5 world-class footballers who are unfairly criticized 

#3 Marcus Rashford | Manchester United

Manchester United v West Ham United - Premier League

2021 wasn't exactly Marcus Rashford's best year. Although he rose to prominence in the press after taking the initiative to keep schoolchildren fed in 2020, his prominence on the pitch has stagnated.

Rashford missed an all-important penalty during the Euro 2020 final against Italy, which put a target on his back in England. The Englishman has also struggled with a goal drought at Manchester United this season.

Much of the criticism aimed at the England star has been over the top. He was recently slammed for his body language on the pitch, with pundits stating that Rashford wasn't giving off an air of confidence during games.

The 24-year-old has responded to critics with two goals in United's last two games, including a stoppage-time winner. Rashford has certainly struggled with consistency in the past. However, his capacity to be a game-changer can hardly be questioned.

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#2 Raheem Sterling | Manchester City

Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League

The England international has been a highly consistent and key figure in Manchester City's campaign for years. Raheem Sterling, under Pep Guardiola's tutelage, has gone on to become one of the most ruthless attackers in world football.

However, after being an obvious starting XI pick for nearly half a decade, Sterling's game time dropped noticeably this season. The star has already started from the bench 10 times this campaign, in stark contrast to last season when he started from the bench seven times.

Struggling with a 12-game goal drought, it was little surprise that Guardiola had benched the star. However, the criticism from pundits and the press was over the top, with some quarters peddling rumors that City wished to sell Sterling.

The 27-year-old had a poor run of games but is still a world-class player. Raheem Sterling is currently getting back to his best. Nine goal contributions in the last 13 appearances have helped him discover some form.

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#1 Neymar | PSG

Manchester City v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Neymar has generally been regularly criticized over the course of his career. Although the star is popular worldwide for his immense creativity and flair, his popularity has also brought critics to his doorstep.

Not all the criticism is misplaced, though: Neymar is notorious for diving and purposely getting fouled. During the 2018 World Cup, the star's antics even became a viral social media trend.

This season, however, criticism has come due to Neymar's poor run of form as he has struggled to find the net in consecutive games. Admittedly, Neymar's performances have been below par by his high standards. He has picked up just three goals and three assists in 10 Ligue 1 games.

While it is certainly far from his usual numbers while at Barcelona, injuries and poor fitness issues have made it difficult for the star. It also hasn't helped that the French media have criticized Neymar for his gaining weight while recovering from injuries.