By Renato Perez
The world of football has been brought back to life by the publication of a new ranking prepared by the British media TalkSport. In this list, which seeks to determine the 25 best footballers of the 21st century, Lionel Messi has taken first place, leaving his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, in second place. This new ranking has rekindled the eternal dispute between the two players and has generated an intense debate among fans.
The choice of Messi as the best footballer of the 21st century has not been arbitrary. The Argentine has stood out for his technical ability, his vision of the game, his goalscoring ability and his leadership. Throughout his career, he has won numerous titles both at club level and with the Argentine national team, consolidating himself as one of the best players in history.
The TalkSport ranking stands out for its diversity, including footballers of different nationalities and styles of play. Among the 25 chosen we find two Portuguese (Cristiano Ronaldo and Figo), 5 Brazilians (Ronaldinho, Kaká, Neymar, Dani Alves and Ronaldo), 4 French (Zidane, Henry, Mbappé and Benzema), 3 Spanish (Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Ramos), 3 Italians (Pirlo, Cannavaro and Buffon), two English (Rooney and Terry), and a single representative each of Argentina, Uruguay, Germany, Croatia, Sweden and Egypt.
Although the exact criteria used to draw up this ranking have not been revealed, it can be inferred that factors such as the following have been taken into account:
List of achievements: Titles won at club and national team level have been a determining factor.
Impact on the game: The ability to change the course of a match and mark an era has been valued.
Longevity: Consistency throughout the career has also been a factor to consider.
Media impact: Popularity and worldwide recognition have been taken into account.
The choice of Messi as the best player of the 21st century will only fuel the eternal debate about who is better, Messi or Ronaldo. Both players have marked an era and have left an indelible mark on world football. Their styles of play are different, but both have proven to be true geniuses.
Although the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo has overshadowed other great players, the TalkSport ranking reminds us that football is a team sport and that there are many other footballers who have left their mark on history. Figures such as Ronaldinho, Zidane, Iniesta or Xavi also deserve a prominent place in this pantheon of legends.
The TalkSport ranking has once again reignited the debate about who is the best player of the 21st century. While it is true that rankings are always subjective and that each fan will have their own opinion, what is clear is that both Messi and Ronaldo have written glorious pages in the history of football and that their legacy will endure for many years to come.
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