Hockey, commonly referred to as field hockey, is believed to have originated in Ireland and Scotland, drawing from the Irish game of Hurling and its Scottish counterpart, Shinty. Both sports enjoyed widespread popularity. Other versions of hockey have also existed, such as the Chinese game Beikou and Cheikou, played by European settlers in Chile. Today, hockey is one of the most popular sports worldwide. Here, we present the top 10 greatest hockey players of all time.

10. Fergus Kavanagh

An esteemed Australian field hockey player, Fergus Kavanagh is regarded as one of the finest modern-day players. He is a key member of the Australian national team and competes domestically for the Western state team in the Australian Hockey League. Kavanagh led his team to victory in the 2010 Delhi Hockey World Cup and the 2014 Hague World Cup. He also secured medals in both the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, with his most notable achievement being the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medal.

9. Jamie Dwyer

Ranked ninth, Jamie Dwyer is another prominent Australian player. He played a pivotal role in the Australian team’s gold medal win at the 2004 Summer Olympics. With over 250 matches and 150 goals to his name, Dwyer was instrumental in his team's gold medal victories in the 2006 and 2008 Commonwealth Games. He is renowned for his strategic acumen in the game.

8. Dhanraj Pillay

Indian field hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay stands at eighth place. The only Indian in the World XI for the 1994 World Cup in Sydney, he participated in four Olympics from 1992 to 2004 and served as the captain of the Indian team. Pillay scored over 170 goals in 339 international games and was honored with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Padma Shri in 2000.

7. Ties Kruize

Former Dutch player Ties Kruize is celebrated as one of the best penalty takers in field hockey history. He represented the Dutch national team in various competitions, including the World Cup and EuroHockey Championships, consistently securing medals and positions. Kruize was also a key player for HC Klein Zwitserland.

6. Shahbaz Ahmed

Ranked sixth, former Pakistani player Shahbaz Ahmed is known for his exceptional forward play and dribbling skills, earning him the nickname "Maradona of field hockey." He led Pakistan to a World Cup victory in 1994 and played for the German club Harvestehuder. Ahmed participated in three Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1992, and is the only player to have won the Player of the Tournament award twice consecutively in the World Cup.

5. Teun de Nooijer

Dutch player Teun de Nooijer is regarded as one of the best modern field hockey players. He has played for teams like Uttar Pradesh Wizards in the Indian Hockey League and HC Bloemendaal. Nooijer won gold medals in the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics and led his team to finals in the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics.

4. Hassan Sardar

Hassan Sardar, widely considered Pakistan's greatest hockey player, ranks fourth. He led Pakistan to a gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and later served in various administrative roles within the Pakistan Hockey Federation, including head coach and manager.

3. Ric Charlesworth

Australian field hockey pioneer Ric Charlesworth is third on this list. Representing Australia in five Olympics, he led his team to victory in the 1986 World Cup in London. Charlesworth received the Australian Citizen of the Year award in 2001 and was inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame in 1987.

2. Sohail Abbas

Sohail Abbas, the first player to score 300 goals in field hockey, is regarded as one of the greatest flickers and scorers. He remains the top scorer for Pakistan, with 16 goals across three World Cup appearances.

1. Dhyan Chand

Topping the list is Colonel Dhyan Chand, often hailed as the greatest field hockey player of all time and one of the finest athletes in Olympic history. Known as the "Wizard," Chand scored over 100 goals throughout his illustrious career.