I am here with another non-definitive list, this one of the top 25 footballers in the world. You will notice they are all from Europe’s top 5 leagues-
25. EDINSON CAVANI
(PSG, Uruguay)
While he hasn’t been in outstanding form, the Uruguay International and Premier League transfer target has still bagged 15 goals for PSG this season. His combination of shot power and dribbling abilities make him one of the most lethal pure strikers in the game- just like his fellow countryman Luis Suarez.
24. TONI KROOS
(Real Madrid, Germany)
The German International is enjoying a bright spot in his career, winning a World Cup and being transfered to Real Madrid, for whom he has since made 32 appereances and racked up 9 assists.
23. DIEGO COSTA
(Chelsea, Spain)
Over the summer Chelsea raided Athletico Madrid, and one of the players they took was Diego Costa. He has now blossomed into the Premier League’s top goalscorer, netting 17 goals in 21 appereances.
22. RADAMEL FALCAO
(Manchester United, Colombia)
While he has been plagued by injuries and is not exactly in-form, Falcao at full health is one of Europe’s most fearful strikers, scoring goals with his pinpoint accuracy and acrobatic kicks.
21. MARCO REUS
(Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
Marco has had a bit of bad luck- his super-rich club Dortmund are for some reason doing awful in the Bundesliga, and he got hurt and missed the entire World Cup which his Germany side won. In 16 appearences this year he’s scored ten goals and assisted on 4, he also shoots an unusual 3.77 shots per game.
20. PAUL POGBA
(Juventus, France)
The 21 year old is the best player in the Serie A (better than Tevez and Vidal I’d say) and still has massive potential, the transfer target of countless clubs. He’ll no doubt be in the Top 10 within 5 years!
19. THOMAS MULLER
(Bayern Munich, Germany)
The 25 year old is having a good season to say the least, winning the World Cup, as well as scoring 12 goals and assisting on 9 others for Bayern.
18. THIAGO SILVA
(PSG, Brazil)
While the 30 year old is not in good form at the moment, he is still an excellent defender, making 2.72 tackles per game and hardly ever commiting fouls.
17. ANGEL DI MARIA
(Manchester United, Argentina)
The Argentine is in fine form, racking up eight premier league assists. He was also selected to the Fifpro World XI (the team of the year) and he reached the World Cup Final with Argentina.
16. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
(PSG, Sweden)
Ibra is not doing to well at the moment which is why he is not higher on the list, in addition his career is nearly over. But who can forget of his spectacular kicks from any angle you can imagine and some you can’t? I can’t. And he’s not doing great- but not horrible either, he’s still bagged 11 goals this year.
15. Diego Godin
(Atletico Madrid, Uruguay)
The Uruguayan is having the time of his life. He just lead Atletico to the La Liga title and was selected to the UEFA Team of the Year, and he’s doing better than Thiago Silva, and any defender better than him deserves a spot on this list.
14. Phillip Lahm
(Bayern Munich, Germany)
Phillip Lahm is the best fullback in the world for several reasons- his eyebrows, and, oh, he captained Germany to World Cup glory.
13. SERGIO RAMOS
(Real Madrid, Spain)
In my opinion, Sergio Ramos is the best defender in the world. He has been flawlessly blocking shots, making tackles, and clearing the ball for the past ten years. His only defensive characteristic that isn’t flawless is his tendency to clear an opponent from danger instead of the ball at times.
12. GARETH BALE
(Real Madrid, Wales)
The only representative on the list from the United Kingdom (sorry Harry Kane, maybe next year) is not in great form, suffering many injuries and harsh critics recently. But he’s still tucked away 10 goals and 6 assists in addition to running 26.8 MPH in a recent draw versus Villareal- making him unquestionably the fastest player in the world, and one of the fastest humans on Earth (Usain Bolt’s record is 27 Miles an Hour!).
11. ANDRES INIESTA
(FC Barcelona, Spain)
Andres is 30 years old now, but he’s still thirty times better than almost every midfielder in the world. He’s the best passer in the world, one of the best dribblers, and has defensive prowess, and, while he’s not a speed demon, he’s not painfully slow like another Barça midfielder (may or may not be Xavi). He’s all you could ever ask for in a world-class center mid.
10. CESC FABREGAS
(Chelsea, Spain)
Eighteen assists. I was really tempted to just leave “eighteen assists” there for dramatic effect, (which, by the way, is the most in Europe), but decided against it. He also has one of the most fun-to-pronounce last names in Europe (an article for another day).
9. EDEN HAZARD
(Chelsea, Belgium)
The Belgian has been proving himself as world class ever since he arrived in London from Lille in 2012. He’s scored twelve goals and assisted eight this year. In additon, in his six Champions league appearences, he made an insane 7.17 dribbles per game!
8. FRANCK RIBERY
(Bayern Munich, France)
The fiesty Frenchman has been tearing opponents up with his pace, dribbling, and skill for some time now, and this year is no exception- he’s scored 7 goals and assisted on 7.
7. SERGIO KUN AGUERO
(Manchester City, Argentina)
Some people may dislike the Sergio; he dives a lot, gets hurt frequently, and has low stamina. But I think every City fan is willing to overlook that given his dribbling and finishing abilites. He’s also joint top goalscorer in the EPL this year along with Diego Costa, with 17 goals.
6. LUIS SUAREZ
(FC Barcelona, Uruguay)
Luis Suarez is a unique player. He was Premier League top scorer last year with 31 goals- and carried Liverpool to a second place finish. Then, he decided to get his third bite at the World Cup to complete his hat trick. He is then transfered to Barça for around $110 million, despite being suspended for four months by FIFA. Since then he has adopted into Barça’s tiki-taka style, forming the best front three on Earth (along with Messi and Neymar). The change is visible in his stats, 9 goals, 10 assists!
5. MANUEL NEUER
(Bayern Munich, Germany)
The best keeper in the world, no doubt about it. He saves shots that no one else in the world would have saved, with his excellent positioning and cat-like reflexes. His ball distribution skills are also world class, being able to set up attacks for his teams with strategic punts and throws. And this past year has been a dream for him- he’s won a World Cup, World Cup Golden Glove, and placed third in the Ballon ‘Dor.
4. NEYMAR
(FC Barcelona, Brazil)
Some people may disagree with my extremely high placement of the young Brazilian superstar, but what he’s accomplished at such a young age is astounding. He is probably the most skillful player in the world ( opposed to CR7, Ribery, or Nani), and one of the fastest. The only human on this Earth that can dribble better than him is Leo, and probably not for long. He’s only 23 years old, and he will soon eclipse the number of years he’s been alive with the number of goals he’s scored this season (20).
3. ARJEN ROBBEN
(Bayern Munich, Holland)
The flying dutchman has 19 goals and 8 assists this year, and is the best player on arguably the best team in the world (I’d say if Bayern played Real Madrid today Bayern would win). He dives a LOT, to little avail, but so do the goalkeepers when he shoots. He is insanely fast and has sublime dribbling skills. As the Bundesliga youtube channel says “he slices through defences like a knife through butter”.
2. CRISTIANO RONALDO
(Real Madrid, Portugal)
Cristiano is an incomprehensibly good player. Total control of the ball, thunderous shooting, and sublime skill. He’s a ballhog, and he dives way too much, but he’s netted three dozen goals this season and assisted on a dozen so no one really cares, but when I compare him to Leo, actually, I really can’t.
1. LIONEL MESSI
(FC Barcelona, Argentina)
Leo is the best player in the world and one of the best ever for many reasons. First of all, he never dives! And he almost never commits fouls. He is constantly fouled and never retaliates, and often holds on to the ball. He is the best dribbler ever- the ball is practically sewn to his feet. He is a great finisher and a brilliant passer, he can cut through a defense by himself or with a perfect through ball. In addition, he has 38 goals this year, including a recent hat trick, and a certain Real Madrid pretty boy has only 36.
PureSaz 