Top 10 Players since 2000

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

This is the same Ronaldinho who flopped badly at both PSG and Milan and was anonymous in a World Cup he was expected to dominate. During the decade he had at least as many lows as highs. Even his achievements at Barca should be seen in the context of how well they've done since he left.

Best player of the noughties?

He was voted 'Player of the Decade' by ESM, it's not some no-mark award I've bought up. These guys are proper, proper journalists who know their stuff. La Gazetta Dello Sport, Don Balon, Kicker, and Onze Mondial are hardly shitty rags, are they? It's not just my opinion but the opinion of the majority of football writers who work for these magazines.

Ronaldinho, at his peak, was, undoubtedly, the best player in the world. You could argue that he was the key figure (among others, it has to be said) in reviving the flagging fortunes of Barcelona. At the turn of the century, Madrid dominated Spanish football, and Barca had slipped away very, very badly. They wouldn't be where they are now without that fantastic team of 2004/2005/2006 taking them back to football's summit, the team Ronaldinho was the talisman for.

For two years, he was the most complete, exciting, magical player on the planet. Yet he wouldn't make a top ten for you that Robinho has barely missed out on. Okey dokey.

[Samilktray]

Ronaldinho in his prime >>> Messi.

[accessory]

He was voted 'Player of the Decade' by ESM, it's not some no-mark award I've bought up. These guys are proper, proper journalists who know their stuff. La Gazetta Dello Sport, Don Balon, Kicker, and Onze Mondial are hardly shitty rags, are they? It's not just my opinion but the opinion of the majority of football writers who work for these magazines.

Credit to you for doing the research. But while these publications are respected and valued internationally, their pundits can sometimes make errors of judgement and I would contend this is an example.

Ronaldinho, at his peak, was, undoubtedly, the best player in the world. You could argue that he was the key figure (among others, it has to be said) in reviving the flagging fortunes of Barcelona. At the turn of the century, Madrid dominated Spanish football, and Barca had slipped away very, very badly. They wouldn't be where they are now without that fantastic team of 2004/2005/2006 taking them back to football's summit, the team Ronaldinho was the talisman for.

Others could point to emergence of the midfield duo of Xavi and Iniesta as being the major factor in Barca's revival. They, of course, are still there. Why was Ronaldinho moved on if he was the "talisman" you claim him to be? Clearly the rise of Lionel Messi had something to do with this. But so too did Ronaldinho's attitude problems, which drove him back to the Brazilian league at an age where he should have been featuring as a major force for one of the giants of the European club game.

For two years, he was the most complete, exciting, magical player on the planet. Yet he wouldn't make a top ten for you that Robinho has barely missed out on. Okey dokey.

An outrageously gifted talent, certainly. But history will show that much of that talent was unfulfilled, hence the "underachiever" tag I gave him earlier.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

1)Credit to you for doing the research. But while these publications are respected and valued internationally, their pundits can sometimes make errors of judgement and I would contend this is an example.

2)Others could point to emergence of the midfield duo of Xavi and Iniesta as being the major factor in Barca's revival. They, of course, are still there. Why was Ronaldinho moved on if he was the "talisman" you claim him to be? Clearly the rise of Lionel Messi had something to do with this. But so too did Ronaldinho's attitude problems, which drove him back to the Brazilian league at an age where he should have been featuring as a major force for one of the giants of the European club game.

3)An outrageously gifted talent, certainly. But history will show that much of that talent was unfulfilled, hence the "underachiever" tag I gave him earlier.

1) It's not just the odd pundit though. There are hundreds of writers in total that made the same vote.

2) He was moved on because, admittedly, his form dipped and there were questions about his attitude. I remarked that 'at his peak' he was talismanic for them, by the time he was shipped out, there were undoubtedly better midfielders at Barca in Xavi and Iniesta. For me, however, the latter out of that pair has never quite reached the highs that Ronaldinho did during his halcyon days.

3) I'm not questioning that he'd have been an even greater footballer had his off the pitch antics not sometimes overshadowed those on it, and, although you could argue that he never quite 'fulfilled' his potential, for two years, he was untouchable. Absolutely untouchable. That alone warrants a place in this Top 10 for me. The most gifted, creative and most influential midfielder of the noughties.

I can appreciate what you're trying to say, but I'm talking about Ronaldinho when he'd hit his best. And his best lasted for a fair while. I'm not talking about PSG, AC Milan or Flamengo Ronaldinho. For me, him at his very best should unquestionably be in this list.

Fair play for making your points without being pissy, I think we'll have to agree to disagree though. In my opinion the guy is one of the first names that should be on everyone's minds when thinking about this.

[Alexikokopops]

MTWG is so gay for Ronaldinho

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

MTWG is so gay for Ronaldinho

There wasn't any room for Darren Byfield.

[MPH]

there is a reason why a lot of magazines do a top 100 best players list..... way too tough to choose a top ten!

[Guest NGoloMode]

Ronaldinho wasn't a 'flop' at PSG or Milan..

[Sly]

1. Messi

2. Zidane

3. Iniesta

4. Pirlo

5. Drogba

6. Xavi

7. C Ronaldo

8. Ferdinand

9. Gerrard

10. Ronaldinio

[Mikey]

Ronaldinho, at his peak, was nigh on the best player ever, let alone in a top 10.

Best player to watch by far as well.

[Haydos]

Other contenders include Samuel Eto'o, Wesley Schneijder, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Andrea Pirlo, Miroslav Klose, Paolo Maldini, Robinho and Kaka.

Sobering thought - Theo Zagorakis, who couldn't get a game with us, has won more international winners' medals than many of the above names.

You can't rule out giggs and then suggest including Robinho

Lucio's up there, Puyol as well. I'd include Ronaldinho, purely for the fact that he's the most outrageously talented individual I have ever watched play the game.

[Finnegan]

Pardon me for derailing the thread but that is one VERY fvckable ass.

[Amin]

In terms of who I think was the best between 2000 and 2010:

1)Ronaldinho

2)Zidane

3)Ronaldo

4)C.Ronaldo

5)Messi

6)Henry

7)Buffon

8)Figo

9)Casillas

10)Roberto Carlos

[Haydos]

I can appreciate what you're trying to say, but I'm talking about Ronaldinho when he'd hit his best. And his best lasted for a fair while. I'm not talking about PSG, AC Milan or Flamengo Ronaldinho. For me, him at his very best should unquestionably be in this list.

Fair play for making your points without being pissy, I think we'll have to agree to disagree though. In my opinion the guy is one of the first names that should be on everyone's minds when thinking about this.

This.

For me not just the Noughties but of all time. The most gifted player I have ever seen play the game.

[The Doctor]

1) Zinedine Zidane

2) Ronaldo

3) Luis Figo

4) Ronaldinho

5) Dennis Bergkamp

6) Thierry Henry

7) Iker Casillas

8) Roberto Carlos

9) Andrea Pirlo

10) Paolo Maldini

Near-misses would have to include Scholes, Larsson, Messi & Raul.

[accessory]

For me not just the Noughties but of all time. The most gifted player I have ever seen play the game.

Better than Pele, Cruyff, Messi or Maradona? Give me a break.

[Haydos]

Better than Pele, Cruyff, Messi or Maradona? Give me a break.

Yeah. I've seen Bits and bobs of Pele, a bit more of Cruyff and a bit more of Maradona. Probably not enough but like I said 'that I've seen play the game'. I've never seen anything to suggest he shouldn't be compared to any of them. All geniuses in their own right but so was he.

The amount of incredible things he could do with a football was unbelievable and in the modern games as well.

[Bugg]

Chiellini is better than Vidic, and I'd rank him well behind Maldini and Nesta

[Dylan]

Puyol's got to be in with a shout of top 10, especially as some people are mentioning Vidic and Ferdinand

Absolute solid defender, won everything he possibly can- World Cup, Champs League x 3, La Liga x5. Would defo be in my top 10. With Maldini, possibly the best central-defender since the turn of the millenium?

[Dylan]

Best XI since 2000

b]Casillas

Cafu

Puyol

Maldini

Roberto Carlos

Zidane

Xavi

Ronaldinho

Messi

Ronaldo

C. Ronaldo[/b]

Some players aren't in their exact position but had to make it try and fit Hard having to miss out some top players, but I've come up with this.

Obviously if I did it right you'd need a holding midfielder in this system where I would've put Makelele, but I couldn't choose who to miss out from that trio.