# The best footballers of the decade according to the Goal 50

The top 20 of the decade from 2007 to 2017 by adding up the votes of every edition of the Goal 50, the annual ranking of the website Goal. Messi beat Cristiano Ronaldo by three votes.

- 43 votes · 20 items
- Feb 1, 2020 · georgia_gg
- https://even.best/en/l/1523/the-best-footballers-of-the-decade-according-to-the-goal-50

## Top 20

1. **Cristiano Ronaldo** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — 485 votes: a record five Goal 50 wins and present in every edition.
2. **Lionel Messi** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — 488 votes: never finished off the podium before 2016.
3. **Dani Alves** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — 150 votes: six appearances, sixth in 2009.
4. **Zlatan Ibrahimović** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — 329 votes: in all but one edition and never outside the top 25.
5. **Luis Suárez** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — 262 votes: in six of the last seven lists, with a second place.
6. **Wayne Rooney** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — 160 votes: five appearances, tenth in 2009.
7. **Manuel Neuer** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — 157 votes: six appearances.
8. **Arjen Robben** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — 177 votes: five appearances, a star of the 2014 World Cup.
9. **Neymar** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 231 votes: fourth in 2015 after Barcelona's treble.
10. **Sergio Ramos** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 228 votes: seven appearances, best of all fifth in 2017.
11. **Robert Lewandowski** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 205 votes: six appearances.
12. **Thomas Müller** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 199 votes: fourth in 2013 after Bayern's treble.
13. **Arturo Vidal** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 176 votes: as high as seventh in 2015.
14. **Gianluigi Buffon** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 162 votes: runner-up in 2017, his best finish.
15. **Andrés Iniesta** (0 · ▲2 ▼2) — 295 votes: eight appearances, runner-up in 2009.
16. **Xavi** (0 · ▲1 ▼1) — 234 votes: three third places in a row between 2009 and 2011.
17. **Sergio Agüero** (0 · ▲1 ▼1) — 166 votes: tenth back in 2008 as an Atlético Madrid player.
18. **Philipp Lahm** (0 · ▲1 ▼1) — 142 votes: fourth in 2014 after winning the World Cup.
19. **Gareth Bale** (-1 · ▲1 ▼2) — 175 votes: sixth in 2016.
20. **Gonzalo Higuaín** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — 138 votes: five appearances, ninth in 2016.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.