Former Barcelona and Brazil midfielder Ronaldinho was recognized by FourFourTwo as the best football player of the 2000s, highlighting his impact across the decade. The British magazine surveyed the top performers of the first decade of the 21st century, considering achievements and performances from 2000 to 2009 only. Ronaldinho’s ascent peaked with a 2002 World Cup triumph with Brazil, followed by multiple individual accolades that solidified his standing among the era’s elite. In 2004 and 2005 he earned FIFA World Player of the Year recognition for his outstanding contributions on the field, and he claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2005, cementing his status as one of football’s most influential talents. During his career, he played for notable clubs including Grêmio, Flamengo, Atlético Mineiro, Fluminense, Paris Saint-Germain, and AC Milan before retiring in 2018.
The decade’s top 10 football players according to FourFourTwo includes Ronaldinho at the top, followed by Zinedine Zidane, Poop, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Ronaldo, Andres Iniesta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Lionel Messi in positions two through ten.
In addition to recognizing players, FourFourTwo has previously named a figure as the best football coach in history, underscoring the publication’s influence on how fans view the sport’s leadership and talent over time. [Source attribution: FourFourTwo]