EDIT ::BTW, DEADLINE FOR POLL IS FRIDAY AUGUST 9th (Canadian time). I shall calculate results the morning I wake up on Friday (if I can). I will post results immediately after.

I want to have a little poll. Who do you guys think is the third best player in the world, CR and Leo put aside? I'll tally the results at the very end, if enough people participate. You don't HAVE to give a reason as to why you pick who you pick, but just throw the name out there. Here are some suggestions in case you guys are running thin on ideas. :)

Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona)
Franck Ribery (Bayern)
Thomas Muller (Bayern)
Manuel Neuer (Bayern)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)
Thiago Silva (PSG)
Edinson Cavani (PSG)
Robin van Persie (United)
Wayne Rooney (United)
Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
Juan Mata (Chelsea)
Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid)
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

You don't have to pick from the above list. They were just ideas. Just throw a name out there who you believe is the 3rd best player in the world.

@Heavenduel

Yea, agree with you on the most part, but I think that Ronaldo had a better season in 2011-12 where he notched up 5 more goals and performed much better overall.

And if you can, just narrow your 3rd best player down to one. I can't put Ribery, Iniesta, AND Suarez as your choice. Only one will have to do. :)

@Tuanis

It's for overall. In that case, I'll take your vote as Casillas. :)

And we're not arguing about who are the top two. It is undoubtedly Messi at #1 and Ronaldo at #2. We're just saying that there's no reason to take these players OUT of the top 2 (mostly Ronaldo).

Okay, then. I'll go with Ribery :D

@Dynastian i forgot about Schweinsteiger and Muller, yea they would be around top 3 for sure

@Dyna, When have I ever said I hate Real Madrid? Repeating myself? This is the second time I have discussed cristiano in this forum and I did not mention anything about diving. So get your facts straight!!
I only ended up talking about him cause V was so shocked that he's not in my top 10..

Everytime I get in a discussion with you, you start with the personal attacks and condescending emoticons, "you'll never be a good person as cristiano ;)" something along those lines. I have never once insulted you or your team.

I just don't think cristiano is as great of a player as you attempt to make him out to be.

So stop playing the victim game.

@Wolfie: As a moderator I respect your opinion on your top 10 players but I have to say that it seems to me that it was a provocating comment intended to start an argument about Ronaldo not being there; I belive this because the thread is not about top 10 players and maybe some people started mentioning theri top 3 (which is still not the point of the thread) your comment was kind of out of topic. Anyways I respect your opinion. Now, as a regular user I have no idea of what football you watch in order to keep Ronaldo out of your top 10 which I find hilarious because of how evident it is that he should ther.

Just stop arguing (both dyna and wolfie), stay on topic, I dont want to delete your comments or close the discussion because I really liked this topic. :D

I'm seeing no love for Gervinho. >:(

@Tuanis

Thanks Tuanis. Will do. :)

Emile Heskey!! hahaha.. jk.. =)

i'll vote for Iniesta!

L.SUAREZ - a player playing with his heart and soul during LIVERPOOL hard seasons and producing those great performances.

@wolfie stop thumbing up yourself you are acting like a kid, really.
only stupid guys don\'t change their minds, Falcao and Ibra are not better than Ronaldo, i am a barça fan and i think CR7 is the best number 2 in Football history, he would have at least 3 ballons d\' or if Messi were not in this world plus he\'s doing defensive job, he is one of the best pk and fk taker, he invented a new way to kick the ball...
Don\'t be a hater you seemed to be a good person before you lacked objectivity in Ronaldo\'s case.
Ibra was not that good i watched all his matches can you say so ?? Falcao ? come on compare him to Cavani but not to CR7, he was the best scorer in CL, defeated Man utd and Barça (no coach and injured defense but still).
Ibra was not the man in CL lavezzi was, plus he is not Inter\'s Ibracadabra anymore, i like the way you\'re talking directly with no implicite messages, but some objectivity can makes you better.
From an anti-madridista like me hope you understand and change your mind.

I like Ribery, but I wanna put Arjen Robben as my choice of third best player. He went far to get to where he is today, so Arjen Robben for me!

Cassilas!

Iniesta without second thought. If Messi and Ronaldo hadn't had this scoring ratio and this "award" was just on what a player does on the pitch in general Andres may have been 2nd.
So iniesta for me..

Ribery for me. He has been incredible this year.

inesta for me, he's always on the top, and wolfie is a stupid troll.

@tiki taka and Juventini - I thought the mod just told us to give it a rest, so why don't you two just shut the hell up already.

Lolz wolfie... I don't like Ronaldo... but I truly respect him for his greatness in football... you are clearly a hater...

Ribery has been shortlisted along with Messi and Ronaldo for the 2012/13 UEFA Best Player in Europe award

I will be Ribery... Messi and Ronaldo have had good seasons but not compared to someone who has won the treble