AI Names the Greatest Front Three in Football History

Choosing the best three attackers in football history is a question that will long divide the footballing world, with certain stars holding gravitas over others and vice-versa for various reasons – but AI believes that it has nailed the age-old question by choosing certain criteria for the best trio in the game.

There have been various stars who have lit up tournaments such as the Premier League, World Cups, continental tournaments and more, with memorable moments to write their names into footballing folklore. But only three can make the grade, and as a result, GIVEMESPORT reveals who AI has chosen as the best three-man attack in footballing history, with reasons as to why others have been unfortunate to miss out.

ST – Pele

Starting off with the godfather of football, and certainly its first-ever global superstar – the late Pele is the first name on this list.

The Brazilian, whose real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was born in 1940, but made his debut for Santos aged just 16 – before winning his first World Cup with Brazil at the age of just 17.

That kickstarted an incredible career on multiple levels. Eventually taking three World Cups home, including the 1962 trophy and then 1970, after England had ruined the three-peat in 1966, Pele’s contributions of over 1,000 career goals throughout his career, as well as winning the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup, thrust him onto this list.

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However, AI also states that Pele wasn’t only a goalscorer, but a visionary playmaker as well. The 5ft 8in star could jump extremely high for his size, winning headers to retain possession, as well as being able to operate from the left, from centre-forward and in a retracted role.

His technique, athleticism and footballing IQ were ‘decades ahead of his time’ – and given that Pele was named as the World Player of the Century by the IFFHS, he’s deserving of a place in this list.

LW – Cristiano Ronaldo

Another record-breaking goalscorer, Ronaldo has spent over 20 years in the professional game – playing for some of the world’s biggest clubs in Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and currently Saudi Pro League outfit, Al-Nassr.

There is no doubting Ronaldo’s achievements in the game. He’s the all-time international appearance holder in world football, as well as the highest-scoring individual in international football history – and those achievements barely scratch the surface.

Five Ballon d’Or awards for his outstanding personal seasons, as well as five Champions League titles – four with Real Madrid and one with United – have catapulted him to become one of the leading stars in the competition’s history.

Furthermore, he secured Portugal’s first-ever international trophy, winning EURO 2016 – and that ability to drag his nation over the line is one of the most spectacular traits he has, being a ‘clutch’ player in terms of leading his teammates to victory.

A born-winner, Ronaldo is deemed one of the ‘most lethal’ forwards in history by AI, bringing unrivalled athleticism, aerial threat and ruthless finishing to the front three, being able to complement Pele and the other name in this list with his direct nature and goalscoring obsession.

RW – Lionel Messi

Who else? As Ronaldo’s career-rival, there’s no doubting that the duo spurred each other on during the peak of their careers as rivals at Real Madrid and Barcelona, but his natural talent is other-worldly and beyond human comprehension at times.

AI simply states that Messi is the ‘greatest all-round forward in football history’, being able to play as a right-winger, a false-nine or a No. 10, with goalscoring, vision and dribbling ability to hurt teams from any area of the final third.

But it’s his achievements in the game that have made him the best in the world. Making his Barcelona debut back in October 2004, Messi quickly became part of the first-team and rampaged through La Liga sides. Even by his 20th birthday, he’d already notched 26 goals for the club – before cranking his talents up a few notches to become the best player in the world.

A 50-goal season in La Liga in 2011-12 was followed by a 46-goal campaign the year after, meaning that 2012 saw him notch 91 goals in a calendar year, a record still not broken to this day.

672 goals in 778 games for the Blaugrana alongside 303 assists is a simply incredible tally – racking up 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, seven Copa del Rey’s and various other trophies.

But no award is greater than his eight Ballon d’Or’s, a competition record – as well as being Argentina’s all-time top scorer and a World Cup winner, which he achieved in 2022.

Honourable Mentions

A number of players didn’t quite make the cut but were noted for their efforts

It’s always tough to pick three players, as you leave a lot of genuine world-class talent out of the picture.

In this instance, the most obvious exclusion is Diego Maradona, who AI believed could have replaced Pele or Messi in a stylistic sense in terms of how he played.

Elsewhere, Ronaldo Nazario, dubbed the most ‘explosive’ number nine in history, could have led the line over his Portuguese namesake, whilst Johan Cruyff, George Best, Ronaldinho, Kylian Mbappe, Thierry Henry, Marco van Basten and Eusebio are also touted by AI as being unfortunate to miss out on the list.

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 02-07-25.