Normal service: Nani was one of the most productive players in Europe last season
40. David Luiz
Benfica/Chelsea and Brazil
Age 24
Position Central defender
A defender of outstanding ability, even if he is betrayed by occasionally erratic moments. Manchester United’s trip to Stamford Bridge in his first weeks at Chelsea effectively summed him up. Luiz scored the winning goal and defended supremely throughout… but was still lucky not to be sent off for repeated hacks. Nevertheless, it is no coincidence that Chelsea’s form improved on signing the centre-half. A definite factor in their resurgence, Luiz is likely to be an even bigger one in Andre Villas-Boas’s new era.
Ability 16
Club form 15
International form n/a
Total 76
39. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Milan and Sweden
Age 29
Position Forward
To a certain degree, the 2010-11 season seemed to typify all of the clichés around Ibrahimovic. With 13 goals in 19 games and some exquisitely self-indulgent moments between September and January, he dominated Milan’s early surge to the top. When it came to the crunch stage of the campaign, however, he picked up more red cards than goals – two to one.
In reality, though, Ibrahimovic’s career has always been more complex than the stereotypes have had it. For a start, he has scored in games that are big in context if not always in terms of quality of opposition or classification. Secondly, his personality ensures that his more selfless work on a pitch is often overlooked. Aside from his occasional moments of brilliance, Ibrahimovic holds the ball up excellently and is very adept and bringing others into play.
He will not, of course, guarantee a league title despite his record of a championship in every one of the last eight seasons. Naturally, that has more to do with the quality of team he picks. But there is still no denying his contribution.
Ability 16
Club form 15
International form 3/5
Total 76
38. Thiago Silva
Milan and Brazil
Age 26
Position Central defender/defensive midfielder
It is a measure of Thiago Silva’s quality that he is now being seen as the superior partner in a duo that also features Alessandro Nesta. But then the Brazilian has already been compared to even more celebrated Milan icons. His appearances in defensive midfield last season were likened to “the old Marcel Desailly” – as Adriano Galliano put it.
It was, of course, Silva’s performances in central defence that were much more important to Milan reclaiming Serie A though. With the 26-year-old so assured and adept, the Rossoneri only conceded 24 goals in 38 games – by some distance the best defensive record of any Italian team since 2003-04. And that, coincidentally, was the last time Milan won the title. All of which goes to show how Silva’s core consistency has made him one of the club’s most important players – as well as one of the world’s elite centre-halves.
The only issues which prevent him securing a more elevated place in this list were merely moderate performances in the Champions League and Copa America.
Ability 16
Club form 16
International form 6/10
Total 76
37. Javier Pastore
Palermo/Paris St Germain and Argentina
Age 22
Position Attacking midfielder
On many levels, the announcement that Paris St Germain had just paid €42m for Pastore was one of the most surprising pieces of football news of the summer. Aside from the fact that the Qatari-backed project had actually stumped up so much cash to obliterate the French transfer record, Pastore had chosen the French side over Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Because, make no mistake, that’s the kind of super-club his talent suits.
Creative, artful and with an incisive eye for a pass, Pastore is also claiming of settling games in an instant. His exact style in the centre of attacking midfield mean many see him as the eventual foil for – and possible key to – Leo Messi to explode for the Argentine national team.
In another season where he personally sparkled, Pastore provided 11 goals and five assists in 35 appearances. Unfortunately, it all wasn’t quite to the effect of the 2009-10 season though. With Palermo’s exceptional early form petering out after Christmas, they failed to qualify for Europe.
With Pastore in the centre, though, Paris St Germain can justifiably aim a lot higher.
Ability 17
Club form 16
International form 6/10
Total 78
36. Sergio Aguero
Atletico Madrid/Manchester City and Argentina
Age 23
Position Forward
Does Aguero finally have the platform to proclaim himself as one of the world’s very best players?
With Romario’s build and movement as well as a valuable versatility, he certainly has the ability.
Because of the eternal idiosyncrasies of Atletico Madrid, however, Aguero often didn’t enjoy the framework to fulfil it. And last season was no exception. Despite his remarkable consistency, as Sid Lowe has argued, the risk of stagnation was wising.
But he still ended the campaign as one of the few lights of Argentina’s underwhelming Copa America – particularly with that volley against Bolivia. And his future suddenly looks a lot brighter.
Ability 17
Club form 14
International form 7/10
Total 76
35. Pepe
Real Madrid and Portugal
Age 28
Position Central defender/defensive midfielder
Rock-hard and set to become a firm part of Jose Mourinho’s future Real Madrid. That was encapsulated by his key roles in the landmark four Clasicos as well as the fact that Leo Messi only excelled in the Champions League semi-final once Pepe had departed. Often plays on the very fringes of the laws – but Mourinho will have absolutely no problem with that.
Ability 16
Club form 15
International form n/a
Total 76
34. Nani
Manchester United and Portugal
Age 24
Position Winger/forward
Despite the unpredictability of his general play, Nani was one of Europe’s most consistent performers last season. But it’s the still the former fact that keeps him off the very top tiers of this list.
Although Nani often kept Manchester United afloat in the first six months of last season with nine goals assists and 14 goals in 31 games, Alex Ferguson obviously didn’t trust him enough to throw him into the club’s biggest games. Like Dimitar Berbatov, it was striking how much one of the Premier League’s most productive attackers faded from the narrative as the season reached its most important stage.
But Nani still struck enough to stake his claim as one of the world’s top players. He just needs to add a touch more composure to his outrageous quality to enter the true elite.
Ability 16/20
Club form 15/20
International form 3/5
Total 76
33. Carlos Puyol
Barcelona and Spain
Age 33
Position Central defender/left-back
Injuries meant Puyol wasn’t as influential a player as usual this season (either Sergio Busquets or Javier Mascherano often played central defence in some of Barcelona’s marquee games), but his importance was illustrated in the fact that Barcelona never lost a big match when he was in the team. In that, he offers essential organisation as well as a perfect partner for the slightly less disciplined Gerard Pique. An unreconstructed defender but still adept ball-player, Puyol remains a valuable physical counter-balance to all of Barcelona’s finesse.
Ability 15
Club form 16
International form 3/5
Total 76
32. Cesc Fabregas
Arsenal and Spain
Age 23
Position Central/attacking midfielder
Endured his worst campaign for some time as injuries and wanderlust ensured Fabregas was often absent in more than one sense. Many of his season’s problems were encapsulated just before half-time in the Champions League second-round second-leg game at Camp Nou. Against the club he desperately wants to go back to, a distracted Fabregas attempted an outrageous flick at the edge of his own box to cede both momentum and advantage to Barcelona.
But that is still all relative. Despite his own drop in form, Fabregas played at a level beyond most. In 25 games, he also provided 11 assists and scored three goals – one of the best returns in the Premier League. And the best for any pure midfielder in the division.
Ability 17
Club form 14
International form 1/2
Total 76
31. Didier Drogba
Chelsea and Ivory Coast
Age 33
Position Striker
Often egotistical but always worth indulging. The fact Drogba can counter a personal selfishness with a team selflessness is one of the great paradoxes of the modern game. Even when he was moaning about being dropped for Fernando Torres in April, for example, he still vindicated his complaints with the goal at Old Trafford that kept Chelsea’s Champions League flame burning a bit longer. He also contributed as much as anyone to their late surge in the title race with a series of key goals and performances.
Ability 17
Club form 14
International form n/a
Total 77