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Football may be a team sport, but certain players tend to get more attention than others because of various reasons.
Pep Guardiola's Barcelona were an incredible team brimming with world-class players in every position, yet special praise was reserved for the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.
Similarly, Real Madrid's stunning run of three consecutive Champions League titles saw Cristiano Ronaldo hog most of the limelight.
Five underrated players from highly successful teams:
In a dominant team, players who are willing to forego the attention are often required. These players may not the most talented in the team or play every game, but they are crucial for their respective sides.
On that note, let's look at five such underrated players who played for highly successful teams.
#5 Paulo Ferreira | Chelsea | 2004-2013
Jose Mourinho's first spell as manager of Chelsea saw the club emerge as one of the biggest teams in the Premier League.
Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge after winning the Champions League with an unfancied Porto side. Chelsea also managed to sign two Porto players who had played a crucial role in that Champions League run: full-back Paulo Ferreira and centre-back Ricardo Carvalho.
Ferreira joined Chelsea for a fee of £18 million. Capable of playing in both full-back positions, the Portugal international was a squad player at Chelsea, making 214 appearances in all competitions during his stint at the club.
He won three Premier League and one Champions League title with Chelsea before retiring in 2013.
#4 Park Ji-sung | Manchester United | 2005-2012
An incredibly fit player renowned for his hard work and discipline, Park Ji-sung enjoys cult status at Manchester United.
The South Korean international joined Manchester United from PSV Eindhoven in 2005 for a fee of £6.5 million. Park immediately became a key player in the Manchester United midfield.
While the South Korean did not play every game, manager Sir Alex Ferguson more often than not started Park in the important games.
Park, a team player, endeared to the club faithful, thanks to his work rate and energy. He made 205 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 27 goals. He left Manchester United in 2012 after winning the Premier League four times and the Champions League once.
Also Read: 5 greatest central midfield trios of the 21st century.
#3 John Arne Riise | Liverpool | 2001-2008
A marauding, attack-minded left-back, John Arne Riise was a constant for Liverpool during his seven seasons at the club.
Riise joined Liverpool from AS Monaco for a fee of £5.5 million in 2001. The Norway international was an immediate addition to the first XI, scoring important goals during his first season and impressing with his displays on the left flank for Liverpool.
The former Aalesund man made 348 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, scoring 31 goals. He won the Champions League with the club before leaving Liverpool in 2008. After making appearances for the likes of AS Roma, Fulham, Delhi Dynamos and Chennaiyin, Riise retired in 2017.
#2 Keylor Navas | Real Madrid | 2014-2019
One of the most underrated players in Europe, Keylor Navas continues to operate under the radar despite playing for PSG, one of the biggest clubs in the world.
After an impressive World Cup campaign for Costa Rica in 2014, Navas joined Real Madrid from Levante on a £9 million transfer. He spent his first season at the club as second-choice goalkeeper, as club legend Iker Casillas was preferred to Navas.
However, after Casillas joined Porto in 2015, Navas became the starting goalkeeper at Real Madrid.
The Costa Rica international did not disappoint. An athletic goalkeeper with good reflexes, Navas starred for Los Blancos, winning three consecutive Champions League titles.
The arrival of Thibaut Courtois in 2018 once again pushed Navas down the pecking order, and the 34-year old joined PSG in 2019 for a fee of £13.5 million. He has been a key player for the Ligue 1 giants since his arrival.
#1 Kolo Toure | Arsenal | 2002-2009
A key player of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' side under Arsene Wenger, Kolo Toure enjoyed a fruitful career for club and country.
Toure joined Arsenal in 2002 and was utilised by Wenger in a variety of positions. However, in 2003, the Frenchman started using Toure as a centre-back, where the Ivory Coast international formed a strong defensive partnership with Sol Campbell in an unbeaten Premier League campaign for the Gunners.
The defender made 326 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal before joining Manchester City in 2009.
After more than 100 appearances for Manchester City, he enjoyed short spells with Liverpool and Celtic before retiring in 2017. Toure is currently a coach at Leicester City.
Also Read: 5 most underrated Barcelona players of the 21st century.
