The top 50 footballers for 2021 globally have been released, with superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo leading the pack.
The ranking of the best players in the year under review was voted for by fans around the globe and throws up some interesting results.
In a year in which no single player has stood out above others, fans still selected Argentina superstar Lionel Messi as their best player for 2021.
Messi’s rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, came second while other Premier League stars like Mohammed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, and N’Golo Kante went in the top 10.
Despite joining new clubs, both Messi and Ronaldo continue to etch on the minds of football fans around the world as they were voted for in a neck-to-neck race.
After a riveting campaign in the Premier League for the Reds, Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah takes the fourth position.
It’s been a remarkable year for Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski as he placed a deserved third on the ranking after breaking Gerd Muller’s Bundesliga goalscoring record of 40 back in May last year.
Paris St-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, Borussia Dortmund youngster Erling Haaland, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Brazilian superstar Neymar made the top 10.
1) Lionel Messi (PSG)
2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United)
3) Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
4) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
5) Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
6) Erling Haaland (BVB)
7) Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
8) N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)
9) Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
10) Neymar (PSG)
11) Luis Suarez (Ateltico Madrid)
12) Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
13) Angel di Maria (PSG)
14) Bruno Fernandes (Man United)
15) Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
16) Paul Pogba (Man United)
17) Son Heung-Min (Spurs)
18) Harry Kane (Spurs)
19) Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
20) Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
21) Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
22) Jorginho (Chelsea)
23) Phil Foden (Man City)
24) Jan Oblak (Athletico Madrid)
25) Federico Chiesa (Juventus)
26) Pedri (Barcelona)
27) Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
28) Riyad Mahrez (Man City)
29) Ruben Dias (Man City)
30) Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
31) Mason Mount (Chelsea)
32) Kai Havertz (Chelsea)
33) Memphis Depay (Barcelona)
34) Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
35) Keylor Navas (PSG)
36) Raheem Sterling (Man City)
37) Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)
38) Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
39) Jack Grealish (Man City)
40) Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
41) Dani Alves (Barcelona)
42) Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
43) Luke Shaw (Man United)
44) Koke (Atletico Madrid)
45) Nicolo Barella (Inter)
46) Gerard Moreno (Villareal)
47) Hulk (Atletico Minero)
48) Burak Yilmaz (Lille)
49) Mohamed Sherif (Al Ahly)
50) Takefusa Kubo (Real Madrid, on loan at Real Mallorca)