The Top 5 Australian Football Players of All Time

Australia is a unique footballing nation, and its achievements in international tournaments and on the club scene are a testament to the quality of its players. In this article, we will discuss the top 5 football players from Australia, who have made a significant impact on the sport and are considered the best players in their country’s history.

1. Harry Kewell

Harry Kewell is widely regarded as the finest player in Australian football history. His exceptional skills, lightning pace, and clinical finishing make him an all-time great. Kewell spent the peak of his career at Leeds United, where he started at just 15 years old.

He was a tricky winger with excellent passing ability, and he also spent time at Liverpool and Galatasaray, scoring 91 goals across 380 appearances at six different clubs during his career. Kewell was also a Ballon d’Or nominee in 2001, becoming the only Australian to have achieved this feat. Most significantly, he earned the award of Australia’s greatest ever footballer in 2012, which shows how highly he is regarded by Australians.

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Kewell played for Liverpool in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final, where the Reds miraculously turned over a three-goal lead to win the competition.

2. Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill is an absolute icon in Australian football history, and his prolific goal-scoring record for the Socceroos makes him a fan favorite. Cahill is the all-time record goalscorer for the Socceroos, with 50 goals under his belt. He also scored Australia’s first-ever World Cup goal in the opening game of the 2006 World Cup against Japan, and he added a further goal in the same game.

Cahill was often deployed as a center forward and was a prolific scorer in England for Millwall and Everton, netting 52 goals for the former and 56 for the latter. Despite being just 5’10, Cahill made an unusual name for himself by scoring diving headers, which is fondly remembered by Everton fans and Australians back home.

3. Mark Schwarzer

One of the greatest goalkeepers in Premier League history, Mark Schwarzer is widely regarded as one of the greatest Australian soccer players of all time. During his career, Schwarzer played for clubs such as Chelsea and Leicester City. As a member of Leicester City’s 2016 Premier League winning team, he defied the odds. He holds the record for the cleanest sheets for the national team (44), as well as the most caps in Australian football history.

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4. Mark Viduka

Mark Viduka was a big target man center forward, and his time at Leeds United was certainly the highlight of his career. A total of 251 goals were scored by Viduka at six different clubs. As a captain of the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he reached the knockout stage. He was a nightmare for defenders to deal with, which meant he provided many goals for others, besides also scoring in abundance.

5. Brett Emerton

Brett Emerton played for clubs such as Feyenoord, Blackburn Rovers, and Sydney FC during his career. He appeared in 490 matches, most of which were against European teams. Emerton generally played as a winger, but his strong build made him a tough man to beat, and he was a huge defensive asset for all of his teams. His impressive speed on the ball and creative skills were mesmerizing to watch, and he was Oceania’s football player of the year for three consecutive years.

But Lionel’s story doesn’t end there. In 2018, he signed with one of the world’s most famous football clubs Real Madrid. He quickly became a fan favorite and helped his team win several trophies, including the Champions League.

Lionel’s success wasn’t just limited to his football career. He also used his fame to promote various charitable causes. He was an ambassador for UNICEF and used his platform to raise awareness about the importance of education and health care in developing countries.

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Sadly, Lionel’s career was cut short when he suffered a severe injury during a match. He was forced to retire from professional football, but he continued to work with various charitable organizations and became a mentor to young aspiring football players.

Lionel’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and hard work. He worked tirelessly to hone his creative skills and become one of the best football players in the world. Even after his career was cut short, he continued to make a positive impact on the world and inspire others to chase their dreams.