Each nation's pool holds exactly 33 players covering every position, with the balance shaped by that nation's history. A rating from 60 to 99 summarises four ingredients: peak level, longevity at the top, honours with club and country, and consensus historical standing. The rating places each player in a tier:
| Tier | Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| GOAT | 98–99 | In the conversation for the greatest ever |
| Immortal | 95–97 | Era-defining, worldwide |
| Mythic | 92–94 | All-time great by any measure |
| Legend | 88–91 | National monument, international weight |
| Icon | 84–87 | Defining figure for the national team |
| Stalwart | below 84 | Cornerstone of the nation's football story |
Comparing across eras is judgment, and we publish it as judgment. That is why every rating on this site can be overruled by the second system.
Every nation page runs duels: two legends of the same nation, one tap. Behind it sits an Elo rating, the system chess uses. Each player starts with a score seeded from the editorial rating, a win takes points from the loser, and an upset moves more points than an expected result. The people's 33 is simply the live Elo table, reordered with every single vote.
Votes are anonymous. To keep the table honest we rate-limit voting per network fingerprint and day, and duel pairings favour close matchups, so the table sharpens where the argument is tightest.
Each day the almanac deals a set of ten duels. The set is deterministic: everyone who plays with the same nation on the same day sees the same ten matchups, three from that nation's pool and seven from across the world. Duel tickets expire at midnight UTC, then a fresh set is dealt.
33 Legends is not affiliated with FIFA or any federation, and the ratings are editorial opinion combined with public voting, not an official record.