Best Chile football players of all time: ‘Pitbull’ who hurt Messi included, can Sanchez beat Vidal?

Chile became the ultimate nightmare for arguably the greatest player to ever grace the pitch, Lionel Messi. In 2 consecutive Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016, the then 29-year-old legend was reduced to tears by a Chilean side that refused to break. The pressure exerted by Chile was so immense that after the 2016 defeat, Messi briefly announced his international retirement. 

This dominance was no fluke, Chile possessed a generation of warriors hardened in Europe’s top leagues. While they famously finished third in the 1962 World Cup on home soil, the modern era brought a tactical sophistication that shocked the world. At Spbolivescore, we believe it is essential to revisit these icons. By analyzing the best Chile football players of all time, we can understand how a nation of 19 million people managed to sit on the throne of South American football twice in 2 years.

Ranking the top 10 best Chile football players of all time

10. Carlos Caszely

An absolute icon of the 1970s and 80s, Caszely remains the heart of CSD Colo-Colo. Over his illustrious career, he scored 208 goals for the club, leading them to 5 Chilean league titles. For the national team, he earned 49 caps and netted 29 goals. Known as "The King of the Square Meter" for his incredible ball control in tight spaces, Caszely was a nightmare for defenders. His most iconic moment came in the 1973 Copa Libertadores, where his goals propelled Colo-Colo to the final. 

9. Leonel Sanchez

The hero of 1962, Sanchez, is a name synonymous with Chilean grit. He was the joint top scorer of the 1962 World Cup with 4 goals, leading Chile to their best-ever third-place finish. Sanchez earned 84 caps and scored 24 goals, famously participating in the "Battle of Santiago" against Italy. Spent mostly at Universidad de Chile, he won 7 league titles. Experts often described his left foot as a "cannon." Sanchez passed away in 2022 at age 85.

8. David Pizarro

Known as "Pek," Pizarro was a midfield maestro who dictated the tempo of the game. Across 46 international appearances, he was the brain of the team, culminating in the 2015 Copa America trophy. Pizarro enjoyed a massive career in Italy with Inter Milan, AS Roma, and Fiorentina, and even won the Premier League title with Manchester City in 2012. He retired in 2018 at age 39 while playing for Universidad de Chile, leaving a void in the deep-lying playmaker role that Chile has struggled to fill since.

7. Gary Medel

Nicknamed "El Pitbull," Medel represents the fierce soul of Chilean football. With 161 caps and 7 goals, he is the second most-capped player in history. Medel was the defensive anchor in both the 2015 and 2016 Copa America triumphs, playing nearly every minute. His club career took him to Sevilla, Inter Milan, and Besiktas, where he was lauded for his "suicidal" bravery in tackles. Even at 38, Medel continues to compete, currently playing for CD Universidad Catolica in hometown.

6. Claudio Bravo

The greatest goalkeeper in Chilean history, Bravo, recently retired in August 2024 at age 41. He earned 150 caps and kept a record number of clean sheets, notably saving the crucial penalty from Lucas Biglia in the 2016 final. Bravo’s club career is legendary, winning the Treble with Barcelona in 2015 and multiple titles at Man City. Former manager Pep Guardiola once said, "Claudio is one of the best goalkeepers in the world at building play." 

5. Eduardo Vargas

Vargas is a "big game" specialist. While his club career at Napoli, Hoffenheim, and Atletico Mineiro was steady, his international form was explosive. He has 114 caps and 43 goals, making him the second-highest scorer in Chile's history. Vargas won the Golden Boot in both the 2015 and 2016 Copa America tournaments. His four-goal haul in the 7-0 demolition of Mexico in 2016 remains one of the most clinical individual performances in tournament history.

4. Marcelo Salas

"El Matador" Salas was a striker of pure elegance. Between 1994 and 2008, he scored 37 goals in 70 games. His most iconic moment was scoring 2 goals against England at Wembley in 1998, followed by 4 goals at the 1998 World Cup. Salas was a superstar at Lazio and Juventus, winning 3 Serie A titles. Salas retired in 2008 at age 33 with Universidad de Chile and currently serves as the president of club Deportes Temuco.

3. Ivan Zamorano

"Bam Bam" Zamorano was Chile’s first true global superstar. He scored 34 goals in 69 international matches and won an Olympic Bronze in 2000. At Real Madrid, he won the Pichichi Trophy in 1995 with 28 goals. His headers were considered the best in the world, despite not being the tallest, his leap was superhuman. He won the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan in 1998.

2. Arturo Vidal

Vidal is the most decorated Chilean player ever. With 142 caps and 34 goals, he was the "engine room" that powered Chile to 2 continental titles. His career at Juventus, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Inter Milan saw him win league titles in 3 of Europe's top 5 leagues. "Vidal is a warrior who can play in ten positions," noted former coach Guardiola. He is the epitome of the box-to-box midfielder. Currently, at 38, he has returned to his roots at Colo-Colo, where he continues to inspire the next generation.

1. Alexis Sanchez

Sanchez holds the record for most appearances (166) and most goals (50) for the national team. His "Panenka" penalty to win the 2015 Copa America is the most famous moment in Chilean sports history. Sanchez was a force of nature at Barcelona and Arsenal, where he won 2 FA Cups and the PFA Fans' Player of the Year. Known for his tireless work rate and dribbling, he remains Chile's greatest attacking threat. 

List of the 10 best Chile football players of all time:

Alexis Sanchez

Arturo Vidal

Ivan Zamorano

Marcelo Salas

Claudio Bravo

Leonel Sanchez

Eduardo Vargas

Gary Medel

David Pizarro

Carlos Caszely

Returning to the harsh reality of the present, the glory of 2016 feels like a distant memory. Chilean football has hit rock bottom, failing to qualify for the 2018, 2022, and now staring at a last-place finish in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The "Golden Generation" has aged, and a severe lack of new talent has left the team breathing through the lungs of veterans who are well past their prime. 

Perhaps this list of the best Chile football players of all time provided by Spbolivescore.net serves only as a brief escape from a brutal reality where Chile is no longer the giant-killer of South America.

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