Most Iconic Footballer Ever (& Football Image)
- Thread starter Sigma
- Start date
When I read “iconic” first thing that came to mind was Cantona with collars up. Second probably Maradona, but I think the Ronaldo celebration is probably going to end up becoming the most iconic football image ever..
Another player that I've got to add here even though he isnt the biggest of all time is Mohamed Salah.
I ask people from the middle eastern community all the time who they support and all I hear is Liverpool these days even though they have only been successful for a few years in the recent decade.
I also ask people who they support and they dont even say Liverpool but they straight up say Mohammed Salah. He clearly represents an idol in that community and for me Salah success at Liverpool brings support to Liverpool rather than the club being successful by itself.
Another player similar is Lewandowski. Every time I ask someone from an Eastern European country like Poland, Belarus or even Russia they seem to bring up Lewandowski as an idol of their culture & community.
Beckham was like that to the whole world and countries that had a history of the British Empire and would have parts of the England language and media still crawling in an around their community. Even if they didnt like the sport they could see Beckham was big in England and in the world and was an idol to many due to his ability to get so famous, rich and drain every aspect of what he had to only come out bigger well known person on the other side.
I ask people from the middle eastern community all the time who they support and all I hear is Liverpool these days even though they have only been successful for a few years in the recent decade.
I also ask people who they support and they dont even say Liverpool but they straight up say Mohammed Salah. He clearly represents an idol in that community and for me Salah success at Liverpool brings support to Liverpool rather than the club being successful by itself.
Another player similar is Lewandowski. Every time I ask someone from an Eastern European country like Poland, Belarus or even Russia they seem to bring up Lewandowski as an idol of their culture & community.
Beckham was like that to the whole world and countries that had a history of the British Empire and would have parts of the England language and media still crawling in an around their community. Even if they didnt like the sport they could see Beckham was big in England and in the world and was an idol to many due to his ability to get so famous, rich and drain every aspect of what he had to only come out bigger well known person on the other side.
Cruyff needs mention for the impact he's had on the game. Maybe not as recognizable as Pelé, Maradona, Beckham, Cristiano and Messi, but in terms of what he inspired he's definitely up there. Him and Michels were the masterminds behind Barca, Ajax and the Dutch team that mesmerized the world in the '70s, and their brand of football is being played at the highest level to this day. The most dominant team of this millennium so far, and arguably all-time, would never have happened if it weren't for their ideas. Absolutely godlike player as well. For people who know the game it's hard to look past him, but if we're talking the player that's synonymous with football for Joe Bloggsi (the plural of Joe Bloggs that I just invented right now) around the world, it's probably not him.
The most globally recognizable player has to be huge in Asia and North America, where the sport isn't as all-encompassing as it is in Europe and South America. Beckham at the peak of his fame almost seemed bigger than the sport in huge parts of the world. The reaction in Asia during the 2002 World Cup was completely nuts, and he achieved fame in the US too by being the celebrity guy who played for LA Galaxy and was on talk shows and stuff all the time. I don't think even Ronaldo, who has a mind-boggling amount of followers on social media, could match that level of attention, even on his best day.
The most globally recognizable player has to be huge in Asia and North America, where the sport isn't as all-encompassing as it is in Europe and South America. Beckham at the peak of his fame almost seemed bigger than the sport in huge parts of the world. The reaction in Asia during the 2002 World Cup was completely nuts, and he achieved fame in the US too by being the celebrity guy who played for LA Galaxy and was on talk shows and stuff all the time. I don't think even Ronaldo, who has a mind-boggling amount of followers on social media, could match that level of attention, even on his best day.
For English fans I'd say maybe this
Pele for me. He was just the renowned football legend when I was growing up.
I would say this is a pretty iconic image
I do agree. One of those images /moments many non-footie fans will have seen as well.
And who can forget this more recent one:
Hard to measure.
You could say that it's pretty unlikely that someone who is not interested in football at all, but who knows who Pelé is (because he's bloody famous), does NOT know who Messi or Ronaldo is.
My mum (in her 70s now) has never watched a minute of football in her life. She knows who Pelé is. Probably Maradona too. But she also knows who Messi is (and Ronaldo).
If you consider ALL demographics (old farts, nippers, men, women, dogs, space aliens) - the answer will probably be Messi or Ronaldo, I'd say.
That is - if we're talking "famous". Not necessarily "iconic" - which involves other factors, but those (other factors) will be (again) hard to reduce to something measurable.
You could say that it's pretty unlikely that someone who is not interested in football at all, but who knows who Pelé is (because he's bloody famous), does NOT know who Messi or Ronaldo is.
My mum (in her 70s now) has never watched a minute of football in her life. She knows who Pelé is. Probably Maradona too. But she also knows who Messi is (and Ronaldo).
If you consider ALL demographics (old farts, nippers, men, women, dogs, space aliens) - the answer will probably be Messi or Ronaldo, I'd say.
That is - if we're talking "famous". Not necessarily "iconic" - which involves other factors, but those (other factors) will be (again) hard to reduce to something measurable.
Obviously depends on who you ask and when.
60/70s: Pele
80/90s: Maradona
00s: Beckham/Ronaldinho
10s: Messi/Ronaldo
60/70s: Pele
80/90s: Maradona
00s: Beckham/Ronaldinho
10s: Messi/Ronaldo
For English fans I'd say maybe this
That's an interesting case, I'd say.
Show that picture to a random person (any age, gender, background, whatever) and...
Do they know what it signifies, generally?
Yes - most probably do (especially in England, of course).
But do they know precisely who the person holding the trophy is?
Far less would know that, I suspect.
Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Roberto (Carlos), Rivaldo, Cafu and Kaka. Pure love.
It's one of those questions where the answer isn't clear cut. Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo, Beckham, take your pick. Image wise, two immediately came to mind, 'hand of god' being one. This is my choice;
Your bottom line is out by a few years, but it's still mildly depressing to see it in writing!
That's a great point that never occured to me. I guess it also makes zero sense in any situation to have more than half your team marking one player! Really should have been obvious.
People around my age and a bit older only have one answer:
Your bottom line is out by a few years, but it's still mildly depressing to see it in writing!
That's a great point that never occured to me. I guess it also makes zero sense in any situation to have more than half your team marking one player! Really should have been obvious.
Not just as out of respect to his family following his very sad death but ever since I was a young lad one of my favourite video images was of Nobby skipping with the world cup. I don't have a clue how to upload vids or images so sadly I can't.
George and his player heydays with the champers and the girls around him but Eric was one hell of an icon and the pic of him, chest out, collar up, just inspiring.
You also had the likes of Laurie Cunningham and Viv Anderson who were the first black players for England, massive icons.
George and his player heydays with the champers and the girls around him but Eric was one hell of an icon and the pic of him, chest out, collar up, just inspiring.
You also had the likes of Laurie Cunningham and Viv Anderson who were the first black players for England, massive icons.
Maradona and the hand of God.
That’s the person and picture I thought ofI was having a think about this as I thought it was an interesting question as to who is the most iconic (not necessarily best) footballer ever. I came up with three suggestions: Pele, Maradona and Ronaldinho. It may depend on different generations who they find the most iconic (out of those who I have chosen or in general) but for me the first player which came into mind when I thought about this question was Ronaldinho so I'm going to stick with that.
What about everyone else? Opinions?
Also on a slight tangent, another interesting question is most iconic football images. For me it might be the following photo:
But for me iconic doesn't just directly translate to fame, it's that something extra which is difficult to articulate. I think Beckham is iconic to a certain extent, but there are more iconic footballers than him.
Last edited:
I wasn't a fan of either time but that game made me forever lose respect for at least Suarez. One of the top 25 worst WC offenses imho.
depends how good your memory is! I’m over 40 and barely remember anything from Italia 90, that’s why I used 45 as a reference point.
R9 for me.
Mine is shocking, but at least I won't forget the year I was born when I'm on here. The memories are vague and impressionistic tbf, and I guess I remember the furore over Maradona as much as anything.
Most Iconic football moment/image/video:
- Pele WC celebration
- Maradona kissing WC
- Maradona vs 6 Belgiums
- Cantona collar up
- Cantona kungfu kick
- Ronaldo goal celebrations
- Zidane headbutt
- Carlos banana freekick
- Ronaldinho Joga Bonito freestyle adverts
- Pele WC celebration
- Maradona kissing WC
- Maradona vs 6 Belgiums
- Cantona collar up
- Cantona kungfu kick
- Ronaldo goal celebrations
- Zidane headbutt
- Carlos banana freekick
- Ronaldinho Joga Bonito freestyle adverts
Iconic?? Has to be Becks.
It’s Pele or Maradona, no question about it. And that picture you chose is probably the one. The only that could possibly rival it is Maradona with the World Cup trophy.I was having a think about this as I thought it was an interesting question as to who is the most iconic (not necessarily best) footballer ever. I came up with three suggestions: Pele, Maradona and Ronaldinho. It may depend on different generations who they find the most iconic (out of those who I have chosen or in general) but for me the first player which came into mind when I thought about this question was Ronaldinho so I'm going to stick with that.
What about everyone else? Opinions?
Also on a slight tangent, another interesting question is most iconic football images. For me it might be the following photo:
IMO, what Suarez did was a d**k move. But he was sent off and Ghana got a penalty. I would say justice was done.
It certainly does not compare with Maradona's hand of God or Thierry Henry's handball or South Korea against Italy, in which there was no justice done.
A discussion not for this thread anyways.
A penalty they missed and Suarez got to celebrate in the tunnel, when Ghana should have had a clear goal. Not much justice served really
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gLXv8LuhB18/UKwcudjxeFI/AAAAAAAAFso/TEaEBN6sf8M/s1600/Ronaldo.jpg
This one is one of the saddest pictures in football history. Happy he came back and won a WC but it was never really the same.
This one is one of the saddest pictures in football history. Happy he came back and won a WC but it was never really the same.
One of my favorites:
The Dutch trio is pretty iconic too.
Can't blame anyone but themselves for having jelly legs at a crucial moment.
Image will always be something pre serious internet. So many images now, so much information, nothing can hold like older images like the Pele and Moore ones already shown.
This Maradona one vs Belgium was always held up as one of the iconic football photographs.
Was going to post that
Would have been unfair on Uruguay as the Ghana ‘goal’ should have been called for offside.
Historically it has to be from the 1970 World Cup when colour TV illuminated the game like never before.
I checked the dictionary only to discover that the above gif is the true definition of the word: icon.
Ha, fair point I didn’t know that
That was a Nike advert I think? Loved it as a kid