Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane: Greatest footballers of 2000s ranked by fans | OneFootball

The 2000s were full of legendary players.

The likes of Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry were at the peak of their powers and showcasing their unbelievable talent on the world stage.

While, later on in the decade, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo emerged on the scene and began their path to football domination.

But who were the greatest players of the 2010?

View the top 25 below…

The 25 best players of the 2010s

25. Carles Puyol

One of the greatest captains in football history. He led Barcelona and Spain to great success.

24. Steven Gerrard

Gerrard had everything needed to be a top class midfielder. He deserves credit for staying at Liverpool for so many years instead of chasing trophies elsewhere.

23. Clarence Seedorf

Seedorf is the only player to have won four Champions League trophies with three different teams. He won it with Ajax (1995), with Real Madrid (1998) and twice with AC Milan (2003 and 2007).

22. Philipp Lahm

Lahm is one of the greatest full-backs to ever play the game.

21. Xabi Alonso

Alonso was a joy to watch. His passing range was something else.

20. Andrea Pirlo

Pirlo was the personification of elegance. He made football look so, so easy.

19. Roberto Carlos

Carlos will always be remembered as a remarkable left-back who could take a lethal free-kick.

18. Dennis Bergkamp

Is Bergkamp the most technically gifted footballer in Premier League history? He’s up there, that’s for sure.

17. Cafu

Cafu helped revolutionise the full-back position with his ability going forward as well as in defence.

16. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan has had a remarkable career which has seen him score over 550 goals. He’s still going strong at 41 years old.

15. Kaka

The Brazilian was playing at an extraordinary level at AC Milan. He won the Ballon d’Or in 2007.

14. Alessandro Del Piero

De Piero is regarded as one of the greatest Italian footballers ever. He helped his country to the World Cup title in 2006.

13. Alessandro Nesta

Nesta was a colossal defender who won 9 trophies with AC Milan in the 2010s.

12. Francesco Totti

Totti spent his whole career at Roma, scoring 307 times in 786 games.

11. Iker Casillas

A truly legendary goalkeeper who won everything there was to win at Real Madrid and with Spain.

10. Paolo Maldini

Maldini enjoyed an extraordinary career that saw him still excelling for AC Milan in his 40s.

9. Andres Iniesta

It’s a shame that Iniesta never won a Ballon d’Or. A remarkable footballer who is still playing in Japan with Vissel Kobe.

8. Gianluigi Buffon

Will Buffon ever retire?! Now 44, he is playing at the club where it all began for him: Parma.

7. Xavi

Xavi just pips his midfield partner at Barcelona, Iniesta. They formed an extraordinary duo for the Catalan giants.

6. Thierry Henry

The greatest player in Premier League history. He helped Arsenal to their famous invincible season in 2003/04.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo had emerged into one of the world’s best players at the end of the 2000s, winning his first Ballon d’Or trophy in 2008.

4. Ronaldo

Ronaldo would have gone down as one of the greatest ever players had he not suffered two serious knee injuries.

Zidane ended his career on a sour note after his infamous red card in the 2006 World Cup, but that shouldn’t take away from what a sensational midfielder he was.

2. Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho could do things with a football that people can only dream of. His peak was short but he was truly unstoppable at his best.

1. Lionel Messi

Messi has been voted the greatest player of the 2000s, despite only being 22 at the end of the decade. He’s probably the greatest player of the 2010s and, the way he’s going, he could be the greatest player of the 2020s too.

Among the players to narrowly miss out on the top 25 include Patrick Vieira, Samuel Eto’o, Frank Lampard, Sergio Ramos and Wayne Rooney.

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(Football Terrace)