Who Made the Cut? The Definitive Top 10 Soccer Players of 2017 Revealed

As I sat down to compile this definitive list of 2017's top soccer players, I found myself thinking about that fascinating quote from earlier this year: "And Jack just seems to be the perfect complement for them. He fills out the big man role that they need. It's going to be tough." This perfectly captures what makes ranking elite footballers so challenging - it's not just about individual brilliance, but how players complement their teams and fill specific roles. Having covered football professionally for over a decade, I've learned that the true greats don't just score goals - they complete their squads in ways that statistics alone can't measure.

Let me start with what many considered the most obvious choice for 2017 - Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward wasn't just good this year; he was historically dominant, scoring 42 goals across all competitions while leading Real Madrid to both La Liga and Champions League glory. What impressed me most wasn't just the numbers but his evolution - at 32, he's transformed from a flashy winger into the ultimate penalty box predator. Close behind him, Lionel Messi continued to defy physics with another magical season, netting 54 goals despite Barcelona's relatively disappointing campaign. I've always been slightly more partial to Messi's artistic approach to the game, though I recognize Ronaldo's unparalleled big-match mentality gives him the edge this year.

The midfield conversation inevitably brings us to Luka Modric, who I believe delivered his most complete season yet. Watching him orchestrate Real Madrid's play felt like observing a chess grandmaster at work - every pass purposeful, every movement calculated. Then there's N'Golo Kanté, who followed up his Premier League triumph with Leicester by winning it again with Chelsea. His energy is simply unbelievable - I've timed him covering nearly 13 kilometers per match, which is just insane when you think about it. In defense, Sergio Ramos continues to divide opinion, but his 8 crucial goals and leadership for Real Madrid make him indispensable in my book.

The toughest part of these rankings is always the emerging talents versus established stars. Kylian Mbappé's explosion onto the scene was something special - 26 goals as an 18-year-old and that breathtaking Champions League campaign with Monaco. I'd argue we haven't seen a teenager dominate like this since Messi. Meanwhile, Harry Kane's back-to-back Premier League Golden Boots with 29 and 35 goals respectively demonstrate his incredible consistency. Personally, I think Kane remains slightly underappreciated globally because he plays for Tottenham rather than a traditional European giant.

When we talk about complete players who "fill out the big man role" for their teams, few did it better than Chelsea's Nemanja Matić before his United move. His physical presence and tactical intelligence provided the perfect platform for Chelsea's title winners. Similarly, Manuel Neuer's injury-shortened season shouldn't overshadow his revolutionary impact on goalkeeping - his 87% pass completion rate is better than many outfield players. Rounding out my top ten is Eden Hazard, whose 16 goals and 5 assists don't fully capture his game-changing ability. I've always felt Hazard at his best is virtually unplayable, even if his consistency could improve.

Looking back at 2017, what strikes me is how the definition of a "top player" has evolved. It's no longer just about goals and assists - it's about how players like Kanté redefine their positions, how veterans like Ronaldo reinvent themselves, and how young talents like Mbappé accelerate their development timelines. The quote about finding the "perfect complement" resonates because today's football requires specialists who fit specific systems while maintaining world-class quality. As we move toward 2018, I'm fascinated to see how these players continue evolving and which new names will challenge this established hierarchy. One thing's certain - the competition has never been fiercer, and separating the truly great from the merely excellent has never been more challenging.