My Football Facts ⇒ Articles
By Jonathan Lewis | 16th Feb 2023
Who is the best footballer in the world?
It’s a question that dominates football fan chats and social media and causes more debate than pretty much any sports topic.
To answer this question, The Guardian, one of the world’s most renowned sports media outlets, has released its list of the top 100 footballers in the world. This list is the result of a vote by a panel of 200 expert writers and analysts, who have evaluated players based on their performances over the past year.
It features some of the biggest names in the sport, showcasing the talent and skill of the world’s best footballers. Read on to discover the eight players who have made a particularly heavy mark on the minds of the sport’s top experts.
1. Leo Messi
What else can be said about not just the best player of the year, but probably the greatest ever?
The Argentine crowned a glorious career by landing the biggest prize of them all at the Qatar World Cup. His virtuoso performances, including a man-of-the-match display in the final and the FIFA Golden Ball for player of the tournament, fired his nation to their first Jules Rimet trophy in over 40 years.
And that’s not to mention his goals and assists for PSG this past calendar year…
2. Kylian Mbappe
Some might think that when he played for Monaco, Kylian Mbappe, may have had the bright lights of Monte Carlo as a distraction from football or even review sites like Vegas Expert that give access to online casinos. However, upon completing his move to Paris, one of the world’s major cities and home to super-rich Paris St. Germain, in 2018, and the French superstar hasn’t looked back since. Scoring over 140 goals in his first five seasons for PSG, he’s also helped France lift the world cup – and he’s still only 24.
With success like that, who needs Monaco’s casinos?
3. Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema may have missed the World Cup, but his stunning run of goals in La Liga and the Champions League in early 2022 powered Real Madrid to a stunning league and European Cup double.
The French star averages a goal contribution every 60 minutes in those two competitions, and his steady run of goals this season keeps Madrid in with a shout of a repeat league triumph.
Critics may point to the 35-year-old’s age and say he’s nearing retirement, but it hasn’t stopped him hitting third in this very list.
4. Erling Haaland
Speaking of goal machines, how about this phenomenon? Erling Haaland reached 25 goals in just half a Premier League season, already surpassing many golden boots totals in doing so. He averaged a goal every 60 minutes and outscored many Premier League teams (including Chelsea) by this point.
He deserves to be on this list for his Manchester City scoring feats alone but, lest we forget, Haaland was also banging them in for Dortmund in early 2022, landing nine in 12 games.
Surely it won’t be long before the Norwegian starts to knock on the door of this list’s top spot.
5. Luka Modric
Modric seems to have been playing forever. 17 years after his full debut, the Croatian is like a fine wine: getting better with age.
He still runs Real Madrid’s midfield, inspiring them to last year’s double success, while his international performances powered Croatia to another third-paced finish in the 2022 World Cup.
With bags of energy and incredible stamina, Modric looks like he could grace the top level for years to come, despite being a few years off forty.
6. Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne has everything a midfielder could possibly desire: a killer pass, a lethal shot, and an uncanny knack of making space for himself every time he has the ball.
While his international performances have suffered due to the struggles of Belgium, his club performances are frequently among the best in the world, leading to Pep Guardiola describing him as unstoppable.
7. Robert Lewandowski
Anyone with any doubts about whether Lewandowski could do it in La Liga was swiftly silenced when the Pole smashed in nine goals in his first seven games for FC Barcelona last autumn.
The striker has continued his extraordinary goalscoring form for the Catalan side after breaking all kinds of records for his previous club Bayern Munich. And let’s face it, this guy could score goals on the moon, he’s that good.
8. Vinicius Jr.
Only Haaland is younger than Vinicius on this list, but the youngster’s experience is top-class. After showing flashes of brilliance and potential in his teenage years, he started to turn out consistently high-quality performances following the COVID-19 lockdown, becoming a key figure of Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning side.
While some critics say he blows hot and cold, his stats suggest otherwise: the young Brazilian has averaged a goal every two games over the last season-and-a-half, cementing his place in the eight spot of this prestigious poll.