Best players of 2014

This list is not anything close to sui generis. And even though Frankfoot endeavours to always pack a punch in a way hitherto unfathomed, he soon realises that not just Mohammed Ali or Joe Frazier, but even the Nairobi governor, always pulls one better.

In the interest of scope and depth, a lot of asking and counter-asking ensued. Off the top of my head, my initial 10 were Ronaldo, Messi, Suarez, Di Maria, Robben, Ramos, Costa, Iniesta, Bale, Zlatan.

After ruminating and pouring over ponderous acres of football literature the list changes to:

TOP 10 PLAYERS

10. Yaya Touré: Despite his towering physique, Yaya Touré can easily go unappreciated. The Ivorian, with a pass accuracy of 89.7 per cent this year, is probably the most pivotal player for his team in the premier league.

A proper box to box a man who is as immense at sitting in front of the back four as he is technically gifted in striking, few will appreciate the importance of Yaya to City’s title charge last season when Agüero was intermit, scoring 20 goals.

9. Thomas Müller: Probably that guy who, like Fellaini, doesn’t have the look, touch or even feel of a footballer when off the field. Many times, as with Chicharito, the instinct to always be at the right place at the right time is often underrated, but unlike Chicha, Müller can play all positions, from 8 through actual 9, false nine, till 11.

8. Manuel Neuer: Makes it to the list not just for his World Cup-winning match performances, but also his Champions League and sweeper work rate, and like De Gea last weekend, hammering on the historical convention that the goalkeeper isn’t a defender.

7. Gareth Bale: Few footballers, or even sportsmen, have had a career as shifty as Gareth Bale’s. From non-professional rugby to professional footballing, left back to left/right wing forward, Bale has moved up the pitch so fast, he might end up playing from the stands.

The winning Copa del Rey and CL goals, despite having the impossible burden of “World’s most expensive transfer”, really speak little of how good a year Bale has had.

6. Angel Di Maria: Man of the match in the Champions League final, a man who’s only downfall at the Bernabeu is that he wasn’t considered galactico enough for the marketing subplot that has always underlined Madrid football.

A tireless worker and brilliant play maker whose adaptability in the EPL has been as fast as it has been thrilling.

5. Phillip Lahm: Like Yaya, and more so Iniesta, he’s that fine Rolex that doesn’t “tick tock”, but will be immense in getting the ball from the back to the striking. It takes a lot for Pep Guardiola to publicly call you “the most intelligent” footballing brain he’s ever coached.

4. Arjen Robben: The only player who looks like your grandfather, runs like your teenage nephew and actually dribbles like his FIFA15 character. His second goal in the 5-0 whitewashing of Spain at the World Cup is the stuff that would make a hacker break into a Sony website to steal, if only it weren’t widely available on the Internet.

3. Lionel Messi: Forty-one goals and 16 assists in all competitions for Barcelona and four goals in the World Cup, yet this was a very poor year by his own standards. Messi is indisputably one of the greatest ever, but not this year.

2. Luis Suarez: The universal footballing anathema who has more side shows than a travelling circus. Suarez equalled the record for most goals in a 38-game Premier League season in 2013/14, netting 31 goals, and this is besides not being the penalty taker for his team, unlike the other in the top 3.

With the above duties for Liverpool, he would have notched a freakish 40 goals in a season. Don’t forget there was a ban.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo: He single-handedly dragged Portugal to the World Cup after that penalty shootout against Zlatan. He has been immense, breaking more records than an RPG aimed into a deejay booth, on his way to win the third Ballon d’Or.