Top 10 Best Soccer Players of 2009

10. David Villa
Born in Tuilla, Spain, David Villa is one of the top forwards in soccer for 2009. Though he has not played for one of the "elite" clubs, he has a record to be feared. As of the writing of this article, he has 12 goals and 2 assists in 14 starts for Valencia in the Spanish Primera Division so far in 2009.

9. Frank Lampard
One of the few goalscoring midfielders that don't run up and stay up. Frank Lampard has become the center of Chelsea's attacks with 6 goals and 8 assists in 19 games so far in the 2009 English Premier League.

8. Fernando Torres
Undoubtedly one of the most feared and best soccer players in 2009, Fernando Torres has 12 goals and 1 assist so far in 2009. Though his Liverpool team have been struggling in the 2009 season, his stats are still formidable and feared.

7. Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard has a habit of upsetting his opponents when they begin to get too comfortable. Though he started out the season injured, he has managed to show that he is one of the best soccer players of 2009 with 5 goals and 5 assists in 17 games.

6. Xavi Hernandez
Xavi is one of the few players who are great without having the spotlight. With only 5 assists in 15 games, you wouldn't expect him to be one of the best soccer players of 2009. What the stats don't show is that he is the heart and soul of the Barcelona squad and anything that happens goes through him. Goal from Ibrahimovic? Thank Xavi. Beautiful play setup? Thank Xavi again.

5. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney's consistent ability to score from distance and his unique style make him one of the best soccer players of 2009. 14 goals and 2 assists so far in 2009, no easy feat to achieve in the English Premier League.

4. Kaka
A man that can do anything. Though he only has 3 goals and 2 assists in 10 games so far in the 2009 season, Kaka can be beneficial on crutches. His ability is well known and with that, he is fouled 3 times for every 1 foul he commits.

3. Ibrahimovic
Barcelona was willing to give up around $65 million and have their star forward plus one more player going in the opposite direction. That alone is more than enough to make Ibrahimovic one of the best soccer players of 2009. Not to mention that he has 11 goals and 4 assists in 13 La Liga matches.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo
One hundred thirty millions dollars. $130,000,000! This man scored 7 goals and 1 assist in 2009 for Real Madrid so far and since he got injured, the team began to slump. 42 goals in 1 season by a forward is unbelievable, forget imagining a winger doing it. Cristiano Ronaldo has done that and more making him one of the top soccer players of 2009. More information on Cristiano Ronaldo's path to becoming one of the top soccer players can be found here.

1. Lionel Messi
9 goals and 5 assists in 13 games. Age? 22 years old. Team? Barcelona. The best soccer player of 2009, he won the FIFA World Player of Year award; an amazing talent that no words can describe. You can find more information on Lionel Messi by clicking here.

Sources:
Soccernet.com