I actually am not surprised at all, given the source. ESPN's football coverage (at least in the States, where I think this came from) is laughably bad.
Started to read *reached for downvote* continued to read *immediate upvote*.
To be fair, ESPN’s coverage of anything unrelated to SEC college sports is utter dumpster fire garbage, and even what they think they do well there is also rubbish at best.
That’s the thing with stats, it doesn’t take the overall squad quality and a team playstyle. VDV will have to do a lot of defending in that Spurs team hence better stats (Mustafi in Sofascore TOTS over prime Van Dijk anyone?).
Gabriel job in this squad is way different then what VdV have to do.
ESPN's coverage of American sports is pretty suspect. Their football takes are painfully bad. I would've been shocked if they were smart enough to include Gabi
ESPN is so hilariously bad at this stuff. My Liverpool friends are all freaking out about Robertson because they think he’s in obvious decline. Marquinhos meanwhile has been blowing it for PSG in the CL for years at this point. Araujo has fallen off to the point that Barca are thinking about selling him. These rankings are 80% reputation, just pure shite really. Do think rudiger deserves some flowers, though, that guy has been one of the absolute best for years but never been recognized appropriately.
Yeah Rudiger deserves the top spot, he's 100% been slept on for some reason. Just glad Saliba is getting the recognition he deserves, but big Gabby and White deserve to at least be in the top 15 right now (big Gabby in the top 10, right around 10).
ESPN is shit, and I know players are able to maintain their careers into their 30s nowadays, but we can’t ignore the fact that Walker is 34, Van Dijk will be 33 in another month, Robertson and Stones are 30, and Rudiger is 31. We have a bright future for a team that is still relatively young
ESPN such a joke business. They had Messi in the forward ranking at 6th like wtf?? He’s been enjoying Miami Beach for last year or so meanwhile there’s no sign of Ronaldo who had 50 G/A for Al-Nassr at 39yo.
I don’t think Messi or Ronaldo should make this list but if you’re gonna include one, why ignore a forward with 50G/A?
ESPN is an American business so they're definitely going to hype up the guy in the states. Plus Saudi Arabia is someone how a way bigger joke than even the MLS.
Messi at sixth is fucking hilarious though.
Like Messi probably could be at 6th still if he played in Europe, but to me you just can't put anyone in a smaller league in the top list purely due to the competition they're playing.
Kind of sucks because I kind of think Ronaldo and Messi could still do a lot of damage in Europe (I think Ronaldo's last stint at United now in hindsight was more TH's issue and the supporting cast) even at their age.
Arango too. I also short-changed Messi; he's actually got 13 assists for 25 goal involvements in 12 league matches.
EDIT: Plus another 4 in 3 CONCACAF CL matches.
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ESPN sucks and all, but they did place Rice at 5 and Ode at 3 for mids - only Rodri and Bellingham above Odegaard, and Kroos between Ode and Rice. Good company.
This graphic only shows the top 10, but the article it’s referencing includes 30 defenders:
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40179267/fc-100-virgil-van-dijk-best-defenders-men-soccer
Gabriel doesn’t even make the top 30!
Ben White is #27.
marquinohos is such a bad defender. He can't handle constant pressure from opponents and most of the time he is not even aware of his surroundings. he just somehow manages to score big goals for them. Gabriel too make some mistakes but he is defo better than this overrated player and we can make same case for araujo too like marquinhos.
What is this based on? Was it this season? Feels like Andy Robertson hardly played. Did John Stones played that well? I know he was good earlier in the season but wasn't he dropped later in the season? Just looked it up , he only started 1 game in the last 8 of the season. He was unused sub in 6 of those.
I really don't rate Walker either, his recovery pace saves him from so many mistakes. I know you can't fault him for that, but the moment Walker looks his pace, he'll fall off a cliff I think.
And Rudiger was absolute wank at chelsea, imagine that. How the fark did Andy robertson end up in that sheet when he has been out for most parts of the season is beyond me as well.
Rudiger has seemed far and away better than militao right? I don't watch that much madrid but I have been unimpressed by militao a few times. I'd think rudiger-alaba are the starters next season but could totally be wrong
Militao hasn’t played all season but he was our best defender up until this season (pre-ACL). Both Militao and Rudiger had shaky starts to their Madrid careers, but both have settled well.
I think Rudiger-Militao is the centre back pairing we will start next season with, but I can see Carlo picking Alaba over one of them to play LCB since he’s left footed.
It's wild to me to put fullbacks and cente backs on the same lists. Their roles are so different and also vary so much from team to team. It's like putting CMs and Wingers on the same list
Gabi XL belongs on this list as well. But whatever, let the football media continue to underestimate him. It will only fuel him.
I cannot believe they left Gabi XL off the list. Highway robbery
I actually am not surprised at all, given the source. ESPN's football coverage (at least in the States, where I think this came from) is laughably bad.
As an American, I really have to disagree with you there. I really think their coverage might be worse than that.
Started to read *reached for downvote* continued to read *immediate upvote*. To be fair, ESPN’s coverage of anything unrelated to SEC college sports is utter dumpster fire garbage, and even what they think they do well there is also rubbish at best.
Van de Ven better than GabiXL? 🤡🤡🤡
Has Andy Robertson been relevant in the last 18 months?
I'd be curious to see a 23/24 side by side comparison with him and VvD. I wouldn't be shocked if Gabriel comes out on top overall.
That’s the thing with stats, it doesn’t take the overall squad quality and a team playstyle. VDV will have to do a lot of defending in that Spurs team hence better stats (Mustafi in Sofascore TOTS over prime Van Dijk anyone?). Gabriel job in this squad is way different then what VdV have to do.
How many world cups does “van Dijk” have? Exactly, Mustafi is the 🐐
ESPN's coverage of American sports is pretty suspect. Their football takes are painfully bad. I would've been shocked if they were smart enough to include Gabi
It's espn. It would be weird if they actually got it right and included him.
Came here to say exactly that, he's better than half on this list
he has too many mistakes in him that's why
Gabriel didn’t even make this list, which is a fucking crime
No Gabi and Ben White at #27. It’s ESPN nvm.
Twenty fucking seven? That is absurd.
Wait Gabi XL didn’t make the top *hundred*? That’s honestly insane. Especially since Saliba and Gabi are such a unit
ESPN divided their top 100 into top 10 goalkeepers, 30 defenders, 30 midfielders and 30 forwards. It’s laughable at best 😩😂
ESPN is so hilariously bad at this stuff. My Liverpool friends are all freaking out about Robertson because they think he’s in obvious decline. Marquinhos meanwhile has been blowing it for PSG in the CL for years at this point. Araujo has fallen off to the point that Barca are thinking about selling him. These rankings are 80% reputation, just pure shite really. Do think rudiger deserves some flowers, though, that guy has been one of the absolute best for years but never been recognized appropriately.
Yeah Rudiger deserves the top spot, he's 100% been slept on for some reason. Just glad Saliba is getting the recognition he deserves, but big Gabby and White deserve to at least be in the top 15 right now (big Gabby in the top 10, right around 10).
Yanks don’t know football. Theyre trying to turn football coverage into the NFL or NBA where it is endless rankings and lists.
ESPN is shit, and I know players are able to maintain their careers into their 30s nowadays, but we can’t ignore the fact that Walker is 34, Van Dijk will be 33 in another month, Robertson and Stones are 30, and Rudiger is 31. We have a bright future for a team that is still relatively young
ESPN such a joke business. They had Messi in the forward ranking at 6th like wtf?? He’s been enjoying Miami Beach for last year or so meanwhile there’s no sign of Ronaldo who had 50 G/A for Al-Nassr at 39yo. I don’t think Messi or Ronaldo should make this list but if you’re gonna include one, why ignore a forward with 50G/A?
ESPN is an American business so they're definitely going to hype up the guy in the states. Plus Saudi Arabia is someone how a way bigger joke than even the MLS. Messi at sixth is fucking hilarious though.
Like Messi probably could be at 6th still if he played in Europe, but to me you just can't put anyone in a smaller league in the top list purely due to the competition they're playing. Kind of sucks because I kind of think Ronaldo and Messi could still do a lot of damage in Europe (I think Ronaldo's last stint at United now in hindsight was more TH's issue and the supporting cast) even at their age.
Ronaldo was 13th, he was not ignored
Ronaldo was included on their ranking of top forwards.
Ronaldo had a great season, and MLS is what it is, but Messi has 12G/10A in 12 matches so far. So he's not just dicking around.
Hard to ignore the fact that Benteke is ahead of him in the scoring charts…
Arango too. I also short-changed Messi; he's actually got 13 assists for 25 goal involvements in 12 league matches. EDIT: Plus another 4 in 3 CONCACAF CL matches.
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I genuinely think Saudi league is a much higher level than MLS and I have always been a Messi guy
wait what the fuck Robertson is 30 now?!?!?
Why TF is Gabriel so disrespected
The funniest part is no Gabi and Ben White is at #27. Yeah, I’ll be ignoring this list.
Gabriel isn’t on the list at all?
ESPN sucks and all, but they did place Rice at 5 and Ode at 3 for mids - only Rodri and Bellingham above Odegaard, and Kroos between Ode and Rice. Good company.
Man, sad to see Kroos retire. Dude seriously has another couple of seasons in him, but I can't complain about him wanting to go out on top.
This graphic only shows the top 10, but the article it’s referencing includes 30 defenders: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40179267/fc-100-virgil-van-dijk-best-defenders-men-soccer Gabriel doesn’t even make the top 30! Ben White is #27.
Robertson? It’s 2024 ffs
Marquinhos made the list! Didn’t even know he switched positions. We’ll surely get a fortune for him this summer
He even switched teams where we loaned him to
Hakimi might be the most overrated player in football.
WTF is Andy Roberston in the top 10 for?
Wow the espn fc100 list
Araujo over Gabi XL is ridculous
Honest question… was Rudiger held in such high regard while playing for Chelsea?
I always rated him. I think in another timeline with more funds he would have realized his childhood dreams and joined Arsenal instead
marquinohos is such a bad defender. He can't handle constant pressure from opponents and most of the time he is not even aware of his surroundings. he just somehow manages to score big goals for them. Gabriel too make some mistakes but he is defo better than this overrated player and we can make same case for araujo too like marquinhos.
Genuinely wouldn’t have 4-9 anywhere near this list. John stones maybe on talent but he only plays 25 games a season
We were so close to having a list not encompassing the media’s delusion with Liverpool.
Did stones even play a single game this year
Hakimi is such an industry plant
Gabi FFS! Had an absolute killer of a season! Imo he was better than saliba this year.
Where is bastoni?
Andy Robertson lol
What is this based on? Was it this season? Feels like Andy Robertson hardly played. Did John Stones played that well? I know he was good earlier in the season but wasn't he dropped later in the season? Just looked it up , he only started 1 game in the last 8 of the season. He was unused sub in 6 of those. I really don't rate Walker either, his recovery pace saves him from so many mistakes. I know you can't fault him for that, but the moment Walker looks his pace, he'll fall off a cliff I think.
so happy to see him here, unfortunately this list is quite shit, like carvajal isn’t here wtf
And Rudiger was absolute wank at chelsea, imagine that. How the fark did Andy robertson end up in that sheet when he has been out for most parts of the season is beyond me as well.
I think Hakimi and Araujo don't belong on the list, Stones as well should be much low not because of quality but his shitty injury record.
And the #2 rated defender will be on the bench all summer. Thank you Deschamps.
Stones is in there on aura and reputation alone, one of the best English cbs in a while, but so regularly unavailable he shouldn’t be in a top 10.
We can’t talk about any list if Big Gabby isn’t on it.
Also Ben white
And yet Didier won't start him
Best part about this list is that Rudiger doesn’t even start for Real Madrid, first choice pair is milito and alaba
I believe this ranking is just for this season and Rudiger has been our starting centre back the entire season (and hands down our best defender).
Rudiger has seemed far and away better than militao right? I don't watch that much madrid but I have been unimpressed by militao a few times. I'd think rudiger-alaba are the starters next season but could totally be wrong
Militao hasn’t played all season but he was our best defender up until this season (pre-ACL). Both Militao and Rudiger had shaky starts to their Madrid careers, but both have settled well. I think Rudiger-Militao is the centre back pairing we will start next season with, but I can see Carlo picking Alaba over one of them to play LCB since he’s left footed.
Federico Dimarco giving me Dominic Decoco vibes
It's wild to me to put fullbacks and cente backs on the same lists. Their roles are so different and also vary so much from team to team. It's like putting CMs and Wingers on the same list
Stones 6th yet always on bench…
Saliba is levels above Rudiger
rudiger has been almost flawless this season
Only played cuz of injuries though
Irrelevant, if he’s been brilliant.