While the Ballon D’or for 2013′s best player will be awarded on January 13, fanatix has run down the ten players in world football we think were better than anyone else last calendar year.
It’s difficult to compare individual brilliance to how effective a player has been for their team – but we’ve used personal statistics, title wins, and individual awards to comprise our impressive list.
Three current Premier League players make our top 10, which also features three representatives from La Liga, three from the Bundesliga, and one from Ligue 1.
In at no.10, is the Premier League’s most expensive ever import, Mesut Ozil.
10) Mesut Ozil – Arsenal
Arsenal won more points in 2013 than any other Premier League club, but unfortunately, that doesn’t win you anything in football. During the summer though, they smashed their transfer record to bring in £42m German playmaker Mesut Ozil, who has been at his brilliant creative best from the outset. Already this term with the Gunners, Ozil’s created nine and scored four, following on from his most productive season in Madrid, where he assisted 17 and scored ten. His wonderful vision and outstanding technical ability make him arguably the world’s finest no.10, and Premier League football fans will no doubt have the pleasure of watching him work his magic for seasons to come.
9) Robert Lewandowski – Borussia Dortmund
The rangy Polish striker will not be at Dortmund beyond the end of this season, as he is choosing to let his contract run out. Whether the Bundesliga club can maintain their level without him is questionable, as he’s been simply outstanding in 2013. He fired Dortmund to a Champions League final, notably scoring four goals in one match against Real Madrid in the semis, before finishing last season with a fantastic 36 goals. This term, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, the 25-year-old has still found the net 16 times already.
8) Robin Van Persie – Manchester United
Because of his recent injury problems, it’s easy to forget that ‘RVP’ virtually fired United to the Premier League title on his own last season. With 26 in the league, the Dutchman won his second consecutive Golden Boot, and his first domestic title. He also became Holland’s leading ever goalscorer, on his way to securing them a spot at next summer’s World Cup.
7) Neymar – Barcelona
The prodigal Brazilian attacker joined La Liga champions Barcelona in 2013 for a whopping £50m, after being voted Player of the Tournament at the Confederations Cup over the summer. In the tournament that’s essentially a dry run for next summer’s World Cup, Neymar completely stole the show, and alerted the world to his quite phenomenal talent – scoring wondergoals and earning Brazil the trophy. In the first half of this term, he’s scored nine and assisted ten, meaning he’s on track for a ’20/20′ season, which is practically unheard of.
6) Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich
The brilliant Dutch winger had about as good a 2013 as anyone. Not only did he score the winner in the Champions League final, earning the Man of the Match award in the process, but he was an integral part of a Bayern side that swept all before them – winning an historic treble and a Club World Cup. Rarely ever before has a completely one-footed player been so unnervingly effective.
5) Luis Suarez – Liverpool
In the first half of this season alone, Suarez has arguably been the best player in the world. He’s scored 20 goals in just 15 games for the Reds, who currently sit in an unexpected fourth place in the Premier League table. His goals have been spectacular too, and have earned him a bumper new deal at Anfield which makes him the country’s highest paid player. If Liverpool don’t qualify for the Champions League though, Suarez will no doubt be leaving the club to join an elite European superpower in the summer. He really is that good.
4) Zlatan Ibrahimovic – PSG
The sulky but genius Swede is now 32-years-old, but seems to be getting better and better every year. His 30 goal Ligue 1 haul last term secured the Parisians the title, and he’s started this season where he left the last, bagging 21 so far in all competitions. This is all the more impressive when you recognise that he’s now playing a more withdrawn creative role alongside £57m signing Edinson Cavani.
3) Lionel Messi – Barcelona
It’s been a while since the little Argentine wasn’t at the top of one of these lists, but injury has unfortunately curtailed the second half of his calendar year. In the first six months though Messi was at his ludicrous best, and finished last term with yet another La Liga trophy and the Golden Boot award for his 36 league strikes. He started this season in ominous form, bagging a hat-trick on the opening day of the season, before his injury saw him sidelined for most of the term. Despite this, he’s still in the running for the Ballon D’or award which will be announced on January 13.
2) Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich
The French winger doesn’t have the same goalscoring stats as Messi or Ronaldo, but during 2013, many believe he’s been the world’s most effective player. He dominates Bundesliga opposition week in week out, and was Bayern’s best performer last season as they picked up a treble under Jupp Heynckes. Now managed by Pep Guardiola, Bayern have somehow reached yet another level, and are undefeated in domestic competition this season. If Ribery will ever win a Ballon D’or award, it’ll be this season.
1) Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid
For us, Ronaldo has been head and shoulders above anyone else on an individual basis in 2013. For club and country, he scored 66 goals, which is two more than Ribery and Messi combined. This season alone, he’s scored 32 for club and country, including a brilliant hat-trick in the World Cup Play-Off against a Sweden side led by Ibrahimovic. In 2013, he’s also created chances for his teammates – assisting 16 goals in all, meaning he’s been directly involved in 82 goals overall. If he doesn’t win the Ballon D’or this term, it’ll be a travesty.
