Ranking the best Hungarian football players ever: A long road ahead for Szoboszlai

For modern football fans raised on high-definition replays and instant data, the 1950s can feel like a distant myth. When footage is scarce, you might need to ask your grandparents about a Hungarian side that was romantic, gallant, and utterly fearless. 

Led by the immortal Ferenc Puskas, this small Central European nation twice stood as World Cup runners-up. However, on the Olympic stage, they were absolute dictators of the grass. Every piece of that "Red Army" was a treasure coveted by the world’s elite clubs. Before you consult the elders, you can master the historical "foundation" through the list of the best Hungarian football players of all time provided by Nowgoalpro.

Ranking the best Hungarian football players in history

10. Ádám Nagy

Nagy is the silent heartbeat of Hungary’s modern midfield. Born in 1995, Nagy rose to prominence at Ferencváros, where he made 41 appearances and swept the domestic treble in 2016. Since his international debut in 2015 against Northern Ireland, he has earned over 77 caps, serving as the tactical anchor in both EURO 2016 and EURO 2020. 

His ability to dictate tempo and cover ground earned him a move to clubs like Bologna and Bristol City; he is currently competing in Serie B with Pisa, having joined in 2021. Fans describe him as a "tactical barometer," whose intelligence allows more creative players to shine.

9. Ádám Szalai

Number 9 call the "Titan of the Modern Era," Szalai. A traditional target man who spent the bulk of his career in the Bundesliga, Szalai was the emotional glue of the national team for over a decade. Between 2009 and 2022, he amassed 86 caps and 26 goals, including a memorable strike against Austria at EURO 2016. 

His club career was defined by longevity, notably scoring 40 goals in over 100 games for Mainz 05 across two spells, and representing giants like Schalke 04 and Hoffenheim. One of his most iconic moments came in 2022 when his back-heel flick secured a 1-0 victory over Germany in the Nations League. Szalai retired in 2022 at age 35 while playing for FC Basel and has since transitioned into coaching.

8. Péter Gulácsi

Gulácsi is known as the only modern goalkeeper to rival the legends. Gulácsi’s journey is one of resilience. After failing to break into the first team at Liverpool (2008-2013) despite several loan spells, he reinvented himself at RB Leipzig. Since 2015, he has made over 200 appearances for the German club, winning 2 DFB-Pokal titles and maintaining a save percentage often exceeding 75%. For the national team, he has earned 51 caps and kept 30 clean sheets, famously leading Hungary to a bronze medal at the 2009 U20 World Cup by saving 3 penalties in the shootout. 

7. Dominik Szoboszlai

Despite being just 25 years old, he is already the face of the nation's footballing future. Since his debut in 2017, Szoboszlai has earned 45 caps and scored 12 goals, most notably the last-minute 20-yard screamer against Iceland that sent Hungary to EURO 2020. After dominating the Austrian league with RB Salzburg (26 goals in 83 games), he moved to RB Leipzig and eventually joined Liverpool in 2023 for a record £60 million. 

With a "cannon" of a right foot and elite vision, he led Hungary to a historic 1-0 win over England in 2022. He currently pulls the strings in Liverpool's midfield in the Premier League, with many believing he will eventually challenge the very top of this list.

6.  Zoltán Czibor

A cornerstone of the 1950s Golden Team, Czibor was a mercurial talent who scored 17 goals in 43 appearances. He won the 1952 Olympic Gold and scored in the 1954 World Cup Final, a game Hungary tragically lost 3-2 to West Germany. Following the 1956 Revolution, he moved to FC Barcelona, where he joined forces with Kubala and Kocsis, making 38 appearances and winning 2 La Liga titles.

Known for his unpredictable dribbling and blistering pace, he was described by teammates as a player who "could turn a match on its head in seconds." 

5. József Bozsik

Bozsik is the tactical genius of the "Mighty Magyars." Bozsik was a one-club legend for Budapest Honvéd, making 447 appearances and winning 5 Hungarian league titles between 1943 and 1962. Internationally, he was the most capped Hungarian player for decades with 101 caps and 11 goals. 

He was the architect of the 6-3 demolition of England at Wembley in 1953, where his passing range left the English defense in tatters. Sir Stanley Matthews once noted that "to stop Hungary, you had to stop Bozsik, but no one knew how." Honvéd eventually named their stadium after him. He passed away in 1978.

4. Nándor Hidegkuti

Hidegkuti was the world’s first "False Nine," a position he used to destroy the traditional English "WM" formation in 1953, scoring a hat-trick in that legendary 6-3 victory. He earned 69 caps and netted 39 goals for Hungary, winning Olympic Gold in 1952. Domestically, he spent 14 years at MTK Budapest, scoring over 200 goals and winning 3 league titles. 

Pundits of the time marveled at his movement, as he would drop into midfield to drag defenders out of position. After retiring in 1958, he became a world-class manager, leading Fiorentina to a European Cup Winners' Cup title.

3. László Kubala

Though he only represented Hungary 3 times, his status as a Hungarian icon is undeniable. After fleeing the Iron Curtain, he became the face of Barcelona from 1951 to 1961, scoring 193 goals in 254 matches and winning 4 La Liga titles. 

He was a master of the dead ball and a dribbling wizard. In 1999, Barcelona fans voted him the greatest player in the club's history, a testament to his "god-like" status in Catalonia. Kubala passed away in 2002 at the age of 74, leaving a legacy of skill that bridged the gap between the classical and modern eras.

2. Sándor Kocsis

Known as "Golden Head," Kocsis possessed the most lethal goal-scoring ratio in international history: 75 goals in just 68 games. He was the top scorer of the 1954 World Cup with 11 goals, including 2 hat-tricks. At the club level, he scored 177 goals in 160 games for Honvéd before moving to Barcelona in 1958. 

In Spain, he continued his dominance, scoring 82 goals and helping the club to two league titles. His ability to hang in the air seemed to defy gravity. "He didn't just head the ball, he directed it with the power of a foot," observers noted. He retired in 1966 and remains the benchmark for every Hungarian striker that followed.

1. Ferenc Puskás

The greatest striker of the 20th century, Puskás scored 84 goals in 85 matches for Hungary and was the heart of the 1952 Olympic Gold team. After the 1956 Revolution, he joined Real Madrid at age 31, where he defied skeptics by scoring 242 goals in 262 games and winning three European Cups. His total career tally of 806 goals in 793 matches is a statistical marvel. 

In 1960, he famously scored 4 goals in the European Cup Final against Eintracht Frankfurt. FIFA honored him by naming the "Goal of the Year" award after him. Puskás was more than a player, he was a global celebrity whose left foot was considered the most accurate weapon in sports history. He passed away in 2006 and is buried in St. Stephen's Basilica, a place reserved for heroes.

List of the 10 greatest Hungarian players:

Ferenc Puskás

Sándor Kocsis

László Kubala

Nándor Hidegkuti

József Bozsik

Zoltán Czibor

Dominik Szoboszlai

Péter Gulácsi

Ádám Szalai

Ádám Nagy

Hungarian football is currently on a grueling journey to reclaim its former glory. In the modern landscape, the nation perhaps needs more than just 1 Szoboszlai to dream of simple successes, such as returning to the World Cup or advancing deep into the EURO knockouts. Whenever the national team suffers a bitter result, fans can only look back at the list of the best Hungarian football players on Nowgoalpro.net and wait for the "tide to turn" once again.

If you are not a fan of Hungarian football, do not look away just yet. In the future, Nowgoalpro will continue to produce fascinating historical statistics on many other legendary players and great national teams. Furthermore, if you are looking for a website that updates hot football news every hour and minute, provides comprehensive schedules, and delivers valuable statistics on big matches, stay tuned and journey with Nowgoalpro.