Alonsos debut season at Liverpool couldnt have ended any better, as the Spaniard scored the equaliser in the 3-3 Miracle of Istanbul Champions League final against AC Milan before the Reds eventual penalty shoot-out victory. Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. THE NUMBERS:12 disposals, 5 marks, 5 goals In 2000, Rio Ferdinand became the most expensive defender in the world and the most expensive British footballer ever when he moved to Leeds for 18m. At Madrid, he has scored one of the greatest goals in Clasico history a winner during the 2014 Copa del Rey final as well as one of the greatest goals in a Champions League final one of three Champions League final goals hes nabbed, while totting up four winners medals. Luke Hodge is as hard as they come, as much of a leader you want to play for out of anyone and I found it hard not to put him at no.1. Alastair Clarkson defends temper after clash with reporter at North The criteria was a player had to play more than 50 games from 2000 onwards. He starred under the bright lights with his third and final goal of the game putting the Tigers in front with just a few minutes remaining. Drew Brees (American football) 21. Lee McCulloch. The four-time premiership Hawk added three All-Australian selections and two Best and Fairests during his 18-year, 346-game career with the Hawks and Lions. Hawthorn 400-game champion Michael Tuck recently made a bold call, telling Channel 7 he thinks the Hawks can play finals despite having one of the youngest playing lists in the competition. Catch up and settle in with no installation & no lock-in contract. AFL crowns indigenous team of the century - Racism. No Way! Sidney Crosby (ice hockey) Credit: PA 20. He averaged 29.5 a game in 2000 then accumulated 46 touches (plus 20 contested possessions, 13 inside 50s, eight clearances and a goal) against Fremantle early in 2001 in an awesome solo display. The following players have been inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame. As a 21-year-old, Franklins 2008 season was the stuff of legend. Puyol was part of Spains triumphant sides at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, and it was his headed goal against Germany that sent them through to the final of the latter tournament. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: the greatest Ballon d'Or hoggers, serial winners and cult heroes since the turn of the millennium (opens in new tab) Page 4 of 6: THE NUMBERS:28 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals, 3 Brownlow votes New customers only. Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina. Hall of Fame legend Barry Cable and Norm Smith medal winners, Michael Long and Peter Matera, were invited to join Mark Robinson in picking the best team of players. AFL 2020: Toughest players, Gladiator 20 years on, top ten footy Reserved. Create your own Fantasy AFL team and compete for daily prizes on Draftstars its free to join so why not check it out? He won back-to-back Europa League titles with different clubs in 2011 and 2012 for Porto and Atleti, a Ligue 1 title with Monaco and is Colombias all-time top scorer with 35 goals in 90 caps. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Time to Find Out Who the 2019 Denver Nuggets Really Are. These players have all played at some point throughout 21st century, however based on their entire . The former Brisbane captain played in four grand finals - winning three - while adding two Leigh Matthews Trophies, three Best and Fairests and three All-Australian selections all within his first 119 games of the new century. At the very start of the 21st Century, Luis Figo committed the most controversial transfer that football had ever seen. After spending a few seasons on Richmonds list Polo finally broke through for his debut match in the famous Dreamtime at the G clash against the Bombers during the 2006 season. Slow succeeded in a fast environment thanks to the genius flashing behind his eyes. The Galacticos needed a goalkeeper as blockbuster to match. Who is your club's best ruck of the 21st century? - AFL Espaol. Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. The argument for Bale falls into three categories: his astonishing rise at Tottenham, his performances in finals for Real Madrid, and his unwavering commitment to Wales. Considered one of the best football players in the world and a prolific goal scorer, Lionel Messi has shattered and created numerous records in his playing career. The nicknames he inspired over the course of his playing career, il Maestro and lArchitetto, capture Pirlos appreciation for composition, design and set-pieces.. Whether it is high flying marks, bone jarring tackles or freakish goals, Australian Rules has it all. He was irreplaceable when he left, too. This was a massive reason as to why they had success and he led them to that success.. Mt Rushmore of 21st Century | BigFooty Forum The team at AFL.com.au has dissected every club's records to name the best forward at each since the turn of the century. 10 greatest AFL players of all time. . Since breaking into Bara team at the age of 20, he has never made fewer than 40 appearances a season, he has been the rock on which Messi and co.s cathedral was built throughout the 2010s. Now we present the top five ranked players in foxfooty.com.aus Top 20 of the Past 20. Michael Barlow looked composed beyond his years against the Crows to start 2010 as he effortlessly chalked up 33 touches, becoming a Freo fan favourite from day one. But any suggestions the unprecedented long-term deal has been failure are off the mark, as his influence at the Swans has gone beyond footy. Top 20 AFL players of 21st Century - JetPunk No player has polled more Brownlow Medal votes. Both Matthew Richardson and Luke Hodge have serious fears for Hawthorn in the 2023 season. Hes played with some of the best midfielder of any generation Xavi, Iniesta and Yaya Toure, to name a few and while his contributions may be less eye-catching, theres a reason he has spent more than a decade at the heart of Barcelonas midfield. The star of the Lions three-peat dynasty, Voss would add to his already stellar career with record breaking season after season following the conclusion of the 20th century. And fair to say there is some big names on this one! Michael Voss The star of the Lions three-peat dynasty, Voss would add to his already stellar career with record breaking season after season following the conclusion of the 20th century. MLB All-21st-Century Team Through 2019 - Last Word On Baseball Individual awards: 2 x Brownlow Medal, 3 x Doig Medallist. A two-time Golden Boot winner, Salah holds the record for the most goals scored in a Premier League season with 32 and has been astonishingly prolific at Anfield, notching more than 20 goals in each of his five seasons. How the WBC lineups compare to the best of MLB Nobody could play football as if sat in a directors chair and Pasolini their way through a game. Lots of goals. But their passion for their old club has not prevented them from having a very dim view of the season ahead. He got awarded the AFLPA best captain four times that just shows what his peers thought about him. Top 20 AFL players of all time - World Gambling List The Belgian was the youngest Ligue 1 Player of the Year winner ever in 2011, aged 20, after helping Lille win a league and cup double. 1 and No. The rock within the Lions dynamic and star-studded midfield. The cousin of 200+ game Brisbane veteran Ash, Martins AFL career lasted just four games, but his first match was something special. When it comes to the most incredible trades of the 21st century, Brodie Grundy may well currently be on the podium after his move to the Dees . Hawthorn are bracing for a world of pain in the 2023 AFL season, according to two of their most decorated players. 100 greatest NFL players of the 21st century - Baltimore Sun "In his prime; Falcao looked absolutely unstoppable: Chelsea fans still have traumatic memories of his impressive prone-trick in the first half of a 4-1 victory in the UEFA Super Cup for Atleti in 2012, he completed a report that carried some of the best things. Indigenous Sport Month: AFL greats name best team since 2000 - Heraldsun 1. Analysis, local footy and the biggest moments, Seven and 7plus are the home of footy shows for every fan. Ablett 2. The players have been selected and ranked based on their 21st century performances only, so any seasons prior to 2000 haven't been considered. 1 picks, dating back to 2000, and rank them as players from worst to best. Well before Tom Mitchell and Lachie Neale were racking up 40-plus disposals a game for fun, Buckley was the leagues true ball magnet in an era when possessions were harder to accumulate. Bens twin brother Max from St Kilda (who surprisingly has the least millenniums on their list with five) will play in tandem with Ben as the two 202 cms show amazing athleticism. Login. Team of the Century - Melbourne Football Club A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. The club also lost its much-loved captain and No.1 ruck Ben McEvoy, who decided to hang up the boots, and 255-game veteran Liam Shiels also retired (but then found his way to North Melbourne). Top 5 AFL Grand Final Games of the 21st Century He won Serie A, a Coppa Italia and the Champions League itself as part of one the most iconic Milan sides in history, and earned himself the Ballon dOr in 2004. If names are anything to go by, we are in for a treat with surnames that whether or not they are in any way related mirror the surnames of former Brownlow Medalists, champion goal scorers and club champions both past and present. Posted below are The Independent's 100 best players of the 21st century. Haselbys high possession style of play was a feature of his game throughout his Rising Star award-winning season, and he continued it for 208 games in purple before hanging the boots up in 2010. Italian Team of the Century - Wikipedia He had an incredible blend of physical power, velvet touch and positional intelligence: the Gunners yearned for him for a decade after he departed. As well all know, Rutten served as a key defensive pillar for the Crows until his retirement in 2014, but with nine goals (including one with his last kick in footy) to his name from 229 games, his first three kicks are something Rutten wont forget anytime soon. 2 was the easiest part of the gig. Weve never seen a footballer like him and never will see one like him after he retires. August 1, 2005. He later joined Inter Milan and was just as classy: intelligent, creative and with the ability to control the cauldron, he's one of his country's finest ever players. He only won the AFLPAs best captain award once which is surprising, back in 2013. He captained Geelong to the one premiership, played in four but only captained one which is probably what held him back from giving him the number one or two title.. He shows real poise and is able to scan and find targets, Hawthorn assistant coach Chris Newman said. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 40-26. Nathan Buckley emerged as a genuine superstar of the game in the early 2000s. Menzel, who played 80 AFL games across stints with both Geelong and Sydney in a career spanning a decade, ranked the leaders based on who hed want to follow into the field. He was also a dangerous goalkicker, punctuated by his 36-goal season in 2002 and a seven-goal haul against Adelaide in early 2004. (Feel free to leave aratingand reviewto help me move up the charts ). The Ivorian was one of the most fearsome strikers ever. THERE aren't many players that can claim they were the best player on the field in their first AFL game. This devalues names like Robert Harvey, Scott West and Stephen Silvagni. Dane Swan (Collingwood) Now we present the top five ranked players in foxfooty.com.au's Top 20 of the Past 20. Of course, the criteria for eligibility is totally arbitrary. These players have all played at some point throughout 21st century, however based on their entire career. The WA-born prospect had to toil to break into the Lions side, but he was rewarded with seven straight games late in the 2008 campaign going on to average over 26 touches in those matches. Another Champions League crown and the La Liga title came at Real Madrid, followed by three consecutive Bundesliga triumphs at Bayern Munich. While most AFL fans will remember Ben Truck Rutten for his All-Australian defensive days his debut match in 2003 was something quite the opposite. Modern-day forwards like him arent supposed to average 3.5 goals per game across multiple seasons. Contents 1 Top 10 AFL Players Right Now 1.1 Dustin Martin - Richmond 1.2 Christian Petracca - Melbourne 1.3 Max Gawn - Melbourne 1.4 Jack Steele - St. Kilda 1.5 Toby Greene - GWS 1.6 Lachie Neale - Brisbane 1.7 Marcus Bontempelli - Bulldogs 1.8 Jack Macrae - Bulldogs 1.9 Nic Naitanui - West Coast 1.10 Zach Merrett - Essendon Few deserved the accolade more. The 19-year-old - pick No.7 in the 2022 draft - provided a pinpoint kick inside 50 in the third term for Fergus Greene, who topped the goal count with three. 20-16: Two Crows but which Hawks icon missed the cut? Champion Geelong ruckman Graham "Polly" Farmer was today named as captain of the indigenous team of the century. So many moments. Chris Judd - Greatest player of the 21st Century (so far) THE NUMBERS: 33disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 goals An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio. Some notable examples in this regard would be Gianluigi Buffon, Carles Puyol, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luis Figo, and more recently Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Robert. The two-time Norm Smith medalist has reached unparalleled feats and continues to prove to be a one in a generation-type player. But the trait that defined Voss career was his ferocity at the contest. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. 10 greatest AFL players of all time - Betting Site Heres how it works. Judd's record stands by itself, and this year first player i believe to poll more then 20 brownlow votes in 5 seasons. Team of the Century - Hawthorn Football Club I dont want to put any pressure on the kids shoulders, but his debut is one of great anticipation, with some dubbing him a Brownlow chance (keep a lid on it) before the season has even begun. Or why not treat yourself? The Belgian was one of the most imperious centre-backs in Europe at his peak, adored by every manager who worked with him. After drawing in the first game, at 68 points each, St. Kilda and Collingwood met again a week later to determine a winner. Patrick Vieira was the beating heart of every side he led, winning the Euros with France, a double and unbeaten title with Arsenal and covering more grass than just about any other teammate. Lining up in attack Rutten is part of a unique club having managed to kick three goals with the first three kicks of his career. Over the last decade, he has done exactly what was needed for every manager, providing an almost unrivalled passing range, superb positioning and moments of genius in abundance. Even if you go back to the summer of 1933, when The Sporting News hailed baseball's first official . Team of the Century | Western Bulldogs Cam Mackenzie was a standout for the Hawks during the practice against Collingwood in Tasmania. But in all honesty, selecting the superstars at No. Reckon you can pick the best team? The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of the 21st Century Pic: Getty. Added to his premiership in 2000, Lloyd was selected as an All-Australian a total of five times, three coming after the turn of the century. The surrounding blur and rush did not disrupt his tempo, nor impair his vision. Ranking every No. 1 AFL draft pick since 2000 - ESPN The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 60-41, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 80-61, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 40-26, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 100-81, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 25-11, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 10-1, Roberto Firmino makes stunning choice on Liverpool future: 'It's decided', Liverpool signing Mason Mount from Chelsea could be a LOT more realistic than you realise, Why Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Anfield has the best atmosphere in the country, Father of Manchester United's potential new owner Sheikh Jassim criticises bid for club: 'I dont like this investment', Manchester United target Victor Osimhen openly reveals that a dream Premier League move is his 'ambition'. Trent Cotchin captained Richmond to nearly 200 games and in that time they won two thirds of those games, 130 of those 200 they won. He's one of England's finest players ever. Plus tips on how to play better and interviews with the biggest names. NY 10036. He was a key contributor in the Giants first AFL season, illustrating his talents from day one as he tied for the second most touches for his side in an expectedly ugly loss to the Swans. Pryor is of course known as one of the best running quarterbacks in OSU history, but check out his passing stats in 2010: 2,772 passing yards, a crisp completion percentage of 65.0, and 27 . A key figure in the side's maiden AFL premiership success, Cornes is the club's only 300-game AFL player, won four best and fairests in seven years and was named in two All-Australian sides. He was acrobatic, dramatic and exciting to watch. The towering Dutchman, who combines immense strength with impressive acceleration, was the defensive rock behind Champions League and Premier League victories in his first two full seasons at Anfield. He was probably stiff not to win Buckleys 2002 Norm Smith Medal too. As if scoring that goal wouldn't endear himself to the Manchester City faithful, the Argentinian became the all-time overseas Premier League hitman, the club's record scorer and one of the greatest forwards of all time. He captained Brisbane to the 2001, 2002, 2003 premierships and even in the 2004 Grand Final. A complete striker, Aguero put beauty in ball-striking, making an art of finding space around the penalty area. Whilst most teams boast a clutch of these youngest players, the teams from lower down the ladder who have put their faith in rebuilding over time have the most. Team of the Century | Collingwood Forever Hawthorn legends turn on former club with serious fears for 2023 Hes Buddy brilliant. Pictures: AFL Photos THEY'RE the stars who drive your club to glory. Yahoo Sport Australia AFL Team of the 21st Century Top 10 AFL Players: Most Popular Players of 2021 - Football Whispers With his technical ability and intelligence, he would still slot into elite teams in the modern game, many years after he left his six-Premier League title-winning career behind him. A modern-day Liverpool great, Salahs arrival from Roma in 2017 acted as a catalyst to the Reds outstanding period of success under Jurgen Klopp.