Who Are the Best Football Players at the Moment?
In recent seasons, football fans have watched world-class players continually deliver out on the field. As such, it’s now arguably more difficult than ever before to decisively name the world’s best competitors. However, there are a handful who stand out from the rest. So, let’s look at a few of the current best players in football.
Lionel Messi
Although debate will long rage on over the superior competitor between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, few can deny that the Argentine has a certain flair that few others possess. Even though the 33-year-old doesn’t have an international honour to his name, there can be no doubt that he’s a generational talent. Since being handed his league debut under Frank Rijkaard at just 17, the Rosario-born forward has re-written the history books, becoming the world’s highest-paid footballer, as we wrote at blacksportsonline.com. Currently, Messi has six Balon d’Or awards to his name, more than any other player. Not only that, but he also holds the record for the most La Liga goals in the competition’s history, scoring 447 in 492 appearances, according to Sports Show.
Even though the two-time UEFA Men’s Player of the Year didn’t enjoy his most prolific season in 2020-21, he still found the back of the net on 25 occasions in the league. Furthermore, he chipped in with a further 22 assists, giving him a 47-goal involvement in 33 matches. In turn, he was La Liga’s top scorer in 2019-20, beating Karim Benzema by four goals. Although Messi is getting older, his level doesn’t appear to have dropped. In the first 22 matches of the 2020-21 campaign, he had 18 top-flight goals to his name and five assists.
Cristiano Ronaldo
As has been the case for almost two decades, it’s impossible to mention Messi without making a case for Ronaldo. Even though the Portuguese international has one fewer Balon d’Or to his name, he still has the second most of all time, two more than Johann Cruyff, Marco van Basten, and Michel Platini. Much like the Argentine, the Juventus winger isn’t slowing down with age. Last season, the 36-year-old attacker scored 31 goals in Serie A and set-up a further six, as per Transfermarkt.
Over the years, Ronaldo has had to alter his on-field style to maximise his influence. Thus far, he’s evolved incredibly effectively. Under Andrea Pirlo, the former Manchester United winger plays as a central striker. From both an individual and collective standpoint, this is serving the Old Lady well. In his opening 19 Serie A appearances in 2020-21, the Funchal-born striker has 20 goals and two assists. Not only that, but he also has a five-goal involvement in as many matches in the UEFA Champions League.
While, of course, Messi has played a pivotal role in attracting new fans, Ronaldo has unlocked the potential of diverse markets. Along with playing for Real Madrid, the Portuguese international’s time at Manchester United helped enhance football’s popularity in Asia. To date, the Red Devils are one of the most supported teams in the region, with the continent boasting a dedicated football audience. As such, Asia has since embraced sports betting, with a number of the best sports betting platforms at Asiabet.org covering a wide range of markets. At bonus-offering platforms like ComeOn, where players receive money back on their first lost bet, prospective bettors can explore opportunities relating to the Premier League, as well as Serie A. In turn, this allows local football fans to invest in Ronaldo’s 2020-21 season.
Robert Lewandowski
Although there a handful of honourable mentions, like Mohamed Salah, Kevin de Bruyne, and Kylian Mbappe, few can argue that Robert Lewandowski isn’t a top-three player in world football at present. It’s a testament to the Polish international’s recent form that, in 2020, he collected the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award and the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year accolade. Last season, the 32-year-old played a pivotal role in firing Bayern Munich to a famous treble.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/rKHKqDf9qOUWho Are the Best Football Players at the Moment?
Across all competitions during the 2019-20 season, the 32-year-old scored 55 goals in 47 appearances. Of those, 15 came in the Champions League. In a similar fashion to both Ronaldo and Messi, Lewandowski has started the new campaign in a rich vein of form. Thus far, the Bayern forward has found the net on 26 occasions in 21 top-flight matches.
Who is the Best?
In their own right, each of the above players has a case in the world’s best player argument. In years gone by, to suggest that someone other than Messi or Ronaldo topped the sport would be absurd. However, that’s no longer the case. In favour of Lewandowski, his contributions took Bayern to domestic and European success in 2019-20, which many other players failed to do. As such, it’s tricky to look beyond the Polish international.