The iconic image of Lionel Messi in 2021 is not one of in-game brilliance. Using our unique search, comparison and ranking tools, FC . These were: Previously, there was a seven-man shortlist. His 2021 has had chapters of failure and redemption a missed penalty for France at the Euros, followed by a Nations League-winning goal because, in typical PSG fashion, the individual development of Les Bleus favourite son has been far more noteworthy than anything his teams have achieved. Hes been a no.6 for Pep, a secondary playmaker, the creative heartbeat and last season, a false nine and Manchester Citys top scorer in all competitions. The FIFA Fan Award is entirely decided by fans, with no input from journalists, coaches or players when it comes to determining the winner. A flying Slovenian shotstopper, a rock solid Portuguese defender, and a talismanic Polish striker make the list. No, they are not. The Ballon dOr is a ceremony founded and run by France Football, whereas The Best FIFA Football Awards were founded and run by FIFA. Jorginhos 2021 has seen him go from an awkward fit to one of the most respected players on the continent. Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy won the Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper, while manager Thomas Tuchel claimed the Best FIFA Men's Coach. Manchester City investigation taking too long, says LaLiga president Javier Tebas, Brazilian wonderkid Endrick admits its really cool to see Gary Lineker tweeting about him, even if he only knows the former England striker from playing FIFA. Ramos has won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup for his country. "Football League Rankings" is a list of professional football leagues in the world and their strength. A key figure in Brazil's pursuit of the 2022 Copa America Femenina - ahead of that she'd been named MVP in the NWSL Challenge Cup. Putellas wins the prestigious individual award after a . He is inevitable. LONGREAD PSG's billion Euro gamble: Can Messi, Neymar and Mbappe win it all? The FIFA Fair Play award recognises exemplary behaviour that promotes fair play, sportsmanship and compassion in football. That hes brought that form back to the biggest stages of all, however, should be no surprise at all. All three are exquisite players let them have the ball between them and youre never getting it back. Whod have thought that reuniting Neymar and Lionel Messi in the same team would only shine more of a light on Kylian Mbappe? A mere 15 years separate these two titans of the Italian defence. Yet a poor Euros and a stuttering start to this season (hes scored just twice in the league since an opening day hat-trick at Leeds) have seen him slip down this list. Please refresh the page and try again. Son Heung-min Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea. FootballTransfers (FT) is a project designed to fulfill the massive interest in the transfer market and provide a realistic, algorithmically-driven valuation of football players. These three are keeping out-and-out strikers cool in a modern game that doesnt prioritise them. At the other end of father times glare, Luka Modric put Croatia on his back once more at the Euros, delivered the sweetest of strikes against Scotland and toiled away for Real Madrid in the background, as classily as ever. Who is the best woman football player in the world in 2022? Also Read: Top 10 Richest Golfers In The World & Their Net Worth In 2021. They separated for 2016 and have remained two different awards since then. Grealish looks set to be one of the best players in the world before too long. Paolo Maldini is regarded as the greatest left-back ever. Rejected from the academy at Clairefontaine, the pocket-sized pick-pocket went onto win back-to-back Premier Leagues, then an FA Cup, a World Cup and a Europa League title. German . The disciplined Azzurri strong-armed their way to the title, and no one sums up that teams mix of determination, intelligence and skill better than Bonucci. The AC Milan and Italy legend has the most appearances in Serie A (647) and most outings for Milan (902) after spending his entire career at the San Siro. Such is the expected artistry of a Napoli winger, after all while Chiesa is all bustle, brutishness and bottled anger. Fans also have the chance to cast their votes for The Best FIFA Mens and Womens Player, The Best FIFA Mens and Womens Coach and The Best Mens and Womens Goalkeeper awards. In recent months, Insider has ranked the best players in every position in world soccer in 2021. Atleticos, Reals and Barcelonas beating hearts are still toasts of Spanish football and all three have enjoyed a 2021 to remember. Hes one of the most intelligent players in the Premier League were he a little flashier, perhaps hed be thought of as one of the best midfielders of the past decade. Alexia Putellas is the best female soccer player in the world right now. Ronaldo vs Messi: Goals, Stats, Awards, Net Worth, Who Is The Best? His pace, aggression and driving runs forward have given him cult status with Blues fans, who will be praying he can be tied down to a new deal before the season ends. The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 Highlights: . Also Read: Ronaldo vs Messi: Goals, Stats, Awards, Net Worth, Who Is The Best? And hes still capable of surprising us all. 01 / 20. LONGREAD Mason Mount: The rapid rise of Chelsea and England's midfield star, as told by Jody Morris. Get the latest transfer insights and analyses directly in your mailbox. as well as other partner offers and accept our. That made him the first goalkeeper to produce an assist in a World Cup game in more than four decades. Football. His new found seniority followed him to Euro 2020, as Foden - sporting a Gazza-esque bleached barnet that sent the nation wild - started on the right hand side for Englands opening two matches. Fans will then be responsible for 50 per cent of the votes cast, with a panel of football experts providing the other 50 per cent to decide the eventual winner. Lloris is Frances third-most-capped player and was instrumental in guiding his team to their first win in the quadrennial event in 12 years. Its a shame, too, with consecutive managers failing to find a way to unleash his quality. The Germany captain may have turned 35 in March but he remains the gold standard for modern goalkeeping. The players amazing ability to take the initiative and inspire his teammates when the chips are down made him a vital member of both Real Madrid and Spains squads. Van Dijk missed almost all of Liverpools disappointing season last term, and made an early call to sit out of the Euros in order to be fit for this campaign. Football magazine FourFourTwo has released its annual list of best players around the world and made some questionable choices. He has become ageless despite the distinguished flecks of grey in his hair and now hes a history maker too. Donnarumma is the 22-year-old goalkeeper with 40 caps under his belt already, who won Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament and is now first pick in a star-studded PSG side. Despite making an uncharacteristic error in the final against Croatia, which resulted in Mario Mandzukics goal, Lloris lifted Frances second World Cup trophy to the sky to finish off a spectacular season for the country. Chelseas man of the match in Portos Champions League final put in the quintessential Kante performance. One hopes Der Bomber wouldve been proud of his heir, before he sadly passed away in August after all, Muller never got the praise he should have for being the best striker in the world while he was reaching this feats. 2023 Minute Media - All rights reserved. In 2021, his wings were amputated. Conor Pope is the Online Editor of FourFourTwo, overseeing all digital content, and joined the team in February 2019. She also shone on the European stage, finishing as the top scorer in the 2021/22 Women's Champions League with 11 goals. The FWAs Player of the Year for 2021/22, Dias impressed enormously at the heart of Manchester Citys defence, both in their title-winning Premier League campaign and en route to the Champions League final; his performance in the semi-final against PSG particularly stands out as a player who was reaching the top of his game against formidable opposition. According to Fernando Hierro 2013 and Jos Mourinho 2014, he was called the best defender in the world. Gento is the most successful captain of all time and one of the most successful players of all time. TRENDING NEWS. FEATURE How Trent Alexander-Arnold is reinventing the full-back. Atletico Madrids Jan Oblak wins bragging rights as the worlds best goalkeeper in 2021 in 12th. TRENDING TOPICS. Hes unlikely to greatly improve on his 17 caps, but will always cherish a 2021 when everything seemed to fall into place. The tall and commanding stopper was typically excellent domestically, but his nations failure to qualify for Euro 2020 meant he missed out on the biggest stage the year had to offer. If Kevin De Bruynes the conductor in Manchester Citys grand orchestra, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez are first chairs in the string section. Leonardo Bonucci is a professional Italian footballer who plays as a center for both the Series A Juventus Club and the Italy national team and is serving as Vice-Captain. Probably the greatest defender ever. IPL 2023 Auction: All 10 Teams Released, And Retained Players List, FIFA World Cup 2022: Schedule, Venue, Qualifiers, Stadiums, ICC WTC 2021-2023: ICC World Test Championship Points Table And Fixtures, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2021: SCHEDULE, VENUE, TEAMS, RANKING, HISTORY, OFFICIAL BROADCASTERS, PREDICTION, ICC WOMENS CRICKET WORLD CUP 2022 SCHEDULE, ICC MENS T20 World Cup 2022: Schedule, Venue, Qualification, Ranking, Winners, Mens Cricket World Cup 2023, Schedule, Teams, Venue, Qualifying Matches, Format, FIFA World Cup 2022: All Teams List, Captain, And Coach. The Bayern Munich star provided 11 goals and 21 assists in only 32 Bundesliga appearances last season. Thierry Henry represented France in the 2012 European Championships and at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014. They dont call him Lewangoalski for nothing (erm is it still just us and Thomas Muller?). But it was a tight . Here are the 50 best teams in world football currently according to the supercomputer. His most notable achievement came in 2021 when he guided Argentina to victory in the Copa America 2021 title and was named the Player Of The Tournament. The man who achieved the fastest running speed at Euro 2020 (an astonishing 33.8 km/h, for those interested) captured hearts and minds with his tireless bombing up and down Italys left flank. Best Soccer Players 2021. Lionel Messi. Karim Benzema received votes from Real . A sensational year for the defender, who has just six months left to run on his deal at Stamford Bridge. While rating Ronaldo as the biggest big-game player in the world, FourFourTwo ranked him in only 10th-place. Davies explosive pace makes him an attacking threat on the wing for both Bayern Munich and Canada (who are tipped to qualify for the Word Cup), Robertsons crossing makes him a chief playmaker for Liverpool, and Cancelo regularly functions as full-back/midfielder hybrid for Manchester City. White Stripes adorn the side of the jersey, with a cannon symbol on the collar. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The beating heart of both a Denmark team that went to the Euro 2020 semi-finals and a resurgent AC Milan side after a decade in the doldrums, Kjaer's cool defensive head has been a footballing . Written off as a liability during Frank Lampards final days in charge at Chelsea, Rudiger has since developed into one of the worlds brightest defenders under Thomas Tuchel. After being sidelined for the Coupe De France final victory over Marseille, few expected too much from the midfielder at Euro 2020 though they were wrong to doubt him. RAMOS, a three-time European Championships and FIFA World Cup champion for Spain, scored four goals in his teams victorious Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. Theyre both sharp, quick and seemingly able to finish from any angle. And yet when the 34-year-old sobbed in that crowded hall, there wasnt a team on Earth that wouldnt have moved heaven and earth to home him. PK Banerjee was born on 23rd June 1936 and played for Aryan and Eastern Railway in his career. There's not a single list where we won't see Ronaldo. Whether it be Pele, Di Stefano, Garrincha, Puskas in the 1950s, Maradona in the 1980s, or Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Messi and Ronaldo in the last 20 years, we have been fortunate enough to witness some of the world's best football players. English. Fans can vote for their top three favourites per category, with first choice generating five points, second choice three points, and third choice one point. Neymar (PSG & Brazil) (Total Football Goals: 435) 17 Feb. 2023 Neymar is the all-time joint top goal scorer for the Brazil National Football Team, with 77 goals in 124 matches. Hes still at the very top and unlike his Barca departure, it looks like hell choose when to go. Bayern's 'roadrunner' Alphonso Davies pace = _____/@AlphonsoDavies | @FCBayernEN | #UCL pic.twitter.com/8ZnIAeLfuLDecember 16, 2021. He supports Blackburn Rovers and holds a season ticket with south London non-league side Dulwich Hamlet. The goalkeeper, who won over fans and opponents alike with his shot-stopping abilities and calmness in the box, was given the opportunity to lead France for a brief while in 2010. But the Bianconeris shattered Serie A title defense and Champions League last-16 exit obviously went against him. You can find out more about the Ballon dOr here. What they do do, however, is provide a snapshot of the most elite stars in the beautiful game in 2021, reflecting both career achievements and domestic and international form this year. 7 7. All the winners of FIFA's The Best awards 2022 will be crowned on Monday 27 February. Football magazine FourFourTwo has released its annual list of best players around the world and made some questionable choices. Here are the 20 Premier League captains for the upcoming season: Arsenal - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM is a paid Portuguese footballer who plays as a striker for the Serie A team Juventus and captains the Portuguese national team. Created in 2009 in honour of the late Ferenc Puskas, captain and star of the Hungary national team during the 1950s, the FIFA Puskas Award is handed out to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year. Barclays Premier League: 72.42: 9.6: Manchester City: 90.4: Nottingham Forest: 56.2: 2. The lists do not create a definitive ranking the 11th best attacker in the world may be better than the eighth best goalkeeper, for example. He was second only to Robert Lewandowski in Europe and for much of 2021, Dortmund floundered and faltered, almost throwing away Champions League qualification. Pint-sized Insigne is now 30 and the experience is showing; hes composed, toys with defenders like prey and when he cuts inside, its measured and meticulous. As mentioned earlier, its decided by a combination of: national coaches of FIFA Member Associations, their team captains, a select group of media from those countries, and fans. Another Bundesliga title for Bayern was delivered on his solid foundations last season, but a disappointing Euro 2020 has cost many Germany regulars a few places in this years list. A sublime double act that would each be the individual star at literally any other club in Europe. Sign up for notifications from Insider! A year of two halves for the Englishman. NGolo Kantes story is one that you never tire of telling. In an era of tulmution, he is the one star to set your watch by. A giant at the back, the former Real Madrid and Spain captain is also a menace on the other end of the field, despite his mixed career in terms of discipline. 10. Valuing a player is currently an arbitrary process where teams, players and representatives simply estimate what they are worth. He made this kind of year the norm years ago. And frankly, at 34, he is an old-school Italian defender. Three moments are chosen and fans vote online to ultimately decide the winner. All teams. The World 11 squad includes 12 players who have already won a World 11 award: Becker, Alexander-Arnold, Alves, Bonucci, De Bruyne, De . He doesnt thump in chest in celebration, he doesnt crave the limelight like an Ibrahimovic or a Ronaldo and hes not flashy. Several high profile stars, like FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter-Stegen, Liverpool's injured defensive colossus Virgil Van Dijk, and even Cristiano Ronaldo, miss out. Published: 20:47, 17 January 2022. With a move expected in 2022, its doubtful hell finish second to anyone for much longer. A three-month injury, little tournament time in the summer and a wait for him to hit his stride at City stop him being further up the list already. 13. The prolific Pole set a new record for most Bundesliga goals . Ramos total of 23 goals for La Furia Roja, which is a remarkable feat for a defender, positions him ninth all-time on Spains all-time goalscoring record. September 2020s 30m switch from Calgiari to Inter marked the start of a phenomenal year for the composed midfielder. Next on the list of the best dribblers in football is Douglas Costa. The biggest and best names from the world of football were honoured at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 ceremony in Paris. The shortlists for The Best FIFA Football Awards were unveiled on 22 November. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. A star of Germany's Euro 2022 squad . At 33, there are signs the magician may be starting to slow down. He had previously missed out on the Ballon d'Or, which had gone to the Argentine . PK Banerjee. English starlet Noni Madueke made the switch abroad to PSV Eindhoven in 2019. In his defense, it should be noted that Messi has benefited from the presence of players like Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, as well as more recently, Neymar and Luis Suarez, who has given him the flexibility to be creative and express himself in the offensive third. For me, it was always Borussia Dortmund". Instead, he dragged Liverpool into the Champions League, has fronted their title bid and put in a claim as the most talented player on the planet right now. Hes no ones sidekick. 2021, 14:16 IST. Always a pleasure and a privilege to share some thoughts and ideas with another GOAT pic.twitter.com/HsFe7UxjQ6. Maldini won 126 caps for Italy, 74 of them as captain. Thank you for signing up to Four Four Two. Germanys goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is a vital member of the national team, which he has led with distinction since the retirement of Phillip Lahm in 2017. Ronaldo is the most successful football player in the history of Portuguese football and possibly the most recognizable face in the world of sports. Our goal is simple - to become the #1 multi-language transfers source in the football world, serving the football fan their direct desire for everything around the most popular subject in football: Football Transfers. 9. Chelsea conceded 23 goals in the 19 Premier League games before Thomas Tuchel joined last season, and just 13 in the following 17, as the Blues picked up 11 more clean sheets. Thomas Muller finished as the best of the rest outside the top 10 spots in 11th-place. FEATURERevealed! I have so many people to thank, especially and most of all my coaches. Hes been so omnipresent this year, mind, that its almost a surprise Jorginho wasnt present for all three (wed love to see him bake a showstopper). Olympique Lyon 's 2021/22 away jersey by adidas is, in our humble opinion, simply outstanding. 2021 did not bring about any gold for Salah. Last year, it began at 18:00 GMT / 19:00 CET / 13:00 ET / 10:00 PT. Manuel Neuer (Germany) Manuel Neuer, the German goalkeeper, is largely recognised as one of the finest in the world of football. Average players in the modern game would have been world-class decades ago. LONGREAD The rise of Jack Grealish: From Aston Villa starlet to Manchester City's record-breaking signing. 1. May that smiling Parisian, rejected from big academies and underestimated by every opponent keep surprising us all in 2022 and beyond. The Frenchman is still running at top speed, as key for club and country and still one of the most celebrated central midfielders of a generation. Mikel Arteta has not been afraid to give Arsenal 's youngsters game time and Azeez is one expected to receive more in 2021. For a player whos seemingly played at Inter for a decade, 2021 has been the breakout year for Martinez, as winning the Scudetto in May was followed by Copa America glory in the summer. 100 Million. Ronaldo has had a great club and international career, during which he has scored goals and won trophies on a constant basis. The 2021 The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony will take place in the Swiss city of Zurich on 17 January, 2022. This is what we came up with. Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski complete the top three in this surprise list. Legend Pele also has scored 77 goals in 92 . Manuel Neuer, the German goalkeeper, is largely recognised as one of the finest in the world of football. The Azzurri couldnt have done it without the 29-year-olds steel and composure. @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/zNAZiTp4S2. A ruptured Achilles sustained in the quarterfinal win over Belgium has sadly ruled him out ever since, but those performances were enough to seal his place in the official team of the tournament. Selecting a top 21 is not an easy task since there are a lot of deserving players on the planet right . Plus tips on how to play better and interviews with the biggest names. Being the most capped player with 148 caps, Anders Svensson was the captain in 21 matches. The 2021 FIFPRO World 11 was confirmed at The Best ceremony as: The 2021 Mens FIFA FIFPRO #World11 lineup: @gigiodonna1 @David_Alaba @bonucci_leo19 @rubendias @DeBruyneKev Jorginho @nglkante @lewy_official Lionel Messi @Cristiano @ErlingHaalandBy the players, for the players. Manchester City from England and Barcelona from Spain complete the Top 5. LaLiga has seen better days, of course, but the plethora of technical midfielders who ply their trade in Spain will perhaps remain unrivalled for a while yet. But is he still one of the greatest forwards in the modern game? Yet both were as captivating as one another at Euro 2020. The second half of the 20/21 season saw Gnabrys form disrupted by coronavirus and knee problems, but he still managed six goals as Bayern lifted a ninth-straight Bundesliga title. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Hes like an old-school Italian defender, in the very best sense. Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Inter Milans Romelu Lukaku also bagged a top 10 spot. The Argentinian has ascended to become one of the most sought-after forwards on the planet in the past 12 months and hes dazzled with his speed, finishing and much-improved hold-up play. PK Banerjee was an integral part of the Indian national team that won the 1962 Asian games. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who has preserved an astounding 41 clean sheets in 94 appearances for Germany, was a key player in the teams fourth World Cup victory in Brazil in the 2014 edition of the championship. After all, the Chelsea midfielder is only 27th on FourFourTwos list. Ronaldo netted 115 times for Portugal at the time of the ceremony, which is more international goals than anyone in the history of the game, undoubtedly an achievement worth celebrating at The Best awards. FIFA continued with their award last year as the hitman triumphed, while the 2020 Ballon d'Or was controversially cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 10. 10. The winner in 2020 was Mattia Agnese, who administered critical first aid to an opponent who lost consciousness following an on-field collision. Fri 24 Dec 2021 05.00 EST. Professional footballers voted for the best men's players for the period 8 August 2021 to 18 December 2022 . But theres plenty to separate the Azzurri zippers, too. Lionel Messi is also one of the best footballers in the world. Son Heung-min isnt a footballer, hes a scalpel. But it didnt take long for Lloris to take over as the regular captain of Les Bleus national team. The AC Milan striker fired home 15 goals in only 19 Serie A appearances last season. While Kane finished last season trophyless, he was the Premier Leagues top scorer and captained England to the Euro 2020 final, while Suarez and Lukaku both fired their sides to the Spanish and Italian titles respectively breaking other clubs dominance in both countries. It will begin at 19:00 CET and will be streamed live on FIFA.com and the FIFA YouTube channel. Most recently, he scored a hat-trick against Ecuador on the last day of qualification to send Argentina to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He has been a regular for Bayern Munich and the German national team for quite some time now. There seems to be two clear halves to Timo Werners game: the sensational movement and pace which seems to carve out chances for himself and the wayward finishing that often ends with the German holding his head in his hands. From there we derive our own valuation for each and every player in the worlds major football competitions. Francisco Gento. Those nine awards are: The Best FIFA Mens Player, The Best FIFA Womens Player, The Best FIFA Mens Coach, The Best FIFA Womens Coach, FIFA Fair Play Award, FIFA Puskas Award, FIFA Fan Award, The Best FIFA Mens Goalkeeper and the Best FIFA Womens Goalkeeper. He is comfortable on both the tactical and technical levels. Argentina's World Cup-winning captain and France's . Germany icon Lothar Matthaus was the first winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year back in 1991 and Lewandowski is the current holder due to his exploits with Bayern Munich in the 2019-20 season. 2021 is the first year in quite some time that its been easy to ignore Sadio Mane. At this point, surely not even Karim Benzema knows what Karim Benzema is capable of anymore. Who, all in all, is the most fantastic? He would be left disappointed, as England lost the final without him the player injured ahead of the Italy clash. Who did the world's best managers and players vote for to win The Best FIFA Football Award 2021? The rabona goal by Argentina attacker Erik Lamela (watch it here) won out as the winner of the prestigious Puskas Award for the best goal scored anywhere in the world in 2021. Although Marcelo is the official captain of Real, his inability to establish himself . Pedri only turned 19 in November but the years Golden Boy has been ever-present for club and country, assuming Leo Messis mantel, dragging Spain to a Euros semi and Olympic final. The youngest player ever to represent England at a major tournament only turned 18 during Euro 2020 and already had a full season at Borussia Dortmund under his belt, including a Champions League quarter-final goal. He also won FIFA World Cup 1974 for West Germany. Lucy Bronze. As henchmen on either side of Ciro Immobile, Insigne and Chiesa were both responsible for match-winning moments at the Euros and helped bring the title back to Italy. Beth Mead has been tipped by many to win the women's award, following England's success at the Euros, but she was beaten to the Women's Ballon d'Or by Alexia Putellas. Messi's inevitable triumph comes as absolutely no surprise, though you can't deny that Mbappe and Benzema have also enjoyed superb years. SSC Napoli from Italy is the best football / soccer team of the world today. He began 2021 with a goal and assist performance against Chelsea, scored vital goals in each knockout round of the Champions League up to the final and would have starred for Belgium in the Euros, were it not for injury as a sublime goal and assist against Denmark in the group showed. Steph is an accomplished defender who has won multiple English domestic league and cup titles playing for various female club sides like Arsenal and Manchester City FC.