31. Manchester City and Spain midfielder David Silva
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Despite having something of an off-season due to sheer fatigue in 2012/13, Manchester City star David Silva could be well on his way to becoming one of the finest playmaking midfielders of his generation if he regains his best form.
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a glittering career for both club and country, playing a pivotal role in City’s Premier League title-winning season of 2011/12, scoring 8 goals and providing 21 assists, and bringing the Spanish ‘tiki-taka’ style football to England in the process with some wonderful passing and ability on the ball.
The league title was followed up by yet another trophy with Spain that summer, as he scored his side’s opener in what turned into a 4-0 thrashing of Italy in the Euro 2012 final. He also scored a fine goal against the Repubic of Ireland earlier in the tournament, making it a superb individual season for him. This was also his third major honour with Spain, adding to his World Cup medal from 2010 and another European Championship in 2008.
Despite fierce competition from the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Juan Mata in this vastly talented generation of Spanish attacking midfielders, Silva has managed to notch up 72 caps for the national side, scoring 18 goals.
Silva started his career in La Liga with Valencia, making quite an impression as a youngster though initially playing as a winger for the Spanish side. In truth, his all-round ability makes him a great option in any number of attacking midfield positions, and he still drifts wide to good effect for City.
His big-money signing from Valencia to City was one of the most important of the Sheikh Mansour era at the Etihad Stadium, helping Roberto Mancini turn the team into a genuine Premier League force. Though it was still imagined quite how good he could become, as he looked like one of the best players in the world at times in his second season with the club, and was voted as City’s player of the year by the club’s fans ahead of some steep competition from the likes of Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero.
Silva makes the game look easy and is a wonderfully gifted player. That combined with his impressive trophy haul so far in his career firmly puts him up there as one of the best footballers in the world.