Best Footballers since 2000

Can you name the top 50 footballers since the turn of the Century according to a recent poll (2015)? NOTE* - Several great players may have started their careers before 2000, and so may not feature or may be ranked lower than expected. Also this list is based more on ability, not success collectively, although that is taken into account.
Quiz by blueanteater
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Last updated: September 20, 2016
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First submittedSeptember 19, 2016
Times taken2,418
Average score62.0%
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Rank:
Country:
Player:
1
Argentina
Lionel Messi
2
Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo
3
Brazil
Ronaldo
4
France
Zinedine Zidane
5
Brazil
Ronaldinho
6
Spain
Andrés Iniesta
7
Italy
Paolo Maldini
8
Spain
Xavi
9
Italy
Andrea Pirlo
10
France
Thierry Henry
11
Portugal
Luís Figo
12
Spain
Raúl
13
Brazil
Kaká
14
Italy
Fabio Cannavaro
15
Italy
Gianluigi Buffon
16
Brazil
Rivaldo
17
Italy
Alessandro Nesta
18
France
Patrick Vieira
19
Sweden
Zlatan Ibrahimović
20
Brazil
Cafu
21
Wales
Ryan Giggs
22
Cameroon
Samuel Eto'o
23
England
Paul Scholes
24
Netherlands
Clarence Seedorf
25
Brazil
Roberto Carlos
26
Czech Republic
Pavel Nedvěd
27
Germany
Philipp Lahm
28
Uruguay
Luis Suárez
29
Brazil
Dani Alves
30
Italy
Alessandro Del Piero
31
Ukraine
Andriy Shevchenko
32
Netherlands
Arjen Robben
33
Netherlands
Dennis Bergkamp
34
Germany
Manuel Neuer
35
France
Franck Ribéry
36
Ivory Coast
Didier Drogba
37
England
Frank Lampard
38
Spain
David Villa
39
Argentina
Javier Zanetti
40
Spain
Carles Puyol
41
Italy
Francesco Totti
42
England
Steven Gerrard
43
France
Lilian Thuram
44
Netherlands
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
45
England
Alan Shearer
46
Netherlands
Wesley Sneijder
47
England
Wayne Rooney
48
England
Michael Owen
49
Italy
Filippo Inzaghi
50
Germany
Thomas Müller
+1
Level 52
Sep 23, 2016
How ON EARTH is Daniel Alves on this list????
+1
Level 21
Sep 23, 2016
I didn't make the list myself but even still, its impossible to argue against his inclusion, particularly during 2009-2011, where he was among the worlds top players, not just defenders. He was so much more than a defender, almost a false winger, probably the best offensive fullback since Roberto Carlos. People seem to have very short term memories and only remember him when he lost his pace and became less effective, but still, if you're ranking the top 50, Alves is 100% among them
+2
Level 21
May 13, 2017
Not sure anyone would dispute his inclusion after this season
+1
Level 35
Mar 2, 2021
How on earth is Diego Forlan NOT on this list????