The beautiful game has produced some of the world’s best athletes – and some of the world’s best footballers. From Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, there are plenty of brilliant players playing the game right now. For any other sport, having just two men on this list would be a travesty. But with football being such a global game, there are always players from all over the world competing for places in their national teams, as well as leading clubs. It’s no surprise that Messi and Ronaldo appear on this list again. Both have been ranked as the number one player in the world several times now – not only because they are two of the most technically gifted players ever to play, but also because they consistently perform at such an incredible level. If you’re looking for some good footballing role models, these five men are definitely worth checking out…
Lionel Messi
It’s hard to know where to start with Messi’s achievements. You can start with the fact that he has won a Ballon d’Or (the award given to the best player in the world) 10 times, a record that he shares with Cristiano Ronaldo. Or, you could talk about his incredible goalscoring record. Messi has scored over 600 senior career goals, the most of any active player in the world. But it’s hard to know where to start with just how good Messi is. Technically he is among the best ever to play the game, his level of skill is unparalleled. He’s able to produce moments of brilliance that few other players could even dream of. Messi’s record is nothing short of incredible. But what makes him even more special is the way he plays the game. He has a certain style – one that is defined by his incredible speed, his incredible dribbling skills, and his ability to create opportunities out of nothing.
Cristiano Ronaldo
No other modern football player is as divisive as Cristiano Ronaldo. There are very few footballers whose names are as synonymous with having an ego as Ronaldo’s. And yet, even those who dislike him can’t deny his ability. The man from Portugal has won the Ballon d’Or four times – once less than Messi – and is widely considered the best footballer in the world. But Ronaldo is more than just a footballer. He’s also an incredibly talented model, with lucrative contracts for brands like Nike, Herbalife, Volkswagen, and Jacob and Co. Whether you like him as a person or not, it’s impossible to ignore how impressive a footballer Ronaldo actually is. He has a unique playing style, combining his incredible pace with ruthless finishing ability. He’s the type of player who always manages to score the most important goals, the type of player that teams become reliant on.
Neymar Jr
Neymar is one of the few football players who are as famous as a personality as he is as a footballer. He is one of the world’s most famous and highest-paid sportspeople, with a huge number of followers on social media. What makes Neymar so impressive as a football player is the fact that he doesn’t just act as a great goal-scorer – he’s also an excellent playmaker for his team. While many of his fellow footballers specialize in one particular role, Neymar is able to play both as a striker and as a midfielder for his team – and excels at both. Neymar has won the Ballon d’Or once but has never finished below second place in the rankings since he made his debut. He’s one of the most decorated footballers of all time, and it looks like this is only the beginning for the Brazilian.
Eden Hazard
Hazard is one of the best football players in the world at the moment. The Belgian has been one of Chelsea’s most consistent players in recent years and is currently their captain. Hazard is most famous for his incredible dribbling ability. He’s able to weave his way out of almost any tight situation, leaving opposition players chasing shadows. He’s scored over 100 senior career goals and has been named the best player in the league multiple times. Chelsea is currently struggling, but Hazard remains one of the best players in the world – and it’s just a matter of time until he and his team find form again. Hazard is one of the best football players in the world at the moment, and it’s unlikely that he’ll ever relinquish that title.
Sergio Aguero
Aguero is one of the few football players whose reputation precedes him. He’s been named the best player in the league on a number of occasions and was even once named the best player in the world. Aguero has a reputation for being one of the deadliest strikers in the game and has won the league title a number of times with both his club and his national team. Aguero has a unique playing style, preferring to play a little further back from his teammates, but always looking to get in on the action. He has the ability to create opportunities out of seemingly nothing and is one of the most prolific goal-scorers of all time.
Conclusion
Football is a game of nuance. It’s a game that rewards certain abilities over others – and certain abilities are much more difficult to master than others. A footballer that can consistently score goals, retain possession, dribble past opposition players, defend their own team’s goal, and create opportunities for their teammates is far more valuable than a footballer who excels at only one of these skills. There are a lot of excellent players in the game, but only a select few can truly be called world-class. These are the top five football players in the world.