Throughout history, some football players will forever be remembered for the beautiful memories and impact they’ve had. On the other hand, there are players who are underrated heroes. It’s not because they lack effort; rather, underrated stars simply don’t receive the recognition they deserve and are often overlooked by the media, fans, and other stakeholders. Here, bestsoccertips.com will introduce you to the top 10 underrated soccer players today.
Top 10 best underrated football players
10. Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel Batistuta is one of the most prolific goal scorers of all time. He could score from almost anywhere on the field, and his strength and fierceness allowed him to utilize this skill to the fullest. Dubbed “Batigol” after scoring 300 goals in 494 matches and another 56 goals in 78 matches for Argentina.
Batistuta won the Copa America twice with Argentina, as well as two tournament championships and a domestic cup. His best performances were with Fiorentina in Italy. He might have been more famous for his talent if he played for a bigger team during his prime.
9. Dani Carvajal
Does Daniel Carvajal rank among the top wing-backs in the world? If not, it’s likely due to poor coverage in the media he receives. Rumors of departure, prolonged injuries, and a subpar season have led us to believe that the Spanish player is no longer world-class, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Carvajal remains crucial for Real Madrid, with his strong performances in the previous season even helping the club secure their second La Liga title since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2013. He has made a total of 291 appearances, scoring six goals and providing 50 assists while making a defensive impact with his strong defensive abilities.
8. Ronald Koeman
Although the greatness of Ronald Koeman has almost been forgotten, someday he will be listed among my stars.
Koeman was an exceptional center-back due to his strength and intelligence. However, like many great players in his position before him, he was also a fantastic footballer. His passing ability could rival some of the top playmakers in the world, and he utilized this skill to great effect when taking his free kicks. With 227 goals in 652 matches, he might be the highest-scoring defender to date. In fact, he topped all goal scorers in the 1994 European Championship (now the Champions League).
Both the Netherlands’ lone European Championship victory in 1988 and PSV Eindhoven’s lone European Cup victory that year were led by Ronald Koeman. He won another European Cup with Barcelona and eight club career championships.
7. Fernando Torres
The illustrious career of Spanish forward Fernando Torres is marked by unprecedented success. After beginning his career at Atletico Madrid, Torres moved to Liverpool in 2007. As a result, he became a beloved figure at Anfield before making the difficult decision to depart for a controversial £50 million transfer to Chelsea in 2011.
Torres won the FA Cup, Europa League, and Champions League with the West London club despite not reaching his peak form while wearing blue. Fernando Torres won three major tournaments with Spain: Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012. In both the 2008 and 2012 finals, he scored decisive goals. With 38 goals for the national team, he ranks third all-time.
During his most prolific goal-scoring period, he set a new Liverpool record as the fastest player to score 50 goals for the club. In his debut season at Anfield, he became the first Liverpool player to score over 20 goals in a season since Robbie Fowler in 1995–96.
6. Sergio Busquets
When it comes to Barcelona FC, the first names that come to mind are Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Xavi, or Ronaldinho, but Sergio Busquets could feature among the top football players. However, most professional observers agree that he is an important player for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
In the early stages of his career, starting with his La Liga debut in 2008 (Barcelona vs. Racing Santander, September 13, 2008), he was often criticized for simulations that became the source of many famous memes online. Furthermore, he seemed like a professionally average player, someone who simply did his job without any creative flair to distinguish matches and footballers.
However, after several years with Barcelona, Busquets has proven to be an indispensable member of the team. His strengths lie in accuracy and quick thinking; according to FIFA.com and UEFA.com statistics, 95% of his passes are accurate.
5. Clarence Seedorf
According to Champions, UEFA’s official magazine, Clarence Seedorf was previously ranked seventh in the Top 20 Greatest Champions League Players of All Time and received 14 individual awards, including the UEFA Best Midfielder award for the 2006-07 season and the FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball.
Surprisingly, very few top rankings feature Seedorf, and this is true even after his retirement as a player in 2013. He made some major mistakes and experienced failures, but he remains one of the greatest players with unique accolades. For example, he was the youngest professional player at Ajax and the only footballer to win the Champions League with three different clubs: Ajax, Real Madrid, and AC Milan.
4. Bastian Schweinsteiger
Schweinsteiger’s global ranking may be lower than what he deserves due to his underwhelming experience at Manchester United because of injuries he suffered during matches and training. Health issues also prevented him from performing at his best in the 2012 UEFA Championship. He received very little criticism from football fans, the media, and other players, but ultimately, he remains an outstanding player for Bayern Munich.
Schweinsteiger may not be considered one of the greatest players in the world, but Germany treats him better. He was honored by Joachim Low, who declared Bastian as one of Germany’s key midfielders. His fans mainly appreciate his unique ability to anticipate opponents’ tactics and maintain overall control of the game. He demonstrated a combination of tactical prowess and skill. Bastian was honored as German Footballer of the Year and received numerous awards from UEFA and FIFA.
3. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, honored as the Dutch Football Talent of 2003-2004, is best known for his performances in the European League. However, his improvements in international play with the Dutch national team are also noteworthy: 42 goals in 78 matches and 48 victories against different teams in the league.
He has scored 400 goals in his career, bringing him close to the list of the top 10 strikers in the world. He hasn’t become a big football star, but the importance of his role for the national team and Ajax, a significant football club in his striker career, cannot be denied.
2. Olivier Giroud
Returning to Olivier Giroud, although not highly rated for the most part, the French player has played an important role in the success of every team he has been a part of. The 36-year-old player has scored 258 goals for clubs after 640 appearances and has won over 10 championships.
Olivier Giroud proved his worth against Poland on Sunday, scoring his 52nd goal record to help France become the all-time leading goal scorer for the country. Thierry Henry, the legendary striker of Arsenal and Barcelona, previously held this record.
Among his other achievements, he has won one Ligue 1 title with Montpellier, three FA Cups with Arsenal, one UEFA Champions League title with Chelsea, and one Serie A title with Milan. Meanwhile, his biggest achievement may be winning the FIFA World Cup with France in 2018.
1. Thomas Muller
Thomas Muller is a contradictory football personality. He doesn’t play in any classic style and doesn’t have perfect physical characteristics. He’s often criticized for lacking qualities like athleticism or accuracy, but his style of play is a strong foundation for both Bayern and the national team.
His skill lies in playing multiple roles and predicting how the game will transition between them. He’s not a solitary player acting independently but someone with a genuine tactical intelligence. Thomas Muller has been at the Allianz Arena since 2000 and has made over 600 appearances for the club since his debut in 2008.
Müller ended the 2010 World Cup with 5 goals and 3 assists, earning him the Golden Boot and the Best Young Player award of the tournament. The Bayern Munich star had an emotional high on his birthday after his house was robbed during the match against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Conclude
In conclusion, the football players mentioned in this list, whether widely celebrated or less recognized, all have had significant impacts on the development and success of football. Through individual achievements, tactical flexibility, and team spirit, they have contributed to the glorious journeys of the teams they represented. From goal-scoring records to prestigious titles, each player has left a distinct mark in the hearts of fans and will be forever remembered in football history.
