Messi Named Best Forwards Found in 2020, CR7 Only 3rd!
05 December, 2020
Despite failing to lift a trophy previous season and his off-pitch drama overshadowing his on-field performance, Lionel Messi has been named the best forward of 2020 by ESPN, while Cristiano Ronaldo only finished in third spot.
ESPN revealed their rank of the best men's players in soccer in their fifth twelve-monthly edition of the FC 100.
The list is divided into 10 Top 10s for every position on the pitch, as well as managers.
A lot of the top locations were dominated by stars from Bayern Munich and Liverpool, except two positions - attacking midfielder and forward.
To compile the 2020 edition of the FC 100, 65 ESPN specialists (editors, writers and former players) from all over the world built their selections from a list of about 250 players.
Each expert picked their top 10 10 per location in a 4-3-3 formation, plus their top 10 managers.
Messi was named the top forward in 2020, before Kylian Mbappe and Ronaldo - you can view the complete top 10 10 found in the gallery above.
"This is the first year in Messi's long profession that off-discipline drama overshadowed his on-field efficiency," ESPN explained.
"As he manufactured his displeasure with Barcelona known this summer, the community waited to find if he'd decamp for Manchester. He thought we would stay, unwilling to take legal action against the club he has called residence since he was a boy.
"Messi still isn't cheerful and Barcelona remain wobbling, but anyone who thinks the 33-year-old is found in decline should look at his recent efficiency against Real Betis. He came on in the next half, the scoreline level at 1-1, and changed everything.
"His magnificent dummy create Antoine Griezmann, his penalty was unstoppable, and his 82nd-minute goal, a left-footed rocket, peeled back the years."
Meanwhile, Sadio Mane was known as as the top winger, even though Robert Lewandowski was initially decision among the strikers.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za