ESPN: 'Messi is the best footballer on the planet'

ESPN FC has announced its list of the top 100 players and managers in world football, and no fewer than eleven of those are from FC Barcelona!

What that means, is Ernesto Valverde could field a complete team of players, from Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in goal to Luis Suárez as striker, that are all members of the elite crowd selected by ESPN FC’s panel of experts from all around the world.

Top ten rankings were established for each of nine key positions and there’s at least one Barça man named in each.

And there are no prizes for guessing which player was named the greatest forward in the world!

You can view the complete ranking here.

Goalkeeper

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (5th)

Right back

Sergi Roberto (9th)

Centre back

Gerard Pique (6th)

Samuel Umtiti (7th)

Left back

Jordi Alba (3rd)

Central midfield

Sergio Busquets (5th)

Ivan Rakitic (6th)

Attacking midfield

Philippe Coutinho (4th)

Wide forward

Ousmane Dembele (8th)

Forward

Lionel Messi (1st)

Striker

Luis Suarez (4th)