There have been many occasions when a trio of great footballers have combined to rise to the heights of legend. That’s why we look into the annals of soccer history to find out the 10 best soccer trios.
The best football trios – the final ranking
Ever since Neymar, Messi and Suarez last came together to form Barcelona’s top three and put on one incredible performance after another, many people have been asking questions. Are they the best soccer trio of all time? Read on and find out!
10 – David Beckham – Ryan Giggs – Paul Scholes
At number 10 in the best soccer trios is Beckham, Giggs and Scholes for Manchester United. The three are an inspiring soccer trio for the world, and among the greatest soccer players of all time.
Giggs and Scholes were both products of Manchester United. These three were the club’s hardest working players with many stories of their spartan training.
Together, the three formed the backbone of the team’s midfield, creating chances for the strikers and sometimes scoring goals.
Beckham was the more flashy and prolific scorer of the three. This was due to his precision in taking free kicks and his ability to score goals from long-range shots.
9. Alfredo Di Stefano – Francisco Gento – Ferenc Puskas
Number 9 in best soccer trios are Alfredo Di Stefano, Francisco Gento and Ferenc Puskas for Real Madrid. The original greatest soccer trio for Real Madrid before Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema came along.
The three were the reason for Real Madrid’s dominance in the 1950s and establishing Real Madrid as one of the most valuable sports clubs in the world.
Together they won three European Cups, and Gento remains to this day the only player to have won six European Cups.
The jewel of the trio, Alfredo Di Stefano, is also one of the highest scorers in the UEFA Champions League.
8. Lionel Messi – Xavier Hernández – Andres Iniesta
At number 8 in the best soccer trios is Messi, Xavi and Iniesta for Barcelona. The best trio in soccer history, they were the epitome of soccer magic in the modern era.
The great vision and passing ability of these three combined perfectly with Pep’s tiki-taka philosophy to create one of the most dominant teams in the club’s history.
Together, this trio won four Champions Leagues and six La Liga titles. Much of Barcelona’s success and Messi’s own scoring record can be partially attributed to 2016’s best midfielders, Xavi and Iniesta.
These two seemed to play with some sort of telepathic communication as they tore apart the opposing defense with their lightning-fast string of short passes to set up Messi for the goal.
7. Pele – Jairzinho – Tostao
At number 7 in the top soccer trios is Pele, Jairzinho and Tostao for Brazil. In the 1970s, Brazil had one of the best teams of all time.
This can be attributed to the fact that the top five of their team were good enough to wear the number 10 jersey on any team. But it was this trio that made the team a world powerhouse.
They were the ones who lit up the 1970 World Cup with their great performances.
Jairzinho scored in every game, while Pele cemented his position as the greatest of all time and this trio became one of the best trios in soccer history.
6. Rivaldo – Ronaldo – Ronaldinho
At number 6 we have Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho for Brazil. This power trio in soccer needs no introduction. One of the most exciting tercets of modern times, each could dribble, set up plays for the other and finish them perfectly.
This made them particularly lethal, as defenses had a difficult time deciding who to mark. This trio won the 2002 World Cup together and showed how dangerous the Brazilian style of soccer could be.
They also created some special moments in World Cup soccer. Each was the greatest player of his generation.
While Ronaldo was the best striker in the world, both Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were the best midfielders with dazzling dribbling, vision and ability to create chances. In addition, both Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were also effective free kick shooters.
5. Johan Cruyff – Johnny Pep – Piet Keizer
At number 5 in the top soccer trios is Johan Cruyff, Johnny Pep and Piet Keizer for Ajax. The Netherlands has produced some of the best soccer players of all time, but this particular trio was something else.
These three were the most instrumental in the Total Football mechanism of the 1970s, which became world famous thanks to Ajax and the Dutch National Side.
It was thanks to these three that the Netherlands reached the 1974 World Cup final, but it was Ajax where they really shined.
The three led Ajax to three European Cups in a row and began Ajax’s golden era. No wonder they are remembered as one of the greatest football trios to date.
4. George Best – Denis Law – Bobby Charlton
At number 4 we have George Best, Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton for Manchester United. You know a trio is one of the best trios in soccer history when they each won and secured special places in Ballon d’Or history.
The holy trinity of English soccer and that of Manchester United were crucial to Manchester United’s early European success.
They helped Manchester United become the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968.
They were literally unstoppable in their time and scored more than 660 goals in 1,300 games combined.
3. Lionel Messi – Luis Suarez – Neymar
The number 3 ranked best soccer trio is Messi, Suarez and Neymar of Barcelona. This trio made up of the best players of their Latin American countries is not only one of the current top trios, but also among the greatest trios in soccer.
They have set a new benchmark for the trio’s scoring statistics, as the three combined to score more than the entire Real Madrid team in 2015.
Consisting of one of the most handsome soccer players of all time in Messi, the most lethal striker of 2022 in Suarez, and a player already considered by many to be one of the best natural talents of all time in Neymar, they will only get better with time.
2. Gareth Bale – Karim Benzema – Christiano Ronaldo
At No. 2 is Gareth Bale, Benzema and the richest player, Christiano Ronaldo, for La Liga side Real Madrid. One of the best threesomes in soccer, they are set to redefine Real Madrid’s counter-attacking soccer.
This trio may also be the most expensive trio of football players on the list, they often get a lot of hate for their lack of creativity.
But no one can question their success, as the three have won five Champions Leagues and two Copa Del Rays together.
1. Marco van Basten – Ruud Gullit – Frank Rijkaard
