Getting closer to the Top 50! This is the fifth installment of the Footy Blog’s comprehensive list of the Top 100 Footballers in the World, as determined by some of the world’s leading football journalists (previous installments can be found here). The entire 19-person panel along with bios, and some background on how the names and their order was determined is here. Remember; if you’re on Twitter, be sure to include us in on your outrage by using the hashtag #footy100.
60. Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli and Argentina) – One third of Napoli’s famous “three tenors” up front, Lavezzi remains one of the Serie A club’s highest-rated players. El Pocho‘s dribbling ability and skill on set pieces in particular are part of the reason for the club’s return to their form of old, especially last season in which he scored six goals and earned an impressive twelve assists.
59. Edin Džeko (Manchester City and Bosnia & Herzegovina) – While his finishing has come under criticism as of late, Džeko’s promise is evident for all to see. Two time Bosnian player of the year winner, his production rate with Wolfsburg has been phenomenal, and despite a recent slow-down he has 10 league goals to his name this year already.
58. Mario Balotelli (Manchester City and Italy) – As sensational off the pitch as he is on it, Balotelli has a habit of making his puritanical critics look like fools. Super Mario’s statistics tell the story—two man of the match performances already this season, eight goals in eleven league appearances, a contributor in defense, FA Cup MOTM. The rest is just entertaining tabloid fodder in a country where the stiff upper lip is valued above all else.
57. Robinho (AC Milan and Brazil) – Fourteen goals last season with Milan, excellent in possession and an astute passer of the ball, the 27 year-old Brazilian was a key part of AC Milan’s championship-winning Serie A season in 2010-11. Though this season has been marked by an inconsistency in front of goal, he is still a much-discussed transfer target.
56. Eric Abidal (Barcelona and France) – Winner of best defender last season in the LFP awards, Eric Abidal is the unsung hero behind Barcelona’s European dominance. Fluent in the language of possession football, Abidal’s best defense is his intelligence rather than brute force, finding the key pass in order to both turn the direction away from goal but also create the next attack. A marvel to watch for the football connoisseur.
55. Victor Valdés (Barcelona and Spain) – Winner of the Zamora trophy for the last five seasons awarded to the La Liga keeper with the lowest goals-to-game ratio in the league, Valdés is the perfect archetype of the modern European keeper. His commitment to holding onto the ball rather than mindlessly punting it to safety is one of his hallmarks, and his subtle play, rather than a YouTube reel of flashy saves (although he’s made many) is perhaps one of the reasons he isn’t valued more in the Spanish national team.
54. Ashley Cole (Chelsea and England) – While his star has faded slightly in the last few months, Ashley Cole will still go down as one of England’s all-time best left-backs. His passing ability is unparalleled, with an impressive six assists to his name already this season. Two-time winner of the Chelsea Players’ Player of the Year award, his contribution is highly regarded by his Chelsea teammates, and his international retirement will a major dilemma for the England squad.
53. Juan Mata (Chelsea and Spain) – This season Chelsea and Premier League fans have discovered what La Liga and Valencia fans have known for a while—Juan Mata’s presence on the wing can change match outcomes. Brilliant passer, smart finisher, excellent on the ball, Mata has scored four goals and earned nine assists this season. He’s an integral part of Andre Villas-Boas’ vision for the club, and is certain to earn his place as one of Chelsea FC’s most gifted young talents at a mere 23 years of age.
52. Patrice Evra (Manchester United and France) – Widely regarded as one of, if not the world’s best left-back’s, Evra’s presence on Manchester United has been integral to their continued superiority in the Premier League. Named on the PFA Premier League team of the year on three separate occasions, the thirty year-old defender still has some excellent years ahead of him.
51. Hulk (Porto and Brazil) – ‘Hulk’ is one of football’s better nickname, given to Givanildo Vieira de Souza for both his stocky, muscular frame as a forward but also to his resemblance to Lou Ferrigno. Integral to Porto’s staggering league, domestic cup and UEFA Cup-winning 2010-11 season in which he finished as Super Liga’s top scorer with 23 goals in 26 games, at 25 years-old he is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, with seven goals and seven assists to his name already this season.
lol
I would bet money KJ didn’t write the Balotelli paragraph
Mata, Hulk and Dzeko the cream of that crop. Barcelona love fest continues.
Hard not to have a lovefest with team that will go down, as one of the greats.
Evra’s been awful all calender year. Way too high-up for my liking.
*thinks of something to criticize in the list* … No comment
valdes should be a little higher up and evra a little down
Come on Abidal and Valdes in the top 100 players in the world?!? Not 1 player from a South American based team is on this list as of yet, I find that hard to believe. This list should be named 100 best players in Europe.
yes no players from any mls teams, or african teams either. you realize santos the best south american team, would be 11-12th at most in serie a or premier league?
I’m pretty sure Brazilian and Argentinian teams would do ok in any of the top leagues, maybe not win but top 7-8 for sure.
Lavezzi is a great player, victor valdes is a wall, hulk isnt so strong
Hulk?…child please !!
agree with all of them other than robihno, should be closer to 100 than 50, he has been shit this year.
AC says:
01.04.12 @ 12:10 PM EST
Reply
Come on Abidal and Valdes in the top 100 players in the world?!?
–> silly boy, you just lost all credibility. be as much of a Barca hater as you want but don’t lose touch with reality dude, it’s unbecoming of a footy fan.
sergio says:
01.04.12 @ 1:31 PM EST
Reply
Hulk?…child please !!
—> So you’ve never watched him play (or looked at the stats, or the trade offers…….)
Yo guy, there’s no doubt Barca is the best team in the world but i would not place either of those two as high as they are or top 100. Abidal is no where near Pepe who barely cracked the top 100 and Valdes is pretty ordinary, I can’t think of one game where he had to make a game changing save.
Just click reply next to each comment than you don’t have to write out their name and stuff every time you want to reply. Just tryin to help.
Ahahahahahahaha…ridicolous ranking! Evra, Abidal and Valdes better than Lavezzi and Balotelli…ahahahahahaha!!!
Quite surprised that Hulk hasn’t cracked the top 50. Would like to see how many more have accomplished more than he has in the past year as an integral player to his squad as he has.
And the passenger players that are Abidal and Valdes continue to be rated higher than more quality players. Really? The only player I need to see here in top 50 is Michael Carrick and I’ll be convinced this list is absolute rubbish.
Balotelli would be better if he would get his head out of his sunshine-less orifice and play with his team and use his skill to the fullest. when his mates have to pull him into position on corners etc. it’s just shambolic.
E KIVEMMUORTTTTTTTTT VUJ E STU CESS E SIT!!! NN CAPIT NU KAZZ E PALLON!! MERDE
This list was perfect until I saw Hulk who should be ranked quite a bit higher however I understand not everyone watches the Portuguese league to see him play that often. Probably deserves to be in the 30s though at least.
Gaitan and Moutinho deserve places in this list as well. Also haven’t seen Falcao yet. If he’s listed higher than Hulk, shame. If he’s not on the list at all, shame.
ALL DEFENDERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN 100-50. ALL ATTACKERS. 50-100.
MIDFIELDERS?
shoot. i don’t know what to do with them. ‘cept for nani. maybe #50.
makes sense, guys.
POCHO POCHO POCHOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!! VAI NAPOLI, AVANTI PARTENOPEIIIIIIIII!!!!!!
the chubby one is a GOD
Can’t agree with Cashley and Evra’s inclusion. A couple of years ago I’d have put them higher than these placings but both have lost an awful lot of pace in the intervening time.
Wow 58 and 57 are just wrong, get off the list…
Greetings to every one,My only player I hope to be top 10 is Di Maria,he has been impresive this season.hope to hear from you on Avin /Avin not.
Sucks for you. He’s only #44.
People hating on VV and Abidal: I would agree that Abidal is a tad high, and love for him is sky high after his story from last year. I would definitely say he deserves a top 100 place, though. VV is right where he should be; anyone who watches La Liga consistently knows he is one of the must underrated footballers in the world.
Decent list thus far, some head scratchers but some great inclusions to balance them out. I think “integral” is the favorite word around here.