SOCCER PLAYERS from Venezuela

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Venezuelan Soccer Players of all time. This list of famous Venezuelan 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 Venezuelan Soccer Players.

1. Tomás Rincón (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 43.96, Tomás Rincón is the most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 36 different languages on wikipedia.

Tomás Eduardo Rincón Hernández (Spanish pronunciation: [toˈmas riŋˈkon]; born 13 January 1988) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for and captains both Campeonato Brasileiro Série B side Santos and the Venezuela national team.

2. Danny (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 43.89, Danny is the 2nd most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 37 different languages.

Daniel Miguel Alves Gomes (born 7 August 1983), commonly known as Danny, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Also a winger, he was known for his dribbling and key passes. He spent most of his career in Russia in service of Dynamo Moscow and Zenit, after arriving at the age of 21 from Sporting CP. He won seven items of silverware with Zenit, including three Russian Premier League titles. Danny represented Portugal at the 2010 World Cup and the 2004 Olympics.

3. Salomón Rondón (b. 1989)

With an HPI of 43.55, Salomón Rondón is the 3rd most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 47 different languages.

José Salomón Rondón Giménez (Spanish pronunciation: [saloˈmon ronˈdon]; born 16 September 1989) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Liga MX club Pachuca and captains the Venezuela national team. After starting out at Aragua, Rondón went on to spend most of his career in Europe, appearing in La Liga with Málaga, the Russian Premier League with Rubin Kazan, Zenit Saint Petersburg (winning the 2015 national championship with the latter club) and CSKA Moscow, and the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United and Everton. A Venezuela international since 2008, Rondón has earned over 110 caps and is the country's all-time top goalscorer with 45 goals. He represented his country in five Copa América tournaments, helping them to fourth place in 2011.

4. Jorge Valdivia (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 43.20, Jorge Valdivia is the 4th most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Jorge Luis Valdivia Toro (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxoɾxe ˈlwjs βalˈdjβja], born 19 October 1983) is a Chilean national and former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Product of Colo-Colo youth ranks, Valdivia had an impressing loan spell at Universidad de Concepción during his debut season in 2003. Then after another two loan spells in Europe, he definitely joined Colo-Colo in 2005 winning one year later the Torneo Apertura title, before moving to Palmeiras. Since joining Brazilian club, he spent seven years playing for Verdão — interrupted by his spell at Al Ain — and has appeared in more than 100 games, winning one Paulistão in 2008, a Copa do Brasil in 2012 and a Série B title in 2013. A Chilean international between 2004 until 2017, he was an integral member of the 2015 Copa América winning squad (the first ever achieved by his national team in its history), having previously appeared in two past editions (2007 and 2011) and in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. During his years active, Valdivia has reached 7 goals in 78 caps. He is considered one of the greatest playmakers in the Chilean football history and has been praised by football legends like Pelé or Carlos Valderrama. His figure is very prominent at Palmeiras recent history, where he is mostly a divisive figure, but more often considered to be an idol. He also enjoys great fame at Al Ain. Due to his talent, he was given the nicknames "El Mago" (the wizard) throughout his career. Valdivia was a "classic number 10", who was best known for his passing ability and skills.

5. Juan Arango (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 41.32, Juan Arango is the 5th most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Juan Fernando Arango Sáenz (born 16 May 1980) is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Arango was considered by some in the sport as the greatest Venezuelan footballer of all time. He spent the better part of his professional career in La Liga with Mallorca, appearing in 196 official games, and also played several years with Borussia Mönchengladbach for which he signed at the age of 29. Arango was Venezuela's record holder in international caps and goals for several years, scoring 22 times in 129 matches between 1999 and 2015. He represented the nation in six Copa América tournaments.

6. Jeffrén Suárez (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 41.28, Jeffrén Suárez is the 6th most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 36 different languages.

Jeffrén Isaac Suárez Bermúdez (born 20 January 1988), known simply as Jeffrén, is a Venezuelan former footballer who played as a forward or a winger. He started his career with Barcelona, appearing rarely and signing for Sporting CP in 2011. Other than in Spain, he also played professionally in Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Cyprus, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand. Jeffrén won 30 caps for Spain at youth level, winning the European Championships with the under-19 and the under-21 teams. In 2015, he made his senior debut for Venezuela.

7. Josef Martínez (b. 1993)

With an HPI of 40.35, Josef Martínez is the 7th most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  Her biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia (born 19 May 1993) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club CF Montréal and the Venezuela national team. Josef Martínez began his career with Caracas. In 2012, he was acquired by the Swiss Super League club Young Boys before spending a year on loan at Thun. In 2014, he was sold to Italian club Torino, and in 2017, Major League Soccer expansion side, Atlanta United. He later joined Inter Miami for the 2023 season. He holds the MLS record for career hat-tricks with six in his first 44 games, the record for cumulative goals in regular and post season with 35, the record for most consecutive games with a goal (15), and formerly held the record for goals in a single season (31 in 2018). Additionally, Martínez scored 100 goals in the MLS faster than any single player in league history (125 games). In 2018, Martínez became the most decorated single-season player in MLS history by winning the League MVP, All-Star Game MVP, Golden Boot, and MLS Cup Final MVP. He is a former Venezuela under-20 international. In 2011, he made his debut for the senior Venezuela national team against El Salvador, and has since represented his nation at three editions of the Copa América.

8. Fernando Amorebieta (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 38.38, Fernando Amorebieta is the 8th most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 34 different languages.

Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras (born 29 March 1985) is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He spent most of his career with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 254 competitive matches over eight La Liga seasons and scoring four goals. He also competed professionally in England (with Fulham and Middlesbrough), Argentina and Paraguay. Internationally, Amorebieta played for Spain (where he spent most of his early life) at youth level, but later decided to represent his country of birth Venezuela as a senior, appearing for the nation at the 2015 Copa América.

9. Roberto Rosales (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 35.54, Roberto Rosales is the 9th most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Roberto José Rosales Altuve (Spanish pronunciation: [roˈβeɾto rosales]; born 20 November 1988) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays for Deportivo Táchira and the Venezuela national team. Mainly a right back, he can also play as a right midfielder.

10. Yangel Herrera (b. 1998)

With an HPI of 35.22, Yangel Herrera is the 10th most famous Venezuelan Soccer Player.  Her biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Yangel Clemente Herrera Ravelo (born 7 January 1998) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Girona and the Venezuela national team.