The Fans Football Blog3

author: Paul Jones
source: The Times
date: 25 March 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





At the "World Player Of The Year" awards last season, five men lined up to be photographed; and in the following days press, one paper ran a story using that image, adding the sub heading of "The best players in the world....and Xavi". Not only is that grossly disrespectful to a player of Xavi's calibre, but highlights the lack of footballing knowledge within the industry to make such a remark.

Ronaldo, Messi, Kaka, Torres and Xavi were the five players involved, with Xavi being the only midfielder amongst them. He's not a defensive midfield player, but a creative player with a superb touch and vision, balance of a gymnast and makes things happen. Yet, he was dismissed as inferior to the rest by the press because he doesn't score as many goals.

Steven Gerrard just missed out on that top table last year; I don't think he will this time around. Raul and his Real Madrid side applauded him off the pitch at Anfield, and he is now respected worldwide for the brilliant talent that he is. This praise has been drawn due to his goalscoring and attacking play in the role he now occupies, behind Fernando Torres.

Torres has spent most of this season on the sidelines, but is the best striker in the world in my opinion. Ronaldo hasn't had half the season he had last year, yet he's still one of the most skillful and talented footballers on the planet. I can't stand his arrogance, or his posturing and gesturing, but he is a world class player of which there is no denial.

Messi is out of this world, and argument is often put forward in comparing these two players when discussing the best player on the planet. For me; Messi wins hands down every single time. The question people should now be asking when this topic rears its head is: Messi or Gerrard?

These two are now head and shoulders above anything else in the modern game. Messi's brilliance on the ball as he glides through defences week in, week out, showing strength, balance and trickery in equal measure, is undeniable. The ball does literally stick to his feet. The best player since Maradona, every time he picks up the ball you expect fireworks, and he is still only a baby. He could become the best player of all time. He's that good.

Zidane is up there for me as an all time great; so when he publically states that he believes Steven Gerrard to be the best player in the world, you have to take note.

1. Messi
2. Gerrard

The rest don't really matter at the moment.

read the full and original article here


Read more:
Four Barcelona players in FIFA top ten
Messi and Xavi on FIFA worldplayer shortlist
Alves second best player in the world