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Subscribe to our Football newsletter Enter email Subscribe. Sport all Most Read Most Recent. Manchester United FC Manchester United's 4 outcasts who won Jose Mourinho's trust and now carry derby hopes United head to the Etihad after back-to-back away wins, with players who had been jettisoned now playing starring roles.
David Beckham Peter Crouch goes to bed with David Beckham every night - and his wife approves The former England striker cozies up with Becks most evenings - and announced his wife dresses him.
Lazio 57 Ciro Immobile After a sensational season in which he put on a scoring masterclass in Serie A last year, Immobile is set to have another brilliant year with Lazio.
Napoli 55 Kalidou Koulibaly Another young center back whose stock has soared in the last year, Koulibaly is the kind of defender that even the best forwards see in their nightmares.
An absolute rock at the back who can out-jump and out-muscle almost any opponent 86 Physical , Koulibaly held strong for Napoli in Serie A last season and Senegal in the World Cup thanks to his astounding 88 Defending rating.
Napoli 54 Dries Mertens Equipped to play most attacking positions, Mertens has thrived since settling in a more central role, often deployed as a false-nine.
The Belgian has an astounding 90 Dribbling rating and 89 Pace, which constantly help him get into dangerous positions in the box.
Mertens also has 83 Shooting and 80 Passing ratings, giving him the confidence to shoot if he as a chance or lay the ball off to a teammate.
Inter 53 Mauro Icardi Two-time Serie A top goalscorer Icardi is an instinctual finisher, a forward with a nose for goal and who is as efficient and accurate with both feet as he is with his head.
Real Madrid 52 Keylor Navas One of the leading goalkeepers in Europe last season, Navas rarely puts a foot or hand wrong between the sticks. FC Barcelona 47 Samuel Umtiti A household name after he scored the winning goal for France in their World Cup semifinal against Belgium, Umtiti combines youthful exuberance with a defensive proficiency rarely seen in younger players.
Umtiti is also no slouch in the strength department; his 82 Physical rating is obvious in the ease with which he knocks attackers out of the way, shields the ball when necessary, and flies through the air to win headers.
Manchester United 45 Romelu Lukaku At first glance, the Belgian is the prime example of a traditional striker: His 87 Passing and 82 Dribbling ratings keep him at the top of his midfield game, spraying passes around the pitch and beating opponents with technique and skill.
When given the opportunity, he can really lash the ball towards goal with an 84 Shooting rating. Silva is one of the most complete central defenders in world football 88 Defending , able to create chances and move up the pitch without sacrificing his tackling, organization, and other defensive responsibilities.
His 83 Physical and Defending ratings give him the edge when trying to intercept or tackle, while a respectable 82 Dribbling rating provides the confidence and composure he needs to create something for his attackers.
Juventus 79 Alex Sandro Steadily building his reputation around the world after making his presence known in Serie A, Brazilian left-back Sandro brings a balanced skill-set to a position that is probably more important than ever before.
But as with any top fullback, Sandro also possesses dangerous Defending 82 and Physical 83 ratings that make him more than capable of standing up against even the most talented of wingers.
Benatia has all the key attributes of a top defender, including 87 Defending and 85 Physical ratings. He has an important role in the Juventus defense, using his height to dominate in the air and his experience to organize the players around him.
Combined with his 91 Dribbling rating and 5-star skill moves , the Brazilian excels at getting into precarious positions on the left side where he can fire in crosses or cut inside to shoot.
Chelsea 74 Cesar Azpilicueta After making the transition from fullback to center back a couple seasons ago, the Spaniard has thrived by playing the position to his strengths.
Azpilicueta has a whopping 87 Defending rating, which illustrates his excellence at the most important part of his position.
The Schalke man is also surprisingly good at set pieces, known for blasting the ball into the net with speed and accuracy not always associated with center backs.
Manchester City 72 Fernandinho Another paragon of the modern defensive midfielder, Fernandinho has the ideal attributes for his position—with a few tricks up his sleeve for when he happens to make it further up the pitch.
His respectable 83 Defending rating is the centerpiece of his game, as he is usually tasked with recovering the ball in midfield or defending his back line.
But his 79 Dribbling and 78 Passing ratings are solid, which helps him keep composure when taking the ball forward to create attacks or open space for teammates.
His 86 Dribbling ability keeps defenders off his back, while his 86 Passing rating lets him ping the ball all over the pitch to kick off attacks and play his teammates through on goal.
His 87 Defending rating encompasses tackling skill and ability to read the game, both of which play into his excellent form over the course of his career.
His 85 Defending rating covers a penchant for tough tackling and defensive intelligence, but his 83 Physical rating also helps him shrug off challenges and keep the opposition at a distance.
Bayern Munich 67 Thomas Müller A prime example of a versatile attacker in the modern game, Muller has played just about every offensive position.
But his nose for the goal 83 Shooting and natural composure 78 Dribbling on the ball lead many to believe his best position is as a forward.
Manchester City 66 Ederson The Brazilian shot-stopper has emerged as one of the best young goalkeepers in the world after his big move to Manchester City ahead of the season.
Ederson checks nearly all the important boxes for the position, including a 90 Kicking rating that allows him to get counterattacks going quickly and accurately, an 85 Diving rating that explains how he seems to be able to get a hand on the most impossible shot attempts, and a ridiculous 87 Reflexes rating — few can catch him off guard between the posts.
Liverpool 65 Roberto Firmino A little different than many modern strikers, the Brazilian is well-rounded and versatile, just as able to flash his technique 86 Dribbling as he is to make important passes 80 Passing and shoot from just about anywhere 83 Shooting.
Firmino does all the little things perfectly—and pretty much all the big things as well, making him a dream for almost any manager.
Paris Saint-Germain 64 Marco Verratti Ridiculously talented with the ball at his feet 89 Dribbling , Italian midfield maestro Verratti creates space and kicks off attacks either on his own or with a slick, incisive pass 84 Passing to split the defence wide open.
Though he frequently starts deeper in a more central position, Verratti is usually found all over midfield, picking up the ball and making things happen when the opposition least expects it.
The year-old lifted his seventh Bundesliga title last season but his seven goals and 12 assists is considerably less than his goal involvement in the previous season.
The left midfielder shone in the big games against Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Real Madrid last season, but can he do it again for another season.
At the age of 26, he still has time to get back to his best. Top 10 Serie A players prediction. Top 10 Ligue 1 players prediction. Ones to Watch OTW predictions.
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Thiago At home in central midfield using his brilliant and creative 90 Dribbling ability, Thiago is the beating heart in the middle for Bayern.
Incredibly accurate, Thiago uses his 85 Passing to pull the strings and create chances for his teammates all over the pitch.
Christian Eriksen An excellent crosser of the ball in both open play and from set pieces, Eriksen is the creative heart of Tottenham and the Denmark national team.
He keeps possession well with his 84 Dribbling ability, and his 88 Passing makes him an assist machine for his teammates.
With a respectable 81 Shooting rating and 80 Passing, Vidal can get the ball back from an opponent and turn it into a chance on goal for himself or his teammates.
Marcelo The highest-rated left back in the world right now, Marcelo is a defender with the mindset of an attacker. Not only is he a solid rock on the left flank with his 82 Defending rating, but he can also fly up the pitch and create chances with his 85 Dribbling and 80 Passing.
Edinson Cavani Equally gifted at finishing with his head and with his feet, Cavani is a constant goal threat thanks to his 83 Shooting, as well as 80 Dribbling that gets him into dangerous areas and 1v1 situations with goalkeepers.
When tasked with more attacking roles, Pogba can use his 84 Passing and 79 Shooting to create goals for himself and those around him.
He also uses his 80 Dribbling to transition the ball between defense and attack without skipping a beat. Marco Verratti Despite often being deployed as a central midfielder, Verratti is a skilled playmaker that uses his 89 Dribbling to show off his skills on the ball and create chances no matter where he is on the pitch.
Mesut Özil A very versatile player who can play across the attacking areas, Özil is lethal when utilizing his 87 Passing and crossing—especially with his left foot.
Often deployed as a central attacking midfielder with a tendency to drift into wide areas, Özil uses his 86 Dribbling to carve out space wherever he goes on the pitch.
David Luiz Equally as famous for his hair as he is for his 84 Defending, the Brazilian centre back utilizes his 81 Physical to muscle opponents off the ball and keep possession to kick off dangerous counterattacks.
Sergio Busquets He may be a midfielder, but Busquets shields his defense using a world class combo of 82 Defending and 81 Physical.
James Rodriguez The Colombian playmaker can disarm even the best defense with his combination of 85 Shooting, 85 Passing and 83 Dribbling. Rodriguez is ready to prove that he truly belongs in world football's elite.
Toby Alderweireld One of the best centre backs in the world, the Belgian utilized his 87 Defense to help Tottenham concede the fewest goals in the English Premier League last season.
Karim Benzema The French forward makes up for his lack of speed and physicality with top-class 84 Shooting ability and 82 Dribbling.
His deadly ability in front of goal has played a key role in Real Madrid's recent successes. Isco By far one of the most technically gifted players in the world, Isco's 89 Dribbling ability allows him to pick up the ball from deeper positions and open up space for teammates, while his respectable 83 Shooting score also makes him a threat.
Harry Kane Starting with his solid 83 Physical rating, the English forward is one of the most well-rounded in all of Europe.
Not only is he adept at flying up the wing to join the attack with his 86 Pace, but he also terrorizes opponents with 81 Defense and 84 Physical attributes.
Radja Nainggolan The textbook definition of a central midfielder, Nainggolan excels in just about every area required of his position.
Romelu Lukaku As evidenced by his big-money move to Manchester, Lukaku is a bit of a hybrid forward that uses his 84 Physical and 83 Pace to win headers and chase down through balls, then finishes them off with his clinical 85 Shooting.
Thomas Müller Consistently one of the most accurate finishers in all of world football, the German can score goals from just about anywhere in or around the box thanks to his 82 Shooting.
Andres Iniesta While not at the top like he once was, Iniesta is still one of the more skilled midfielders in the world. With staggering 90 Dribbling and 87 Passing ratings, Iniesta can still do the seemingly impossible from midfield.
David Silva Having moved away from speedier roles on the wing in recent seasons, Silva is now most effective as an attacking midfielder where he can express his creativity.
His tackling, strength in the air, and composure on the ball combine for his excellent 86 Defending rating. Jan Vertonghen The Belgian defender has emerged as one of the most complete central backs in the world.
His 85 Defending and 81 Physical makes him very difficult to handle for any attacker. His 82 Defending, 78 Dribbling and 77 Passing make him extremely effective on both ends of the pitch.
Lorenzo Insigne Insigne is one of the best Italian players in world football. His 90 Pace, 82 Passing and 89 Dribbling gives him a triple threat from the wing.
With 86 Passing and 86 Dribbling, you can trust that he will deliver a perfect ball every time. Jordi Alba A dynamic, end-to-end fullback, Jordi Alba's pace, passing, dribbling and defending elevate him as one of the most balanced left backs in the world.
Keylor Navas With 87 Diving and 85 Reflexes it takes something really special to beat the Tico goalkeeper.
Blaise Matuidi Blaise Matuidi's industry on the pitch may sometimes go unnoticed, but with 82 Defending and 84 Physical the work of the midfielder is absolutely key for any squad.
Casemiro Perhaps the key cog that keeps Real Madrid's engine working, Casemiro's 84 Defending and 86 Physical has helped him become a permanent fixture in Zinedine Zidane's squad.
Alexandre Lacazette There are few things that the Frenchman can't do. Lacazette's Pace, Shooting, Dribbling and Physicality make him one of the most complete strikers in the world.
Miranda The Brazilian centre back is a regular fixture at Inter. With 88 Defending, Miranda provides safety in the back to any squad.
Pepe Time seems to have no effect on Pepe. Years go by and the Portuguese remains a feared defender whenever he steps on the pitch.
The 35 year old Czech remains a reliable choice under the sticks. Javi Martinez The Spanish defender excels for club and country with his 86 Defending and 80 Physical.
Marco Reus With Superb Pace, Shooting and Dribbling, the German winger is a dangerous threat from the left wing scoring and assisting goals. Diego Costa The Brazilian striker is a dominant physical force.
With 88 Physical and 83 Shooting, Costa can be a goal-scoring machine. Sokratis No nonsense defending is one of the main traits of the Greek defender.
His 87 Defending and 84 Physicality allow him to go toe to toe with any striker in the world. His 89 Dribbling helps him breeze through defenders.
Sami Khedira With 84 Physical and 80 Defending, the German excels at anchoring the midfield while protecting the defence.
With 93 Pace and 85 Dribbling, the Senegalese will terrorize defenders.
