World XI: 11 Best Players In The World Right Now

By Joseph Dempsey /

ML. Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

2013 was a momentous year for Bayern Munich and for Franck Ribery in particular. The veteran midfielder finally got his hands on the Champions League when Bayern beat domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund in the final, just one of FIVE trophies won by the Bavarian club. And Ribery was arguably their stand-out performer in those successes; that he was named UEFA€™s Best Player in Europe in 2013 and was voted the Most Valuable Player in the FIFA Club World Cup tells you that. The Frenchman€™s 11 goals helped Bayern sweep up all honours in a trophy-laden campaign and in a year where the Germans dominated European football and put Spain in their place, it would be unjustifiable to write a World XI without mention of Ribery, who is in contention for this year€™s Ballon d€™Or having made the three-man shortlist alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.