Who is the best player of the 21st century? Throughout the 21st century, football has witnessed the emergence of bright stars, players who have left a deep impression on fans and the history of the king sport. With outstanding talents, impressive records, and remarkable achievements, “who is the best player of the 21st century?” has become a hot topic in debates among football lovers. Although there are many potential candidates, the comparison between names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and many other legends always attracts attention and endless debate. Let’s find out with Bestsoccertips through the article below!
Who is the best player of the 21st century?
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who is the best player of the 21st century
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has long been known as a talented and individual striker, but has also been labeled “unlucky” in the Champions League. Although he has played for many big teams and participated in important matches in this prestigious tournament, he has yet to touch the European silver cup. However, if anyone doubts the class or true talent of the Swedish striker, that is certainly a big mistake, because what Ibrahimovic has shown in his career is the clearest proof of his outstanding ability.
Over the past 13 years, Ibrahimovic has affirmed his position by winning a series of domestic titles at the top prestigious clubs in Europe. He has reaped glory at every team he has played for, from Ajax in the Netherlands, Juventus and Inter Milan in Italy, Barcelona in Spain, AC Milan to Paris Saint-Germain in France. Not only conquering titles, Ibrahimovic is also remembered for his spectacular goals with his personal mark, in which the most outstanding “bicycle kick” against England in 2012 – a moment that shocked the football world and left a deep mark on his career.
2. Kaka – who is the best player of the 21st century
The player who won the Ballon d’Or in 2007, Kaka, had a brilliant time shining in the AC Milan shirt. He was a key factor in the Rossoneri squad, contributing greatly to the team winning the Champions League in the 2006-2007 season. It was Kaka’s creativity, exquisite technique and ability to create breakthroughs that made him one of the best midfielders of the era, captivating football fans around the world.
His outstanding contributions both on and off the pitch helped Kaka make it into the list of “100 most influential people in the world” voted by Time magazine in 2008. However, in the summer of 2009, the Brazilian midfielder moved to Real Madrid for a record transfer fee at that time. However, his career at the Royal team was not as smooth as expected when he had difficulty asserting himself and could not gain a place in the first team. After many years of struggling, Kaka decided to return to his “old home” San Siro at the beginning of this season, hoping to recreate the peak form he had when playing for AC Milan.
3. Thierry Henry – who is the best player of the 21st century
Thierry Henry is considered an untouchable symbol in Arsenal history. Wearing the Gunners shirt during the peak of his career, he became a nightmare for every defense thanks to his speed, technique and excellent finishing ability. His excellent performances helped Henry win the European Golden Boot award for two consecutive years, 2004 and 2005. This is a rare achievement, affirming his position not only in the Premier League but also on the continental stage.
However, the most regrettable thing in Thierry Henry’s illustrious career is that he has never won the Ballon d’Or award. In 2003, Henry came very close to this noble individual award after an explosive season in Arsenal’s shirt, helping the team reach the FA Cup final and win the Premier League runners-up. However, he was only second to Pavel Nedved, the star of Juventus, who won thanks to his impressive performance in Serie A and helped the Turin team advance to the Champions League final. The moment of missing out on the Ballon d’Or that year is always considered the biggest regret of one of the greatest strikers in the history of world football.
4. Ronaldo – who is the best player of the 21st century
Ronaldo, the player known by the nickname “Il Fenomeno,” is a special phenomenon in the history of world football. His career began to explode in the 1990s, when at a very young age, Ronaldo quickly became a bright star, attracting the attention of the whole world. However, after the promising early years, he suddenly “disappeared” for a while due to serious injuries. However, at the beginning of the new century, Ronaldo made a strong comeback and became the leader of the Brazilian team, helping the Selecao win the 2002 World Cup, a memorable achievement and reaffirming his class.
Ronaldo is not only famous for his extraordinary talent but also for his impressive personal achievements. He won two Ballon d’Or titles in 1997 and 2002, becoming one of the greatest players in football history. In particular, Ronaldo still holds the record as the top scorer in World Cup finals, which further solidified his position in the hearts of fans. Despite many ups and downs in his career, “Il Fenomeno” is still an immortal symbol of world football.
5. Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta deserves to be considered one of the greatest technical masters in the history of world football. The Spanish midfielder is not only a great talent but also an important link in the success of both Barcelona and the Spanish national team in the 21st century. With his excellent ball coordination, skillful technique and sharp tactical vision, Iniesta has become a symbol of beautiful and intelligent football.
During his career, Iniesta won a total of 21 titles with Barcelona, including three Champions League titles, affirming his influence on the biggest club in Catalonia. Notably, in 2010, Iniesta scored the only goal in the 2010 World Cup final, helping Spain overcome the Netherlands to become world champions for the first time. However, the most regrettable thing in Iniesta’s career is that he has never won the Ballon d’Or, although there were years when he almost achieved this status. With the contributions and talent he has shown, Iniesta is completely deserving of this noble individual title.
6. Xavi
It would be a huge omission if this list did not mention Xavi Hernandez – a close teammate of Andres Iniesta and an indispensable factor in the resounding successes of Barcelona as well as the Spanish national team. Xavi is not only a great player but also the soul of the playing style of both teams. Although he may not have the ideal body like other players, with a modest height, Xavi stands out with his excellent ball control ability and is one of the most accurate passers in the world.
Xavi has built a solid empire with Barcelona, helping the team dominate European and world football for many years. His successful passing rate has always been at the top, contributing to the success of Barcelona in the golden years. Fans are currently looking forward to Xavi following in the footsteps of his old teacher Pep Guardiola, when he decides to leave the field and move into coaching. With his talent and deep understanding of football, Xavi is fully capable of recreating the success on the coaching bench as Guardiola did.
7. Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho is one of the great talents of world football, standing out with his beautiful technical handling, captivating fans with every step. During his 5 years playing for Barcelona, ”Rô vẩu” left a deep impression, scoring 94 goals and creating 81 assists in 214 appearances. These impressive numbers not only reflect his individual talent but also greatly contributed to the success of Blaugrana in the glorious years.
Ronaldinho’s achievements at Barcelona helped the team win two La Liga championships and one Champions League, becoming one of the most important players in the history of the club. On a personal level, he won the Ballon d’Or in 2005, cementing his place in world football. After two years at AC Milan, Ronaldinho returned to his native Brazil and continued to prove his talent by helping Atletico Mineiro win the Copa Libertadores in the 2013 season, an impressive achievement in his career.
8. Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane, the famous playmaker of the French team, is considered one of the most talented players in the history of world football. With his excellent ability to coordinate the game, Zidane was not only a shining star of the French national team but also an important pillar in the success of many clubs, especially Real Madrid. After joining Los Blancos from Juventus in 2001 for a world record fee, Zidane helped the Spanish team win their ninth Champions League title, a historic victory and their most recent title in the European arena.
Zidane is known for his smooth, graceful yet extremely effective handling of the ball. He has the ability to control the tempo of the game and create memorable moments with his superb technique. However, what fans remember Zidane most for is his controversial headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final. Although he did not win the tournament, Zidane’s actions in that match have become an unforgettable part of his legendary career.
9. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo’s path to glory really began when he joined Manchester United in 2003. Here, the Portuguese player has reaped all the individual and collective titles, creating a brilliant career. One of the most memorable milestones was in 2008, when he won the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, affirming his position as one of the best players in the world.
In the summer of 2009, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid for a then-record fee of £80 million, marking an important turning point in his career. Since then, he has scored at a terrifying rate, reaching more than 1 goal per game for Los Blancos. To this day, Ronaldo is still the biggest hope for the Santiago Bernabeu team in their journey to conquer La Decima – the 10th Champions League title, a goal that he is trying his best to help the team complete.
10. Lionel Messi
There is no phrase that can accurately describe the talent of Lionel Messi, a player that world football can only find in very rare cases. Only 26 years old, but the Argentine striker has conquered a series of individual and collective achievements, making him a great symbol of modern football. Messi is not only a shining star of Barcelona, but also considered the best player in the world, with stable performance and impressive scoring ability. With 21 major and minor titles in Barcelona’s shirt and four Ballon d’Or awards, Messi has affirmed his position, surpassing many other legends to become one of the greatest players in football history.
However, what global football fans are still eagerly waiting for is that Messi will lead the Argentine team to glory in the World Cup, the most prestigious tournament in football. If Messi can help Argentina win the title, it will be a memorable milestone, and also the moment when the public opinion about the comparison between him and the legendary Diego Maradona will be broken. Messi’s position will be affirmed not only at the club level but also at the international level, and he will write his name in the history of world football as one of the best players of all time, alongside other great names.
Conclusion
Above, we have introduced to you the question “who is the best player of the 21st century?”, a topic that is always controversial and attracts great attention from the football fan community. Although Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the two most prominent names, choosing who is truly the best still depends on personal views and different evaluation criteria. Regardless of the result, it is undeniable that both Messi and Ronaldo have together written legendary pages in 21st century football.
See more: Top 8 who will win the ballon d’or 2024: Who will be honored?
