Lionel Messi has been ranked the #1 forward in the world by ESPN in their FC 100\u00a0feature, which ranks the 10 best in 10 different roles, including nine playing positions and manager. The list was compiled by 65 ESPN FC experts from around the world, who were given a slate of 250 nominees to vote on.<\/p>\n
Besides Messi, Barcelona players Marc-Andr\u00e9 ter Stegen, Jordi Alba, Sergi\u00f1o Dest, and Frenkie de Jong have also made the list, which recognizes 100 of the best in the world.<\/p>\n
Messi edged out Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 (#2), Cristiano Ronaldo (#3), Neymar (#4), and Mohamed Salah (#5), among others, for the top spot.<\/p>\n
Marc Andre Ter Stegen was ranked the fourth-best goalkeeper, with Manuel Neuer taking the top spot, while Alba was ranked third among left-backs, with Andy Robertson #1.<\/p>\n
Frenkie de Jong came in eighth place among central midfielders (Joshua Kimmich came first), and Dest came in tenth among right-backs, with Trent Alexander-Arnold considered the best.<\/p>\n
Messi maintained his top spot from 2019, while Alba remained steady, as he was also ranked #3 last year. Ter Stegen fell one place, from third to fourth, while De Jong fell from second to eighth. This was the first time Dest made the list.<\/p>\n