main stand. And it gets better: trains pass through the stadium even during matches! Fans are known to applaud the trains as they pass through, especially because most of them are actually steam trains from the early 20th century. This has become a regular distraction for the players, who cannot hear each other over the sound of the steam train’s noisy engine. Unsurprisingly, the TJ Tatran Cierny Balog Stadium is believed to be the only sports stadium in the world with an active train track running through it.^[2]

8 The Float, Singapore

Singapore is not known for its sporting prowess. Indeed, with a population of nearly six million and only 733 square kilometers (283 square miles) of land area, Singapore has the third-highest population density of any country in the world. That leaves little room for sporting venues, especially ones as large as football fields. Nonetheless, this obstacle hasn’t stopped the Singaporeans from trying.

In 2007, the “Float @ Marina Bay” was unveiled. As the name suggests, this stadium features a one-of-a-kind floating football pitch. Situated on the Marina Reservoir, thereby making clever use of Singapore’s harbor, the pitch has a 27,000-seat grandstand looking on from the mainland. Although it was originally intended as a temporary fixture, the Float became so popular that it has now been retained as a permanent stadium and will be updated in the near future. Designed by the Singaporean Defence Science and Technology Agency to hold the weight of up to 9,000 people, the Float @ Marina Bay is a testament to the power and potential of creative thinking in architecture.^[3]

7 Cacica Salt Mine, Romania

Although this one is not technically a stadium as it lacks proper seating for spectators, the sheer madness of this football field in Romania makes it worth mentioning. Not far from the Ukrainian border is a small town called Cacica, with an active salt mine that holds nearly 250 million tons of sodium chloride in reserve. It was first used over 5,000 years ago and has been home to monks and miners ever since.

The Cacica salt mine has several notable features, among them a ballroom, a museum, and two chapels for both Orthodox and Catholic workers. Its most unusual installation, however, is a football field nearly 54 meters (150 feet) below ground. Complete with goals, pitch markings, and standing room for spectators, this is probably the only football field in the world that would survive a nuclear blast. The high salinity content of the air apparently makes exercise difficult. But for anybody who wants to give it a try, the pitch costs a little over $20 an hour to rent (100 Romanian lei).^[4]

6 Ecoestádio Janguito Malucelli, Brazil

Our next stadium takes us from the salt mines of Romania to the rainforests of the Amazon. Located on the outskirts of Curitiba—a city in the south of Brazil—is a small football stadium years ahead of its time. Officially called the Estádio Janguito Malucelli but colloquially known as the Ecoestádio for its environmentally sustainable construction, this ground is home to the minor club J. Malucelli Futebol and holds only 6,000 spectators.

The Ecoestádio was built in 2007 without a single drop of concrete. Rather than constructing a large stand, the club chose to situate its field next to a gentle slope, providing a perfect natural stand for spectators. Almost every part of the stadium’s infrastructure is wooden, even down to its grass-covered seats. This wood was taken from reforested areas, and the iron used for metal fittings was recycled from old railway sleepers.) Unfortunately, the Ecoestádio has now fallen into a state of disrepair. This is a tragedy for the fans of J. Malucelli Futebol, who were once very proud of their groundbreaking home field.^[5]

5 National Stadium, Taiwan

The Taiwanese National Stadium in Kaohsiung takes sustainability down a wholly different path. Rather than being built from reforested wood and recycled iron, this colossal stadium is covered in solar panels, which provide sufficient power not only for the stadium’s needs but also for the local area. It was designed by the award-winning Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2009 for the World Games. Since then, it has been used by the Taiwanese National Football Team.

Ito’s design is intended to resemble a sleeping dragon, and the solar panels on the stadium’s roof are supposed to look like its shimmering scales. This was not purely aesthetic, however. With help from the Taiwanese Weather Bureau, the stadium was positioned with one end open to the prevailing summer wind, thus keeping fans cool without artificial air-conditioning. Furthermore, the roof was carefully designed to shelter spectators from the summer heat. The stadium also has facilities for reusing rainwater. The Kaohsiung National Stadium is a marvel of sustainable architecture and will hopefully serve as an example for future projects worldwide.^[6]

4 Batarija, Croatia

We now move from the high-tech to the Medieval. Trogir is a Croatian island city on the Adriatic Coast that was founded by the Greeks and conquered by the Romans. During the Middle Ages, the Venetians arrived and built countless churches, cathedrals, and castles. This Venetian “old town” became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

NK Trogir is a local football club founded in 1912, and they somehow ended up with a stadium right in the middle of the old town. Behind one goal stands the 15th-century St. Marko’s Tower and behind the other is the 14th-century Kamerlengo Fortress which was used as a shooting location for Game of Thrones.

Known as Batarija, this tiny football field has a capacity of only 160 spectators. However, those lucky few will find themselves sitting just a few feet away from the warm water of the Adriatic. The person who laid this pitch deserves huge credit for finding arguably the most beautiful—and historic—location of any football field in the world.^[7]

3 Rock Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

This stadium has not yet been constructed, and while there are plenty of mind-boggling concept stadiums (for example, Chelsea FC’s proposed power station stadium), this one is the best of the lot. Designed by MZ Architects and intended to be built in Abu Dhabi, the Rock Stadium would perhaps be the world’s most impressive football field—if it is ever completed.

Inspired by the ruins of Petra, ancient Greek auditoria, and monolithic Egyptian architecture, the Rock Stadium’s main stand will be literally carved into the face of a mountain. The pitch itself will be sunk below the desert floor to keep it cool, and the roofs of the three supplementary stands will be almost flush with the sand, therefore creating something which looks like a natural rock formation. This design, which has already won several awards, was made in cooperation with geologists, topographers, and cave experts. Football fans can only cross their fingers and wait, however, as there has not been a project update for several years.^[8]

2 Allianz Arena, Germany

Home to a member of European footballing royalty, the Munich Allianz Arena was opened in 2005 to replace the old Olympiastadion. Some have called it an eyesore, and others have acclaimed it as the first truly modern football stadium. Well, with an exterior clad entirely with inflated air-foil panels, this 75,000-seat stadium certainly looks like a UFO has landed in the green hills of Bavaria.

The most famous tenant of the Allianz Arena is Bayern Munich. However, until 2017, they shared the stadium with their city rivals, 1860 Munich. This is where the brilliance of the Allianz Arena shines—literally. Its facade of inflated panels can light up in a variety of colors. So when Bayern Munich is playing, the stadium lights up red, but when 1860 Munich is playing, it lights up blue. When the German National Team plays at the Allianz, the stadium lights up in the colors of the German flag. Allianz Arena, the inspiration for American football’s MetLife Stadium, is so bright that it can be seen from 80 kilometers (50 miles) away in the Austrian Alps.^[9]

1 Mmabatho Stadium, South Africa

It is hard to decide if South Africa’s Mmabatho Stadium is bizarre or brilliant. Though it is neither as quirky nor ingenious as some of the other stadiums on this list, the Mmabatho is quite unlike anything else. Built by an Israeli firm in Mafikeng in 1981 and allegedly designed by architects from the USSR, the Mmabatho holds 60,000 spectators. It is no longer used for professional football matches, however, both because of its dangerous state of decay and a host of complex South African political tensions.

As for the Mmabatho’s architecture, only pictures can fully convey just how strange it is. The oblique, clashing angles of the concrete stands defy belief. It is hard to figure out how fans get to their seats, never mind how the whole thing is even standing. Curiously, the Mmabatho is an almost identical knockoff of another South African sports field, the Odi Stadium, which is now closed and on the verge of collapse. These twin stadiums are regarded as white elephants, and they represent a particularly unusual part of South African history.^[10]