Messi, Sterling & Aguero lead ESPN 2019 attacking trio ahead of CR7, Lewy & Mane

ESPN gives their ranking for best attacking players in 2019, including wings, forwards & strikers.

Top 10 Forwards

The best players in the game seem to have positions as hard to define as their individual talents. They're a potent mix of attacking midfield, winger and centre-forward, but also have the intelligence and quick thinking to know where to be.

10. Tadic (Ajax/Serbia)

9. Felix (Atletico/Portugal)

8. Neymar (PSG/Brazil)

7. Aubameyang (Arsenal/Gabon)

6. Griezmann (Barcelona/France)

5. Firmino (Liverpool/Brazil)

4. Salah (Liverpool/Egypt)

3. Mbappe (PSG/France)

2. Ronaldo (Juventus/Portugal)

1. Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)

The past year has not been a complete bed of roses for Messi -- Champions League heartbreak at Anfield, yet more Copa America misery with Argentina -- but he has been characteristically magisterial in Spain, winning a (club-record) 10th La Liga title, scoring a 600th Barcelona goal (and counting) and earning a (record-equalling) sixth Pichichi Trophy given to Spain's top scorer and a (record) sixth European Golden Shoe.

He also has taken his tally of free-kick goals past 50, cementing his reputation -- on top of everything else -- as the finest set-piece specialist of his era.

Top 10 Wingers

The best players in the game seem to have positions as hard to define as their individual talents. They're a potent mix of attacking midfield, winger and centre-forward, but also have the intelligence and quick thinking to know where to be.

10. Everton (Gremio/Brazil)

9. Sane (Man City/Germany)

8. Neres (Ajax/Brazil)

7. Di Maria (PSG/Argentina)

6. Reus (Dortmund/Germany)

5. Son Heung-Min (Tottenham/South Korea)

4. Sancho (Dortmund/England)

3. Hazard (Real Madrid/Belgium)

2. Mane (Liverpool/Senegal)

1. Sterling (Man City/England)

With 25 goals and 18 assists in all competitions last season, Sterling played a starring role in Manchester City's unprecedented treble of domestic trophies. He is transferring that form to the international stage, with 10 goals and eight assists in his past 10 England appearances. Success with City in the Champions League and a strong showing with England at Euro 2020 could put him in the Ballon d'Or conversation.

Top 10 Strikers

Around the penalty area, the striker is king. The "classic" No. 9 (a bit of a dying breed) will score against anyone, at any time, from anywhere. While all great strikers have that ruthless determination to seize every scoring opportunity, the truly great are as adept at linking play as they are finishing it.

10. Quagliarella(Sampdoria/Italy)

9. Ibrahimovic (Unattached/Sweden)

8. Lacazette (Arsenal/France)

7. Duvan Zapata (Atalanta/Colombia)

6. Cavani (PSG/Uruguay)

5. Suarez (Barcelona/Uruguay)

4. Benzema (Real Madrid/France)

3. Lewandowski (Bayern/Poland)

2. Kane (Tottenham/England)

1. Aguero (Man City/Argentina)

Aguero is often overlooked when individual prizes are handed out, but the milestones he has reached this year reflect his consistent brilliance since arriving in England back in 2011. Last season, he became the second player after Thierry Henry to score 20-plus goals in five successive Premier League seasons, and he also equalled Alan Shearer's record of 11 hat tricks in the Premier League era. Form is temporary; class is permanent.