Who Were the Best Soccer Players in 2018? Our Definitive Ranking

As I sat watching that incredible WTA 125 match between Alex Eala and Varvara Lepchenko in Guadalajara last Thursday, I couldn't help but draw parallels to the soccer world. That nearly three-hour marathon of athletic excellence got me thinking about endurance, skill, and what truly separates the good from the great. When we look back at 2018's soccer landscape, several names immediately spring to mind, but ranking them requires more than just glancing at statistics - it demands understanding their impact on the game itself.

Let me start with what I consider the most obvious choice - Luka Modrić. The Croatian midfielder had what can only be described as a perfect year, breaking the decade-long Messi-Ronaldo duopoly to claim both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA's Best Men's Player award. What impressed me most wasn't just his Champions League triumph with Real Madrid, but how he carried Croatia to their first World Cup final. His performance against Argentina in the group stage, where he completed 92% of his passes and covered nearly 12 kilometers, demonstrated why he stood above everyone else that year. I've always believed midfielders are the engine of any great team, and Modrić proved it beyond doubt.

Then we have Kylian Mbappé, who at just 19 became the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final. His performance against Argentina in the round of 16, where he became the first player since 1966 to score multiple goals in a knockout match as a teenager, was absolutely breathtaking. I remember watching that match thinking we were witnessing the dawn of a new era. His pace was clocked at 38 km/h during that tournament - the fastest recorded speed in the World Cup. While some might argue he wasn't the complete package yet, his impact on the biggest stage cannot be overstated.

Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Juventus for €112 million certainly made headlines, but what often gets overlooked is how he maintained his scoring prowess despite turning 33 that year. His incredible bicycle kick against Juventus while still with Real Madrid - a goal so good the home fans gave him a standing ovation - demonstrated why he remained among the elite. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi continued to defy physics with Barcelona, scoring 47 goals across all competitions and leading them to a domestic double. Personally, I've always leaned toward appreciating Messi's creative genius over pure athleticism, but in 2018, both veterans showed why they'd dominated the conversation for so long.

We can't discuss 2018 without mentioning Mohamed Salah's record-breaking Premier League season, where he netted 32 goals in 38 appearances - breaking the competition's 38-game season record. His devastating pace and clinical finishing reminded me of prime Cristiano Ronaldo, though I'd argue Salah's ability to create something from nothing made him particularly special that year. The way he carried Liverpool to the Champions League final, scoring 11 goals in the competition, demonstrated his world-class status beyond any doubt.

Looking back, 2018 represented a fascinating transition period in soccer history. We saw established legends continuing to perform at incredible levels while a new generation began demanding their place at the table. The World Cup in Russia provided the perfect stage for this changing of the guard, with young talents like Mbappé and established masters like Modrić sharing the spotlight. If I had to pick one player who defined the year, it would be Modrić for his unprecedented achievement in breaking the Ballon d'Or streak, but the depth of talent across Europe's top leagues made 2018 one of the most competitive years in recent memory. The beautiful game has never been in better hands, and I feel privileged to have witnessed such excellence across multiple generations of players.