
Stock Up, Stock Down on the World's Top 30 Footballers in 2014
Here is a stock up, stock down assessment of the world's top 30 footballers in 2014.ย
What does stock up, stock down mean? It is a subjective view of how the footballer is trending.
How did you come up with the top 30 footballers in the world?ย
They have been subjectively ranked via:
- Current ability.ย
- Form.
- Success in 2014.
Long-List Cuts
- Thibaut Courtois.
- Alexandre Lacazette.
- Robert Lewandowski.
- Luis Suarez. ย ย ย ย
- Arturo Vidal. ย ย
- Memphis Depay.
30. Robin Knoche
1 of 30
Stock Up
Wolfsburg's German centre-backย Robin Knoche, 22, is on track to being one of the best centre-backs in Europe.
Most football fans tend toย wax lyrical aboutย Raphael Varane, yetย Knoche is almost the exact same from a defensive perspective.ย
Knoche isย coolness personified as he reads the play perfectly, intercepts the ball and offloads possession.
He has yet to receive a yellow card in 1,350 minutes ofย Bundesliga play this season while completing 24 tackles and 37 interceptions in 15 games.
29. Roberto Firmino
2 of 30
Stock Down
Hoffenheim's Brazilian central attacking midfielderย Roberto Firmino, 23, is reverting back to playing one world-class match and then going missing for the next three.ย
After a 16 goal and 11 assist campaign in the previousย Bundesliga season, you expectedย Firmino to transition into a superstar, but it has not happened yet.ย
He is a very hot-and-cold player: of his four goals and six assists this season, three goals and five assists have come via four games.
28. Gareth Bale
3 of 30
Stock Down
Real Madrid's Welsh right-forwardย Gareth Bale, 25, is coasting through games, which is a concern.
But he is so talented that he has still scored seven times and registered three assists in 12 La Liga games.
Whatย Bale needs to do is get into theย Tottenham Hotspur mindset, rather than playing Robin to Cristiano Ronaldo's Batman.ย
Real Madrid didn't payย โฌ91 million forย Bale to score the same amount of goals in La Liga this season as Celta Vigo's Joaquin Larrivey, or to seeย Eibar'sย Saul Berjon create the same amount of goals asย Bale.
27. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
4 of 30
Stock Down
Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 33, has been decent by his world-class standards.
Whenย Ibrahimovic drops deep to get the ball, he needs to be making more penetrative passes. His key passes per game in Ligue 1 has drastically diminished from 2.1 last season to 0.9ย during the current campaign.
Yes,ย Ibrahimovic has scored eight times inย 11 Ligue 1 games, but he is not dominating in the way he has done in the past.ย
26. Angel Di Maria
5 of 30
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Manchester United's Argentinian central midfielder/left/right-wingerย Angel Di Maria, 26, needs to be more consistent if he wants to justify hisย ยฃ59.7 million transfer fee.
His passing can be wayward (gives away the ball 19.5 percent of the time he passes), his shooting is inefficient (takes 12.3 shots per goal) and his tenacity is overrated as he only averages 0.7 tackles per game.
Instead of proving Real Madrid presidentย Florentino Perez wrong,ย Di Maria is making his former boss look like a genius.
Post-Di Maria, Real Madrid are currently on a 22-game winning streak.
25. Sergio Ramos
6 of 30
Stock Up
Real Madrid's Spanish centre-backย Sergio Ramos, 28, has formed a dependable centre-back partnership withย Pepe.
Despite no full-time defensive midfielder to drop deep and provide extra cover,ย Ramos andย Pepe have ensured Real Madrid have the second best defence in La Liga.ย
The reason whyย Ramos is not ranked higher is he still has "What were you thinking?" moments.ย
He leadsย Real Madrid in yellow cards (five) and fouls per game (1.9).
24. Yaya Toure
7 of 30
Stock Down
Manchester City's Ivorian central midfielderย Yaya Toure, 31, has recovered after anย abysmal start to the Premier League campaign.
After one goal in his first 10 Premier League games,ย Toure has scored four times in his last six league games.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini defended Toure, pointing out he was not the only struggling player at the club.
"Yaya was criticised at the beginning of the season but it was not only Yaya, [who] was not putting in his best performance,"ย Pellegrini said, perย Samuel Luckhurst at theย Manchester Evening News. "I think that all of them this moment are in a very good moment, especially Fernandinho, Yaya and [Samir] Nasri."
23. James Rodriguez
8 of 30
Stock Down
Real Madrid's central midfielder/right/left-wingerย James Rodriguez, 23, is being pushed to the limits in terms of being team-first.ย
James is being played all over the field, is burdened with defensive duties and expected to play like a role player, even though he is valued atย โฌ80 million.
Obviously, he is nowhere nearย โฌ80 millionย if he cannot evenย separateย himself fromย Isco.
22. Eden Hazard
9 of 30
Stock Up
Chelsea's Belgian left attacking midfielderย Eden Hazard, 23, could be turning a corner in his career.
He leads the Premier League in dribbles per game (4.6), he is producing more moments which leave you thinking "Wow!" and his technique is at times aesthetically perfect. ย
The issue withย Hazard is, will he then inexplicably go on a five-game streak without a goal or an assist?
Or, will he take his game to the next level?ย
21. Mario Gotze
10 of 30
Stock Down
Bayern Munich's German central attacking midfielder/left-forwardย Mario Gotze, 22, will forever be defined by his winning goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.
He goes down in history alongside compatriotsย Helmut Rahn (1954),ย Gerd Muller (1974) andย Andreas Brehme (1990) as the man to score the decisive goal in a World Cup final for West Germany/Germany.
Yet, Gotze's form forย Bayern Munich has been average, despite being a once-in-a-generation talent, who can reachย Cristiano Ronaldo andย Lionel Messi's level.
Gotzeย tends to drift out of games, and his work rate has also dropped: his tackles per league game has decreased to a career-worstย 0.9 when playing as a starter.
20. Kevin De Bruyne
11 of 30
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Wolfsburg's Belgian central/left attacking midfielderย Kevin De Bruyne, 23, has been spectacularly brilliant in theย Bundesliga.
He runs the show forย Wolfsburg: shooting, creating goals, zipping past opposing players and setting the tempo of his side's attacks.ย
He has 10 assists while playing with three mediocre/below-average No. 9s.
- Ivica Olic: Delaying retirement as the 35-year-old is fighting to prove he can still play at the top level.
- Bas Dost: Finding theย Bundesliga a tougher league to score in than theย Eredivisie.
- Nicklas Bendtner: Just along for the ride.ย
19. Diego Costa
12 of 30
Stock Down
Chelsea's Brazilian-born Spanish centre-forwardย Diego Costa, 26, has endured injuries causing minor but persistent discomfort.ย
However, Chelsea managerย Jose Mourinho revealedย Costa is fully fit.
"We feel [Costa is] free of his old injury,"ย Mourinho said, perย Yemi Abiade at theย Guardian. "He's free of fears at this moment. He's good at this moment."
Well, he performed a lot better when he was playing with nagging injuries (scored seven goals in his first four Premier League games).
Inย Costa's last five Premier League games, he has accumulated more yellow cards (three) than goals (two).
18. Koke
13 of 30
Stock Down
Atletico Madrid's Spanish left/right-winger/central midfielderย Koke, 22, at one point during the season had five successive La Liga games with an assist.ย
In his last five La Liga games, he only has one assist.ย
That said,ย Koke is an all-round midfielder, who can play across the field, function effectively in both halves of the pitch and is a team-first player.ย
17. David de Gea
14 of 30
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Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea, 24, has bailed out his defenders this season.ย
Conceding 18 goals in 17 Premier League games reads well forย Manchester United, but it would probably beย Liverpool-bad if not forย De Gea's shot-stopping prowess this season.
De Gea has accumulated 50 saves so far.ย
16. Pepe
15 of 30
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Real Madrid's Portuguese centre-backย Pepe, 31, has been the foundation ofย Carlo Ancelotti's defence.ย
Pepe cleans up at the back,ย Toni Kroos dictates play in midfield andย Cristiano Ronaldo scoresโtalk about a world-classย spine.
By going 1,080 minutes without a yellow card in La Liga,ย Pepe is proving he isย disciplined, focused and intent on ensuring Real Madrid are not harmed by unforced errors.ย
15. Javier Mascherano
16 of 30
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Barcelona's Argentinian centre-back/central midfielderย Javier Mascherano, 30, is reclaiming hisย Liverpool form.ย
Mascherano making last-ditched clearances in defence or cutting off passes in midfield have contributed toย Barcelona having the best defensive record in La Liga.
Barcelona have only conceded seven goals in 16 Liga games.
14. Nemanja Matic
17 of 30
Stock Up
Chelsea's Serbian defensive midfielderย Nemanja Matic, 26, claims the Blues are in the running to achieve theย quadruple.
"I think it's possible, we have a chance,"ย Matic said, perย Jamie Jackson at the Guardian. "We will try and we will see if we can do it. I am confident, I believe in my team."
Matic is central toย Chelsea competing on all fronts.ย
He is a strong presence, he holds Chelsea's shape and carries the ball out from midfield into the final attacking third.ย
13. Alexis Sanchez
18 of 30
Stock Up
Arsenal'sย Chilean deep-lying forwardย Alexis Sanchez, 26, is living up to hisย ยฃ35 million transfer fee.
Alexis' willingness to attack opposing defences as if he wasย Lionel Messi has alleviated so much pressure fromย Arsenal managerย Arsene Wenger.ย
Barcelona viewedย Alexis as a role player toย Messi, which meant the Chilean was never able to dominate week in, week out.ย
Forย Wenger,ย Alexis isย Arsenal's answer toย Messi.
Alexis has scored (nine) and created (five) so farโcontributing to a combined 14 goals in 16 Premier League games this season.
12. Sergio Aguero
19 of 30
Stock Down
Manchester City's Argentinian centre-forwardย Sergio Aguero, 26, is arguably the best No. 9 when fit.ย
The imperative phrase being "when fit," since he has scored 14 goals and accumulated three assists in 15 Premier League games this season.ย
Though, during hisย Manchester City career,ย Aguero has never started 35 Premier League games or more in one season.ย
Nowadays,ย Aguero going down with injuryย is not a surprise.ย
11. Neymar
20 of 30
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Barcelona's Brazilian left-forwardย Neymar, 22, is receiving more time in the limelight alongside Lionel Messi.
Instead of lettingย Messi take over,ย Neymar is being more proactive, running at opposing defences and getting a quick shot on goal.ย
His shots per game hasย increasedย from 2.6 to 3.1 over the last two seasons.
He already has scored 11 goals, which is two more than his output in La Liga last season.ย
10. Ricardo Rodriguez
21 of 30
Stock Up
Wolfsburg's Swiss left-back Ricardo Rodriguez, 22, is a modern full-back, who is arguably the best in the world in his position.
There is a gigantic difference when you compare Rodriguez to his backup Marcel Schafer, who has played for Germany.
Rodriguez is a set-piece specialist, he can take the ball past opposing players and is a threat to create a goal.
While he has had issues with his marking, he regularly charges out toย cut off passes, which shows you how instinctive a defender he is.
9. Ralf Fahrmann
22 of 30
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Schalke's German goalkeeperย Ralf Fahrmann, 26, has ascended from backup/occasional starter to one of the best shot-stoppers in theย Bundesliga.
Fahrmann is physically imposing at 6'5" and 209 pounds, yet athletically giftedโbeing able to pull off reflex saves as if he is 6'0".
This season,ย Fahrmann has been one of the most dominant players in theย Bundesliga.
8. Toni Kroos
23 of 30
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Real Madrid's German central midfielder Toni Kroos, 24, has been a superstar in life after Bayern Munich.
He provides balance in midfield by retaining and distributing the ball accurately, completing 93 percent of his 70 passes per game.
He can also make the decisive pass, registering seven assists in La Liga.
The FIFA World Cup winner has become a vital player for Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.
"When I'm out on the pitch, I try to do everything [Ancelotti] wants from me," Kroos said, per FIFA.com. "I play in the middle of the park, as you'd expect I try to exert as much control over the game as I can."
7. Philipp Lahm
24 of 30
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Bayern Munich's German central midfielder/right/left-backย Philipp Lahm, 31, is aย multifaceted world-class footballer, who can adapt to what his manager wants.ย
Lahm organisesย Bayern Munich's shape, is a passing outlet (averagesย 69 passes per game) and a source of creativity (completedย 26 key passes).
His consistency and versatility is why he isย one ofย Bayern Munich managerย Pep Guardiola's favourite players.ย
"I believe [Lahm is] one of the five best players in the history of Bayern Munich," Guardiola said, per FCBayern.de. "It's a great honour to be his coach."
6. Thomas Muller
25 of 30
Stock Up
Bayern Munich's German deep-lying/right-forward Thomas Muller, 25, is a winner.ย
Six years after his professional debut,ย Muller hasย alreadyย won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and theย Bundesliga.
Muller has scored more goals in the World Cup (10) thanย Cristiano Ronaldo (three) andย Lionel Messi (five) combined (eight).
Now is the time forย Muller to take his game to the next level.
5. Manuel Neuer
26 of 30
Stock Up
Bayern Munich's German goalkeeperย Manuel Neuer, 28, is on course to have a career comparable to Sepp Maier andย Oliver Kahn.
Neuer being a passing outlet at the back as a sweeper-keeper is integral toย Bayern Munich managerย Pep Guardiola's philosophy.ย
Completing 86.3 percent of 34.9 passes per game,ย Neuer attempts more passes thanย Thomas Muller (30) andย Robert Lewandowski (22.3).
Whileย Neuer is unlikely to win theย FIFA Ballon d'Or, he has an achievementย Cristiano Ronaldo andย Lionel Messi have yet to experienceโa FIFA World Cup winners' medal.
4. Arjen Robben
27 of 30
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Bayern Munich's Dutch right-forwardย Arjen Robben, 30, has picked up the slack withย Franck Ribery still trying to play himself into form.
Robben isย Bayern Munich's leading scorer in theย Bundesliga this season (10). His 0.77 goals per league game is a vast improvement from last season (0.39).
Currently ranked as Kicker's top-ratedย Bundesliga footballer,ย Robben is on track for a career-best season.
3. Cesc Fabregas
28 of 30
Stock Up
Chelsea's Spanish defensive/central attacking midfielderย Cesc Fabregas, 27, is a complete footballer.
Able to thrive in the Premier League and La Liga,ย Fabregas has no problems as a No. 6, No. 8 or No. 10.ย
Since the 2009-10 season,ย Fabregas is averaging the most tackles per league game (2.8) of his career.
Against Stoke City, when shielded byย John Obi Mikel andย Nemanja Matic,ย Fabregas wasย Chelsea's best player, scoring and creating a goal in a 2-0 win.
Fabregas leads the Premier League in assists (12) and key passes per game (3.4).
2. Lionel Messi
29 of 30
Stock Down
Barcelona's Argentinian deep-lying forwardย Lionel Messi, 27, has failed to matchย Cristiano Ronaldo's goals or assists in La Liga this season.ย
Messi risks watchingย Ronaldo win successiveย FIFA Ballon d'Ors, which will be a dent to theย Argentinian's legacy.
| 2014-15 La Liga | Cristiano Ronaldo | Lionel Messi |
| Goals/Games | 25/14 | 15/16ย |
| Shots Per Goalย | 3.5 | 5.1ย |
| Assists | 8ย | 7ย |
| Key Passes Per Game | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| Pass Success % | 81.7 | 84 |
| Passes Per Game | 36.6 | 61.4 |
| Dribbles Per Game | 1.7 | 4.2 |
| Dribble Success % | 50 | 48.6 |
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
30 of 30
Stock Up
Real Madrid's Portuguese deep-lying/left-forwardย Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, deserves to win the 2014ย FIFA Ballon d'Or.
This season,ย Ronaldo has scored at aย Fernando Peyroteo-esque rate, registering more goalsย (25) than 14 La Liga clubs.
Goals aside,ย Ronaldo's most improved quality is being more of a team player and making the open pass, rather than taking a low-percentage shot.
Hisย assists per league game (0.57) has substantially increased from last season (0.30).ย
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.comย




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