A number of players can stake a claim for being part of the best team in the world at this early period of the European domestic leagues. However, very few players standout the way those listed below have in terms of their contribution to their team, their role as leaders, and certainly their crucial involvement in their respective clubs. 
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon- the Juventus and Azzurri custodian is back to his best and his outstanding saves have ensured the Bianconeri remain on course to qualify from their group in the Champions League as well as continue to challenge Internazionale for the Serie A title. Buffon has conceded only one dubious goal in Europe against Bordeaux. He saved the Old Lady on numerous occasions both in the domestic league and Europe. A poll in a previous segment of the website revealed that 65% of our readers voted for Buffon as the goalkeeper expected to be the best in South Africa (Please refer to The Best Goalkeepers in South Africa article written on November 5, 2009). Buffon has also been instrumental in Italy’s qualification to South Africa 2010.
Defense: John Terry, Carles Puyol, Maicon Douglas and Giorgio Chiellini- (Please refer to The Best Defenders Headed To South Africa piece written on November 11, 2009)
- Terry is quite influential and anchors the Chelsea defense which has conceded a mere eight goals in 12 Premiership matches. He is one of the players Fabio Capello will be relying on to help England safely navigate through the group stage. Terry is one of the most respected and acclaimed defenders in the world. His name and that of Chelsea have been linked together since the Premier League titles began to arrive at Stamford Bridge during the Jose Mourinho era.
- Puyol is the captain of a Barcelona side which won the treble last season and has conceded only seven goals in 10 la Liga matches up to this point.
- Maicon is the flying right-back who not only retrieves the ball for Internazionale but often starts attacking moves from his flank. He is one of the Nerazzurri’s most prized assets. The Brazilian has more votes than Terry, Puyol and Manchester United’s Vidic put together in our poll in the article mentioned above.
- Chiellini is the player who adds steel to both Italy’s and Juve’s defensive line. He can score the occasional goal but is renowned for his solid tackling and tough approach to the game. He is expected to lead the line once Fabio Cannavaro retires. Almost half of our readers who voted in a poll chose Chiellini as the best defender heading to South Africa.
Midfield: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marek Hamsik and Xabi Alonso
- Lionel Messi is one of the main catalysts behind Barcelona’s treble last season and has continued his devastating form for his club having notched seven goals in la Liga this season. His performances with Argentina are not as impressive but then perhaps that is down to Diego Maradona’s ill management of the players at his disposal as well as his debatable choice of players and tactics. When firing on all cylinders, Lio is a nightmare for defenders.
- Cristiano Ronaldo could perhaps be the only player from the current best 11 to miss out on South Africa 2010. Despite injury, Ronaldo has already found the back of the net on five occasions in la Liga not to mention his four goals in the Champions League. He will be hoping that his country will overcome his absence to beat Bosnia to qualify to the World Cup. The Portuguese hold a 1-0 edge after the weekend home win against the Bosnians.
- Marek Hamsik is perhaps a surprise inclusion to many but he has been one of the rising stars in Serie A the past couple of years and has helped Slovakia qualify to next summer’s World Cup. Hamsik is a wanted man and elite clubs in Italy and Europe have shown interest in his capture. It will only be time before he is snapped up by a bigger club than Napoli. He has already scored seven goals in Serie A this season including his brace in the stunning come-from-behind victory against Juventus in Turin.
- Xabi Alonso has been severely missed by Liverpool which lost much of its midfield structure when it sold the player to Real Madrid. The negative results suffered by Liverpool cannot be attributed to the loss of Alonso alone but it is still a testament to his importance and value to any team he plays for. Alonso recently stamped his authority in the friendly match against Argentina and led his country to a win by scoring both of Spain’s goals.
Attack: Didier Drogba and David Villa
-Didier Drogba has already scored nine goals in 12 Premiership matches not to mention the assists for a Chelsea team on top of the Premier League. Drogba has the speed and physical strength to out-muscle most defenders in England and Europe. He is a scoring threat in any match and can pop up to score a goal at any moment. He also led his country Ivory Coast to next summer’s World Cup.
- David Villa has been in demand for the past couple of years yet he remained with Valencia and his goals have helped his club to fourth place in la Liga’s standings. Villa has already scored eight times in nine games played in the Spanish league. He is one of the most dangerous attackers in Europe and the world. He will partner Fernando Torres in a lethal attack as they attempt to add World Cup 2010 to Spain’s trophy cabinet after securing Euro 2008 for their country.
There are clearly other qualified players who can make the list yet all those mentioned above have played a key role for their club and/or country. All the players, except for Cristiano Ronaldo at this stage, will be participating in South Africa 2010.
Where is Xavi???? and Iniesta????
They are quite better than Alonso and of couse Hamsik
Xavi is the best player in the world right now, he made Spain winning the Euro’08 and he has made Barcelona to be probably the best team in history winning the 6 titles they played in 2009. But as always, if you are not a forward or a winger you can’t be considered the best….
old thread, but i’d like to chime in anyway:
GK: Van der Sar (sub = Buffon)
DF: Alves, Terry, Lucio, A. Cole (subs = Vidic, Maicon)
MD: Robben, Pirlo, Iniesta, C. Ronaldo (subs = Lampard, Sneidjer)
FW: Messi, Torres (sub = Rooney)
Why is Messi called a midfielder on your team here? If he aint a striker or forward i havent been watching soccer/football for six months! seriously, I assumed he was a classic offensive scorer etc, with no other duties…As opposed to Gerrard who is what I think of as a midfielder
Gk=Buffon
RB= Micon CB= Lucio CB= Vidic LB= Alves
DM= Essian CM=Zavi LM= Iniasta
RWF= Messi LWF=C.Ronaldo
CF=DROGBA
Milan 89,
Essien is good but he didn’t play in 2010.
Gk .. Buffon
Rb .. Alves | Cb .. Lucio | Cb .. Puyol | Lb .. Cole
Rm .. Ronaldo | Cm .. Xavi | Cm .. Sneidjer | Lm .. Messi (c)
Cf .. Villa | Cf .. Drogba
___________________________
Subs .. Cesar | Terry | Samual | Robben | Iniasta | Gerrard | Rooney | Torres
Hello Gabe,
This is a strong starting XI, I’d only change two things: Maicon starting for Alves who will be on the bench instead of Terry. The other change will be on the bench: I’d remove Samuel and have Italy’s Chiellini on the bench.
Messi is classed as a forward for starters. Ronaldo normally is too (Milan 89 is spot on, except Maicon keeps Alves out of the team)
You have to pick attacking defenders so yes to MAICON, no to PUYOL. Xavi is consistently in the top 10 in the world, every year yet people seem to forget him and the reason why Fabregas will warm the bench up once again.
Hi Paulo,
Xavi is the best in midfield; he makes Barca tick and makes Messi’s work much easier.
Maicon is the best rigt-back at the moment in the world but I am not so sure about Alves starting since he plays Maicon’s position at the club level. Many underestimate Chiellini because he plays for a Juventus side which was miserable during the 2009-10 season.
This was written back in 2009 so the list will definitely change after the World Cup.
Hi Paulo,
This is another piece I wrote and the votes show Xavi with most votes by readers and fans: http://www.worldcupbuzz.com/the-worlds-best-midfielders/
Feel free to contact me @RamiSoufi on Twitter. Thanks for your comments.
de gea dani alves puyol vidic evra fabregas xavi messi kaka rooney
ronaldo