‘The 100 Best Players in the World’

British football magazine FourFourTwo, just published (in the November issue) the list of the “100 Best Players in the World.” The choices are based on the input of the magazine’s journalists. Of course it will lead to all kinds of debate as “lists” are always subjective and don’t mean anything beyond getting fans talking. Generally I agree with the list. If you haven’t seen the list, here’s the top ten (I’ve listed them by country, since that’s an affiliation that does not change):


(1) Lionel Messi (Argentina)

(2) Ronaldo (Portugal)

(3) Xavi and Iniesta (Spain)

(5) David Villa (Spain)

(6) Fernando Torres (Spain)

(7) Steven Gerrard (England)

(8) Kaka (Brazil)

(9) Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

(10) Wayne Rooney (England)

Since I am an Afrophile when it comes to football, I was a bit surprised by only Eto’o’s inclusion in the top ten. So who were the other Africans who made into the top 100? Not much. Didier Drogba of Cote d’Ivoire came in at number 14, Michael Essien (Ghana, 18), Yaya Toure (of Barcelona and Cote d’Ivoire, 39), Freddie Kanoute (Mali, 43) and Maroume Chamakh (Morocco) at 81.

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