Power rankings: Ranking the top 10 footballers of all time

MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 23: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid walk off pitch during La Liga match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on December 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images) /

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Franz Beckenbauer has won every major trophy in football /

#6 Franz Beckenbauer

German luminary Franz Beckenbauer boasts a first name that is reminiscent of Austrian emperors. However, he wasn’t just named after them. He was a king in the literal sense.

Nicknamed Der Kaiser, the Bayern Munich legend was widely reputed for his elegance, and above all, his leadership abilities. He is credited for inventing the role of modern sweeper or libero, a defensive player who actively participates in the offensive endeavours of a team.

Franz Beckenbauer has won every major individual and collective trophy that the beautiful game has to offer. He clinched the World Cup once, the European Cup thrice and the Ballon d’Or twice, coupled with 8 league titles throughout his glittering career.

A deep-lying commander who lead from the back, Beckenbauer has gone down in history as one of the greatest footballing souls to grace the game, both as a player and as a manager. He remains one of the only three men to lift the World Cup both as a player and as a coach. Could there be a finer testament to his dextrous leadership skills?

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