Legendary Soccer Star Franz Beckenbauer: A Sports Icon

Rated higher on this list than any other defender on the planet, Beckenbauer is still the example many point towards when talking about the ideal centre-back, as he had it all. Two Ballon d'Ors for a player in his position is unheard of, with very few defenders ever even getting near one. Add all the domestic and international trophies, and it's clear to see why he places so high on this list. This also has Beckenbauer ranked as the greatest German player ever ahead of Muller, and with the current plight of the national team, it is unlikely that this will change soon. The defender won league titles everywhere he went including Germany, France and America. He sadly died at the start of 2024, leading to emotional but incredible tributes towards the iconic defender.

Team	Years	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Bayern Munich	1964 - 1977	582	74	75
Hamburger SV	1980 - 1982	38	0	0
West Germany	1965 - 1977	103	14	10