The best footballers of the decade according to the Goal 50
The top 3 according to 43 votes from people: Cristiano Ronaldo · Lionel Messi · Dani Alves. (Updated Feb 1, 2020.)
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.
Top 20
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1
Cristiano Ronaldo
485 votes: a record five Goal 50 wins and present in every edition.
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2
Lionel Messi
488 votes: never finished off the podium before 2016.
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3
Dani Alves
150 votes: six appearances, sixth in 2009.
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4
Zlatan Ibrahimović
329 votes: in all but one edition and never outside the top 25.
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5
Luis Suárez
262 votes: in six of the last seven lists, with a second place.
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6
Wayne Rooney
160 votes: five appearances, tenth in 2009.
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7
Manuel Neuer
157 votes: six appearances.
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8
Arjen Robben
177 votes: five appearances, a star of the 2014 World Cup.
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9
Neymar
231 votes: fourth in 2015 after Barcelona's treble.
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10
Sergio Ramos
228 votes: seven appearances, best of all fifth in 2017.
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11
Robert Lewandowski
205 votes: six appearances.
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12
Thomas Müller
199 votes: fourth in 2013 after Bayern's treble.
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13
Arturo Vidal
176 votes: as high as seventh in 2015.
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14
Gianluigi Buffon
162 votes: runner-up in 2017, his best finish.
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15
Andrés Iniesta
295 votes: eight appearances, runner-up in 2009.
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16
Xavi
234 votes: three third places in a row between 2009 and 2011.
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17
Sergio Agüero
166 votes: tenth back in 2008 as an Atlético Madrid player.
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18
Philipp Lahm
142 votes: fourth in 2014 after winning the World Cup.
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19
Gareth Bale
175 votes: sixth in 2016.
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20
Gonzalo Higuaín
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.
Is something missing?
Comments (4)
Messi #1 of the decade, no debate possible.
Where's Modrić? Ballon d'Or 2018!
Ramos the only defender that high, says a lot.
Iniesta above Neymar and Lewandowski, deserved for 2010 alone.