10 Highest Ranked Footballers in FIFA World Cup

10. Thierry Henry

Country: France
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: Striker/ Winger
Age: 32

Henry, too underrated but a skilled athlete, has received many plaudits and awards in his football career. He has played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. It was at Arsenal that Henry made his name as a world-class footballer. Henry has enjoyed similar success with the French national squad, having won the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000 and 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, they say where Henry goes, victory follows. One of the coolest finishers ever seen and blessed with a natural acceleration and speed that are just unfair.

9. Samuel Eto’o

Country: Cameroon
Current Club: Internazionale
Position: Forward
Age: 29

Who can deny the talent of Eto’o? He has the ability to change the game in one blink of the eye by gliding into the box and finishing calmly. It is debatable that Ibrahimović with whom he swapped clubs last summer is better than Eto’o or vice versa, but but he has a Champions League title and World Cup appearance, Ibra has neither. Either way both of these players are very talented and dynamic.  This Cameroon native has a tendency to run his mouth, but his performance is enough to back it up. And to add he is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the African Nations Cup, with 18 goals.

8. Steven Gerrard

Country: England
Club Team: Liverpool
Position: Centre Midfielder
Age: 29

The Liverpool Captain, has all the talent in the world. Steven Gerrard, has earned handsomely through remaining faithful to his boyhood club. Gerrard has emerged as a superb attacking midfielder, who also operates as a second striker or as a winger. Along with Frank Lampard, they formed the best duo attacking midfielders in the world. Gerrard further increased his international goal tally as he helped England in qualifying match against Croatia for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

7.  Andrés Iniesta

Country: Spain
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: Midfielder/ Winger
Age: 26

This 26 year old superstar is probably the most underrated footballer, but he is truly a capricious play-maker who outdoes at the pitch. His willingness to play anywhere on the pitch, coupled with a natural humility, has earned him the sobriquet El Ilusionista, El Anti-Galáctico, Cerebro and most recently Don Andrés from the Spanish press. Along with his other teammates, Iniesta’s stunning performances have shinned out throughout the past year.

6. Xavi Hernández

Country: Spain
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: Midfielder
Age: 30

Xavi Hernadez is not the fastest player in the world, nor does he have the best foot skills but every soccer team needs a Xavi, a savvy midfielder whose is the best creator in the game which sticks  Barcelona and Spain together in their perspective to glory.

5. Didier Drogba

Country: Ivory Coast
Current Club: Chelsea
Position: Forward
Age: 31

He has gained his place as  one of the world’s most leading strikers, and probably the most athletic one. He gets unstoppable with his power when he puts mind to it and he has excelled as a lone front man.

4. Wayne Rooney

Country: England
Current Club: Manchester United
Position: Striker
Age: 24

When this athlete broke through internationally at a young age of 17, he was called the baby-face-assassin for his world class striker abilities who has entirely reinvented his position by diverging all over the attacking half  to drop back into midfield to provide the final blow on the goal which has proved his talent for the finishing skills.

3. Kaká

Country: Brazil
Current Club: Real Madrid
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Age: 27

This money can’t buy Kaká, began his career at the age of eight, time has polished his skills, making Brazil as one of the best teams. Some of his individual awards include: 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Best XI, and Time 100 Most Influential People In The World 2009.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Country: Portugal
Current Club: Real Madrid
Position: Winger Forward
Age: 25

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Madrid savior, now has the pressure of the Madrid citizens after being transferred from Manchester United to Real Madrid. He is an astonishingly prolific goal scorer for a winger. In 2008, Ronaldo won the Champions League with United, and was named player of the tournament. He was named the FIFPro World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to becoming Manchester United’s first Ballon d’Or winner in 40 years. He has the long range free kick style enabling him to goal from anywhere. Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Johan Cruyff said in an interview on 2 April 2008, “Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United.”

1. Lionel Messi

Country: Argentina
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: Forward
Age: 22

Lionel Messi is definitely the most talented and best players in soccer. Messi was the UEFA Champions League top scorer in 08-09. He is a left footer and uses low center of gravity trick rendering defenders helpless. With David Beckham out injured, the stage was left clear for young Leo to be also the highest-paid player on show in South Africa.