Water polo is a sport that requires a combination of strength, speed, endurance, and skill. It is one of the oldest team sports in the world and has been part of the Olympic Games since 1900. In this blog post, we will rank the top five men's water polo players of all time based on their achievements, skills, and impact on the game.
- Manuel Estiarte (Spain)
Manuel Estiarte is widely regarded as one of the best shooters in water polo history. He played for Spain from 1980 to 2000 and participated in six Olympic Games, a record for any water polo player. He won a silver medal in 1992 and a gold medal in 1996, becoming the first Spanish athlete to win two Olympic medals in different editions. He also won two World Championships, three European Championships, and six World Cups. He scored 1,561 goals in his international career, the most by any player.
- Dezső Gyarmati (Hungary)
Dezső Gyarmati is a legend of Hungarian water polo and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. He won five Olympic medals: three golds (1952, 1956, 1964), one silver (1948), and one bronze (1960). He also won three World Championships and three European Championships. He was a versatile player who could play in any position and was known for his leadership and tactical skills. He later became a successful coach and led Hungary to three more Olympic golds.
- Aleksandar Šapić (Serbia)
Aleksandar Šapić is one of the most prolific scorers in water polo history. He played for Serbia from 1998 to 2008 and won two Olympic bronze medals (2000, 2008), one World Championship (2005), and two European Championships (2001, 2003). He was the top scorer in four consecutive Olympic Games, a feat unmatched by any other player. He scored 981 goals in his international career, the second-most by any player. He was known for his powerful shots and his ability to score from any angle.
- Ratko Rudić (Yugoslavia/Croatia)
Ratko Rudić is not only one of the best players but also one of the best coaches in water polo history. He played for Yugoslavia from 1968 to 1976 and won two Olympic gold medals (1968, 1972) and one World Championship (1973). He was a defensive specialist who excelled in blocking shots and stealing balls. He later became a coach and led four different countries to Olympic gold: Yugoslavia (1984, 1988), Italy (1992), Croatia (2012), and Brazil (2016). He also won four World Championships and six World Cups as a coach.
- Tamás Faragó (Hungary)
Tamás Faragó is widely considered as the greatest water polo player of all time. He played for Hungary from 1972 to 1984 and won three Olympic gold medals (1976, 1980, 1984), becoming the only player to achieve this feat. He also won two World Championships (1973, 1975) and two European Championships (1974, 1977). He was an all-around player who could play in any position and dominate both offense and defense. He was known for his speed, agility, creativity, and intelligence. He scored 413 goals in his international career and was named the best water polo player of the century by FINA in 2000.
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