Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is currently the best player in 2015, coming in some 28 places ahead of Ballon d'Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo, according to a study by the CIES Football Observatory.
The findings are based on an analytical review of the performances of footballers in Europe's premier divisions since January 1 of this year, and show Messi's 17 goals in 12 La Liga matches make him the top-ranked player.
Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, meanwhile, finds himself way down the list in 29th, having bagged only six goals in 11 matches, although he still comes in ahead of the world's richest player and Los Blancos team-mate Gareth Bale (35th).
Meanwhile, Chelsea's Diego Costa is the Premier League's leading attacker and comes in at number five, while fellow Blue Eden Hazard is the number-one attacking midfielder in Europe, ahead of Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and Manchester City's Jesus Navas.
The findings are based on an analytical review of the performances of footballers in Europe's premier divisions since January 1 of this year, and show Messi's 17 goals in 12 La Liga matches make him the top-ranked player.
Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, meanwhile, finds himself way down the list in 29th, having bagged only six goals in 11 matches, although he still comes in ahead of the world's richest player and Los Blancos team-mate Gareth Bale (35th).
Meanwhile, Chelsea's Diego Costa is the Premier League's leading attacker and comes in at number five, while fellow Blue Eden Hazard is the number-one attacking midfielder in Europe, ahead of Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and Manchester City's Jesus Navas.
Also from the Etihad Stadium is Gael Clichy, who is the highest-rated full-back on the continent, while Borussia Dortmund's Nuri Sahin tops the list for central midfielders, surprisingly ahead of Juventus ace Paul Pogba.
Wolfsburg's Kevin de Bruyne, formerly a Premier League footballer with Chelsea, is also on the list, as well as Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben and Barcelona's Luis Suarez, while Lucas Biglia of Lazio and PSG captain Thiago Silva are the sole representatives of Italy's Serie A and the French Ligue 1 respectively.
Top forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Bas Dost (Wolfsburg)
Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
Diego Costa (Chelsea)
Top attacking midfielders:
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Jesus Navas (Man City)
Kevin de Bruyne (Wolfsburg)
Shinji Kagawa (Dortmund)
Top central midfielders:
Nuri Sahin (Dortmund)
Paul Pogba (Juventus)
Fernandinho (Man City)
Lucas Biglia (Lazio)
Ilkay Gundogan (Dortmund)
Top full-backs:
Gael Clichy (Man City)
Marcelo (Real Madrid)
Rafinha (Bayern Munich)
Wendell Nascimento (Bayer Leverkusen)
Pablo Zabaleta (Man City)
Top centre-backs:
Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen)
Martin Demichelis (Man City)
Mats Hummels (Dortmund)
Chris Smalling (Man United)
Thiago Silva (PSG)
Wolfsburg's Kevin de Bruyne, formerly a Premier League footballer with Chelsea, is also on the list, as well as Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben and Barcelona's Luis Suarez, while Lucas Biglia of Lazio and PSG captain Thiago Silva are the sole representatives of Italy's Serie A and the French Ligue 1 respectively.
Top forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Bas Dost (Wolfsburg)
Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
Diego Costa (Chelsea)
Top attacking midfielders:
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Jesus Navas (Man City)
Kevin de Bruyne (Wolfsburg)
Shinji Kagawa (Dortmund)
Top central midfielders:
Nuri Sahin (Dortmund)
Paul Pogba (Juventus)
Fernandinho (Man City)
Lucas Biglia (Lazio)
Ilkay Gundogan (Dortmund)
Top full-backs:
Gael Clichy (Man City)
Marcelo (Real Madrid)
Rafinha (Bayern Munich)
Wendell Nascimento (Bayer Leverkusen)
Pablo Zabaleta (Man City)
Top centre-backs:
Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen)
Martin Demichelis (Man City)
Mats Hummels (Dortmund)
Chris Smalling (Man United)
Thiago Silva (PSG)
By: Farai Diza
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