Best Possible Football XI In The World Right Now

3. Right Forward: Lionel Messi

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates the first goal
David Davies/EMPICS Sport

No world XI is complete without Lionel Messi, and regardless of whether you consider him or Cristiano Ronaldo to be the planet's best player, the diminutive Argentinian is fresh off another tremendous season. His 37 goals were more than any other play in Europe's top five leagues in 2016/17, and no amount of praise can do him justice.

Messi continues to astonish for Barcelona. The club weren't able to win La Liga or the Champions League this season, but they still took the Copa del Rey, preventing Messi from enduring his first trophy-less campaign since 2007/08. He recently renewed his contract until 2021, and with Messi reaching 30 years of age in June, there's a strong chance he'll end up spending the rest of his career with the Catalans.

Leo remains the best dribbler on the planet, and a man who's almost impossible to dislodge from the ball, even when moving at high speed. His finishing skills are sharper than ever, and while age will eventually take a toll on his physicality, his incredible vision will likely remain intact. It doesn't matter if he's better than Ronaldo or not, because Messi, like his rival, is one of the greatest of all time.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.