The best football players of the 2010s played through a decade dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but the era was much deeper than two superstars. Spain completed one of international football’s greatest runs, Real Madrid won four Champions League titles in five seasons, Barcelona remained a major force, Germany became world champion, and players such as Andrés Iniesta, Luka Modrić, Neymar, Luis Suárez, and Manuel Neuer produced historic peaks of their own.
For this ranking, we counted only performances from January 2010 through December 2019. We compared peak level, Champions League and domestic success, World Cup and continental tournament impact, individual awards, consistency, and each player’s role. Achievements from 2009 or the 2020s do not improve a player’s position. That rule matters for Messi, Ronaldo, Modrić, Lewandowski, and others whose careers continued well beyond the decade.
Key Takeaways
- Lionel Messi ranks as our best football player of the 2010s.
- Cristiano Ronaldo is second after an extraordinary decade of goals, Champions League titles, and individual awards.
- Andrés Iniesta ranks third after winning the 2010 World Cup, EURO 2012, and major Barcelona trophies.
- Luka Modrić’s 2018 World Cup Golden Ball and Ballon d’Or give him one of the decade’s strongest midfield records.
- Manuel Neuer is the highest-ranked goalkeeper.
- Only achievements from 2010 through 2019 count toward this ranking.
Top 10 Best Football Players of the 2010s
| Rank | Player | Country | Main Position | Key 2010s Achievement | FootballerRank Decade Rating |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Forward / Playmaker | Five Ballon d’Or awards during the decade | 100/100 |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Forward | Four Ballon d’Or awards and four Champions League titles | 99/100 |
| 3 | Andrés Iniesta | Spain | Central / Attacking Midfielder | 2010 World Cup-winning goal and EURO 2012 Player of the Tournament | 95/100 |
| 4 | Luka Modrić | Croatia | Central Midfielder | 2018 Ballon d’Or and World Cup Golden Ball | 94/100 |
| 5 | Xavi | Spain | Central Midfielder | 2010 World Cup, EURO 2012, and Barcelona dominance | 93/100 |
| 6 | Neymar | Brazil | Forward / Winger | 2015 Champions League and 2016 Olympic gold | 91/100 |
| 7 | Sergio Ramos | Spain | Centre-Back | World Cup, EURO and four Champions League titles | 90/100 |
| 8 | Manuel Neuer | Germany | Goalkeeper | 2014 World Cup and Golden Glove | 89/100 |
| 9 | Luis Suárez | Uruguay | Striker | Two European Golden Shoes and 2015 Champions League | 88/100 |
| 10 | Robert Lewandowski | Poland | Striker | Bundesliga dominance and elite scoring throughout the decade | 87/100 |
FootballerRank Decade Ratings are editorial scores. They are not official FIFA, UEFA, club, or Ballon d’Or ratings.
How We Ranked the Best Players of the 2010s
This is a decade ranking, not a complete-career ranking.
Messi’s 2022 World Cup does not count.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements after 2019 do not count.
Lewandowski’s 2020 Champions League season does not count.
Modrić’s later Real Madrid success does not count either.
We used six ranking factors:
| Ranking Factor | Weight | What We Considered |
| Peak performance from 2010–2019 | 25% | How dominant the player was at his best |
| Major club success | 20% | Champions League and domestic league success |
| International tournament impact | 20% | World Cups, EURO, Copa América and other major events |
| Individual recognition | 15% | Ballon d’Or and major tournament awards |
| Consistency | 10% | How long the player remained near an elite level |
| Position and team influence | 10% | Importance within the player’s tactical role |
We also judge players by position.
A goalkeeper should not be compared with Messi by goals. A central midfielder such as Xavi or Modrić should not need striker-level scoring numbers to rank highly.
1. Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Main club in the decade: Barcelona
Position: Forward / Playmaker
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 100/100
Lionel Messi is our choice as the best football player of the 2010s.
His decade combined scoring, creativity, dribbling, consistency, individual awards, and major club success at a level few players have reached.
Messi entered 2010 already established as a Ballon d’Or winner.
He then won the award in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2019.
His 2012 calendar year became especially famous because of his extraordinary scoring output.
Yet goals tell only part of the story.
Messi also became Barcelona’s main creator. He could drop deeper, receive the ball between midfield and attack, beat defenders, create chances, and still finish as the team’s main scorer.
Barcelona won the Champions League in 2011 and 2015 during the decade.
The 2011 final against Manchester United showed Barcelona at its best, with Messi scoring in a 3-1 victory.
Four years later, Barcelona completed another treble.
Messi played alongside Neymar and Luis Suárez in one of the decade’s strongest attacks.
International football was more complicated.
Argentina reached the 2014 World Cup final, with Messi winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
Argentina also reached Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016 but lost both.
Those defeats stop his international decade from matching Ronaldo’s trophy record.
Even so, his total decade-level performance keeps him first.
Why he ranks No. 1: Messi produced the strongest combination of scoring, playmaking, individual awards, club success, and consistency across the 2010s.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Country: Portugal
Main clubs in the decade: Real Madrid, Juventus
Position: Forward
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 99/100
Cristiano Ronaldo is an extremely close second.
His decade was built around goals, Champions League dominance, major individual awards, and international success with Portugal.
Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009, but this ranking counts only what happened from 2010 onward.
His Champions League record during the decade was extraordinary.
Real Madrid won the competition in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Ronaldo was the central goalscorer in all four campaigns.
He became especially dangerous during the knockout stages, scoring decisive goals against many of Europe’s strongest clubs.
His individual awards were just as strong.
Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
International success gives him another major argument.
Portugal won EURO 2016, its first major men’s international trophy.
Ronaldo scored three goals during the tournament and remained an important leader even after leaving the final through injury.
Portugal then won the UEFA Nations League in 2019.
Ronaldo also moved to Juventus in 2018 and immediately remained one of Serie A’s leading scorers.
Messi gets the narrow edge because of his wider creative role and slightly stronger all-round attacking influence across the decade.
Why he ranks No. 2: Ronaldo combined four Ballon d’Or awards, four Champions League titles, elite scoring, and Portugal’s first major international title.
3. Andrés Iniesta
Country: Spain
Main clubs in the decade: Barcelona, Vissel Kobe
Position: Central / Attacking Midfielder
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 95/100
Andrés Iniesta produced one of the decade’s most important international moments.
Spain reached the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands.
The match remained 0-0 deep into extra time.
Iniesta then scored the winning goal in the 116th minute.
Spain became world champion for the first time.
His international success did not stop there.
Spain won EURO 2012, and Iniesta was named Player of the Tournament.
That gave him a World Cup and European Championship during the decade.
His club career was equally successful.
Iniesta remained one of Barcelona’s central midfielders during Champions League-winning seasons in 2011 and 2015.
He worked closely with Xavi and Sergio Busquets in a midfield built around possession, movement, and quick passing.
Iniesta did not score large numbers of goals.
That was never his main role.
His value came from receiving the ball under pressure, carrying it through midfield, creating space, and producing important moments in major matches.
He finished second in the 2010 Ballon d’Or voting and third in 2012.
Why he ranks No. 3: A World Cup-winning goal, EURO 2012’s best-player award, and major Barcelona success give Iniesta the strongest non-Messi-or-Ronaldo case.
4. Luka Modrić
Country: Croatia
Main clubs in the decade: Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid
Position: Central Midfielder
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 94/100
Luka Modrić became one of the decade’s leading midfielders after joining Real Madrid in 2012.
His first season was not always easy.
Over time, however, he became central to Madrid’s midfield.
His passing, movement, press resistance, and ability to control transitions gave Real Madrid balance.
Modrić helped the club win the Champions League in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
That gave him four European titles in five seasons.
The greatest individual year came in 2018.
Croatia reached its first World Cup final.
Modrić captained the team and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
France won the final, but Croatia’s run became one of the tournament’s major stories.
Later that year, Modrić won the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
That ended the long Messi-Ronaldo run of dominance over the award.
He ranks below Iniesta because Iniesta combined elite club football with a stronger international trophy record.
Why he ranks No. 4: Four Champions League titles, a World Cup final, Golden Ball, and Ballon d’Or give Modrić an exceptional midfield record.
5. Xavi
Country: Spain
Main club in most of the decade: Barcelona
Position: Central Midfielder
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 93/100
Xavi began the decade as one of the world’s best midfielders.
His passing was central to both Barcelona and Spain.
At the 2010 World Cup, Spain built much of its game around possession and midfield control.
Xavi played throughout the tournament as Spain won its first world title.
Two years later, Spain won EURO 2012.
That completed a historic run of three straight major international titles stretching back to EURO 2008.
Only the 2010 World Cup and EURO 2012 count toward this decade ranking.
At club level, Xavi helped Barcelona win the 2011 Champions League.
That Barcelona side controlled Manchester United in the final and became one of the defining club teams of the era.
Xavi remained with the club through another Champions League victory in 2015, although his role had become smaller by then.
His game was based on awareness.
He constantly looked around before receiving the ball and usually knew where his next pass would go.
He could control tempo without relying on speed or physical strength.
Why he ranks No. 5: Xavi helped define the possession-based football behind Spain’s World Cup and EURO success and Barcelona’s early-decade dominance.
6. Neymar
Country: Brazil
Main clubs in the decade: Santos, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain
Position: Forward / Winger
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 91/100
Neymar’s decade included major achievements in South America, Europe, and international football.
He became a leading star at Santos while still very young.
In 2011, Santos won the Copa Libertadores.
Neymar became one of the most highly rated young players in world football.
He joined Barcelona in 2013.
His greatest club season came in 2014/15.
Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League.
Neymar scored important goals throughout the Champions League knockout rounds, including in the final against Juventus.
He formed the famous attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
International football brought another major moment.
Brazil hosted the Olympic football tournament in 2016.
Neymar captained Brazil and scored the winning penalty in the final shootout against Germany.
That gave Brazil its first Olympic men’s football gold medal.
He also won the Golden Ball at the 2013 Confederations Cup as Brazil lifted the trophy.
Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 and continued producing goals and assists, although injuries affected parts of his time in France.
Why he ranks No. 6: Libertadores success, a Champions League treble, Olympic gold, and elite attacking output give Neymar a strong decade-wide case.
7. Sergio Ramos
Country: Spain
Main club: Real Madrid
Position: Centre-Back
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 90/100
Sergio Ramos is our highest-ranked defender of the 2010s.
His decade includes major success for both Spain and Real Madrid.
Ramos played a key role as Spain won the 2010 World Cup.
Two years later, he helped Spain win EURO 2012.
That already gives him one of the strongest international records among defenders from the decade.
His Real Madrid achievements were even bigger.
Ramos helped the club win four Champions League titles in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
The 2014 final became one of his defining moments.
Real Madrid trailed Atlético Madrid 1-0 late in stoppage time.
Ramos scored a header to force extra time.
Madrid eventually won 4-1 and completed La Décima, its long-awaited tenth European Cup.
Ramos also became club captain later in the decade.
His style combined aggressive defending, aerial strength, passing, and an unusual ability to score important goals.
Discipline could sometimes be a weakness, but his major-match influence was difficult to ignore.
Why he ranks No. 7: A World Cup, EURO title, four Champions League trophies, and decisive goals give Ramos one of the decade’s strongest defensive records.
8. Manuel Neuer
Country: Germany
Main clubs in the decade: Schalke 04, Bayern Munich
Position: Goalkeeper
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 89/100
Manuel Neuer is our highest-ranked goalkeeper.
His importance goes beyond saves.
Neuer became one of the clearest examples of the modern sweeper-keeper.
He was comfortable leaving his penalty area, passing under pressure, and helping his team maintain a high defensive line.
His biggest international achievement came at the 2014 World Cup.
Germany won the tournament in Brazil.
Neuer kept four clean sheets and won the Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.
His club career was also filled with success.
Neuer joined Bayern Munich in 2011.
Bayern won the 2013 Champions League as part of a treble that also included the Bundesliga and German Cup.
The club continued to dominate German football for much of the decade.
Neuer finished third in the 2014 Ballon d’Or voting, a rare achievement for a goalkeeper.
Injuries affected parts of the second half of his decade.
His peak was still high enough to earn a Top 10 place.
Why he ranks No. 8: Neuer combined a World Cup, Champions League, Golden Glove, and a playing style that changed expectations for elite goalkeepers.
9. Luis Suárez
Country: Uruguay
Main clubs in the decade: Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona
Position: Striker
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 88/100
Luis Suárez was one of the decade’s most complete strikers.
He could score, create chances, press defenders, and produce goals from difficult positions.
His international decade started strongly.
Uruguay reached the 2010 World Cup semi-final.
One year later, Uruguay won the 2011 Copa América.
Suárez was named the tournament’s best player.
His club career then reached another level in England.
During the 2013/14 Premier League season, Suárez scored 31 league goals for Liverpool despite missing the opening games.
He won the European Golden Shoe.
He then joined Barcelona.
Suárez became the central striker in the Messi-Neymar-Suárez attack.
Barcelona won the 2015 Champions League and completed the treble.
His 2015/16 season was even stronger individually.
Suárez scored 40 La Liga goals and won another European Golden Shoe, finishing ahead of Messi and Ronaldo.
His career also included disciplinary incidents that damaged his reputation.
They do not erase his football performance, but they remain part of his decade.
Why he ranks No. 9: Two European Golden Shoes, Copa América success, a Champions League title, and elite scoring give Suárez one of the decade’s strongest striker records.
10. Robert Lewandowski
Country: Poland
Main clubs in the decade: Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich
Position: Striker
FootballerRank Decade Rating: 87/100
Robert Lewandowski completes our Top 10.
His greatest single season came just after the decade ended, so none of his 2020 achievements count here.
His 2010s record was already strong.
Lewandowski became one of Europe’s leading strikers at Borussia Dortmund.
He helped the club win consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
Dortmund then reached the 2013 Champions League final.
One of Lewandowski’s greatest matches came in the semi-final against Real Madrid, when he scored four goals in the first leg.
He joined Bayern Munich in 2014.
There, he became one of the Bundesliga’s most consistent scorers.
One famous performance came against Wolfsburg in 2015.
Lewandowski entered as a substitute and scored five goals in a short period, turning the match around.
He won multiple Bundesliga scoring titles during the decade and remained Bayern’s main striker through 2019.
He does not rank higher because his defining Champions League triumph and strongest individual award-level season came in 2020.
Why he ranks No. 10: Lewandowski combined elite Bundesliga scoring with titles at Dortmund and Bayern while remaining one of Europe’s leading strikers for most of the decade.
Who Was the Best Football Player of the 2010s?
Lionel Messi was the best football player of the 2010s in our ranking.
Messi won five Ballon d’Or awards during the decade and helped Barcelona win two Champions League titles.
His combination of scoring and playmaking separates him from almost every other forward.
Cristiano Ronaldo is extremely close.
Ronaldo won four Ballon d’Or awards, four Champions League titles, EURO 2016, and the 2019 Nations League.
For someone who values Champions League knockout performances and international trophies more heavily, Ronaldo has a strong argument for first place.
Our method gives Messi a narrow edge because of his wider attacking influence across the full decade.
Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2010s
The 2010s were defined by the rivalry between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both produced numbers and achievements that would normally dominate an entire generation.
| Category | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| Ballon d’Or awards during 2010–2019 | 5 | 4 |
| Champions League titles during decade | 2 | 4 |
| Major senior international titles | 0 | EURO 2016, Nations League 2019 |
| Main decade club | Barcelona | Real Madrid |
| Main strengths | Scoring, playmaking, dribbling | Scoring, movement, aerial threat, big-game finishing |
This table is not intended to settle their complete career debate.
It only compares the 2010s.
Their full head-to-head belongs in a separate Messi vs Ronaldo comparison rather than this decade ranking.
What Made 2010s Football Special?
The decade produced several teams and players that shaped modern football.
Messi and Ronaldo dominated individual awards
Messi and Ronaldo won nine of the ten Ballon d’Or awards from 2010 through 2019.
The only player to break their run during the decade was Luka Modrić in 2018.
That level of individual dominance is one reason the decade is closely associated with their rivalry.
Spain completed a historic international run
Spain entered the decade as European champion.
They won the 2010 World Cup and then defended their European title at EURO 2012.
Xavi, Iniesta, Ramos, Busquets, Iker Casillas, and other leading players formed the core of those teams.
Real Madrid dominated the Champions League late in the decade
Real Madrid won four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018.
They became the first club in the Champions League era to win the competition three seasons in a row.
Ronaldo, Ramos, Modrić, Marcelo, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, and others played major roles.
Barcelona produced another historic team
Barcelona won Champions League titles in 2011 and 2015.
The early-decade side relied heavily on Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta.
Later, Neymar and Suárez joined Messi in one of football’s most productive attacking combinations.
Germany reached the top in 2014
Germany won the 2014 World Cup after several deep tournament runs.
Its 7-1 semi-final victory over Brazil became one of the most surprising results in World Cup history.
Neuer, Thomas Müller, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, and other players formed the core of the champion team.
FAQs
Who were the top three football players of the 2010s?
Our top three are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Andrés Iniesta. Messi takes first for his overall attacking influence, Ronaldo is a close second, and Iniesta ranks third after major success with Spain and Barcelona.
Was Messi the best football player of the 2010s?
Yes, in our ranking. Messi won five Ballon d’Or awards during the decade and remained an elite scorer and creator for Barcelona throughout almost the entire period.
Was Ronaldo better than Messi in the 2010s?
Ronaldo has a strong case based on four Champions League titles and Portugal’s EURO 2016 victory. We still rank Messi slightly higher because of his wider playmaking role and overall decade-long attacking output.
Who won the most Ballon d’Or awards in the 2010s?
Lionel Messi won five during the decade. Cristiano Ronaldo won four, while Luka Modrić won one in 2018.
Who was the best midfielder of the 2010s?
Andrés Iniesta is our highest-ranked midfielder. Luka Modrić and Xavi follow closely.
Who was the best defender of the 2010s?
Sergio Ramos is our highest-ranked defender. His decade included the 2010 World Cup, EURO 2012, and four Champions League titles.
Who was the best goalkeeper of the 2010s?
Manuel Neuer ranks first among goalkeepers. He won the 2014 World Cup Golden Glove and played a major role in Bayern Munich’s 2013 treble.
Why is Neymar only No. 6?
Neymar reached an elite individual level and won major trophies, but he did not match the decade-long consistency, individual awards, or international senior success of the players above him.
Why is Lewandowski only No. 10?
Lewandowski was an elite striker throughout much of the decade, but his greatest Champions League season and strongest individual peak came in 2020. Those achievements cannot be included in a 2010–2019 ranking.
Why is Karim Benzema not in the Top 10?
Benzema won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid and was an important part of the team’s attack. However, his strongest individual seasons and major individual recognition came after 2019.
Who just missed the Top 10?
Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Philipp Lahm, Sergio Busquets, Gareth Bale, Arjen Robben, Thomas Müller, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Eden Hazard, and Antoine Griezmann all had strong cases.
The final places were difficult because the decade contained many elite players with very different roles.
Does this ranking include achievements from 2020?
No. The cutoff is December 31, 2019. Any performance from January 2020 onward falls outside this ranking.
Who was the best football player in 2010?
Lionel Messi was widely considered the best football player in 2010 and won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or. This article ranks performance across the full 2010–2019 decade, where Messi also takes the No. 1 position.
Sources and Fact-Checking
This ranking was checked against historical World Cup records, European Championship records, Champions League results, Ballon d’Or history, domestic league records, international tournament awards, and official competition histories.
FootballerRank applies a strict decade rule. Only performances and achievements from January 2010 through December 2019 influence the order.
Players are also judged by role. Messi and Ronaldo are expected to provide goals and attacking output, while players such as Modrić and Xavi are judged more heavily on midfield control, chance creation, passing, and match influence.
Conclusion
After comparing performances from 2010 through 2019 only, Lionel Messi has the strongest case as the decade’s best football player, with Cristiano Ronaldo extremely close behind. Iniesta, Modrić, and Xavi represent an outstanding generation of midfielders, while Neymar, Ramos, Neuer, Suárez, and Lewandowski complete a Top 10 covering several different roles. The decade will always be closely connected with Messi and Ronaldo, but the players around them also shaped World Cups, European Championships, Champions League finals, and some of the strongest club teams modern football has seen.
