Best Soccer Players 2018: Ranking the Top Football Legends of the Year

Looking back at 2018's football landscape, I still get chills remembering how that year redefined what greatness means in soccer. While researching this piece, I stumbled upon an interesting parallel in tennis - that nearly three-hour marathon between Alex Eala and Varvara Lepchenko at the WTA 125 Guadalajara. It reminded me how elite athletes across sports share that incredible capacity to sustain excellence under pressure, much like our football legends did throughout 2018.

What made 2018 particularly special was how it blended established greatness with emerging talent. I've always believed that judging players requires looking beyond just statistics, though numbers do tell part of the story. When I analyze players, I consider their consistency, impact in crucial moments, and that intangible quality of elevating their team. That's why Lionel Messi's performance that year, despite Barcelona's Champions League disappointment, was simply breathtaking. The man scored 45 goals across all competitions with 18 assists, but what those numbers don't show is how he carried the team through difficult patches. I remember watching El Clásico that April where his performance was nothing short of magical - two brilliant goals that demonstrated why he's in a class of his own.

Then there was Cristiano Ronaldo, whose move to Juventus for €112 million showed his relentless pursuit of new challenges. At 33, he adapted seamlessly to Serie A, scoring 28 goals and proving his worth transcends leagues and systems. What many don't realize is that his influence extended beyond scoring - he brought a winning mentality that transformed Juventus' entire approach to big games. Personally, I've always admired how Ronaldo reinvents himself season after season.

The year also introduced us to emerging forces like Kylian Mbappé, whose World Cup performance for France was arguably the tournament's most exciting storyline. At just 19, he scored 4 goals in Russia, including that magnificent strike against Croatia in the final. Watching him play reminded me why I fell in love with football - that raw, explosive talent that makes you jump from your seat. Luka Modrić breaking the Messi-Ronaldo Ballon d'Or duopoly was another highlight that reflected how 2018 recognized different forms of excellence. His control of midfield battles, particularly during Croatia's incredible World Cup run, demonstrated that greatness isn't always about scoring goals.

What often gets overlooked in these discussions is the mental aspect of the game. Those marathon matches like the Eala-Lepchenko tennis battle I mentioned earlier - they're not just about physical endurance but mental fortitude. The top footballers of 2018 shared this quality, whether it was Mohamed Salah continuing to perform despite his Champions League final injury setback, or Kevin De Bruyne orchestrating Manchester City's record-breaking Premier League campaign with 16 assists and 8 goals.

Reflecting on that year, I'm struck by how it represented a transitional period in football history. We had veterans proving their longevity while new stars emerged to challenge the established order. The beauty of 2018 was that it gave us multiple valid answers to "who's the best" depending on what qualities you value most in a player. For me, it was Messi's artistic genius, but I completely understand those who preferred Ronaldo's relentless efficiency or Modrić's midfield mastery. That diversity of excellence is what makes football so endlessly fascinating to analyze and debate.