Lionel Messi has been named the world’s best footballer while Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t feature in the top 10.
CIES Football Observatory have ranked the world’s best players based on their performances this year.
Messi tops the list as he did at the Ballon d’Or earlier this month, while Virgil van Dijk only just cracks the top 10.
The Brazilian hasn’t had his best year and while there’s no doubting Ziyech’s talent, he’s not the third best player in the world.
Neymar and Hakim Ziyech are surprise picks for the two spots behind Messi.
The Brazilian hasn’t had his best year and while there’s no doubting Ziyech’s talent, he’s not the third best player in the world.
Ronaldo on the other hand finds himself down in 12th, tied with Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez.
The list is quite a controversial one when matched up with the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Ronaldo came third in the Ballon d’Or voting and doesn’t feature on the list while Mo Salah who came four also isn’t included.
2019 hasn’t been a strong year for the Juventus forward.
Despite winning Serie A and the Nations League with Portugal, he only scored 21 goals in the league last season and has nine so far this campaign.
His agent Jorge Mendes has recently slammed the decision to award Messi this year’s Ballon d’Or.
“The Ballon d’Or to Messi? For me it’s an injustice.
“Cristiano is the best in the history of football. Before him Portugal had not won anything, with him the [2016] European Championship and the Nations League.”
“He has transformed world football, in Portugal, at Real Madrid. It’s impossible to compare him to anyone.”
It’s certainly an interesting topic to debate.
Who do you think is the best player in the world?
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