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Lionel Messi Ranks Ahead Of Cristiano Ronaldo In The 100 Greatest Players Of The 21st Century

Lionel Messi Ranks Ahead Of Cristiano Ronaldo In The 100 Greatest Players Of The 21st Century

From Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho, The Independent has released its list for the 100 best players.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has fended off fierce competition from Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi and Ronaldinho to be named the best player of the 21st century.

The Independent compiled the list and broke down its selection process by having each player assigned a number of points determined by their rank.

Messi, who is widely regarded by many as the best player in the sport's history, has taken his place at the top spot.

The 33-year-old Argentine superstar's fiercest rival locked down second place ahead of Barcelona legend Xavi.

Rounding off the top five are Brazilian icon Ronaldinho and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta.

Posted below are The Independent's 100 best players of the 21st century.

PA

100. Yaya Toure

99. Harry Kane

98. Daniele De Rossi

97. Bastian Schweinsteiger

96. Vincent Kompany

95. Karim Benzema

PA

94. Sol Campbell

93. Pepe

92. Edwin van der Sar

91. Arturo Vidal

90. Angel di Maria

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89. Diego Forlan

88. Radamel Falcao

87. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

86. Robin van Persie

85. Carlos Tevez

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84. Gaizka Mendieta

83. Virgil van Dijk

82. Hernan Crespo

81. Rio Ferdinand

80. Toni Kroos

PA

79. Juan Roman Riquelme

78. Thomas Muller

77. Mohamed Salah

76. Diego Godin

75. David Silva

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74. Eden Hazard

73. Cesc Fabregas

72. Deco

71. Lilian Thuram

70. Nemanja Vidic

PA

69. Marcelo

68. Ryan Giggs

67. Antoine Griezmann

66. Clarence Seedorf

65. Wesley Sneijder

PA

64. Gabriel Batistuta

63. Fernando Torres

62. Ruud van Nistelrooy

61. Claude Makelele

60. Sergio Aguero

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59. Cafu

58. Miroslav Klose

57. Kevin de Bruyne

56. Henrik Larsson

55. Xabi Alonso

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54. Dennis Bergkamp

53. Gareth Bale

52. Gerard Pique

51. Robert Lewandowski

50. Javier Zanetti

PA

49. Didier Drogba

48. Michael Ballack

47. Oliver Kahn

46. Ashley Cole

45. Pavel Nedved

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44. N'Golo Kante

43. Kylian Mbappe

42. Alessandro Del Piero

41. Alessandro Nesta

40. Patrick Vieira

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39. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

38. Roberto Carlos

37. Rivaldo

36. Roy Keane

35. John Terry

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34. Paul Scholes

33. David Villa

32. Iker Casillas

31. Francesco Totti

30. Arjen Robben

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29. Wayne Rooney

28. Raul Gonzalez

27. Manuel Neuer

26. Paolo Maldini

25. Dani Alves

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24. Carles Puyol

23. Frank Lampard

22. Luka Modric

21. Samuel Eto'o

20. Neymar

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19. Andrei Shevchenko

18. Steven Gerrard

17. Sergio Busquets

16. Luis Suarez

15. Luis Figo

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14. Philipp Lahm

13. Gianluigi Buffon

12. Sergio Ramos

11. Andrea Pirlo

10. Fabio Cannavaro

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9. Kaka

8. Zinedine Zidane

7. Thierry Henry

6. Ronaldo

5. Andres Iniesta

PA

4. Ronaldinho

3. Xavi Hernandez

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

1. Lionel Messi

PA

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Football