Best player in world

[Angus]

At times like this one is reminded of the (in)famous 1994 top 3 world cup players, when Baggio, Romario and Stoichkov were named as the best 3 players in the world cup.

There was a serious school of thought that none of these 3 were actually the best player of their respective sides - Maldini, Dunga and Lethcov actually had super tournaments.

The tabs tell us we saw the best player in the world in the semis this week - I think we did but not on Tuesday.

Ronaldo proved his limitations and while Messi was super he lacked a cutting edge. For me, the best player of the 2 semis and arguably world best is one Michael Essien.

I was at Stamford Bridge a few years ago and saw him play in the fizzy cup against villa and he is immense. He caused Liverpool no end of problems last night from full back and in essence covered full back and midfield.

A machine.

[Risteard]

Certainly those two and Kaka, although Í haven't seen much of him lately.
Essien is well capable of dominating games.
Watching Messi in full flight is one of my favourite ways of spending time.

Genuinely think Ronaldinho is only short in the getting-his-head-right department.
Could be a revelation at Milan.

One person that's always forgotten in these debates is Ibrahim Iyane Thiam. Proper order too.

[Closed Account 2]

At the moment...Andrei Arshevin. If I was a defender I would have nightmares about dealing with him. He can just tear down the flank and unleash deadly crosses. Whenever he puts the ball in the box it's always in that key zone just on the edge of the 6 yard box, or he'll cut it back from the dead ball line to the penalty spot, it's pretty much impossible to defend. Got a great shot too.

[Pike B]

At the moment...Andrei Arshevin. If I was a defender I would have nightmares about dealing with him. He can just tear down the flank and unleash deadly crosses. Whenever he puts the ball in the box it's always in that key zone just on the edge of the 6 yard box, or he'll cut it back from the dead ball line to the penalty spot, it's pretty much impossible to defend. Got a great shot too.
At a poor league though. You watch a lot of football in diverse leagues I'm sure but surely you can't rate him better than the top players in England Spain and Germany.

[shakermaker1982]

At the moment...Andrei Arshevin. If I was a defender I would have nightmares about dealing with him. He can just tear down the flank and unleash deadly crosses. Whenever he puts the ball in the box it's always in that key zone just on the edge of the 6 yard box, or he'll cut it back from the dead ball line to the penalty spot, it's pretty much impossible to defend. Got a great shot too.

I tried to buy him on FM2008 but too expensive!

[DmanDmythDledge]

Essien is a great player but not the best in the world. Madness that Chelsea play their best midfielder RB at times.

[cartman]

Essien is a great player but not the best in the world. Madness that Chelsea play their best midfielder RB at times.

if i was to pick the 2 best central midfielders in the world over the last year or 2 years, essien would definitely be there.. unbelievable player with incredible workrate..
when you see all the kudos the likes of ronaldo gets in comparison to someone like essien, it would make you want to gawk:(

[gustavo]

Best 11 in World today in my view..
1 Casillas 2 Zanetti 3 Evra 4 Ferdinand 5 Carvalho 6 Essien 7 Ronaldo 8 Kaka 9 Torres 10 Messi 11 Rooney.

Hard to argue with that team really

[Pike B]

Hard to argue with that team really
Agreed. Top team. Maybe Dunne instead of Ferdinand!!!:D

[Pike B]

Best player in the World last and current.
http://www.bestsoccershop.com/sample/CWC/004/002.jpg

[Green_Hoop]

Best player in the World last and current.
http://www.bestsoccershop.com/sample/CWC/004/002.jpg

Who Cafu and Káka?Wouldn't agree there now..

Best player now is Messi,last best player was Ronaldinho.

[Hibs4Ever]

Best 11 in World today in my view..
1 Casillas 2 Zanetti 3 Evra 4 Ferdinand 5 Carvalho 6 Essien 7 Ronaldo 8 Kaka 9 Torres 10 Messi 11 Rooney.


Hard to argue with that team really


Agreed. Top team.





ROONEY!!! I wouldn't have him NEAR the best team in the world. He a striker in one of best teams in the world, and never comes close to being top scorer. His international competative goal scoring record is woeful

[superfrank]

His international competative goal scoring record is woeful
And his European one as well.

[stojkovic]

Best 11 in World today in my view..
1 Casillas 2 Zanetti 3 Evra 4 Ferdinand 5 Carvalho 6 Essien 7 Ronaldo 8 Kaka 9 Torres 10 Messi 11 Rooney.

Obviously a Utd fan.

Wouldnt have Ferdinand or Rooney in there. Also five attacking players. No balance.

Cambiasso in for Rooney
Cannavaro in for the junkie

[Sam_Heggy]

Messi is best player in the world at the minute, a sheer joy to watch.

Best team would be:

Cassilas / Reina / Cech - maybe Reina for me but I would see more of him to judge.

in defence-

Ferdinand wouldn't have a patch on Vidic or Cannavaro or John Terry or even Nesta for that matter. Evra or Clichy would be decent options for lft back but defensively Maldina is still the master. Right back Zanetti would be my choice too, Zambrotta comes close though.

midfield-

Essien, Xavi, Iniesta, Pirlo and Fabergas all stand out. Rosicky, Deco, Ribery and Ronaldo all in for either side of mid.

forwards-
Only question is who joins Messi? Torres, Van Nistelroy, Kaka, Berbatov, Drogba or so many others in world football its hard to pick, ill go with Torres though, class act.

So-
Reina
Maldini
Nesta
Vidic
Zanetti
Ronaldo
Xavi
Pirlo
Rosicky
Messi
Torres

wouldn't be too much to stop that team imo.

[Morbo]

Reina
Cliche
Carvalho
Vidic
Zanetti
Ronaldo
Essen
Fabregas
Messi
Drogba
Torres

[Risteard]

Deco doesn't play on the sides of midfield Sam

Casillas

Sergio Ramos
Ricardo Carvalho
Fabio Cannavaro
Philip Lahm

Essien
Mascherano
Riquelme - still

Messi
Drogba
Kaka




Subs
Buffon
Danny Alves
Matterazzi - he's actually good
Iniesta
Ronaldo
Villa
Torres

On compassionate leave - Ronaldinho, Etoó
skewed in favour of la liga and the premiership seen as thats what i watch.