ST: Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has been hailed as the best player in the world in recent years – his five Ballon d’Or awards are the most won by any player.
He has been the best player of the current generation, but may also be the greatest in history – with a growing argument that he is actually a level above the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona.
Messi’s ability to dribble past opponents at will is mesmerising, and he plays with his head up, producing passes that no one else in the stadium could spot.
His ascent to the top has been astonishing – as has been his phenomenal consistency. This season alone, he scored 12 goals in 8 starts, despite picking up several knocks.
You can read a longer case for Lionel Messi being the best player in the world here.
Full line-up below:
(Before I am abused and scolded for the absence of Gareth Bale, Neymar, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, this team is based on form alone.)
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