Discover the Top 10 Soccer Players of 2017 Who Dominated the Global Stage

As I look back at the 2017 soccer season, I can't help but marvel at how certain players completely reshaped the game that year. Having followed football religiously for over two decades, I've developed a keen eye for what separates good players from truly dominant ones, and 2017 gave us some absolutely spectacular performances that deserve to be remembered. The way these athletes commanded their positions reminded me of that insightful comment I once heard about team dynamics - "Jack just seems to be the perfect complement for them. He fills out the big man role that they need" - because that's exactly what the top players did for their teams that year. They weren't just talented individuals; they completed their squads in ways that transformed good teams into legendary ones.

Cristiano Ronaldo's 2017 campaign was nothing short of historic, and I'd argue it might have been his most complete season ever. The man scored 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 - though they're staggering - but how he evolved his game. At 32, he became more strategic, conserving energy for crucial moments while still delivering when it mattered most. Then there was Lionel Messi, who somehow managed to score 54 goals despite Barcelona's relatively disappointing season. I've always been team Messi if I'm being honest - there's something magical about how he glides past defenders that no other player can replicate. His four-goal performance against Ecuador in World Cup qualifying alone should be in football museums.

The midfield generals absolutely fascinated me this particular year. Luka Modric's control of Real Madrid's tempo was like watching a master conductor lead a symphony - every pass, every movement calculated and purposeful. I remember thinking during the Champions League final how he made everything look so effortless while covering nearly 12 kilometers throughout the match. Kevin De Bruyne's transformation into Manchester City's engine room was another highlight, with the Belgian registering 18 assists in Premier League alone. His vision and passing range are simply unmatched in modern football, and I'd take him over any other midfielder when he's in that kind of form.

Defensive players often get overlooked in these discussions, but 2027 showed us how crucial they are. Sergio Ramos demonstrated why he's arguably the most clutch defender of his generation, scoring crucial goals while maintaining defensive solidity. Giorgio Chiellini's performances for Juventus were a masterclass in old-school defending - the man committed only 0.7 fouls per game while being one of Europe's most effective center-backs. Then there was the emergence of Kylian Mbappé, who at just 18 years old, scored 26 goals for Monaco and announced himself as football's next global superstar. Watching his breakthrough season felt like witnessing history in real-time.

What made 2017 particularly special was how these players complemented their teams' needs, much like that "big man role" concept I mentioned earlier. Neymar's record-breaking transfer to PSG showed how one player could transform an entire club's ambitions, while Harry Kane's 56-goal calendar year proved that traditional strikers still had immense value in the modern game. The way these athletes dominated wasn't just about individual brilliance - it was about how they elevated everyone around them. Looking back, I'm convinced 2017 will be remembered as one of those special years where multiple players reached their peak simultaneously, creating moments that we'll be talking about for decades to come. The beautiful game has never looked more vibrant, and these ten players were the main reason why.