List of top 10 best Chilean footballers | Ranked

South America is a football-crazy continent and it’s home to some of the biggest footballing nations on the planet. The sport is deeply embedded in its culture and tradition. Football holds great significance in their lives, it’s simply a way of life for them. The South Americans are popularly known for their passionate fanbase culture and rich footballing legacy.

In South America, nations like Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile have produced various world-class players over the years. However, in this article, we will be exclusively focusing on Chile and the most famous and best Chilean footballers in history. Chilean footballers are renowned for their aggressive and fierce style of play, which has led them to multiple Copa America triumphs and numerous FIFA World Cup appearances.

However, in recent history, they have struggled miserably failing to qualify for the World Cup on consecutive occasions, since their last appearance in the 2014 Brazil edition, parred with inconsistency and the ageing of some of their key players has affected their results. Moreover, after lifting the Continental triumph in 2016, they have struggled to do well in the tournament.

Unfortunately, La Roja is currently placed at the bottom of the table in the ongoing CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup group stages hosted jointly by Mexico, the United States of America, and Canada. As of October 2024, they have only won a single game in 10 games, with a slim prospect of qualifying for the World Tournament.

The Ranking of the Top 10 best Chilean footballers is based on the club career, trophies and International caps and performances for both club and country.

10. Carlos Caszely

Carlos Caszely was the best Chilean footballer during his time from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, he was an absolute icon for Chile’s most successful and supported club CSD Colo-colo having spent the majority of his career playing for the local outfit. The striker was naturally blessed with goal-scoring, and ball-control abilities and scored a record 208 goals for Colo-colo to clinch the crown of their highest scorer in history. Caszely led them to the Chilean league title five times. He also had a stint in Spain with Levante and RCD Espanyol, while making 49 appearances for Chile and scoring 29 goals.

Also Read: 10 greatest Russian soccer players in history

9. David Pizarro

David Pizarro is termed as one of the best Chilean midfielders, playing mostly as a deep-lying playmaker or centre midfielder. He relished a successful career in Europe and South America, particularly in Europe playing for several top Italian clubs such as AS Roma, Udinese Calcio, ACF Fiorentina, and Inter Milan while also having a brief spell in the Premier League with Manchester City. Pizzaro was crowned champions of England and Italy lifting the league titles with Inter Milan and Man City respectively. For La Roja, he earned 46 International caps and was also part of the 2015 Copa America triumph.

8. Gary Medel

Over the years, Gary Medel has been a dedicated server of the Chile National Team, making an incredible 161 appearances for the country and netting 7 goals since his debut in 2007. As a result, he is the second most-capped Chilean footballer only behind Alexis Sanchez and played a pivotal part in Chile’s two Copa America triumphs in 2015 and 2016 playing every single minute of the campaigns. On the club level, the defensive midfielder played most games for Serie A clubs Inter Milan and Bologna racking up more than 200 appearances. Presently, he is playing for Boca Juniors in Argentina.

7. Eduardo Vargas

Eduardo Vargas is unarguably the best Chilean striker lauded for his dribbling, finishing, and versatility to play on multiple positions upfront in attack coupled with longevity makes him a complete forward. Since, his maiden debut appearance for the Chile national team, he has played 114 games and amassed 43 goals, while still active for the country as of October 2024. Vargas played all across South America donning the colours of some of the most iconic clubs of the continent such as Clube Atlético Mineiro, Gremio, Club Chile, and Tigres UNAL and racking up over 127 goals in club career. He was the leading goal scorer in Chile’s Copa America triumph with 10 goals altogether.

6. Leonel Sanchez

Leonel Guillermo Sánchez Lineros is amongst the greatest Chilean footballers ever, best remembered for being the top scorer of the 1962 World Cup with 4 goals and was part of “The Batlle of Santiago” an infamous match full of violence and aggressive play. He led Chile to achieve their best finish in the World Cup finishing third on home soil. Sanchez played 84 matches for La Roja and netted 23 goals courtesy of their brilliant left foot and attacking nature as a forward. He only played for Chilean clubs throughout his club career mainly with CSD Colo-colo and Club Universidad de Chile respectively and became the Chilean champions seven times.

5. Claudio Bravo

One of the greatest South American goalkeepers, Claudio Bravo secures his place in the list of best Chilean footballers. He recently announced his retirement this year in August after making history at CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 by becoming the oldest player to play in the tournament in the 21st century at the age of 41. Bravo was popular for his exceptional shot-stopping, pulling off breathtaking saves and commanding leadership skill in goal and represented Chile as their first-choice custodian for two decades. He earned 150 Chile Caps and won two Copa America titles, while also lifting some of the biggest club accolades in Europe.

Also Read: Greatest Brazilian footballers of all time

4. Marcelo Salas

Marcelo Salas is acclaimed for his legacy at SS Lazio in the Italian capital having embarked on his professional journey with Universidad de Chile courtesy of his prolific scoring and sharp movements took him to River Plate and then to Italy in 1998 where he joined Lazio and also played for Juventus. Salas recorded 272 club appearances and managed to bag 100 goals across all competitions and won the league in Chile, Italy and Argentina boasting a highly successful club career. In Chile’s national team career, the Lazio icon made 70 and scored 37 goals to etch his name as the country’s all-time goal scorer during his time.

3. Iván Zamorano

Ivan Zamorano is the legendary name for Chile and Spanish giants Real Madrid, the veteran forward boasted a strong reputation as a serial goal scorer finding the back of the net consistently for both club and country. His club career was remarkable being the only notable Chilean International to have worn the Los Blancos shirt, till this date. Zamorano accumulated 101 goals and 22 goals for Madrid in 173 appearances in all competitions and won the La Liga title, Copa Del Ray and the Pichichi Award in the 1994/95 season for his 27-goal haul.

2. Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez is one of the most famous names across the world this generation, during his prime years, his top-notch pace, acceleration, dazzling skills, dribbling and quick feet were extraordinary. He was a complete forward who could play anywhere in attack and his ability to score goals helped him to stay at the highest level for many years. He has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, Arsenal, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Olympique Marseille. Currently, he is playing for Udinese Calcio in Serie A. In his club career, he has scored 206 and provided 147 assists in over 700 matches across the globe. Interestingly, Sanchez is also Chile’s most capped and highest score in history with 166 caps and 50 goals so far.

1. Arturo Vidal

It’s Arturo Vidal who clinches the pole position on the list of best Chilean footballers of all time thanks to his longevity to remain on the pinnacle of the sport and illustrating his highly decorated career as a player for both club and country. He is one of the finest box-to-box midfielders of this generation popular for his versatility, tenacity, leadership and sheer passion on the pitch. In his lustrous club career, Vidal has played for Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Inter Milan and enjoyed a trophy-laden career with 5 x Serie A titles, 3 x Bundesliga, La Liga and numerous domestic triumphs across Europe.

He is still active as a professional playing for Colo Colo in Chile, after playing an insane 726 club games, bagging 118 goals and 86 assists around the world with many top clubs in the world. For Chile, the 37-year-old has won 142 International caps (fourth most) and scored 34 goals and won two Successive Continental triumphs in Copa America.

Also Read: Ranking the Top 15 Best English Footballers in the World in 2024

FAQs