Jamie Carragher Snubs Robert Lewandowski As He Names Third Best Player In World Behind Ronaldo And Messi

Jamie Carragher has named Kevin De Bruyne ahead of Robert Lewandowski as the third best player in the world behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lewandowski, 32, was in scintillating form for Bayern Munich last season and was widely tipped to win the Ballon d'Or before France Football cancelled the 2020 edition of the award.

De Bruyne also impressed in the previous campaign as he was named PFA Players' Player of the Year, despite Manchester City missing out on the Premier League title to Liverpool.

The 29-year-old Belgian playmaker has kicked off the new season by scoring and assisting in City's 3-1 victory over Wolves on Monday.

Liverpool legend Carragher now believes that De Bruyne is in the "second band of players" behind Barcelona captain Messi and Juventus superstar Ronaldo.

The 42-year-old said on Sky Sports: "I would say De Bruyne, when we talk about the best players in the world now, I would put him top of the second band of players behind Messi and Ronaldo.

"I would put him top of that list, if you said to me who would I want in my team -- it would be Kevin De Bruyne."

Carragher continued to praise De Bruyne by saying he is a "manager's dream" and believes he has had impressive "longevity in his career."

The Sky Sports pundit explained: "The numbers he gets with assists and goals, he's a manager's dream.

"He can play in the [No] 10 position, right of a three, and Roberto Martinez plays him central midfield for Belgium.

"I think he's had great longevity in his career because I still think he'll have the ability to play that deep role, maybe when his legs go a little bit because he's got a great engine.

"But his passing ability is as good as anything we've ever seen in the Premier League. And he can play that role when he's in his mid-thirties not a problem."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Football, Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona, Serie A, Lionel Messi, Juve, Premier League, old lady, Juventus, Kevin de Bruyne, Bayern Munich, Jamie Carragher, Cristiano Ronaldo, La Liga, Barca, Bundesliga

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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