Liverpool & Manchester United aces make the list, but no place for Arsenal star Mesut Ozil!
20) Nemanja Vidic – Manchester United – 93 rating
The Serbian arguably has done very well to be rated as 93, as his form has diminished dramatically this season, and many United fans think Jonny Evans and Phil Jones should be the club’s centre-back pairing going forward. However, Vidic was once rated as one of the world’s best centre-halves, and according to PES, there still aren’t any better!
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19) David Silva – Manchester City – 93 rating
The mercurial playmaker drifts around the final third creating chances for teammates with intricate through-balls, and clever flicks. The Spaniard is easily one of the Premier League’s most potent creative players.
18) Ronaldinho – Atletico Mineiro – 93 rating
The Brazilian legend, and former Ballon D’or winner starred for Atletico Mineiro in 2013, leading them to a Copa Libertadores, and reminding everyone that on his day, he’s still one of the world’s most exciting footballers.
17) Cesc Fabregas – Barcelona – 94 rating
The former Arsenal midfield star is becoming an increasingly important member of Barcelona’s midfield, as Xavi and Andres Iniesta get older. Fabregas has a brilliant eye for a pass, and virtually unrivalled technical ability.
16) Julio Cesar – QPR – 94 rating
The Brazilian keeper is still bizarrely contracted to Championship side QPR, even though he is still expected to start between the sticks for Brazil at this summer’s World Cup.
15) Luis Suarez – Liverpool – 94 rating
Many Liverpool fans would argue that the Uruguayan should be higher up this list, and with the form he’s shown this season, few would argue against them. Suarez is well on course to break the record for the most goals scored by a player in a Premier League season.
14) Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich – 94 rating
The towering German keeper is an automatic starter for the brilliant Bayern side, and the German national team – and at just 27-years-old, still has yet to reach his peak goalkeeping years.
13) Wayne Rooney – Manchester United – 94 rating
Rooney is now deployed as a no.10 for United, playing behind a central striker. This suits his natural creative instincts, but still enables him to get in the box and score goals.
12) Iker Casillas – Real Madrid – 95 rating
Despite not being a first-team regular at Real Madrid for twelve months now, PES still rate the Spanish legend as ’95’ on their video game. Casillas has won nearly everything there is to win at club and country level, and has already earned over 150 caps for Spain.
11) Falcao – Monaco – 95 rating
The Colombian striker moved to Monaco from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2013 for a monstrous £53m price tag, and is now the focal point of the huge spending Ligue 1 side. Many believe Falcao is the best finisher in world football right now.
10) Edinson Cavani – PSG – 95 rating
Another striker who joined the French league for mega money last summer, Cavani has settled into life in Paris well, forming an incredible partnership up front with Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
9) Robin Van Persie – Manchester United – 95 rating
The Dutch forward has won the Premier League’s Golden Boot award for the past two consecutive seasons, and his brilliant campaign last term was probably the most important factor in United winning the title in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final year in charge.
8) Zlatan Ibrahimovic – PSG – 95 rating
The uber talented Swede has won titles at various clubs around Europe, including Ajax, Juventus, Inter, AC Milan, Barcelona and now PSG. He is immensely skilful, and can finish off either foot while being courageous in the air.
7) Sergio Aguero – Manchester City – 96 rating
The Argentine forward famously won the title for City during the 2011/12 season, when he scored a vital winner late on against QPR in the final game of the season. He is lightning quick, but he has the talent to also drop deep and influence play from a more creative position.
6) Andrea Pirlo – Juventus – 96 rating
The Italian striker is a beautiful passer, and has made the deep-lying playmaker role his own for both his club Juventus and Italy. Pirlo is not quick, and is relatively immobile nowadays, but his skill on the ball and ability to dictate tempo makes him the favourite of every neutral.
5) Xavi – Barcelona – 97 rating
The ageing Spanish midfielder still stars for both Barcelona and his country, and has been an integral part of the national side that has won the last three major international competitions. His style epitomises the ‘tika-taka’ footballing philosophy, and the game will greatly miss him when he eventually retires.
4) Gianluigi Buffon – Juventus – 98 rating
The Italian veteran is the second of two Juventus players on this list, and is Italy’s most capped player of all time with over 130 international appearances.
3) Andres Iniesta – Barcelona – 98 rating
There isn’t much the Spanish midfielder can’t do on a football field… He can pass, dribble, shoot, and nearly always makes the right decisions. His ability to retain possession in tight situations is particularly exceptional, and he’s widely regarded as the world’s finest central midfielder.
2) Lionel Messi – Barcelona – 99 rating
The Argentine sensation is already regarded by some as the greatest player in the history of football, following a succession of ludicrous goalscoring seasons. In 2012, Messi broke the record for the most goals scored in a calendar year by a single player, when he notched 91 for club and country.
1) Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid – 99 rating
The brilliant Portuguese attacker was recently awarded the Ballon D’or following his fantastic goalscoring year in 2013. Ronaldo has it all – he’s quick, strong, can dribble, can shoot and is outstanding in the air. He truly is the perfect modern footballer.
