SOCCER PLAYERS from Estonia

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Estonian Soccer Players of all time. This list of famous Estonian Soccer Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Estonian Soccer Players.

1. Valeri Karpin (b. 1969)

With an HPI of 50.59, Valeri Karpin is the most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 42 different languages on wikipedia.

Valery Georgiyevich Karpin (Russian: Валерий Георгиевич Карпин; born 2 February 1969) is a football manager and former player who manages both Russian Premier League side FC Rostov and the Russian national team. As a player, he was a midfielder and spent most of his career at Spartak Moscow, Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo. He holds citizenships of Russia, Spain and Estonia.

2. Andres Oper (b. 1977)

With an HPI of 44.75, Andres Oper is the 2nd most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 35 different languages.

Andres Oper (born 7 November 1977) is an Estonian football coach and former professional player. With 38 goals in 134 appearances, Oper is Estonia's all-time record goalscorer. Oper played as a forward for Lelle, Flora, Tervis Pärnu, AaB, Torpedo Moscow, Roda JC, Shanghai Shenhua, ADO Den Haag, AEK Larnaca, Nea Salamina and the Estonia national team. Oper was named Estonian Footballer of the Year three times, in 1999, 2002 and 2005, and won the Estonian Silverball award twice; in 2001 and 2005.

3. Mart Poom (b. 1972)

With an HPI of 41.49, Mart Poom is the 3rd most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 36 different languages.

Mart Poom (born 3 February 1972) is an Estonian football coach and former professional player regarded as one of the greatest Estonian footballers of all time. He is currently the goalkeeping coach of the Estonia national team. Poom played as a goalkeeper for Lõvid, Sport Tallinn, KuPS, Flora, Wil, Portsmouth, Derby County, Sunderland, Arsenal, and Watford. Poom made his international debut on 3 June 1992 in the Estonia national team's first official match since restoration of independence, a 1–1 draw against Slovenia in a friendly. He made a total of 120 appearances for Estonia and was the team's captain. Poom won the Estonian Footballer of the Year award six times, in 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003, the second highest number of times won, behind only Ragnar Klavan. In November 2003, Poom was named Estonia's Golden Player. He ended his career on 10 June 2009, after a 0–0 draw against Portugal.

4. Konstantin Vassiljev (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 40.53, Konstantin Vassiljev is the 4th most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 29 different languages.

Konstantin Vassiljev (born 16 August 1984) is an Estonian retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is the current head coach of Flora. Vassiljev has been named Estonian Footballer of the Year three times, and has won the Estonian Silverball award a record six times.

5. Ragnar Klavan (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 40.26, Ragnar Klavan is the 5th most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Ragnar Klavan (born 30 October 1985) is an Estonian former professional footballer who played as a defender. A left-footed centre back, he also played as a left back during his career. Klavan played for Elva, Tulevik and Flora in Estonia, winning the Meistriliiga with Flora in the 2003 season, before moving to the Netherlands where he played for Heracles Almelo and AZ, winning the Eredivisie with the latter in the 2008–09 season. In 2012, he transferred to FC Augsburg and spent four seasons in the Bundesliga before his move to Liverpool in 2016 for €5 million. In 2018, Klavan signed for Serie A's Cagliari in a transfer worth £2 million. In 2021, he returned to Estonia signing for Paide Linnameeskond. Klavan made his senior international debut for Estonia in 2003, and became captain in 2012. In 2015, he became the ninth player to make 100 appearances for Estonia, and is currently the fifth-most capped player in the history of the national team. Klavan has won the Estonian Footballer of the Year award a record seven times, in 2012 and six consecutive from 2014 to 2019.

6. Indrek Zelinski (b. 1974)

With an HPI of 37.80, Indrek Zelinski is the 6th most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Indrek Zelinski (born 13 November 1974) is an Estonian football coach and former professional player. Zelinski played as a forward for Sindi Kalju, Tervis Pärnu, Pärnu Kalev, Flora, Lelle, Kuressaare, Lahti, AaB, Landskrona BoIS, Frem and Levadia. Zelinski made his international debut for the Estonia national team in 1994. He made 103 appearances for the team, scoring 27 goals, before retiring in 2010. Zelinski was named Estonian Footballer of the Year in 2001, and won the Estonian Silverball award three times, in 2000, 2003 and 2007.

7. Sergei Pareiko (b. 1977)

With an HPI of 36.44, Sergei Pareiko is the 7th most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Sergei Pareiko (born 31 January 1977) is a retired Estonian footballer. Pareiko played as a goalkeeper in Estonian, Russian and Polish top tiers. He made a total of 65 appearances for the Estonia national football team. He worked as the sporting director of Estonian football club Levadia from 2016 until July 2021.

8. Raio Piiroja (b. 1979)

With an HPI of 35.56, Raio Piiroja is the 8th most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Raio Piiroja (born 11 July 1979) is an Estonian former professional footballer. He played as a centre-back for Pärnu/Kalev, Lelle, Flora, Vålerenga, Fredrikstad, Vitesse and Chengdu Blades. Piiroja made his international debut for the Estonia national team on 21 November 1998 in a friendly against Armenia. He was team captain from 2008 to 2011, and made a total of 113 appearances for Estonia before retiring in 2013. On 31 March 2015, Piiroja made his 114th and final appearance for Estonia in his testimonial match against Iceland. Known for his leadership and ability in the air, Piiroja was named Estonian Footballer of the Year five times, in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

9. Enar Jääger (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 33.88, Enar Jääger is the 9th most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Enar Jääger (born 18 November 1984) is an Estonian former professional footballer who played as a defender.

10. Dmitri Kruglov (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 33.74, Dmitri Kruglov is the 10th most famous Estonian Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Dmitri Kruglov (born 24 May 1984) is an Estonian retired professional footballer who played as a left-back and a winger. He made 115 appearances for the Estonia national team, scoring four goals. He was known for his powerful shooting and often took free kicks and penalties.