The Top 100 Footballers in the World (100-71)

Throughout this week, The Guardian has been announcing their list of the Top 100 Footballers in the world. As with every list that is knocked up annually, there are some strange decisions and in my view some ludicrous decisions.

Numbers 100-71 were revealed initially and this is how they lined up:

100 – Paulinho – Corinthians

99 – Diego Forlan – Internacional

98 – Javi Martinez – Bayern Munich

97 – Marek Hamsik – Napoli

96 – Pepe – Real Madrid

95 – Wesley Sneijder – Inter Milan

94 – Shinji Kagawa – Manchester United

93 – Samir Nasri – Manchester City

92 – Hatem Ben Arfa – Newcastle United

91 – Moussa Dembele – Tottenham

90 - Henrikh Mkhitaryan - Shakhtar Donetsk

89 – Javier Pastore – PSG

88 – Leonardo Bonucci – Juventus

87 – Kwadwo Asamoah – Juventus

86 – John Terry – Chelsea

85 – Emmanuel Mayuka – Southampton

84 – Darijo Srna – Shakhtar Donetsk

83 – Hulk – Zenit St Petersburg

82 – Mapou Yanga-M’Biwa – Montpellier

81 – Victor Wanyama – Celtic

80 – Luka Modric – Real Madrid

79 – David Luiz – Chelsea

78 – Patrice Evra – Manchester United

77 – Mario Mandzukic – Bayern Munich

76 – Joao Moutinho – FC Porto

75 – Ezequiel Lavezzi – PSG

74 – Christian Eriksen – Ajax

73 – Santi Cazorla – Arsenal

72 – Pedro – Barcelona

71 – Hernanes – Lazio

At first viewing there are some glaringly obvious flaws in these selections and it seems some players have been chosen based on reputation and past performances. Players such as Diego Forlan, John Terry and Wesley Sneijder I feel all fall in this category.

On the other hand I feel there are players there that have been harshly judged and deserve to be a lot higher in the rankings. Santi Cazorla, Luka Modric, Hatem Ben Arfa, Pepe for example.

However the one stand out clueless inclusion that jumps out at me is number 85, Southampton’s Emmanuel Mayuka. The Zambian striker has featured for his new club 7 times this season and is still to find the back of the net. Although Mayuka was awarded the African Cup of Nations Golden Boot, I feel him being included in the top 100 best footballers list is a little generous, especially without really proving himself.

This list so far seems to have been piled together by a group of Football Manager Addicts who focus purely on players in game stats. The top 10 in this sort of list is very predictable and it’s usually the rest of a list that is cause for debate. Places 70-41 will be up next and I can only imagine what names will appear.

@TaylerWillson

Follow @footyfriends