Garrincha - Brazil
French newspaper L'Equipe was not exaggerating when they described him as "the most extraordinary right winger football has known". This was during the 1962 World Cup in Chile when Garrincha took over from the injured Pele to lead Brazil's defence of their World Cup title using his magical dribbling skills and match-winning prowess. He had played a crucial role in the 1958 tournament too and it was not surprising that Pele was to later say he would not have won his three World Cups without Garrincha in the team.
Johan Cruyff - Holland
He did not win the World Cup, but Cruyff was one of the best to have played in the tournament. The most outstanding of the rest of the Dutch side that mesmerised the world with their Total Football, Cruyff was seen as the natural successor to Pele as the world's greatest player. At the 1974 tournament he dazzled with his wonderful balance, deadly speed and breathtaking ball control. His vision, based on an acute sense of his teammates' positions as an attack unfolded was highly impressive.
Jairzinho - Brazil
One of only three players (Just Fontaine and Alcides Ghigga are the others) to score in every match of a World Cup tournament, Jairzinho is regarded among the best wingers the game has ever seen. A participant at the three World Cup, he was in his element at Mexico '70 where he found the net each time he played (all of Brazil's title winning matches), using his devastating shooting power plus delicate chips to great effect. He was also an incredible passer of the ball who excelled in making goals for his teammates.
Zinedine Zidane - France
They don't come more graceful on the ball than this bald-headed Frenchman who was the catalyst to France winning their maiden World Cup on home soil in 1998. His two headed goals lead the way in the 3-0 rout of Brazil, Zidane having "performed the role of both soloist and conductor" for the French in the build-up to the final. Even at Germany '06, for which most will remember him for that headbutt in the final, Zidane proved his worth as a player (he won the Golden Ball). He'd returned from retirement to pull France through tough games, turned on the magic against Brazil in the quarterfinals and outdid Luis Figo in the semis. He also played at the 2002 World Cup.
Ronaldo - Brazil
El Fenomeno first went to the World Cup in 1994, watching starry-eyed from the sidelines as Romario and Bebeto combined to end Brazil's 24-year World Cup drought. The experience was invaluable as Ronaldo won the Golden Ball four years later despite a pathetic showing in the final. He made up for that by leading Brazil to success in 2002 and then four years later he overtook Gerd Muller as the World Cup's all time leading scorer. Phenomenal!
Ferenc Puskas - Hungary
The Galloping Major was the lifeblood of the Mighty Magyars team of Hungary that went four years unbeaten in the early 50s. That incredible record came to a screeching halt in the most cruel of fashions - at the World Cup final. That though should not be allowed to take away from his excellence that saw him rated the greatest goalscorer of the 20th century, Puskas having scored 84 goals in 85 matches. That Fifa named the best goal of the year award the Fifa Ferenc Puskas Award says it all.
GERD MULLER - GERMANY
Muller was a notorious goal-poacher whose finishing abilities ensured he held the leading World Cup scorer title (with 14 goals) until Ronaldo broke his record in Germany four years ago. He was top scorer with ten goals at Mexico '70, where Germany finished third and was also influential in the German triumph on home soil in 1974.
Maradona - Argentina
Football and the World Cup's greatest player - period. On ability, no other player comes close. The stocky Argentinian, who played in four World Cups, proved his worth as the world's best player at Mexico '86. El Diego literally won that World Cup by himself. Maradona carried the Argentinian team from the opening game against a tame South Korea through that incredible victory over England (remember that great solo goal?) until the final triumph - which he greatly influenced - over West Germany. He could easily have again won it four years later were it not for a dubious penalty awarded to the Germans.
Pele - Brazil
Three World Cup titles in four appearances make Pele the most successful World Cup player of all time. Who would ever forget the slender Brazilian tearful after helping his country to victory at the 1958 World Cup? Only 17 then, he had mesmerised opponents with his immense dribbling skill and finishing abilities. By 1970, those skills had been properly honed, and a much matured Pele was the catalyst to Brazil's triumph in Mexico. In between, he played a little part in the 1962 World Cup (which Brazil won) and 1966 World Cups after opponents resorted to stopping him illegally. Even then, he still managed to score at both tournaments.
Franza Beckenbauer - West Germany
Der Kaizer was probably the classiest defender the game has had. He made the sweeper position in the German team his own for his decade-long international career. A participant at three World Cups (1966, 1970 and 1974), he finished on the medal podium each time - winning silver, bronze and gold. Besides his defensive talent, Beckenbauer was also pretty useful in front of the opposition goals as was shown by his goal haul in 1966. And the game has not had a more natural a leader than the German.