The Most Underrated Footballers of All Time
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Full Preview, Format, Teams & Fixtures
It’s easy to judge footballers by the numbers — goals scored, trophies won, appearances made. But that lens often misses something crucial: the players whose contributions can’t be measured by stats alone.
In every era, there have been players whose true value was understood only by those closest to the game — managers, teammates, or the most astute fans. These players never got the plaudits they deserved. So let’s put that right. Here are 10 of the most underrated footballers in the sport’s storied history.
10. Jordan Henderson
No Liverpool captain has taken more stick than Jordan Henderson — often dismissed, occasionally mocked, and almost always compared to Steven Gerrard. But here’s the thing: Gerrard never lifted the Premier League, Henderson did. For all the criticism, that matters.
Henderson led Liverpool to their first top-flight title in three decades, completing a clean sweep of major honours that included the Champions League and Club World Cup.
For England, too, he delivered when it mattered, scoring in the knockout rounds of both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. He has always been respected for his leadership, but is too often overlooked for his quality.
9. Rudi Voller
Rudi Voller was never flashy, but always effective — the kind of striker every manager wanted. He scored in the 1986 semi-final, then came off the bench to drag West Germany back into the final. Though Argentina had the last laugh that day, Voller would have his revenge against La Albiceleste four years later in the 1990 World Cup final.
Jurgen Klinsmann drew much of the attention with his athleticism and flair in West Germany’s 1990 World Cup campaign. But Rudi Voller was just as important, and just as prolific. A natural finisher in the shadows of the spotlight, Voller netted 47 times in 90 outings for Germany – a strike rate few could match.
And he did it all during a time when Germany were expected to reach the sharp end of every tournament – expectations they rarely failed to meet.
8. Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick was a composed, intelligent ball-player whose influence often flew under the radar. At Manchester United, he proved he belonged on the biggest stage, helping the club to five Premier League titles and a Champions League crown.
Yet despite his decorated club career, Carrick never quite received the international recognition he deserved, earning far fewer England caps than his quality warranted.
He was never the loudest voice or flashiest name, but Carrick’s value was crystal clear within the Manchester United squad. In 2013, as the club claimed their most recent Premier League title, it was Carrick who earned the Players’ Player of the Year honour — voted for by those who saw his quality up close every day.
7. Gunter Netzer
Two years before West Germany conquered the world in 1974, they had already made their mark by winning the 1972 European Championship – with Gunter Netzer at the heart of it. Renowned for his passing range and vision, Netzer was ahead of his time, frequently drifting into deeper positions to take control of possession and orchestrate the game.
Netzer played the Xavi role long before Xavi himself – orchestrating play, setting the tempo, and serving as the team’s heartbeat. But he brought something extra: a powerful dribble, bags of flair, and real leadership. His Borussia Monchengladbach side battled Beckenbauer’s Bayern for domestic dominance – and on two occasions, Netzer’s team came out on top.
Real Madrid signed Netzer in 1974 as a response to Barca’s landing Johan Cruyff. With Netzer pulling the strings, Madrid lifted two league titles and silenced the doubters who claimed their rivals had the better man.
6. Davor Suker
Their ability to make the impossible look easy sets the all-time greats apart, and Davor Suker used to do that regularly. His goals were the product of a silken touch, flawless control, and an uncanny knack for striking the ball with just the right power and precision.
Arguably the finest footballer Croatia has ever produced, Davor Suker led his nation to a remarkable third-place finish at the 1998 World Cup—an extraordinary achievement for a country of fewer than five million people. Suker took home the Golden Boot ahead of prime Ronaldo with six goals in the tournament.
Across a prolific career, Suker hit 46 goals in 71 outings for Croatia and racked up 240 goals in 527 club games. His spell at Real Madrid brought silverware too, including a league title and the coveted European Cup.
5. Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi was the glittering gem in Romania’s golden generation of the 1990s. Possessing a wand of a left foot, he’d be a strong contender for any all-time XI of left-footed greats. Had he been born in Italy or France, perhaps his name would echo even louder through football history. But make no mistake—he was a midfielder capable of bending matches to his will with a single moment of magic.
Only a select few would dare to try a 45-yard chip in a World Cup match. Gheorghe Hagi not only tried it, but he also scored. That audacious strike in 1994 summed up a player who was both supremely gifted and, somehow, still underrated.
4. Robert Prosinecki
Few midfielders combined flair and finesse quite like Robert Prosinečki. A World Cup winner at youth level with Yugoslavia in 1987 and a European champion with Red Star Belgrade in 1991, he dazzled with his close control and set-piece mastery, catching the eye of Europe’s biggest names.
Robert Prosinečki wore the colours of both Real Madrid and Barcelona, but neither Spanish giant truly managed to unlock his full potential.
It was on the international stage where his genius truly flourished. After Croatia’s independence, he became a key figure in the team that reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup.
Later in his career, he unexpectedly moved to Portsmouth, where his brief but brilliant spell earned him cult-hero status among fans on the South Coast.
3. Dani Carvajal
Carvajal is usually described as a steady hand — a stalwart of Real Madrid’s golden era. But does that do him justice? With six Champions League medals, he’s among the most decorated right-backs ever. Though history may credit his greatness to the silverware, those who watched him closely know it runs far deeper than medals alone.
With so many superstars at Real Madrid, it’s easy to miss the ones who make the machine run smoothly. Carvajal has been exactly that — a tireless defender who rarely grabs the spotlight but always delivers when it matters.
2. Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov fired Bulgaria to an improbable fourth-place finish in the 1994 World Cup and earned the Golden Boot. Stoichkov was the face of Bulgaria’s fairy-tale run at USA ’94, scoring six times and finishing as top scorer.
Stoichkov was ahead of his time — a left-footer on the right flank who helped popularise the now-standard inverted winger role in 4-3-3 systems. With his mazy runs, ferocious left foot, and a tendency to score from improbable angles, Stoichkov was one of the most exciting players of the 1990s.
1. Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup is often hailed as Denmark’s finest footballer, yet his brilliance still feels strangely under-celebrated. He was a key figure in Cruyff’s iconic Barcelona side that lifted the European Cup in 1992, before a rift with the Dutchman led to a sensational and divisive switch to Real Madrid.
In Madrid, Laudrup let his talent do the talking, guiding Los Blancos to their first La Liga title in five years. Those in the know never doubted his class — his genius was rated among the very best. Franz Beckenbauer considered him the best player of the 1990s, and Romario saw him as the fifth greatest of all time.
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FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Full Preview, Format, Teams & Fixtures
Truth be told, the FIFA Club World Cup has never been one of football’s headline acts. FIFA wants to change that by giving the tournament a full-scale makeover this summer — and for the inaugural edition, global icon Lionel Messi will be right at the heart of it.
The old seven-team format has been scrapped. A Champions League-style spectacle will be held in its place: 32 clubs, 63 matches, and 29 days of action across the United States.
It’s FIFA’s boldest club competition yet. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the FIFA Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup brings together the top-performing football clubs from across the globe — and in 2025, the tournament is set for its biggest edition yet.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Format
For the first time in the tournament’s 24-year history, the FIFA Club World Cup will feature 32 teams — adopting the same group-and-knockout format used in the international World Cup. The old format featured just seven sides: one from each continent and an extra from the host nation. Now, the expanded field better reflects the global club landscape. Also, for the first time, the tournament will be held every four years instead of annually.
Qualification was determined by continental silverware, including UEFA Champions League winners, and four-year rankings from each confederation.
Europe leads the way, with 12 clubs, while South America (CONMEBOL) sends six. Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), and North, Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) each have four representatives. Oceania (OFC) has one, and the final spot goes to the host nation’s domestic champion — in this case, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, even though there is some controversy there, more on that later!
The 32 clubs will be split into eight groups of four, playing one match against each group opponent. The top two from each group will advance to the knockout rounds.
Inter Miami will kick off the tournament on 14 June 2025 against Egypt’s Al Ahly at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The final will be held on 13 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Group winners and runners-up advance to the round of 16, setting up a straight knockout path to the final, complete with extra time and penalties for any drawn ties. Unlike its international counterpart, the Club World Cup will not feature a third-place play-off.
How Have Teams Qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
Representatives from each of football’s six global confederations will compete in the Club World Cup: AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North and Central America), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oceania), and UEFA (Europe).
With 12 spots on offer, Europe has the largest allocation of places. These spots are awarded based on clubs’ performances in the UEFA Champions League over the last four seasons.
As a result, recent winners Chelsea, Manchester City, and Real Madrid have all earned their spots in the tournament.
Additional European places are awarded through UEFA’s ranking system, which takes into account club performances over the last four seasons. With only two teams per nation allowed, Liverpool, runners-up in the 2022 Champions League, did not qualify.
Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, now known as FC Salzburg due to FIFA’s sponsorship regulations, will also take part.
Each of the Asian, African, and North and Central American federations will have four clubs represented. South America secures six spots, while Oceania will have one.
Clubs earned their places based on points accumulated over the past four seasons, reflecting their performances in continental club competitions.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Prize Money
A total prize pot of £775 million will be shared among the 32 participating clubs, with the eventual winners able to pocket up to £97 million.
Each club will receive set amounts depending on their progression through the tournament:
- Group stage: £1.5m per win, £800k per draw
- Round of 16: £5.8m
- Quarter-finals: £10.1m
- Semi-finals: £16.2m
- Finalists: £23.2m
- Winner: £30.0m
Every team will also receive a participation payment, adjusted based on both sporting merit and commercial value.
Unsurprisingly, European clubs lead the earnings table, with UEFA representatives receiving between £9.9m and £29.6m just for participating.
Why Lionel Messi and Inter Miami Are Playing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed on October 18 that Inter Miami would fill the 32nd spot, reserved for a host nation club. That ensures Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer of all time, will headline the first ever expanded Club World Cup, if he is fit to play.
Inter Miami’s inclusion has raised eyebrows, as they are not the reigning MLS Cup winners — the title typically recognised as the league’s top honour. Though they won the Supporters’ Shield with a record-breaking 74 points, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Atlanta United, falling short of true championship status.
Some see FIFA’s early invitation to Inter Miami — issued before the MLS season wrapped up — as a calculated effort to ensure Lionel Messi’s participation in the Club World Cup, a tournament that has historically struggled to capture public attention.
What Happens to the Original Club World Cup?
The new Club World Cup is essentially the ‘best of the best’ competition, adopting the name of the old tournament. But the original December tournament and format has not disappeared, it exists as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Despite the shift to a summer showpiece, FIFA still handed out a global crown in winter. The rebranded Intercontinental Cup ran across the first half of the season, starting in September with home-leg ties in the early rounds. The recent tournament concluded in Qatar, where Real Madrid beat Pachuca 3–0 in the final in Lusail on December 18.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Venues
These are the stadiums that will host matches during the summer showpiece event:
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)
- MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
- Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
- Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)
- TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)
- Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
- GEODIS Park (Nashville, TN)
- Camping World Stadium (Orlando, FL)
- Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, FL)
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)
- Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 - Full Schedule
All times listed in local times: EDT (GMT-4), CDT (GMT-5), PDT (GMT-7)
therford – 3:00 PM EDT)
Saturday, 14 June
Group A: Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami (Miami – 8:00 pm EDT)
Sunday, 15 June
Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City (Cincinnati – 12:00 PM EDT)
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético de Madrid (Pasadena – 12:00 PM PDT)
Group A: Palmeiras vs. Porto (East Rutherford – 6:00 PM EDT)
Group B: Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders (Seattle – 7:00 PM PDT)
Monday, 16 June
Group C: Chelsea vs. TBC* (Atlanta – 3:00 PM EDT)
Group D: Boca Juniors vs. Benfica (Miami – 6:00 PM EDT)
Group C: Flamengo vs. Espérance de Tunis (Philadelphia – 9:00 PM EDT)
Tuesday, 17 June
Group F: Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund (East Rutherford – 12:00 PM EDT)
Group E : River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds (Seattle – 12:00 PM PDT)
Group F: Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns (Orlando – 6:00 PM EDT)
Group E: Monterrey vs. Inter Milan (Pasadena – 6:00 PM PDT)
Wednesday, 18 June
Group G: Manchester City vs. Wydad AC (Philadelphia – 12:00 PM EDT)
Group H: Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal (Miami – 3:00 PM EDT)
Group H: Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg (Cincinnati – 6:00 PM EDT)
Group G: Al Ain vs. Juventus (Washington – 9:00 PM EDT)
Thursday, 19 June
Group A: Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly (East Rutherford – 12:00 PM EDT)
Group A: Inter Miami vs. Porto (Atlanta – 3:00 PM EDT)
Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Atlético de Madrid (Seattle – 3:00 PM PDT)
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Botafogo (Pasadena – 6:00 PM PDT)
Friday, 20 June
Group C: Benfica vs. Auckland City (Orlando – 12:00 PM EDT)
Group D: Flamengo vs. Chelsea (Philadelphia – 2:00 PM EDT)
Group D: TBC* vs. Espérance de Tunis (Nashville – 5:00 PM CDT)
Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors (Miami – 9:00 PM EDT)
Saturday, 21 June
Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund (Cincinnati 12:00 PM EDT)
Group E: Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds (Seattle – 12:00 PM PDT)
Group F: Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD (East Rutherford – 6:00 PM – EDT)
Group E: River Plate vs. Monterrey (Pasadena – 6:00 PM – PDT)
Sunday, 22 June
Group G: Juventus vs. Wydad AC (Philadelphia – 12:00 PM EDT)
Group H: Real Madrid vs. Pachuca (Charlotte – 3:00 PM EDT)
Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal (Washington – 6:00 PM EDT)
Group G: Manchester City vs. Al Ain (Atlanta – 9:00 PM EDT)
Monday, 23 June
Group B: Atlético de Madrid vs. Botafogo (Pasadena – 12:00 PM PDT)
Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Paris Saint-Germain (Seattle – 12:00 PM PDT)
Group A: Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras (Miami Gardens – 9:00 PM EDT)
Group A: Porto vs. Al Ahly (East Rutherford – 9:00 PM EDT)
Tuesday, 24 June
Group C: Benfica vs. Bayern Munich (Charlotte – 3:00 PM EDT)
Group C: Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors (Nashville – 2:00 PM CDT)
Group D: Espérance de Tunis vs. Chelsea (Philadelphia – 9:00 PM EDT)
Group D: TBC* vs. Flamengo (Orlando – 9:00 PM EDT)
Wednesday, 25 June
Group E: Inter Milan vs. River Plate (Seattle – 6:00 PM PDT)
Group E: Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey (Pasadena – 6:00 PM PDT)
Group F: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD (Cincinnati – 3:00 PM EDT)
Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense (Miami – 3:00 PM EDT)
Thursday, 26 June
Group G: Wydad AC vs. Al Ain (Washington – 3:00 PM EDT)
Group G: Juventus vs. Manchester City (Orlando – 3:00 PM EDT)
Group H: Al Hilal vs. Mexico Pachuca (Nashville – 9:00 PM EDT)
Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Real Madrid (Philadelphia – 9:00 PM EDT)
Round of 16
Saturday, 28 June
Winners of Group A vs. Runners-up of Group B (Philadelphia – 12:00 PM EDT)
Winners of Group C vs. Runners-up of Group D (Charlotte – 4:00 PM EDT)
Sunday, 29 June
Winners of Group B vs. Runners-up of Group A (Atlanta – 12:00 PM EDT)
Winners of Group D vs. Runners-up of Group C (Miami – 4:00 PM EDT)
Monday, 30 June
Winners of Group E vs. Runners-up of Group F (Charlotte – 3:00 PM EDT)
Winners of Group G vs. Runners-up of Group H (Orlando – 9:00 PM EDT)
Tuesday, 1 July
Winners of Group H vs. Runners-up of Group G (Miami – 3:00 PM EDT)
Winners of Group F vs. Runners-up of Group E (Atlanta – 9:00 PM EDT)
Quarterfinals
Friday, 4 July
Winners of Match 53 vs. Winners of Match 54 (Orlando – 3:00 PM EDT)
Winners of Match 49 vs. Winners of Match 50 (Philadelphia – 9:00 PM EDT)
Saturday, 5 July
Winners of Match 51 vs. Winners of Match 52 (Atlanta – 12:00 PM EDT)
Winners of Match 55 vs. Winners of Match 56 (East Rutherford – 4:00 PM EDT)
Semi-finals
Tuesday, 8 July
Winners of Match 57 vs. Winners of Match 58 (East Rutherford – 3:00 PM EDT)
Wednesday, 9 July
Winners of Match 59 vs. Winners of Match 60 (East Rutherford – 3:00 PM EDT)
Final
Sunday, 13 July
Winners of Match 61 vs. Winners of Match 62 (East Rutherford – 3:00 PM EDT)
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