Who are the 10 Strongest Football Players in History?

In the era of fast-paced sport, the strongest football players often steal the spotlight week in and week out. To be a successful footballer on the pitch, a player must possess key attributes like power, strength, agility, and pace. Many footballers have made their mark in the history of the sport by leveraging these qualities to muscle opponents off the ball, break through defenses, and neutralize attackers.

Players like Yaya Toure and Zlatan Ibrahimovic climbed to the top of the game by showcasing their physical dominance on the pitch. In modern football, fans often ask who the strongest football player is, given that displays of strength can sometimes determine the outcome of a game. On that note, here’s a list of the top 10 strongest players ever. During the compilation of this list, the traits that have been taken into account are: 

• Physicality
• Strength
• Agility 
• Difficulty to move past

List of Strongest Football Players Ever (Top 10)

Rank	Player name	Nationality
1.	Adebayo Akinfenwa	England
2.	George Elokobi	Cameroon
3.	Hulk	Brazil
4.	Virgil van Dijk	Netherlands
5.	Romelu Lukaku	Belgium
6.	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	Sweden
7.	Yaya Toure	Ivory Coast
8.	Adama Traore	Spain
9.	Antonio Rudiger	Germany
10.	Eusebio	Portugal

10. Eusebio

The legendary footballer from Portugal was one of the most prolific and athletic players of all-time. His appearance in the field used to send waves of terror across the opponents benches. The British people were amazed by his tall black figure when Portugal came to the shores of England for the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

Eusebio’s physical strength, fast-paced run and trickery earned him truck loads of goals. The best player in the history of Benfica netted 733 goals in 745 matches in his illustrious career. His strong physical appearance led him to earn the famous nickname “Black Panther.”

Also Read: Ranking Best African footballers of All-time

9. Antonio Rudiger

One of the greatest defenders in modern football, Antonio Rudiger has been a standout figure for Real Madrid and Germany National Football Team. His height, physique and agility have made him one of the strongest football players ever. The cunning center-back is too tough to be outsmarted by a forward. He is a living art of defending, similar to the likes of Sergio Ramos and Carles Puyol.

His exceptional running, physical strength and presence of mind were crucial in Champions League glory of both Real Madrid and Chelsea. Athleticism is his best attribute, for sure.

8. Adama Traore

Adama Traore has everything to become one of the modern-day legends, but surprisingly despite being one of the strongest players he has not been able to reach the front row of the elites. When he is in full stride, displaying his lightning pace and incredible strength, it’s almost impossible to stop him. Even the mighty defenders of the Premier League have faced a tough time to deal with his athleticism.

However, he has not done justice to his ridiculous talent as he has failed to be one of the most influential players in club football despite playing for the likes of Barcelona and Wolves. In 219 competitive games, he has scored just 13 goals. 

7. Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure is our next pick in this ridiculously talented list of the strongest football players in the world ever. The Ivorian was a gifted string-puller in the middle of the park. During his stints with Barcelona and Manchester City, he used to deliver some obscure passes and go past the opponents with ease. And, about shooting, well he was an angel. His tall and big physique was always noticeable in the field, thanks to his tireless stamina and well-timed tackles. 

He hit the peak of his career at Etihad when he used to run the midfield of a resurgent Manchester City. His biggest international achievement was to lead his country to the 2015 AFCON glory. He was a crucial part in Barcelona’s sextuple-winning campaign.

6. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Where Yaya Toure was an all-round midfielder, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a god-gifted central forward. The Swedish striker was a nightmare for defenders. His ridiculous stamina and physical strength partnered with clinical finish and aggression made him one of the elite strikers of the ball. He complimented his club career with a whopping 511 goals in 866 games.

One of the strongest footballers, Ibrahimovic etched his name in the long-serving memory of the fans, courtesy of some unbelievable goals, partnered with a few iconic bicycle Kicks. The former Manchester United and Barcelona star was a cog in the attacking wheel of AC Milan during the twilight of his career.

5. Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku acquired the fourth spot on the list of the strongest football players ever. His six feet three inches height has not been able to create a barrier against his speed. The Belgian striker is incredibly strong yet runs like a cheetah during a counter attack, making it difficult for the defenders to keep an eye on him. Blessed with necessary attributes such as skills, shooting and supreme physical prowess, Lukaku is a nightmare for his opponents. Left foot, right foot, header, you name it – he can score using any one of them.

He has already amassed more than 236 goals in an up-and-down club career that saw him clinch some of the biggest league trophies across Europe. 

4. Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool is most probably the greatest defender currently in the football world. One of the strongest football players, van Dijk has mastered the art of defending with his agility, quick thinking and vision of the play. It is almost impossible to muscle past the Netherlands center-back in a one-on-one situation as he is a serial winner in ground and aerial battles. Liverpool’s recent success including the Premier League and UEFA Champions League victories mostly relied upon the leadership qualities of him. 

His sublime strength and physical stature have made him an immovable force in the backline of the Reds. 

Also Read: Top 10 Chelsea Managers With Most Win in the Club History

3. Hulk

Have you ever heard of a nickname getting more fame than the actual name? Well, in the case of Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, it happened. The Brazilian attacker, whose physical attributes used to be a bullying tool in the field, got the nickname ‘“Hulk” due to his fondness for Lou Ferrigno, who played the role of Hulk on a TV show. He played in five different leagues across the world and became an epitome of physical prowess. 

Even the official website of FIFA described him as a direct powerhouse on the pitch. Hulk clocked over 400 career goals in more than 800 official games. His strong left foot registered an incredible ripper which recorded a speed of 108 km/h. Hulk will always be remembered as one of the strongest football players ever.

2. George Elokobi

George Elokobi is one of the most sensational figures on this list. Playing with the English minnows like Wolves and Maidstone, Elokobi established himself as a successful defender, who made it impossible for his opponents to muscle past him in tight situations. The muscle-bound defender registered a unique record by scoring in every division of the English leagues. 

Sublime strength was Elokobi’s forte. His hard work, patience and athleticism worked like wonders in his 20-year-long journey in football. 

1. Adebayo Akinfenwa

Adebayo Akinfenwa was the strongest football player ever in the history of this beautiful game. The topper of this list looked more like a professional heavyweight champion than a footballer. Widely known for his big physical appearance and ridiculous strength, Akinfenwa was given the nickname “beast” by the pundits and fans alike. In 797 appearances, he recorded 234 goals with clubs like Swansea, Northampton, Wimbledon and Torquay. 

His physical appearance made many think that he was too big to play football. But, against all odds, he made his way to the top level of football in an eventful career that spanned over 20 years. 

FAQs