The best La Liga players of the 21st century

Forwards

Finally, the front three.

I believe there is certainly no argument for two of the positions, and there is plenty of competition for the final place in this team. First of all, the most unimaginative choice ever for a 21st century La Liga team, Lionel Messi. There is no need to go on about the long list of his achievements, but the one that stands out for me, since the start of the 2009 season; he has scored 242 goals in 225 games, incredible.

Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo

The second player in the forward three I have chosen is possibly the only professional footballer in the world that despises how good Messi is, Cristiano Ronaldo. With an equally exceptional goal scoring record since joining Real from Manchester United (206 goals in 204 games), there is very little between him and Messi, the two greatest players in the world for many a year. Great in the air, a devilish set piece taker, a powerful Adonis like mountain of a player, what more do you need in a left winger?

Finally, the last slot in my 21st Century La Liga eleven goes to an incredible talent, a player who made the impossible possible.

There is no room in my team for Raul, David Villa, Morientes or Ronaldo, so this place goes to Ronaldinho, a player who bent the rules of physics at times in his career and a perfect complement to Messi and Ronaldo. The list of world class goals is endless but there are two that stick out in my mind from his time at Barcelona, one versus Chelsea in the Champions League and one against Villarreal. Both completely different, both epitomise the ability of the buck-toothed dynamo. Check out YouTube if you wish to reminisce on the good ol’ days.

Notable exceptions (the “close but no cigar” men) go to Gerard Pique, Fabio Cannavaro, Pablo Aimar, Andres Iniesta, Raul and the original Ronaldo – El Phenomeno. Feel free to comment with your teams, thank you for reading.