Puskas, Cruyff, Pelé, Ronaldo: World Cup attacking greats before France 2026 | OneFootball

France’s frontline at the 2026 World Cup looks poised to make a mark, echoing historic attacks. According to L'Équipe, the lineage runs from Puskas and Cruyff to Pelé and Ronaldo.

In 1954, favourites Hungary crushed South Korea 9-0 and a reserve West Germany 8-3, racking up 25 goals in four games, 11 by Sandor Kocsis. Yet after leading 2-0, they lost the rain-soaked Berne final 3-2, conditions said to suit German studs.

Sweden 1958 unveiled Pelé. A 17-year-old who started after a 0-0 with England, he helped spark Brazil to the title, a 5-2 final after Sweden’s opener, with doubles from Vava and Pelé.

In 1970, Pelé, Gerson, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostao delivered Brazil’s complete expression, crowned by a 4-1 win over Italy. Along the way came Pelé’s audacious lob, Banks’s save and a sublime dummy past Ladislao Mazurkiewicz.

In 1974, Cruyff’s Netherlands reframed the game with total football and an Ajax core. They swept past Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, led West Germany through Johan Neeskens’s early penalty, then fell 2-1, with Rep, Rensenbrink and the Van de Kerkhof brothers emblematic of the thrust.

In 2002, the three Rs, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, carried Brazil to a fifth crown. In Yokohama, Ronaldo scored both past Oliver Kahn in a 2-0 win over Germany, finishing top scorer with eight as Rivaldo added five.

Source: L'Équipe