World Soccer is an English-language football magazine, published by Kelsey Media. The magazine was established in 1960 and is the oldest continually published football magazine in the United Kingdom.[2][3] It specialises in the international football scene. Its regular contributing writers include Brian Glanville, Keir Radnedge, Sid Lowe and Tim Vickery. World Soccer is a member of the European Sports Media (ESM), an umbrella group of similar magazines printed in other languages. The members of this group elect a European "Team of the Month" and a European "Team of the Year".
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| Editor | Stephen Fishlock |
|---|---|
| Categories | Football |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Circulation | 331,000 (Jan–Dec 2013)[1] |
| Publisher | Kelsey Media |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Based in | Farnborough, Hampshire, UK |
| Language | English |
| Website | worldsoccer |
| ISSN | 0043-9037 |
Since 1982, World Soccer has also organised "Player of the Year", "Manager of the Year" and "Team of the Year" awards.[4]
History
The magazine was first published in London in October 1960, by Echo Publications. The first edition featured an image of Titus Buberník and Svatopluk Pluskal on the front cover.[5] It was edited by Robert Bolle, with Graham Payne, editor of weekly sister publication Soccer Star, as features editor; Jack Rollin, who later edited The Football Yearbook for many years, as home editor; and Eric Batty as overseas editor.[6][7] Batty, who later edited the magazine, published an annual World XI from 1960 to 1992.[8] Brian Glanville has written a column for the magazine since April 1963.[9][10] In 1970, Soccer Star, which was first published on 20 September 1952 as Raich Carter's Soccer Star, was incorporated into World Soccer.[11] Keir Radnedge, who had been associate editor, took over from Philip Rising as editor in the late 1980s and was replaced by deputy editor Gavin Hamilton in January 1998 and became executive editor.[12] Radnedge continues to have a monthly column in the magazine.[13][14][15]
TI Media (formerly IPC Magazines, IPC Media and Time Inc. UK) published the magazine until the May 2020 issue with Kelsey Media taking over the following issue after they acquired the title from Future plc, the successor of TI Media.[16] Hamilton, who had worked for World Soccer for 26 years, stepped down as editor after publishing the 60th anniversary edition in June 2020.[17]
Other regular contributors have included Paul Gardner, with a focus on football in the United States; David Conn; Jonathan Wilson; Mark Gleeson on African football; Tim Vickery, Brian Homewood and Eric Weil on South American football.
Award winners
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Men's World Player of the Year
By country
| # | Country | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Brazil | 8 |
| 2 |  Argentina | 7 |
| 3 |  Portugal | 6 |
| 4 |  Italy | 5 |
| 5 |  France | 4 |
 Netherlands | ||
| 7 |  Poland | 2 |
| 8 |  Germany | 1 |
 Czech Republic | ||
 England | ||
 Spain | ||
 Croatia | ||
 Norway |
By League
| # | League | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Liga (SPA) | 20 |
| 2 | Serie A (ITA) | 19 |
| 3 | Premier League (ENG) | 3 |
| 4 | Bundesliga (GER) | 2 |
| Ligue 1 (FRA) |
Young Player of the Year
| Year | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Robinho (BRA) (30%) | Santos FC & Real Madrid |
| 2006 | Lionel Messi (ARG) (36%) | FC Barcelona[36] |
| 2007 | Lionel Messi (ARG) (34%) | FC Barcelona[37] |
| 2008 | Lionel Messi (ARG) (44%) | FC Barcelona[19] |
| 2009 | Sergio Agüero (ARG) (45.1) | Atlético Madrid[20] |
| 2010 | Thomas Müller (GER) (45.8) | Bayern Munich[21] |
| 2011 | Neymar (BRA) (29.2%) | Santos FC[22] |
Men's World Manager of the Year
All-time wins
By manager
| # | Manager | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Alex Ferguson (SCO) | 4 |
| 2 | José Mourinho (POR) | 3 |
| Pep Guardiola (ESP) |
By country
| # | Country | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 8 |
| 2 | Italy | 7 |
| 3 | France | 6 |
| 4 | Spain | 5 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 4 |
| Scotland | ||
| 7 | Portugal | 3 |
| 8 | England | 1 |
 Belgium | ||
 Denmark | ||
| Brazil | ||
| Argentina |
Men's World Team of the Year
By team
| # | Team | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 5 |
| 2 | Barcelona (ESP) | 4 |
| 3 | Liverpool (ENG) | 3 |
| Milan (ITA) | ||
| Spain | ||
| 6 | Brazil | 2 |
| Germany | ||
| Bayern Munich (GER) | ||
| Argentina |
Women's World Player of the Year
Source:[31][32][34][45][46][47]
| Year | Rank | Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1st | Pernille Harder | Wolfsburg Chelsea | 11 |
| 2nd | Vivianne Miedema | Arsenal | 6 | |
| 3rd | Wendie Renard | Lyon | 5 | |
| 2021 | 1st | Alexia Putellas | Barcelona | 89 |
| 2nd | Jennifer Hermoso | Barcelona | 55 | |
| 3rd | Vivianne Miedema | Arsenal | 52 | |
| 2022 | 1st | Beth Mead | Arsenal | — |
| 2023 | 1st | Aitana Bonmatí | Barcelona | 178 |
| 2nd |  Sam Kerr | Chelsea | 94 | |
| 3rd | Mary Earps | Manchester United | 42 | |
Women's World Manager of the Year
- 2020 –
Jean-Luc Vasseur (FRA), Lyon[31] - 2021 –
Lluís Cortés (ESP), Barcelona[32] - 2022 –
Sarina Wiegman (NED), England[34] - 2023 – Sarina Wiegman (NED), England[48]
Women's World Team of the Year
Referee of the Year
| Year | Rank | Referee | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1st | Pierluigi Collina | 30.6% |
| 2nd | Kim Milton Nielsen | 19.7% | |
| 3rd | Markus Merk | 16.3% | |
| 2006 | 1st | Horacio Elizondo | 38.7% |
| 2nd |  Benito Archundia | 30.5% | |
| 3rd |  Ľuboš Micheľ | 8.5% | |
Greatest XI of All Time
The list is based on the voting poll consisted of 74 experts (journalists, TV pundits, current and former players and managers) from around the world.[52]
(Published July 2013)[52]
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
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Goalkeepers
| Pos. | Name | Votes | % of votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Lev Yashin (URS) | 31 | 41.89% |
| 2 | Gordon Banks (ENG) | 6 | 8.11% |
| Dino Zoff (ITA) | |||
| 4 | Gianluigi Buffon (ITA) | 5 | 6.76% |
| Peter Schmeichel (DEN) | |||
| 6 | Iker Casillas (ESP) | 4 | 5.41% |
| 7 | Sepp Maier (GER) | 3 | 4.05% |
| 8 |  Pat Jennings (NIR) | 2 | 2.70% |
| Oliver Kahn (GER) | |||
| Edwin van der Sar (NED) |
Full backs
| Pos. | Name | Votes | % of votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paolo Maldini (ITA) | 48 | 64.86% |
| 2 | Cafu (BRA) | 24 | 32.43% |
| 3 | Carlos Alberto Torres (BRA) | 18 | 24.32% |
| 4 | Roberto Carlos (BRA) | 13 | 17.57% |
| 5 | Djalma Santos (BRA) | 11 | 14.86% |
| 6 | Giacinto Facchetti (ITA) | 7 | 9.46% |
| 7 | Nílton Santos (BRA) | 6 | 8.11% |
| 8 | Berti Vogts (GER) | 4 | 5.41% |
| 9 | Lilian Thuram (FRA) | 3 | 4.05% |
| 10 | Ruud Krol (NED) | 2 | 2.70% |
 Víctor Rodríguez Andrade (URU) | |||
| Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (GER) |
Central defenders
| Pos. | Name | Votes | % of votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franz Beckenbauer (GER) | 68 | 91.89% |
| 2 | Bobby Moore (ENG) | 23 | 31.08% |
| 3 | Franco Baresi (ITA) | 22 | 29.73% |
| 4 | Daniel Passarella (ARG) | 4 | 5.41% |
| 5 | Fabio Cannavaro (ITA) | 3 | 4.05% |
 John Charles (WAL) | |||
| Marcel Desailly (FRA) | |||
 Paul McGrath (IRE) | |||
| 9 | Giuseppe Bergomi (ITA) | 2 | 2.70% |
Midfielders
| Pos. | Name | Votes | % of votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diego Maradona (ARG) | 64 | 86.49% |
| 2 | Johan Cruyff (NED) | 58 | 78.38% |
| 3 | Zinedine Zidane (FRA) | 28 | 37.84% |
| 4 | Alfredo Di Stéfano (ARG) | 24 | 32.43% |
| 5 | Michel Platini (FRA) | 18 | 24.32% |
| 6 | Garrincha (BRA) | 15 | 20.27% |
| 7 | George Best (NIR) | 12 | 16.22% |
| 8 | Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) | 7 | 9.46% |
| 9 | Bobby Charlton (ENG) | 5 | 6.76% |
| Lothar Matthäus (GER) | |||
| 11 | Andrés Iniesta (ESP) | 4 | 5.41% |
| Xavi (ESP) | |||
| 13 | Didi (BRA) | 3 | 4.05% |
| Sócrates (BRA) | |||
| 15 | Roberto Baggio (ITA) | 2 | 2.70% |
| Toninho Cerezo (BRA) | |||
| Francisco Gento (ESP) | |||
| Ryan Giggs (WAL) | |||
| Stanley Matthews (ENG) | |||
| Johan Neeskens (NED) | |||
| Rivellino (BRA) | |||
| Zico (BRA) |
Strikers
| Pos. | Name | Votes | % of votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pelé (BRA) | 56 | 75.68% |
| 2 | Lionel Messi (ARG) | 46 | 62.16% |
| 3 |  Ferenc Puskas (HUN) | 11 | 14.86% |
| 4 | Ronaldo (BRA) | 9 | 12.16% |
| 5 | Marco van Basten (NED) | 5 | 6.76% |
| 6 | Gerd Müller (GER) | 4 | 5.41% |
| 7 | Oleh Blokhin (URS) | 2 | 2.70% |
| Eusébio (POR) |
Greatest Managers of All Time
,_World_Soccer_(2013)_or_ESPN_(2013).png)
,_World_Soccer_(2013)_%26_ESPN_(2013).png)
.jpg)
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The list is based on the voting poll consisting of 74 experts (journalists, TV pundits, current and former players and managers) from around the world with each having been allotted 5 managerial picks.
Key
- Managers in bold are ranked by World Soccer, France Football and ESPN[54][55][56]
Greatest Players of the 20th century
In the December 1999 issue, a readers' poll listing the 100 greatest football players of the 20th century was published.[58]
| # | Player |
|---|---|
| 26 | Romário |
| 27 | Jairzinho |
| 28 | Zinedine Zidane |
| 29 | Ruud Gullit |
| 30 | John Charles |
| 31 | Lothar Matthäus |
| 32 | Gordon Banks |
| 33 | Jürgen Klinsmann |
| 34 | Dennis Bergkamp |
| 35 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge |
| 36 | Gary Lineker |
| 37 | Giuseppe Meazza |
| 38 | Rivellino |
| 39 | Didi |
| 40 | Ian Rush |
| 41 | Peter Schmeichel |
| Paolo Rossi | |
| 43 |  George Weah |
| 44 | Michael Owen |
| 45 | Just Fontaine |
| 46 | Duncan Edwards |
| 47 | Dino Zoff |
| 48 |  Hristo Stoichkov |
| 49 | David Beckham |
| 50 | Tom Finney |
World Player of the Decade 2000s
In 2009, a World Player of the Decade was announced based on the reader's votes from 2000 to 2009 in the annual Player of the Year polls.[59]
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Eric Batty's World XI
Since the first year of publication of World Soccer and over a 30-year period, overseas editor Eric Batty published his team selection of the best players over the season.
| Eric Batty's World XI | ||||
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| Year | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
1960[60] |
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1961[60] |
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1962[60] |
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1964[60] |
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1966[60] |
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1968[60] |
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1969[60] |
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| 1970 | did not publish | |||
1971[61] |
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| 1972[61] |
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| 1979 | did not publish | |||
| 1980 | did not publish | |||
| 1981 | did not publish | |||
| 1982[62] |
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| 1983[62] |
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| 1984[62] |
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| 1985[62] |
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| 1986[62] |
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| 1987[62] |
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| 1988 | did not publish | |||
| 1989[62] |
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| 1990[62] |
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| 1991[62] |
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| 1992[62] |
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| World Soccer World XI | ||||
| 2012[63] | ||||
By player
| Appearances | Player | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Franz Beckenbauer (FRG) | 1966 | 1977 |
| 8 | Gerd Müller (FRG) | 1969 | 1978 |
| 7 | Pele (BRA) | 1960 | 1966 |
| 6 | Giacinto Facchetti (ITA) | 1964 | 1969 |
| Peter Shilton (ENG) | 1978 | 1990 | |
| 5 | Alfredo Di Stéfano (ESP) | 1960 | 1965 |
| Mário Coluna (POR) | 1963 | 1967 | |
| Sandro Mazzola (ITA) | 1965 | 1974 | |
| Bobby Moore (ENG) | 1968 | 1973 | |
| Alain Giresse (FRA) | 1982 | 1986 | |
| 4 | Ferenc Puskás (ESP) | 1960 | 1963 |
| Lev Yashin (URS) | 1963 | 1967 | |
| Ferenc Bene (HUN) | 1966 | 1969 | |
| Włodzimierz Lubański (POL) | 1968 | 1973 | |
| Paul Breitner (FRG) | 1972 | 1976 | |
| Michel Platini (FRA) | 1982 | 1985 | |
| Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (FRG) | 1982 | 1985 | |
| Jean Tigana (FRA) | 1984 | 1987 | |
| 3 | Francisco Gento (ESP) | 1960 | 1962 |
| Germano (POR) | 1961 | 1965 | |
| Djalma Santos (BRA) | 1962 | 1965 | |
 Fahrudin Jusufi (YUG) | 1962 | 1968 | |
| Luis Suárez (ESP) | 1963 | 1965 | |
| Ján Popluhár (TCH) | 1964 | 1968 | |
| Geoff Hurst (ENG) | 1967 | 1969 | |
| Gordon Banks (ENG) | 1969 | 1972 | |
| Berti Vogts (FRG) | 1971 | 1977 | |
| Günter Netzer (FRG) | 1972 | 1975 | |
| Luís Pereira (BRA) | 1974 | 1978 | |
| Osvaldo Ardiles (ARG) | 1978 | 1983 | |
| Sócrates (BRA) | 1982 | 1984 | |
| Morten Olsen (DEN) | 1984 | 1986 | |
| Rinat Dasayev (URS) | 1984 | 1987 | |
| Míchel (ESP) | 1986 | 1989 | |
| Rafael Martín Vázquez (ESP) | 1989 | 1991 | |
| Marco van Basten (NED) | 1989 | 1992 |