As far as football goes, 2012 has been a great year with many players on the world stage shining, so to single out just five is challenging. However the fact is that some players are so talented that even when surrounded by other top talent, they shine through consistently and have the greatest influence on their club and country’s successes.

Top of the list, perhaps a little predictably is Barcelona and Argentinian attacker Lionel Messi. 2012 has been a great year for the 25-year-old, he has become his club’s all-time top scorer and with 14 goals in the 2011-12 season, he scored more goals in the Champions League in one season than any other player.  He recently broke Gerd Muller’s record for most goals in a calendar year, after scoring his 86th goal and is in contention to win the coveted Ballons d’Or award, which he has already won three times in a row.

A close second to Messi is ex-Manchester United favourite Cristiano Ronaldo. His 46 goals from mid field helped his current team Real Madrid win the Spanish title and he helped his country Portugal do well in EURO 2012, where they earned a very respectable semi-final spot. His move from England to Spain saw the highest price paid for a player ever at over 93 million Euros and he receives 12 million Euros a year, making him one of the highest paid players of all time. In 2012, Madrid fans will be convinced that the 27-year-old is worth every penny as a result of his great performances throughout the year and he looks set to continue his great form well into the future.

Italian and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has had yet another stunning year and comes in at third place. He led his country to the final of the EUROS, and helped his club finish the 2011-2012 season as unbeaten champions. Captain of both club and country, the veteran goalkeeper is known as one of the best shot stoppers around and is a key figure on the field, and in the dressing room.

Arturo Vidal comes in at fourth place as a result of his consistent performances in the Juventus midfield. Vidal is widely hailed as the most complete footballer around as he is equally comfortable protecting his back four as he is driving forward and getting goals. The Chilean international joined Juventus from Bayer Leverkusen in 2011 and was an integral part of the unbeaten team of the subsequent season.

The fifth best football player of 2012 goes to the influential Madrid defender Sergio Ramos. Usually a world-class right back, Ramos has spent much of the last twelve months as a centre back. His partnership with Barcelona’s Gerard Pique was formidable in EURO 2012 and helped Spain coast to victory in the 4-0 demolition of Italy in the final. Ramos joined Real Madrid in 2005 at just 19 years old and became an overnight sensation at the club.

Morgan is a web enthusiast and football lover. He loves playing football with his friends and some times he writes about the Australian Football League in his AFL tips blog that he created some time ago.

Photo Credits: Wikipedia

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