Top 10 Greatest Chilean Footballers of All Time

South America breathes football, with countries like Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile shaping the sport's history. Chilean players are known for their fierce, aggressive style, bringing home multiple Copa America titles and appearing often in FIFA World Cups. Despite recent struggles, including failure to qualify for the last two World Cups after 2014 and current difficulties in the 2026 qualifiers, Chile boasts a rich football heritage.

This list ranks the top 10 Chilean footballers based on their club careers, trophies won, international performances, and overall impact.

Top 10 Chilean Footballers

• 1. Arturo VidalClubs: Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter MilanTrophies: 5 Serie A titles, 3 Bundesliga titles, 2 Copa AmericasInternational Caps: 142
• 2. Alexis SanchezClubs: Arsenal, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Udinese, Manchester UnitedTrophies: 2 Serie A titles, 2 Copa Americas, 2 FA CupsInternational Caps: 166 (most capped), 50 goals (top scorer)
• 3. Iván ZamoranoClubs: Real Madrid, Inter Milan, CF AméricaTrophies: Europa League, La Liga, Copa del ReyInternational Caps: 69
• 4. Marcelo SalasClubs: SS Lazio, Universidad de Chile, River Plate, JuventusTrophies: 3 Serie A & Argentine League titles, 2 Chilean league titlesInternational Caps: 70
• 5. Claudio BravoClubs: Real Sociedad, Barcelona, Real Betis, Manchester CityTrophies: 2 Premier League titles, La Liga, Chilean League, Copa America, 1 UEFA Champions LeagueInternational Caps: 150
• 6. Leonel SanchezClubs: Universidad de Chile, Colo-ColoTrophies: 7 Chilean League titlesInternational Caps: 84
• 7. Eduardo VargasClubs: Atlético Mineiro, Tigres UNAL, Universidad de Chile, Gremio, Hoffenheim, Napoli, Valencia, QPRTrophies: 2 Copa Americas, Chilean League, Mexican League, CONCACAF Champions LeagueInternational Caps: 114
• 8. Gary MedelClubs: Inter Milan, Bologna, Sevilla, Besiktas, Boca JuniorsTrophies: 2 Copa AmericasInternational Caps: 161
• 9. David PizarroClubs: AS Roma, Udinese, Universidad de Chile, Inter MilanTrophies: Premier League, Serie A, Copa America, Chilean LeagueInternational Caps: 46
• 10. Carlos CaszelyClubs: Colo-Colo, EspanyolTrophies: 5 Chilean League titlesInternational Caps: 49

Player Profiles

Carlos Caszely was a star from the 1970s to mid-1980s, scoring a record 208 goals for Colo-Colo and winning five league titles. He also played in Spain and scored 29 goals in 49 appearances for Chile.

David Pizarro excelled as a deep-lying playmaker, winning league titles in Italy and England, and earned 46 caps, contributing to the 2015 Copa America victory.

Gary Medel is Chile's second most-capped player with 161 appearances, crucial in their 2015 and 2016 Copa America wins. He has over 200 games in Serie A and currently plays for Boca Juniors.

Eduardo Vargas is a versatile forward with 114 caps and 43 goals, known for his dribbling and finishing. He was top scorer in Chile’s Copa America wins and has played across South America and Europe.

Leonel Sanchez shone in the 1962 World Cup, scoring four goals and helping Chile finish third. He won seven Chilean league titles playing domestically.

Claudio Bravo, regarded as one of South America's best goalkeepers, retired in 2024. He played 150 times for Chile, winning two Copa Americas and many top European trophies.

Marcelo Salas made his mark with Lazio and Juventus, scoring 100 goals in 272 club games, and 37 goals in 70 matches for Chile, becoming a historic scorer.

Iván Zamorano is famed for his time at Real Madrid, scoring 101 club goals and winning La Liga and Copa del Rey. He earned 69 caps for Chile.

Alexis Sanchez is Chile’s all-time leading scorer and most capped player, boasting 206 club goals and 147 assists over 700 matches worldwide.

Arturo Vidal leads this list thanks to his long-lasting influence and trophy haul. Known for his tenacity and leadership, he has won league titles across Italy, Germany, and Spain, and still plays professionally in Chile.

FAQs

• Who is the best Chilean footballer? Arturo Vidal holds that title.
• Who is Chile's all-time top scorer? Alexis Sanchez with 50 goals.
• Who has the most caps for Chile? Alexis Sanchez with 166 appearances.
• For which European clubs has Arturo Vidal played? Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Inter Milan.
• Which Chilean player featured for Real Madrid? Iván Zamorano.