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Ranked! The 100 best football players in the world
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🏆 Ranked! The 100 best players of the 21st Century (FourFourTwo)

1
Lionel Messi
Argentina Lionel Messi
Argentina
2003-

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1
Lionel Messi
Argentina Lionel Messi
Argentina
-
2003-
4
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
2002-

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4
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
-
2002-
3
Andrés Iniesta
Spain Andrés Iniesta
Spain
2000-2023

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3
Andrés Iniesta
Spain Andrés Iniesta
Spain
-
2000-2023
4
Xavi
Spain Xavi
Spain
1997-2019

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4
Xavi
Spain Xavi
Spain
-
1997-2019
5
Ronaldinho
Brazil Ronaldinho
Brazil
1998-2015

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5
Ronaldinho
Brazil Ronaldinho
Brazil
-
1998-2015
6
Zinédine Zidane
France Zinédine Zidane
France
1989-2006

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6
Zinédine Zidane
France Zinédine Zidane
France
-
1989-2006
7
Thierry Henry
France Thierry Henry
France
1994-2012

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7
Thierry Henry
France Thierry Henry
France
-
1994-2012
8
Manuel Neuer
Germany Manuel Neuer
Germany
2004-

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8
Manuel Neuer
Germany Manuel Neuer
Germany
-
2004-
9
Kaká
Brazil Kaká
Brazil
2000-2017

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9
Kaká
Brazil Kaká
Brazil
-
2000-2017
10
Luis Suárez
Uruguay Luis Suárez
Uruguay
2005-

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10
Luis Suárez
Uruguay Luis Suárez
Uruguay
-
2005-
11
Karim Benzema
France Karim Benzema
France
2004-

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11
Karim Benzema
France Karim Benzema
France
-
2004-
12
Dani Alves
Brazil Dani Alves
Brazil
2001-2023

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12
Dani Alves
Brazil Dani Alves
Brazil
-
2001-2023
13
Zlatan Ibrahimović
Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović
Sweden
1999-2023

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13
Zlatan Ibrahimović
Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović
Sweden
-
1999-2023
14
Luka Modrić
Croatia Luka Modrić
Croatia
2003-

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14
Luka Modrić
Croatia Luka Modrić
Croatia
-
2003-
15
Samuel Eto'o
Cameroon Samuel Eto'o
Cameroon
1997-2019

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15
Samuel Eto'o
Cameroon Samuel Eto'o
Cameroon
-
1997-2019
16
Wayne Rooney
England Wayne Rooney
England
2002-2021

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16
Wayne Rooney
England Wayne Rooney
England
-
2002-2021
17
Ronaldo Nazario
Brazil Ronaldo Nazario
Brazil
1993-2011

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17
Ronaldo Nazario
Brazil Ronaldo Nazario
Brazil
-
1993-2011
18
Philipp Lahm
Germany Philipp Lahm
Germany
2001-2017

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18
Philipp Lahm
Germany Philipp Lahm
Germany
-
2001-2017
19
Sergio Ramos
Spain Sergio Ramos
Spain
2003-2024

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19
Sergio Ramos
Spain Sergio Ramos
Spain
-
2003-2024
20
Thomas Müller
Germany Thomas Müller
Germany
2007-

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20
Thomas Müller
Germany Thomas Müller
Germany
-
2007-
21
Steven Gerrard
England Steven Gerrard
England
1998-2016

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21
Steven Gerrard
England Steven Gerrard
England
-
1998-2016
22
Arjen Robben
Netherlands Arjen Robben
Netherlands
2000-2021

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22
Arjen Robben
Netherlands Arjen Robben
Netherlands
-
2000-2021
23
Ashley Cole
England Ashley Cole
England
1999-2019

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23
Ashley Cole
England Ashley Cole
England
-
1999-2019
24
Gerard Piqué
Spain Gerard Piqué
Spain
2004-2022

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24
Gerard Piqué
Spain Gerard Piqué
Spain
-
2004-2022
25
Neymar Júnior
Brazil Neymar Júnior
Brazil
2009-

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25
Neymar Júnior
Brazil Neymar Júnior
Brazil
-
2009-
26
Sergio Agüero
Argentina Sergio Agüero
Argentina
2003-2021

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26
Sergio Agüero
Argentina Sergio Agüero
Argentina
-
2003-2021
27
Iker Casillas
Spain Iker Casillas
Spain
1998-2020

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27
Iker Casillas
Spain Iker Casillas
Spain
-
1998-2020
28
Robert Lewandowski
Poland Robert Lewandowski
Poland
2005-

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28
Robert Lewandowski
Poland Robert Lewandowski
Poland
-
2005-
29
Gareth Bale
Wales Gareth Bale
Wales
2006-2023

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29
Gareth Bale
Wales Gareth Bale
Wales
-
2006-2023
30
Sergio Busquets
Spain Sergio Busquets
Spain
2007-

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30
Sergio Busquets
Spain Sergio Busquets
Spain
-
2007-
31
Andriy Shevchenko
Ukraine Andriy Shevchenko
Ukraine
1993-2012

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31
Andriy Shevchenko
Ukraine Andriy Shevchenko
Ukraine
-
1993-2012
32
Rio Ferdinand
England Rio Ferdinand
England
1995-2015

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32
Rio Ferdinand
England Rio Ferdinand
England
-
1995-2015
33
Kylian Mbappé
France Kylian Mbappé
France
2015-

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33
Kylian Mbappé
France Kylian Mbappé
France
-
2015-
34
Andrea Pirlo
Italy Andrea Pirlo
Italy
1995-2017

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34
Andrea Pirlo
Italy Andrea Pirlo
Italy
-
1995-2017
35
Claude Makélélé
France Claude Makélélé
France
1991-2011

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35
Claude Makélélé
France Claude Makélélé
France
-
1991-2011
36
Gianluigi Buffon
Italy Gianluigi Buffon
Italy
1995-2023

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36
Gianluigi Buffon
Italy Gianluigi Buffon
Italy
-
1995-2023
37
Frank Lampard
England Frank Lampard
England
1995-2016

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37
Frank Lampard
England Frank Lampard
England
-
1995-2016
38
Patrick Vieira
France Patrick Vieira
France
1993-2011

▤ History Video icon Profile

38
Patrick Vieira
France Patrick Vieira
France
-
1993-2011
39
Francesco Totti
Italy Francesco Totti
Italy
1993-2017

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39
Francesco Totti
Italy Francesco Totti
Italy
-
1993-2017
40
Franck Ribéry
France Franck Ribéry
France
2000-2022

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40
Franck Ribéry
France Franck Ribéry
France
-
2000-2022
41
Didier Drogba
Côte d’Ivoire Didier Drogba
Côte d’Ivoire
1998-2018

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41
Didier Drogba
Côte d’Ivoire Didier Drogba
Côte d’Ivoire
-
1998-2018
42
Mohamed Salah
Egypt Mohamed Salah
Egypt
2010-

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42
Mohamed Salah
Egypt Mohamed Salah
Egypt
-
2010-
43
Vincent Kompany
Belgium Vincent Kompany
Belgium
2003-2020

▤ History Video icon Profile

43
Vincent Kompany
Belgium Vincent Kompany
Belgium
-
2003-2020
44
Luís Figo
Portugal Luís Figo
Portugal
1989-2009

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44
Luís Figo
Portugal Luís Figo
Portugal
-
1989-2009
45
Toni Kroos
Germany Toni Kroos
Germany
2007-2024

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45
Toni Kroos
Germany Toni Kroos
Germany
-
2007-2024
46
John Terry
England John Terry
England
1998-2018

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46
John Terry
England John Terry
England
-
1998-2018
47
Yaya Touré
Côte d’Ivoire Yaya Touré
Côte d’Ivoire
2001-2019

▤ History Video icon Profile

47
Yaya Touré
Côte d’Ivoire Yaya Touré
Côte d’Ivoire
-
2001-2019
48
Carles Puyol
Spain Carles Puyol
Spain
1996-2014

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48
Carles Puyol
Spain Carles Puyol
Spain
-
1996-2014
49
Kevin De Bruyne
Belgium Kevin De Bruyne
Belgium
2008-

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49
Kevin De Bruyne
Belgium Kevin De Bruyne
Belgium
-
2008-
50
Xabi Alonso
Spain Xabi Alonso
Spain
1999-2017

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50
Xabi Alonso
Spain Xabi Alonso
Spain
-
1999-2017
51
Pavel Nedvěd
Czech Pavel Nedvěd
Czech
1990-2009

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51
Pavel Nedvěd
Czech Pavel Nedvěd
Czech
-
1990-2009
52
Petr Čech
Czech Petr Čech
Czech
1999-2019

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52
Petr Čech
Czech Petr Čech
Czech
-
1999-2019
53
Antoine Griezmann
France Antoine Griezmann
France
2009-

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53
Antoine Griezmann
France Antoine Griezmann
France
-
2009-
54
Radamel Falcao
Colombia Radamel Falcao
Colombia
1999-2024

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54
Radamel Falcao
Colombia Radamel Falcao
Colombia
-
1999-2024
55
Michael Ballack
Germany Michael Ballack
Germany
1995-2012

▤ History Video icon Profile

55
Michael Ballack
Germany Michael Ballack
Germany
-
1995-2012
56
Virgil van Dijk
Netherlands Virgil van Dijk
Netherlands
2011-

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56
Virgil van Dijk
Netherlands Virgil van Dijk
Netherlands
-
2011-
57
Ángel Di María
Argentina Ángel Di María
Argentina
2005-

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57
Ángel Di María
Argentina Ángel Di María
Argentina
-
2005-
58
Paul Scholes
England Paul Scholes
England
1993-2018

▤ History Video icon Profile

58
Paul Scholes
England Paul Scholes
England
-
1993-2018
59
Roberto Carlos
Brazil Roberto Carlos
Brazil
1991-2012

▤ History Video icon Profile

59
Roberto Carlos
Brazil Roberto Carlos
Brazil
-
1991-2012
60
Eden Hazard
Belgium Eden Hazard
Belgium
2007-2023

▤ History Video icon Profile

60
Eden Hazard
Belgium Eden Hazard
Belgium
-
2007-2023
61
David Villa
Spain David Villa
Spain
2000-2020

▤ History Video icon Profile

61
David Villa
Spain David Villa
Spain
-
2000-2020
62
Nemanja Vidić
Serbia Nemanja Vidić
Serbia
2000-2016

▤ History Video icon Profile

62
Nemanja Vidić
Serbia Nemanja Vidić
Serbia
-
2000-2016
63
Paolo Maldini
Italy Paolo Maldini
Italy
1984-2009

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63
Paolo Maldini
Italy Paolo Maldini
Italy
-
1984-2009
64
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Netherlands Ruud van Nistelrooy
Netherlands
1993-2012

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64
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Netherlands Ruud van Nistelrooy
Netherlands
-
1993-2012
65
David Beckham
England David Beckham
England
1992-2013

▤ History Video icon Profile

65
David Beckham
England David Beckham
England
-
1992-2013
66
Marcelo
Brazil Marcelo
Brazil
2005-2024

▤ History Video icon Profile

66
Marcelo
Brazil Marcelo
Brazil
-
2005-2024
67
Harry Kane
England Harry Kane
England
1999-

▤ History Video icon Profile

67
Harry Kane
England Harry Kane
England
-
1999-
68
Cafu
Brazil Cafu
Brazil
1989-2008

▤ History Video icon Profile

68
Cafu
Brazil Cafu
Brazil
-
1989-2008
69
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Germany Bastian Schweinsteiger
Germany
2001-2019

▤ History Video icon Profile

69
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Germany Bastian Schweinsteiger
Germany
-
2001-2019
70
Raúl
Spain Raúl
Spain
1994-2015

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70
Raúl
Spain Raúl
Spain
-
1994-2015
71
Fabio Cannavaro
Italy Fabio Cannavaro
Italy
1991-2011

▤ History Video icon Profile

71
Fabio Cannavaro
Italy Fabio Cannavaro
Italy
-
1991-2011
72
Cesc Fàbregas
Spain Cesc Fàbregas
Spain
2003-2023

▤ History Video icon Profile

72
Cesc Fàbregas
Spain Cesc Fàbregas
Spain
-
2003-2023
73
Wesley Sneijder
Netherlands Wesley Sneijder
Netherlands
2002-2019

▤ History Video icon Profile

73
Wesley Sneijder
Netherlands Wesley Sneijder
Netherlands
-
2002-2019
74
Alessandro Nesta
Italy Alessandro Nesta
Italy
1993-2014

▤ History Video icon Profile

74
Alessandro Nesta
Italy Alessandro Nesta
Italy
-
1993-2014
75
David Silva
Spain David Silva
Spain
2003-2023

▤ History Video icon Profile

75
David Silva
Spain David Silva
Spain
-
2003-2023
76
Jan Oblak
Slovenia Jan Oblak
Slovenia
2009-

▤ History Video icon Profile

76
Jan Oblak
Slovenia Jan Oblak
Slovenia
-
2009-
77
N'Golo Kanté
France N'Golo Kanté
France
2012-

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77
N'Golo Kanté
France N'Golo Kanté
France
-
2012-
78
Ivan Rakitić
Croatia Ivan Rakitić
Croatia
2004-

▤ History Video icon Profile

78
Ivan Rakitić
Croatia Ivan Rakitić
Croatia
-
2004-
79
Edinson Cavani
Uruguay Edinson Cavani
Uruguay
2005-

▤ History Video icon Profile

79
Edinson Cavani
Uruguay Edinson Cavani
Uruguay
-
2005-
80
Alexis Sánchez
Chile Alexis Sánchez
Chile
2005-

▤ History Video icon Profile

80
Alexis Sánchez
Chile Alexis Sánchez
Chile
-
2005-
81
Ryan Giggs
Wales Ryan Giggs
Wales
1990-2014

▤ History Video icon Profile

81
Ryan Giggs
Wales Ryan Giggs
Wales
-
1990-2014
82
Raheem Sterling
England Raheem Sterling
England
2012-

▤ History Video icon Profile

82
Raheem Sterling
England Raheem Sterling
England
-
2012-
83
Raphaël Varane
France Raphaël Varane
France
2010-2024

▤ History Video icon Profile

83
Raphaël Varane
France Raphaël Varane
France
-
2010-2024
84
Henrik Larsson
Sweden Henrik Larsson
Sweden
1989-2013

▤ History Video icon Profile

84
Henrik Larsson
Sweden Henrik Larsson
Sweden
-
1989-2013
85
Fernando Torres
Spain Fernando Torres
Spain
2001-2019

▤ History Video icon Profile

85
Fernando Torres
Spain Fernando Torres
Spain
-
2001-2019
86
Juan Román Riquelme
Argentina Juan Román Riquelme
Argentina
1996-2015

▤ History Video icon Profile

86
Juan Román Riquelme
Argentina Juan Román Riquelme
Argentina
-
1996-2015
87
Thiago Silva
Brazil Thiago Silva
Brazil
2002-2024

▤ History Video icon Profile

87
Thiago Silva
Brazil Thiago Silva
Brazil
-
2002-2024
88
Thibaut Courtois
Belgium Thibaut Courtois
Belgium
2009-

▤ History Video icon Profile

88
Thibaut Courtois
Belgium Thibaut Courtois
Belgium
-
2009-
89
Hernán Crespo
Argentina Hernán Crespo
Argentina
1993-2012

▤ History Video icon Profile

89
Hernán Crespo
Argentina Hernán Crespo
Argentina
-
1993-2012
90
Arturo Vidal
Chile Arturo Vidal
Chile
2005-2024

▤ History Video icon Profile

90
Arturo Vidal
Chile Arturo Vidal
Chile
-
2005-2024
91
Carlos Tévez
Argentina Carlos Tévez
Argentina
2001-2021

▤ History Video icon Profile

91
Carlos Tévez
Argentina Carlos Tévez
Argentina
-
2001-2021
92
Edwin van der Sar
Netherlands Edwin van der Sar
Netherlands
1990-2016

▤ History Video icon Profile

92
Edwin van der Sar
Netherlands Edwin van der Sar
Netherlands
-
1990-2016
93
Mesut Özil
Germany Mesut Özil
Germany
2005-2023

▤ History Video icon Profile

93
Mesut Özil
Germany Mesut Özil
Germany
-
2005-2023
94
Javier Zanetti
Argentina Javier Zanetti
Argentina
1992-2014

▤ History Video icon Profile

94
Javier Zanetti
Argentina Javier Zanetti
Argentina
-
1992-2014
95
Deco
Portugal Deco
Portugal
1996-2013

▤ History Video icon Profile

95
Deco
Portugal Deco
Portugal
-
1996-2013
96
David de Gea
Spain David de Gea
Spain
2008-

▤ History Video icon Profile

96
David de Gea
Spain David de Gea
Spain
-
2008-
97
Luca Toni
Italy Luca Toni
Italy
1994-2016

▤ History Video icon Profile

97
Luca Toni
Italy Luca Toni
Italy
-
1994-2016
98
Rivaldo
Brazil Rivaldo
Brazil
1990-2015

▤ History Video icon Profile

98
Rivaldo
Brazil Rivaldo
Brazil
-
1990-2015
99
Miroslav Klose
Germany Miroslav Klose
Germany
1998-2016

▤ History Video icon Profile

99
Miroslav Klose
Germany Miroslav Klose
Germany
-
1998-2016
100
Trent Alexander-Arnold
England Trent Alexander-Arnold
England
2013-

▤ History Video icon Profile

100
Trent Alexander-Arnold
England Trent Alexander-Arnold
England
-
2013-

Summary

The 100 best players of the 21st Century: the greatest Ballon d'Or hoggers, serial winners and cult heroes since the turn of the millennium. Debate about the best players of the 21st Century goes back, funnily enough, to 2000, when Boca Juniors beat Real Madrid in the now-extinct Intercontinental Cup final. President Florentino Perez reportedly gave both barrels to his misfiring Galacticos in the aftermath – but more because of the commercial opportunities that a pancontinental cup final loss had scuppered than the embarrassing result.

Flo saw the match as a chance to expand his brand to Asia, with a new millennium beaming more football matches than ever: but not even he could envisage what this new century would bring. The internet would create stars – it would break them, too – the Champions League would grow in prestige, while scientific and technological advancements (not to mention coaching evolution) would make this game almost unrecognisable from the one that Perez grew up wanting to tame as his own.

The 21st Century has taken football to new realms. Let us introduce the 100 best artists, artisans, wizards and wunderkinder to have boldly gone where no one has else has ventured since that heady Intercontinental Cup clash…

FourFourTwo

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