As a sport enjoyed worldwide, some countries have consistently produced footballers who go on to become globally recognised players in the game.
Football is one of the most watched sports, with an estimated 3.5 billion fans. As a game, it has a unique way of uniting people across cultures, borders, and identities through one shared passion: the love of football.
In this article, CIES Football Observatory ranked based on the number of “exportable professional football talent through distinct expatriate players (those who grew up in the country but played abroad).” 
1. Brazil – 3,020 players
Brazil tops the list of the most football players producing countries in the world. They are the most successful football country in the World Cup, having won the tournament 5 times in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.
Aside from numbers, Brazil has produced many of the best and most loved footballers, like Ronaldinho, Garrincha, Pele, and Thiago Silva, among others.
2. France – 2,293 players
France has produced a total of 2,293 players since then. Founded in 1904 and managed by Didier Deschamps, the France football team, also called Les Bleus, has won the FIFA World Cup twice, two UEFA European Championships, and one CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Nations, among many other titles.
3. Argentina – 2,171
Having appeared in the World Cup multiple times, Argentina is considered one of the reigning world champions since winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Home country to international football sensation Lionel Messi, Argentina is one of the most successful football clubs in the world, also known for producing players like Diego Armando Maradona, Alfredo Di Stefano, and Juan Roman Riquelme, among others.
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4. England – 1,510 players
The England football federation, also known as the Three Lions, is the joint oldest national football team in the world.
The team participated in their first international match in 1872. The football team won the World Cup once in 1966. David Beckham, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and so many others are all national champions from England.
5. Spain—1,106 players
La Roja of Spain, headed by coach Luis De La Fuente, is the most successful European national team of the 21st century.
The Spain football team has won one FIFA World Cup, one Nations League, and three European Championship titles since 2008. The 2008 to 2012 era is considered by experts and commentators alike as the best era for teams in football history.
6. Germany – 1,095 players
Founded in 1900, the German football team played their first match in 1908. Since then, they have gone on to win four FIFA World Cup titles in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014.
They are behind Spain, who is a record holder for winning four European championships with their three wins. The team has produced great players like Franz Beckenbauer, Late Gerd Muller, Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane.
7. Colombia — 1,077 players
Managed by the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, Colombia is ranked 13th in FIFA world rankings as of April 2025. With 1077 players produced since its founding, footballers like Carlos Valderrama, James Rodrigues, and Luis Diaz have made a name for themselves in the team.
8. Nigeria – 926 Players
Nigeria is the only African country in the top 10 with a plethora of football talent.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria, founded in 1945, are considered one of the most successful football teams in Africa and have been ranked 28th in FIFA rankings. The team is a three-time Africa Cup of Nations winner and has qualified for six of the nine FIFA World Cups.
The team has produced many of the most respected and greatest footballers, like Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Rashidi Yekini, and the 21st-century superstars like Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Victor Moses, among many others.
9. Serbia — 915 Players
The Serbian national football team, known as Orlovi (The Eagles), is known for its physical strength, flair, and gritty Balkan spirit. They’ve produced players like Dušan Tadić, Aleksandar Mitrović, and Dušan Vlahović.
Serbia regularly competes at the World Cup and European Championships, often as a dangerous dark horse. When they enter the field, they are fearless, aggressive, and never an easy team to play against.
10. Croatia – 855 Players
Croatia’s national football team is one of Europe’s biggest overachievers, despite being a small country.
They reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third in 1998 and 2022. The Croatia football team thrives on discipline and big-game composure.
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