1) Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Like Ronaldo, Messi is the heart and soul of his club side, and many talented players have fallen by the wayside as a result. Thierry Henry, Alexis Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa – none of them enjoyed their best form at the Camp Nou, because the whole team was based around the Argentinian. Now it seems as though his influence extends much further, with manager Luis Enrique potentially facing the sack as a result of upsetting him. That shows just how highly the Barca hierarchy treasure him and his happiness.
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