Arjen Robben, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta were among the standout names in FourFourTwo's top 100 players in 2001.
The football magazine's list features players that have since become world-class stars and enjoyed trophy-laden careers.
And in the case of Bayern Munich legend Robben, the 35-year-old Dutchman called it time on his playing career last season.
Advert
Posted below are FourFourTwo's rankings for the top 100 players in 2001 and the respective clubs that they were playing for at the time.
100. Alexander Hleb (AM, Stuttgart)
99. David Prutton (D/MF, Nottingham Forest)
Advert
98. Erdal Kilicaslan (CFWD, Bayern Munich)
97. Daniyel Cimen (LB/CB, Eintracht Frankfurt)
96. Benjamin Auer (CFWD, Borussia M'Gladbach)
95. Kaka (AM, Sao Paulo)
Advert
94. Azar Karadas (CFWD/CB, Brann Bergen)
93. Shaun Maloney (STR, Celtic)
92. Leonardo Santiago (L/WNG, Feyenoord)
91. Kieran Richardson (L/WNG, Manchester United)
Advert
90. Aldo Jara (FWD, Cerro Portano)
89. Keith Kelly (CM, PSG)
88. Christoph Preuss (RWB, Eintract Frankfurt)
Advert
87. Ramon Calliste (STR, Manchester United)
86. Mika Vayrynen (AM, FC Jokerit)
85. Michael Zepek (CM, Bayer Leverkusen)
84. Labinot Harbuzi (AM, Malmo FF)
83. Thijs Houwing (CFWD, Twente)
82. Dimitar Berbatov (STR, Bayer Leverkusen)
81. Tuomas Aho (CB, My-Pa)
80. Candido Costa (AM, Porto)
79. Andres Oliveira (STR/FWD, Perth Glory)
78. Michael Essien (D/MF, Bastia)
77. Fernando Macedo Nano (L/WNG, Barcelona)
76. Dulee Johnson (STR, BK Hacken)
75. Mauro Rosales (R/WNG, Newell's Old Boys)
74. Derek Boateng (AM, Panathinaikos)
73. Theo Janssen (LM, Vitesse)
72. Hassan Ahamada (LWNG/STR, Nantes)
71. Cherno Samba (CFWD, Millwall)
70. Matteo Brighi (CM, Juventus)
69. Bojan Djordjic (L/WNG, Manchester United)
68. Andreas Hinkel (RB/RWB, Stuttgart)
67. Santino Quaranta (STR, DC United)
66. Jhon van Beukering (STR, Vitesse)
65. Eddie Johnson (STR, Dallas Burn)
64. Michael Chopra (STR, Newcastle)
63. Rubinho (GK, Corinthians)
62. Mark Fotheringham (C/MF, Celtic)
61. Johnnier Montano (AM/FWD, Parma -- on loan to Verona)
60. Serhat Akin (STR, Fenerbahce)
59. Carlos Martins (CM, Sporting Lisbon)
58. Filip Trojan (L/WNG, Schalke 04)
57. Ricardo Costa (CB, FC Porto)
56. Landon Donovan (STR, San Jose Earthquakes)
55. Alexander Ludwig (L/WNG, Werder Bremen)
54. Lourenco Da Silva (FWD/LWNG, Sporting Lisbon)
53. Francesco Tarantino (LB/CB, Athletic Bilbao)
52. Jeremie Aliadiere (STR, Arsenal)
51. Gatti Ribeiro (RWB, Blooming)
50. Massimo Donati (DM, AC Milan)
49. Francesco Lodi (AM, Empoli/Parma)
48. Gael Givet (CB/LB, Monaco)
47. Ewerthon (STR/FWD, Borussia Dortmund)
46. Christian Petereit (RB/CB, Schalke 04)
45. Niko Kranjcar (AM/CFWD, Dinamo Zagreb)
44. Jay Lucas (CFWD, Southampton)
43. Diego Ribas (AM, Santos)
42. Joaquin Sanchez (L/WNG, Real Betis)
41. Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam (STR/LWNG, Ajax)
40. Helder Postiga (STR, Porto)
39. Emiliano S. Dudar (CB, Velez Sarsfield)
38. Chris Kirkland (GK, Liverpool)
37. Ednilson (AM, Benfica Lisbon)
36. Dean Ashton (CFWD, Crewe Alexandra)
35. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (CFWD, Ajax)
34. Leandro Romagnoli (AM, San Lorenzo)
33. Hassan Yebda (DM, Auxerre)
32. Marat Izmailov (AM/FWD, Lokomotiv Moscow)
31. Gareth Barry (LB, Aston Villa)
30. Jermain Defoe (STR, West Ham United)
29. Gregory Vignal (LB, Liverpool)
28. Julio Colombo (CB, Montpellier)
27. Arjen Robben (L/WNG, Groningen/PSV Eindhoven)
26. Hugo Viana (CM, Sporting Lisbon)
25. Maicon (RWB, Cruzeiro)
24. Ricardo Bernardo Quaresma (L/WNG, Sporting Lisbon)
23. Fabricio Coloccini (CB, Milan/on loan to Alaves)
22. Marius Niculae (STR, Sporting Lisbon)
21. Milan Baros (STR, Liverpool)
20. Andres Iniesta (AM, Barcelona)
19. Baldo Di Gregorio (CB, Eintracht Frankfurt)
18. Juan Andreu Melli (CM, Real Betis)
17. Johnny Heitinga (CB, Ajax)
16. Philippe Mexes (CB, Auxerre)
15. Kim Kallstrom (CM, BK Hacken)
14. John Welsh (C/DM, Liverpool)
13. Darren Fletcher (C/MF, Manchester United)
12. David Odonkor (FWD, Borussia Dortmund)
11. Pedro Mantorras (STR, Benfica Lisbon)
10. Mourad Meghni (AM, Bologna)
9. Anthony Le Tallec (AM/CFWD, Le Havre/Liverpool)
8. Piotr Trochowski (AM, FC Bayern Munich)
7. Florent Sinama-Pongolle (STR, Le Havre/Liverpool)
6. Rafael van der Vaart (C/MF, Ajax)
5. Jermaine Pennant (R/WNG, Arsenal)
4. Fernando Torres (STR, Atletico Madrid)
3. Leandro Bonfim (AM, Vitoria/PSV Eindhoven)
2. Andres D'Alessandro (AM, River Plate)
1. Djibril Cisse (STR, Auxerre)
Topics: Football, Kaka, Fernando Torres