Who is the world's finest football player? The solution will never be reached, never be entirely resolved, and never be definitively decided.
Naturally, we felt it would be a good idea to attempt to compile a list of the greatest of the best in international football.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have ruled the roost for most of the last two decades, but their reign is under increasing danger from the next generation of players with lofty ambitions.
10. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
After spending nearly a decade securely in the top two, Ronaldo is one of the major movers on this list.
As he enters the last gambits of his career, it's reasonable to say his finest days are behind him, but there's no shame in that, and he remains a formidable weapon in United's armory.
Ronaldo has progressed from a pacy winger to a talisman center striker, and he remains one of the best in the business at holding his calm and scoring late-game goals.
9. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
It's difficult to draw straight comparisons between defenders, midfielders, and forwards, but Alexander-strength Arnold's is that he can play in all three.
He seldom gets caught out at the rear, knows when to glide in and out of possession inside the center of the field, and when he turns on the turbochargers, he can scythe down the line and produce spectacular crosses on command.
Alexander-Arnold is the finest full-back in the world, and his consistent effect on games has been a big part of Liverpool's recent success. What's the best part? He's only 23 years old.
8. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
After nearly two decades in the game, Benzema has made a strong comeback to the list, continuing to enjoy an Indian summer.
The Real Madrid star has been passed over in recent years in favor of Galactico-style big-money players, but they always come back to the dependable Frenchman, who is having one of the greatest seasons of his career in 2021/22.
He didn't make the list because of his 17 goals in 21 La Liga games this season; he had three consecutive 20-goal seasons with a slew of assists previous to this one, demonstrating his hard ethic, altruism, and importance in deciding Madrid's success.
7. Harry Kane (Tottenham)
We realize this one will take some flak, but for all of Harry Kane's difficulties in 2021/22, he is simply one of the finest strikers in the world and fully deserving of his place at the top table in terms of global skill.
When Kane has played more than 30 Premier League games for Tottenham in a season, he has consistently scored more than 20 goals. Despite being severely limited by injuries over the previous campaigns, he nevertheless managed to rack up significant numbers.
However, the England talisman is more than simply numbers. His passing range, skill, vision, and playmaking ability distinguish him from nearly every other striker on the globe. He is a phenomenal athlete who deserves to have prizes in his locker.
6. Erling Haaland (Dortmund)
We get at the first player on the list, who has a very good chance of reaching the coveted No. 1 slot on this list within the next several years.
Since breaking onto the professional football scene, Haaland has been nothing short of spectacular. He was a prolific performer for Red Bull Salzburg and is now making a mockery of the Bundesliga in a Dortmund shirt.
At 6'4", he is a force to be reckoned with. Haaland scored 72 goals in 71 league games during two and a half seasons, from the summer of 2019 to the beginning of 2022. He is destined for greatness.
5. Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
Kylian Mbappéis without a doubt Haaland's major rival for the title of "greatest player in the world." The top four players on this ranking are all 29 or older, ensuring that the Frenchman will continue to dominate for many years.
He has the kind of acceleration that would put Doc Brown's DeLorean to shame, and he already has 88 goals in 100 PSG league games and 24 goals in 53 France national team appearances at the age of 23.
4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
As far as sheer structure, Salah is presumably No.2 on the planet at the present moment, however, we're attempting to consider an entire scope of rules here.
Salah's immediate running could be considered simple by footballing big talkers, however, there's no denying his viability. There are not many better players on the planet at selecting the ball up wide and driving across - or into - the crate at speed.
He is Liverpool's charm, their symbol, their Egyptian lord. He might have bloomed later in his vocation than numerous hotshots names, however, he will go down as one of the unequaled Premier League greats, undoubtedly.
3. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
Salah should be ahead of De Bruyne in terms of raw form, but in terms of the whole package, skill-set, technical ability, physical attributes, and mental toughness, De Bruyne may be the world's No. 1 footballer today.
He is the finest football crosser in Premier League history, with some of the most spectacular passes you're ever likely to watch. He can not only create goals, but he can also remove nets from their stanchions.
This is all well and good, but De Bruyne's surprise quickness and physicality set him apart from the pack of comparable guys. The Belgian is stronger than you might anticipate, and he is a quick mover with the football when he is fully charged. He simply has it all.
2. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
There is no denying that Lewandowski is the most in-form player in the world right now. He has been for quite some time. He hasn't won a Ballon d'Or in his berserk career, which seems like a tremendous disgrace.
The Polish legend possesses a well-balanced mix of speed, strength, and technical aptitude, and his boxing movement is superb. He's always on target with his placement, and there's no one you'd rather put your faith in a one-on-one situation.
We understand that raw metrics aren't everything, but we'll leave you with some red-hot Lewandowski data to chew on. He has 328 goals in 357 appearances for Bayern Munich in all competitions, including 41 Bundesliga goals in just 29 games last season. This season, he's also averaging more than a goal per game.
1. Lionel Messi (PSG)
"However, Ronaldo has slid to tenth place?" I can hear you sobbing. It's impossible to deny that Lionel Messi hasn't exactly lit up Paris this season, but a half-season of relative mediocrity shouldn't erase 15 years of absolute supremacy.
There's no doubt that Ronaldo and Messi, along with the late great Diego Maradona, will go down in history as the top three finest football players of all time, but although Ronaldo's position has been reduced, we're still seeing the full-fat version of Messi, despite his erratic form.
After a fantastic last season with Barcelona and eventually capturing a title with Argentina, Messi is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner. His impact should never be questioned, and his brilliance should never be overlooked.
If he doesn't click into gear by the end of the season, he may be on his way down the list, but for now, there's only one name that comes to mind when you think of a player you'd like to play for your football team: Leo.
Conclusion:
Lionel Messi is still the unquestioned king of football, but it would be crazy not to be concerned by his PSG season thus far.
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