Who's the World's Best Soccer Player?
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by Ea34
I recently spent some time thinking about who is the best footballer in the world. Considering physical gifts/technique, individual statistics and team success, I was able to narrow the field down to three candidates: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United, AC Milan ’s Kaká and Didier Drogba of Chelsea. Let’s be clear, these are not the only players that warrant consideration, but I felt these were the three top candidates based on 2006-07 results and overall form during the season. Based on the above criteria, a strong case can be made for each of these three players.
- Was the top player for the 2006-07 English Premier League Champions
- Scored 24 goals in 49 games in all competitions (Premiership, Champions League, FA Cup, Carling Cup) for Manchester United
- Placed third with 17 goals in the English Premier League
- Won the Professional Footballers’ Association awards for Best Player and Best Young Player
- Has evolved his game from all-flash-all-the-time to a far more “functionally spectacular” style of play
- Scored 18 goals in 46 games in all competitions ( Italian Serie A, Champions League, Coppa Italia) for AC Milan
- Led AC Milan to the Champions League title, scoring a staggering 10 goals in just 14 games in the competition, which made him the top scorer in the Champions League
- Was named the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League Fans Player of the Season
- In two Champions League Semi-final ties against Manchester United, he scored three world-class goals. Two of these goals were not only spectacular, but also doubly valuable, as they were scored in Milan’s away tie at Old Trafford.
- Played a role in both of Milan’s goals in the Champions League Final against Liverpool, despite being the marked man on the pitch. Just before halftime, he made a run, and was subsequently fouled, resulting in the free kick that led to the first goal. In the second half, his beautiful through-ball to Pippo Inzaghi set up Milan’s second, and title-clinching. goal
- Scored 33 goals in 54 games in all competitions (Premiership, Champions League, FA Cup, Carling Cup, Community Shield) for Chelsea
- Led the English Premier League with 20 goals
- He scored the lone goal in the 116 th minute of Chelsea’s 1-0 FA Cup Final victory against Manchester United at the New Wembley Stadium
- Won the English Golden Boot and African Footballer of the Year awards
- After being criticized in the past for inconsistency and diving in the box. He’s learned to utilize his awesome size and strength, as well as his surprising quickness, inside the penalty area to become the Premiership’s deadliest striker.
- Member of the 2006-07 Carling Cup winning Chelsea side
After looking at all of this, my inclination is to say that Kaká is deserving of the title of World’s Best Footballer. After all, he was clearly the best player in the most prestigious club competition in the world, which his team won. His virtuoso performance against United in both ties of the Semi-final was absolutely incredible. Finally, his Milan side does not have the depth of talent of either Manchester United or Chelsea. With Kaká in the top spot, how do the other two shake out? Here’s where I kinda surprised myself.
Disclaimer: Although I watch a lot of EPL matches, the only football team that I am a FAN of is FC Barcelona. I don’t like Chelsea and Manchester United is my favorite Premiership team to watch.
I neither wanted to, nor thought I’d end up doing this, but my vote for #2 footballer in the world goes to Didier Drogba. Drogba’s development has been nothing short of phenomenal. After enduring a lot of criticism in his time at Chelsea, he has transformed himself into the best pure goal-scorer in the world. His great goal-scoring record, coupled with Chelsea’s Carling Cup and FA Cup titles, puts his season on par with Ronaldo’s campaign with United.
Finally, there’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Ironically, he’s my favorite player of the three. Ronaldo, who was spectacular as usual, had his finest scoring season with United and was vital in helping secure the Premiership title. Maybe I penalized him for having just a consistently excellent season, but without a true “defining moment”, like Kaká’s domination of the Champions League or Drogba’s clutch goal to clinch the FA Cup.
What do you guys think? Which of these is the world’s best footballer? Are there others I should have considered?
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