The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) published two weeks ago the best eleven of the last decade. This organization studied all footballers, their achievements and their sports performance between 2011 and 2020 to reach their conclusions. In this case, only two FC Barcelona players were included in the best line-up of the last 10 years, Andrés Iniesta and Leo messi.
The full eleven was as follows: Neuer; Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk, Marcelo; Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Iniesta; Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo. In total, the Real Madrid (5 players counting Cristiano), and Bayern Munich (four names counting Kroos), were the great winners in this historic team that the IFFHS awarded.
But the Federation of History and Statistics has not only made an eleven of the decade, but has also chosen the best players of the last ten years. In this case, Barça does come out as a clear winner, since the best footballer of the last ten seasons for them has been Messi. The ’10’ Barcelona player has surpassed Cristiano, who finished second, and his former teammate Iniesta, who is third.
It seems that the IFFHS had a hard time deciding between the Portuguese and the Rosario, as they acknowledged in the statement in which they announced the winner. “The world duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two best players of the decade, was fascinating and uncertain until the end of the voting, “they commented. Fortunately, in the end it was the Argentine who added the most votes, proving that he is the best.
In terms of collective titles, between 2011 and 2020, which is the period that has been taken into account for this vote, both ‘cracks’ are more or less equal in terms of numbers, but not in terms of the importance of the trophies. Messi won 6 Leagues, 5 King’s Cups and 2 Champions League, while Ronaldo won 4 Leagues (2 Spanish and 2 Scudettos), 2 Cups, 4 Champions League and a European Championship. Regarding individual distinctions, the now bianconero won 3 Golden Boots and 4 Golden Balls, while the Barcelona player lifted 5 Golden Boots and 4 Golden Balls.
Neymar, Ramos or Ibrahimovic, among the best
After CR7, Leo and Iniesta appear, in order, Neymar Jr, Ramos, Neuer, Lewandowski, Gianluigi Buffon, Ibrahimovic and Modric. Other names such as Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets or Dani Alves, champions of the triplet with Barça in 2015 and ‘tops’ in their position for many years, are missing. Also, the Brazilian won almost everything with Juventus and PSG, so it is surprising that he is not there.
