The Greatest Footballers of All Time, by Position

38-0 asks you to sign a full 4-4-2 — one goalkeeper, four defenders, four midfielders, two strikers — from a pool of real, retired legends. Knowing which players define each position, and what they were great at, is the foundation of a strong draft. Here’s a position-by-position tour of the all-time greats you might sign.

Goalkeepers

The keeper is the one position where a single moment can save a perfect run. The historical benchmarks are Lev Yashin — the only goalkeeper ever to win the Ballon d’Or — Gordon Banks, remembered for “the save of the century” against Pelé, Dino Zoff, a World Cup winner at 40, and Gianluigi Buffon. A commanding keeper with elite shot-stopping steadies everything in front of him.

Defenders

A back four needs balance: a ball-player, a no-nonsense stopper, and attacking full-backs. The icons include Franz Beckenbauer, who reinvented the sweeper role; Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi, the twin pillars of AC Milan’s great defences; Bobby Moore, England’s 1966 captain and a byword for reading the game; Fabio Cannavaro, a Ballon d’Or-winning centre-back; and attacking full-backs like Giacinto Facchetti and Roberto Carlos.

Midfielders

Midfield is where most seasons are won or lost, and where chemistry matters most. The great creators — Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini, Bobby Charlton, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta — supply the vision; the great engines — Lothar Matthäus, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira — supply the drive and the tackling. A midfield of four pure creators looks glamorous but leaves you exposed, which is why a genuine ball-winner is a chemistry requirement in the game.

Forwards

The two up top decide how many of your 38 you actually win. The pantheon includes Pelé and Diego Maradona, the eternal GOAT debate; Johan Cruyff, the false-nine pioneer; Alfredo Di Stéfano, the complete forward of the 1950s–60s Real Madrid dynasty; and lethal finishers like Gerd Müller, Marco van Basten, Ronaldo and Thierry Henry. A perfect season usually needs two strikers who both punish half-chances.

Turning legends into a draft

Great individuals don’t automatically make a great side — that’s the whole point of 38-0’s chemistry system. A settled spine down the middle (keeper, centre-backs, central midfield, striker), a national-team core who understand each other, and an XI built for one era will outperform a random collection of superstars. For how to put it together, read the draft strategy guide.