Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
FIFA 100
On March 4, 2004, at a gala ceremony in London, to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international governing body of football revealed the FIFA 100. The list contains the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelé's choice of the "greatest living footballers". The figure 100 refers to the 100th anniversary of FIFA and not the number of players listed, which is actually 125. Apparently Pelé found it too difficult to list just 100. The list contains 123 professional men and 2 women players (Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm both from the United States). At the time the FIFA 100 was selected, 50 of the players were still active, with the remaining 75 retired from the game.
Some football observers have questioned the selection methodology of the list. David Mellor, former politician turned football pundit, wrote in his column in the Evening Standard, that he felt the selections were politically motivated rather than made on purely footballing grounds. He suggested that the selections looked as if they came from the pen of the FIFA Executive Committee rather than Pelé. As evidence for this, Mellor noted the wide geographical spread of the selected players: a true selection would be more heavily biased to South America and Europe, he claimed. Other critics have claimed the list was too biased towards modern-day players and that female players were included even though the women's game is far less developed the men's. Another questionable FIFA-rule here is that it should contain only "living" players: not limited to "active" players, and not expanded to great players "ever" in these celebrated 100 years of FIFA. As example, one could reasonably expect Garrincha to be included.
The Americas (34)
Argentina (10)
- Gabriel Batistuta
- Hernán Crespo
- Mario Kempes
- Diego Maradona
- Daniel Passarella
- Javier Saviola
- Omar Sivori
- Alfredo Di Stefano
- Juan Sebastián Veron
- Javier Zanetti
Brazil (15)
- Carlos Alberto
- Cafú
- Roberto Carlos
- Falcăo
- Junior
- Pelé
- Rivaldo
- Rivelino
- Romário
- Ronaldinho
- Ronaldo
- Djalma Santos
- Nilton Santos
- Sócrates
- Zico
Chile (2)
Colombia (1)
Mexico (1)
Paraguay (1)
Peru (1)
United States (2)
Uruguay (1)
Europe (84)
Belgium (3)
Bulgaria (1)
Croatia (1)
Czech Republic (2)
Denmark (3)
England (7)
France (14)
- Eric Cantona
- Marcel Desailly
- Didier Deschamps
- Just Fontaine
- Thierry Henry
- Raymond Kopa
- Jean-Pierre Papin
- Robert Pires
- Michel Platini
- Lilian Thuram
- Marius Tresor
- David Trézéguet
- Patrick Vieira
- Zinedine Zidane
Germany (10)
- Michael Ballack
- Franz Beckenbauer
- Paul Breitner
- Oliver Kahn
- Jürgen Klinsmann
- Sepp Maier
- Lothar Matthäus
- Gerd Müller
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
- Uwe Seeler
Hungary (1)
Republic of Ireland (1)
Italy (14)
- Roberto Baggio
- Franco Baresi
- Giuseppe Bergomi
- Giampiero Boniperti
- Gianluigi Buffon
- Alessandro Del Piero
- Giacinto Facchetti
- Paolo Maldini
- Alessandro Nesta
- Gianni Rivera
- Paolo Rossi
- Francesco Totti
- Christian Vieri
- Dino Zoff
Netherlands (13)
- Marco van Basten
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Johan Cruijff
- Edgar Davids
- Ruud Gullit
- René van de Kerkhof
- Willy van de Kerkhof
- Patrick Kluivert
- Johan Neeskens
- Ruud van Nistelrooy
- Rob Rensenbrink
- Frank Rijkaard
- Clarence Seedorf
Northern Ireland (1)
Poland (1)
Portugal (3)
Romania (1)
Russia (1)
Scotland (1)
Spain (3)
Turkey (2)
Ukraine (1)
Africa (5)
Cameroon (1)
Ghana (1)
Liberia (1)
Nigeria (1)
Senegal (1)
Asia (2)
Japan (1)
South Korea (1)
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