Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), 10. That longevity and consistency is truly remarkable. James Rodriguez (Monaco and Real Madrid), 9. Even Cristiano Ronaldo at his absolute peak has never come close to matching that number, while even most world class forwards would struggle to score 73 goals across two seasons. The choice of Messi at No1, beating Cristiano Ronaldo into second place, is explained below by Sid Lowe: There was only one name and one position on which all 11 members of the panel were in unanimous agreement; the world No1, Lionel Messi. In 2011, his third Champions League triumph overall, he was the talisman and outstanding talent of a Barcelona side widely considered to be the single greatest team in football history. But of course, this diminutive technician has made his name further back the field, creating chances for others and setting the tone. Messi, Iniesta & Co. But who will it be Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? He is the reference point, the one who generates the tempo to keep the team ticking over.
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"I have been a very, very lucky manager to have had so many good players who have shared my vision and passion, and that's what makes Manchester United such a special club. However, since the incorporation of the best players to the FIFA Ballon d'Or, how assessment changed. 2016 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Lingard joins Nottingham Forest - West Ham beaten thanks to lucrative offer? In the past calendar year, the Terrassa native added a handsome five winners medals to an already impressive collection; only an extra-time winner from Cristiano Ronaldo in Aprils Copa del Rey decider at the Mestalla saw him and Barcelona fail to match their record breaking six trophy haul of 2009. 2022 Minute Media - All rights reserved. Xavi was a cyclone. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. In the 2011/12 season, Messi found the net a staggering 73 times for Barcelona. Top 50 Players in the World 2011: #1 Lionel Messi Back Page Football. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. But then, team has always come first for this midfield marvel. Last year, everyone was in agreement to say that you were the big winner of this award.. If at times, his contribution has been overlookedas it was most infamously by the Daily Mails headline in 2008, it is probably as much down to his own humility as it is to the ignorance of others. Can you do something interesting with this data? The Art of Pel brings his story to life on canvas. The 24-year-old becomes only the fourth player in history to win the trophy three times, along with Dutch legends Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, plus Frenchman Michael Platini.
So how did the Guardian top 100 come about? Messi beat Barcelona team-mate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo to emerge triumphant from the final three-man shortlist to scoop the award at Monday evening's Ballon d'Or gala at the Kongresshaus in Zurich. Hosting diverse, award-winning original football writing since 2009. Michael Ballack (Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich), 6.
Ronaldo, Moutinho and many more - Sporting's famous youth academy turns 20 years old, Nkunku, De Jong and now Timber - Man Utd are struggling to sign new stars ahead of next season, Market values Japan: Iniesta, Krkic & Co. drop at Kobe - Ex-OM player Sakai in front despite minus, Gill: Bara provides "intense environment" - "Ambition" to play at the 2026 World Cup, Market values Japan: Ao Tanaka on the up - Iniesta 3rd despite drop, Market values Japan: 3100% plus for Mitoma - Iniesta drops but remains 2nd, Most titles in the 21st century: Ashour ahead of Ibrahimovic - No English player in top 50, MLS 2015: Portland Timbers win first title - Giovani Dos Santos most valuable, Most valuable players in 2010: Messi first 100m player - Ribry in the top 10, Most valuable players 2009: Messi and Ronaldo top - Ronaldinho down by 45m, Most valuable players 2008: Ronaldo catches up to Messi - Ronaldinho era ends, Most valuable players 2007: Messi arrives - Robben and Rooney ahead of Ronaldo. Not all may agree, but it is a personal belief that these pages are currently home to perhaps the finest collective of football writers and analysts in the English language. Theodoros Zagorakis (AEK Athens and Bologna), 8. Barcelona submit bid for Lewandowski - Ronaldo lined up to replace him at Bayern Munich? "I would agree with that completely,'' Ferguson said. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain), 4. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or Pel as he is known across the world, is considered to be the greatest footballer the world has ever seen the youngest player ever to win a World Cup (three in total); scorer of 1,283 professional goals 12 of them in World Cup final tournaments; and Athlete of the Century, awarded by the International Olympic Committee in 1999. Barcelona is the best represented club with 12 players on the list followed by Bayern Munich and Real Madrid with 10 each. The Argentinians market value remained unchanged at 100 million, however. In celebration of his achievements Pel has created a colourful series of artwork that capture the many special moments throughout his truly legendary career. Click through it here Ravel Morrison follows Rooney to D.C. United - 12 club for "incredible talent", Jules Kound set for Chelsea move - Sevilla expecting record transfer fee for star defender, Man City join Chelsea in race for Gvardiol - RB Leipzig insist young defender is not for sale, Southampton set to sign Bordeaux youngster Mara - most expensive teenager of the summer, Galtier confirmed as new PSG manager - addresses Neymar's future at the Ligue 1 club, From 15m to 60m in two years - How Tchouameni became Ligue 1's next big star, Market values Ligue 1: Tchouameni passes Messi - Biggest minus for Neymar & Donnarumma, A 14th title? FIFA's voting panel judged Messi to be the best due to his astounding club form. Empire Bara, Spanish sports paper Marca headlined a piece after the Catalans won their third Champions League title within six years following a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley in 2011.
How could we not choose him? Regardless, it was another success for Messi, but what did footballs top prize look like before he and Ronaldo took over? In those matches that he didn't score he often turned provider: in the 5-0 rout of Real Madrid, Messi set up two of the strikes for his teammates. Neymar (Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain), 7. Top 50 Players in the World 2011: #3 Xavi. Despite only a few English players making it onto the top 100, the Premier League is the best represented with 27 players, followed by La Liga with 23. Bara's 2011 squad in the gallery Your email address will not be published. Those mesmerising passing triangles, the rondos, leave opposing players in a whirl, not knowing whether to stick or twist as the ball is waltzed through their defence with scarcely more than a touch at a time. Your email address will not be published. Messi was only 24 when he broke in March 2012 and very nearly trebled it to 672 by the time he left Camp Nou for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021. Ability and outstanding achievements are one thing, but the longevity to repeat and repeat is quite another. Ten Hag talks to ESPN about a new era, Ronaldo and more, 'Welcome to Wrexham' trailer breakdown: From connection to American owners to club's ambitions, Barca club store couldn't sell Lewandowski jerseys because it ran out of 'W's, Arsenal's Xhaka sets a few more things straight in ESPN interview, Why Chelsea's move to sign Koulibaly could get them back in title race. Man United's Maguire is Ten Hag's first choice, but can he earn redemption in 2022-23? Guilty, if so. While the Ballon d'Or (French for Golden Ball) is an award bestowed football magazine France Football since 1956 the world football player, but initially only given to football players EUROPE, and then developed into the player the club EUROPE, and since 1995 then the World players. Neymar claimed the FIFA Puskas Award for the year's best goal, his fine solo effort against Flamengo voted above Wayne Rooney's overhead kick in the Manchester derby and Messi's strike against Arsenal in the second round of the Champions League. "I wanted to share it with those who voted for me, my coach and my team-mates at Barca and in the Argentina national team. Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Atletico Madrid), 9. You don't always win in football - sometimes you lose but we always try to win.". The average age for the footballers appearing on the list is 26 years old. Stephan El Shaarawy, aged 20, is the youngest player in the top 100 whilst Javier Zanetti is the oldest at 39 years old. Lewandowski was among the front-runners for the 2021 edition but Paris Saint-German superstar and six-time winner Messi added a seventh triumph. USMNT's Pulisic talks Chelsea future, hunger for World Cup success, why not enter at our sister site, ESPN.co.uk. Thats what talkSPORT.com is looking at, stretching back to 2000. In Gerard Piqu (38m) and Dani Alves (35m), two defenders make the line-up for the first time and prove the Catalans strength in all areas around the pitch. Each piece interprets the significance of defining moments in his life, translating them into vibrant and colourful images.
Lionel Messi kept his spot as the most valuable player in the world in 2011 and confirmed his place on top of the ranking with outstanding performances in the Champions League. Champions League victory would be perfect way for Madrid to get over Mbapp snub, The most disappointing season of his career - Messi's first year at PSG has been a disaster, Man Utd star wants 'fresh start' - why Rashford is Ten Hag's answer to the Ronaldo problem. I need team-mates, people to combine with. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan and Barcelona), 7. To comment on crosswords, please, Check out our top 100 footballers in the world for 2013, More data journalism and data visualisations from the Guardian, with Lionel Messi topping the list at No1, Search the world's government data with our gateway, Search the world's global development data with our gateway, switch over to the new version to comment. Wayne Rooney (Everton and Manchester United), 10. The information contained in Goal (English) may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal (English), Scoring all four as the Blaugrana battered Arsenal 4-1 on April 6. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. There are 8 Argentinian players on the list and both Italy and France have seven footballers on the top 100. Thankfully the whole world is now aware of what he brings, of how he operates. Part 1 (50-41): 50 Ezequiel Lavezzi, 49 Thomas Muller, 48 Joe Hart, 47 Hulk, 46 Franck Ribery, 45 Juan Mata, 44 Phillip Lahm, 43 Roberto Soldado, 42 Arjen Robben, 41 Mats Hummels, Part 2 (40-31): 40 Gonzalo Higuain, 39 Alexis Sanchez, 38 Nani, 37 Karim Benzema, 36 Victor Valdes, 35 Gareth Bale, 34 Sergio Busquets, 33 Manuel Neuer, 32 Falcao, 31 Antonio Di Natale, Part 3 (30-21): 30 David Villa, 29 Eden Hazard, 28 Angel Di Maria, 27 Iker Casillas, 26 Luka Modric, 25 Wesley Sneijder, 24 Yaya Toure, 23 Mario Gomez, 22 Mario Gotze, 21 Xabi Alonso, Part 4 (20-11): 20 Nemanja Vidic, 19 Vincent Kompany, 18 Mesut Ozil, 17 Thiago Silva, 16 Daniel Alves, 15 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 14 Bastian Schweinsteiger, 13 Luis Suarez, 12 Neymar, 11 Sergio Aguero, Part 5 (10-4): 10 Edinson Cavani, 9 Cesc Fabregas, 8 Gerard Pique, 7 Wayne Rooney, 6 David Silva, 5 Robin van Persie, 4 Andres Iniesta. The world's top 10 footballers: why are they so good? "It is a huge pleasure and honour to win my third award," Messi said. He was joined in the team by his Manchester United colleague Nemanja Vidic, while nine of the side either play for or operate in Spain. The world's best footballers: how do you rate our top 100 list? Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain), 9. The Ballon d'Or award caps a hugely successful year in which Messi won the Spanish Liga title, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. So how does the list break down by nationality? The Guardian's choice of the world's top 100 footballers has been unveiled today with Lionel Messi topping the list at No1. It has been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years, with the duo winning 11 of the 12 awards up for grabs since 2008 Luka Modric briefly broke their duopoly in 2018. The most obvious metric is that he has been voted the best player in the world four times (2011, 2012, 2015, 2019) in the last 10 years alone, while there has only been one occasion in that period he has finished lower than second. It is what people like about him. The day after Barcelona had delivered that manita to Madrid the previous month, the rabidly pro-Madrid daily Marca gushed that he broke the game with 20 minutes of genius. Required fields are marked *. Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s and the present day, as could Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff because they are all great players. What next for Mexico? This is the fourth time that we are are together at this ceremony and it is a pleasure for me to be with him on the pitch. As many as six Bara players make the top XI of the most valuable players in 2011, while the Catalans acquired the services of a seventh in August of the same year, when Cesc Fbregas (55 million) joined the club from Arsenal. Robert Lewandowski would almost certainly have won the Ballon dOr in 2020 had the ceremony not been cancelled by the global COVID pandemic.
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