I came up with this article by football.co.uk asking who the third best player in the world was. Obviously placing Messi and Ronaldo in the first two spots.

Luis Suarez
Manuel Neuer
Eden Hazard
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sergio Aguero
Robert Lewandowski
Gareth Bale
Neymar
Thomas Muller

???

Make your pick.

In my opinion this third best player varis very often, maybe even from week to week. But Im sure Bayern has to have that player. It's probably Muller or Lewandowski for me.

http://www.football.co.uk/chelsea/if-messi-and-ronaldo-are-the-top-two-who-is-the-worlds-thi/6911554#Pfue2gXtEMJOYfEk.97

Completely agree.

But for me the 3rd is: Modric.

Then Muller or Lewandowski.

Then Joe Hart. Well, this is a bit debatable :D

I would go with Aguero personally, but you could make a case for about ten or so players.

It will actually be kind of nice when Ronaldo/Messi cool off a bit, the variety for third best is what we should be having for first and second as well.

Lol, I may sound biased cause I'm a Madrid fan but without any doubt the place goes to LUKA MODRIC.

The difference between him and the other players mentioned like Lewa, Sanchez, Neymar, Bale etc. is one thing: Consistency. Lewa has been in scoring form for this month, he may or may not continue this form for the whole season, Sanchez has been great for half the season last year but disappeared in the final half.

Similar to Bale, Neymar and Hazard, these 3 have a good game than a bad one, than a few good ones, than a couple bad ones, plus they need support around them to make them feel good. Didn't you noticed that Bale was back when Modric is back, Neymar isnt Neymar when Messi is off. Hazard can work alone but this season isn't him anymore.

Modric in the other hand has been amazing for the past few seasons and was amazing back in tottenham. Not to mention in Croatia as well. His performance against Spain in the Euro 12 was for me the best Midfielder performance ever after Zidane against Brazil. kaka's performance against United was amazing too!

On the otherhand, any other player who may also be third is Thomas Meuller, Well he is by far the most smartest and complete Footballer mentality alongside Ronaldo and Messi.

Luis Suarez on his day he is a beast

@liverpool Are you on weed or something? Yes an "In-form" Suarez is a beast but I would pick an In-form Hazard or even In-form Sanchez over him anyday.

For me it's between Rooney, Modric and Hazard.

But lol as a utd fan I would definitely go with Rooney!

Between suarez and modric. For me its modric then suarez.

@Devil: Im one of the die hard MU's fans, but putting our Rooney up there among those top 10 is ridiculous!

Dunno really. If we're talking only this season, then C.Ronaldo & Messi wouldn't even be in top 5.

for now, i think Modric deserve to be the 3rd best player..

@decentK Ronaldo has been below his best so far this season, but with Messi slumping/injured he's easily number one atm, not sure what you're seeing.

@Sunflash True, but If we were to judge this season only than Lewa is definitely number 1.

This season

1-Lewadownski
2-Modric/Mueller
3- Mahrez
4-Alexis
5-Douglas Costa

I would put James and Bale alongside Lewa, but they only played a few games, especially James.

in-form Hazard or even In-form Sanchez better than sureaz don't make me laugh sureaz will win you the league hazard cant sanchez cant

Not sure why people are rating Sanchez so high either. Good Copa America (but I don't think we're counting that as this season?) and has only really had two good games, one fantastic game, and about five games where he was really poor. Hazard has been just as bad, but without a hat-trick to make him look better.

Mahrez has been good as well, but he hasn't even started several PL games. Lewa has been excellent this season, but I think that Ronaldo has been better. Both players (plus Aguero, who I'd personally rate 3rd) have had great scoring records to start the season and all have scored five goals in a single game.

If we are truly rating this season alone, I would go top three:

1- Ronaldo
2- Lewa
3- Aguero

Because if you actually look at the way Sanchez plays you will get it why people rate him that high. Goals are not the only thing when measuring the quality of the player.. The way of his workrate is something you don't see very often. Sanchez may not be in a top 3, but I bet you would like player like him in a team.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love Sanchez at United, I'd like Hazard too. They are proven talents and are capable of monster games/seasons.

They just haven't played very well, in Hazard's case at all, and in Sanchez's case only a few times this season, which is why I'm not certain Sanchez is mentioned in the top 3 of this season, and this season only.

There are Arsenal players other than Sanchez who I would rate in terms of solely this year higher than him.

For me Lewandowski or even Muller are the kind of players that could easily win a Ballor D' Or in a regular Messi-less season.

Others like Sanchez and Suarez could be competing as well. Sanchez would need to win stuff to be recognized for his work and Suarez is just playing in the shadows of Messi and Neymar.

Modric, any day of the week. He's one of the best midfielders I've seen, and I'd place him in the bracket with Xavi, Alonso, and Iniesta. Yes, that's how good he is. It might not be apparent now, but it will be in 4-5 years when he's past his prime.

The only other two players that can possibly compete with Modric for 3rd best player are Suarez and Muller for me.

I'll agree with tuan on Wazza being on that list. I'd personally put Suarez and Aguero on my list.

Suarez and Zlatan share the third place as third best . For me Zlatan is just ultimate player to have and I don't understand why Chelsea never made good attempt to buy him .

Zlatan is one man army . Even at this age this guy still going strong . Give us Zlatan today and watch Chelsea win CL in May . I value Zlatan that much ( even though i lost little love for his c8nt moves against us ) .

3- Suarez
4- Robben
5- Hazard
6- Neymar
7- Aguero