33·Legends
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Switzerland

The thirty-three greatest. Build your eleven, then settle the duels.
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The 330 on the pitch

The duels

Pick the greater legend. Every vote moves the people's ranking of Switzerland.

The 33 of Switzerland

Ranked by the almanac. Vote in the duels to build the people's version.

1 SC 88 Stéphane Chapuisat 103 caps · 21 goals · FC Lausanne-Sport, Borussia DortmundThe elegant Swiss striker was a true legend, winning the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund and mesmerizing fans with his prolific finishing. ST1987–2006
2 87 Yann Sommer 94 caps · FC Vaduz, Borussia MönchengladbachAn agile shot-stopper, Sommer became a national hero with his penalty shootout heroics against France at EURO 2020, solidifying his status as a top-tier goalkeeper. GK2020s
3 86 Alexander Frei 86 caps · 42 goals · Servette, Stade RennaisSwitzerland's all-time record goalscorer, he’s a legendary figure at clubs like Borussia Dortmund and FC Basel, a true leader in attack. CAM1998–2013
4 86 Granit Xhaka 151 caps · Borussia Mönchengladbach, ArsenalEleven years of Bayern titles ended on 14 April 2024, with Xhaka striking one from 25 metres past Werder Bremen for 2-0 in the game that made Leverkusen German champions for the first time. That season ended unbeaten in the league with the DFB-Pokal alongside it, and he captains Switzerland as their record appearance holder on 152 caps, having won the Swiss title twice with Basel and the FA Cup twice with Arsenal. CDM2010–26
5 86 Stephan Lichtsteiner 108 caps · Lille OSC, SS LazioA tireless engine on the right flank, this marauding full-back was a serial Serie A winner with Juventus and a stalwart for the national team. RB2002–20
6 86 Xherdan Shaqiri 125 caps · 32 goals · FC Bayern Munich, Stoke CityThe 'Alpine Messi' is renowned for his spectacular big-tournament goals and creative flair, contributing to titles with Bayern Munich and Liverpool. RM2009–26
7 JH 85 Josef Hügi 34 caps · 22 goals · FC Basel, FC ZürichA prolific striker and Basel legend, he lit up the 1954 World Cup with his goal-scoring heroics. SS1950s
8 85 Kubilay Türkyilmaz 64 caps · 34 goals · AC Bellinzona, ServetteThis prolific forward was a potent goalscorer, renowned for netting vital goals and becoming a prominent attacking star of the 1990s. SS1987–2003
9 85 Ricardo Rodríguez 135 caps · VfL Wolfsburg, AC MilanA precise set-piece specialist and an attacking threat, he was a consistent performer on the left flank for Wolfsburg and AC Milan. LB2011–26
10 84 Alfred Bickel 71 caps · 15 goals · Grasshopper Club ZürichTwo goals down to Greater Germany in the Paris replay on 9 June 1938, Switzerland came back, and Bickel, German-born himself, made it 2-2 in the 64th minute of an eventual 4-2 win. Seventy-one caps for Switzerland and World Cups either side of the war, in 1938 and 1950, a span only Sweden's Erik Nilsson also managed; seven Swiss championships and nine Swiss Cups with Grasshopper, and Swiss Sportsman of the Year in 1953. SS1935–1956
11 HH 84 Heinz Hermann 118 caps · 15 goals · Grasshopper Club Zürich, Neuchâtel Xamax FCSA Swiss midfield general, he held the national team cap record for many years, showcasing versatility and leadership. CM1977–96
12 MA 84 Max Abegglen 68 caps · 34 goals · FC Xamax, FC Lausanne-SportA legendary figure for Grasshopper Club Zürich and the national team, he was one of Switzerland's earliest and most formidable attackers. SS1918–37
13 AA 83 André Abegglen 52 caps · 30 goals · Étoile Carouge, Neuchâtel Xamax FCSBefore the Second World War, he was a global star, leading the line for Sochaux and Servette and dazzling at the 1938 World Cup. ST1930s
14 83 Manuel Akanji 86 caps · FC Basel, Borussia DortmundA modern defensive maestro, he brings composure and ball-playing ability, anchoring Manchester City's treble-winning defence in 2023 and leading the Swiss backline. CB2020s
15 CS 82 Ciriaco Sforza 79 caps · 7 goals · Grasshopper Club Zürich, 1. FC KaiserslauternA technically gifted midfielder, he brought European pedigree from Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, crowning his career with a Champions League title. CM1988–2006
16 82 Diego Benaglio 61 caps · VfB Stuttgart II, C.D. NacionalThe commanding Swiss goalkeeper captained his country and was a cornerstone of Wolfsburg's improbable 2009 Bundesliga title triumph. GK2000s
17 82 Hakan Yakin 87 caps · 20 goals · FC Basel, BSC Young BoysA technically gifted playmaker and set-piece specialist, his dazzling displays lit up EURO 2008 for Switzerland. CAM2000s
18 JF 82 Jacques Fatton 53 caps · 29 goals · Servette, Olympique LyonnaisSão Paulo, 28 June 1950: Fatton scored both Swiss goals against Brazil at the Pacaembu, the second in the 88th minute to snatch a 2-2 draw from the hosts. Twenty-eight goals in 53 games for Switzerland across two World Cups, four Swiss championships with Servette in 1946, 1950, 1961 and 1962, the Swiss Cup in 1949, and three seasons as the league's leading scorer. LM1943–1963
19 SH 82 Stéphane Henchoz 72 caps · Hamburger SV, Blackburn RoversThe no-nonsense centre-back was a key component of Liverpool's historic treble-winning side in 2001, renowned for his uncompromising defending. CB2000s
20 AG 81 Alain Geiger 112 caps · Servette, Neuchâtel Xamax FCSA true Swiss football icon, this commanding defender amassed over 100 caps, leading his nation's defence with distinction for many years. CB1978–99
21 81 Blaise Nkufo 34 caps · 7 goals · Yverdon-Sport, 1. FSV Mainz 05A powerful and consistent striker, he was a cult hero at Twente and a reliable goalscorer for the Swiss national team. ST1994–2011
22 81 Gökhan Inler 89 caps · Udinese Calcio, SSC NapoliA midfield powerhouse and former national team captain, his commanding physical presence dominated the engine room for Napoli and Udinese. CDM2004–21
23 81 Johann Vogel 94 caps · Grasshopper Club Zürich, PSV EindhovenA disciplined defensive midfielder, he was the unsung hero orchestrating PSV Eindhoven's mid-2000s successes before moving to AC Milan. CDM1992–2009
24 81 Köbi Kuhn 63 caps · 5 goals · FC ZürichA graceful midfield maestro and elegant playmaker, he later guided Switzerland as national coach, leaving an indelible mark on Swiss football. CM1960–77
25 SM 81 Severino Minelli 80 caps · Servette, Grasshopper Club ZürichA defensive rock of the 1930s, this Grasshoppers legend was an integral part of Switzerland's early World Cup appearances. RB1927–43
26 81 Tranquillo Barnetta 75 caps · 10 goals · FC St. Gallen, Bayer 04 LeverkusenA dynamic right midfielder with pace and power, he was a vital part of the World Cup 2006 generation for clubs like Leverkusen and Schalke. RM2000s
27 81 Valon Behrami 83 caps · 2 goals · SS Lazio, West Ham UnitedA tenacious midfield engine, he battled through four World Cups with an incredible work rate for clubs like Napoli, Lazio, and West Ham. CM2003–20
28 GB 80 Georges Bregy 54 caps · 12 goals · FC Sion, BSC Young BoysSwitzerland had not scored at a World Cup for twenty-eight years when he curled a free kick past Tony Meola at Detroit's Pontiac Silverdome on 18 June 1994. He won the Swiss championship with Young Boys in 1986, took the Swiss Cup twice with Sion in 1980 and 1982, finished 1983/84 as the league's leading scorer with 21 goals, and closed his international career on 54 caps and 12 goals. CM1980–95
29 80 Haris Seferović 93 caps · 25 goals · Eintracht Frankfurt, S.L. BenficaA clinical finisher and vital presence in attack, he delivered crucial goals for Benfica and etched his name into EURO 2020 history for Switzerland. ST2020s
30 80 Ludovic Magnin 63 caps · Yverdon-Sport, VfB StuttgartA committed and versatile defender, he brought passion and work rate to the back line for both Werder Bremen and Stuttgart. CB1998–2012
31 PZ 80 Pascal Zuberbühler 51 caps · Grasshopper Club Zürich, FC BaselAn old-school stopper, Zuberbühler led Switzerland to an unbeaten group stage at the 2006 World Cup, conceding zero goals in a memorable display of resilience. GK2000s
32 KE 79 Karl Elsener An old-school stopper, he was a foundational figure in the Swiss defence during the 1938 World Cup. GK1930s
33 RW 79 Rolf Wüthrich 13 caps · 2 goals · FC Zürich, ServetteA historic outside left, he was a key national team player, embodying the classic wing talent of his era. LM1956–68

About this XI

The three highest rated names in Switzerland's pool are Stéphane Chapuisat, Yann Sommer and Alexander Frei. The 33 covers 4 goalkeepers, 7 defenders, 14 midfielders and 8 forwards, spanning the 1930s to the 2020s. Stéphane Chapuisat leads the pool at 88 overall. 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.

Left out, and why

A 33 is a set of decisions, and these are the players who lost their place in the last revision of Switzerland's list. Every one of them has a case.

Disagree? That is the point. Settle it in the duels above.

Who is the greatest Switzerland footballer of all time?
In the 33 Legends editorial ranking, Stéphane Chapuisat leads Switzerland with an overall rating of 88. The editorial top five: Stéphane Chapuisat, Yann Sommer, Alexander Frei, Granit Xhaka, Stephan Lichtsteiner. The people's ranking on this page moves with every duel vote and can disagree.
How were these 33 Switzerland players chosen?
The pool covers every position across Switzerland's football history. Ratings weigh peak level, longevity, honours and historical standing, then the full methodology page explains the tiers. Fan votes in the duels build a second, independent ranking.
Which Switzerland players reach the Immortal tier or higher?
None yet. Stéphane Chapuisat leads the Switzerland pool at 88, in the Legend tier.
Can I build and share my own Switzerland all-time XI?
Yes. Pick one of eight formations, drag any of the 33 onto the pitch, and export your lineup as a PNG. There is no account and no sign-up.
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