Who is the best right footed player? Pele falls short against a genius 'everyone knows'

In a world primarily designed for the right-handed and right-footed, social and cultural norms in many nations have historically encouraged children to favor their right side from a young age. This global tendency has naturally bled into the beautiful game, resulting in an undeniable reality: right-footed players overwhelmingly outnumber their left-footed colleagues.

Consequently, the pool of talent is vast, making the task of identifying the absolute elite a daunting challenge among a sea of talent. From clinical strikers to commanding goalkeepers, the history of football is decorated with icons who turned their right foot into a precision instrument of sporting destruction.

This comprehensive analysis by Spbolivescore seeks to rank the greatest right-footed masters of all time, navigating through a fierce battle of statistics and legacies to answer the ultimate question: Who is the best right footed player?

Who is the best right footed player? 

10. Lev Yashin

Spending his entire professional career from 1950 to 1970 at Dynamo Moscow, Yashin remains the only goalkeeper in history to win the Ballon d'Or (1963). While a goalkeeper's primary weapon is his hands, Yashin revolutionized the role by using his right foot to initiate rapid counter-attacks and make unorthodox "kick-saves" that defied logic. 

Across 326 league appearances for his only club and 74 caps for the Soviet Union, he recorded over 270 career clean sheets and famously stopped over 150 penalty kicks, a world record that still stands. His right foot wasn't just for standing. It was a tool for distribution that birthed the modern "sweeper-keeper" concept. 

9. Marco van Basten

Though his career was tragically cut short by ankle injuries, his right foot produced the most iconic volley in history against the USSR in the Euro 1988 final. In 280 club games for Ajax and AC Milan, he netted 218 goals, winning 3 Ballons d'Or along the way. Van Basten's right foot was noted for its "balletic" grace, capable of thunderous power and delicate chips, particularly during his time at Milan where he won 3 Serie A titles and 2 European Cups.

8. Michel Platini 

Platini represents the intellectual peak of French football. Known as "Le Roi," Platini’s right foot was a laser-guided missile, particularly from set-pieces. During his golden era at Juventus between 1982 and 1987, he won 3 consecutive Ballons d'Or and led France to the Euro 1984 title, scoring a record 9 goals in a single tournament. He netted 224 goals in 432 club appearances, often finishing as the league's top scorer despite being a traditional midfielder. Experts often remarked that Platini didn't just kick the ball. He "whispered" to it, directing it into the top corner with a signature curling technique that bypassed any wall. 

7. Ronaldo Nazário

Between 1993 and 2011, spanning giants like Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid, Ronaldo redefined the striker role with his right foot. He was the master of the "elastico" and lightning-fast step-overs. Despite devastating knee injuries, he scored 352 goals in 518 club matches and was a 2-time Ballon d'Or winner. His ultimate moment came in the 2002 World Cup Final, where his right foot struck twice against Germany to secure Brazil's fifth title, ending the tournament with 8 goals. 

6. Franz Beckenbauer

Operating primarily as a sweeper for Bayern Munich from 1964 to 1977, Beckenbauer used the outside of his right foot, his signature "trivela" pass, to dictate play from the defensive line. He played 427 matches for Bayern, scoring 60 goals, a staggering number for a defender. He won 3 consecutive European Cups and 2 Ballons d'Or, proving that a right foot could be as much a defensive shield as an offensive sword. 

5. Alfredo Di Stéfano

Di Stéfano is the only recipient of the Super Ballon d'Or. For Real Madrid, he scored in 5 consecutive European Cup finals between 1956 and 1960. Di Stéfano was the "total footballer" before the term existed, appearing in 396 official matches for Madrid and scoring 308 goals. His right foot was the engine of the greatest club dynasty in history, characterized by a relentless work rate that saw him defending in his own box and scoring at the other end in the same minute.

4. Johan Cruyff

His signature move, the "Cruyff Turn," involves a feint with the right foot that leaves defenders stranded and is still taught in every academy today. During his legendary years at Ajax and Barcelona (1964-1984), he scored 291 goals in 521 games and won 3 Ballons d'Or. 

Cruyff famously said, "Technique is passing the ball with one touch, at the right speed, to the right foot of a teammate." His right foot was a philosophical tool that changed the geometry of the pitch forever. 

3. Zinedine Zidane 

Zidane stands as the epitome of elegance. While he scored the famous 2002 Champions League volley with his left, his right foot was his primary wand for "La Roulette" and pinpoint long-range passing. Zidane earned 108 caps for France and played 506 club games for Juventus and Real Madrid, winning the World Cup in 1998 with 2 headers, but dictating every second of the game with his feet. 

2. Pelé

With a world-record 1,279 career goals and 3 World Cups, Pelé’s right foot was the most feared weapon of the 20th century. Playing most of his career for Santos from 1956 to 1974, he combined raw power with a "samba" flair. He scored 643 goals in 656 competitive appearances for Santos alone. Pelé was also ambidextrous, but his right foot delivered the most devastating strikes, including his 1,000th goal from the penalty spot. 

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Currently active at Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League since 2023, Ronaldo has scored over 900 official goals, with more than 568 coming from his right foot. His signature "knuckleball" free-kick and unmatched clinical finishing have seen him conquer the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A. 

With 5 Ballons d'Or and the record for most goals in Champions League history (140), Ronaldo's right foot is arguably the most valuable limb in sports history. His longevity and relentless pursuit of perfection make him the undisputed answer to the question of right-footed supremacy.

Top 10 greatest right-footed players of all time:

Cristiano Ronaldo

Pelé

Zinedine Zidane

Johan Cruyff

Alfredo Di Stéfano

Franz Beckenbauer

Ronaldo Nazário

Michel Platini

Marco van Basten

Lev Yashin

The rankings provided by Spbolivescore.net have identified Who is the best right footed player? by highlighting these immortal icons. Did you know that Real Madrid once purchased an insurance policy for Ronaldo’s legs worth over €100 million? This staggering figure served as a "magic charm" to protect the club's investment and ensure CR7 could confidently use his right foot to bring home countless trophies. 

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