The golden laurel summer 2011: the 50 greatest players in the world

Lionel Messi

The benchmark: it’s hard to think an individual player’s club season that has been as perfect as Leo Messi’s in 2010-11

10. Mesut Ozil

Real Madrid and Germany
Age 22
Position Attacking midfield/forward

“Ozil,” Jose Mourinho argued, “is unique.” And certainly in the Portuguese’s team. In a counter-attacking system with more rigorously defined positions than their rivals in Barcelona, Ozil is the one who lords it between the lines. With slick passing and sleek movement, it is the German who releases so many counter-attacks. Hardly surprisingly, his 17 assists were the highest number in the Spanish league after Leo Messi’s. As Xabi Alonso says, “he understands the game, sees things, combines… unlocking teams.” Even more impressively, Ozil’s level of performance never lowered – regardless of the competition.

Ability 17
Club form 16
International form 1/2
Total 80

9. Wesley Sneijder

Inter and Netherlands
Age 27
Position Attacking midfielder

Like many players who excelled in South Africa last summer, Sneijder suffered an understandable dip last season. And that was compounded by the instability at Inter. Nevertheless, his rate of productivity in terms of assists and goals stayed constant. And if he didn’t quite have the influence at the very elite level he did last season – which has effectively seen him drop out of the world’s top quarter of players – he remained effortlessly capable of knitting together Inter’s midfield and attack. One of the world’s premium-level playmakers.

Ability 18
Club form 15
International form 3/5
Total 80

8. Alexis Sanchez

Udinese and Chile
Age 22
Position Forward/winger

After Leo Messi, probably the most audaciously devastating attacking player in the world. Because, just like Messi, Sanchez’s ability offers something genuinely, elusively different. And the prospect of them combining in attack for Barcelona is frightening.

At Udinese, Sanchez already took his game to unique new levels. As the Italian league’s most influential player, the Chilean’s sensational streak between January and March essentially ensured his side broke the Champions League barrier. And he then took that form into the Copa America with some formidable displays and finishes. In an attack that perfectly suits his exact style of game, it’s going to be interesting to what levels the integration will take his game to.

Ability 18
Club form 16
International form 7/10
Total 81

7. David Villa

Barcelona and Spain
Age 29
Position Forward

By his own personal standards, a relatively poor season. And yet Villa still scored 18 goals in 34 games as well as the clincher in the Champions League final to claim the first major club medals of his career. Despite his own drop in goalscoring form, Villa’s resolve, link-up play and fluidity actually enhanced Barcelona. Also scored a series of winning goals in Spain’s Euro 2012 qualification campaign.

Ability 18
Club form 15
International form 4/5
Total 82

6. Samuel Eto’o

Inter and Cameroon
Age 30
Position Striker

His devastating early-season form – including some heroic displays in the Champions League – mean Eto’o arguably took Villa’s place as the world’s number-one number-nine. Indeed, as Barcelona endured a bit of bumpy patch around spring, it was even debated whether they would better served by their old centre-forward. Because, although Inter endured a chaotic season, one of the few constants was Eto’o’s form. And it was only his 21 goals and nine assists in 35 games that kept them so high.

Ability 17
Club form 16
International form n/a
Total xx

5. Carlos Tevez

Manchester City and Argentina
Age 27
Position Forward

Having so often come across as an unfinished product in the past, Tevez took his game to a new level over the past season. Operating as both a playmaker and a finisher, his form ensured no major European club was as dependent on one single player as Manchester City. Having scored a third of the club’s league goals and directly contributed a massive 16 points, Tevez was the difference between the Champions League delivery and another season in the wilderness. That is why he’s worth the trouble.

Ability 17
Club form 18
International form 6/10
Total 82

4. Andres Iniesta

Barcelona and Spain
Age 27
Position Attacking midfielder/forward

Quite simply, the best attacking midfielder in the world at the moment. Combining a portion of Xavi’s passing with an element of Messi’s elusive dribbling, Iniesta is a perfect link between the two. His ingenuity can unlock the tightest of defences.

And, after injury disrupted his previous two seasons, this was undeniably his best and most complete for Barcelona. Yet there was still something of a contradiction to it. Although it didn’t have the clear highs of moments like the last-minute strike against Chelsea or the winner in a World Cup, Iniesta was much more consistently effective than ever before. That clear line was reflected in the trajectory of his best passes the season: the glorious through balls against Real Madrid in both the 5-0 win and Champions League second leg.

Indeed, to a degree, it could be argued that Iniesta was the difference between winning the Champions League in 2009 and 2011 and missing out in between. Without him, they struggled to break down Inter’s barricade. With him, they lifted their game to the next level again.

Ability 18
Club form 16
International form 3/5
Total 82

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid and Portugal
Age 26
Position Forward

As the foremost athlete in the world game, Ronaldo again proved himself a simple force of nature. His sheer power – in terms of running, shooting, heading and simple presence – produced an incredible haul of 53 goals that should really brook no argument.

Except one remains. Other than the Copa del Rey final, none of Ronaldo’s goals came in Real’s biggest games last season. In that sense, they were almost all for nought. The team didn’t fully prosper from the individual’s performances.

And that leads into another theory about Ronaldo. As Jonathan Wilson has argued, his utter individualism can make him a liability in the biggest games. Rather than seek the most sensible option or pass, he will almost always go for glory regardless of the difficulty of the shot. To a certain degree, of course, Ronaldo’s goals only brought a minimum amount of trophies because he’s unlucky to be living at the same time as a unique and unprecedented Barcelona team. But then extraordinary require extraordinary achievements.

Ability 19
Club form 18
International form 4/5
Total 91

2. Xavi

Barcelona and Spain
Age 31
Position Central midfield

The player who has most come to define an era – for club and country. And, of course, Xavi kept that momentum going this season. The 31-year-old played over a thousand more passes this season than any other player in Europe this season, with 3,354. But the key point is that almost every one of them has had end product: and that’s Barca’s current position as the best team in the world.

As Michael Cox concluded on Zonal Marking, the consistency of his performances over the past three years simply beggar belief. It’s arguable that no player in history has kept up such a high level across all competitions for quite so long.

Ability 18
Club form 19
International form 4/5
Total 91

1. Leo Messi

Barcelona and Argentina
Age 23
Position Forward

The question, of course, is no longer whether he’s the best of his time. It’s whether he’s the best of all time.

To give that a little context, it is worth asking whether there has ever been an individual player’s club season as perfect as Messi’s in 2010-11.

As part of his remarkable haul of 51 goals, the Argentine scored game-changing goals in 14 separate league matches as well as the key strikes in the Champions League last 16, semi-final and final.

In short, he had a disproportionate influence on Barca’s victory in their two major competitions: the league and European Cup.

And even when Messi wasn’t scoring, he was utterly dominating games. Take, for example, the era-defining 5-0 win over Real. Messi provided two glorious through-balls to turn the Clasico from a match into a massacre. And they both contributed to his total assist haul of 22 – a European record last season.

By the end of the season, of course, there were the customary complaints that Messi couldn’t adapt his form for Argentina. But, just like the World Cup last year, he still utterly excelled in two of the four Copa America games – even if he didn’t score. Argentina’s inherent problems should no longer detract from Messi’s innate excellence.

Because, before that, the Champions League final was a fitting piece de resistance. In the first half alone, Messi nutmegged three different United players – including his relentlessly persistent marker, Park Ji-Sung. And, before he went and won the game, there was a point where he had waltzed through another three defenders at the edge of the box only to be faced with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand directly in front of him. Messi paused, poised himself… then prodded the ball aside for Pedro to shoot. It was a level of control just beyond United.
Of course, it was also a control beyond most players in the world. Or, indeed, in history.

Ability 20
Club form 20
International form 7/10
Total 94

 

Contents

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39 comments
taaol
taaol

I've come across some splendid remarks here concerning your write-up, and I also concur with them plus the information you've supplied. Thank you so much.


Icecubeguest
Icecubeguest

Neymar ANd Lionel Messi And Cristiano ronaldo And Ronaldinho Are The Best !

footpascher
footpascher

However, it struck me that on the one hand, you know the story of the “Colony: a great PSG or get lost”-banner, and that on the other hand, you seem to ignore the hard times the parisian supporters have been facing since 2010.

Football Pantheon
Football Pantheon

Oh, his ability's actually 16.5 ... although none of the 0.5s seem to have come up in the grid. Irritating.

Iain Duncan
Iain Duncan

Where did you get the 78 for Victor Valdes? If you dont include internationals then he got 32/40 which is 80% or if he gets 0/5 for internationals then he gets 71%. In the list he gets 78

swvolkmann
swvolkmann

I'm sorry but the validity of this otherwise excellent and exhaustive list is obliterated by the omission of Bastian Schweinsteiger. Not even on the 'Players that missed out'. Wow...just...wow. The World Cup 2010 confirmed him as the best central midfielder in the world that isn't Spanish. Granted neither him nor Bayern had storming seasons in 2010-11 but neither did many players on that list. If he was outside the top 25 it would be a bizarre anomaly. But outside the top 50? It's hard to find the words.

Shere_Khan1
Shere_Khan1

No Lahm? No mention of why the only player to be in the team of the tournament at the last 2 world cups missed out? Also i'd suggest Schwienstige.r

MamunHAli
MamunHAli

I like how the list has been compiled and after reading the comments from readers, like the intellect behind the arguments! I cannot argue with the list much either. If I be honest I had almost fallen out of love with football last year (due to not playing much of it myself and other reasons).

Just a shame Stevie G was not in that list anywhere and I really don't want to see the last of his ability... Not yet anyway.

Cant wait for the xmas edition where I hope to see a lot more changes and surprises!

olig23
olig23

An interesting read. Although I cannot fathom how Ronaldo's club form is merely an 18! The guy scored the most goals ever in a single league campaign. Moreover, he has 66 in 63 for Real. I appreciate that players are not judged only on goals but to have Ronaldo and Tevez rated the same is madness, Tevez has been great for City but not anywhere close to being as devastating as Ronaldo.

Shocked
Shocked

This list is a joke.

Modric ahead of Fabregas? Febregas destroyed Madrid in the bernabeau when he was about 19.

Alexis Sanchez at 8? He's only played well in a relatively poor team in a relatively poor league for a year.

I can go on.

Joke.

jirobevis
jirobevis

Tevez seems way too high for me, yes he had a great season but did nothing in Europe or for Argentina, and while he was undoubtedly City's most important player, apart from Chelsea at home I can't remember a big game where Tevez was instrumental.

Similar things can be said about Eto'o, didn't really do much in Europe and didn't compete internationally, Inter were never really contenders for the Scudetto so most of his performances had little significance or importance.

Rooney had a terrible start to the season but for me his contribution to United was far more important that Tevez's to City. Without Rooney United wouldn't have won the league or reached the CL final, without Tevez City would have still won the FA Cup but possibly would have missed out on a top 4, I don't think that warrants being the 5th best player in the world.

Also why is Robben the Budesliga's highest entry, surely last season was all about Dortmund?

Great list as usual though!

joeyslimjim
joeyslimjim

Marcelo had a better season than a lot of players on that list. I think you'll find he is more important to the way Real Madrid play, than what meets the eye. He is essentially another midfielder, and without Marcelo in the team Ronaldo, and the whole team look disjointed and toothless. Apart from Barcelona, Real Madrid never failed to score or lose with him in the side.

Mario Gomez, Van der Sar, Benzema, Borja Velero, Gotze all deserved at least a mention.

aplamm
aplamm

What about Schweinsteiger?

BenTN
BenTN

@MDelaneyST Why does Pastore have 78 and is in 37th when no one until 30th has that score as well? I'm sure it's just a slip, but it's strange

luther_bliss
luther_bliss

Very interesting and impressive list. Difficult to argue with most of it, although I do think that #18 is perhaps a bit harsh on Rooney. Perhaps I'm showing my colours, but I thought that given the guys Rooney had behind him in central midfield, he did exceptionally well in the second half of the season as a no 10, starting many attacks, creating goals and scoring them. Indeed, I'd go as far as to say that United would have won the double last season had he played in the Fa Cup semi final against City, such is the way that he orchestrates United's attacks, as we saw on Sunday. Maybe I'm using hyperbole, but I'd say that having Villa and Pedro - who, given the service they received from Alves, Xavi, Iniesta etc, faded a bit after christmas - ahead of Rooney, is harsh to say the least.

y2k156
y2k156

Lot of work has gone on to this and hard to disprove the rankings. We can always argue though:).

For me, DiMaria was way more effective to put RM into where they are as compared to Ozil. I would swap him with Ozil. I also think that Villa at 6 is tad higher than i would have thought of his contributions last year. He was quite good in first half (when Barca were brilliant) but suffered quite a dip in second half when fatigue caught up with him.

Completely agree that Iniesta missing in 2010 (and the long bus ride) where huge factors in Barca's exit against Inter in 2010. Iniesta is a fantastic player and he is key to Barca breaking deadlocks against parked buses.

scott oliver
scott oliver

Hard to disagree with this side, other than, perhaps, to take Tevez out and swap for Suarez. (I am a Liverpool supporter, and don't disagree with the omission of Gerrard...although, I thought he might have merited inclusion in the 'Players who missed out and why' section.)

Of course, the great intangible here is how an individual player's output is affected by his team mates. For instance, you would imagine a virtuoso such as Messi - or, at a level below that, Suarez - flourishing in almost any side. Conversely, players as brilliant as Iniesta might struggle to have the same impact if playing for, say, Blackburn Rovers, where the circulation of the ball isn't quite so impressive. (In the philosophical idiom with which I'm familiar, Iniesta's talent would fail to be actualised, and would thus remain virtual.)

Much as with contemporary debates about the notion of collective, 'swarm' intelligence, this opens the debate about individual talent out on to questions of collective talent - i.e. where the whole displays 'emergent properties' that are more than the mere aggregate of the parts' capacities, but are the result of those parts' interactions (Barcelona and early '70s Ajax provide the best examples here).

SORRY ABOUT MESSING WITH THE SEQUENCE MICHAEL - DELETED AND EDITED AS YOU WERE POSTING !!!