Who is the current best player in the world?

SadlerMUFC

Thinks for himself
Joined
Dec 7, 2017
Messages
5,746
Location
Niagara Falls, Canada
Was just meant to be an example for you to understand what " class is permanent" is used for ( since you used it as an argument) ,but you still dont understand it , otherwise you would know the comparison was legit , not matter if retired or not.

As for you last point. Good for you, but this is not a indicator for being the best player btw. Anyway, I strongly disagree . Fair enough, move on.
That "class is permanent" comment was meant for the suggestion that Messi may have taken a step backwards, which is absolutely ridiculous. Bad form and slowing down are two totally different things. Will it happen one day? Of course it will. Has that happened now? Not a chance. I just don't think he gives a sh*t about Barca anymore...
 

Adam-Utd

Part of first caf team to complete Destiny raid
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Messages
39,954
I'm sure there is probably some tongue firmly planted in cheek with suggesting Traore as "the best in the world" but I find it amazing how so many people rate Traore so highly when he can't even get into the starting 11 at Wolves, even with Jota gone...
He's the definition of a highlight player. Looks great on MOTM when he finally beats 2/3 players and puts in a cross for an assist, but will go nowhere and give the ball away for the rest of the 90.

He's an impact sub at best.
 

romufc

Full Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
12,555
I'm sure there is probably some tongue firmly planted in cheek with suggesting Traore as "the best in the world" but I find it amazing how so many people rate Traore so highly when he can't even get into the starting 11 at Wolves, even with Jota gone...
Just goes to show how many fans base a player based on form. He had a 3/4 month spell of great form and he was mentioned as a RW alternative for us. Would have costed £60m..
 

Gavinb33

Full Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
2,642
Location
Watching the TV or is it watching me
If we are taking current form

Lewandowski
Kane
Kimmich
Mane
Mbappe

As others have said its weird not talking about the usual suspects as it usually Messi or Ronaldo 1st or 2nd and then a distance to 3rd now its more of a pickem for the top spot.
 

InterFan1998

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 8, 2019
Messages
253
Supports
Internazionale
If there is one player I'd pick in my team for a big final, it'd be Sergio Ramos.
 

marktan

Full Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2017
Messages
6,907
You mean Real's run, where they should've gone out against Bayern, but the ref somehow pulled them through?

As for the second part of your comment: I thought as much.
Kagawa and Mikhi were pure system players, who worked great for Klopp's Dortmund, but failed elsewhere. It was always a bad idea to sign them.

If you want to look at an actually talented former Dortmund player, look at Aubameyang: Scored a ton of goals in the Bundesliga and now scores even more (!) in the Premier League.
All that said it still doesn't get over the point that Lewandowski has often not showed up in the CL against teams at their peak like Madrid, and only did last season when their opponents were weak (psg aside). One of the world's best strikers for sure but not the best player in the world for me.
 

ROFLUTION

Full Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
7,546
Location
Denmark
Never really understood how someone can be the best in the World in a crap / secondary league i.e Lewandowski, Mbappe, Neymar, Ronaldo.
 

GameOn

Full Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2014
Messages
443
Never really understood how someone can be the best in the World in a crap / secondary league i.e Lewandowski, Mbappe, Neymar, Ronaldo.
What kind of arrogant stance is that again?

Premier League teams have been shyte on the international stage for the better part of the last decade (2012-2017), yet nobody here dared to question the quality of our own teams or league.

Even last year Lewandowski absolutely demolished the glorious English sides he played against (5 goals, 5 assists in 3 games against Chelsea and Tottenham).

There's only a marginal difference in terms of "difficulty" between PL/La Liga/Bundesliga/Serie A.
 

simplyared

Full Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2017
Messages
4,349
Location
somewhere ouside the UK
I'm sure there is probably some tongue firmly planted in cheek with suggesting Traore as "the best in the world" but I find it amazing how so many people rate Traore so highly when he can't even get into the starting 11 at Wolves, even with Jota gone...
Agree with the OP. There is no obvious choice at present in today's football. I wouldn't fight my corner too much to defend my choice. Agreed isn't the best in the world looking at stats, goals, apps, trophies won etc etc. That said, for me he's up there with the best even so when it comes to individual skills, and strength combined with raw talent. He's impossible to get the ball off and can turn a match with blink of an eye. World class! (If he can get a coach who can utilize him 100%)
 

SadlerMUFC

Thinks for himself
Joined
Dec 7, 2017
Messages
5,746
Location
Niagara Falls, Canada
Agree with the OP. There is no obvious choice at present in today's football. I wouldn't fight my corner too much to defend my choice. Agreed isn't the best in the world looking at stats, goals, apps, trophies won etc etc. That said, for me he's up there with the best even so when it comes to individual skills, and strength combined with raw talent. He's impossible to get the ball off and can turn a match with blink of an eye. World class! (If he can get a coach who can utilize him 100%)
"World class" doesn't sit on the bench at a club like Wolves. If he were world class he would be the first name on the team sheet. Unless of course you are also saying that the players who play ahead of him are also world class...
 

KeanoMagicHat

Full Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
3,940
Never really understood how someone can be the best in the World in a crap / secondary league i.e Lewandowski, Mbappe, Neymar, Ronaldo.
Bundesliga and Serie A are secondary leagues? So there are 2 leagues in the world that matter that’s it? Madness. Bayern beat Barcelona 8-2 and Spurs 7-2 just in case you forgot.
 

simplyared

Full Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2017
Messages
4,349
Location
somewhere ouside the UK
"World class" doesn't sit on the bench at a club like Wolves. If he were world class he would be the first name on the team sheet. Unless of course you are also saying that the players who play ahead of him are also world class...
Think you're underestimating Wolves as an oufit tbh. I also did mean - world class if there is a coach/mentor somewhere who could fix him so he could perform under 95 mins of a football match. Which of course isn't the easiest of tasks.
 

Walrus

Oppressed White Male
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
11,156
Interesting that so few people are willing to nominate PL players. I would say that both Kane and Son should be right up there. Maybe Mane too. Fair play to Lewandowski though, he is putting up some incredible numbers right now.
 

GameOn

Full Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2014
Messages
443
Interesting that so few people are willing to nominate PL players. I would say that both Kane and Son should be right up there. Maybe Mane too. Fair play to Lewandowski though, he is putting up some incredible numbers right now.
Kane and Mané have outsider chances, but no way Son should be up there. Yes, he's on a great run of form currently, but he's simply not even close to being best-in-the-world material.
 

ROFLUTION

Full Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
7,546
Location
Denmark
Bundesliga and Serie A are secondary leagues? So there are 2 leagues in the world that matter that’s it? Madness. Bayern beat Barcelona 8-2 and Spurs 7-2 just in case you forgot.
Overall they really are quite secondary. 1-3 good teams pr league currently (Atalanta, Inter, Juve + Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig). After that, the level is quite mediocre or the tempo quite low. Just watching a Serie A game of Milan or some team like that is the recipe for falling asleep.

Bayern has one great team and works really well as a unit, and they beat a terrible Barca 8-2. That's not like beating the old Barca 8-2. But well, winning CL speaks for itself - they probably are the best team overall at the moment.

But isn't there some sort of criteria, that you can't just be the World's best footballer by scoring goals against Union Berlin, Freiburg, Bielefeld, Mainz, Augsburg, etc?

Can you then just be the World's best by only measuring by CL, as the league itself is dross? In CL your team then also even have a comparable advantage in, as you can rest up until a big game and don't have to play say Tottenham, Chelsea, United, Liverpool before or after a game? That would arguably overall make your performances better at the highest stage.
 

GameOn

Full Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2014
Messages
443
Overall they really are quite secondary. 1-3 good teams pr league currently (Atalanta, Inter, Juve + Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig). After that, the level is quite mediocre or the tempo quite low. Just watching a Serie A game of Milan or some team like that is the recipe for falling asleep.

Bayern has one great team and works really well as a unit, and they beat a terrible Barca 8-2. That's not like beating the old Barca 8-2. But well, winning CL speaks for itself - they probably are the best team overall at the moment.

But isn't there some sort of criteria, that you can't just be the World's best footballer by scoring goals against Union Berlin, Freiburg, Bielefeld, Mainz, Augsburg, etc?

Can you then just be the World's best by only measuring by CL, as the league itself is dross? In CL your team then also even have a comparable advantage in, as you can rest up until a big game and don't have to play say Tottenham, Chelsea, United, Liverpool before or after a game? That would arguably overall make your performances better at the highest stage.
Real, Bayern and Barca have been the best three teams this past decade by a country mile.

No PL team comes even close.

This "resting argument" is just bs. If you actually look at Bayern, they don't really rest their starters all that much.

A lot of fans here just massively overrate the PL. There are currently only two top teams (Pool, City) and a bunch of solid teams (us, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton) in the Prem, too.

It's the most competitive league, yes, but there really isn't that big of a gap in terms of quality compared to the other three top leagues.
 
Last edited:

SilentStrike

Full Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2014
Messages
617
Location
Netherlands
Supports
Feyenoord
Never really understood how someone can be the best in the World in a crap / secondary league i.e Lewandowski, Mbappe, Neymar, Ronaldo.
Bundesliga outperformed the Premier League in Europe for the better part of the past decade.

And last season the matchups between German and English teams ended in 6-0 for Germany with a goal difference of 21-3.

Besides being extremely arrogant you are beyond deluded as well. 21-3!! Let that sink in for a minute and then read your own post again to realize how stupid it is.

French league is quite poor though. German league is very strong and Serie A is finally looking good again as well.
 

Untd55

Full Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2018
Messages
1,516
This season - Kane: Goalscorer; Creator; Defender all in one. Like a swiss army knife.
 

SadlerMUFC

Thinks for himself
Joined
Dec 7, 2017
Messages
5,746
Location
Niagara Falls, Canada
Think you're underestimating Wolves as an oufit tbh. I also did mean - world class if there is a coach/mentor somewhere who could fix him so he could perform under 95 mins of a football match. Which of course isn't the easiest of tasks.
Not underestimating Wolves at all. They are a top 8 outfit and he can't make the starting 11...
 

InterFan1998

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 8, 2019
Messages
253
Supports
Internazionale
Real, Bayern and Barca have been the best three teams this past decade by a country mile.

No PL team comes even close.

This "resting argument" is just bs. If you actually look at Bayern, they don't really rest their starters all that much.

A lot of fans here just massively overrate the PL. There are currently only two top teams (Pool, City) and a bunch of solid teams (us, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton) in the Prem, too.

It's the most competitive league, yes, but there really isn't that big of a gap in terms of quality compared to the other three top leagues.
Agreed. People tend to overrate the EPL a lot. I see a lot of posts that will diminish Liverpool as being one of the best teams ever ( which I agree they're not) but then praise EPL as the most competitive league despite Liverpool beating all teams in the EPL without even playing that well last season. It seems the even when they play at 30% capacity they would beat 90% of all EPL teams.
 

Pink Moon

Full Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2009
Messages
8,279
Location
Glasgow
Supports
Celtic
If we are taking current form

Lewandowski
Kane
Kimmich
Mane
Mbappe

As others have said its weird not talking about the usual suspects as it usually Messi or Ronaldo 1st or 2nd and then a distance to 3rd now its more of a pickem for the top spot.
Incredibly overrated. I've yet to see him properly turn up in the CL and his end product still leaves a lot to be desired. Not even the best player in Paris.

Salah is better than Mane.
 

1966

Full Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Messages
418
Location
UK
Supports
England
All that said it still doesn't get over the point that Lewandowski has often not showed up in the CL against teams at their peak like Madrid, and only did last season when their opponents were weak (psg aside). One of the world's best strikers for sure but not the best player in the world for me.
His xG stats suggest that he's an above average finisher but also that the real reason he scores so many is the sheer volume of chances he gets. It makes sense to me, in that light, that he would struggle to have the same scoring impact against big European teams who give up far fewer chances.

It's controversial, maybe, but I reckon Kane's a better football player than Lewa.

(Not that it's the only metric that matters by a long shot but Kane shatters his xG every season with incredible consistency.)
 

NoPace

Full Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
9,340
Probably Lewandowski, Van Dijk (injured obviously so not really a valid choice I guess) or Messi.
 

Sleigh

Full Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2019
Messages
361
Supports
Leicester City
I’m going for Jamie Vardy! He’d score loads if he played for Bayern.
 

Rektsanwalt

Full Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
1,570
Supports
Schalke 04
I’m going for Jamie Vardy! He’d score loads if he played for Bayern.

Can't find any white text, although I still assume it's an obvious joke, I answer as if it wasn't one :nervous:.
Almost every above average striker would score loads if he played for Bayern which leads to the understanding that this fact can't determine whether someone is #1 or not. Obviously Vardy is above average by all standards and a great player. Does he make top20? Top30 for sure, I'd say.
 

ROFLUTION

Full Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
7,546
Location
Denmark
Real, Bayern and Barca have been the best three teams this past decade by a country mile.

No PL team comes even close.

This "resting argument" is just bs. If you actually look at Bayern, they don't really rest their starters all that much.

A lot of fans here just massively overrate the PL. There are currently only two top teams (Pool, City) and a bunch of solid teams (us, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton) in the Prem, too.

It's the most competitive league, yes, but there really isn't that big of a gap in terms of quality compared to the other three top leagues.
Now you're putting La Liga into the mix as a secondary league, which I never mentioned. I'm questioning France, Italy and Germany, albeit Germany is probably the better of the 3. I don't see how Neymar or Mbappé can become the World's best player when facing opponents like that week in and week out, and doing it 10 times a year at best in CL.

And it's not the 1-3 top teams I'm questioning. It's their opponents. It goes without saying that leagues and at clubs where money is less, also doesn't have the best players. Havertz, Werner, this year are good examples that where the money is, is also where a lot of big players go, which adds further quality to say Premier League (Unless you have a wage-magnet like PSG or super status like Bayern)

And of course you rest yourself and don't go 110% if you're leading 4-0 against Mainz at half time. You might have given 110% the first half to get to that lead, but in the Premier League, you would have to give 110% against say City or even Wolves/Everton/Southampton for 90 minutes. If you don't, you lose your shot at the title.

In other competitions of sport, it would just be strange to have the World's apparently best athletes compete mostly against mediocre opponents over the course of a year.
 

KeanoMagicHat

Full Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
3,940
Now you're putting La Liga into the mix as a secondary league, which I never mentioned. I'm questioning France, Italy and Germany, albeit Germany is probably the better of the 3. I don't see how Neymar or Mbappé can become the World's best player when facing opponents like that week in and week out, and doing it 10 times a year at best in CL.

And it's not the 1-3 top teams I'm questioning. It's their opponents. It goes without saying that leagues and at clubs where money is less, also doesn't have the best players. Havertz, Werner, this year are good examples that where the money is, is also where a lot of big players go, which adds further quality to say Premier League (Unless you have a wage-magnet like PSG or super status like Bayern)

And of course you rest yourself and don't go 110% if you're leading 4-0 against Mainz at half time. You might have given 110% the first half to get to that lead, but in the Premier League, you would have to give 110% against say City or even Wolves/Everton/Southampton for 90 minutes. If you don't, you lose your shot at the title.

In other competitions of sport, it would just be strange to have the World's apparently best athletes compete mostly against mediocre opponents over the course of a year.
This Bayern team would get 100+ points in the Premier League, look how they destroyed Chelsea and Spurs. Leipzig also beat Spurs and Dortmund would match and probably beat a number of the top 4/6 teams in England.