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Football remains one of the most popular sports, followed religiously by millions of people around the world. Its increasing popularity is also dependent on the presence of some of the greats of the game, who produce magic on the pitch whenever they go out to play.
While some of them are born with talent, others reach the heights through sheer hard work. Their stories of success and charisma inspire fans around the globe.
Players have several expectations to meet in their careers
Modern-day football demands a lot from the players. The competition is high and fans have a tendency to get back at players whenever they sense a dip in performance.
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Players therefore have to persistently keep themselves on their toes in order to meet the demands of the game. Some with greater skills and greater mental strength thrive while some just fade away under the pressure.
However, certain players have got what it takes to earn the love and respect of fans all around, no matter how they perform on the pitch. They are simply impossible to hate.
In the list below we are going to discuss five such active footballers who are loved by almost everyone:
# 5 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich and Poland star Robert Lewandowski has the hopes of both his club and nation resting on his able shoulders.
The 33-year-old has scored over 500 goals for club and country combined, putting him in the league with some of the greatest players in the world.
At Bayern, Lewandowski has had some great players like Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller by his side to help him.
However, while on international duty, Poland have relied heavily on Lewandowski, who is often devoid of world-class service.
After failing to qualify for the group stages of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, Poland rode on Lewandowski's impressive run of form to make it to Russia in 2018. The striker scored as many as 16 goals in the qualifiers.
Lewandowski's exceptional disciplinary record adds to his repertoire. In a total of 633 club career matches, the veteran has received just one straight red card and another as a result of two yellow cards.
This, in addition to the against all odds scenario he faces at international level, makes Lewandowski one of the most difficult players to hate in football.
#4 James Rodriguez (Everton)
James Rodriguez caught the attention of football fans around the world through his performances for Colombia in the 2014 World Cup.
He ended the tournament with the highest number of goals, thus winning the Golden Boot award. In one of his post-match press conferences during the tournament, Rodriguez spoke about his admiration for Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants took the cue and wasted no time in snapping the youngster up for a €73m fee. Rodriguez found his chances limited at the Bernabeu and was hardly used as a regular by the two managers he played under - Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane.
Despite that, Rodriguez was an ever-smiling face on the Real Madrid bench. His stakes among fans kept increasing with all the charity work he was doing in between.
The midfielder was also among the first to have responded to a cry for help when the Colombian town of Mocoa was hit by flood and landslides back in 2017.
Rodriguez's career received a new lease of life when he went out on loan to Bayern Munich. His 67 appearances for the German giants resulted in 35 goal involvements.
Though his promising start at Everton has been marred by injuries recently, Rodriguez remains one of the most loveable characters around.
He has an exceptional disciplinary record having received just two red cards over the entire course of his career for club and country.
#3 Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Riding on Luka Modric's impressive run of form, Croatia reached the final of the 2018 World Cup. Though they left Russia empty-handed, Modric's agony in the final had numbed the hearts of every football fan around the world.
The Real Madrid star has been a great servant to his country ever since debuting in 2006. Croatia continue to rely heavily on Modric to dictate play with his excellent passing and vision.
The 35-year-old is also an ever-present player in Real Madrid's midfield as well. Back in 2012, Madrid fans voted Modric as one of the worst signings the club had ever made.
Nine years down, Real Madrid fans can hardly think of a line-up without Modric. His contributions were deservedly recognized when he won the 2018 Ballon d'Or award.
#2 Heung-min Son (Tottenham)
Heung-min Son is one of the greatest ever South Korean footballers, if not the best. The forward has elevated his status since joining Tottenham Hotspur.
In the process he has increased Tottenham's acceptance among South Korean fans too. Statistics show that there are more Tottenham fans in South Korea than in the UK.
Son enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in the Premier League, contributing towards 15 per cent of all of Tottenham's goals.
Over the next six years, the former Bayer Leverkusen man has gone on to become one of Tottenham's fan favorites. He is full of positive energy and always keeps a smile on his face. Gareth Bale referred to him as the "nicest person on earth."
The popularity Son has gained for himself isn't just limited to Tottenham and its fans. Wearing the captain's armband for South Korea, the 29-year-old has so far made 44 goal contributions. He is a very popular figure back home and has become a global icon for Asian football.
Despite living thousands of miles away in England, Son keeps himself abreast of the happenings in his country. He donated £100,000 for the wildfire victims of his country back in 2019, earning even more respect from the fans.
#1 N'Golo Kante
Chelsea's French midfielder N'Golo Kante has to be in top spot on the list. Kante possesses exceptional warmth and modesty, making him one of the most loved and respected footballers in the world.
Starting from the French third division, the midfielder has traversed a thorny path to reach the level he is at right now. He had to wait until the age of 19 to play for a professional club (Boulogne).
Even after securing a dream move to England with Leicester City, he did not lose contact with his former coach at his first club JS Suresnes, Pierre Ville.
The Leicester City move didn't get into his head as he initially preferred to run to training instead of using his second-hand car.
The Foxes reaped the benefits of signing Kante in the first season. The midfielder played an instrumental role in helping Leicester City win an unlikely Premier League title at the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
While most defensive midfielders look to read the game and make interceptions, Kante possesses the ability to chase down defenders. He is a calming presence in front of defenders.
The fact that he is yet to receive a red card in the Premier League says a lot about the type of character he is.
Kante has been critically important to France as well. The World Cup title in Russia back in 2018 was just a reward for all the service he has done for his nation. However, he was initially too shy to hold the trophy and had to be helped by Steven N’Zonzi.
Kante is still just 30 and has years left in his career. With the type of character he is, the Frenchman will win more hearts as he goes on.
