Barnwell names top male soccer player for each year since 1979
ESPN Soccer • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 24, 2026, 10:37 AM
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
ESPN Soccer's Bill Barnwell reviews the top men's soccer player from each year since 1979. The retrospective identifies 17 different players who have held the title over nearly five decades. This analysis looks back through various eras of soccer and highlights the changing of talent in the sport. The comprehensive list is part of a broader discussion about the evolution of soccer and its stars.
- •Barnwell's analysis covers players from 1979 to present.
- •Identifies 17 championship belt holders in men's soccer.
- •Highlights the evolution of soccer talent over decades.
- •Offers insight into how individual achievement has shaped the sport.
- 11:18 AMESPN Soccer — The 'best male soccer player' Championship Belt: Barnwell picks titleholders going back nearly 50 years
"Let's look back through history and name the top men's soccer player in the world for every year since 1979. Which 17 players have held the championship belt?
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