Lucas Barrios Club: Guangzhou Evergrande Nation: Paraguay A classic penalty box striker who revels in time and space. Strong in the air and an excellent finisher, especially with his right foot, Barrios is lethal in the area. Born in Argentine, he represents Paraguay (the country of his mother) at international level. Barrios began his career Argentinos Juniors before flitting back and forth between Argentina and Chile, seeking to prove his goal scoring credentials. It was with Cobreloa that he got his first big break, and Barrios impressed sufficiently to earn a move to Atlas in Mexico. While that was not a resounding success he returned to Chile with Colo-Colo where he just couldn’t stop scoring. Borussia Dortmund were quickly alerted to the striker’s abilities and moved swiftly to secure his services, leading to a three year spell which saw him win two Bundesliga titles. The emergence of Robert Lewandowski reduced his opportunities, but he is surely too young and too good to play out the rest of his career in China.
Gareth Barry Club: Manchester City Nation: England Barry began his professional career with Aston Villa where he became a mainstay, initially as a defender. Barry’s versatility and positional awareness saw him frequently shifted as managers looked to fill problem positions. He moved from central defence to left-back and into the left side of midfield before he settled into the role he’s best known for, as an anchor in central midfield. Barry might not be a great talent, but he plays within himself and makes the most of his key strengths. Those strengths are mostly defensive in nature. He’s a crisp tackler, a strong header of the ball and he has impressive stamina. Most of his efforts are aimed at containing the opposition, rather than creating or being dynamic. His passing style mirrors his overall conservative play. Although he maintains a high completion rate, Barry keeps his passing very simple and will make the safe pass allowing more creative players to run the show. His role now is as an enabler for the more creative players of City and England.
Andrea Barzagli Club: Juventus Nation: Italy Something of a rarity among leading Italian stars, Barzagli is a player who fought his way to the top of the game through the lower leagues, gradually improving with experience. Breaking through with Chievo he won a move to Palermo and then stepped on again, gaining international recognition and becoming a World Cup winner in 2006. That summer he moved to Wolfsburg where he won the Bundesliga title before joining Juventus, proving he is still capable of competing with the very best. A right sided central defender, he’s got a hugely complete skillset. Good in the air, a strong reader of the game who is quick to intercept and a crisp tackler, Barzagli has few weaknesses, but prior to his move to Juve he was rarely regarded as being a worthy successor to the great list of Italian centre-backs. Last season’s unbeaten campaign changed that, with Barzagli regarded by some as the league’s best performing central defender.
Michel Bastos Club: Lyon Nation: Brazil Quick, skilful and athletic, Michel Bastos would appear to have all the attributes required of the modern winger. The early stages of his career saw him bounce from club to club, including spells in Holland with both Feyenoord and Excelsior in Rotterdam, but it was on arrival in France that he stepped up to a higher level. With Lille he established a reputation as one of the most dangerous widemen in Europe, and his final season was so impressive that it led to a £15m move to perennial contenders Lyon. Bastos arrived at the Stade de Gerland just as the club’s dominance was ending, but still impressed with his adventurous approach to the game. Comfortable on either flank, but predominantly left footed, he is capable of playing as an attacking full-back though his defensive skills leave much to be desired. An excellent free-kick taker with a venomous, swerving shot he is also a proficient provider through well aimed crosses.
Andreas Beck Club: Hoffenheim Nation: Germany Born in Russia and came through Stuttgart’s youth system before transferred to Hoffenheim, Andreas Beck became one of the youngest captains in the Bundesliga at age 23. He is a hard working right-back in the mold of Philipp Lahm. Generally less spoken about and underrated he has been one of the most consistent players in the league, often ignored by National Team manager Jogi Löw. Sometimes criticized for attacking too fervently and abandoning his positioning, he remains one of the top players in the league, even attracting interest from Juventus. If he continues he might not remain with Hoffenheim for much longer.
David Beckham Club: LA Galaxy Nation: England For all the celebrity and media attention that surrounds “Brand Beckham”, there is no denying that he ranks among the greatest right-wingers football has seen. Despite George Best’s observation that he can’t tackle, head, use his left foot or score many goals, the former Manchester United midfielder has carved out a career that has taken in many of Europe’s most glamorous clubs. Arguably the finest crosser in the history of the game, his long range passing, industry and professionalism have placed him among the greats of this era. His free-kicks were perhaps not of the level of Zico or Platini, but few recent players struck a better dead ball. While a move to the LA Galaxy appeared to mark the end of his career at the top level, Beckham’s desire to continue his England career saw him remain a remarkably consistent and driven individual who deserves to be remembered for his football rather than his fashion sense.
Younes Belhanda Club: Montpellier Nation: Morocco Hugely exciting attacking midfielder who proved instrumental in Montpellier’s Ligue 1 title victory. An international at youth level for France he followed in the footsteps of so many French born youngsters in opting to play for the country of his parents, in his case Morocco. Clever in possession and a fine passer of the ball, he has the confidence to take on players and rarely looks phased by the big occasion. Has shown an increasing ability to chip in with goals from midfield as well as acting as the focal point of the team’s creativity. Previously wasted in a more defensive role there is now no doubt that he belongs in behind the strikers where he is most able to influence the game. One weakness is his temperament which almost cost Montpellier the title last season and will need to be calmed if he is to prosper in the future.
Hatem Ben Arfa Club: Newcastle United Nation: France Immensely talented but often indifferent, Ben Arfa can turn almost any game on its head with his cunning, electric pace, smooth dribbling and his powerful shot. The 25 year old began as a centre-forward at Lyon and then migrated to the wings where his pace and dribbling was afforded more room. In the Premiership he’s shown flashes of potential and brilliance, yet his game would benefit from more intelligent movement and greater concentration. Given a free role he can torment defenders from the channels, wider areas or in positions you might expect a “false 9” to operate in. Unfortunately he has a tendency to lose focus and drifts out of the game. When on the ball and in the mood, he’s one of the Premier League’s most entertaining and effective players. He remains at his best with limited defensive responsibility and the freedom to switch flanks or play in the hole.
Mehdi Benatia Club: Udinese Nation: Morocco An excellent reader of the game with a penchant for an elegant dash out of defence, Benatia was playing in the French Ligue 2 for Clermont when Udinese’s outstanding scouting system deemed him good enough for Serie A. Benatia was a revelation in his debut season for Udinese in 2010-2011, so much so that the Udinese faithful labelled him the “Moroccan Maldini”. There was to be no second-season syndrome either as Udinese finished in the Champions League places once again, with the French-born Moroccan nominated for the prestigious Serie A Oscar del Calcio award in the Defender of the Year category towards the end of 2011. Benatia is rapidly on his way to proving the hypothesis that he is the finest Moroccan defender since Noureddine Naybet is valid. Certainly, he can be as rough-edged as his compatriot in his pomp, which has made him have a tendency to accumulate a lot of yellow cards.
Lars Bender Club: Bayer Leverkusen Nation: Germany Energetic young German midfielder who has quickly become the heartbeat of a fine Leverkusen team. Competent on the ball, though not exceptional, he is noted for his ability to cover all areas of the pitch and increasingly for his willingness to get into the box. Unafraid to put his body on the line, he anticipates well and has the positional sense to block a healthy number of shots. When he breaks up play by his strong tackling or well timed interceptions he is usually content to lay it off to a nearby team mate rather than attempt the spectacular himself. Following Arturo Vidal’s departure to Juventus he demonstrated an ability to command a midfield alongside Simon Rolfes, impressing with his maturity. Now a full German international he was often the first substitute Jogi Low turned to at Euro 2012 when he wanted to close out a game.
Darren Bent Club: Aston Villa Nation: England Among the most prolific Premier League strikers of recent years, Darren Bent’s reputation has rarely matched his proficiency in front of goal. Perhaps it was the fact that he cut his teeth at unfashionable Ipswich and Charlton before a switch to Spurs which, while far from the disaster it was commonly made out to be, was a less than resounding success. Undeniably Bent does not possess ability to hold the ball up or bring others into the game which some of his rivals possess. Yet his movement is excellent, playing on the shoulder of the last defender and looking to exploit space in behind defences. That ability to utilise a high defensive line is perhaps why his goalscoring record for supposed “lesser clubs” has been better than that for Spurs and England who tend to enjoy a greater share of possession. A fin finisher and reasonable in the air (despite Harry Redknapp’s assetion that his wife Sandra could have scored a chance Bent once missed), injury ruled him out of Euro 2012.
Karim Benzema Club: Real Madrid Nation: France Hailed as a future star at just 17 with Lyon, Benzema has now blossomed into the player so many expected he could be. Powerfully built and blessed with great pace he is ideally suited to the modern game, but marries his physical attributes with deft touch and an eye for goal. Two exceptional final seasons at Lyon were enough to persuade Real Madrid to spend £35m on the youngster, but his first campaign at the Bernabeu was a failure. That cost him his place in the French national side for the 2010 World Cup, which with hindsight may not have been entirely negative. Initially distrusted by Jose Mourinho, it was only injury to Gonzalo Higuain that afforded the Frenchman his chance , but his willingness to run the channels and ability to lead the line have seen him establish himself as a key man. His link-up play with Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria has been a crucial factor in his selection ahead of Higuain in the Real line-up. There is unquestionably still room for improvement, but precious few forwards enjoy the full range of tools that are available to Benzema.
Dimitar Berbatov Club: Fulham Nation: Bulgaria Berbatov’s supremely languid style of play has often led to accusations of laziness. Whether or not he fully applies himself is an open question, but his talent is not in doubt. Technically exceptional and powerful in the air, he possesses outstanding close control and is superb with his back to goal. His touch is almost unrivalled, while defenders so often think they have him penned in, only for Berbatov to somehow find a way out. A prolific goalscorer with Bayer Leverkusen he earned a move to Spurs in 2006 where he further enhanced an excellent reputation with his link-up play and skill on the ball. A £30m move to Manchester United has been far from a complete success and he was omitted from the squad for the Champions League final in 2011 despite finishing the season as the Premier League top scorer. Already impressing in his short time at Fulham there are precious few players as pleasing for the neutral to watch.
Jonathan Biabiany Club: Parma Nation: France An exceptionally fast winger, Biabiany last season began to fulfil some of the potential which has surrounded him from an early age. Having joined Inter at the tender age of 16 they struggled to harness his full potential and with the exception of a profitable loan spell with Modena in Serie B he was rarely given the playing time required to adequately develop his ability. A return to Parma though afforded him the opportunity he needed and last season he grasped it with both hands, showing how dangerous his speed can make him when combined with his clever dribbling ability. A greater maturity was also shown in an improved willingness to track back and help his team mates when required. Featuring in every league game at Parma (albeit some as a sub) was just the catalyst his promising career required, now he has the opportunity to step up to the next level.
Valter Birsa Club: Torino Nation: Slovenia An effective dribbler with an eye for a pass, Birsa gained prominence with Sochaux, having emerged first as a prolific goalscoring midfielder with hometown club Gorica. A Slovenian international from the tender age of 18, a move to France boosted his profile and as he developed into an effective winger he made the switch from Sochaux to Auxerre. For the national team he played with distinction at the 2010 World Cup, illustrating an ability to perform at the highest level. Taller than most wingers, he relies more on his technical capabilities than on physical attributes. His intelligent movement and shrewd decision making mark him out as a high quality operator, though his career appears to have stalled since moving to Italy with Genoa. Now he seeks to re-establish his early potential with a loan move to Torino.
Sebastián Blanco Club: Metalist Kharkiv Nation: Argentina Emerging at Lanus in his teens, this clever little midfielder forced his way into the first team of a title-winning side through his sheer talent, versatility and consistent attacking threat. Soon after that he was in then-Coach Diego Maradona’s longlist for a place in the Argentina squad at the 2010 World Cup, and not long after that he was sold to Metalist in the Ukraine as they sought to ape Shaktar Donetsk by constructing a team based around South American talent. Blanco’s primary gift is his ability to pick passes with either foot, and he specialises in quick slide rule through balls from the playmaker position at the tip of midfield, although his speed on the turn and beautiful balance mean he can also play on the wing or as a support striker. He picked up a serious injury not long after his arrival in Kharkiv but since his return has slowly returned to the kind of eye-catching form that made him seem such a future star at Lanus, and at 23, he has plenty of time to develop.
Jakub Błaszczykowski Club: Borussia Dortmund Nation: Poland A leading member of a new Polish generation of stars, Błaszczykowski is a dynamic and powerful right-winger. Far more consistent than in the early stages of his career, he has been a vital contributor to Borussia Dortmund’s success in recent seasons. Capable with both feet he is a fine dribbler and accurate crosser who utilizes his pace to surge past opposing full-backs. More than prepared to help out defensively, his attitude perhaps reflects the fact that he once played as a right-wingback. Stockily built, he doesn’t look like a typical winger, but his ability on the ball assuage any potential doubts. Having moved to the Bundesliga from Wisla Krakow he now captains his national side with typical displays of gusto and verve. Along with the rest of Dortmund’s Polish contingent he will seek to emulate the international performances of Lato and Boniek.
Jerome Boateng Club: Bayern Munich Nation: Germany Tall, strong and athletic, Boateng is the prototypical modern defender. Comfortable on either side of defence, as well as centrally, he is a hugely versatile footballer whose adaptability has seen him frequently deployed in different roles. Starting at Hertha Berlin he rose to become regarded among Europe’s brightest young prospects at Hamburg, but on joining Manchester City he quickly found that he was some way from the finished article. A move to Bayern re-energized his career and he has returned to his best form in a side that was good enough to reach the Champions League final. Proficient in the air, where his height affords him a natural advantage, his positioning is increasingly important and he can deliver an excellent cross when he ventures forward in wide areas.
Kevin Prince Boateng Club: AC Milan Nation: Ghana All-action midfielder with severe traces of the street style footballer, the German-born Ghanaian is a player who, on his day, is a wonderful crowd-pleaser. After proving to be a precocious talent during his time with Hertha Berlin, notably winning the Fritz Walter Gold Medal in the U-19 category (best performer in the German U-19 team) in 2006, Tottenham Hotspur soon acquired his services. However, a change of manager when he had barely settled at White Hart Lane saw him on the periphery of the squad. A move to Portsmouth brought a renaissance in confidence, despite suffering the heartbreak of missing a penalty in the 2010 FA Cup final. But it’s in Milan where he has shown he isn’t one of the many precocious talents to fall by the wayside. Certainly, since joining Milan he has shown that invaluable habit of saving his very best performances for the big games and an eye for a spectacular goal, and his all-action style making him an ideal fit in most of the midfield positions in the 4-3-1-2 system ubiquitous in Seria A.
Bojan Krkic Club: AC Milan Nation: Spain Long touted as the next superstar off the Barcelona production line, Bojan now faces a fight to fulfil his true potential. Nimble feet, good awareness and an ability to penetrate tightly packed defences were just some of the attributes which made the young Catalan seem destined for greatness. Indeed few players would appear better suited to the Barcelona system than the youngster schooled in the club’s ways at La Masia. Yet whether it was the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic or the emergence of Pedro, Bojan’s opportunities were limited and he failed to make the progress anticipated. A move to Roma with Luis Enrique appeared the perfect move to get him back on track, but while he impressed sporadically, he never maintained a consistent vein of top form. Joining Milan on loan may offer a route back to the top, for Bojan remains a superb prospect. His coolness in front of goal, neat touches and skill on the ball are far too impressive to be wasted.
Leonardo Bonucci Club: Juventus Nation: Italy Along with Andrea Ranocchia the young Bonucci formed a tremendous partnership at Bari, prompting a move to Turin. A defender in the mould of Pietro Vierchowod rather than Franco Baresi, the Juve star is a no-nonsense player who is focused purely on stopping his opponents in any way possible. Increased experience has improved his positioning and he is often well placed to block and clear loose balls. Not a natural on the ball, he is nonetheless competent at bringing possession from deep. Undoubtedly he has benefitted from playing with Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini for both club and country and Bonucci now appears set to be a mainstay for the Azzurri for years to come. As Juve look to employ three at the back this season, his partnership with the two older men may well prove critical to their title defence.
Fabio Borini Club: Liverpool Nation: Italy Industrious right-sided forward who is also capable of playing as a central striker. Came through as a youngster at Bologna before joining Chelsea’s youth set-up as Roman Abramovich scoured Europe for promising new talent. While he impressed in reserve and youth football at Stamford Bridge, he failed to unsettle Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka in his push for a starting berth and following was sent on loan to Swansea to gain greater experience. Impressive in the Swans’s promotion push he then joined Parma but was allowed to join Roma on loan and was a surprise success for Luis Enrique who often preferred the Italian to more glamorous attacking options. The second-half of the 2011-12 season saw Borini establish himself in the Roma line-up, consistenly scoring and harrying opponents, helping the team implement Enrique’s high pressing game. Such displays led to a call up to the national team for Euro 2012 and he is now reunited with former manager Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool.
Jose Bosingwa Club: QPR Nation: Portugal Pacy right-back who excelled at Porto before moving to England with Chelsea. Born in Zaire, he began his career with Boavista and soon earned a move to the Dragao where he succeeded Paulo Ferreira in defence. An impressive last season in Portugal earned a move to England, and he started well, before first injury and then a dramatic uptick in form for Branislav Ivanovic, saw his opportunities limited. Defensively there have always been question marks, with his over exuberance in the tackle and tendency to drift out of position areas of concern, while he is not as able aerially as his height might suggest. Despite that, the stamina with which he patrols the right flank and his willingness to get forward and support the attack are admirable and his speed allows him to recover from positional errors. Bosingwa at his best is among the most dangerous full-backs in world football, and if he could return to his early form for Chelsea their West London neighbours will have made an excellent acquisition.
Mbark Boussoufa Club: Anzhi Nation: Morocco Morocco have been blessed with a phalanx of impressive foreign-born attacking midfielders in recent times, and, with a hat-trick of both the Belgian Footballer of the Year award and the Belgian Ebony Shoe (awarded to the best player of African origin), Dutch-born Mbark Boussoufa is the finest - and most decorated - of them all. After a footballing youth education at Ajax and then Chelsea, it was in his seven years in Belgium with Gent and then Anderlecht where Boussoufa made a name for himself as a player with outstanding passing ability, so much so that he was dubbed ‘King of Assists’. Indeed, gifted with the peripheral vision that elevates him not far from the world’s best attacking midfielders, Boussoufa, now at Anzhi, recorded 4 assists in a league match v FC Kranasdor – the first player to do so in the Russian league since 2007. At international level, he hasn’t been able to replicate the club form – partly due to Morocco struggling to find the right blend in their attacking options, and the attacking prowess being limited by the pragmatism of the recently sacked coach Eric Gerets.
Michael Bradley Club: Roma Nation: USA He began in his career in the MLS with the MetroStars but the 25 year-old’s quest for new challenges has seen him move to the Eredivisie, Die Bundesliga, the Premiership and most recently to Serie A where he’s getting settled in at Roma after impressing with Chievo. Bradley is best described as an uncompromising central midfielder. He rarely wastes a pass, looks to get back on the ball after giving it up and he possess the uncanny knack of showing up where his team needs him most. When his team is down, he takes on the persona of a Roy Keane: distributing the ball, cajoling teammates and often abandoning central midfield in order to get on the end of crosses. But should a move break down, he gives his all to get back and break up the opponent’s counter attack. These qualities saw him dubbed ‘the general’ by Chievo fans despite playing just one season with the team.