With two big international tournaments this summer, players from Europe and the Americas have had the chance to further enhance their reputations among the best in the world. While some took full advantage of the big stage, others failed to deliver. Ahead of the start of the 2016-17 domestic season across Europe’s top leagues next month, here is IBTimes’ annual list of the top 50 footballers in the world.

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina)

It has not been a good summer for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. As well being found guilty of tax fraud, Messi suffered heartbreak for a third successive major tournament with Argentina, this time missing a penalty in the final shootout and later shocking his country by announcing his retirement from international soccer. However, he still showed during that tournament, not least with his mesmeric free-kick against the United States and scintillating hat-trick off the bench against Panama, that he remains untouched as the best player on the planet.
2. Luis Suárez (Barcelona, Uruguay)

Suárez was another to endure a disappointing summer, with injury preventing him from getting on the pitch as Uruguay crashed out at the group stage. Still, he is coming off his most prolific season yet at club level, firing 53 goals in just 48 games for Barcelona. And the former Liverpool forward also does plenty to aid the performances of Messi and Neymar as part of the best-ever forward trio.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal)

In terms of silverware, Ronaldo has enjoyed an extraordinary past 12 months. On Sunday he added a long-sought first title with Portugal to a third Champions League winners’ medal picked up with Real Madrid in May. The irony, though, was that he played very little part in either final. While injury was the cause of that, the fact remains that at the age of 31, he is no longer a player that dominates games, but rather, as he showed in the Euro 2016 semifinal against Wales, a player who produces decisive moments.
4. Neymar (Barcelona, Brazil)

Brilliant at the start of last season, even suggesting that Barcelona could have a life beyond Messi, Neymar fully earned a place on the Ballon d’Or podium for the first time and should even have taken second spot ahead of Ronaldo. But there is no question that he tired considerably at the climax of the campaign, which played its part in his side’s exit from the Champions League. It is not surprising then that Barcelona prevented him from playing at the Copa America. Instead, he will feature at the Olympics before, Barcelona hopes, returning fully match sharp to the Camp Nou.
5. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid, Wales)

Overshadowed by the reputation and ego of Ronaldo at the Bernabeu, Bale showed at Euro 2016 that he is a capable of being the talisman for a team. Not only did he come up with crucial contributions as Wales reached the semifinals, he was also a superb blue-collar team player. His record at Real Madrid wasn’t bad last season, either, scoring 19 goals in 23 La Liga appearances and often being far more influential over the course of 90 minutes than his more illustrious teammate.
6. Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid, France)

The Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner at Euro 2016, Griezmann was the spark for a France team that often lacked cohesion. With six goals, five in the knockout phase, it would be unfair to remember his tournament for his missed chance in the final. Having also scored 32 goals for Atlético last season, he has unquestionably elevated himself into the ranks of the world’s best forwards.
7. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain)

Spain’s Euro 2016 campaign may not linger long in the memory, but Iniesta’s performance in the group phase still provided plenty of thrills at the time. Handed the central playmaking role for the first time in a major tournament, Iniesta starred. Even at the age of 32, and having scored one league goal in his last two seasons, Iniesta’s incisive passing and dribbling through the lines is a joy to behold.
8. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)

He may have made a costly error in Germany’s Euro 2016 semifinal defeat to France, but there can be little doubt that Neuer remains the benchmark for the modern goalkeeper. So good is he with his feet that his ability with his hands almost goes unnoticed.
9. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona, Spain)

It may be true that, as Busquets himself said, “ People who don't like football don't appreciate my game,” but to those who watch closely there is so much to admire. Just see how Barcelona struggles to move the ball without its fulcrum in front of the back four. When it comes to describing the Barcelona graduate, soon-to-be former Spain coach Vicente del Bosque did it best. “If you watch the whole game, you won’t see Busquets,” he said. “But watch Busquets and you will see the whole game.”
10. Paul Pogba (Juventus, France)

That he could well become the most expensive player in history this summer is indicative of a midfielder that possesses an unprecedented range of attributes. Strong, quick and skillful he has all the tools required to be the next global superstar. All that is holding him back so far, as was shown at Euro 2016, is consistency and perhaps a better positional understanding.

11. Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia)

Once voted the worst signing in La Liga following his move to Real Madrid, Modric continues to enhance his reputation as the one of the world’s outstanding midfielders. Now able to stand up to a physical challenge, the Croatian truly excels in linking the lines of a team together. One of the great disappointments at Euro 2016 was that Modric’s tournament ended so early.
12. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany)

It should be one of the great frustrations to soccer fans that in a team filled with so many attacking talents a player of Kroos immense ability often has to consume himself with the ugly legwork at Real Madrid. As he showed at Euro 2016, when dictating Germany’s play, he is one of the outstanding central playmakers in the game.
13. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal, Chile)

While his second season at Arsenal was not as spectacular as his first, he more than made up for that with a sparkling Copa America Centenario. As well as three goals, his constant energy is perfect for Chile’s high-pressing style and it earned him the award for the tournament’s outstanding player. With Juventus interested in his signature, the challenge for Arsenal is to show that it can satisfy a player of such immense ability.
14. Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus, Italy)

A key part of a Juventus defense that has won five successive Serie A titles, Bonucci may not have the same rugged physicality of partner Giorgio Chiellini, but he may just be the best ball-playing center-back in the world. At Euro 2016, with Andrea Pirlo and Marco Verratti absent, Bonucci took on the role of Italy’s playmaker and performed it superbly. It is no surprise that Guardiola is so desperate to lure him to Manchester City and why Juventus will demand a huge fee to let him go.
15. Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich, Germany)

Long regarded for his expertise at finding space in the penalty box, Müller had his most prolific season yet last term, scoring 32 goals. While he endured a disappointing end to the campaign and failed to find the net at Euro 2016, a summer rest should see him back at his best under Carlo Ancelotti next season.
16. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)

Eyebrows were raised when Manchester City brought De Bruyne back to the Premier League last summer at a cost of 54 million pounds ($71 million). Any doubts have now been removed. One of the world’s premier counter-attacking players, it is no coincidence that City’s slump occurred during De Bruyne’s time out injured. Not always utilized effectively with Belgium, it will be fascinating to see how the 25-year develops next season under Pep Guardiola.
17. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Poland)

Lewandowski’s first season at Bayern Munich was hardly poor, but his second was spectacular. He plundered 42 goals in all competitions, including famously hitting five goals in nine minutes during a match last September. It was a major disappointment, then, that he failed to replicate that form at Euro 2016.

18. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy)

Can it be that at the age of 38, Buffon is still getting better? There is certainly no sign of the sort of decline that has struck the other most renowned goalkeeper of his generation, Iker Casillas. Last season he broke yet another record, going 973 minutes without conceding a goal in Serie A. There's no denying he's one of the all-time greatest goalkeepers.
19. Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich, Chile)

A one-man force of nature in midfield, Vidal can seemingly be everywhere at once, adding physical force in the center of the pitch before driving forward and firing a shot at goal. He was again vital in helping Chile to its second title in two years at the Copa America Centenario. Worryingly, though, the 29-year-old’s body has shown signs of faltering under the weight of his playing style and his extensive commitments for club and country.
20. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City, Argentina)

Despite continuing to be hampered by injury, Agüero struck 24 Premier League goals last season to take his tally to 50 in the last two campaigns. While he didn’t get much of a look in with Argentina at the Copa America, he remains one of the most lethal strikers around and should flourish under Guardiola.

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Guy remove pogba and busquets.

List is obviously about the writer's favorites, not the actual best on current form.
First, Suarez and Neymar are even ahead of Messi on form.
Second, in what universe is Pogba ahead of Aguero, and Coutinho is not in top 10. Pogba is not even supposed to be in top 50 self.