The IFFHS has come out with their year end list of best of the best enganches. Once again Xavi Hernandez leads the pack for the 4th year in a row. Xavi beats out Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Iniesta, Ozil, Xabi Alonso among others. Spanish Football is all about the creative midfield so I don’t think this list comes as a big surprise. Some interesting facts: The list has 5 Spanish Internationals and 7 players from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
New to the list from 2010: David Silva breaks into the elite list at number 6, from media savvy Manchester City in the PL. Also returning to the top 15, the evergreen Andrea Pirlo, Franck Ribery, and new boys Luka Modric and Javier Pastore.
Dropped off the list from 2010: Arjen Robben and Steven Gerrard, most likely due to injury.
1. Xavi Hernández (ESP/Barcelona) 232
.2. Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona) 147
.3. Andres Iniesta (ESP/Barcelona) 110
.4. Mesut Ozil (GER/Real Madrid) 59
.5. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid) 47
.6. David Silva (ESP/Manchester City) 31
.7. Wesley Schneider (HOL/Inter Milan) 22
.8. Xabi Alonso (ESP/Real Madrid) 22
.9. Diego Forlán (URU/Inter Milan/Atletico) 17
10. Francesc Fábregas (ESP/Arsenal/Barcelona) 15
11. Andrea Pirlo (ITA/ACMilan/Juventus) 15
12. Franck Ribery (FRA/Bayern Múnich) 10
13. Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER/Bayern Múnich) 9
14. Luka Modric (CRO/Tottenham) 8
15. Frank Lampard (ENG/Chelsea) 5
.+. Javier Pastore (ARG/PSG) 5
Here’s the link to the 2010 list.
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