While Messi & Ronaldo were the footballing protagonists of the decade, and while you probably are just reading this article to see who between them we've named the number one best footballer of the decade, there are plenty of other players on this list - and they're all pretty good.
- We have a footballer who has won more trophies than any other footballer ever.
- A footballer so good he won the Ballon d'Or during CR7 and Messi's decade of dominance.
- A footballer who revolutionised the game, and changed it forever.
And here they all are, ranked from 10-1. So, enjoy...or at least try to.
10) Neymar JR.
A global icon with limitless talent, Neymar was unsurprisingly tipped to succeed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on world football’s throne throughout the early stages of his career.
The Brazilian has single-handedly produced some of the most iconic footballing moments of the 21st century and is even responsible for the greatest comeback in Champions League history.
Neymar’s career is far from over but he has a cloud hanging over him, unlike any other Ballon d’Or contender before him, with many still waiting for the Brazilian to put his unparalleled ability to use by reaching the pinnacle of the beautiful game.
9) Gareth Bale
Incredibly, Gareth Bale was once considered ‘cursed’ and a ‘jinx’ at Tottenham because he wasn’t on the winning side in a Premier League game in his first two years at the club. But he set himself on a path to superstardom with a famous Champions League hat-trick against Inter in 2010, utterly tormenting Maicon that night, and was soon the most expensive player in the world.
At Real Madrid, he has suffered with injuries and has had to battle sky high expectations, but a personal haul of four Champions League titles speaks for itself. What’s more, Bale was certainly not a passenger in those triumphs; as he played crucial roles in the final in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
8) Dani Alves
Dani Alves, with eyes that could stare through your soul and enough gold medals to make a dragon's eyes water with jealousy. Dani Alves, who's won 25 club titles in this decade alone. Dani Alves? Dani Alves.
The two-time Copa America winner should've been past his peak halfway through this decade, if that. Full-backing is a young, quick man's game – especially in the modern era. Except Dani Alves has never played the traditional full-back game, because Dani Alves is better than other full-backs, all other full-backs, always, forever.
7) Franck Ribery
Franck Ribéry is one of the Bundesliga's most decorated servants, and his time at Bayern Munich will be remembered for his majestic grace on the ball, his tormenting of desperate full-backs and a consistent end product.
Ribéry was the star of Bayern's left flank for 12 years, and won the Bundesliga title an unbelievable nine times. He also lifted the Champions League and reached a World Cup final with France in 2006.
Despite his advancing years, the diminutive Frenchman continues to light up the footballing stage, and is now the key player in an exciting Fiorentina side. The fun never stops with Franck.
6) Luis Suarez
Reserves of emotion are what make Suarez Suarez. They are what separate him from the other preeminent - and non-Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo - striker of his generation: Robert Lewandowski.
Where the Pole is all freakish efficiency, eastern European stoicism and mechanical majesty - yes, in this case ladies and gents, the international stereotypes really do ring true - Suarez is pent up South American passion.
Sometimes it's controlled, sometimes it overflows with dire consequences, but it's always there, pumping his blood, pervading his being, providing his motivation, pushing his talent to the edge.
5) Andres Iniesta
When he was 15 years old, Andres Iniesta impressed Pep Guardiola so much that the Man City manager (then a mere Barcelona player) turned to Xavi and said: “You will retire me, but this kid will retire us both.”
He was right, on both accounts.
Iniesta may not have been as flashy as some of the other members of this list but he was one of the best. The midfielder made the sublime look simple and impossible look even simpler. The enigmatic architect behind the best Barcelona team of all time, no wonder there were tears when he departed the Camp Nou pitch for the final time.
4) Sergio Ramos
Since the turn of the decade, Ramos has won two La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, four World Club Cups, the Copa del Rey twice (dropping one off a bus), the Euros and the World Cup.
For all his flaws and controversy, he will enter 2020 still at the pinnacle of football, named in FIFPro's World Team of the Year - somewhat questionably mind you, but still there.
The hair has changed, the teeth have been whitened, the beard styled and the tattoos added but Ramos is still the apex predator, still the box-office centre-back, still football's Big Bad, still one of the best around.
3) Luka Modric
You already know the reason Luka Modric is number three on the list of the greatest footballers of the past decade.
It's simple:
Luka Modric is one of three players during said decade to win the Ballon d'Or.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo
What more can you actually say about Cristiano Ronaldo that hasn’t already been said a thousand times over? This is a man with five Ballons d’Or, five Champions League titles and 700 career goals for club and country, yet who is never truly satisfied and works harder than anyone to ensure he achieves his ever-higher targets.
Talent alone will only get a player so far and Ronaldo understood that from an early age. His utter dedication to his craft is second to none, while the incredible attention to detail he puts into looking after himself is what has kept him at such a high level for more than a decade. Most players never reach his level – certainly none can sustain it for long – bar just one other…
1) Lionel Messi
And now, the Best Messi has received his sixth European Golden Shoe with 36 goals & 72 points in 2018-19 season.
There is no current footballer comparable to Lionel Messi. Not one. Which is pretty incredible, not just because Cristiano Ronaldo exists, but also because – since his breakout all those years ago – the number of players that have attempted to emulate him has been staggering.
Every country across every continent has their own punditry-patented 'Messi' - the German Messi (Marko Marin, RIP), the Scottish Messi (Ryan *checks notes* Gauld?), the North Korean Messi (Jong Il-Gwan) etc etc - some of which we've been foolish enough to pledge our faith in. But these are all imitators, fakes, FRAUDS.
They pale in comparison to the pasty champ. Because, when it's all said and done, this world's only big enough for one growth hormone-treated 5'7 footballer. And he needs no national prefix.
He's just Messi. Or the GOAT.