FIFA 100
On March 4, 2004, at a gala ceremony in London, to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international governing body of football (soccer) revealed the FIFA 100. The list contains the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelé's choice of the "greatest living footballers". The figure 100 refers to the 100th anniversary of FIFA and not the number of players listed, which is actually 125. Apparently Pelé found it too difficult to list just 100. The list contains 123 professional men and 2 women players (Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm both from the United States). 50 of the players are still active with the remaining 75 retired from the game.
Some football observers have questioned the selection methodology of the list. David Mellor, former politician turned football pundit, wrote in his column in the Evening Standard, that he felt the selections were politically motivated rather than made on purely footballing grounds. He suggested that the selections looked as if they came from the pen of the FIFA Executive Committee rather than Pelé. As evidence for this, Mellor noted the wide geographical spread of the selected players. A true selection would be more heavily biased to South America and Europe, he claimed.
The Americas
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Mexico
Paraguay
Peru
United States
Uruguay
Western Europe
Belgium
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Republic of Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Northern Ireland
Portugal
Scotland
Spain
Eastern Europe
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Romania
Russia
Turkey
Ukraine
Africa
Cameroon
Ghana
Liberia
Nigeria
Asia
Japan
South Korea
