Ahmed Hassan ranked among football’s 15 greatest international players

Ahmed Hassan, Egypt’s legendary captain, has been named 13th in a list of the greatest international players in football history, ranking above Cristiano Ronaldo and Iran’s Ali Daei.

The ranking was published by GiveMeSport after Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football. It assessed players according to the honours they won with their national teams and their longevity at the highest level of international football.

Brazilian icon Pele topped the list, with Messi placed second.

Hassan, who is now retired from football, was recognised for his exceptional record with Egypt and his impact on the Africa Cup of Nations. The former midfielder represented his country between 1995 and 2012, making 184 international appearances and scoring 33 goals, according to the report.

He won the Africa Cup of Nations four times during his career. The ranking’s accompanying list records his total number of appearances as 183.

GiveMeSport wrote of Hassan:

“Among the standout names who helped shape African football, Ahmed Hassan is undoubtedly one of the most important. He is the eighth-most capped player in international football history (184 appearances), and he excelled particularly on the continental stage. So much so that he made the Africa Cup of Nations his favourite tournament.

“He shares the record for the number of appearances in the tournament (eight), while, alongside his former team-mate Essam El Hadary, he holds the record for the number of titles won (four). If that is not enough for you, the fact that he was named the best player at the tournament twice, in 2006 and 2010, should be sufficient to convince you of his deserved place in this ranking.”

Hassan was also known by the nickname “The Falcon”. His four Africa Cup of Nations triumphs place him alongside former Egypt team-mate Essam El Hadary as a record-holder for the most titles in the competition. Hassan was named the tournament’s best player in 2006 and 2010.

The full ranking was:

15. Ali Daei – Iran, 148 appearances, 118 goals and seven titles 14. Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal, 223 appearances, 146 goals and three titles 13. Ahmed Hassan – Egypt, 183 appearances, 33 goals and four titles 12. Angel Romano – Uruguay, 70 appearances, 28 goals and 21 titles 11. Gerd Muller – Germany, 62 appearances, 68 goals and two titles 10. Kylian Mbappe – France, 106 appearances, 66 goals and two titles 9. Franz Beckenbauer – Germany, 103 appearances, 14 goals and two titles 8. Diego Maradona – Argentina, 89 appearances, 32 goals and two titles 7. Andres Iniesta – Spain, 131 appearances and three titles 6. Lothar Matthaus – Germany, 150 appearances, 23 goals and three titles 5. Ronaldo – Brazil, 98 appearances, 62 goals and five titles 4. Sergio Ramos – Spain, 180 appearances, 23 goals and three titles 3. Cafu – Brazil, 142 appearances, five goals and five titles 2. Lionel Messi – Argentina, 207 appearances, 125 goals and six titles 1. Pele – Brazil, 92 appearances, 77 goals and 10 titles

Hassan’s inclusion puts him ahead of Ronaldo, who is listed 14th, and Daei, who occupies 15th place. Messi is second behind Pele, while the top three are completed by Brazil’s Cafu.