The 25 Best Men’s Footballers of the 21st Century: But What About Neymar?
The 21st century has been a golden age for men’s football, with some of the best talents the sport has ever seen. To rank the top 25, ESPN asked fans to vote, and after analyzing thousands of responses, they revealed their list. Lionel Messi came out on top, followed closely by Cristiano Ronaldo. But there’s one omission that’s got fans talking – the place of Neymar in the rankings.
As you’d expect, there were some surprises on the list, but a lot of the usual suspects were there too. Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, and Luka Modric rounded out the top five. And some of the best midfielders and defenders of the past 20 years made appearances in the top 25. But where did the talented forward Neymar end up?
In 20th place. Fans were left stunned by Neymar’s lowly position in the rankings. "Neymar is way too low on this list," commented one fan. "Neymar at 20? Crazy disrespectful for the third best player this generation." Others echoed the sentiment, "You guys are embarrassing, Ibrahimovic can’t lace Neymar’s boots."
So, what’s behind Neymar’s low ranking? There could be a few reasons. Maybe Neymar’s inconsistent performances throughout his career have hurt his ranking. After all, he’s never consistently played at the same level throughout a season. Or maybe, he hasn’t won as many accolades as some of the other players on the list. But when you think about all the incredible skills he possesses on the pitch, it’s hard to see him stuck in 20th place.
When compared to other top players like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who rank higher on the list, it seems like Neymar’s talent gets shortchanged. But what’s important here is that fans are voicing their opinions and sparking a lively debate.
So, who else made the cut? In short, it’s a who’s who of football royalty. Kylian Mbappé, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez all feature prominently on the list. Even defenders like Sergio Ramos and Carles Puyol show up in the top 15. Oh, and did we mention Kylian Mbappé’s impressive showing, coming in at number 6 on the list?
The discussion won’t end anytime soon, and rightfully so. With the best players of this era, there’s always going to be strong opinions and disagreements. But it’s just another reason to love this amazing sport we call football. We’ll keep the conversation going, and we invite you to do the same in the comments below.
Want more football updates and analysis? Follow us on all social media platforms and stay ahead of the curve in the world of football!