The Most Influential Soccer Players Of The Last Decade

The Argentine maestro’s left foot has been compared to a magic wand, and for good
reason. Since 2013, Messi has claimed four Ballon d’Or awards, bringing his total to
eight—more than any player in history. His statistical dominance is staggering: 672
goals for Barcelona before his 2021 move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he helped
secure the Ligue 1 title before finally achieving his dream of World Cup glory with
Argentina in 2022. But of course, Messi’s influence extends beyond numbers to his
playing style.

Five Champions League titles tell only part of Ronaldo’s remarkable story. What distinguishes the Portuguese phenomenon is his reinvention. He jumped from Manchester United’s tricky winger to Real Madrid’s unstoppable goalscorer to Juventus’ veteran talisman. According to FIFA statistics, Ronaldo scored over 800 career goals, becoming the first player in five World Cups. His physical preparation has revolutionized the sport, with his strict diet, sleep regimen, and training routine becoming the template for modern professionals. Not to mention Ronaldo’s CR7 brand, which has undoubtedly transcended football.

With his flamboyant skills and infectious personality, Neymar has carried the torch of
Brazilian soccer’s joyful tradition. The São Paulo native’s 2017 transfer from Barcelona
to Paris Saint-Germain shattered records at €222 million. Yes, this is still the highest fee
ever paid for a player! His partnership with Messi and Suárez at Barcelona produced
one of history’s most lethal attacking trios, scoring 364 goals across three seasons.
According to a marketing analysis by Nielsen Sports, Neymar ranks among the top
three most marketable athletes globally.

Here comes the French phenomenon who announced himself to the world at the 2018
World Cup. He ultimately became the youngest player since Pelé to score in a final. His
pace is frightening, as he clocked at 38 km/h during matches, making him faster than
Olympic sprinters over short distances. Unlike many young talents, Mbappé has
consistently delivered, averaging around 30 goals per season since his breakthrough.
His decision to remain at Paris Saint-Germain rather than join Real Madrid in 2022
shocked the entire soccer world.

Scoring five goals in only 9 minutes in 2015 against Wolfsburg remains one of the most extraordinary feats in football history. The Polish striker’s journey began with Lech Poznan. Lewandowski’s professionalism goes beyond the pitch thought. He completed a master’s degree in physical education while playing professionally and employs a sleep coach to maximize his performance. During the 2019-2020 season, he scored in 19 consecutive matches across all competitions. Also, according to Opta Sports, his goal-per-minute ratio since 2013 is the best of any player in Europe’s top five leagues.

This Manchester City midfield has redefined the assist concept. Do you agree? De
Bruyne reportedly registered 100 Premier League assists since joining City in 2015. His
vision allows him to execute passes others wouldn’t even attempt. Especially those
outside-of-the-boot crosses have become his signature. Before flourishing under Pep
Guardiola, De Bruyne was deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea. This made his
rise even more remarkable. The player’s technical perfection is complemented by
surprising physical strength, enabling him to dominate matches for a full 90 minutes.

Dijk arrived in January 2018 for around £75 million, the most considerable amount ever
paid for a defender at the time. And guess what? Liverpool’s defensive makeover came
at the same time. His impact was immediate and quantifiable: Suddenly, the same
Liverpool, which was conceding 1.2 goals per game, transitioned to just 0.6 after his
signing. Standing at 6’4 with superb speed, Dijk went 65 games without being dribbled
past, a streak spanning almost two seasons. An ACL injury in 2020 sidelined him for
about a year, yet his return to the elite level underscored his mental fortitude.

His record of 22 straight successful penalties between 2018 and 2020 demonstrated
amazing mental strength under pressure. Remember when Ramos scored the most
important equalizer in the 93rd minute of the 2014 final against Atletico Madrid? Though
primarily a defender, Ramos has scored 101 goals in his career—more than many
forwards achieve. However, his disciplinary record tells another story. With 20 red cards
in La Liga, he holds the dubious honor of most dismissals in Europe’s top five leagues.
Note that Ramos captained Real Madrid through their most successful periods.

Talk about; The Egyptian King!” This man arrived at Liverpool in 2017 from Roma for
what now seems an absurdly modest £36.9 million. He scored a total of 30 goals in his
debut season. Interestingly, a study by Stanford University found that anti-Muslim hate crimes decreased by nearly 19% in Merseyside after his signing. Salah’s playing style is
a combination of blistering pace with precise finishing, predominantly cutting inside from
the right wing onto his left foot. This icon has surpassed 30 goals in two of his six
Liverpool seasons.

Football’s most unassuming superstar accomplished the remarkable feat of winning
back-to-back Premier League titles with different clubs—Leicester City in their 5000-1
miracle season and Chelsea the following year. Kanté takes over his defensive midfield
position through intelligent positioning rather than physical dominance. His ground
coverage is just legendary! Tracking data from the 2018-19 season showed he covered
an average of 12.2 kilometers per match. Chelsea teammates even joke that playing
with Kanté feels like having an extra player on the field.

Croatian genius Modrić broke the decade-long Messi-Ronaldo stranglehold on the Ballon d’Or in 2018. This occurred after his inspirational World Cup campaign (July 2018), where he led Croatia to their first-ever final. For him, it all started with humble origins, developing his skills while growing up in a war-torn region as a refugee. At Real Madrid, Modrić has orchestrated five Champions League triumphs with his exceptional passing range and game intelligence. In spite of being labeled «the worst signing of the season» after his first year in Spain, he silenced critics by becoming the club’s midfield metronome.

His physical attributes combine to create the perfect modern striker. 6’5 height,
explosive acceleration, and surprising technical ability. This goal machine shattered the
Premier League scoring record in his debut season as he netted 36 goals in just 35
matches. Before turning 23, Haaland had already scored 200+ career goals, with a
Champions League record of 35 goals in his first 30 appearances. His trademark celebration—the zen pose—has become instantly recognizable worldwide. Haaland’s
goal-per-minute ratio is unprecedented in top-flight football, scoring approximately every
84 minutes, according to UEFA statistics.

With Rapinoe at the helm, the USA secured back-to-back Women’s World Cup wins in
2015 and 2019. She bagged the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in the latter tournament.
Her signature «victory pose» celebration during the 2019 World Cup became a cultural
phenomenon, symbolizing unapologetic confidence. Rapinoe’s playing style blends
technical flair with tactical intelligence, specializing in set pieces. In 2019, this superstar
became the second woman footballer to win the Ballon d’Or. She indeed had a
distinguished career before retiring in 2023.

Next is Australia’s record goalscorer, Sam Kerr! She has literally dominated women’s soccer across three continents, scoring prolifically in Australia’s W-League, America’s NWSL, and England’s Women’s Super League. According to FIFA analytics, Kerr’s movement off the ball ranks in the 99th percentile among forwards, demonstrating her intelligence beyond goalscoring. Her backflip celebration has become her trademark after finding the net more than 220 times in her professional career. Kerr’s role in growing women’s football in Australia cannot be overstated. After all, television viewership for the Matildas matches increased by 320% following her rise to prominence.

At the age of 34, the French striker’s transition from Cristiano Ronaldo’s backup to Madrid’s star player culminated in his 2022 Ballon d’Or victory. Benzema’s technical sophistication distinguishes him from pure goalscorers. His first touch has literally been described as «velvet» by coaches and analysts alike. After Ronaldo’s 2018 departure, Benzema enhanced his game like crazy, scoring 131 goals in five seasons. Besides, he directed Madrid to multiple Champions League titles as captain. Undoubtedly, he ranks in Real Madrid’s top five all-time for both goals and assists, which proves his dual-threat capability.