Who is the best soccer player in the world?

           It 

is not very easy to answer this question.  There are several candidates that deserve to be part of the discussion.  Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker  Casillas, Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta all are contenders for the tittle of the best.  Although there are more players who also deserve consideration, I am going to limit the debate to these five players.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly the most charismatic and well-known player in the world.  Ronaldo’s charisma and talent have made him the most expensive player in the world.  Spanish team Real Madrid bought him from Manchester United in the summer of 2009 for a transfer fee of over $130 million.  This is the largest transfer fee in soccer history.  Ronaldo won several league titles and a Champions League tittle during his time with Manchester United.  He has also won FIFA’s Best Player of the Year award once.  Yet, he has failed to capture any major titles with Real Madrid.  He has also not had significant success with the Portuguese national team.  Does Ronaldo prove that the most charismatic player is not always the best on the field?

Ronaldo’s Real Madrid teammate, Iker Casillas, is the best goalkeeper in the world.  He won the World Cup in 2010 with Spain.  His incredible play was one of the biggest factors that helped Spain win its first World Cup.  Casillas has also won several league tittles and one Champions League tittle with Real Madrid.  In addition, Casillas is the captain of both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.  Yet, is his position in the debate over the best player in the world limited by the fact that he is a goalkeeper?

Xavi and Andres Iniesta both also were part of the Spanish team that won the World Cup in 2010.  Both of them also have won several league championships and two Champions League tittles with FC Barcelona.  Both of these players were integral to the Spanish victory this summer.  Xavi led the midfield and provided assists in several of Spain’s goals.  Iniesta scored the goal in the World Cup final that granted Spain the victory.  Nevertheless, does the fact that these players are so similar cancel both of them out in the discussion?

Finally, Lionel Messi also presents a strong case for being considered the best.  Messi won FIFA’s Best Player Award this past year.  He has won several league tittles with Barcelona and two Champions League tittles.  He also won the pichichi award last year, granted to the top goal scorer in the Spanish league.  He is currently tied with Cristiano Ronaldo as the top goal scorers of this season.  Yet, Messi has failed to win any major competitions with the Argentinian national team.  His performance with Argentina in the last World Cup was a failure.  Argentina had more than enough talent to win, but they failed to go far in the competition.  Messi was the star of the team so he has received great amounts of criticism for failing to win anything with his national team.  Do Messi’s struggles with Argentina overshadow his incredible achievements with Barcelona?

           

All of these players have incredible talents.  They all deserve consideration in the debate over the best player in the world.  However, critics find faults with some part of all of their games.  I guess in the end, it all comes down to every individual’s favorite team.  People often think that one of the stars of their favorite team is the best in the world.  Real Madrid is my favorite team.  Thus, I personally think that Ronaldo is the best.  Still, the debate is open.