The Top 100 Footballers in the World (100-71)
Throughout this week, The Guardian has been announcing their list of the Top 100 Footballers in the world. As with every list that is knocked up annually, there are some strange decisions and in my view some ludicrous decisions.
Numbers 100-71 were revealed initially and this is how they lined up:
100 – Paulinho – Corinthians
99 – Diego Forlan – Internacional
98 – Javi Martinez – Bayern Munich
97 – Marek Hamsik – Napoli
96 – Pepe – Real Madrid
95 – Wesley Sneijder – Inter Milan
94 – Shinji Kagawa – Manchester United
93 – Samir Nasri – Manchester City
92 – Hatem Ben Arfa – Newcastle United
91 – Moussa Dembele – Tottenham
90 – Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Shakhtar Donetsk
89 – Javier Pastore – PSG
88 – Leonardo Bonucci – Juventus
87 – Kwadwo Asamoah – Juventus
86 – John Terry – Chelsea
85 – Emmanuel Mayuka – Southampton
84 – Darijo Srna – Shakhtar Donetsk
83 – Hulk – Zenit St Petersburg
82 – Mapou Yanga-M’Biwa – Montpellier
81 – Victor Wanyama – Celtic
80 – Luka Modric – Real Madrid
79 – David Luiz – Chelsea
78 – Patrice Evra – Manchester United
77 – Mario Mandzukic – Bayern Munich
76 – Joao Moutinho – FC Porto
75 – Ezequiel Lavezzi – PSG
74 – Christian Eriksen – Ajax
73 – Santi Cazorla – Arsenal
72 – Pedro – Barcelona
71 – Hernanes – Lazio
At first viewing there are some glaringly obvious flaws in these selections and it seems some players have been chosen based on reputation and past performances. Players such as Diego Forlan, John Terry and Wesley Sneijder I feel all fall in this category.
On the other hand I feel there are players there that have been harshly judged and deserve to be a lot higher in the rankings. Santi Cazorla, Luka Modric, Hatem Ben Arfa, Pepe for example.
However the one stand out clueless inclusion that jumps out at me is number 85, Southampton’s Emmanuel Mayuka. The Zambian striker has featured for his new club 7 times this season and is still to find the back of the net. Although Mayuka was awarded the African Cup of Nations Golden Boot, I feel him being included in the top 100 best footballers list is a little generous, especially without really proving himself.
This list so far seems to have been piled together by a group of Football Manager Addicts who focus purely on players in game stats. The top 10 in this sort of list is very predictable and it’s usually the rest of a list that is cause for debate. Places 70-41 will be up next and I can only imagine what names will appear.
@TaylerWillson
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