Marco van Basten is one of the most successful individuals in football history, having picked up three Ballon d'Or awards in his career, which was cut short by injury. The Dutch legend knows what it takes to make it at the very top of the sport, and hasn't been afraid to give his opinions since hanging up his boots over 30 years ago.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are certainly the best two players to have graced the game after Van Basten's playing era. However, the retired striker still rates three players higher than the modern-day duo when listing his all-time greats.
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Speaking in 2022, the Ajax and AC Milan icon snubbed both Messi and Ronaldo when naming his three greatest players of all time (per MARCA). But he did include the pair when listing the seven players he considers in the GOAT conversation.
Pele
Brazil
Pele is unanimously seen as Brazil's greatest-ever footballer. The dearly departed icon led his nation to an unprecedented three World Cup triumphs, having netted a hat-trick in the semi-final as a teenager.
He is among the three players Van Basten noted as his top three players in football history, and it's hard to argue. Only Messi and Ronaldo have scored more competitive goals than the talisman (762), who spent most of his career with Santos in his homeland. The highest compliment the Brazilian hero can be paid is that he was named the FIFA Player of the Century for his incredible contributions to the sport.
Diego Maradona
Argentina
Another player who took the 20th century by storm was Argentine legend Diego Maradona. The diminutive superstar could do anything with a football at his feet. You name it, and Maradona could have pulled it off while making it all look effortless.
Involved in famous moments such as 'The Hand of God' against England at the 1986 World Cup against England, Maradona's natural ability to get fans out of their seats with dazzling dribbling and sensational technical ability always outweighed the controversies. Van Basten fully agrees as he named the former Napoli favourite alongside Pele and a man he knew slightly better as one of the three greatest to have graced the sport.
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Johan Cruyff
Netherlands
Van Basten was never going to overlook his old 'friend' Johan Cruyff, whom he puts on a par with Pele and Maradona above all other figures in the beautiful game's history. The Dutchman revolutionised the sport as both a player and manager, which his compatriot recognises.
Cruyff was one of the most skilful players to ever grace the hallowed turf, so much so, that he had a skill move named after him - the Cruyff Turn. Like Van Basten, who Cruyff managed at Ajax, the iconic forward scooped up an impressive three Ballon d'Or awards. Speaking about his idol, Van Basten stated:
"As a child, I wanted to be like Cruyff. He was my friend, I miss him."
Lionel Messi
Argentina
It feels unfathomable that anyone would snub Lionel Messi when naming their list of the three greatest players of all time. The 2022 World Cup winner is seen as the GOAT by the majority now after achieving all there is to achieve in the world of football.
While he did acknowledge the greatness of the Barcelona hero, Van Basten places Messi just below the aforementioned trio of Pele, Maradona and Cruyff. Still playing for Inter Miami at 37 years old, there's still time for the record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner to convince the ex-Netherlands international to change his mind.
"Messi is also a magnificent player, but Maradona has always had more personality in a team.
“Messi is not the one who gets in front to go to war."
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
Like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo is seen as one of the best players ever. Having represented Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus at the highest level of the sport, CR7 is the top goalscorer in football history as he aims to reach 1000 professional goals.
There's nothing left for Ronaldo to prove in the sport, but he continues to try and show his insane levels of consistency and longevity at the age of 40. The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner, and the Al-Nassr forward will be desperate for one more chance to lift the biggest international trophy in the world.
Zinedine Zidane
France
Zinedine Zidane is one of only two midfield players given recognition by Van Basten. He's a player who many believe may have hung up his boots too early, although it was his own decision, unlike Van Basten, who was forced to retire in his early 30s through injury.
At the peak of his powers, the Frenchman was unstoppable. With an unfathomable elegance, Zidane shifted his 6-foot-1 frame across the football pitch as gracefully as the likes of Messi and Maradona. He was one of, if not the most, two-footed players we have ever seen, just as capable of brilliance on his weaker left foot as his wand of a right.
Michel Platini
France
The final player given a shoutout by Van Basten is the only midfield player to ever win the Ballon d'Or three times, Michel Platini. Before Zidane was running the rule over France's midfield, Platini was dominating in the engine room while collecting three successive Golden Balls.
Possibly the most impressive tournament by an individual player at Euro 1984, the ex-midfielder is often forgotten about in the shuffle of all the world-class players the game has produced. But without a doubt, he deserves to be up there due to his technical ability, as Van Basten said:
"I don’t forget Cristiano Ronaldo, Michel Platini or Zinedine Zidane."
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 28-03-25.