Top 5 Canadian Soccer Players of All Time

Soccer’s rise in popularity in Canada is recent, but the North American nation already has a history of talented footballers.

Canada may not be traditionally known as a soccer powerhouse, but the nation has produced some exceptional talents who have made their mark on the global stage.
Let’s check out the top five Canadian soccer players of all time as we explore their achievements and impact on the beautiful game.

5- Scott Arfield

Currently playing for Charlotte, Scott Arfield began his career at Falkirk before moving to Huddersfield Town, Burnley, and Rangers.

Arfield played a pivotal role in Burnley’s Football League Championship triumph in 2015-16 and has since won the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup with Rangers.

With 19 international appearances and 2 goals to his name, Arfield has showcased his skills at the national level as well.

4- Atiba Hutchinson

Atiba Hutchinson, the former captain of Beşiktaş and the Canadian national team, has had an illustrious career. Starting with Toronto Lynx in 2002, the midfielder has played for several notable clubs, including Copenhagen, PSV, and Beşiktaş.

He has claimed three Turkish Super Lig trophies with Besiktas as well as four league titles with Copenhagen. At the international level, Hutchinson has become Canada’s most-capped player with 103 appearances. His performances have earned him six Canadian Men’s Player of the Year titles.

3- Julian de Guzman

Julian de Guzman started his football career with Marseille in 1998 and went on to play for clubs in Germany, Spain, Greece, the United States, and Canada.

Notably, he became the first Canadian to play in the Spanish La Liga by joining Deportivo La Coruna in 2005. De Guzman quickly became a regular starter at the Spanish side, making 116 appearances during his four-year stint in La Liga.

De Guzman was also a key player for Canada, making 89 international appearances after his debut in 2002. In the final years of his career, De Guzman returned to North America, where he played for Dallas FC and Ottawa Fury.

2- Alphonso Davies

Alphonso Davies has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the most exciting young talents in world soccer.
Playing as a left-back for Bayern Munich, the 22-year-old has taken the Bundesliga by storm since his arrival in 2019.

With numerous individual awards and titles to his name, including 5 Bundesliga titles, 2 DFB-Pokals, and the Champions League, Davies has proven himself at the highest level.

At the international level, he has represented Canada in 39 matches, scoring 13 goals. Notably, he scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal in 2022, further cementing his place in Canadian soccer history.

1- Owen Hargreaves

Although Owen Hargreaves represented England at the World Cup, he was born in Canada and started his career in Calgary.

Hargreaves achieved fame as one of the most renowned Canadian soccer players on the international stage. He joined England’s national team in 2001 and was named England’s Player of the Year following his outstanding performances in the 2006 World Cup.

At the club level, he claimed four Champions League trophies with Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as four Bundesliga trophies with Bayern Munich. He also won the UEFA Champions League twice, in 2001 with Bayern Munich and in 2008 with Manchester United, showcasing his prowess at the highest level.