We are already in the final stretch of this exciting year 2018, which was full of good football. And to close it properly, I will make a recount of the 50 best players of the year. I want to clarify that only the calendar year will be taken into account, that is, what has been done from January to December 2018. In this third part we will reveal positions 30 to 21.
The 50 best footballers in the world 2018 (50-41)
The 50 best footballers in the world 2018 (40-31)
30)Paul Pogba (France, Manchester United).
Pogba has all the quality to be one of the best players in the world without discussion, but its irregularity and complicated personality always makes us pay more attention to the bad than the good. From the footballing point of view, we must immediately highlight the fundamental role that Pogba played in the French team that was crowned world champion in Russia. Influential, decisive, talented; Pogba was undoubtedly one of the best players of the 2018 World Cup, leaving in that month samples of all his innate talent. If only he played like this all the time ... the problem is that he does not. Leaving aside the World Cup, the Frenchman has lived a real hell in Manchester in all 2018. Although he had a good closing last season with good performances, everything fell apart in this new start of the season. His relationship with Mourinho was totally broken to the point that not only took away the captain's tape, but relegated him to the bench in the most important games. Of course, it does not help that every time he plays, it seems that he has never touched a ball in his life. Perhaps it is because Pogba is too irregular, perhaps the environment where it is also influences; everything will be clear in 2019, since with all security Pogba is living his last days as a red devil.
29)Diego Godín (Uruguay, Atlético Madrid).
Another dream year for the Uruguayan. Godin is one of those centers who are practically impassable and who rarely make mistakes. Whoever has any doubt that Diego Godín is the best central defender of his generation should see a little more football. The Uruguayan completed another magisterial season becoming the wall of the "colchonero" team, being vital in obtaining the UEFA Europa League, both in defense and attack. In addition, he made a World Cup simply sublime, making Uruguay one of the less-beaten teams and standing out as one of the best defenses of the tournament.
28)Leroy Sané (Germany, Manchester City).
Since Leroy Sané came to Manchester City he adapted perfectly to what Pep Guardiola asked of him. The German only had one year in the Premier League to consecrate himself as one of the best players of the tournament and the best among young people. Sané not only has a speed that impresses, but a fascinating mobility and great ability to haggle and score goals. Leroy became an indispensable part of Pep's tactical scheme because it shows that it gives the City another dimension. When should be regretting Joachim Löw not have called for the World Cup, because it is enough that he made a player like Sané to Germany.
27)Robert Lewandowski (Poland, FC Bayern Münich).
The Polish has always proved to be an infallible scorer and has become clear again in 2018, as he has managed to sneak as one of the top scorers of the year, only behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, after scoring 39 goals. Lewandowski's goals were vital for Bayern Münich to be able to take the Bundesliga again without any opposition. However those goals did not come in the UEFA Champions League, the great trophy that yearns to raise again Bayern. In addition, he could not live up to what was expected of him in the 2018 World Cup Russia, where he had a rather deplorable level despite the fact that Poland was in an extremely accessible group. 2019 is presented as one of the biggest challenges of Lewandowski's career, where he must prove that he remains one of the best strikers in the world and that he can do more than just score goals in the Bundesliga.
26)Jordi Alba (Spain, FC Barcelona).
The year 2018 of Jordi Alba was simply apotheosis, impressive, monumental. After passing in 2017 for the worst year of his career and although many considered him dead, Spanish has managed to return to its best level and scandalously. The Spanish has formed a dreamed tandem with Messi, becoming practically his main assistant and ideal partner. Together with the Argentine, he forms a pair that is simply magical and unstoppable. That great level demonstrated in the year has made him recover his position within the Spanish National Team. Jordi Alba is a side with great offensive weight, but who knows when to support the team in defense, which makes it very valuable. If his connection with Messi is kept up during 2019, we can be sure that great things will come for the Catalans.
25)Raheem Sterling (England, Manchester City).
Sterling is a player that I do not like, more than that, he is a player that I completely dislike and would never have on my team. But I must swallow my pride and admit that he had a great year 2018. Being surrounded by a great team like Manchester City has enhanced it. And that Guardiola has taken him out of the band to involve him more in the team's game, has exploited all his skills. This tactical variant has made Sterling a decisive player for Manchester City and with a lot of arrival to the opposite goal. In fact, he was able to score 16 goals this year, the best scorer in his career. In spite of the distance that England managed to reach in the World Cup, it seems that Sterling was in debt since he could not demonstrate the level that was expected of him. For now, English looks to 2019 as the opportunity to find their place among the best players in the world.
24)Jorginho (Italy, SSC Napoli/Chelsea FC).
As my friend Juan Pablo Varsky would say, "Jorginho understands everything". And it is as simple as that, Jorginho understands perfectly what he should do on the ground and what is the right time to do it. Today is one of the best defensive midfielders of today's football. Maybe he does not steal as many balls as others, but he controls the threads of the team. He never gets complicated with the ball, he always plays simple and precise; It also provides a balance to the team that few players can give you. If Napoli almost won the Serie A last season, it is largely thanks to the fact that they had this man in their ranks. So important was Jorginho that for Sarri it was inconceivable not to have him in his lineup, so he took it with him to Chelsea. And guess what? Jorginho has broken everything in the Premier League, to the point that Sarri had to change position to Kanté to accommodate a player as indispensable as the Italo-Brazilian, who will be vital to the aspirations of Chelsea in 2019.
23)Marc-André Ter Stegen (Germany, FC Barcelona).
The young German goalkeeper has lived in 2018 the best year of his career. An agility of crazy, reflexes cat together with his good footwork, make Ter Stegen is a vital piece of the team culé. And we must admit that if FC Barcelona managed to conquer La Liga last season it is primarily thanks to Lionel Messi; but then to Ter Stegen who saved Barcelona on countless occasions. Thanks to his superb performances, the German showed that he is a TOP goalkeeper, the ideal that Barcelona needed and the best of last season. There were matches where the only reason why he did not lose Barcelona is because they had Ter Stegen under the goal. Needless to say, the German deserved the title in the World Cup of Russia over Neuer because his fitness was superlative; but Löw decided to go to die with Neuer and we all saw what happened.
22)Samuel Umtiti (France, FC Barcelona).
Umtiti was one of the best defenders during the Russia 2018 World Cup and was one of the key pieces for France to end up crowned world champion. When the Frenchman is 100% physically, it is one of the best central defenses in the world without any discussion. But the problem is that Umtiti is a player who frequently suffers from injuries, as has happened in 2018. His club has suffered the most, as Umtiti has become the main center of the FC in a short time. Barcelona, much more important than Gerard Piqué. And when his absence is not very noticeable, since the club culé experiences bad times in defense. It is no coincidence that Umtiti has been injured most of this start of the season and Barcelona has received a ridiculous amount of goals. If Barcelona aspire to win all this season, they should continue to pray for the complete recovery of Umtiti. But, it seems like a very difficult goal.
21)Mauro Icardi (Argentina, Inter Milan).
I must admit that Mauro Icardi was not one of my favorite strikers, in fact I did not like it. But in these last two years, especially in this 2018, has been responsible for getting me out of my grave error. The captain of Inter managed to be the most important character of the Italian Calcio in 2018 by consecrating himself as Cappocanniere and taking Inter back to participate in the UEFA Champions League. Mauro is a striker with a simply amazing scoring ability. Do not get too involved in the collective game, it's a '9' from before, but do not leave a ball in the area because it sends it to the bottom of the network. No matter what angle you are in, whether you are marked or not, Icardi always finds a way to score goals of all shapes and colors. His 25 goals in all 2018 endorse him as one of the best center forward in the world. There is no doubt that he deserved to be summoned by Sampaoli to the World Cup, but because of "technical decision" he was not taken, although we all know the real reasons for not calling him. Quiet Mauro, if you keep scoring goals it will be inevitable that in the Copa América 2019 we will see you dressed in albiceleste; and I'm sure we'll continue hearing things even bigger than you
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