Debates will long continue over whom the best football players of all-time are, as more and more players write their names in history as the years go by - but some are more 'complete' than others, ruling out some of the best the globe has ever seen.
Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the best player the planet has witnessed, has all the technical ability in the world, more than anyone could ask for - but his lack of defensive contributions, even though he is rarely asked to do so, means that he isn't entirely seen as complete.
And an AI bot, ChatGPT, has revealed who it believes to be the most complete 15 players in history - withGIVEMESPORT giving a rundown on each player and why they are on the list.
20 Best Footballers in the World (2024) Related
25 Best Footballers in the World (2025)
We rank the best 25 footballers in the world right now - in order.
Justification on Choosing The 15 Most 'Complete Players'
There isn't a space for Messi, and AI has justified why...
Lionel Messi
Positional Specialization - Messi has played his entire career in the front 'four' positions, never having played in deep midfield or defence or having to utilise himself aerially. He doesn't compare to other players on the list, who excelled in other roles.
Limited Physical Profile - Although he is agile and deceptively strong, Messi lacks aerial dominance, tackling and lung-bursting physical attributes that other players do, in terms of work-rate and tracking back.
Tactical Focus - Messi is the best in the world at dictating games in the final third, though he rarely has to adapt to games outside his domain. Versatility and tactical awareness all over the pitch has rarely been asked of him and so others edge ahead of him in that regard.
Johan Cruyff
johan-cruyff-ajax
Cruyff, although somewhat similar to Messi, was the architect of the Netherlands' 'Total Football' tactic, revolutionising football forever.
The Dutchman was adept at playing across attack and in midfield, being a tactical genius, reading and contributing to all phases of play with ease - dribbling, passing, scoring, and also leading teams who have become synonymous with one of football's greatest pioneers, such as Ajax.
Franz Beckenbauer
Frank Beckenbauer
The first real 'sweeper' to rise to international fame, 'Der Kaiser' was elegant, commanding, and could play in midfield or defence - controlling the tempo from the back, bursting into midfield with his driving runs and having a fine goalscoring record for a defender.
With 98 goals in 754 games at club level and 14 for West Germany, he had a keen eye for goal which easily puts him onto this list.
Lothar Matthaus
Lothar Matthaus in action for West Germany
Beckenbauer's compatriot Matthaus only failed to feature alongside his all-rounder partner by three years, but talk about a like-for-like replacement - this was exactly that.
Lothar Matthäus' career statistics - record by club, all competitions
Club
Monchengladbach
Bayern Munich (first spell)
Inter Milan
Bayern Munich (second spell)
New York MetroStars
Total
Although Matthaus played further forward, the midfielder was the 'ultimate box-to-box' player, according to AI. Another Germany captain, he excelled in defence, midfield and attack - whilst also being strong and intelligent. An easy inclusion on the list for the former Bayern Munich star.
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane captaining France at the 2006 World Cup.
Although not entirely noted for his defensive contributions, Zidane could boast the best of both worlds with his deep-lying playmaking nature, alongside an ability to dribble out wide, impact games from an attacking midfield position and equally score important goals for Real Madrid and France.
There wasn't a position further forward than the defence that he couldn't do, equally dropping back later in his career - and his work in the build-up, the final third and on the counter-attack proved he was a complete player, according to AI.
Cristiano Ronaldo
cristiano ronaldo
Some eyebrows may be raised at Ronaldo's inclusion by AI, and Messi's exclusion - especially given that they have largely featured in the same positions throughout their careers in La Liga together.
But Ronaldo's work-rate off the ball, alongside exceptional athleticism and, above all else, aerial power, means that he is seen as complete, enough to come fifth on this list.
Michel Platini
Michel Platini captaining France.
The midfield maestro from France, Platini was an exceptional goalscorer throughout his career, with a ratio of at least one goal every two games in club football and for Les Bleus.
AI Predicts Full 2025-26 Premier League Table Related
Final 2025-26 Premier League Table Predicted by AI
Will Liverpool retain their Premier League crown, and will the newly-promoted teams survive the drop straight back into the Championship?
AI notes his scoring instincts, alongside being a gifted playmaker, a set-piece expert and an intelligent leader all in one, which saw him win three major league titles, the European Cup, and the 1984 EURO's with his country - as well as three consecutive Ballon d'Or titles to place him high on the list.
Diego Maradona
Maradona
This is an incredibly contentious inclusion, especially with Messi - Maradona's almost career parallel - missing out. But AI has noted that Maradona could dominate a game from any attacking or midfield role, with dribbling, creativity and leadership making him a nuisance from anywhere in the opponent's half, for Barcelona and Napoli especially.
It was his 'grit' and aggression that made Maradona a force everywhere, including deeper parts of the pitch to win turnovers in midfield - something Messi hasn't done that much.
Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini Named the 3 Greatest Footballers He Saw During His Career
The AC Milan legend, and a one-club man, is generally regarded as one of the most complete defenders of all-time - but he makes his way onto an all-time player's list here.
At the peak of his powers at both left-back and centre-back, he featured consistently at the highest level for an outstanding 23 years in Serie A, racking up 647 games for the Rossoneri in the league alone.
That longevity, as well as being technically superb, tactically perfect and never needing to foul to dominate, sees AI list him as a complete player - and it's hard to argue.
Ruud Gullit
ruud gullit chelsea
We're on an AC Milan-clad run here, and another San Siro star in Gullit makes the list. He's the quintessential 'all-rounder', having played in attack, midfield and defence throughout his career - most memorably at AC Milan, but also for Chelsea later in his career and a superb stint in his homeland.
30leagues Related
Top 30 Leagues in World Football Named and Ranked by AI
Despite their embarrassment of riches, the Saudi Pro League still has a long way to go before rivalling European football leagues.
Athletically tall, powerful, skilled, intelligent - there is nothing that Gullit didn't have on the playing field.
Clarence Seedorf
seedorf real madrid
Yet another Rossoneri star arrives on the list in the form of Seedorf - and he is extremely similar to his aforementioned compatriot.
One of the best passing ranges that the world has ever seen, Seedorf played in every midfield role possible with some extremely elite teams throughout the years - Ajax, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and then AC Milan, before retiring at Botafogo where he was still scoring freely.
The only player to win the Champions League with three different clubs, as well as making 125 appearances in the competition, Seedorf went from a pacy, dazzling star, to an all-rounder adept at tackling, before reverting to a quintessential deep-lying playmaker in his twilight years - enough to land him on this list with ease.
George Best
George Best at Manchester United
Best may not have been a physically imposing midfielder, but he could destroy defences from anywhere. One of the greatest dribblers of all-time, and blessed with pace, balance, flair and importantly, two-footedness, the Northern Ireland star could also drop deep to create chances.
In essence, that ambidextrous nature puts him just ahead of Messi as well as his ability to dictate games from the centre of the park, according to AI.
Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure in action for Manchester City
A modern-day Premier League legend, Toure excelled in midfield and in an advanced role for Manchester City under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini.
However, in his Barcelona days, Toure was utilised as a centre-back - showcasing his ability across the field.
A 'complete physical and technical specimen', Toure's 20-goal haul for City in the 2013/14 season saw them win the league, and with set-pieces and dribbling to match, his time in the Premier League may never witness a more complete star like it.
Kevin de Bruyne
MixCollage-18-May-2025-08-53-AM-3344
Toure's former Manchester City teammate, Kevin de Bruyne, also finds a place on the list.
The Belgian may not have had the domineering frame that Toure did, but his passing range, tactical awareness and flexibility, pressing, shooting and, above all else, vision, saw him excel in any role in midfield.
Even earlier in his career, De Bruyne played as a wide playmaker, and only a lack of notable tackling lets him down from being the all-round midfielder of the last few Premier League years.
Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos
Another complete defender in the ilk of left-sided Maldini, Ramos is his right-sided partner in crime on the list.
Able to play in those two positions, and even in a defensive midfield role, it wasn't necessarily his versatility that made him stand out from the rest. Crucial goal after crucial goal in the dying embers for Real Madrid and Spain showed his leadership, and also technical ability - with 124 goals in all competitions at club level and 23 for Spain being more than outstanding for a centre-back.
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
Without a doubt Liverpool's finest-ever player, AI has dubbed Gerrard as the 'ultimate box-to-box engine'.
Long-range shots, last-ditch tackles, an impressive passing range both short and long, clutch goals when his team needed him and immense leadership, as well as being able to win headers and score from them - there is nothing that Gerrard couldn't do.
But it was his work-rate for the club that he loved, as well as his country, that set him above the rest. A real complete player in every aspect.
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 04-07-25.
30 Greatest Players In Champions League History (Ranked) Related
35 Greatest Players In Champions League History (Ranked)
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema feature as the greatest Champions League players of all time are ranked in order.