Many players have had one world class game but very few have been able to be at an elite level for years in a row. The peak of a players powers is usually a 3-5 year span over their careers where they're in a category by themselves.
Some players may be one hit wonders some, some might have been consistent throughout their career but these are the top 10 players who were at the top of their game for a three-year period.
10. Ronaldo Nazário (1996–1999)
Probably the biggest what if story in football history, the original Ronaldo Nazario still had an all time career with his major injury knee injuries.
Across three seasons with PSV, Barcelona, and Inter Milan, the Brazilian blended terrifying pace with raw power. In his lone 1996/97 season at Barcelona, he scored a staggering 47 goals in 49 games.
By the time he won the 1997 Ballon d'Or at just 21 years old, he had already scored over 100 career goals. His unstoppable dribbling and clinical finishing made him the new breed of forward.
9. Michel Platini (1982–1985)
The peak of dominance for any midfielder in European history, Michel Platini redefined the attacking impact for a midfielder.
Across this three-year period, Platini won three consecutive Ballons d'Or and finished as the Serie A top scorer in three straight seasons for Juventus.
To top it off, the Frenchman scored 9 goals in 5 matches to single-handedly win the European Championship for France.
8. Pelé (1959–1962)
While the football may have been played in black and white, Pele added colour with his samba style on the world stage.
Still in his early twenties, he guided Santos to domestic and continental dominance, scoring 47 goals in 30 games during the 1961 Campeonato Paulista.
In 1962, he dragged Santos to the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup, scoring a hat-trick against Benfica. He finished off his three-year stretch by winning his second World Cup with Brazil in 1962.
7. Diego Maradona (1985-1988)
On paper, by today's standards Diego Maradona's stats might not pop out to you but his impact speaks for itself.
Diego Maradona dragged an underdog Napoli side to their first-ever Serie A Scudetto in 1987, scoring 10 league goals.
But this peak is the 1986 World Cup, where he put up 5 goals and 5 assists (involving himself in 71% of Argentina's goals), delivering the greatest individual tournament performance of all time.
6. Johan Cruyff (1971–1974)
The peak that created total football. During this stretch, Johan Cruyff orchestrated Ajax to three consecutive European Cups (1971, 1972, 1973), scoring 33 goals across all competitions in the 1971/72 campaign.
He won the Ballon d'Or in 2071, 73, and 74, then moved to Barcelona, immediately won La Liga, and took "Total Football" to the 1974 World Cup final, entirely changing how the sport was played. Still one of the best players to never win the World Cup.
5. Ronaldinho (2003–2006)
Probably the most entertaining peak in football history, Ronaldinho win, lose or draw would have fans off their seats to see what unthinkable thing he would do next.
He won back-to-back FIFA World Player of the Year awards and the 2005 Ballon d'Or.
During the 2005/06 season, he posted 26 goals and 24 assists, won the Champions League, and was able to even get a standing ovation from the stubborn Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu after 2 wonder goals.
4. Marco van Basten (1988–1991)
The complete forward, Marco van Basten's three-year peak saw him win the 1988 European Championship with the Netherlands, before leading AC Milan's legendary side to back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990.
During the 1988/89 season alone, the Dutchman had 33 goals and 14 assists, securing his status as the most feared number nine on the planet. If only without injuries he could've put himself in more all time conversations.
3. Thierry Henry (2002–2005)
The best player to touch the Premier League at the top of his game in Europe and domestic.
Thierry Henry didn't just bring goals he also would create to for the teammates around him with his pace and vision. In 2002/03, he had the most goal contributions in a Premier League season, scoring 24 goals and 20 assists in the league.
He followed it up by scoring 39 goals across all competitions to lead Arsenal to an a whole league season unbeaten with the Invincibles winning back-to-back PFA Player of the Year awards and European Golden Shoes.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (2013–2016)
You can't have a list of greatest peaks in football without having the freak athlete and goal machine that is Cristiano Ronaldo.
During this three-year span, Cristiano Ronaldo went from a tricky winger into a penalty-box demon. In the 2013/14 season, he scored a record-shattering 17 goals in a single Champions League season to win "La Decima".
Across this three-year window, he averaged over 50 goals a season, won two Ballon d'Or, lifted two Champions League titles, and finally secured international glory at Euro 2016.
1. Lionel Messi (2010-2013)
At the turn of the decade, Lionel Messi got a new position, a new haircut and suddenly started producing numbers which will never be matched.
Under Pep Guardiola, Messi's transition into the false nine role made defenders not know where to go when he was roaming in the final third.
In the 2011/12 season, he scored 73 goals and provided 29 assists in 60 club games. He ended the 2012 calendar year with a world-record 91 goals. Winning three consecutive Ballons d'Or, he could've retired there and then at 24 still being in GOAT discussions.
