World famous football edition has announced the best players of the year putting Messi at the top of the rating

Neymar's departure, loss to Madrid in Supercopa, questionable transfers - many thought Barca face a deep crisis. However, Blaugrana are now top of La Liga, eight points ahead of Real Madrid, with the most goals scored. How? You probably know the answer. Just when Barça seemed to lag behind, Lionel Messi dragged them back in front.


The Argentine has plundered 16 goals and set up another five in La Liga and the Champions League; no other Barcelona player has been involved in more than eight. Without Dembele, Ernesto Valverde has often played him in a 4-4-2 behind Suarez, handing him freedom and bolstering the midfield. The coach knows how simple the formula can be: keep a clean sheet and Messi will usually fix the rest.

With Cristiano Ronaldo often misfiring, Messi can surely call himself the best player in the world since summer. Over the whole year, the Barça playmaker has scored 39 league goals – five more than anyone in the top five European leagues – and recorded 10 assists. Throw in his brilliance as a playmaker in deeper areas, and he deserves to top this list.

Messi also had time to send Argentina to the World Cup, salvaging a qualifying campaign beset by chaos and ineptitude by sealing the deal with a typically stunning hat-trick in Ecuador.

At 30, he shows no signs of slowing down. That is not only good news for his club and country, but for all football fans who so enjoy seeing him play.