Who Were the Best Soccer Players in 2018? Complete Ranking Revealed

As I sat down to analyze the best soccer players of 2018, I couldn't help but think about that incredible WTA 125 match between Alex Eala and Varvara Lepchenko in Guadalajara. Watching nearly three hours of intense tennis action that couldn't settle a match reminded me how difficult it is to definitively rank elite athletes in any sport. When it comes to soccer, the debate becomes even more passionate because we're talking about the world's most popular sport with billions of fans who all have their personal favorites.

Looking back at 2018, what strikes me most is how this was truly a transitional year in soccer history. We had established legends still performing at incredible levels while new talents were emerging to challenge the established order. The statistics from that year tell an interesting story - Lionel Messi scored 45 goals across all competitions for Barcelona while Cristiano Ronaldo netted 44 for Real Madrid before his shocking transfer to Juventus. These numbers are mind-boggling when you consider the pressure these athletes face every match. Personally, I've always been fascinated by how these players maintain such consistency year after year, though I must admit I have a slight preference for Messi's creative genius over Ronaldo's athletic dominance.

The midfield maestros of 2018 particularly captured my imagination. Luka Modric's performance that year was nothing short of magical - his control of the game's tempo reminded me of watching a master conductor leading an orchestra. Having watched him throughout Real Madrid's Champions League campaign and Croatia's stunning World Cup run, I became convinced we were witnessing one of the greatest midfield performances of this generation. His 2.7 key passes per game in La Liga might not sound impressive to casual fans, but those of us who understand the game recognize how crucial these moments are. Kevin De Bruyne's 16 assists in the Premier League that season demonstrated why many consider him the complete modern midfielder, though I sometimes wonder if his contributions get overshadowed by the goal scorers.

What many fans forget about 2018 is how the World Cup in Russia dramatically reshaped our perceptions of player quality. Kylian Mbappé's explosive performance against Argentina, where he became only the second teenager after Pele to score twice in a World Cup match, announced his arrival on the global stage in the most dramatic fashion possible. I remember watching that match with friends and we all knew we were witnessing the birth of soccer's next global superstar. His 13 goals for PSG that season barely tell the full story of his impact - it was his World Cup performances that truly cemented his status.

The defensive specialists often get overlooked in these discussions, which I've always found somewhat unfair. Raphael Varane's incredible year, winning both the Champions League and World Cup, demonstrated that defenders can be just as influential as attacking players. His 89% pass completion rate in the World Cup knockout stages shows how modern defending requires technical excellence alongside traditional defensive skills. Personally, I'd take a world-class defender over a flashy attacker any day - they might not get the headlines, but they win championships.

As I reflect on 2018's soccer landscape, what stands out is how the game was evolving before our eyes. The traditional hierarchies were being challenged, new playing styles were emerging, and we saw veterans adapting their games while young talents redefined what was possible. The debate about who was truly the best will continue forever, but that's what makes soccer so beautiful - there's never one definitive answer, just endless fascinating conversations among passionate fans.