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Pick the greater legend. Every vote moves the people's ranking of Netherlands.
Ranked by the almanac. Vote in the duels to build the people's version.
98
Johan Cruyff 48 caps · 33 goals · AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona · Ballon d'Or 1971Dortmund, 19 June 1974: he showed Jan Olsson the ball, dragged it behind his standing leg and turned away, and the move has carried his name ever since. Cruyff took the Ballon d'Or in 1971, 1973 and 1974, won three straight European Cups with Ajax and eight Dutch titles there, La Liga with Barcelona in 1974, and the Golden Ball at the World Cup whose final he lost in Munich.
CAM1964–84
95
Marco van Basten 58 caps · 24 goals · AFC Ajax, AC Milan · Ballon d'Or 1988Widely considered one of the greatest strikers of all time, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner and Euro '88 champion was a phenomenon for AC Milan before his career was cut short by injury.
ST1981–93
94
Ruud Gullit 66 caps · 17 goals · HFC Haarlem, Feyenoord Rotterdam · Ballon d'Or 1987The iconic dreadlocked superstar lit up Serie A with AC Milan and captained the Netherlands to their glorious Euro '88 triumph, winning the Ballon d'Or in 1987.
CAM1980s
93
Frank Rijkaard 73 caps · AFC Ajax, Real Zaragoza · national Player of the Year 1995An elegant yet imposing figure, Rijkaard was a defensive lynchpin for both AC Milan and Ajax, winning the Euros in 1988 and dominating as a centre-back or defensive midfielder.
CB1980s
92
Edwin van der Sar 130 caps · Barcelona, Fulham · national Player of the Year 1998A commanding presence between the sticks for Ajax and Manchester United, Van der Sar lifted the Champions League trophy in both 1995 and 2008.
GK1995–2008
90
Johan Neeskens 49 caps · 17 goals · AFC Ajax, FC BarcelonaThe beating heart of Total Football, his relentless energy and box-to-box prowess drove Ajax, Barcelona, and the Dutch national team to multiple finals in the 1970s.
CM1968–85
90
Ronald Koeman 78 caps · AFC Ajax, PSV EindhovenA free-scoring libero and set-piece master, Koeman was instrumental in the Netherlands' Euro 1988 victory and a champion with both PSV and Barcelona.
CB1980s
90
Wesley Sneijder 134 caps · 31 goals · AFC Ajax, Inter Milan · national Player of the Year 2007The diminutive play-maker enjoyed a sensational 2010, netting five goals en route to the World Cup final and leading Inter Milan to a historic treble.
CAM2010s
89
Arie Haan 35 caps · 6 goals · AFC Ajax, R.S.C. AnderlechtOn 21 June 1978 in Buenos Aires he struck from thirty-five yards past Dino Zoff, the goal that beat Italy and carried the Netherlands into a second straight World Cup final. Ajax gave him three European Cups in a row from 1971 to 1973 and the 1972 Intercontinental Cup, Anderlecht two Cup Winners' Cups in 1976 and 1978, and he collected World Cup runners-up medals in 1974 and 1978 with three Dutch titles.
CM1969–84
89
Hans van Breukelen 73 caps · FC Utrecht, Nottingham ForestThe hero of the Netherlands' 1988 Euro triumph and PSV's European Cup win in the same year, he earned a reputation as a penalty-saving specialist.
GK1980s
89
Robin van Persie 102 caps · 50 goals · Feyenoord Rotterdam, ArsenalThe Netherlands' all-time leading scorer, his acrobatic volleys and devastating left foot produced countless spectacular goals for Arsenal, Manchester United, and his national team.
SS2001–19
89
Ruud Krol 83 caps · AFC Ajax, SSC Napoli · Hall of FameAn intelligent defender integral to Ajax's 'Total Football' era, Krol showcased his versatility and leadership in the 1974 and 1978 World Cup finals.
CB1974–78
89
Virgil van Dijk 95 caps · Celtic, Southampton · national Player of the Year 2019The colossal Liverpool captain, a Champions League winner in 2019, solidified his place as one of the world's premier centre-backs by finishing second in the Ballon d'Or.
CB2010s
89
Wim Suurbier 60 caps · AFC Ajax, FC MetzA marauding full-back in Ajax's 'Total Football' dynasty, he played in both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup finals.
RB1974–78
88
Memphis Depay 108 caps · 55 goals · PSV Eindhoven, Olympique LyonnaisIn Kaunas in September 2025, he scored twice against Lithuania and moved past Robin van Persie as the Netherlands' leading scorer, reaching 52 goals in 104 caps. Three months later he struck the decisive goal that won Corinthians the Copa do Brasil, their first since 2009, having taken the Eredivisie title and its scoring crown with PSV in 2015.
ST2013–26
88
Willem van Hanegem 52 caps · 6 goals · XerxesDZB, Feyenoord Rotterdam · Hall of Fame 2024The cultured left-footed midfielder was the tactical brain behind Feyenoord’s 1970 European Cup triumph and a key figure in the 1974 World Cup final team.
CM1970–74
Giovanni van Bronckhorst 106 caps · Feyenoord Rotterdam, Rangers · Hall of FameThe inspirational captain of the Netherlands' 2010 World Cup finalists, he scored a thunderous semi-final goal and lifted the Champions League with Barcelona.
LB2010s
Jan van Beveren 32 caps · Sparta Rotterdam, PSV EindhovenThough much admired for his shot-stopping ability at PSV, this agile 'keeper's national career was unfortunately limited despite his club heroics.
GK1965–84
Patrick Kluivert 79 caps · 40 goals · AFC Ajax, AC MilanPatrick Kluivert's iconic header secured the 1995 Champions League for Ajax, launching a stellar career at Barcelona and for the Netherlands.
ST1990s
Piet Keizer 34 caps · 11 goals · AFC AjaxAn elegant and influential left winger, he formed a devastating partnership with Johan Cruyff, helping Ajax secure three consecutive European Cups in the early 1970s.
LM1961–74
Sjaak Swart 31 caps · 10 goals · AFC AjaxAmsterdam called him Mr. Ajax because he never played for anyone else, working the right touchline for 603 official matches between 1956 and 1973, still the club record, and signing off with a farewell game against Tottenham at the Olympic Stadium. Three European Cups came in a row in 1971, 1972 and 1973, with the Intercontinental Cup in 1972, eight Dutch championships and five KNVB Cups.
RM1956–73
Johnny Rep 42 caps · 12 goals · AFC Ajax, SC BastiaThe prolific forward was a vital part of Ajax's European Cup dominance in the early 1970s and a two-time World Cup runner-up, scoring crucial goals for his country.
RM1971–86
Wim Jansen 65 caps · Feyenoord Rotterdam, Washington DiplomatsA linchpin of the great 1974 World Cup runners-up side, this intelligent controller dictated play from deep for both Feyenoord and Ajax.
CDM1970s
At the head of Netherlands's pool stand Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit. The 33 covers 3 goalkeepers, 9 defenders, 15 midfielders and 6 forwards, spanning the 1970s to the 2010s. 2 players reach the Immortal tier or higher. Pick a formation, drag your eleven onto the pitch, then settle the duels below. Your votes reorder the people's ranking of these 33 in real time.
A 33 is a set of decisions, and these are the players who lost their place in the last revision of Netherlands's list. Every one of them has a case.
Disagree? That is the point. Settle it in the duels above.