(Note: England surprisingly kept most of their real names, but stats were often underrated. Look for —sometimes faked as "Beck.") Classic France (Les Bleus) Pre-Zidane era (mostly), but includes the magic man.

| In-Game Pseudonym | Real Name | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Gerd Müller | "Der Bomber." The most clinical finisher in the game. | | Kuffner | Jürgen Klinsmann | Diving header specialist. | | Hoeness | Uli Hoeneß | Versatile attacker. | | Kohler | Jürgen Kohler | Brutal defender. | | Schulz | Matthias Sammer | Sweeper/Defensive Mid. | | Klug | Lothar Matthäus | The long-range rocket shooter. | | Bayer | Franz Beckenbauer | "Der Kaiser." Look for the highest defensive stats on the team. | | Steiner | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | Two-time Ballon d'Or winner. | Classic Italy (The Azzurri) A defense of angels and forwards who are fiends.

| In-Game Pseudonym | Real Name | Position | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Antonio Alzamendi | Striker (1986 World Cup winner). | | L. Giusti | Luis Galván (Often confused; Giusti is a placeholder) | Midfielder. | | Burruchaga | Jorge Burruchaga (Real name used) | Scored the 1986 final winner. | | C. Tapia | Claudio Caniggia | Blonde speedster. | | Diaz | Ramón Díaz | Poacher. | | Prado | Fernando Redondo | Elegant defensive midfielder. | | Fantino | Diego Maradona | El Diego. Yes, "Fantino" is the fake name for the greatest player of all time. | Classic Germany (Die Mannschaft) Look for the tall strikers and the sweeper with a mustache.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 (PES 2013) is widely regarded as a high-water mark for the franchise. Released in the twilight of the Xbox 360/PS3 era, it offered a perfect blend of fluid gameplay, strategic depth, and—most importantly for fans of football history—a treasure trove of hidden legends.

| In-Game Pseudonym | Real Name | Era | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Zinedine Zidane (Real) | 1998-2006. | | Thuram | Lilian Thuram (Real) | RB/CB. | | Deschamps | Didier Deschamps (Real) | DM. | | Giresse | Alain Giresse (Real) | 1980s midfield magician. | | Tigana | Jean Tigana (Real) | Midfield engine. | | Fernandez | Luis Fernandez | DM. | | Papin | Jean-Pierre Papin | Striker (1991 Ballon d'Or). | | Cantona | Eric Cantona | The King. Often appears as "Entona" or "Cantello" depending on region. | World All-Stars (The Rare Gems) This team contains players who didn't fit neatly into the national classic squads.

PES 2013 legend names, Fantino real player, Homegaard identity, Classic Germany hidden players.