Anyway, let's get the next ten players out of the way:
20. Genaro Gattuso (AC Milan) 139 points
Ian Wright: I'm going to say something pretty controversial here. Gennaro Gattuso is the most important player in the world right now.
No wait, come back.
Gattuso was the lynchpin of the Italian World Cup winning side and played the same role for AC Milan as they made their way to victory in last season's Champions League. An almost impassable obstacle in front of defences he plays in front of his workrate and ability to break up attacks allows his much more naturally gifted team-mates to faff about and look like superstars without having to do any of the dirty work. If you're looking for a perfect example of how vital to sides he plays in he is then look no further than Milan's Champions League semi final matches with Manchester United. In the first half of the first leg Milan dominated the match and aside from Ronaldo's early goal from a corner United never got a look in. Gattuso missed the second half through injury and a Rooney and Scholes inspired United bossed the game and wound up coming from behind to win the match. Gattuso returned for the entirety of the second leg and Milan breezed through at a canter with United barely causing a problem for the duration of the match.
19. Ronaldo (AC Milan) 148 points
Colin Pigeau: I know what you're thinking: he looks fat. Well, he is; but he can still go.
In his prime, Ronaldo just couldn't be stopped. If you see any shots of him in action from his days at PSV Eindhoven, he was a train that didn't need a track, and the only stop on his route was the goal. He was superbly single-minded in regards to his eye for the net, and defenders were little more than pylons to him. In fact, strap a pair of skis on him and he would medal in the slalom.
Does he still have it? Some (including myself, often times) say no, but he does have his sparks. He belongs on this list though, simply because no one to this day has gotten the true story of his legendary "illness" before the final of France '98. That was weird.
18. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 155 points
Tim O'Sullivan: Way, way, way too low in my estimation. 18th??!! Messi is easily one of the world's elite ten players, and his part in Barcelona's "FANTASTIC FOUR" will be pivotal next season. Whereas everyone will be looking at Ronaldinho, Henry and Eto'o, it could be Messi's time to shine. He scored the best goal in Europe last season, which says a LOT. He scored a hat-trick in El Classico versus Madrid. Plus a ton more.
The whole, "the next ___________" theory is usually bullshit, but at times this kid really does resemble the great Maradona. Pace, trickery, cunning and a ruthless edge equates to a modern day superstar who will get even better.
17. Allesandro Nesta (AC Milan) 156 points
Morgan Marx: Alessandro Nesta can be something of a forgotten man. Overshadowed by Kaka and Maldini at his club, he has to deal with Cannavaro and Pirlo for his country. Yet Nesta quietly serves as a lynchpin in both cases, cleaning up after his slightly more famous team-mates. Injuries have marred some of his greatest successes; he missed out on most of Italy's 2006 WC win, an absence that spilled over into the Italian league as well. Yet he recovered in time for the Champions League rematch versus Liverpool, and was instrumental in clearing the mistakes of Maldini and Jankulovski.
While he doesn't have the stature of a Terry or Puyol, he is arguably the most physically gifted centre back in the world. Having won the world's biggest competitions, Nesta doesn't have much left to prove. A quiet retirement from international soccer seems likely, yet Serie A strikers will have to deal with the indomitable defender at least until 2011. They surely won't forget his presence.
16. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 166 points
Tim O'Sullivan: Arsenal's highest placed player in the list (thanks Titi) and rightly so. Since last month's huge transfer, Fabregas has become Arsenal's premier asset, and they'll be adamant on keeping hold of him.
If you watch him closely, you will really change your opinions on some of his midfield opponents. He has made the likes of Lampard, Ballack, Jenas and Carrick look totally ordinary in games last season alone. It's a genuine case of, "now you see me, now you don't", and for a player with average pace that really emphasises how exceptionally intelligent and gifted the young Spaniard is.
His positioning and distribution is just extraordinary. Some say he's one for the future, but in reality, he's one of the world's best players right now.
15. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) 168 points
Ian Wright: I should hate Wayne Rooney, I really should. An English international who plays for Manchester United (such is my loathing of that club that with the exception of Paul McGrath any Irish player, no matter how great, who plays for them is forever tainted in my eyes) who regularly displays a nasty, violent and petulant side to his game. Actually yeah, I do hate him.
However what makes it even worse is that I really, really respect his talents as a footballer. He's the most naturally gifted English footballer since Paul Gascoigne and the only player they've got who, despite Steven Gerrard's gifts, has the potential to be the best player in the world.
For a striker Rooney's scoring record isn't hugely impressive, he averages about one goal in every three matches (and his Champions League record is nothing short of shocking of a player of his ability) but his talents go far beyond merely putting the ball in the back of the net. Rooney frightens defences, he's one of the most intelligent young forwards in Europe, he always plays with his head up and can bring team mates into the game and create goal scoring opportunities for others. He's also a very powerful runner with the ball, his thick frame gives him a low centre of gravity which means he's hard to knock off the ball and there's many a frustrated defender who has given away dangerous free kicks and penalty's when they've been unable to stop him legally.
14. Petr Cech (Chelsea) 172 points
Ian Wright: Despite the protestations of supporters of Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon the question isn't so much "is Petr Cech the best goalkeeper in the world" but rather "how much better than any other goalkeeper in the world is he"?
The answer is a little bit better than 3 others (add Shay Given's name to the 2 mentioned above) and a lot better than the rest. It's really difficult to find a weakness in Cech's game. At 6'5" he's an imposing figure in the box, good under the high ball and hard to pressurise (he held on to the ball even after Steven Hunt cracked his skull when Chelsea played Reading last season). Add to this amazing reflexes, good hands and top class positional sense and you've got the best keeper in the world by a country mile.
The scary thing for people that aren't Czech or Chelsea fans is that at 25 we could be seeing him play at the top level for another dozen years.
13. Francesco Totti (Roma) 179 points
Morgan Marx: When you think of players tied to one club, players you can't imagine performing anywhere else, some familiar names pop up: Gerrard, Puyol, Raul, and Henry (oops, sorry Tim). Yet the player most identifiable as a symbol for his club might be Roma's Francesco Totti. Totti has remained at Roma for his entire career, despite the advances of larger clubs that promised more chances at silverware, more recognition.
Though maddeningly inconsistent at an international level, and known for his spats with refs and elaborate goal celebrations, Totti's commitment to Roma cannot be questioned. And while it looked like his career was winding down, a sudden resurgence saw Totti net 26 league goals and help Roma finish second in the (weakened) Serie A. At 31, Totti's Italian career may be over. But his impact at Roma hasn't begun to wane.
12. John Terry (Chelsea) 184 points
Morgan Marx: Imagine Derek Jeter tossing aside his hat and glove for a catcher's mask and mitt (since I'm a Sox fan, you can also imagine him getting steamrolled Fosse style by Kevin Youkilis). That's the equivalent of John Terry stepping in for two injured team-mates and playing in net, shouting out orders as he put on the Mickey Mouse gloves.
While Roman Abramovich seems hell bent on adding big name after big name to his growing collection of stars, it is John Terry that keeps the whole mess together. While other defenders might be more athletic, no one possesses those rare "intangibles" that mean so much in a game of predominantly skill. And don't take my word for it. Says Cesc Fabregas, "Even from outside the game you can appreciate that John Terry is the boss of the Chelsea side in all ways."
11. Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 188 points
Tim O'Sullivan: One of the most improved players in the world over the last year, and someone who's raw talent has been nurtured into a devastating end product. You can still see signs of awkwardness and clumsiness in his game, but in terms of sheer impact, it's tough to find a more demolishing force in the penalty box right now.
He won Chelsea the Carling Cup and three months later he won Chelsea the F.A Cup. Great assists helped him out, but he finished his chances off with a killer instinct. That's what world class strikers do.
He had a fantastic campaign with Chelsea last season. His two goals against Barcelona and the winners against Liverpool and Everton showcased how he's turned into a deadly predator that can change a game in an instant.
Forty down, ten to go. Come back tomorrow to see which players have made our elite ten.
