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The 2010s were a great decade for football. In terms of both entertainment and quality, the fans got the best of both worlds as we were treated to some amazing spectacles over the last ten years.
From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating the sport to the rise and fall of certain clubs, the 2010s have been a roller coaster ride. We have also seen the emergence of some world-class players who will go down as some of the greatest to ever play the game.
Here, we take a look at the best players from one continent - Europe. Most of us support European clubs and love to see them battle it out for supremacy. In this list, we assemble the best of the best as we make a combined XI of the best European players this decade -
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Also read - Champions League Team of the Decade
Note - Only performances from this decade are considered. Therefore, certain players who retired too early this decade or declined a lot are not included in this list.
Goalkeeper - Manuel Neuer
This one is a no-brainer. Although David De Gea had a brilliant decade, the Spaniard does not match the consistency and resume of Manuel Neuer, who has easily been the best goalkeeper of this decade.
Making the most saves in the Champions League and leading his national team to victory in the 2014 World Cup, the German international has achieved it all this decade. Since his move to Bayern Munich, Neuer has been playing at another level.
The shot-stopper is agile, quick off his feet, has amazing reflexes and can pass the ball well. His place on this list is unquestionable.
Defence
Right-back - Philip Lahm
Pep Guardiola described Philip Lahm as "the most intelligent player I have ever coached." That is big praise coming from a man who has coached the likes of Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez.
Lahm was Germany's captain when the team won the World Cup in 2014, and he was Bayern's captain when they completed the treble in 2013. Although the German international retired in 2017, not including him here would be a crime.
Not only is he the best right-back of this generation, but Lahm is also one of the greatest defenders ever.
Centre-back - Sergio Ramos
In terms of pure defending, the likes of Gorgio Chiellini and Vincent Kompany might make this list over the Real Madrid captain. However, there is an X-factor to Sergio Ramos that few players across history have possessed - his ability to perform in big games.
His header in injury time against Atletico Madrid in 2014 essentially kick-started Real Madrid's Champions League domination. He has scored against the likes of Bayern Munich too, and he steps up defensively too when his club needs him. With four Champions League titles this decade (three as a captain), Ramos' inclusion here is a no-brainer.
Centre-back - Gerard Pique
The Spanish defender has won the World Cup and the Euros this decade, as well as being Barcelona's longest-standing and most consistent defender across the last ten years. Gerard Pique is often criticised due to his dynamic personality, but he is, in fact, one of the most underrated players of this generation.
Consistent at the back for Barcelona and Spain despite managerial and personnel changes, Pique has made more clearances (410) than any other defender in the Champions League this decade. He has also been an integral part of a dominant Barcelona squad, and he deserves his place here.
Left-back - David Alaba
Probably the most versatile player on this list, David Alaba has blossomed at the left-back role with Bayern Munich. It is astounding to think that the Austrian international is only 27, as he made his first-team debut for Bayern back in 2010. Since 2012, the player has been one of the best fullbacks in the world.
Alaba reads the game brilliantly and is immense on both the defensive and offensive end of the field. He is a record 6-time Austrian Footballer of the Year and continues to be one of the best left-backs in the world.
Midfield
Defensive midfielder - Sergio Busquets
Sergio Busquets is the most underrated player in the history of the game. The defensive midfielder has changed people's perception of how players in his position are supposed to work, and he has established himself as one of the greatest to ever do it.
However, he is often overlooked due to his star teammates and his own quiet personality.
Busquets has more tackles (268) and interceptions (196) than anyone else in the last decade of Champions League football.
Having won the treble in 2015 and being the most consistent Barcelona midfielder this decade, Busquets deserves to be on this list.
Central midfielder - Toni Kroos
During Real Madrid's amazing Champions League run, Toni Kroos really shone - four straight years with more passes than anyone and he’s created the most chances (223) over the course of the decade in the same competition.
A good player at Bayern, Kroos went to another level when he transferred to Real Madrid. Over the past five years, there has been no playmaker as good as the German international.
Moreover, he won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 and was also involved in Bayern Munich's treble in the 2012-13 season. He just edges out Andres Iniesta on this list, who started declining post-2016.
Centre-midfielder - Luka Modric
Luka Modric is the only player not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d'Or this decade.
A world-class player with Tottenham Hotspur, the Croatian midfielder went on to achieve legendary status with Real Madrid.
Winning the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup due to his impressive performances, Modric is a legendary playmaker who can shoot the ball as well as he can pass it.
One of the reasons why Real Madrid dominated the European scene for most of this decade, his place here is guaranteed.
Attack
Winger - Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben was a phenomenal player. The Dutch international had of the best moves in the history of the game, where he cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot with his left foot that saw the ball in the back of the net more often than not.
The winger has achieved cult status at Bayern Munich, for whom he scored the Champions League winning goal against Borussia Dortmund in 2013.
His performances with his national team were also immense, and at his peak, no defender in the world was stopping Robben. When he cut inside, you just knew that the game was over.
Striker - Robert Lewandowski
As of 2019, there is no better striker in the world right now than Robert Lewandowski. Starting the decade with Borussia Dortmund as a promising talent with an eye for goal, the Polish captain is going to end the decade as the top goalscorer of 2019.
Lewandowski's goalscoring prowess is matched by only a few other players - he has scored 321 goals in 450 appearances for Bayern Munich and Dortmund combined, and he is currently the fifth all-time leading goalscorer in the Champions League.
Some of his performances are legendary - the four goals against Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the CL, and the 5 goals in 9 minutes against Wolfsburg are the stuff of legends.
Truly, there has been no European striker as lethal as this man in the past ten years.
Winger - Cristiano Ronaldo
This one is a no-brainer. Cristiano Ronaldo deserves no introduction, as he has quite simply been the best European player of the decade; perhaps of all time.
With over 450 goals this decade, the PortugesPortuguesear has established himself as one of the best to ever kick a ball.
Ronaldo is a 5 time Ballon d'Or winner (4 this decade), the all-time leading goalscorer of the Champions League, and was most recently honoured as the best Serie A Player of the 2019-20 season.
Moreover, the former Real Madrid forward led his national team to victory in the 2016 Euros.
His list of accomplishments, both club and individual, are never-ending. Suffice to say that he is always the first name on such a list and most lists of this fashion.
