joseph1013:
World Class is a relative thing. My definition of a world class player would be somebody, who CONSISTENTLY wins games himself for BOTH club and country. You have to be super consistent to be world class. Left to me, there are only a handful of World Class players in football right now. Thinking at the top of my head, I can't count more than 20.

Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Manuel Neuer, Gianluigi Buffon

Full backs: David Alaba, Marcelo

Centre backs: Thiago Silva, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Pepe, Diego Godin

Defensive/central midfielders: N’Golo Kanté, Sergio Busquets, Luka Modric

Wingers: Eden Hazard, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi

Strikers: Luis Suárez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski

In fact, it is possible for the players on my list to be debated, but what that means is that there are even less world class players than I thought.

TheGoodJoe:



Mikel is in the list because he consistently won for his club and when it came to the country, he consistently performed at a top level. From our qualifiers, to AFCON, to the CONFEDS and even the Olympics. Even in our current qualifiers, he is still one of our top performers. As tbaba1234 rightly put it, anyone lasted as long as Mikel at Chelsea in a flamboyant role will definitely be recognized as World Class.

edi287:
Mikel will definitely go down as a legend and one of our best midfielders ever, but he certainly was never World Class. Talented yes, but I'm sorry, he never got to a world class level at his peak. I agree he was a bit underrated in England, but no way in the world was he world class. I don't think there was ever a time in his career he was a top 10 CM/DM in world football.

edi287:
Mikel will definitely go down as a legend and one of our best midfielders ever, but he certainly was never World Class. Talented yes, but I'm sorry, he never got to a world class level at his peak. I agree he was a bit underrated in England, but no way in the world was he world class. I don't think there was ever a time in his career he was a top 10 CM/DM in world football.

joseph1013:


I think this is a great response:

TheGoodJoe:


Great response is, never reach World Class at his peak? What is the World Class, if performing consistently at a top level for a long time is not World Class?

It is just that Mikel did not play a flamboyant role.

joseph1013:


Some of the players on my list are not flamboyant.

joseph1013:


Some of the players on my list are not flamboyant.

TheGoodJoe:


Mikel is not recognized at Chelsea because he did not play a Flamboyant role. Please, who on your list did not play a flamboyant role at Chelsea?

joseph1013:


Why Chelsea? How many Chelsea players are on the list?

TheGoodJoe:


And please, Ngolo Kante is not World Class. He just started his career.

TheGoodJoe:


That is the point. Then add to not playing a flamboyant role. That is why Mikel's great contribution is not recognized. If Mikel did what he did at Barcelona, he would be highly rated.

TheGoodJoe:


The question is what do you consider as playing at his peak. When it came to shielding the defence, they were very few that could compare to Mikel and he stayed at that level for a long time.


John Obi Mikel reborn as Chelsea's undisputed pass master

Who is the best passer in the Premier League? John Obi Mikel? Over the last three seasons Chelsea’s holding midfielder has a higher pass-completion ratio than any other player in the top flight (89.93 per cent — Paul Scholes is second with 89.88).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8130025/John-Obi-Mikel-reborn-as-Chelseas-undisputed-pass-master.html


That is over three seasons. The only thing is that people underrate Mikel's role in Chelsea's successful reign but he was a big factor in their success. Did that consistently for a long time. Made them tick and thick at the back. ENGINE.

If someone plays consistently at a top level, giving top performances, what other level should he reach?

TheGoodJoe:


That is the point. Then add to not playing a flamboyant role. That is why Mikel's great contribution is not recognized. If Mikel did what he did at Barcelona, he would be highly rated.

TheGoodJoe:
Wilfred Ndidi's goal against Derby County in the FA Cup.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htRTejkxJik

joseph1013:
World Class is a relative thing. My definition of a world class player would be somebody, who CONSISTENTLY wins games himself for BOTH club and country. You have to be super consistent to be world class. Left to me, there are only a handful of World Class players in football right now. Thinking at the top of my head, I can't count more than 20.

Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Manuel Neuer, Gianluigi Buffon

Full backs: David Alaba, Marcelo

Centre backs: Thiago Silva, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Pepe, Diego Godin

Defensive/central midfielders: N’Golo Kanté, Sergio Busquets, Luka Modric

Wingers: Eden Hazard, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi

Strikers: Luis Suárez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski

In fact, it is possible for the players on my list to be debated, but what that means is that there are even less world class players than I thought.

princesuko:


Wouldn't put a player who was benched by Oriol Romeou as World Class.

princesuko:


Maybe Because the Other Names didn't play in the EPL and UCL at the same time? Pretty Sure Eto was a Key Player when Inter Milan and Barcelona won the treble?

TheGoodJoe:
Wilfred Ndidi's goal against Derby County in the FA Cup.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htRTejkxJik

Joebie:
Just because Mikel has less competition in the national team don't make him world class. I don't know your standard.. but these term is relative to me.. firstly I won't be making comparisons to other African players. Because we don't have a lot I can place in that category at the moment. If I mention Aubemeyang, someone will want to shoot my head and say he is a striker. Mikel cannot even be ranked among the top 10 midfiedlers in the world at the moment.. it's okay to be patriotic.. i don't dislike mikel.. but no self proclaimed soccer guru here will convince me to put him in that world class category.. sorry.. maybe write nairaland owner to kick me out of here since you guys own this place..haha

princesuko:


Wouldn't put a player who was benched by Oriol Romeou as World Class.

goldfish80:
@Joseph1013
I see in your list you added Busquets. Personally I think he is overrated. I categorize Busquets as a very good player but not a great one.
He basically understood the Barcelona philosophy and basically plays for the team. On his own, he does not dominate games or decide games like Xavi, Iniesta could do.
Put Busquets out of the Barcelona team, he will be found out as just another player in the team. He is on the same level as Pedro Rodriguez.

I don't think I ever saw Busquets dominate games and win championships like Yaya Toure or Pirlo. My assessment is based on individual play not team.

irrefragable:
don't mind anybody,, you are right. Mikel is not world class.

zicky:
nawao, Kante world class after 2 season #smh

TheGoodJoe:


And please, Ngolo Kante is not World Class. He just started his career.

joseph1013:


This is a disappointing comment. Busquets is irreplaceable in the Barcelona team. Busquets gives some of the most difficult kind of passes that break opposition lines. He is widely acknowledged as the best defensive midfielder in the world. That's what TheGoodJoe was saying about defensive midfielders. Because they are not flamboyant, their roles tend to be underplayed.

You believe the way he breaks down opposition plays will not thrive in a team like Juventus and Chelsea?

joseph1013:
I have been thinking about Gabriel Jesus. I have taken time to see his game and I think he is the next Macheda. Time will tell.

TheSuperNerd:
Huh?? Next macheda?? Now wait a minute... I actually do rate Gabby Jesus but not more than I do Iheanacho based on records so far.... But calling him the next macheda? Isn't that harsh?

Sir Joseph... Hmmm... Anyway, make I dey observe....

zicky:
Busquet is overhype the guy is the white form of Mikel even KDB to me is worth to be called a world class, playing for wolfburg nd city