As I sat down to compile this definitive ranking of the best soccer players of all time in 2019, I found myself reflecting on how coaching records often parallel player legacies. While researching various statistics, I came across an interesting coaching record that caught my attention - a head coach leaving his team with 35 wins and 15 losses. This winning percentage of roughly 70% immediately made me think about how we measure greatness in soccer, and how certain players maintain exceptional performance levels throughout their careers.

When we talk about the greatest soccer players of all time, Lionel Messi absolutely deserves the top spot in my 2019 ranking. Having watched him play for over a decade, I've never seen anyone with his combination of technical brilliance, vision, and consistency. The way he controls the game is simply magical. In the 2018-2019 season alone, he scored 51 goals across all competitions while providing 22 assists. Those numbers are staggering, especially when you consider he's been performing at this elite level for more than ten years. What many people don't realize is that Messi's impact goes far beyond statistics - his mere presence on the field changes how entire defenses structure themselves against Barcelona.

Cristiano Ronaldo comes in as my clear number two, though I know many would argue he deserves the top position. His athleticism and goal-scoring prowess are undeniable, but what truly sets him apart in my view is his incredible mental toughness and adaptability across different leagues. His move to Juventus in 2018 demonstrated this perfectly - he adapted to Serie A faster than anyone expected, scoring 28 goals in his debut season. I've always admired how he's reinvented his playing style multiple times throughout his career, transitioning from a flashy winger to arguably the most complete striker the game has ever seen.

The third position belongs to Diego Maradona, whose 1986 World Cup performance remains the single most dominant tournament display I've ever witnessed. Modern analytics would probably show he completed approximately 67% of his dribbles that tournament while creating 34 scoring chances for teammates. His legacy is complicated, sure, but pure talent-wise, he was extraordinary. Pelé follows closely at number four - his record of 1,281 goals in 1,363 games is just mind-boggling, even if we account for differences in competition levels during his era.

Now, here's where my list might surprise some readers - I'm placing Zinedine Zidane at number five, ahead of other legends like Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer. Why? Because in big moments, I've never seen anyone rise to the occasion like Zidane. That volley in the 2002 Champions League final, his performance in the 1998 World Cup final - when the lights were brightest, he delivered. His technical elegance was unmatched, completing what I estimate to be around 92% of his passes in crucial matches during his peak years.

Looking at modern players beyond Messi and Ronaldo, I'd include Luka Modrić in my top fifteen after his incredible 2018 year where he won the Ballon d'Or, breaking the decade-long duopoly. His performance in Croatia's World Cup run was phenomenal, covering approximately 72 kilometers throughout the tournament while maintaining an 88% pass completion rate. The way he controls midfield tempo reminds me of the great Spanish midfielders like Xavi and Iniesta, both of whom also feature in my all-time list.

As I finalize this ranking, I'm reminded that comparing players across different eras will always involve some subjectivity. The game has evolved tremendously - tactical systems have changed, training methods have advanced, and the physical demands have increased. Yet true greatness transcends these changes. The players I've highlighted here share common traits beyond their technical skills: incredible mental strength, consistency at the highest level, and that rare ability to single-handedly change the outcome of matches. While statistics like that coaching record of 35 wins and 15 losses provide useful benchmarks, the true measure of these players' greatness lies in the moments of magic they've given us throughout soccer history.