Football's Greatest Stage

When Ronaldo weaved his magic, no one could get near him. We traverse the turbulent career of one the game's greatest players. Then there was Ferenc Puskas of 1954, controversially injured and unable to lift Hungary to glory in Switzerland. We pile the praise upon Russia's Lev Yashin - Heartbreak and ecstasy.

He is one of the game's all-time greats. Flawed, yet adored across the globe. Diego Maradona's footprint on football is unparalleled. The World Cup of 1974 - where Beckenbauer and Cruyff stole the show in West Germany. The heroics of Spain's Iker Casillas, to the horror of Luis Suarez's bite, this is Football's Greatest Stage.

The story of England's Bobby Moore is one to behold, as is that of Italy's famed yet controversial back-to-back World Cup triumphs of 1934 and 1938. And then there were the three World Cup-winning Brazilian captains of '58, '62 and '70. And in more modern times, the revered Italian stopper Gianluigi Buffon. They became legends on Football's Greatest Stage.

A ultimate story of commitment, Gerd Müller was a footballer for the people. Marcello Lippi - tasked with lifting Italy's fortunes, delivers the Azzurri a famous victory in 2006. German keeper Oliver Kahn played hero and villain in 2002, but we have to return to 1966 to witness true heroics on Football's Greatest Stage.

The story of Pelé taking the World Cup by the scruff of the neck at the age of 17 is legend, and we all know what we went on to do after that. On the cusp of reunification, West Germany triumphed in 1990, while a couple of French legends helped their nation to the peak of World Cup glory in 1998.

When people think of Portuguese football stars, it always seems to be Cristiano Ronaldo. But what about Eusébio? He was a World Cup star. Then there was the brilliant Italian Brains Trust of Vittorio Pozzo and Giuseppe Meazza. Can football survive without its stars? Brazil certainly didn't cope without Neymar in 2014. So many storylines - on football's greatest stage.