The 30 greatest MLS players of all-time

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The 30 greatest MLS players of all-time

Lionel Messi, David Beckham — Inter Miami CF v Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Audi 2025 MLS Cup Final | Michael Pimentel/ISI Photos/GettyImages

Ben Gray · MLS Multiplex

Mon, Jul 27, 2026 ·

7 min read

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To date, since Major League soccer launched 30 years ago, over 5,500 players have made an appearance in a competition that has changed dramatically over time. How the league looked in the last '90s, at one stage housing just ten teams, could hardly be much different to now, with 30 clubs, playing host to some of the biggest stars in soccer. So, attempting to narrow it down to the greatest 30 players of all-time is no easy task.

How the rankings were decided

Plenty of factors were taken into account including longevity, clubs trophies, individual honors and general legacy in North American Soccer.

Honourable mentions

There are so many honourable mentions; we could be here a while. The pre-DP MLS era is probably underrepresented in the below ranking, with former MVPs such as Jason Kreis, Tony Meola, lex Pineda Chacn, Carlos Ruz, Amado Guevara, Taylor Twellman and others not making the cut.

In more modern times, we could not find space for the likes of Carles Gil , Alejandro Pozuelo , David Villa nor Lucho Acosta. Numerous global superstars have ended up in MLS, but did not make enough of an impact to secure a spot in the top 30, including Kak, Sergio Busquets , Wayne Rooney and countless more.

Also, were we to comprise this list again in a couple of years, who knows, current stars such as Antoine Griezmann , Son Heung-min , Robert Lewandowski , Anders Dreyer or Thomas Mller may have forced their way onto this list. With all those caveats, here is our top 30 countdown.

MLS icons

30: Ral Ruidaz

Raul Ruidiaz — Nov 3, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Seattle Sounders FC forward Ral Ruidaz (9) leaves the pitch in the first half against the Houston Dynamo FC in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Seattle Sounders have been one of the most successful MLS clubs, on and off the field, with Ral Ruidaz among their biggest legends. His tally of 82 goals for the Rave Green is the second-most in the club's modern history, helping them reach back-to-back MLS Cups, scoring during the 2019 final victory over Toronto at Lumen Field. What elevates the Peruvian is his role in the Sounders' CONCACAF Champions League triumph, scoring twice during the final win over Pumas UNAM in 2022. Seattle remain the only MLS club to win the competition since 2000, and Ruidaz is a key reason why.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: Seattle Sounders (2018-2024)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup & CONCACAF Champions League

29: Hany Mukhtar

MLS may be the league of number tens, but finding a good one can be challenging. Well, right from expansion, Nashville did just that in Hany Mukhtar . The German has been with the Boys in Gold since the very start of their existence, scoring 101 goals and racking up 60 assists in 233 appearances. He was named MVP in 2022, bagging 23 regular season goals that year, and led Nashville to their first-ever major silverware last year. Nashville triumped in the U.S. Open Cup, beating Austin FC 2-1 in the final in Texas, with Mukhtar fittingly opening the scoring.

Position: Attacking midfielder
MLS Clubs: Nashville (2020-present)
Trophies and accolades: U.S. Open Cup and MVP.

28: Andre Blake

The only goalkeeper to make the top 30, Andre Blake has to be in the running to be the MLS goat in his position. The Jamaican was picked up by Philadelphia Union in the SuperDraft, and what a decision that proved to be, considering he has been their number one pretty much ever since, making 340 appearances to date, keeping 106 clean sheets. Blake has helped the Union win two Supporters' Shields and reach MLS Cup in 2022, beaten by LAFC on penalties. He is the only player to ever be named goalkeeper of the year three times, doing so spread across seven seasons, underlining his consistency.

Position: Goalkeeper
MLS Clubs: Philadelphia Union (2014-present)
Trophies and accolades: Supporters' Shield X2.

27: Denis Bouanga

Denis Bouanga LAFC — Oct 5, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; LAFC forward Denis Bouanga (99) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half against Atlanta United FC at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Since joining the league in 2018, LAFC have enjoyed non-stop success, with Denis Bouanga a key reason behind this. Before landing in California in 2022, he was loitering in Ligue 2, but has become a legend in Los Angeles, scoring a ridiculous 116 goals in 176 appearances for the Black and Gold. He won the MLS Golden Boot at the end of his first full season, as well as picking up three major trophies, including MLS Cup in 2022, scoring in the following year's showpiece occasion, albeit Steve Cherundolo's side were beaten in Columbus that time. On top of that, Bouanga's winner in the Club World Cup play-off against Club Amrica remains the most lucrative in American soccer history.

Position: Winer
MLS Clubs: LAFC (2022-present)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield & U.S. Open Cup.

26: Eddie Pope

One of the true greats of the early MLS era, centre-back Eddie Pope had to be included on this list. His golden goal won the very first MLS Cup for D.C. United against LA Galaxy in Foxborough in '96, part of the Black and Red side that won the title in three of the first four seasons. He accumulated eight major honors during his six seasons with DC, before stints with the MetroStars and Real Salt Lake , on top of 82 USMNT caps, only 24 men have more, a true top-class central defender ahead of his time.

Position: Centre-back
MLS Clubs: D.C. United, New Jersey MetroStars & Real Salt Lake.
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X3, Supporters' Shield X2 & CONCACAF Champions League.

25: DaMarcus Beasley

Despite also plying his trade in England , Scotland , the Netherlands, Germany and Mexico , few players boast greater MLS longevity than DaMarcus Beasley. After starting his career at LA Galaxy , he then won three major honors with the Chicago Fire before, after a decade away from the league, returning to sign for Houston Dynamo , for whom he appeared 137 times. Beasly was the captain as the Orange beat the Union to win the U.S. Open Cup in 2018, an always reliable, always solid performer at left-back, who certainly made his mark in the Lone Star State and beyond.

Position: Left-back
MLS Clubs: LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire & Houston Dynamo.
Trophies and accolades: Supporters' Shield & U.S. Open Cup X3.

24: Luis Surez

Luis Surez Inter Miami — Apr 4, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Luis Suarez (9) celebrates after scoring a goal against Austin FC during the second half at Nu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

When Luis Surez arrived at Inter Miami as a 37 year old, having dealt with numerous injury issues during the later stages of his career, many were labelling the Uruguayan as washed. Instead, he has scored 51 goals in just 101 appearances for the Herons, as well as bagging 30 assists. He netted 20 times, averaging a goal every 96 minutes, as Miami won the Supporters' Shield in 2024, setting the single-season points record in the process. Surez may be slowing down, but his nine goals in 13 outings this year proves, even at his age, he remains an elite-level striker at MLS level.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: Inter Miami (2024-present)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup & Supporters' Shield.

23: Diego Valeri

Diego Valeri Portland — Mar 1, 2020; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8) celebrates after scoring a goal on a penalty kick during the second half against Minnesota United at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports

He may have been born and raised in Lans in Argentina , but Diego Valeri's home will always be Portland. The midfielder made over 300 appearances during eight and a half seasons with the Timbers, scoring 100 goals and racking up 78 assists. He scored during the final of MLS Cup in 2015 as Portland beat Columbus Crew 2-1, named the league's MVP two years later. One could argue that Valeri remains the most important figure in Portland's modern soccer history.

Position: Attacking midfielder
MLS Clubs: Portland Timbers (2013-2021)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup & MLS is Back Tournament.

22: Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane LA Galax — Jul 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane (7) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Robbie Keane played for 11 clubs during his varied career, also the Republic of Ireland's all-time top-scorer, but perhaps we saw the very best of him in California. Joining LA Galaxy as a 31 year old, Keane was a pivotal member of, arguably, the most dominant MLS side there has ever been. He scored 104 goals in 165 appearances for the Galaxy, winning three MLS Cups in four years, scoring in the final victories of 2012 and 2014. This helped earn him the MVP award in the latter year, averaging a regular season goal every 130 minutes, a ratio few will ever better.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: LA Galaxy (2011-2016)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X3 & Supporters' Shield.

21: Preki

One has to go back to the early MLS-era for our next player, namely Predrag Radosavljevi, more commonly known as Preki. Born in Yugoslavia, he became a USMNT international, as well as an MLS legend. He racked up 241 appearances for the Kansas City Wizards , only nine men have more, as well as scoring 78 times for SKC, which remains a record. Preki was key to their MLS Cup win in 2000, returning to Missouri after a brief stint at Miami Fusion, awarded the MVP title in both 1997 and 2003, one of only two men to pick up the award more than once, the other being Lionel Messi , which is not bad company to keep.

Position: Midfielder
MLS Clubs: Kansas City Wizards & Miami Fusion.
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup & Supporters' Shield X2.

MLS superstars

20: Darlington Nagbe

With 445, only five men have made more MLS appearances than Darlington Nagbe, but very few have been more influential. Born in Liberia, he arrived in the United States as an 11 year old, very much making his mark on his adopted homeland. Nagbe won MLS Cup with Portland, Atlanta and then two more in Columbus, one of only ten men to hoisting aloft four or more Philip F. Anschutz Trophies, but the only to do so with three different clubs. A deep lying playmaker, Nagbe accumulated just 25 USMNT caps, but was a player ahead of his time, one that the U.S. rarely produces.

Position: Defensive midfielder
MLS Clubs: Portland Timbers, Atlanta United & Columbus Crew.
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X4, U.S. Open Cup & Leagues Cup.

19: Jozy Altidore

Following a career of many ups and down, American Jozy Altidore only really found a home for himself in Canada . After starting out with the Red Bulls, he bounced around various European clubs, with mixed results, before returning to MLS, signing for Toronto in 2015. Well, Altidore would score an impressive 79 goals in 173 appearances for TFC, 18 of which came in 2017 as Greg Vanney's side won the treble, opening the scoring against the Sounders in MLS Cup. That Toronto team might just be the best single-season side MLS has ever seen, and Altidore was their most potent marksman.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC & New England Revolution .
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield & Canadian Championship X3.

18: Nicols Lodeiro

Throughout its history, MLS has been a league in which mercurial, talented attacking midfielders, who have not quite cut it at a higher level, can come and thrive. Well, Nicols Lodeiro is one of the very best in this category. The Uruguayan is most well know for his time at Seattle, making 231 appearances for the Sounders, scoring 58 goals and registering 62 assists. He was a key figure in the Rave Green side that featured in four out of five MLS Cups, winning two of them, as well as netting three times across the two-legged CONCACAF Champions League Final in 2022. The Sounders' victory over Pumas in that final remains the biggest achievement by any MLS side ever, and it would not have been possible without Lodeiro.

Position: Attacking midfielder
MLS Clubs: Seattle Sounders, Orlando City & Houston Dynamo.
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X2 & CONCACAF Champions League.

17: Chris Wondolowski

When thinking of prolific MLS goal scorers, the name Chris Wondolowski would be pretty high up on that list. After winning back-to-back MLS Cups with the Dynamo, the striker returning to San Jose in 2009, spending the next 12 seasons with the Quakes, becoming a club legend. In total, Wondolowski scored 176 goals in 401 matches for San Jose, winning two Supporters' Shields, as well as picking up both the MVP and Golden Boot in 2012. That year, he bagged 27 regular season goals, a tally only three men, who are still to come on this list, have ever bettered in league history. Wondolowski remains MLS' all-time leading scorer with 171, a record that will take some beating.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes & Houston Dynamo
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X2 & Supporters' Shield X2.

16: Marco Etcheverry

One of the genuine superstars of the early era MLS was Marco Etcheverry. The Bolivian fired his national team to the '94 World Cup, still their only appearance since 1950, and clearly caught the attention of those in America. When MLS launched, he joined D.C. United, and was part of their early dominance. Etcheverry won eight major honors with the Black and Red, including the CONCACAF Champions League, and three of the first four MLS Cups, starting each time. The technically gifted player, Etcheverry would not look out of place in the league's modern existence.

Position: Attacking midfielder.
MLS Clubs: D.C. United (1996-2003)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X3, Supporters' Shield X2 & CONCACAF Champions League.

15: Jaime Moreno

We could hardly seperate them, hence why they're next to each-other in this ranking, as D.C. United's other superstar from the early years was Jaime Moreno. What gives the striker the edge of his Bolivan team mate is longevity, still scoring goals for D.C. 14 years after arriving, with a brief season at the MetroStars in-between. In total, Moreno netted 155 times in over 400 appearances for the Black and Red, picking up 12 major honors, including four MLS Cups, named MVP in 1997, while he sits fifth on the all-time MLS scorers chart.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: D.C. United & New Jersey MetroStars.
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X4, Supporters' Shield X4 & CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

14: Gyasi Zardes

Another member of the 100 club, few men have ever been more proficient at scoring MLS goals than Gyasi Zardes. The USMNT striker won MLS Cup with both the Galaxy and the Crew, scoring in the 2014 final, as well as having netted 15 times in 2020 en route to Columbus' glory. In total, he ended his career with 106 MLS goals, thereby tenth on the all-time list, certainly making his mark.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: LA Galaxy, Columbus Crew, Colorado Rapids & Austin FC.
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X2 & Campeones Cup.

13: Kei Kamara

The only man to represent 12 different MLS clubs, Kei Kamara is a bona fide league legend. His tally of 147 MLS goals is the second most in league history, behind only Wondolowski, netting at least once for every club he played for, apart from the final on FC Cincinnati. The Sierra Leone international won two U.S. Open Cups with Sporting KC and LAFC, but never got his hands on the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, having departed for Norwich by the time SKC won it in 2013. A true journeyman goal scorer, of which we may never see the like again.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: Columbus, San Jose, Houston, SKC, New England, Vancouver, Colorado, Minnesota, Montral, Chicago, LAFC & Cincinnati.
Trophies and accolades: U.S. Open Cup X2.

12: Cucho Hernndez

Cucho Hernndez was not in Major League Soccer for an enormous amount of time, but certainly made his mark. After a nomadic European career, he arrived in Columbus in 2022, scoring 58 goals and registering 26 assists in just 94 outings for the Crew, a key reason why they enjoyed so much success under Wilfried Nancy. The Black and Gold won MLS Cup in 2023, with the Colombian scoring in the final victory over LAFC, before bagging a brace as the pair met again in Leagues Cup Final eight months later, also won by the Crew. Hernndez was crowned MVP in 2023, before being sold to Real Betis for $16 million in February 2025, underlining Cucho's quality.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: Columbus Crew (2022-2025)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup & Leagues Cup.

11: Bradley Wright-Phillips

Born and raised in London, Bradley Wright-Phillips never found a true footballing home until he arrived in the United States. The Englishman remains the New York Red Bulls' all-time top scorer with 126, more than double anyone else, racking up 117 goals in MLS play across his career. With RBNY, he picked up a trio of Supporters' Shields, albeit never making it to MLS Cup, before brief stops in LA and Columbus to conclude his career. Wright-Phillips though is rightfully considered one of the best to ever do it in North America.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: New York Red Bulls, LAFC & Columbus Crew.
Trophies and accolades: Supporters' Shield X3 & Campeones Cup.

All-time MLS legends

10: Carlos Valderrama

Global superstars plying their trade in MLS has become the norm in recent times, but Carlos Valderrama was very much the trailblazer. Having starred for Colombia at World Cups, the midfielder joined the league ahead of its launch in 1996, winning the first-ever Supporters' Shield and MVP. His legacy is harmed by the fact the club he played 128 times for, namely the Tampa Bay Mutiny, dissolved in 2002, also representing the defunct Miami Fusion. Nevertheless, Valderrama's impact on the league in its early years should not be forgotten.

Position: Midfielder
MLS Clubs: Tampa Bay Mutiny, Miami Fusion & Colorado Rapids.
Trophies and accolades: Supporters' Shield & MVP.

9: Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry may have arrived in Major League Soccer at the age of 33, following an ultra-successful European career, but he still dominated the league . In 135 outings for New York Red Bulls, the Frenchman bagged 52 goals and 40 assists, a goal contribution every 124 minutes on average, surpassing double figures for regular season goals in each of his four full years. During this time, RBNY won a Supporters' Shield, but never made it to MLS Cup, the sole blot on Henry's copybook.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: New York Red Bulls (2010-2014)
Trophies and accolades: Supporters' Shield.

8: Sebastian Giovinco

A man who won everything during his time in MLS is Sebastian Giovinco. When the Italian arrived in Toronto from Juventus in 2015, this was viewed as a major coup, and that would certainly prove to be the case. In his first year, he scored 22 goals and recorded 13 assists in just 33 regular season appearances, thereby named MVP. The Italian's crowning glory though would come two years later when he scored 20 times as Toronto won the treble, getting revenge on Seattle for their MLS Cup defeat 12 months earlier. Just 160 cms tall, Giovinco's qualiy made him unstoppable in MLS.

Position: Attacking midfielder.
MLS Clubs: Toronto FC (2015-2019)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield & Canadian Championship X3.

7: Miguel Almirn

When compiling a list of the best MLS teams of all-time, the Atlanta United side who won MLS Cup in 2018, in only their second-ever year, has to be right towards the top. Well, one of their two superstars back then was Miguel Almirn. The Paraguayan racked up 12 goals and 13 assists during that triumphant campaign for Tata Martino's team, before being sold to Newcastle United for $27 million . Well, after a decent career in the Premier League, he rejoined the Five Stripes last year, which may have tarnished his legacy a bit, given that he's now 32 and how bad Atlanta currently are. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten how electifying a young Almirn was.

Position: Winger
MLS Clubs: Atlanta United (2016-2019 & 2025-present)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup

6: Josef Martnez

The other face of that early Atlanta United project was Josef Martnez. After underwhelming in Serie A with Torino, the Venezuelan certainly flourished in Georgia . Martnez scored 111 goals in 158 outings for the Five Stripes, breaking the deadlock in MLS Cup, as well as bagging the winner to secure Campeones Cup. His Golden Boot winning tally of 31 regular season goals in 2018 is the second-highest in league history. He has since bounced around Miami, Montral and San Jose, never rediscovering those heights, but Martnez at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a candidate to be the best MLS centre-forward of all-time.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: Atlanta United, Inter Mimai, CF Montral & San Jose Earthqakes.
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup & Leagues Cup.

5: Zlatan Ibrahimovi

Few superstars have made quite the impact on Major League Soccer as Zlatan Ibrahimovi . The Swede ruptured his ACL playing for Manchester United and, given that he was 35 at the time, most players would have never recovered. Well, Zlatan is not most players. Back fit, he joined LA Galaxy in 2018, and enjoyed one of the best debuts in soccer history. In the first-ever El Trfico, the Galaxy had been 3-0 down, getting one back when Zlatan was introduced. He then scored an absolute screamer to equalise, if you haven't seen it, go find it, before heading home a stoppage time winner. Not a bad way to announce yourself. Overall, Ibrahimovi scored 53 times in 58 appearances for the Galaxy, but departed without a major trophy to his name.

Position: Striker
MLS Clubs: LA Galaxy (2018-2019)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Greatest Goal of all-time award.

4: Landon Donovan

Sticking with the Galaxy theme, Landon Donovan lays claim to being the USMNT goat. In MLS, after beginning at San Jose, starting in and winning two MLS Cups with the Quakes, he became an icon in Los Angeles. Donovan won four more MLS Cups with LA, his tally of six a league record that may never be broken. Overall, with brief stints at Bayern Munich and Everton in-between , he played 310 times for the Galaxy, scoring 135 goals and registering 101 assists, a pivotal figure in the LA side that dominated the league, with the MVP trophy now named in Donovan's honor.

Position: Winger
MLS Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes & LA Galaxy.
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X6, Supporters' Shield X2 & U.S. Open Cup.

3: Carlos Vela

Looking across Los Angeles, arguably the greatest single-season we've ever seen from any player in MLS history was produced by Carlos Vela . After a mixed European career, the Mexican instantaneously became a legend in California. In 2019, he scored 34 goals in 31 regular season games, only failing to net in six appearances, and that tally of 34 remains a league record. He thereby picked up the Golden Boot and MVP, at the forefront of LAFC's success, captaining the Black and Gold to MLS Cup glory in 2022, netting 93 times for the club overall.

Position: Forward
MLS Clubs: LAFC (2018-2024)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield X2 & U.S. Open Cup.

2: David Beckham

Pretty inarguably, the single most important figure in MLS history is David Beckham. His arrival at LA Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007 led to the advent of the DP rule, the single biggest roster rule change ever seen. After losing the 2009 MLS Cup against RSL on penalties, Beckham's Galaxy came back to win the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy in both 2011 and 2012, as well as picking up two Supporters' Shields, with Bruce Arena's team one of the very best we've ever seen. On the pitch, Beckham brought stardom and credibility to a league that, at the time, was still struggling to get off the ground, so who knows where MLS would be today had he never arrived.

Position: Winger
MLS Clubs: LA Galaxy (2007-2012)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup X2 & Supporters' Shield X2.

The MLS goat

1: Lionel Messi

He may still be an active player in the league, for how much longer we don't know, but there could only be one MLS goat. In 104 appearances for Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has scored 90 goals and registered 51 assists, which is a goal involvement every 61 minutes. Simply ridiculous. He netted 20 times in 19 regular season games as the Herons set the single-season points record in 2024, before turning on the style in the 2025 play-offs. In six post season games, he netted six times and accumulated seven assists, powering Miami to MLS Cup for the first time. Messi's numbers are simply frightening, underlining to everyone at the World Cup just how good he still is, even at 39 years old. The question really is, how many more trophies will he pick up during his time in South Florida?

Position: Forward
MLS Clubs: Inter Miami (2023-present)
Trophies and accolades: MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield & Leagues Cup.

The all-time MLS XI using this ranking

Putting this team together, and not making it extremely top-heavy, was a challenge, but here is our best attempt, in a rough 3-4-3:

Andre Blake

Darlington Nagbe, Eddie Pope, DaMarcus Beasley

David Beckham, Carlos Valderrama, Marco Etcheverry & Nicols Lodeiro.

Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovi & Landon Donovan.

Today's best reads

This article was originally published on www.mlsmultiplex.com as The 30 greatest MLS players of all-time .

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