The impact of soccer referees cannot be isolated in every football game; refereeing was created when the administrators thought about giving the game some clarity and sanity.
Although, since then, some decisions in football matches have been controversial it’s an empirical fact that the game of football will be less enjoyed without referees.
Soccer, devoid of its best referees, loses its aesthetic appeal and becomes challenging to appreciate.
The referee plays a crucial role in enforcing the regulations during a football match, being the sole official on the field empowered to initiate and cease play and administer penalties.
Referees make determinations regarding all aspects of the game, working in collaboration with assistant referees and, at times, the fourth official to ensure the smooth progression of matches.
First published on Oct 16 2023, updated Sept 3 2024
- Best Football Referees Of All Time
- 1. Pierluigi Collina (191 – Points)
- 2. Markus Merk (184 – Points)
- 3. Felix Brych (161- Points)
- 4. Kim Milton Nielsen (159- Points)
- 5. Howard Webb (156 – Points)
- 6. Björn Kuipers (152 – Points)
- 7. Peter Mikkelsen (142- Points)
- 8. Cüneyt Çakır (140 – Points)
- 9. Oscar Ruiz (132- Points)
- 10. Nicola Rizzoli (121 – Points)
- 11. Sándor Puhl (119 – Points)
- 12. Pedro Proença
- 13. Martin Atkinson
- 14. Frank De Bleeckere
- 15. Damir Skomina
- 16. Antonio Mateu Lahoz
- 17. Milorad Mažić
- 18. Szymon Marciniak
- 19. Gianluca Rocchi
- 20. Michel Vautrot
- 20. Nestor Pitana
- Who is the best referee in football history?
- How much do college soccer referees make per game?
- Who is the best football referee?
- Which referee gives the most cards in the Premier League?
- Who is the best football referee in Europe?
- Who is the best referee in the whole world?
- What is the salary of a Premier League referee?
- Who is the best referee in the Premier League?
- Why is Pierluigi Collina the best referee?
- Who is the youngest referee in the Premier League?
- Who is the best referee in Africa?
Best Football Referees Of All Time
The role of a referee is both challenging and undervalued, demanding considerable effort to maintain fairness in matches. Unfortunately, referees often face abuse from players, fans, and media scrutiny as a thankless part of their job.
Throughout the years, some referees have achieved iconic status in the game.
The list below highlights the top 20 best referees in history.
1. Pierluigi Collina (191 – Points)
Collina is undeniably the most famous and best soccer referee in history.
With his distinctive bald head (due to alopecia) and intense gaze, he is instantly recognizable. Renowned for his aggressive nature, authoritative demeanor, and no-nonsense approach, Collina earned respect from fans, players, and managers alike.
Starting his refereeing career in 1997, Collina quickly established himself as one of the greatest soccer referees ever.
Notable highlights include officiating the 1996 Olympic Men’s Final between Argentina and Nigeria and the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final featuring Manchester United and Bayern Munich—an encounter etched in history for its dramatic conclusion.
Collina’s accolades include an unprecedented six consecutive IFFHS ‘World Best Referee Of The Year’ awards before overseeing his final major tournament at Euro 2004.
Retiring in 2005, he transitioned into an advisory role for the UEFA Referees Committee. Pierluigi Collina remains an enduring figure, forever etched at the top of the list of the greatest soccer referees of all time.
2. Markus Merk (184 – Points)
At just 25, he became the youngest official ever to lead a Bundesliga match. As one of the finest soccer referees, he also holds the record for overseeing the most German league games.
Merk’s track record boasts prestigious matches, including the 1997 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Final, the 2003 Champions League Final, and the 2004 European Championship Final between Greece and Portugal.
His achievements encompass winning FIFA’s ‘Best Referee of the Year’ thrice and being named ‘DFB German Referee of the Year’ a record six times!
In 2008, after a thirty-year career, Merk hung up his boots, shifting to punditry for Sky Deutschland and embracing roles as a philanthropist and motivational speaker.
3. Felix Brych (161- Points)
This 44-year-old German started officiating in the Bundesliga in 2004 and bagged his FIFA badge in 2007.
He will definitely be recognized by most Chelsea fans, he was the man in the middle during Chelsea’s first-leg victory over Barcelona in the 2011/2012 Champions League semi-final.
Outside football, Brych is a qualified doctor of law; having written his doctorate about sport.
4. Kim Milton Nielsen (159- Points)
Danish former referee Kim Milton Nielsen stood out for his impressive 6 feet 6 inches height, making him taller than many football players. Over his career, he oversaw 154 international matches and 53 UEFA Champions League games.
Becoming a FIFA-affiliated referee at just 28 in 1988, Nielsen continued until he hit the age limit of 45, retiring on May 16, 2006.
He officiated two matches in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and took charge of the Brazil vs. Turkey semi-final at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan.
Nielsen handled key UEFA matches, including the 1994 UEFA Cup final, the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final, and the 2005 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal. Alongside refereeing, he also worked as an IT Manager.
5. Howard Webb (156 – Points)
Howard Webb is often hailed as one of the greatest referees in Premier League and English football history.
Like anyone in his role, Webb faced criticism during his career, but he consistently upheld a high standard until he retired in 2014. Webb joined the Premier League in 2005, overseeing a heated League Cup final in 2007.
Entering the FIFA list in 2005, Webb officiated many high-profile matches, including the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He was at the helm for both the 2010 Champions League final and the 2010 World Cup final.
Webb also took charge of several significant games in England, such as the FA Cup final, the FA Community Shield, and the League Cup final.
6. Björn Kuipers (152 – Points)
Next is Holland’s best Referee, Kuipers.
He was awarded his FIFA badge in 2006. During the initial stages of his career, Kuipers officiated in junior-level tournaments like the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Known for his energetic style of refereeing, the 46-year-old has done the business of match officiating extremely well for himself; having officiated at the highest stage in the game.
7. Peter Mikkelsen (142- Points)
He is often considered the trailblazer of Danish refereeing excellence. During his prime, he served as a FIFA-affiliated referee. Mikkelsen managed two matches during the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy when he was just 30 years old.
Later, he officiated in three matches at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA.
Beyond international football, Mikkelsen officiated games at UEFA European Football Championship tournaments in 1992 and 1996.
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics honored Mikkelsen as the World’s Best Referee in 1991 and 1993. Following the 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, he announced his retirement from active refereeing.
He dedicated 10 years to the Human Resources department of the Danish company F-Group. Unfortunately, after a prolonged battle with cancer, this esteemed referee passed away on January 30, 2019.
8. Cüneyt Çakır (140 – Points)
Cakir, a seasoned member of the FIFA and UEFA referee rosters, has achieved notable strides in the soccer world.
This Turkish referee, to some extent, played a role in Nigeria’s inability to advance to the second round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. This was evident when he refrained from awarding a second penalty to the Super Eagles in their Group B final game against Argentina. However, this incident doesn’t diminish his overall competence.
He debuted internationally in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, overseeing two matches, including the group stage fixture between FC Twente and FC Schalke 04 in December 2008. Like his fellow referees, he has officiated in some of the most significant football matches.
Regarded as one of the best soccer referees in the world, the Turkish official has been overseeing domestic matches in his homeland since 2001.
He has presided over crucial Turkish Super Lig games and international matches.
Notable highlights include his standout performances in the UEFA Champions League final between Barcelona and Juventus in 2015 and the UEFA Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and Chelsea in 2012.
9. Oscar Ruiz (132- Points)
Oscar Ruiz is recognized as one of Colombia’s best referees.
He made his international debut on July 12, 1995, in a match between Paraguay and Venezuela. Furthermore, he served as the referee in three consecutive FIFA World Cups, starting from the 2002 edition and concluding with the 2010 tournament.
Ruiz faced significant criticism for his decision to send off Yoann Gourcuff in the final group-stage match between France and South Africa.
10. Nicola Rizzoli (121 – Points)
Rizzoli, the former Italian football referee, officiated in Serie A from 2002 to 2017 and held a FIFA-listed referee status from 2007 to 2017.
He oversaw the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final between Germany and Argentina on July 13 at the Estádio do Maracanã, as well as the 2013 Champions League Final between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium.
Rizzoli received the AIC Serie A Referee of the Year Award for seven consecutive years, from 2011 to 2017. Soccer 360, on February 18, 2017, recognized him as one of the top 5 referees in the 21st century.
His awards include seven Serie A Referee of the Year titles (2011-2017) and two IFFHS World’s Best Referee awards (2014, 2015).
11. Sándor Puhl (119 – Points)
Known as one of the best referees in soccer history, he unfortunately drew significant criticism in Spain for his lapses during the 1994 World Cup quarter-final between Italy and Spain.
In that match, Mauro Tassotti’s elbow struck Luis Enrique in the face within the penalty box during injury time, resulting in a broken nose for Enrique.
FIFA also strongly rebuked him for neglecting to award a penalty or issue a card in that match, subsequently imposing an eight-match suspension on him at the international level.
He gained prominence as the referee for the 1994 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Italy. The IFFHS bestowed upon him the title of World’s Best Referee for four consecutive years, from 1994 to 1997.
12. Pedro Proença
The Portuguese international has earned recognition as one of the best soccer referees in modern times and continues to oversee international football matches.
He holds the record of being the first referee to preside over both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA European Championship finals in the same calendar year, specifically the matches between Chelsea and Bayern Munich in the former, and the European Championship Final where Spain triumphed over Italy.
Proença joined the ranks of FIFA-affiliated referees in 2003 and achieved Elite status in UEFA’s classification in 2009.
Acknowledging his excellence, the Portuguese Football Federation honored him with the Best Referee of The Year award in 2007 and 2011.
In 2012, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) recognized him as the World’s Best Referee.
Proença has officiated numerous crucial club matches, including the finals of the Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga, and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. His officiating prowess was also showcased on the global stage, with significant contributions during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
13. Martin Atkinson
He started his refereeing career at a relatively early age of 16 years.
He made his first appearance as an official in the Football League as an assistant referee in 1995.
Since he was promoted to the list of Select Group Referees in 2005 he has officiated a number of notable matches, including the FA Community Shield and the finals of the FA Trophy, Football League Cup, FA Cup, and UEFA Europa League.
14. Frank De Bleeckere
In 1984, Frank De Bleeckere made his debut as a match official.
From 1998 to 2012, he served as an official FIFA referee. Recognized as one of the world’s top referees, Bleeckere received a record-tying seven Belgian professional referee of the year awards.
During the FIFA World Cup Qualifier for 2002, he officiated the match between Cyprus and Ireland.
Frank de Bleeckere served as the referee in various FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, Youth Championship, U-17 World Cup, and others.
He holds the record of being the only Belgian referee to officiate in seven World Cup games.
15. Damir Skomina
Damir Skomina is another top referee in Europe; he’s from Slovenia.
He officiated mostly as a fourth official but one truth is that he’s one of the best when it comes to officiating both in Europe and the World at large.
He was selected to officiate in the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final between English clubs Tottenham and Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on 01 June 2019.
Skomina is the 19th Referee to win the IFFHS Award since 1987, Italy’s Top Referee Pier-Luigi Collina holds the Record with 6 consecutive Awards (1998 to 2003).
16. Antonio Mateu Lahoz
Antonio Mateu Lahoz is a Spanish referee who has refereed La Liga matches since 2008.
He is also an international referee with experience at the Champions League, 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He is known for his talkative and “quirky” approach to refereeing.
And also, he has officiated the most-watched football game in the world (El-Clasico) countless times.
READ ALSO: We Bribed Referee And Injected Psychotropic Drug In PSG’s Plastic Bottles
17. Milorad Mažić
A Serbian. He became a FIFA referee in 2009. Besides working in the Serbian football league system, Mažić officiated numerous matches in the UEFA Champions League (including the 2018 Final game) and the Europa League, as well as the 2016 UEFA Super Cup.
He officiated matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup (including the final match).
His first international appearance happened in March 2009 at the European Under-17 Championship qualifications, and also at the Championship itself, where he officiated the match between Germany and Italy.
18. Szymon Marciniak
Marciniak, 39, became a FIFA listed referee in 2011.
He refereed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, beginning with the Group F match between Portugal and Azerbaijan. The Polish football referee has a handful of experience in both on-field officiating and the job on the sidelines.
On 29 March 2018, FIFA announced that he would officiate some matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup along with Pawel Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewicz as assistant referees.
He officiated two group-stage matches: Argentina-Iceland and Germany-Sweden.
19. Gianluca Rocchi
This Italian was born in 1973, and at the age of 17, he became a referee in 1990 with Italy’s third-tier football league (Serie C). He was promoted to the higher SERIE in the 2003/2004 football season in Italy.
In 2010, when the National Referee Committee for Serie A and Serie B split, he was assigned to Serie A’s Committee and has since then been handling Italian Serie A matches.
Rocchi’s first made his international debut on 26 May 2008, in a friendly match between Holland and Greece National U19 sides. He’s since then officiated matches at the world level and other European competitions.
20. Michel Vautrot
Regarded as one of the best referees from France, he, however, made a comically curious decision during the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
In the semifinal between Italy and Argentina, he added 8 minutes of stoppage time, later admitting that he forgot to check his watch.
His officiating history includes two matches in the 1982 FIFA World Cup and three in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He presided over the 1983 FIFA Club World Cup final at Tokyo National Stadium.
Beyond his international career, Vautrot refereed matches in three European Championships from 1984 to 1988. He also oversaw the 1986 Euro Cup Final between FC Barcelona and FC Steaua Bucharest.
The IFFHS honored him as the World’s Best Referee on two consecutive occasions.
However, he faced huge criticism after FIFA banned FC Roma for allegedly bribing him with £50,000. This incident occurred before the 1986 European Cup semi-final.
20. Nestor Pitana
Nestor Pitana, an Argentine former football referee and actor, stands out as one of the best football referees in the world.
He officiated at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2015 Copa América.
His exceptional season culminated with the honor of being nominated as the World’s Best Referee for 2018 by the IFFHS Awards.
FAQs
Who is the best referee in football history?
Pierluigi Collina.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest referees in the history of football. His exceptional officiating skills were acknowledged by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, as he earned the title of The World’s Best Referee for an impressive six consecutive years.
How much do college soccer referees make per game?
Referees can earn up to $50 per game, depending on the team’s size.
Notably, the highest-paid referees in the MLS command $6,354 per game, while their counterparts in Spain receive $900 per game. Despite varying rates, referees in both leagues earn a substantial income.
Who is the best football referee?
Pierluigi Collina is arguably the best referee in the world. He officiated numerous high-profile matches.
Which referee gives the most cards in the Premier League?
Mike Dean (4 cards per game)
Dean holds a notable lead in terms of cards per match, comfortably registering an impressive 4.03 cards per game.
He is inarguably the most iconic official in the league’s 30-year history and the only referee to show more than 100 red cards
Who is the best football referee in Europe?
Among the top football referees in Europe, notable names include Felix Brych, Mateu Lahoz, and Cüneyt Çakır.
Who is the best referee in the whole world?
Pierluigi Collina
What is the salary of a Premier League referee?
Reportedly, officials receive an annual retainer ranging from £38,500 ($46,600) to £42,000 ($50,820), contingent on experience.
This contributes to their total income, which can reach as high as £70,000 ($84,700). It’s noteworthy that Championship referees, despite a lower match fee in the second tier, receive a similar salary.
Who is the best referee in the Premier League?
The best referees in the Premier League include Michael Oliver, Anthony Taylor, Paul Tierney, Simon Hooper, Andy Madley, and Robert Jones.
Why is Pierluigi Collina the best referee?
Collina was the best referee because he was highly respected by the players, managers, and fans. He had a calm authority and a sense of fair play under great pressure.
Who is the youngest referee in the Premier League?
Michael Oliver: the youngest-ever Premier League referee
Since then, he has gone on to officiate a total of 344 matches in the English top flight.
Who is the best referee in Africa?
The best African football referees are Djamel Haimoudi, Badara Diatta, Noumandiez Doue, Eddy Maillet and Gladys Lengwe
The best football referees in the world have officiated any high-profile and international matches. They are respected for facilitating fairness among all players on the pitch
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