I don't especially like Maguire and I am not English at all, but very objectively speaking he was undoubtedly the best defender at Euro 2020. When I see TAA (who is rather highly ranked) and Luke Shaw who played like a complete amateur in the second half of 2021, I found it absurd to notice Maguire didn't make the list at all...
Harry Maguire was good at Leicester City, which is why Manchester United payed I think 75 million pounds for him, most expensive defender in Football history.
The lack of respect for Jordan Henderson is astounding. The difference he makes in the Liverpool starting XI can hardly be overstated. Captain on one of the most formidable clubs in the world. Not flashy, though. Just one of the hardest-working players you'll find.
Some very very strange names on this list, and a few surprising omissions. And, no, @Alberici, Harry Maguire is not a surprising omission. Varane is though. He is good, Harry Maguire, is not.
Quiz could do with a bit more time, a hundred names, plus thinking time is far from easy in the time allowed. Fair enough if that’s the idea, but I think it’s a little tight, especially given some of the names are blinking hard to spell.
Narrative in football is everything to these rankings. Maguire isn't there because two penalty shootouts didn't go his way. The first one he couldn't influence as he was injured for the Europa League final. Second shootout Maguire was playing and scored his penalty. If De Gea saves one or one of Rashford, Saka and Sancho score then the narrative completely changes and he'd probably be top 30 in the rankings.
At the moment, Julian Alvarez is the least-known/guessed player. A quick glance only - but is he the only one on this list not playing for a European club? I wonder if the people choosing for The Guardian follow the sport outside Europe (or even outside Spain, England, France, Germany, and Italy). I know - those are the world's best leagues, but still.
Palmeiras won the 2nd consecutive Libertadores, the biggest trophy outside of Europe, and there are maybe two players who could enter a big European club's rotations, let alone making the difference. They're all either done with European football either not yet good enough for it. Brasileirao's top scorer, Hulk, is 35; the 2nd, Gilberto, was playing in an average Turkish club a couple of years ago. Any Southampton starter could become one of the best Brasileirao players let alone MLS or J-League...
Big south-american talents leave for Europe as soon as they show potential. And we're talking about the most competitive leagues outside of Europe. It's sad but it is what it is...
This quiz is about the best players, not the ones that won trophies. I'd rather have in my team Messi, Di Maria, Donnarumma, Marquinhos etc than Maignan, David or Yilmaz (which are pretty good footballers as well).
From 2015 on PSG has been a way better club than Barcelona, with or without Neymar. You can argue if he chose the right club or not but PSG surely had more chances to win CL
Ever since the U.S. women won the women's cup it's become fashionable to assume they are physically equal, player for player. I say fashionable instead of mandatory PC because I don't want to get cancelled.
how is Reece James better than Ederson. And how is Courtois the 2nd best keeper in the world, above Allison and Ederson. And how is Jorginho, who is not even the best player on his team, the 5th best player in the world. Whoever made this list is awful.
Quiz could do with a bit more time, a hundred names, plus thinking time is far from easy in the time allowed. Fair enough if that’s the idea, but I think it’s a little tight, especially given some of the names are blinking hard to spell.
Big south-american talents leave for Europe as soon as they show potential. And we're talking about the most competitive leagues outside of Europe. It's sad but it is what it is...