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Selecting 100 players is tough, and you'll soon realise that 100 spaces aren't enough to incorporate all of the quality that will be on show.

With that in mind, the following players were not included.

No Reserve 'Keepers

Competition for places is harsh in this Top 100, so we have no room for "wasted" spots going to reserve goalkeepers. Petr Cech and Keylor Navas miss out for this reason only.

Theo Walcott, Arsenal

Returning from an ACL tear, we simply do not know how good he will be. His game relies on pace, and that particular injury can harm that. No one can categorically state what he'll be like when he's back.

Ilkay Gundogan, Borussia Dortmund

Ilkay Gundogan hasn't played a game for more than a year. While fans of BVB expect him to slot back in and perform within a month of returning, we're not willing to award him a place on faith alone.

Jakub Blaszczykowski, Borussia Dortmund

He sustained ligament damage earlier this year and has now torn a muscle in training. It's common to sustain more injuries as you return, so, like Walcott, who knows how "Kuba" will shape up?

Kevin Strootman, Roma

An ACL tear in January ruined his FIFA World Cup dreams and puts him in limbo as he edges closer to a return.

Shinji Kagawa, Borussia Dortmund

Having been misused by Manchester United for the last two years, Shinji Kagawa's football isn't where it should be. How long will it take Jurgen Klopp to coax the best out of him?

Javi Martinez, Bayern Munich

Due to a freshly torn ACL, Martinez will likely play no part in this year's competition, so there's no point putting him in here.