Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and 50 Players Who Changed the Game

Possibly the greatest free-kick taker of all time, Juninho Pernambucano showed the world how to take free-kicks. 

Such a dead-ball specialist, Juninho made scoring free-kicks look easy, rifling shots in from all angles and distances.

He gave confidence to the next generation, which has now seen a wave of notable free-kick takers all fancy their chances every time an opportunity arises, for example Cristiano Ronaldo.  

Andres Escobar proved that footballers aren't always protected and still have the same vulnerability as everyone else. 

Following his own goal against the United States in Colombia's 2-1 loss at the 1994 World Cup, Escobar was shot dead at a bar in Medellin (Colombia's second largest city), reportedly by associates of angry, powerful drug lords who lost millions in gambling losses after the match.

His death caused great outrage in Colombia, and still does, while the whole incident sent out a chilling message; there is a dark, sinister side to football, and sometimes, it can literally be a matter of life or death.   

One of the most prolific goalscorers the world has ever seen, Brazil legend Ronaldo taught modern-day strikers at the top level how to score goals.

Energetic inside and outside the penalty area (back in the day), Ronaldo would twist and turn and spin defenders from side to side, making them so confused they lost track of the ball before the Brazilian striker would be through on goal to slot the ball home.

He'd also run back and forth, making defenders spin around before ditching his marker and creating enough space to head or volley the ball into the net.

In essence, Ronaldo was the one true player who knew how to make defenders dizzy, hence a club career total of 352 goals from 517 games, including a once record (just recently beaten by Lionel Messi) 48 goals in one season for FC Barcelona.

He also scored 62 goals in 97 caps for Brazil, and is the highest goalscorer in World Cup history.  

From one Samba legend to another, Ronaldinho brought flair and excitement back into football. 

Unlike most other players who feel confident in dribbling with the ball, Ronaldinho would actively run to defenders, use the famous Ronaldino elastic, or stepovers, or a Cryuff turn, then skip past the opponent try his moves on another. 

Ronaldinho proved footballers can still be prolific and exciting at the same time, while the constant smile he has on his face while playing reminded the world, football is fun.  

The most decorated footballer in Asian history, Park Ji Sung has the raised the level of what is required to be considered an "unsung hero". 

Gone are the days of unsung heroes being holding midfielders who protect the back four. Now, for that title, players have to be like Park Ji Sung.

That is, they have to be modern-day versatile midfielders, playing in the middle or on either wing, slotting anywhere across the now commonly used 4-5-1 comfortably, while putting in tireless performances which cover more distance than other player on the pitch by moving into great attacking positions, being on hand when the opposition counter-attack, and being there for the pass when his team start an attack.

The Manchester United and South Korea star epitomises all of that, bringing a new definition to the term "unsung hero."  

From one Manchester United great to another, Paul Scholes defines the deep-lying playmaker. 

Unlike a Wesley Sneijder, Scholes will sit deep in the holding mid position while picking out wingers or strikers making forward runs with superbly accurate cross-field passes to get attacks going quickly and not giving the opposition defence enough time to get into shape.

His sensational passing has helped Manchester United win so many trophies over the years, while it has inspired the likes of Xavi Hernandez and most recently Jack Wilshere.

Andrew Watson was the first ever black footballer to play for his country at international level in football, representing Scotland after arriving from one of the British colonies. 

After studying at University of Glasgow, his love for the sport grew ever stronger, and ultimately led to him trying to force his way into the national team.

Realising his talent was just too good to turn down, he was called up to the squad, and his debut against England on March 12 1881.

Watson was the first player to break down barriers in football, planting the seed for the foundation of equality in football.   

Arthur Wharton continued the work of Andrew Watson a decade later, as he became the first ever black professional player in football. 

Born in Accra to Ghanian royalty, he arrived in England to become a priest, but soon ditched that idea in favour of becoming a full-time footballer. 

Fighting for the right to earn money and use his talent in the same way as every other player, Wharton was part of the first ever Invincibles team, i.e. Preston North End in the 1880s. 

Over a century later, his legacy still lives on, inspiring the Football Unites, Racism Divides campaign amongst other things. 

Prolific Argentina and Fiorentina striker Gabriel Batistuta became the leading forefather of the goal-poaching striker. 

Inspiring Hernan Crespo, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Michael Owen amongst others, Batistuta would hang around that penalty area like an annoying STI, waiting the perfect chance to strike. 

And whenever the chance came, he was always on hand to tuck the ball home, as proven by his 306 club career goals in 550 games, as well as a staggering 81 goals in 105 caps for Argentina.  

Speaking of prolific, goal-poaching strikers, who better to include than the German machine that was Gerd Muller?

572 goals from 669 club matches made this man unbelievably prolific in front of goal, but even more impressive was his 68 goals in 62 caps for West Germany. 

So how did he do it? Well, just read this passage, taken from  Muller's Wikipedia page: "Müller was short, squat, awkward-looking and not notably fast; he never fit the conventional idea of a great footballer, but he had lethal acceleration over short distances, a remarkable aerial game, and uncanny goalscoring instincts.

"His short legs gave him a strangely low center of gravity, so he could turn quickly and with perfect balance in spaces and at speeds that would cause other players to fall over. He also had a knack of scoring in unlikely situations."

It's safe to say Gerd Muller was an inspiration to all future strikers.  

From one German God to another, Franz Beckenbauer really was the Kaiser. 

Credited with inventing the modern-day sweeper, Beckenbauer was always two steps ahead of the game, taking the ball from attackers without them even realising, breaking down attacks, and starting new ones for his team. 

He was also a terrific header of the ball, both defensively and attackingly, using his superb aerial ability to beat attackers and clear the ball, and to beat defenders and score goals, as proved by his 14 goals for West Germany and his 81 club career goals overall.

An absolute legend of the game, and the best centre-back to ever play the game, Beckenbauer has been an inspiration to all that have followed in his footsteps. 

Undoubtedly the greatest goalkeeper of all time, Lev Yashin took goalkeeping to a new level. 

As strikers and outfield players became better technically, and physically became stronger and therefore had more powerful shots, goalkeepers had to adapt and themselves become better equipped.

Yashin rose to that challenge, and his extraordinary athleticism, with his unbelievable agility, leg strength and wrist strength to punch or turn the ball away was incredible. 

He also came up with the idea of coming out off the line to collect the ball and take it away from the attackers, or goalkeeper sweeping as it's called. 

He also showed that the best goalkeepers in general are tall goalkeepers, with his imposing stature, and along with table tennis-esque reflexes, redefined goalkeeping standards.  

A God for AC Milan and Italy, Paolo Maldini will forever be remembered as one of the greatest defenders of all-time. 

Like Franz Beckenbauer before him, Maldini managed to change defending into what it is today. 

Maldini was the leading forefather in tactically committing professional fouls, while he was never afraid to get forward and had all attributes of the players playing further up the pitch, with a svelte touch and dazzling dribbling ability. 

A step ahead of the game, he would act like a midfielder or striker when defending, reading their every move and blocking off their every option. 

Paolo Maldini put the importance of learning the whole game into defending, knowing how and where strikers, wingers and playmakers will move and pass to. 

Brazil legend Garrincha is considered the best dribbler of the ball in football history, and is recognised by FIFA as the best Brazilian player after Pele. 

During his career, Garrincha redefined standards for playing on the wing, making it an exciting position in which watching fans could always expect the unexpected. 

Using his dribbling ability, Garrincha became one of the first to do the seemingly impossible; make something out of nothing. Marked by three defenders, he's pop the ball over their heads and run through the middle of them to have a shot on goal or put in a cross.

Garrincha taught all players after him to do one thing when they come unstuck; to use their imagination.  

Zinedine Zidane is one of the most famous names in football. Memorable for his time at Juventus then Real Madrid, for being the most expensive player in the world for ages, and for his superb performances in front of the world for France. 

And then of course, there's that incident at the World Cup in 2006. 

But Zidane changed football, not because of his headbutt on Marco Materazzi, but because amazing ability to control the ball with his head, chest, thigh, foot, etc, and then to immediately play the ball forward for a striker or winger to be through on goal. 

He wasn't a typical playmaker, but Zinedine Zidane brought a new element to starting attacks, controlling the ball perfectly before instantly playing it on into a dangerous position for a teammate. 

And of course his overall game was phenomenal, while many of his trademark tricks have been attempted by footballers across the world today. 

If Zidane was on that slide, then Juventus and Italy goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon just has to be on this one. 

The most expensive goalkeeper in the world, costing £32.6million, Buffon set the standard for reliability, with his uncanny skill to hardly ever make mistakes, meaning all top level goalkeepers are now under more pressure than ever before. 

Buffon is also the leading forefather at instilling confidence in his defence, with his constant communication being a major reason in Italy winning the World Cup in 2006. 

Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record eight times, Buffon has redefined modern-day goalkeeping standards. 

Following his protracted transfer saga after moving from West Ham to Manchester United, Carlos Tevez inadvertently thrust the issue of third-party ownership to world football. 

Having his economic rights owned by Media Sports Investment (MSI), it was reported that Tevez had agreed to join Manchester United in a deal worth £20 million, which was subject to an appeal from West Ham; the Hammers said in turn that they would block any transfer unless they received a majority of the transfer fee.

The case was put to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, £2million compensation was paid to West Ham and Manchester United "loaned" Tevez for two years from MSI.

It was a totally new way of dealing with transfers.  

Known for his erratic temper amongst other things, Bulgaria legend Hristo Stoichkov made attacking unpredictable. 

The former Barca forward would take shots at goal unexpectedly, would make dashes into the box out of nowhere, and when he received the ball, he'd go flying with it down the wing. 

Influencing modern-day players like Gareth Bale, Stoichkov was the first of his kind in using pure power and pace to leave defenders left for dead. 

We never said these players have to be male, and Samba starlet Marta has changed women's football dramatically, with her dazzling array of skills making the women's game all the more watchable. 

She is the only ever player, male or female, to win the FIFA World Player of the Year five times, and is so prolific, she's scored 56 goals in 55 caps for Brazil. 

Such a prolific goalscorer, striker Marta makes a lot of the men on this list flush with her goalscoring record.