8: Samuel Eto'o



Never thought I would have Eto'o this high when this whole thing started.

And over Zlatan?

Hell no!

But a combination of not showing any signs of the decline I kept expecting two and three years ago, and fantastic teamwork that I had no idea he was capable of, helping Inter win everything, has helped his stock rise once again.

As if that wasn't enough, not showing any signs of world cup virus, he has started this season by going back to playing as the elite attacking weapon he's been his whole career.

Still a great athlete and then there is that deadly quick release shot that must be one of the best weapons in football.

edit: with all that said, will have to maintain very good form to keep his rank..

Maybe you're right. The exhausted periods are definitely clear in my head.

But then it's also that the 3 strikers ahead of him are among the hardest working.

7: Carlos Tevez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1kQDTufE0w



What more can you say about this guy?

Everything outside the pitch is a mess, but over the 90+ minutes where there is football to be played, he is a force like few others.

Didn't fully realize just how good he was until he started playing as a lone striker for his new team Manchester City.

There wasn't any doubt already that he was a tremendous worker, considerable skills were in place too and apparent already four years earlier, but that he could get it done central, creating space where there is one instead of just taking advantage of it more out wide, including with his back to the goal, who knew he could do that too.

Quite simply a very strong, incredibly hard working, dynamic player who will create for himself or others anywhere in the final third.

53: Sami Khedira
52: Luis Suarez
51: Nuri Sahin
50: Ever Banega
49: Robin Van Persie
48: Nani
47: Diego
46: Pato
45: VdV
44: Santi Cazorla
43: Hernanes
42: Nicolas Anelka
41: Lucho Gonzalez
40: Samir Nasri
39: Lisandro Lopez
38: Franck Ribery
37: Luka Modric
36: Maicon
35: David Silva
34: Yoann Gourcuff
33: Dani Alves
32: Florent Malouda
31: Bastian Schweinsteiger
30: Esteban Cambiasso
29: Gareth Bale
28: Thomas Müller
27: Yaya Toure
26: Marek Hamsik
25: Kaka
24: Michael Essien
23: Steven Gerrard
22. Edin Dzeko
21: Di Maria
20: Robben
19: Frank Lampard
18: Gonzalo Higuain
17: Mesut Özil
16: Fernando Torres
15: Diego Forlan
14: Sergio Aguero
13: Wesley Sneijder
12: Wayne Rooney
11: David Villa
10: Xabi Alonso
9: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
8: Samuel Eto'o
7: Carlos Tevez

That video is brilliant!

Well, not much left now.

And I think the order between 5 and 6 is the only tricky issue left.

Both are having a bleep in their form while the top 4 is flying.

Messi
Ronaldo
Xavi
Iniesta
Fabregas
Drogba

would be my order

did anybody else rank tevez higher than villa?

I had Tevez at 5.

lol, i for about Fabregas and just squeezed Drogba in. (couldn't be annoyed rearranging)

Tevez 6th, Villa 7th.

I never but it was close.

Looking forward to Balotelli's first place write-up

I think defenders have been grossly underrated overall. Alves, Maicon, Vidic, Ferdinand (if fit), Pique, these are some of the very best players in the world. People will lol because they neither appreciate the position nor the player, but in 2008 I would have had Rio in my top 5.

I think the same could be said for other positions too. Attacking midfielders and wingers being overvalued. Attacking full backs, centre-backs, defensive and central midfielders and obviously goalkeepers undervalued.

i had 5 defenders in my 30, all missed out.

had Drogba lol27th.

Me too.

Agree with Kev for the order.

6: Didier Drogba




Dominating centre-forward with the ability to squash (not least Arsenal) defenders.

His team work is underrated and he is one of the hardest workers without the ball. Not just with his team in possession but he defends as well.

With the ball he has a great shot, is generally a good finisher and in my book at least, Zlatan's long time closest rival when it comes to that valuable power/size/technique combo. He quite simply makes everyone around him in the final third better with his presence and work.

Can't really say that his ranking has suffered because of the little form drop (though malaria is obv a scare) - his many years of world class forward play being a key to great successes for his team have easily ensured against that, but with the player ahead of him struggling some in his own right, maybe he could have grabbed his spot.

53: Sami Khedira
52: Luis Suarez
51: Nuri Sahin
50: Ever Banega
49: Robin Van Persie
48: Nani
47: Diego
46: Pato
45: VdV
44: Santi Cazorla
43: Hernanes
42: Nicolas Anelka
41: Lucho Gonzalez
40: Samir Nasri
39: Lisandro Lopez
38: Franck Ribery
37: Luka Modric
36: Maicon
35: David Silva
34: Yoann Gourcuff
33: Dani Alves
32: Florent Malouda
31: Bastian Schweinsteiger
30: Esteban Cambiasso
29: Gareth Bale
28: Thomas Müller
27: Yaya Toure
26: Marek Hamsik
25: Kaka
24: Michael Essien
23: Steven Gerrard
22. Edin Dzeko
21: Di Maria
20: Robben
19: Frank Lampard
18: Gonzalo Higuain
17: Mesut Özil
16: Fernando Torres
15: Diego Forlan
14: Sergio Aguero
13: Wesley Sneijder
12: Wayne Rooney
11: David Villa
10: Xabi Alonso
9: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
8: Samuel Eto'o
7: Carlos Tevez
6: Didier Drogba

i didn't put Eto'o in either.

getting top 30 players was not easy.

no alarms and no surprises:

5: Cesc Fabregas



Brilliant playmaker who can read the game like few others and take advantage with great passing.

Even though he isn't particular fast he rather uniquely still manage to be a dynamic player with the control and tricks to fool defenders while on the move.

He is the rare player who has the ability to lift the passing game of an entire team and even though he's moved further forward in recent years (where he is a dangerous scoring threat) that's something that remains.

Form is probably the lowest I can remember and will have to improve soon to keep rank, even if he's earned a lot of credit since first breaking through.

wow Tevez so high. Had him at like 25. Would place him in similiar range if I would have spent more time on it I think. Never higher than the likes of Villa and Zlatan

Had Zlatan at 5 btw _0_ Easily best striker in the world this season imo

Random note:

These 5+Rooney at his best are probably all in the top 10 of best players I've ever seen.

Football is very good these days.

Ronaldo, ZZ, Ronaldinho must be 3 more. Depending on how old you are who else?

This next player, I think has a better chance (even if not very good) of challenging the undisputed number 1, than the number 2 and 3 guys.

wth?

if i had remembered to add Fabregas i don't think he would be my no5, he be behind Drogba, Tevez and a few others.

--

4 = Iniesta.

Agreed altho the chance really is like 2% os

Iniesta. So damn good. Probably my favourite player to watch in the world.