Yeah, I have to be honest and say that looking back I'm struggling to see why I placed Rooney as high as 7th for the Ballon d'Or, unless at least part of it was based on his performance in the second half of 2009 (which isn't included in these ratings, but my comment was first made in early December 2009). I don't have the same vivid memories of him being outstanding in the same way that I did for Lampard, but he did finish in the top 10 in the actual Ballon d'Or, the World Soccer award, and the FIFA award. This thread gives a good view of what people thought at the time, though Rooney isn't the centre of discussion. https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/european-player-of-the-year.1063353/
Interesting description by goal.com "Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - This is being judged as the season that England's prodigal son has finally come good - but still not as the goalscorer extraordinaire the public so crave. Rooney has yet again been shoehorned into wing roles and whatever else, but has improved his passing and crossing while doing so and become more prolific in front of goal, squandering far fewer chances than before. On top of that, his form for England has been ominous, with the 2010 World Cup now edging ever closer..." (his conversion was peculiarly fairly low for his standards, but he didn't play centrally ofc) Yes I think Rooney's best overall is 2009-10. His goals were also relatively top heavy against the bigger teams (AC Milan, Bayern, Tottenham, City, Arsenal, Liverpool) and the bigger stages (Champions League round of 16 & quarter finals despite being eliminated; League Cup semi final and final), although his assists dropped further to seven in all competitions for his club. His through balling and chance creation isn't among the best of the league in his time between 2003 and 2013 (RVP was). In 2011-12 he had many more penalties too, and I remember people talking about a supposed decline in some aspects (which in the end prompted Ferguson to sign RVP as stopgap and playing him through injuries). In 2009-10 he basically took over Cristiano's job, was lauded with awards in contrast to 2011-12 (his other high scoring season). I also remember thinking he was good in 2010-11 for a meh and mildly sub standard Man United side.
WhoScored had Rooney 4th best of the league in 2009-10 (53th of the Champions League though). It is his 2nd best ranking since they started. 2009-10: 4th (or 5th when adding RVP) 2010-11: 17th (or 18th including Carroll) 2011-12: 2nd (despite lower grade) 2012-13: 24th (or 26th including Sturridge and Coutinho) 2013-14: 6th (or 7th including Matic) 2014-15: 27th 2015-16: 75th 2016-17: 152th So 2011-12 ranks even better despite more penalties (6 vs 4) and a lower grade (7.73 vs 7.91 in 2009-10). About 0.2 lower, which is over 38 games not huge but existing. 2010-11 also comes out well for a 'low' scoring season, compared with the ones where he is around place 25. Where would 2008-09 fit? More around place 25 or place 15? In Champions League (less reliable or ringing a bell): 2009-10: 53th 2010-11: 14th 2011-12: 78th 2012-13: 74th 2013-14: 12th 2014-15: N/A 2015-16: 288th (not listed, but 6.63 equals that place) 2016-17: N/A
Thanks, I have read/scanned that thread now. Most probably 2009-10 was Rooney's best phase as a whole (thus incl. 2nd half of 2009 indeed). If we look at some of the more 'individualistic' stats: his dribbles per 90 minutes were the 2nd highest (just as the success rate, slightly behind 2013-14); his key passes 2nd highest (2010-11 highest); through balls 2nd highest (behind 2010-11 again). Wonder then whether 2008-09 is like 2010-11 (not how I remembered it, but can be influenced by the semi final games against Schalke in 2011). The dribbles in 2009-10, maybe the most individualistic stat of all, were just 0.1 behind 2013-14 when he was a midfielder but 0.3 ahead of the rest (i.e. 2010-11). (btw, on 'through balls' there is a discrepancy between the general overview and the 'detailed' section; probably related to the set pieces)
Oh!, that thread is interesting. I participated almost 9 years ago (how young I was then!) and at the end of the season apparently I considered half a step ahead Ferdinand on Rooney. That changed only at the end of the year. That season it was the defensive line of Manchester United that caught all eyes over his attacking line and although Rooney leaves me very good feelings in the retrospective review, maybe it's more fair to include Ferdinand as part of that efficient system alongside Edwin van der Sar and Nemanja Vidic. He also had a solid year at the international level (although fewer matches). @comme and @PuckVanHeel, what do you think about changing Rooney for Ferdinand in the top 23? It wouldn't be wrong for me.
That was the idea I had at the time. Rio Ferdinand as more outstanding in his own position (last season he was in his prime I think). Difficult to compare defenders with forwards of course. Here a fan compilation (of the quarter final against Porto): Despite that Rooney had naturally the greater hype, I hadn't the idea he was (significantly) better than his contemporary RVP (who is almost 2 years older though). See one of above links showing the stats of between 2008 and 2013. Sadly we don't know 2008-09 but WhoScored shows this comparatively. 2009-10: 5th vs 3rd (RVP curtailed to 16 games after Chiellini tackle) 2010-11: 18th vs 3rd 2011-12: 2nd vs 1st 2012-13: 26th vs 4th 2013-14: 7th vs 90th 2014-15: 27th vs 72th After the age of 30 both dropped significantly. Rooney was 75th and 152th after 30. This season he is 170th (so far). Champions League (less reliable) is a more mixed story. Rooney was placed higher in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2013-14. A few months ago I did the non-penalty goals + assists rate per 90 minutes (this takes their whole EPL career, but places them in the correct timeframe as far as I could). 2005 – 2015 Van Persie 0.82 Rooney 0.70 Torres 0.69 Tevez 0.66 Berbatov 0.64 Adebayor 0.62 Fabregas 0.56 Crouch 0.53 Malouda 0.51 Bent 0.47 Nasri 0.42 Dempsey 0.40 Kuijt 0.40 Cahill 0.39 Pienaar 0.28 Arteta 0.26 Xabi Alonso 0.24 Modric 0.23 Carrick 0.15 Others: Cristiano Ronaldo 0.66 Van der Vaart 0.66 Robben 0.64 Nani 0.64 Arshavin 0.60 Kalou 0.60 Robinho 0.59 Santa Cruz 0.50 Odemwingie 0.48 Zamora 0.43 Elano 0.42 Benayoun 0.41 Park Ji Sung 0.38 Hleb 0.24
I don't have a problem with that. Ferdinand was exceptional the previous season but he would be a fair inclusion.
One change, Rio Ferdinand instead of Wayne Rooney. 2009 ALONSO, Xabi (Spain & Liverpool [ENG]) CRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal & Manchester United [ENG]) DANI ALVES (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) DZEKO, Edin (Bosnia and Herzegovina & Wolfsburg [GER]) ETO'O, Samuel (Cameroon & Barcelona [SPA]) FERDINAND, Rio (England & Manchester United [ENG]) FORLÁN, Diego (Uruguay & Atlético de Madrid [SPA]) GERRARD, Steven (England & Liverpool [ENG]) GOURCUFF, Yoann (France & Girondins de Bordeaux [FRA]) GRAFITE (Brazil & Wolfsburg [GER]) HENRY, Thierry (France & Barcelona [SPA]) IBRAHIMOVIC, Zlatan (Sweden & Inter Milan [ITA]) INIESTA, Andrés (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) JÚLIO CÉSAR Soares (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) LAMPARD, Frank (England & Chelsea [ENG]) MAICON (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) MESSI, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) PUYOL, Carles (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) RIBÉRY, Franck (France & Bayern Munich [GER]) VAN DER SAR, Edwin (Netherlands & Manchester United [ENG]) VIDIC, Nemanja (Serbia & Manchester United [ENG]) VILLA, David (Spain & Valencia [SPA]) XAVI (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) Top 3 1) MESSI, Lionel 2) XAVI 3) INIESTA, Andrés All lists
2000's revised lists and rankings: 2000 BATISTUTA, Gabriel (Argentina & Fiorentina [ITA]) BECKHAM, David (England & Manchester United [ENG]) CRESPO, Hernán (Argentina & Parma [ITA]) DAVIDS, Edgar (Netherlands & Juventus [ITA]) ÉMERSON (Brazil & Bayer Leverkusen [GER]) FIGO, Luís (Portugal & Barcelona [SPA]) JARDEL, Mário (Brazil & Porto [POR]) KAHN, Oliver (Germany & Bayern Munich [GER]) KEANE, Roy (Ireland & Manchester United [ENG]) MENDIETA, Gaizka (Spain & Valencia [SPA]) NEDVED, Pavel (Czech Republic & Lazio [ITA]) NESTA, Alessandro (Italy & Lazio [ITA]) PHILLIPS, Kevin (England & Sunderland [ENG]) RAÚL (Spain & Real Madrid [SPA]) REDONDO, Fernando (Argentina & Real Madrid [SPA]) RIVALDO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil & Real Madrid [SPA]) ROMÁRIO (Brazil & Vasco da Gama [BRA]) SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine & AC Milan [ITA]) TOLDO, Francesco (Italy & Fiorentina [ITA]) TOTTI, Francesco (Italy & AS Roma [ITA]) VERÓN, Juan Sebastián (Argentina & Lazio [ITA]) ZIDANE, Zinedine (France & Juventus [ITA]) 1) ZIDANE, Zinedine 2) FIGO, Luís 3) TOTTI, Francesco 2001 AYALA, Roberto (Argentina & Valencia [SPA]) BAGGIO, Roberto (Italy & Brescia [ITA]) CAFU (Brazil & AS Roma [ITA]) CRESPO, Hernán (Argentina & Lazio [ITA]) EFFENBERG, Stefan (Germany & Bayern Munich [GER]) FIGO, Luís (Portugal & Real Madrid [SPA]) HYYPIÄ, Sami (Finland & Liverpool [ENG]) KAHN, Oliver (Germany & Bayern Munich [GER]) KEANE, Roy (Ireland & Manchester United [ENG]) LARSSON, Henrik (Sweden & Celtic [SCO]) MENDIETA, Gaizka (Spain & Valencia [SPA]) NEDVED, Pavel (Czech Republic & Lazio [ITA]) NESTA, Alessandro (Italy & Lazio [ITA]) OWEN, Michael (England & Liverpool [ENG]) RAÚL (Spain & Real Madrid [SPA]) RIQUELME, Juan Román (Argentina & Boca Juniors [ARG]) RIVALDO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil & Real Madrid [SPA]) RUI COSTA (Portugal & Fiorentina [ITA]) SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine & AC Milan [ITA]) TOTTI, Francesco (Italy & AS Roma [ITA]) VIEIRA, Patrick (France & Arsenal [ENG]) ZIDANE, Zinedine (France & Juventus [ITA]) 1) FIGO, Luís 2) RAÚL 3) ZIDANE, Zinedine 2002 BALLACK, Michael (Germany & Bayer Leverkusen [GER]) BARAJA, Rubén (Spain & Valencia [SPA]) BECKHAM, David (England & Manchester United [ENG]) CAFU (Brazil & AS Roma [ITA]) GIGGS, Ryan (Wales & Manchester United [ENG]) HENRY, Thierry (France & Arsenal [ENG]) JOAQUÍN (Spain & Real Betis [SPA]) KAHN, Oliver (Germany & Bayern Munich [GER]) LJUNGBERG, Fredrik (Sweden & Arsenal [ENG]) LÚCIO (Brazil & Bayer Leverkusen [GER]) PIRES, Robert (France & Arsenal [ENG]) RAÚL (Spain & Real Madrid [SPA]) RIVALDO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil & Real Madrid [SPA]) RONALDINHO (Brazil & Paris Saint-Germain [FRA]) RONALDO (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) TREZEGUET, David (France & Juventus [ITA]) TRISTÁN, Diego (Spain & Deportivo La Coruña [SPA]) VALERÓN, Juan Carlos (Spain & Deportivo La Coruña [SPA]) VAN NISTELROOY, Ruud (Netherlands & Manchester United [ENG]) VIEIRA, Patrick (France & Arsenal [ENG]) VIERI, Christian (Italy & Inter Milan [ITA]) ZIDANE, Zinedine (France & Real Madrid [SPA]) 1) ZIDANE, Zinedine 2) ROBERTO CARLOS 3) KAHN, Oliver 2003 BALLACK, Michael (Germany & Bayern Munich [GER]) BUFFON, Gianluigi (Italy & Juventus [ITA]) DAVIDS, Edgar (Netherlands & Juventus [ITA]) DEL PIERO, Alessandro (Italy & Juventus [ITA]) HENRY, Thierry (France & Arsenal [ENG]) MAKAAY, Roy (Netherlands & Deportivo La Coruña [SPA]) MALDINI, Paolo (Italy & AC Milan [ITA]) MUTU, Adrian (Romania & Parma [ITA]) NEDVED, Pavel (Czech Republic & Juventus [ITA]) NESTA, Alessandro (Italy & AC Milan [ITA]) NIHAT Kahveci (Turkey & Real Sociedad [SPA]) PIRES, Robert (France & Arsenal [ENG]) RAÚL (Spain & Real Madrid [SPA]) ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil & Real Madrid [SPA]) RONALDO (Brazil & Real Madrid [SPA]) SCHOLES, Paul (England & Manchester United [ENG]) THURAM, Lilian (France & Juventus [ITA]) TOTTI, Francesco (Italy & AS Roma [ITA]) VAN NISTELROOY, Ruud (Netherlands & Manchester United [ENG]) VIEIRA, Patrick (France & Arsenal [ENG]) VIERI, Christian (Italy & Inter Milan [ITA]) ZANETTI, Javier (Argentina & Inter Milan [ITA]) ZIDANE, Zinedine (France & Real Madrid [SPA]) 1) HENRY, Thierry 2) NEDVED, Pavel 3) ZIDANE, Zinedine 2004 ADRIANO (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) AYALA, Roberto (Argentina & Valencia [SPA]) CAFU (Brazil & AC Milan [ITA]) CARVALHO, Ricardo (Portugal & Porto [POR]) DAVIDS, Edgar (Netherlands & Barcelona [SPA]) DECO (Portugal & Porto [POR]) GIULY, Ludovic (France & AS Monaco [FRA]) HENRY, Thierry (France & Arsenal [ENG]) KAKÁ (Brazil & AC Milan [ITA]) LAMPARD, Frank (England & Chelsea [ENG]) MALDINI, Paolo (Italy & AC Milan [ITA]) NESTA, Alessandro (Italy & AC Milan [ITA]) PIRES, Robert (France & Arsenal [ENG]) RONALDINHO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) RONALDO (Brazil & Real Madrid [SPA]) SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine & AC Milan [ITA]) TERRY, John (England & Chelsea [ENG]) TOTTI, Francesco (Italy & AS Roma [ITA]) VALERÓN, Juan Carlos (Spain & Deportivo La Coruña [SPA]) VAN NISTELROOY, Ruud (Netherlands & Manchester United [ENG]) VICENTE (Spain & Valencia [SPA]) VIEIRA, Patrick (France & Arsenal [ENG]) ZIDANE, Zinedine (France & Real Madrid [SPA]) 1) HENRY, Thierry 2) RONALDINHO 3) SHEVCHENKO, Andriy 2005 ADRIANO (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) BALLACK, Michael (Germany & Bayern Munich [GER]) BUFFON, Gianluigi (Italy & Juventus [ITA]) CANNAVARO, Fabio (Italy & Juventus [ITA]) CECH, Petr (Czech Republic & Chelsea [ENG]) COLE, Ashley (England & Arsenal [ENG]) DECO (Portugal & Barcelona [SPA]) ESSIEN, Michael (Ghana & Olympique Lyonnais [FRA]) ETO'O, Samuel (Cameroon & Barcelona [SPA]) FORLÁN, Diego (Uruguay & Villarreal [SPA]) GERRARD, Steven (England & Liverpool [ENG]) HENRY, Thierry (France & Arsenal [ENG]) IBRAHIMOVIC, Zlatan (Sweden & Juventus [ITA]) KAKÁ (Brazil & AC Milan [ITA]) LAMPARD, Frank (England & Chelsea [ENG]) MAKAAY, Roy (Netherlands & Bayern Munich [GER]) MAKÉLÉLÉ, Claude (France & Chelsea [ENG]) RIQUELME, Juan Román (Argentina & Villarreal [SPA]) RONALDINHO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) RONALDO (Brazil & Real Madrid [SPA]) SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine & AC Milan [ITA]) TERRY, John (England & Chelsea [ENG]) XAVI (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) 1) RONALDINHO 2) LAMPARD, Frank 3) ADRIANO 2006 BUFFON, Gianluigi (Italy & Juventus [ITA]) CANNAVARO, Fabio (Italy & Juventus [ITA]) COLE, Joe (England & Chelsea [ENG]) DECO (Portugal & Barcelona [SPA]) ETO'O, Samuel (Cameroon & Barcelona [SPA]) GERRARD, Steven (England & Liverpool [ENG]) HENRY, Thierry (France & Arsenal [ENG]) JUNINHO Pernambucano (Brazil & Olympique Lyonnais [FRA]) KAKÁ (Brazil & AC Milan [ITA]) KLOSE, Miroslav (Germany & Werder Bremen [GER]) LAMPARD, Frank (England & Chelsea [ENG]) LEHMANN, Jens (Germany & Arsenal [ENG]) LÚCIO (Brazil & Bayern Munich [GER]) PIRLO, Andrea (Italy & AC Milan [ITA]) PUYOL, Carles (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) RIQUELME, Juan Román (Argentina & Villarreal [SPA]) RONALDINHO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) ROONEY, Wayne (England & Manchester United [ENG]) SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine & AC Milan [ITA]) TERRY, John (England & Chelsea [ENG]) TONI, Luca (Italy & Fiorentina [ITA]) VILLA, David (Spain & Valencia [SPA]) ZIDANE, Zinedine (France & Real Madrid [SPA]) 1) RONALDINHO 2) HENRY, Thierry 3) CANNAVARO, Fabio 2007 BERBATOV, Dimitar (Bulgaria & Tottenham Hotspur [ENG]) CARVALHO, Ricardo (Portugal & Chelsea [ENG]) CRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal & Manchester United [ENG]) DANI ALVES (Brazil & Sevilla [SPA]) DIEGO (Brazil & Werder Bremen [GER]) DROGBA, Didier (Ivory Coast & Chelsea [ENG]) ESSIEN, Michael (Ghana & Chelsea [ENG]) FABREGAS, Cesc (Spain & Arsenal [ENG]) FERDINAND, Rio (England & Manchester United [ENG]) GIGGS, Ryan (Wales & Manchester United [ENG]) IBRAHIMOVIC, Zlatan (Sweden & Inter Milan [ITA]) KAKÁ (Brazil & AC Milan [ITA]) KANOUTÉ, Frédéric (Mali & Sevilla [SPA]) MESSI, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) PIRLO, Andrea (Italy & AC Milan [ITA]) RIQUELME, Juan Román (Argentina & Boca Juniors [ARG]) RONALDINHO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) SCHOLES, Paul (England & Manchester United [ENG]) SEEDORF, Clarence (Netherlands & AC Milan [ITA]) TOTTI, Francesco (Italy & AS Roma [ITA]) VAN NISTELROOY, Ruud (Netherlands & Real Madrid [SPA]) VIDIC, Nemanja (Serbia & Manchester United [ENG]) ZANETTI, Javier (Argentina & Inter Milan [ITA]) 1) KAKÁ 2) CRISTIANO RONALDO 3) MESSI, Lionel 2008 ADEBAYOR, Emmanuel (Togo & Arsenal [ENG]) AGÜERO, Sergio (Argentina & Atlético de Madrid [SPA]) ARSHAVIN, Andrey (Russia & Zenit Saint Petersburg [RUS]) BUFFON, Gianluigi (Italy & Juventus [ITA]) CASILLAS, Íker (Spain & Real Madrid [SPA]) COLE, Joe (England & Chelsea [ENG]) CRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal & Manchester United [ENG]) DEL PIERO, Alessandro (Italy & Juventus [ITA]) FABREGAS, Cesc (Spain & Arsenal [ENG]) FERDINAND, Rio (England & Manchester United [ENG]) GERRARD, Steven (England & Liverpool [ENG]) IBRAHIMOVIC, Zlatan (Sweden & Inter Milan [ITA]) KAKÁ (Brazil & AC Milan [ITA]) LUÍS FABIANO (Brazil & Sevilla [SPA]) MASCHERANO, Javier (Argentina & Liverpool [ENG]) MESSI, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) RIBÉRY, Franck (France & Bayern Munich [GER]) SENNA, Marcos (Spain & Villarreal [SPA]) TONI, Luca (Italy & Bayern Munich [GER]) TORRES, Fernando (Spain & Liverpool [ENG]) VAN DER SAR, Edwin (Netherlands & Manchester United [ENG]) VIDIC, Nemanja (Serbia & Manchester United [ENG]) XAVI (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) 1) CRISTIANO RONALDO 2) MESSI, Lionel 3) TORRES, Fernando 2009 ALONSO, Xabi (Spain & Liverpool [ENG]) CRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal & Manchester United [ENG]) DANI ALVES (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) DZEKO, Edin (Bosnia and Herzegovina & Wolfsburg [GER]) ETO'O, Samuel (Cameroon & Barcelona [SPA]) FERDINAND, Rio (England & Manchester United [ENG]) FORLÁN, Diego (Uruguay & Atlético de Madrid [SPA]) GERRARD, Steven (England & Liverpool [ENG]) GOURCUFF, Yoann (France & Girondins de Bordeaux [FRA]) GRAFITE (Brazil & Wolfsburg [GER]) HENRY, Thierry (France & Barcelona [SPA]) IBRAHIMOVIC, Zlatan (Sweden & Inter Milan [ITA]) INIESTA, Andrés (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) JÚLIO CÉSAR Soares (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) LAMPARD, Frank (England & Chelsea [ENG]) MAICON (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) MESSI, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) PUYOL, Carles (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) RIBÉRY, Franck (France & Bayern Munich [GER]) VAN DER SAR, Edwin (Netherlands & Manchester United [ENG]) VIDIC, Nemanja (Serbia & Manchester United [ENG]) VILLA, David (Spain & Valencia [SPA]) XAVI (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) 1) MESSI, Lionel 2) XAVI 3) INIESTA, Andrés All lists
2000's most appearances: 06 - HENRY, Thierry (France) 06 - ZIDANE, Zinedine (France) 05 - KAKÁ (Brazil) 05 - RONALDINHO (Brazil) 05 - SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine) 05 - TOTTI, Francesco (Italy) 04 - BUFFON, Gianluigi (Italy) 04 - GERRARD, Steven (England) 04 - IBRAHIMOVIC, Zlatan (Sweden) 04 - LAMPARD, Frank (England) 04 - NESTA, Alessandro (Italy) 04 - RAÚL (Spain) 04 - RIQUELME, Juan Román (Argentina) 04 - ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil) 04 - RONALDO (Brazil) 04 - VAN NISTELROOY, Ruud (Netherlands) 04 - VIEIRA, Patrick (France) 03 - BALLACK, Michael (Germany) 03 - CAFU (Brazil) 03 - CRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal) 03 - DAVIDS, Edgar (Netherlands) 03 - DECO (Portugal) 03 - ETO'O, Samuel (Cameroon) 03 - FERDINAND, Rio (England) 03 - KAHN, Oliver (Germany) 03 - MESSI, Lionel (Argentina) 03 - NEDVED, Pavel (Czech Republic) 03 - PIRES, Robert (France) 03 - RIVALDO (Brazil) 03 - TERRY, John (England) 03 - VIDIC, Nemanja (Serbia) 03 - XAVI (Spain) 2000's most appearances by nationality: 39 - Brazil 27 - Italy 26 - France 26 - Spain 24 - England 18 - Argentina 12 - Netherlands 11 - Portugal 09 - Germany 06 - Sweden 05 - Ukraine 04 - Czech Republic 03 - Cameroon 03 - Serbia 2000's most appearances by club: 25 - Barcelona (Spain) 23 - Manchester United (England) 19 - Real Madrid (Spain) 18 - AC Milan (Italy) 18 - Arsenal (England) 16 - Juventus (Italy) 14 - Chelsea (England) 12 - Inter Milan (Italy) 11 - Bayern Munich (Germany) 09 - Liverpool (England) 08 - Valencia (Spain) 07 - AS Roma (Italy) 06 - Lazio (Italy) 04 - Deportivo La Coruña (Spain) 04 - Fiorentina (Italy) 04 - Villarreal (Spain) 03 - Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) 03 - Porto (Portugal) 03 - Sevilla (Spain)
Top 10 Players of the Decade by points: [*] 1 point for making a top 23 and an extra point for being in a top 3. 10 - ZIDANE, Zinedine (France) 09 - HENRY, Thierry (France) 08 - RONALDINHO (Brazil) 06 - KAKÁ (Brazil) 06 - MESSI, Lionel (Argentina) 06 - SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine) 06 - TOTTI, Francesco (Italy) 05 - CRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal) 05 - RAÚL (Spain) 05 - ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil) 05 - LAMPARD, Frank (England) Teams of the Decade by points: [*] 1 point for making a top 23 and an extra point for being in a top 3. Team A O. Kahn (4) ---- A. Nesta (4) ----- F. Cannavaro (3) --------- Cafu (3) --------------------------------------------------- Roberto Carlos (5) P. Vieira (4) ------ F. Lampard (5) Z. Zidane (10) -- L. Messi (6) -------------------------------------------- Ronaldinho (8) T. Henry (9) Team B G. Buffon (4) ---- R. Ferdinand (3) ----- J.Terry / N. Vidic (3) J. Zanetti / D. Alves (2) --------------------------------------------- P. Maldini (2) ---- S. Gerrard / Xavi (4) ------ E. Davids (3) ---- C. Ronaldo (5) ------------- F. Totti / Kaká (6) --------------- Raúl (5) ------ A. Shevchenko (6) Team C E. van der Sar (2) R. Ayala / R. Carvalho (2) ----- Lúcio (2) ------ C. Puyol (2) ------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Cole (1) R. Keane / M. Essien (2) ---- M. Ballack / Deco (3) -- ---------- Figo (4) ------------------------ J. Riquelme (4) ---------- Nedved / Ibrahimovic (4) Ronaldo / R. van Nistelrooy (4)
@Perú FC How are the overall results? I imagine that at the end of this season Lionel Messi will have 12 nominations and in all of them he will be part of the podium. An absolute record It is also interesting to note that the only players from South American leagues that made up the lists in this 21st century were Romário and Riquelme. Maybe Neymar in 2011 and 2012, we will see soon.
1920-2009 most appearances: 13 - PUSKÁS, Ferenc (Hungary) 12 - CRUYFF, Johan (Netherlands) 12 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (Argentina) 12 - PELÉ (Brazil) 10 - BARESI, Franco (Italy) 10 - BECKENBAUER, Franz (Germany) 10 - MALDINI, Paolo (Italy) 10 - MARADONA, Diego (Argentina) 10 - ZICO (Brazil) 09 - BICAN, Josef (Austria) 09 - MORENO, José Manuel (Argentina) 09 - PLATINI, Michel (France) 09 - SASTRE, Antonio (Argentina) 08 - MATTHÄUS, Lothar (Germany) 08 - RONALDO (Brazil) 08 - SCHIAFFINO, Juan Alberto (Uruguay) 08 - ZIDANE, Zinedine (France) 08 - ZIZINHO (Brazil) 07 - BAGGIO, Roberto (Italy) 07 - CHARLTON, Bobby (England) 07 - JULINHO (Brazil) 07 - MATTHEWS, Stanley (England) 07 - MEAZZA, Giuseppe (Italy) 07 - MORTON, Alan (Scotland) 07 - ORSI, Raimundo (Argentina) 07 - PEDERNERA, Adolfo (Argentina) 07 - SÁROSI, György (Hungary) 06 - ADEMIR da Guia (Brazil) 06 - BASTIN, Cliff (England) 06 - BATISTUTA, Gabriel (Argentina) 06 - BERGKAMP, Dennis (Netherlands) 06 - BEST, George (Northern Ireland) 06 - CUBILLAS, Teófilo (Peru) 06 - DIDI (Brazil) 06 - DOMINGOS da Guia (Brazil) 06 - FALCAO, Paulo Roberto (Brazil) 06 - FIGUEROA, Elías (Chile) 06 - GALLACHER, Hughie (Scotland) 06 - GARRINCHA (Brazil) 06 - GÓMEZ, Walter (Uruguay) 06 - GULLIT, Ruud (Netherlands) 06 - HENRY, Thierry (France) 06 - JAIRZINHO (Brazil) 06 - JÚNIOR (Brazil) 06 - KOEMAN, Ronald (Netherlands) 06 - KOPA, Raymond (France) 06 - KROL, Ruud (Netherlands) 06 - LABRUNA, Ángel (Argentina) 06 - LAWTON, Tommy (England) 06 - LEÓNIDAS (Brazil) 06 - MAZZOLA, Valentino (Italy) 06 - McGRORY, Jimmy (Scotland) 06 - MÜLLER, Gerd (Germany) 06 - NASAZZI, José (Uruguay) 06 - NESTA, Alessandro (Italy) 06 - NORDAHL, Gunnar (Sweden) 06 - PASSARELLA, Daniel (Argentina) 06 - PESEK, Karel (Czechoslovakia) 06 - RAÚL (Spain) 06 - RIJKAARD, Frank (Netherlands) 06 - RIVALDO (Brazil) 06 - RIVELINO, Roberto (Brazil) 06 - ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil) 06 - ROMÁRIO (Brazil) 06 - RUMMENIGGE, Karl-Heinz (Germany) 06 - SCARONE, Héctor (Uruguay) 06 - SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine) 06 - SINDELAR, Matthias (Austria) 06 - SUÁREZ, Luis (Spain) 06 - VAN BASTEN, Marco (Netherlands) 06 - ZSENGELLÉR, Gyula (Hungary) 05 - ADEMIR de Menezes (Brazil) 05 - ANDRADE, José Leandro (Uruguay) 05 - BOZSIK, József (Hungary) 05 - BUCHAN, Charlie (England) 05 - CARTER, Raich (England) 05 - COLUNA, Mário (Portugal) 05 - DZAJIC, Dragan (Yugoslavia) 05 - EUSÉBIO (Portugal) 05 - FERRARI, Giovanni (Italy) 05 - FIGO, Luís (Portugal) 05 - GARCÍA, Atilio (Uruguay) 05 - GIGGS, Ryan (Wales) 05 - JACK, David (England) 05 - JAIR (Brazil) 05 - KAKÁ (Brazil) 05 - KLINSMANN, Jürgen (Germany) 05 - LAUDRUP, Michael (Denmark) 05 - LIEDHOLM, Nils (Sweden) 05 - MAZZOLA, Sandro (Italy) 05 - MÉNDEZ, Norberto (Argentina) 05 - MOORE, Bobby (England) 05 - NEJEDLY, Oldrich (Czechoslovakia) 05 - ORTH, György (Hungary) 05 - PIOLA, Silvio (Italy) 05 - PLÁNICKA, Frantisek (Czechoslovakia) 05 - PUC, Antonín (Czechoslovakia) 05 - RIVA, Luigi (Italy) 05 - ROBERTO DINAMITE (Brazil) 05 - RONALDINHO (Brazil) 05 - SÍVORI, Omar (Argentina) 05 - SPENCER, Alberto (Ecuador) 05 - TOTTI, Francesco (Italy) 05 - VARELA, Obdulio (Uruguay) 05 - VIEIRA, Patrick (France) 05 - VOGTS, Berti (Germany) 05 - WALKER, Billy (England) 05 - WALTER, Fritz (Germany) 05 - YASHIN, Lev (Soviet Union) 05 - ZAMORA, Ricardo (Spain) 1920-2009 most appearances by nationality: 286 - Brazil 256 - Argentina 200 - England 185 - Italy 137 - Germany 114 - Uruguay 098 - Spain 097 - Hungary 090 - Netherlands 083 - France 074 - Scotland 059 - Austria 042 - Czechoslovakia 033 - Portugal 032 - Sweden 031 - Soviet Union 026 - Yugoslavia 024 - Denmark 024 - Peru 021 - Chile 018 - Wales 014 - Northern Ireland 013 - Ireland 013 - Paraguay 013 - Poland 012 - Belgium 008 - Bulgaria 006 - Switzerland 006 - Ukraine 005 - Croatia 005 - Czech Republic 005 - Ecuador 1920-2009 most appearances by club: 85 - Real Madrid (Spain) 81 - Barcelona (Spain) 81 - Juventus (Italy) 77 - AC Milan (Italy) 66 - River Plate (Argentina) 63 - Inter Milan (Italy) 63 - Manchester United (England) 53 - Bayern Munich (Germany) 45 - Nacional (Uruguay) 43 - Arsenal (England) 39 - Peñarol (Uruguay) 37 - Flamengo (Brazil) 36 - Boca Juniors (Argentina) 34 - Liverpool (England) 33 - Ajax (Netherlands) 33 - Botafogo (Brazil) 29 - Independiente (Argentina) 24 - Santos (Brazil) 24 - Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) 23 - Austria Viena (Austria) 23 - Ferencváros (Hungary) 23 - Vasco da Gama (Brazil) 22 - AS Roma (Italy) 22 - Corinthians (Brazil) 22 - Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) 21 - Budapest Honvéd (Hungary) 21 - Palmeiras (Brazil) 20 - Bologna (Italy) 20 - Racing Club (Argentina) 20 - San Lorenzo (Argentina) 20 - Tottenham Hotspur (England) 19 - Fiorentina (Italy) 19 - MTK Budapest (Hungary) 18 - Chelsea (England) 18 - Everton (England) 17 - Celtic (Scotland) 17 - Rapid Wien (Austria) 17 - Sao Paulo (Brazil) 17 - Torino (Italy) 16 - Benfica (Portugal) 16 - Lazio (Italy) 15 - Rangers (Scotland) 15 - Valencia (Spain) 14 - Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany) 14 - Újpest (Hungary) 13 - Huracán (Argentina) 13 - Olympique de Marseille (France) 13 - PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) 12 - Fluminense (Brazil) 12 - Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) 11 - Sunderland (England) 10 - Anderlecht (Belgium) 10 - Hamburger (Germany) 10 - Parma (Italy) 10 - Stade de Reims (France) 09 - Aston Villa (England) 09 - Girondins de Bordeaux (France) 09 - Huddersfield Town (England) 09 - Napoli (Italy) 08 - Blackpool (England) 08 - Cruzeiro (Brazil) 08 - Deportivo La Coruña (Spain) 08 - Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine) 08 - Manchester City (England) 08 - Newcastle United (England) 08 - Torpedo Moscow (Russia) 08 - Werder Bremen (Germany) 07 - Alianza Lima (Peru) 07 - Bolton Wanderers (England) 07 - Cologne (Germany) 07 - Derby County (England) 07 - Estudiantes de La Plata (Argentina) 07 - Feyenoord (Netherlands) 07 - Leeds United (England) 07 - Middlesbrough (England) 07 - Porto (Portugal) 07 - Stuttgart (Germany) 06 - Admira Wacker (Austria) 06 - Atlético de Madrid (Spain) 06 - Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 06 - Cagliari (Italy) 06 - Dynamo Moscow (Russia) 06 - Internacional (Brazil) 06 - Legia Warsaw (Poland) 06 - Portuguesa (Brazil) 06 - Saint-Étienne (France) 06 - Sampdoria (Italy) 06 - Schalke 04 (Germany) 06 - Spartak Moscow (Russia) 06 - Universitario (Peru) 06 - West Ham United (England) 05 - AS Monaco (Italy) 05 - Athletic Bilbao (Spain) 05 - Atlético Mineiro (Brazil) 05 - Bella Vista (Uruguay) 05 - First Vienna (Austria) 05 - Kaiserslautern (Germany) 05 - Newell's Old Boys (Argentina) 05 - Paris Saint-Germain (France) 05 - Preston North End (England) 05 - Sheffield Wednesday (England) 05 - Stoke City (England)
Extraordinary work to make a historical ranking. Even more if we collect the honorable mentions, have you done it?
And these are the results by points including podiums: Top Players (1920-2009) by points: [*] 1 point for making a top 23 and an extra point for being in a top 3. 19 - PELÉ (Brazil) 18 - MARADONA, Diego (Argentina) 18 - PUSKÁS, Ferenc (Hungary) 17 - CRUYFF, Johan (Netherlands) 16 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (Argentina) 14 - ZICO (Brazil) 13 - MORENO, José Manuel (Argentina) 13 - ZIDANE, Zinedine (France) 12 - BECKENBAUER, Franz (Germany) 12 - PLATINI, Michel (France) 11 - BARESI, Franco (Italy) 11 - MATTHÄUS, Lothar (Germany) 10 - BICAN, Josef (Austria) 10 - MALDINI, Paolo (Italy) 10 - MEAZZA, Giuseppe (Italy) 10 - RONALDO (Brazil) 10 - SASTRE, Antonio (Argentina) 10 - SCHIAFFINO, Juan Alberto (Uruguay) 10 - SINDELAR, Matthias (Austria) 10 - ZIZINHO (Brazil) 09 - BAGGIO, Roberto (Italy) 09 - HENRY, Thierry (France) 09 - KOPA, Raymond (France) 09 - MÜLLER, Gerd (Germany) 09 - ORSI, Raimundo (Argentina) 09 - PESEK, Karel (Czechoslovakia) 09 - SÁROSI, György (Hungary) 09 - VAN BASTEN, Marco (Netherlands) 08 - ADEMIR de Menezes (Brazil) 08 - BERGKAMP, Dennis (Netherlands) 08 - BEST, George (Northern Ireland) 08 - CHARLTON, Bobby (England) 08 - DIDI (Brazil) 08 - FALCAO, Paulo Roberto (Brazil) 08 - FIGUEROA, Elías (Chile) 08 - GALLACHER, Hughie (Scotland) 08 - GARRINCHA (Brazil) 08 - GULLIT, Ruud (Netherlands) 08 - LAUDRUP, Michael (Denmark) 08 - LEÓNIDAS (Brazil) 08 - MATTHEWS, Stanley (England) 08 - MAZZOLA, Valentino (Italy) 08 - MORTON, Alan (Scotland) 08 - NORDAHL, Gunnar (Sweden) 08 - PEDERNERA, Adolfo (Argentina) 08 - RONALDINHO (Brazil) 08 - RUMMENIGGE, Karl-Heinz (Germany) 08 - SCARONE, Héctor (Uruguay) 08 - SUÁREZ, Luis (Spain) 07 - ANDRADE, José Leandro (Uruguay) 07 - BASTIN, Cliff (England) 07 - BATISTUTA, Gabriel (Argentina) 07 - CARTER, Raich (England) 07 - EUSÉBIO (Portugal) 07 - FIGO, Luís (Portugal) 07 - JAIRZINHO (Brazil) 07 - JULINHO (Brazil) 07 - KOEMAN, Ronald (Netherlands) 07 - LAWTON, Tommy (England) 07 - MÉNDEZ, Norberto (Argentina) 07 - NASAZZI, José (Uruguay) 07 - RAÚL (Spain) 07 - RIVALDO (Brazil) 07 - RIVELINO, Roberto (Brazil) 07 - ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil) 07 - ROMÁRIO (Brazil) 07 - SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine) 07 - SÍVORI, Omar (Argentina) 07 - ZSENGELLÉR, Gyula (Hungary) 06 - DEAN, Dixie (England) 06 - DZAJIC, Dragan (Yugoslavia) 06 - ERICO, Arsenio (Paraguay) 06 - GARCÍA, Atilio (Uruguay) 06 - JAIR (Brazil) 06 - KAKÁ (Brazil) 06 - KEEGAN, Kevin (England) 06 - KLINSMANN, Jürgen (Germany) 06 - KOCSIS, Sándor (Hungary) 06 - MESSI, Lionel (Argentina) 06 - NEJEDLY, Oldrich (Czechoslovakia) 06 - ORTH, György (Hungary) 06 - PIOLA, Silvio (Italy) 06 - RIVA, Luigi (Italy) 06 - RIVERA, Gianni (Italy) 06 - SPENCER, Alberto (Ecuador) 06 - TOSTAO (Brazil) 06 - TOTTI, Francesco (Italy) 06 - VARELA, Obdulio (Uruguay) 06 - WALTER, Fritz (Germany) 06 - WALKER, Billy (England) 06 - YASHIN, Lev (Soviet Union) 06 - ZAMORA, Ricardo (Spain)
From the 2009-10 season to the 2017-18 season Messi could accumulate 9 more appearances, which added to his 3 previous appearances in the 2000's can give him up to today a maximum of 12 appearances in total: 13 - PUSKÁS, Ferenc (Hungary) 12 - CRUYFF, Johan (Netherlands) 12 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (Argentina) 12 - MESSI, Lionel (Argentina) (?) 12 - PELÉ (Brazil) The number of times I could nominate him in a podium could be an absolute record. For now, among those chosen by Tom Stevens and me, it's curious, but the record belongs to Maradona over Pele with 8 podiums over 7: 08 - MARADONA, Diego: 1st (4), 2nd (3), 3rd (1) 07 - PELÉ: 1st (4), 2nd (2), 3rd (1) 05 - CRUYFF, Johan: 1st (4), 3rd (1) 05 - PUSKÁS, Ferenc: 1st (3), 2nd (2) 05 - ZIDANE, Zinedine: 1st (2), 2nd (1), 3rd (2) 04 - MORENO, José Manuel: 1st (3), 3rd (1) 04 - SINDELAR, Matthias: 1st (3), 3rd (1) 04 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo: 1st (2), 2nd (2) 04 - ZICO: 1st (2), 2nd (1), 3rd (3) 03 - ERICO, Arsenio: 1st (2), 2nd (1) 03 - HENRY, Thierry: 1st (2), 2nd (1) 03 - MEAZZA, Giuseppe: 1st (2), 2nd (1) 03 - PLATINI, Michel: 1st (2), 2nd (1) 03 - RONALDINHO: 1st (2), 2nd (1) 03 - LAUDRUP, Michael: 1st (1), 2nd (2) 03 - MATTHÄUS, Lothar: 1st (1), 2nd (2) 03 - MESSI, Lionel: 1st (1), 2nd (1), 3rd (1) 03 - PESEK, Karel: 1st (1), 2nd (1), 3rd (1) 03 - VAN BASTEN, Marco: 1st (1), 2nd (1), 3rd (1) 03 - MÜLLER, Gerd: 2nd (2), 3rd (1) 03 - KOPA, Raymond: 2nd (2), 3rd (1)
Interesting. If the logic is given Lionel Messi could get 24 points and Cristiano Ronaldo 20. Do not you think that this method should add the honorable mentions with a certain score such as 0.3?
I forgot: 06 - ADEMIR da Guia (Brazil) 06 - CUBILLAS, Teófilo (Peru) 06 - DOMINGOS da Guia (Brazil) 06 - GÓMEZ, Walter (Uruguay) 06 - JÚNIOR (Brazil) 06 - KROL, Ruud (Netherlands) 06 - LABRUNA, Ángel (Argentina) 06 - McGRORY, Jimmy (Scotland) 06 - NESTA, Alessandro (Italy) 06 - PASSARELLA, Daniel (Argentina) 06 - RIJKAARD, Frank (Netherlands)
I think that proves well the balance of powers by continents and even countries in each era. From these lists we can also extract interesting statistics about where each player played to determine where the biggest stars of each decade were concentrated and estimate the distribution of them: 1920's 177 - Europe 053 - South America 054 - England 026 - Scotland 022 - Uruguay 021 - Argentina 018 - Hungary 017 - Czechoslovakia 017 - Spain 015 - Austria 012 - Italy 009 - Brazil 004 - Germany 004 - Wales 003 - Belgium 003 - Sweden 002 - Switzerland 001 - Netherlands 001 - Norway 001 - Paraguay 1930's 172 - Europe 058 - South America 049 - Italy 041 - England 038 - Argentina 025 - Austria 021 - Czechoslovakia 017 - Hungary 010 - Uruguay 008 - Brazil 006 - Spain 005 - Germany 004 - Scotland 002 - Switzerland 001 - Chile 001 - Denmark 001 - France 001 - Peru 1940's 134 - South America 096 - Europe 063 - Argentina 044 - Brazil 028 - England 023 - Uruguay 022 - Italy 014 - Hungary 008 - Spain 007 - Czechoslovakia 007 - Germany 004 - Sweden 003 - Austria 003 - Chile 002 - Scotland 001 - Colombia 001 - Soviet Union 1950's 150 - Europe 080 - South America 036 - Brazil 031 - Italy 031 - Spain 025 - England 024 - Hungary 021 - Argentina 014 - Uruguay 010 - France 008 - Austria 008 - Soviet Union 007 - Germany 005 - Yugoslavia 004 - Peru 003 - Colombia 002 - Chile 001 - Sweden 1960's 148 - Europe 082 - South America 046 - Brazil 034 - Italy 033 - England 018 - Spain 016 - Uruguay 015 - Argentina 014 - Portugal 011 - Soviet Union 009 - Germany 008 - Hungary 005 - Czechoslovakia 005 - Netherlands 004 - Scotland 004 - Yugoslavia 003 - Chile 002 - Bulgaria 002 - Peru 001 - France 1970's 134 - Europe 096 - South America 049 - Brazil 033 - Germany 027 - Argentina 023 - Netherlands 016 - England 014 - Italy 013 - Spain 010 - Poland 009 - Peru 008 - France 006 - Uruguay 005 - Belgium 004 - Chile 003 - Yugoslavia 002 - Austria 002 - Czechoslovakia 002 - Scotland 001 - Paraguay 001 - Portugal 001 - Soviet Union 1980's 185 - Europe 045 - South America 051 - Italy 033 - Germany 026 - Brazil 026 - England 019 - Spain 018 - France 013 - Argentina 011 - Netherlands 009 - Belgium 009 - Soviet Union 005 - Portugal 003 - Uruguay 002 - Colombia 001 - Peru 001 - Poland 001 - Romania 001 - Scotland 001 - Yugoslavia 1990's 218 - Europe 012 - South America 081 - Italy 045 - Spain 034 - England 018 - Germany 016 - France 014 - Netherlands 007 - Argentina 005 - Yugoslavia 004 - Brazil 001 - Belgium 001 - Colombia 001 - Czechoslovakia 001 - Portugal 001 - Scotland 001 - Ukraine 2000's 227 - Europe 003 - South America 067 - Spain 066 - England 066 - Italy 018 - Germany 005 - France 003 - Portugal 002 - Argentina 001 - Brazil 001 - Russia 001 - Scotland
Yes, as I mentioned previously, my interest is that these lists form part of the basis of a future personal ranking and I've thought about including a coefficient for those mentioned honorably each year, but I haven't done that compilation yet. I've noticed that Tom's honorable lists are shorter than mine (I believe that this decade I extended them a lot), so my medium-term plan is to finish with the lists until today, then try to standardize the lists of honorable mentions and finally give them a weighted value to form an algorithm for a general classification system. That's right. It's about leagues of provenance, not nationalities.
The sixties are considered the Golden Era for brazilian experts, they had a great depth in good players those years. At first sight, brazilian league must be the #1 in the 1960s. Since there is no national league but two main leagues (Carioca and Paulista), the "strenght" of those State leagues could be around the level of a SPA/URU/ARG/POR? Note that Uruguayan and Portuguese leagues were like a "two horse race" at that time. So, it could be said that Paulista and Carioca leagues were top-10 level in the 1960s? In other words: First tier leagues: Serie-A, Premier and La Liga (1st half 1960s). Second tier: Argentine, La Liga (2nd half), Carioca, Paulista, Uruguay, Portugal , USSR.
After an inactive period I continue the progression of these lists. I think the 2009-10 season clearly marks the superiority in terms of individualities of 3 of 4 of the UEFA Champions League semifinalist teams (Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Barcelona) and the Spanish "Golden Generation" that was successful in the FIFA World Cup. Among the interesting inclusions after analyzing it retrospectively in this preliminary list for me is Lúcio, who along with his partner Walter Samuel formed a very strong defense at local and international level. The Argentine seems to have been better estimated in Serie A (considered by some awards as the best central defender of Serie A), but I get the feeling that it's the Brazilian who achieved some greater prominence in the analysis of all competitions. Curiously Lúcio would appear for the third time and always in World Cup years (2002, 2006 and 2010). I didn't expect to include Javier Zanetti (by then with 36/37 years). I remembered him honored as a legendary figure taking an active part in the successful Inter Milan campaign, but after refreshing his performances he ends up convincing me in the top 23 with an impressive consistency in different positions. I didn't remember Cesc Fabregas so well, probably because I remembered his only secondary role for Spain in the FIFA World Cup, but with Arsenal he had very good performances and was very productive. My 2010 Preliminary List: Casillas, Íker (Spain & Real Madrid [SPA]) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal & Real Madrid [SPA]) Drogba, Didier (Ivory Coast & Chelsea [ENG]) Fabregas, Cesc (Spain & Arsenal [ENG]) Forlán, Diego (Uruguay & Atlético de Madrid [SPA]) Iniesta, Andrés (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) Júlio César Soares (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) Lahm, Philipp (Germany & Bayern Munich [GER]) Lampard, Frank (England & Chelsea [ENG]) Lúcio (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) Maicon (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) Messi, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) Milito, Diego (Argentina & Inter Milan [ITA]) Müller, Thomas (Germany & Bayern Munich [GER]) Piqué, Gerard (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) Puyol, Carles (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) Robben, Arjen (Netherlands & Bayern Munich [GER]) Rooney, Wayne (England & Manchester United [ENG]) Schweinsteiger, Bastian (Germany & Bayern Munich [GER]) Sneijder, Wesley (Netherlands & Inter Milan [ITA]) Villa, David (Spain & Valencia [SPA]) Xavi (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) Zanetti, Javier (Argentina & Inter Milan [ITA]) For a long time I've noticed a certain controversy about who should be considered the best player of this season, especially because many believe that it should be a world champion (a Spanish) or who was a very successful at all levels (Wesley Sneijder mainly), but I think the most important criterion should be above all the player's individual level and in that area and, in my opinion, Messi had absolute supremacy in that period. My Likely Podium: 1) Messi, Lionel 2) Sneijder, Wesley 3) Xavi As practically always I've a bitter taste for not being able to include several players that I feel could easily replace some of the included. With whom I've more doubts is with Walter Samuel, Dani Alves, Esteban Cambiasso, Mesut Özil and Gonzalo Higuaín, although they're not the only. Honorable Mentions: Alonso, Xabi (Spain & Real Madrid [SPA]) Bale, Gareth (Wales & Tottenham Hotspur [ENG]) Barrios, Lucas (Paraguay & Borussia Dortmund [GER]) Bent, Darren (England & Sunderland [ENG]) Bonucci, Leonardo (Italy & Bari [ITA]) Cambiasso, Esteban (Argentina & Inter Milan [ITA]) Canales, Sergio (Spain & Racing de Santander [SPA]) Cardozo, Óscar (Paraguay & Benfica [POR]) Cassano, Antonio (Italy & Sampdoria [ITA]) Chamakh, Marouane (Morocco & Girondins de Bordeaux [FRA]) Chiellini, Giorgio (Italy & Juventus [ITA]) Cole, Ashley (England & Chelsea [ENG]) Conca, Darío (Argentina & Fluminense [BRA]) D'Alessandro, Andrés (Argentina & Internacional [BRA]) Dani Alves (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) Defoe, Jermain (England & Tottenham Hotspur [ENG]) Di María, Ángel (Argentina & Benfica [POR]) Di Natale, Antonio (Italy & Udinese [ITA]) Dzeko, Edin (Bosnia and Herzegovina & Wolfsburg [GER]) Eto'o, Samuel (Cameroon & Inter Milan [ITA]) Évra, Patrice (France & Manchester United [ENG]) Falcao, Radamel (Colombia & Porto [POR]) Gera, Zoltán (Hungary & Fulham [ENG]) Hazard, Eden (Belgium & Lille [FRA]) Hart, Joe (England & Birmingham City [ENG]) Higuaín, Gonzalo (Argentina & Real Madrid [SPA]) Hyypiä, Sami (Finland & Bayer Leverkusen [GER]) Ibrahimovic, Zlatan (Sweden & Barcelona [SPA]) Ivanovic, Branislav (Serbia & Chelsea [ENG]) Javi Martínez (Spain & Athletic Bilbao [SPA]) Jovetic, Stevan (Montenegro & Fiorentina [ITA]) Kiessling, Stefan (Germany & Bayer Leverkusen [GER]) Kjaer, Simon (Denmark & Palermo [ITA]) Krasic, Milos (Serbia & CSKA Moscow [RUS]) Kroos, Toni (Germany & Bayer Leverkusen [GER]) León, Pedro (Spain & Getafe [SPA]) Lisandro López (Argentina & Olympique Lyonnais [FRA]) Lloris, Hugo (France & Olympique Lyonnais [FRA]) Luís Fabiano (Brazil & Sevilla [SPA]) Malouda, Florent (France & Chelsea [ENG]) Miccoli, Fabrizio (Italy & Palermo [ITA]) Navas, Jesús (Spain & Sevilla [SPA]) Nesta, Alessandro (Italy & AC Milan [ITA]) Neuer, Manuel (Germany & Schalke 04 [GER]) Neymar (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) Olic, Ivica (Croatia & Bayern Munich) Özil, Mesut (Germany & Werder Bremen [GER]) Pastore, Javier (Argentina & Palermo [ITA]) Pedro (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) Pizarro, Claudio (Peru & Werder Bremen [GER]) Pizarro, David (Chile & AS Roma [ITA]) Pjanic, Miralem (Bosnia and Herzegovina & Olympique Lyonnais [FRA]) Ramos, Sergio (Spain & Real Madrid [SPA]) Ronaldinho (Brazil & AC Milan [ITA]) Samuel, Walter (Argentina & Inter Milan [ITA]) Silva, David (Spain & Valencia [SPA]) Suárez, Luis (Uruguay & Ajax [NED]) Terry, John (England & Chelsea [ENG]) Tévez, Carlos (Argentina & Manchester City [ENG]) Torres, Fernando (Spain & Liverpool [ENG]) Valdés, Víctor (Spain & Barcelona [SPA]) Valero, Borja (Spain & RCD Mallorca [SPA]) Van Buyten, Daniel (Belgium & Bayern Munich [GER]) Vermaelen, Thomas (Belgium & Arsenal [ENG]) Verón, Juan Sebastián (Argentina & Estudiantes de La Plata [ARG]) Vucinic, Mirko (Montenegro & AS Roma [ITA]) I'll appreciate some comments and criticism before defining the final list.
Great list!! Only a suggestion: It is possible that Xavi was 2nd on the podium. Fantastic Sneijder season: With Inter he won all the titles and was considered the best World Cup player, but Xavi has an advantage in other merits: wins with the Spanish team the World Cup, 3rd in the Ballon D´Or (Sneijder 4th), World Soccer player ot the year (Sneijder 3rd), Best Player for FourFourTwo: 3rd (Sneijder 5th) and in the monthly votes of the Top Eleven ESM received 29 votes for the 24 of Sneijder. In any case excellent work!!!
If I am not mistaken many saw Dani Alves as the best right back in the world? (next to Maicon, who had his offensive highlights too). ESM hints in that way with 5 for him, 4 for Maicon, 2 to Lahm. Lahm has the benefit and plus of an okay world cup performance.