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The continent of South America boasts of some of the finest footballing nations in the world. Countries like Brazil and Argentina boast of a rich football heritage, and the game runs through the blood of these people.
Football is a matter of pride for the South American countries. This is one field where they can compete on a level equal to or even better than their European and Asian counterparts.
This is further evidenced by the fact that the FIFA World Cup has been won by a South American nation nine times out of the total 21 times it has been organized. Brazil has been the most successful nation in the world, having won it a staggering five times.
Football is played on every street and in every nook and corner of these countries. That is how the fans get to see these immensely talented and skillful players put up spell-binding performances.
Players like Pele, Diego Maradona, Kaka and Ronaldinho dazzled the fans with their charismatic play. Now the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar have taken up the mantle, mesmerizing the fans with their abilities.
These South American players ply their trade in top European clubs and keep winning the hearts of the fans thanks to their blistering performances. And the European clubs on their part have a deep scouting network in South America to pull out some of the best talents from the continent.
A combined South American XI would be capable of beating any other assembled side in the world, due to the vast array of talent they possess. But that also means selecting an XI would be extremely difficult, and that numerous superstar players would have to be left out.
In this article, we take a look at the 'Best South American XI' of the 2017-18 season.
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Brazil)
This is one of the easiest choices to make while selecting the team. This is also probably one position where South America fails to produce supremely talented players, due to their fascination with regard to attack.
And yet, the world's most expensive goalkeeper hails from Brazil.
The former Roma man spent last season as an understudy to Wojciech Szczęsny. But this season, he has gone on to work his way up the ranks and establish himself as one of the top keepers in the game.
The 25-year old kept 15 clean-sheets in 34 appearances in Serie A and also had an impressive average of 3.41 saves per goal and 2.71 saves per game. He is confident at claiming the ball and is also an imposing presence in goal, earning the nickname 'Messi of goalkeepers'.
The Brazilian was spectacular between the sticks this season for AS Roma, and he played a crucial role in his club's surprise run to the UEFA Champions League semifinals. His impressive performances saw Liverpool shell out a world record fee to secure his services.
Right Back: Dani Alves
Daniel Alves is one of the most decorated footballers on the planet, having picked up a massive haul of trophies with Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain - with only a World Cup with Brazil missing from his rich trophy cabinet.
His passing and crossing from the right make him an exciting attacking option when required. That is underscored by the coordination he has with the wingers he plays with - Messi and Neymar in particular.
Alves is composed in defense and is a major threat in attack, and he accumulates a high number of assists every season.
Still one of the best right-backs in the world despite his age, Alves was expected to start in the same position for Brazil. He could have provided them with the width and energy from the right-side of the pitch.
But the 35-year-old, who was having a fine season with Brazil, picked up an unfortunate knee injury during the Coupe de France final. This saw him miss out on the chance to lead his nation to World Cup glory.
Center-Back: Diego Godin
Diego Godin is regarded as one of the best defenders in the game currently. The Uruguayan has been immense at the back over the past six years and has been instrumental in Atletico Madrid's rise, both domestically and in Europe.
Godin was at Atletico even before Diego Simeone's arrival, and has been the rock in the middle of the compact defense.
He notably scored the goal that clinched Atletico Madrid the La Liga title in 2013/14 on the final day of the season against Barcelona. He also went on to score in the UEFA Champions League final to put Atletico ahead, a game they would go on to lose 4-1 in extra time.
The 32-year-old won his second UEFA Europa League title this year, and was also named in the 'Squad of the Season'. Godin also led Uruguay to the World Cup quarterfinal, where they lost to eventual champions France, to cap off a memorable season.
Center-Back: Nicolas Otamendi
Manchester City began the season with uncertainties in the defense, as their center-back had failed to deliver the previous season and the full-backs were new recruits.
Nicolas Otamendi, however, brushed aside those fears. He had a magnificent club season, where he hardly put a foot wrong despite not having a permanent center-back partner beside him.
The Argentine was a rock in the City defense, particularly in the league, and he improved his ability to pick out passes from the back this season - a feature that Guardiola has a fascination for. His physical presence means that he's also a great header of the ball, and he chipped in with four goals in the season.
Though Otamendi had a fantastic club season, he is still prone to the occasional rash moment, and his worst side was on display during the Champions League tie against Liverpool and Argentina's disastrous World Cup. Otamendi was expected to be the leader in Argentina's defense, but he was poor at the back, both with the ball at his feet and while defending.
Left Back: Marcelo
The choice for the left-back was probably the easiest to make because you can’t choose anyone else over the man who has been named in the FIFProXI three years running. That man has also played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s hat-trick of three UEFA Champions League titles.
Marcelo has been the best left-back in the world for a while now.
Having joined the club over a decade back, he has played 452 games for Real Madrid so far and is one of the fan favorites. The 30-year-old stands every chance of breaking the record held by Roberto Carlos for most appearances for Real Madrid by a foreign player (527).
Marcelo is a player who is in the mold of Roberto Carlos, as he is a left-back who terrifies the opposition defense. He is capable of providing overlapping runs to give width to the attack and he also drifts inwards and creates danger from there.
He has the technical ability that can be associated with most number 10s. He contributes crucial goals and assists for the Los Blancos, and his chemistry with Cristiano Ronaldo was an absolute treat for the eye.
Holding midfield: Casemiro
Casemiro is one of the most underrated players, both for his club and country. The likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Isco tend to hog all the limelight in the midfield, but this man is in charge of all the dirty work at the back which allows the talented Real Madrid players to bomb forward and attack.
Casemiro acts as the shield in front of the defense, and his phenomenal defensive skills offer Real Madrid the vital balance.
Casemiro's positional skills make him stand out from the rest, and he's also solid tracking back and while tackling. He's not shy about conceding the odd foul to break up play when Real Madrid are exposed at the back.
One aspect of his game that isn't noticed is his crisp passing under pressure. He also contributes the odd crucial goal, especially in European matches.
The Brazilian has been key to Real Madrid's domination in Europe over the past three years.
Left Central midfield: Philippe Coutinho
The 25-year-old is currently the third most expensive player on the planet following his move from Liverpool to Barcelona, which illustrates the value Coutinho provides to the team he plays for.
Despite playing for two different teams this season and enduring spells on the sidelines due to the move, Coutinho ended the season with a fantastic tally of 22 goals and 14 assists in all competitions.
The Brazilian was Liverpool's most important player after Steven Gerrard's retirement; he was the player they looked up to when a moment of magic was required. Liverpool's number 10 gave his fans lots of memorable moments before he left for Barcelona as a replacement for the ageing Andres Iniesta.
Coutinho was one of the best players in the Premier League in 2017-18 while he was playing, and even got his first hat-trick for the club in the Champions League. Though he was cup-tied from Europe, he played a key role in Barcelona's La Liga title triumph and immediately formed a great understanding with Lionel Messi and former Anfield teammate Luis Suarez.
Coutinho was expected to feature in Brazil's frightening attack in the World Cup, but the attack failed to step up. Coutinho ended up being the man who had to pull the Brazilian side through to the quarterfinals, but despite his best efforts, the favorites crashed out against Belgium in the last 8 stage.
Right Central midfield: James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez had a rocky time at Madrid, as he failed to find a place in Zinedine Zidane's first XI. After three stop-start seasons, the Colombian realized he needed to move abroad to push his career on, and Bayern Munich came calling for the talented midfielder - securing his services on a two-year loan deal.
Rodriguez took to Allianz Arena like a duck takes to water as he fit in perfectly with the system employed by Jupp Heynckes. After a slow start to the campaign, he was afforded regular playing time and he showed the world what he was capable of and why Real Madrid had paid so much to buy him.
Rodriguez's performances in the Champions League were crucial in Bayern Munich's run to the semifinal. He even managed to score against his parent club Real Madrid.
The Golden Boot winner of the 2014 World Cup went into this year's tournament on the back of injury concerns. The darling of Colombia was expected to lead the charge along with skipper Radamel Falcao, especially after a spectacular performance against Poland, but injury issues saw him miss out on the second round loss against England.
Left forward: Neymar
Neymar, who was expected to lead Barcelona's charge after Messi at Barcelona, shocked the world exactly a year ago by cutting ties with the Catalan club. He chose to move to French club Paris Saint Germain for a world record fee.
Neymar, who formed a part of the devastating front three that also comprised of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, abandoned them and went on to form an equally frightening attack that included Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe.
Neymar helped PSG look a class above the other Ligue 1 sides as he ripped sides apart with his dribbling skills and finishing prowess.
Neymar contributed to a staggering 19 goals and 13 assists in just 20 Ligue 1 appearances, and looked all set to lead PSG's charge of conquering Europe. However, an unfortunate injury saw him sidelined for the rest of the season.
The Brazilian recovered just in time for the World Cup but looked way below his usually lofty standards. Nothing that he was trying was coming off, and he was also criticized for his antics of diving and rolling on the floor.
A bad 2018 came to an end with a disappointing quarterfinal exit at the hands of Belgium, where Neymar could do nothing to pull his side out of trouble.
Center Forward: Edinson Cavani
Edinson Cavani has turned on another gear at Paris Saint Germain since Zlatan Ibrahimovic's departure. He had a sensational season in the company of new arrivals Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, as the three formed a forward line that scared the rest of France.
Cavani, despite having a rocky relationship with Neymar, went on to score goal after goal for PSG, as he racked up 28 goals and 6 assists in 31 Ligue 1 appearances.
Cavani played a crucial role in PSG's domestic treble and has also become their all-time top scorer. The Uruguayan also played a crucial role in Uruguay's run to the World Cup quarterfinal.
Cavani scored a stunning brace against European Champions Portugal to lead Uruguay to a 2-1 victory. However, his joy was short-lived, as he suffered an unfortunate injury in the second half and had to be carried off the pitch by Ronaldo.
Cavani ultimately missed the quarterfinal defeat that saw Uruguay exit the World Cup.
Right Forward: Lionel Messi
This man is the undisputed king of South American footballers.
Messi, who had taken Neymar under his tutelage, was shocked by the Brazilian's departure from the club. With strike partner Luis Suarez misfiring in the first half of the campaign, there were times when the little magician single-handedly carried his team to victories in the La Liga - despite the team looking disjointed.
The Argentine phenomenon has come up with such staggering numbers over the past decade that make a goal-to-game ratio of 1 seems normal. Messi scored 34 goals and provided 12 assists in 36 appearances and took Barcelona to the verge of an unbeaten La Liga season.
Unsurprisingly, the unbeaten streak was broken in his absence.
Messi also helped the Catalan club secure yet another Copa del Rey title. However, the little man was unable to pick up a dismal Barcelona side that suffered a shocking 3-0 loss to AS Roma in the Champions League quarterfinals.
After picking up two trophies with his club, he shifted his attention to national duty. The hopes of the nation rested on Messi's shoulders, but he was unable to inspire a dreadful Argentina side devoid of any direction in Russia.
Argentina just about squeaked into the knockout stages thanks to Messi's brilliance and a bit of good luck, but a second-round clash against France proved a bridge too far for him.
Messi, sadly, is likely to exit the international stage without a World Cup trophy in his massive trophy cabinet.
