Football
Who is the Best Footballer Since 2000? A Data-Driven Ranking
The post-2000 era of football was absolutely extraordinary, defined by an explosion of goals and a generation of attacking players who rewrote the record books. Many of the legends we revere today played in the 2000s. Never before has the game seen such consistency at the highest level, with strikers turning the extraordinary into the expected season after season. From Lionel Messi's dribbling and finishing, to Cristiano Ronaldo's unrivaled blend of athleticism and ferocity, to Karim Benzema's brilliance and Robert Lewandowski's goal-scoring instinct, modern football has produced many legends who made scoring goals seem easy. Let's not forget Thierry Henry or the madness of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It's clear that we have an era rich in valuable players. But the question is who was the best since the 2000s?
Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi//Getty Images
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate the Best Footballer Since 2000
This evaluation combines a statistical analysis of their total career goals with expert and media perception of their overall greatness to provide a comprehensive ranking.
Industry Insights
A curated analysis from top 10 football and sports media sources measures how prominently each player is featured in discussions of the "greatest footballers of the 21st century."
Industry Insights
| Source Name | Ronaldo | Messi | Lewandowski | Suárez | Ibrahimović | Benzema | Kane | Cavani | Neymar | Hulk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FourFourTwo – "100 Greatest Footballers Ever" (post-2000 focus) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| The Guardian – "100 Best Male Footballers in the World" (annual, multiple top ranks) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ESPN – "Ranking the Top 25 Players of the 21st Century" | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Goal.com – "Goal 50" Winners and high ranks | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Bleacher Report – "Top 50 Players of the 21st Century" | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| talkSPORT – "Best Strikers of the Modern Era" | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Sportskeeda – "Top 10 Goalscorers of the 21st Century" | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| UEFA.com – Champions League All-Time XI discussions | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reddit r/soccer – "Best Player Since 2000" Polls | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 90min – "50 Greatest Players of the 2000s" feature | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total Mentions | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
SB Score
| Player | Total Career Goals | SB Score |
| Ronaldo | 944 | 1.000 |
| Messi | 882 | 0.934 |
| Lewandowski | 694 | 0.735 |
| Suárez | 575 | 0.609 |
| Ibrahimović | 564 | 0.597 |
| Benzema | 498 | 0.528 |
| Kane | 479 | 0.507 |
| Cavani | 458 | 0.485 |
| Neymar | 450 | 0.477 |
| Hulk | 441 | 0.467 |
This score is calculated based on the total number of career goals for club and country (100% weightage). The raw stats are used to calculate the final SB Score.
SB Market Index
| Rank | Player | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Ronaldo | 1.000 | 10 | 8.200 |
| 2 | Messi | 0.934 | 10 | 8.187 |
| 3 | Lewandowski | 0.735 | 10 | 8.147 |
| 4 | Suárez | 0.609 | 9 | 7.322 |
| 5 | Ibrahimović | 0.597 | 9 | 7.319 |
| 6 | Benzema | 0.528 | 9 | 7.306 |
| 7 | Neymar | 0.477 | 9 | 7.295 |
| 8 | Kane | 0.507 | 4 | 3.301 |
| 9 | Cavani | 0.485 | 2 | 1.697 |
| 10 | Hulk | 0.467 | 1 | 0.893 |
The GOATs of the Century: Ronaldo and Messi
When it comes to 21st century football, two names stand out above the rest and it’s clear who they are, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Our SB Market Index confirms what fans have long felt, that these two legends exist in a world of their own, both achieving perfect scores in Industry Insights and dominating the statistical landscape.
Ronaldo takes the top spot in this specific analysis thanks to his unparalleled career total of 944 goals, giving him the highest SB score. His quest for perfection, his ability to adapt to different leagues in England, Spain and Italy, and his longevity at the top make his record extraordinary. Messi, with 882 goals and a near-perfect SB score, is right behind, but is elevated by his unparalleled creativity and all-round play.
Together, they embody the golden age of the modern game, two players whose duel that redefined success, but also set standards that may never be equaled again.
The Ultimate Number 9: Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski’s third place in our SB Market Index reflects his status as one of the greatest strikers of the modern era. With a career total of 694 goals, he boasts a record that ranks among the best in football history. What makes his tally even more impressive is his perfect score in Industry Insights, with every major publication from FourFourTwo to UEFA.com consistently including him in their lists of the best players in football since 2000.
Lewandowski’s legacy is built on both efficiency and moments of brilliance. His five goals in just nine minutes for Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg in 2015 remain one of the most stunning feats ever seen in top-flight football. He was also instrumental in Bayern’s treble-winning 2019/20 campaign, finishing as the top scorer in the Champions League with 15 goals. Let's not forget that historic run of Bundesliga titles, Golden Boots and a FIFA Best Player award, and it becomes clear why Lewandowski's combination of statistics and recognition cements him among the all-time elite.
The Prolific and Charismatic: Suárez, Ibrahimović, Benzema, and Neymar
Just behind the duo of Ronaldo and Messi is a tight-knit group of legends whose reputation in 21st century football is undisputed. Luis Suárez, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Karim Benzema and Neymar all achieved near-perfect scores in Industry Insights, with their greatness universally acknowledged in the media and pundit rankings.
Suárez, with his agility and 575 career goals, was the ultimate disruptor, fearless, ruthless and capable of turning any game upside down, an eccentric player who had his share of problems. Ibrahimović, meanwhile, brought charisma and power to match his 564 goals, leaving behind a string of unforgettable goals in Europe's biggest leagues. Benzema, long lived in Ronaldo's shadow during Real Madrid's Galáctico era, but after the stars departed he managed to claim the Ballon d'Or. Neymar, for his part, dazzled with his talent and creativity, combining spectacle with productivity, scoring 450 career goals and countless magical moments, but he always remained in the mind of what it would have been like if he had reached his full potential.
Individually, each of these players has influenced clubs, competitions and even football cultures.
Conclusion on the Goalscoring Kings of the Modern Era
When combining both goal scoring and expert opinion, our SB Market Index offers a definitive conclusion: Cristiano Ronaldo is the best footballer since 2000, although to some it may be outrageous. His unrivalled career tally of 944 goals gives him a statistical advantage, while his recognition in major media outlets confirms his impact as a once-in-a-generation phenomenon. Lionel Messi, a close second, with equally impeccable expert support and a record defined by both creativity and goals, remains his eternal rival in the debate.
What makes this era so special, however, is not just the Ronaldo-Messi duel, but the remarkable cast of legends who have followed. From the tireless efficiency of Robert Lewandowski to the mastery of Neymar, the brilliance of Benzema, the audacity of Ibrahimović and the explosion of Suárez, the game since 2000 has been shaped by extraordinary attacking talent. After 2000, football has seen some absolutely amazing footballers.
With a strong background in journalism and years of experience in sports commentary, Dragoș Șoneriu has written about every aspect of sport, from match reports and features to tactical analyses and investigative pieces. A lifelong Arsenal fan, he dreams of seeing his beloved team lift the Premier League trophy. Outside of work, Dragoș collects anything football-related, from stickers and mugs to vintage shirts and scarves.