Although there is no one correct answer, most of the players on this list have been objectively the best players in the world this past season. However, due to constant fluctuations in form as well as the fact that soccer stopped altogether for a few months in the middle of the season, this list may be controversial in some ways. But what’s ranking without controversy?
It’s also important to preface this list with the fact that, while most leagues recommenced after the forced hiatus, the French Ligue 1 did not restart. Therefore, the placement of the two Ligue 1 players on this list is both somewhat subjective and arbitrary and could have been entirely different had those players had the rest of their season to play. Also, due to the stop in play and the fact that many players could be in the conversation for the best players in the world at the moment, the list naturally becomes more subjective towards the bottom. I tried to take into account each player’s current form as well as his overall ability when fit, but there is always going to be an arbitrary nature to ranking when so many players have played so well. But without further ado, here are whom I believe to be the top 10 players in the world right now based on both form and natural ability when fit.
1. Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi, also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team.
Salary: 7.1 crores EUR (2021) Trending
Born: 24 June 1987 (age 34 years), Rosario, Argentina
Height: 1.7 m
Spouse: Antonela Roccuzzo (m. 2017)
Current teams: Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (#30 / Forward), Argentina national football team (#10 / Forward)
Nationality: Argentine, Spanish
Children: Thiago Messi Roccuzzo, Ciro Messi Roccuzzo, Mateo Messi Roccuzzo
Stats: Argentina
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Juventus and captains the Portugal national team.
Children: Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., Alana Martina dos Santos Aveiro, Eva Maria Dos Santos, Mateo Ronaldo Trending
Born: 5 February 1985 (age 36 years), Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, Funchal, Portugal
Height: 1.87 m
Nationality: Portuguese
Salary: 3.1 crores EUR (2021)
Partner: Georgina Rodríguez (2017–)
Current teams: Juventus F.C. (#7 / Forward), Portugal national football team (#7 / Forward)
Stats; Juventus
3. Neymar
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known as Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world.
Born: 5 February 1992 (age 29 years), Mogi das Cruzes, State of São Paulo, Brazil
Height: 1.75 m
Full name: Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
Salary: 3.68 crores EUR (2021)
Current teams: Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (#10 / Forward), Brazil national football team (#10 / Forward), Brazil
Children: Davi Lucca da Silva Santos
4. Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and is the captain of the Poland national team.
Born: 21 August 1988 (age 32 years), Warsaw, Poland
Nationality: Polish
Height: 1.85 m
Spouse: Anna Lewandowska (m. 2013)
Salary: 2 crores EUR (2020)
Current teams: Poland national football team (#9 / Forward), FC Bayern Munich (#9 / Forward)
Awards: The Best FIFA Men's Player, MORE
Stats: Bayern
5. Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé Lottin is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. Mbappé began his senior career with Ligue 1 club Monaco, making his professional debut in 2015, aged 16.
Born: 20 December 1998 (age 22 years), 19th arrondissement of Paris, Paris, France
Height: 1.78 m
Nationality: French
Weight: 73 kg
Salary: 1.8 crores EUR (2021)
Current teams: Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (#7 / Forward), France national football team (#10 / Forward)
Parents: Fayza Lamari, Wilfried Mbappé
6. Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and captains the Egypt national team. Considered one of the best players in the world, he is known for his finishing, dribbling, and speed.
Born: 15 June 1992 (age 29 years), Nagrig, Egypt
Nationality: Egyptian
Height: 1.75 m
Spouse: Magi Sadeq (m. 2013)
Current teams: Liverpool F.C. (Forward), Egypt national football team (#10 / Forward)
Awards: Premier League Golden Boot, MORE
Children: Kayan Mohamed Salah, Makka Mohamed Salah
Stats: Liverpool
7. Sadio Mané
Sadio Mané is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Premier League club Liverpool and the Senegal national team. Mané finished fourth for the 2019 Ballon d'Or, and in the award for the Best FIFA Men's Player, he ranked fifth in 2019 and fourth in 2020.
Born: 10 April 1992 (age 29 years), Sedhiou, Senegal
Nationality: Senegalese
Height: 1.75 m
Parents: Satou Toure
Current teams: Liverpool F.C. (Forward), Senegal national football team (#10 / Forward)
Awards: Premier League Golden Boot, African Player of the Year, CAF Africa’s Finest XI
Dates joined: 2016 (Liverpool F.C.), 2014 (Southampton F.C.), MORE
Stats: Liverpool
8. Luis Suárez
Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz is an Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Spanish club Atlético Madrid and the Uruguay national team.
Born: 24 January 1987 (age 34 years), Salto, Uruguay
Height: 1.82 m
Nationality: Uruguayan
Spouse: Sofia Balbi (m. 2009)
Salary: 60 lakhs EUR (2021)
Current teams: Uruguay national football team (#9 / Forward), Atlético Madrid (#9 / Forward)
Children: Delfina Suárez, Lautaro Suárez, Benjamin Suárez
State: Uruguay
9. Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane, popularly known as Zizou, is a French former professional football player who played as an attacking midfielder. He most recently coached Real Madrid and is one of the most successful coaches in the world.
Born: 23 June 1972 (age 49 years), La Castellane, Marseille, France
Height: 1.85 m
Spouse: Véronique Zidane (m. 1994)
Teams coached: Real Madrid CF (Association football manager, 2019–2021), MORE
Number: 21 (Juventus F.C. / Midfielder), 5 (Real Madrid CF / Midfielder), 7 (FC Girondins de Bordeaux / Midfielder)
Nationality: Algerian, French
10. Eden Hazard
Eden Michael Hazard is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and captains the Belgium national team. Known for his creativity, dribbling, and passing, he is considered one of the best players of his generation.
Born: 7 January 1991 (age 30 years), La Louvière, Belgium
Height: 1.75 m
Weight: 74 kg
Spouse: Natacha Van Honacker (m. 2012)
Salary: 2 crores GBP (2021)
Current teams: Belgium national football team (#10 / Midfielder), Real Madrid CF (#50 / Forward, Midfielder)
Siblings: Thorgan Hazard, Kylian Hazard, Ethan Hazard
Stats: Real Madrid
Information source Wikipedia...
