FULL LIST: Top 10 greatest World Cup legends

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 22, 2016 shows a handout picture released by the Rio 2016 Olympic Committee of former football player Pele holding the Olympic flame at the Pele Museum in Santos, Sao Paulo State, on July 22, 2016. Brazil football legend Pele wants to light the Rio Olympic flame at the opening ceremony on Friday, but poor health may prevent him from accepting the honor, his spokesman said on August 4, 2016. Doubts over whether Pele, 75, would be free to carry the torch to the cauldron in the Maracana stadium have been cleared up, spokesman, Jose Fornos Rodrigues, told AFP. The new question mark is over his health. / AFP PHOTO / Rio 2016 / Andre Luiz Mello / Rio 2016 / Andre Luiz Mello

As the football world looks ahead to the next FIFA World Cup, debate continues over the players who have left the greatest mark on the tournament’s history. With thousands of participants across 22 editions since 1930, selecting the top 10 remains a deeply subjective exercise that pits individual brilliance, team success, longevity and cultural impact against one another. In a fresh ranking on BBC Sport’s website, Pelé has been ranked number one as the undisputed king of the World Cup, the only player to win the trophy three times (1958, 1962 and 1970). The Brazilian superstar is followed by compatriots and global icons in a list that highlights both legendary performances and redemption stories. The Top 10 1. Pelé (Brazil) The only three-time winner, Pelé burst onto the global stage as a 17-year-old in 1958, scoring a hat-trick in the semi-final and two goals in the final. He played a pivotal role in Brazil’s 1970 triumph in Mexico, widely regarded as one of the finest tournament performances ever. Despite injury limiting him in 1962 and rough treatment in 1966, Pelé remains the most iconic name in World Cup history. 2. Diego Maradona (Argentina) Maradona’s 1986 campaign in Mexico is often cited as the greatest individual tournament performance. His “Hand of God” goal and subsequent solo effort against England in the quarter-finals, followed by further goals against Belgium and West Germany in the final, delivered Argentina’s second World Cup title. Earlier and later tournaments were marked by controversy and elimination, but 1986 cemented his legend. 3. Ronaldo (Brazil) The Phenomenon’s World Cup story is one of redemption. Unused in Brazil’s 1994 triumph, he was the star of 1998 until a pre-final seizure contributed to a heavy defeat by France. After serious knee injuries, Ronaldo returned in 2002 to score eight goals, including two in the final aga