Hockey is said to have originated from Scotland or Ireland. While some said it was modified from Ireland’s Hurling, some others find it to have originated from Shinty of Scotland. Other variations of the game are also believed to exist in different parts of the world. Hockey is one of the most played sports in the world. Here are the top 10 hockey players of all time.

● Dhyan Chand

Colonel Dhyan Chand stands at the top of the list. He is considered to be the all-time best field hockey player across the globe and he is also one of the best Olympic athletes. People used to call him Wizard. He has managed to score over 100 goals in his whole career.

● Sohail Abbas

Sohail Abbas is the first hockey player to achieve the milestone of 300 goals in the entire field hockey. He is considered to be a genius in hockey. He is also an excellent flicker and has fans around the world. In the three World Cup matches played by Pakistan, he is the top scorer.

● Ric Charlesworth

Ric Charlesworth is a pioneer of field hockey in Australia. He has represented the Australian hockey team in five Olympic games. He also won the 1986 World Cup hockey game. In 2001, he was awarded the Australian Citizen of the Year for his tremendous performance and contribution to the game. In 1987, he was enlisted in the Australian Hall of Fame.

● Hassan Sardar

Hassan Sardar is one of the best players of the Pakistan hockey team ever. In the 1984 Olympics, it was Hassan Sardar who led the team to victory. He has also served the Pakistan Hockey Federation after he retired from the field, taking the responsibility of manager as well as coach.

● Teun de Nooijer

Teun de Nooijer is a Dutch hockey player known for his hockey skills in the modern era. Besides the national team, he plays for various other teams too. He won gold medals in 1996 and 2000. In 2004 and 2012, he led his team to the finals.

● Shahbaz Ahmed

Shahbaz Ahmed is a Pakistani hockey player known for his excellent dribbling skills with the hockey stick. He is called “the Maradona of field hockey” by his fans. He led the Pakistan team to victory in the 1994 World Cup. In the 1992 Olympics, he won a bronze medal.

● Ties Kruize

Ties Kruize is a Dutch player well-known for taking penalties. He has participated in many major tournaments including the World Cup with the Dutch team.

● Dhanraj Pillay

Dhanraj Pillay is an Indian hockey icon who was featured in the World XI in the 1994 World Cup. He was the only Indian to achieve it. He has participated in four Olympic games for his country. He was also the captain of the Indian hockey team. He has scored 170 goals in his whole 339 international games. He was awarded Padma Shri and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for his contributions to the game.