Lots of goals. Buffon broke the world record for a goalkeeper back in 2001, and as of 2022, he is still playing, in a career that has seen him make over 1,000 appearances for clubs and country. "In his prime; Falcao looked absolutely unstoppable: Chelsea fans still have traumatic memories of his impressive prone-trick in the first half of a 4-1 victory in the UEFA Super Cup for Atleti in 2012, he completed a report that carried some of the best things. The two-time Norm Smith medalist has reached unparalleled feats and continues to prove to be a one in a generation-type player. Last season the Hawks finished thirteenth (or sixth last) which was, in fact, a slight improvement on their previous seasons. He won back-to-back Europa League titles with different clubs in 2011 and 2012 for Porto and Atleti, a Ligue 1 title with Monaco and is Colombias all-time top scorer with 35 goals in 90 caps. His first game against the Eagles who picked up Dalziell a few short years later was something to marvel at though recording more touches than then teammates and greats of the game like Luke Power and Simon Black in his first pro outing. The shaggy-haired Spaniard captained Barcelona to an incredible 18 major titles, including six La Liga crowns and three Champions Leagues, and his magnetic effect on trophies extended to international level too. Patrick Vieira was the beating heart of every side he led, winning the Euros with France, a double and unbeaten title with Arsenal and covering more grass than just about any other teammate. Buckleys 2003 campaign was arguably the finest of his career. Ballack was the complete package as a central midfielder, capable of bossing opponents physically, spreading passes around the pitch with both feet and scoring goals. Come the turn of the century, his standing in the game grew as he inspired the Magpies to a genuine premiership tilt. The long-legged Ivorian mastered the role of the box-to-box midfielder, capable of causing damage in the final third and winning the ball while protecting his defence. In typical early 2000s fashion, Paul Haselbys first game of footy came in a Dockers loss. Trent Cotchin captained Richmond to nearly 200 games and in that time they won two thirds of those games, 130 of those 200 they won. Stay tuned, and check out the other runners and riders. 38 Hawthorn jumper for all the trivia buffs playing along at home the Buddy nickname stuck. Lewangoalski has defined the 2020s so far. These players have all played at some point throughout 21st century, however based on their entire career. After drawing in the first game, at 68 points each, St. Kilda and Collingwood met again a week later to determine a winner. Create. Well before Tom Mitchell and Lachie Neale were racking up 40-plus disposals a game for fun, Buckley was the leagues true ball magnet in an era when possessions were harder to accumulate. Gold Coast Suns also have a big contingent with Noah Anderson, Connor Budarick, Caleb Graham, Ben King and Matt Rowell who although played only five games before his season-ending injury in 2020 had already shown the depth of his talent. THE star forward of the 21st century, nobody has or will ever match the ability of Buddy Franklin. The top-scoring midfielder in Premier League history only tells a fraction of the story of Frank Lampard who incredibly had to be defended by his uncle Harry from disbelieving West Ham fans as a youngster getting into the first team. Picture: Annette Dew, There are few better sights in footy than Lance Franklin in full flight. featured alongside some of Australias most prominent sports journalists. Years active: 2010 - current. Get the best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. For the AFL world will never see players of the talent and calibre of Gary Ablett and Lance Franklin again. THE NUMBERS: 26 disposals, 9 marks, 4 tackles, 1 Brownlow vote The 253-game Essendon hero won two best and fairests and three All-Australian selection after entering the 21st century, earning him Hall of Fame honours. 295. It recognises the role of Italian Australian players in the sport. Weve never seen a footballer like him and never will see one like him after he retires. He kicked 113.88 which included nine bags of six goals or more in a stunning solo campaign. Dean Polo is one such player. As well all know, Rutten served as a key defensive pillar for the Crows until his retirement in 2014, but with nine goals (including one with his last kick in footy) to his name from 229 games, his first three kicks are something Rutten wont forget anytime soon. The team, captained by ruck legend Graham . Smith, Kelly, Hird, Fyfe, Mitchell and Bedford may take the AFL trophy this century and Coleman, Young, Carroll and Rowell may be leading goal-kickers and what supporter would not want another Rioli, King, Stephens, Weightman, West, Neale, Walsh, Hamill, Serong, Clark or Evans playing again? He may well be the Ballon d'Or's greatest miss, too. The Civil Rights Movement displayed how the African Americans fought against the tremendous alienation that they had faced for centuries. In fact he probably became a wiser and more-rounded player at the Blues. Make sure you keep up to date with the latestAFLand AFL Fantasy articles andfollow my fan pages onFacebook,TwitterandInstagramto never miss a minute of the action! As we are now a fifth of the way through the new millennium and the babies born in the first few years of the 2000s are beginning to make a name for themselves on the players lists at all 18 AFL clubs. (Weve also collated a 12-man list of snubbed players, which you can check out here.). LANCE FRANKLIN (HAWTHORN/SYDNEY SWANS), 2000-2020 stats: 300 games, 944 goals, 170 Brownlow votes, averaged 15.5 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Two-time premiership Hawk, eight-time All-Australian (one as captain), one best and fairest, four-time Coleman medallist, 11-time club leading goalkicker. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. Toni Kroos can do both. While at Chelsea, Lamps became arguably the club's finest-ever player, reinventing the very idea of box-to-box. A combination of icy cold finishing and red-hot drive through the centre of the pitch made him utterly unstoppable at his best. . It got me thinking though, with plenty of fresh faces set to chalk up the first game of their careers this weekend, which players have had the best performances in their first AFL contest since 2000? Throughout of the rest of the noughties, he simply oozed more of the class he'd displayed in the 90s. He won the 2002 World Cup winner with Brazil, earning a place in the All-Star team with his performances, and his 21st-century trophy haul also includes two Champions League and three La Liga titles with Real Madrid. The precocious starlet of France's 2006 World Cup crusade grew into a cultured wide man who swept all before him. Francesco Totti retired with 307 goals in 786 Roma appearances. The surrounding blur and rush did not disrupt his tempo, nor impair his vision. Watch Foxtel in an instant. The Brownlows, All-Australians, best and fairests and flags flowed, even after he sensationally walked away from the Cats at the end of 2010 to become new club Gold Coasts marquee player. The Belgian was the youngest Ligue 1 Player of the Year winner ever in 2011, aged 20, after helping Lille win a league and cup double. Menzel, who played 80 AFL games across stints with both Geelong and Sydney in a career spanning a decade, ranked the leaders based on who he'd want to follow into the field. Reserved. But perhaps Alonsos greatest achievement was his central role in Spains three consecutive major tournament victories at Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012. Nat Fyfe deserves his position in our best AFL players of the modern era list, with the dual Brownlow Medallist still among the absolute top echelon of stars in 2020. The Ivorian was one of the most fearsome strikers ever. THE NUMBERS:27 disposals, 5 clearances, 5 tackles Few have put the fear of God into quite so many defenders. This year has been one of especially deep, painful . After spending a few seasons on Richmonds list Polo finally broke through for his debut match in the famous Dreamtime at the G clash against the Bombers during the 2006 season. The Galacticos needed a goalkeeper as blockbuster to match. The Hall of Famer was a staple in Geelong's three premierships between 2007 and 2011, with Scarlett adding six All-Australian selections and a Carji Greeves Medal from his 284-game career. Former AFL forward Daniel Menzel has ranked his top seven AFL captains of the 21st century. We select the best ruckman at your club from 2000-onwards By Staff writers on May 1, 2020, 1:00pm Best ruckman of the 21st century (L-R): Brendon Lade, David Hille, Aaron Sandilands, Darren Jolly. Get insight to top players, instructions & drills and extensive coverage of equipment. Then again, Buddy is no ordinary player or footy figure. He's still the only player to score in four FA Cup finals and he practically won Chelsea their first Champions League on his todd. This was a massive reason as to why they had success and he led them to that success.. AFL Club Essendon Other Teams Coburg Lions, All Boston sides Dec 19, 2022 #352 1. New customers only. The technically gifted winger is often less lauded than some of his illustrious team-mates for club and country, but hes been a consistent source of goals and assists throughout his career. Walker nearly took a Mark of the Year contender on Andrew Embleys shoulders in that game too, highlighting every exciting aspect of his game from the moment he stepped onto the field. After being named as a co-captain in 1997 at 21 years of age, Voss lead the Lions to three successive premierships between 2001 and 2003. And there's no doubt about it. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) 19. Best known for spells at Wigan and Rangers, Scotsman Lee McCulloch is the definition of a utility man, playing defence, midfield and up front. Every now and then, you get caught on YouTube watching freakish Judd highlights from the mid-2000s. Gerard Healy thinks Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is already a "certainty" to be named the AFL player of the 21st century. AFL Naming Rights Partner. You will receive a verification email shortly. Eight current AFL players, including Andrew McLeod and Adam Goodes, have been included in the league's indigenous team of the century, announced today. The nicknames he inspired over the course of his playing career, il Maestro and lArchitetto, capture Pirlos appreciation for composition, design and set-pieces.. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Login. The issue for his opponents, though, was he was anything but buddy-like to them on the field. Robert Lewandowski netted 344 goals in 375 Bayern Munich games. Vincent Kompany joined Manchester City the same month as the Abu Dhabi United Group. He averaged 29.5 a game in 2000 then accumulated 46 touches (plus 20 contested possessions, 13 inside 50s, eight clearances and a goal) against Fremantle early in 2001 in an awesome solo display. Provides a lot of energy. 2. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). I thought it was timely to pick a team of future champions who over the next decade will become the face of the AFL. Lionel Messi. The Western Bulldogs Official App is your one stop shop for all your latest team News, Videos, Player Profiles, Scores and Stats delivered LIVE to your smartphone or tablet! Week by week Scarlett would claim a new scalp from the oppositions best forward, using his high-level footballing IQ and unrivalled consistently to do so. Champions League and La Liga titles with barcelona are also on his honours list, while he captained the Ivory Coast to long-awaited Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2015 after twice finishing as a runner-up. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription, Current page: The club also lost its much-loved captain and No.1 ruck Ben McEvoy, who decided to hang up the boots, and 255-game veteran Liam Shiels also retired (but then found his way to North Melbourne). A key component for Real Madrid's early 00s triumphs, the Portuguese was the statesman on home soil in 2004. 4. Judd . Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide/Geelong). Enjoy! While most AFL fans will remember Ben Truck Rutten for his All-Australian defensive days his debut match in 2003 was something quite the opposite. Thats why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert Harvey arent on the list. We offer our respect to the Elders of these traditional . Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, In particular, Judds leadership helped Carlton emerge from one of the clubs darkest periods into one of great promise during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Ahead of the 2020 Draft, ESPN decided to look back at the last 20 No. The greatest player of the last 20 years. FourFourTwo is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. He only won the AFLPAs best captain award once which is surprising, back in 2013. He captained Geelong to the one premiership, played in four but only captained one which is probably what held him back from giving him the number one or two title.. Hodge's consistency in both midfield and defensive roles were vital to his side's prolonged successes between 2008 and 2015, with Hodge a key name in every contest. Gold Coast have a very impressive 19, four of whom won rising star awards in 2020. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: the greatest Ballon d'Or hoggers, serial winners and cult heroes since the turn of the millennium. Catch up and settle in with no installation & no lock-in contract. And boy was this a tough job! The level of talent in this tournament -- especially among the top few teams -- is unprecedented. Commentators also will have fun with pronouncing or making fun of Mosquito, Tsapatolis, Lukosius, Oea, Bosenavulagi and Uosis. 1 pick Sam Walsh with the Blues confirming hes a certain starter against Richmond. Buddy 3. A World Cup winner and 10-time Serie A winner, his three times on the losing side of a Champions League final feel thoroughly undeserving of a player who has become the godfather of modern goalkeeping. Rounding off the top five are Brazilian icon Ronaldinho and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta. The four selectors picked their separate teams, from which the final team was named. The game's all-time leader for marks was the focal point for the Saints for over a decade, claiming five All-Australian selections, six best and fairests and four leading goal-kicker awards across 336 games for St Kilda. Can use the ball really well. At the very start of the 21st Century, Luis Figo committed the most controversial transfer that football had ever seen. NY 10036. What is surprising is the two other clubs who also have 14: Port Adelaide and Collingwood. CHRIS JUDD (WEST COAST EAGLES/CARLTON), 2000-2020 stats: 279 games, 228 goals, 210 Brownlow votes, averaged 22.9 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Eagles premiership captain, Norm Smith Medallist, two-time Brownlow Medallist, two-time AFLPA MVP, six-time All-All Australian (one as captain), five-time best and fairest. Menu . Hawthorn champion Dermott Brereton recently told Fox Footy Live Judds best football was the best midfield football Ive seen. If you like what you read be sure to check out more SportsbyFry articles by hitting this link. Drew Brees (American football) 21. A two-time Golden Boot winner, Salah holds the record for the most goals scored in a Premier League season with 32 and has been astonishingly prolific at Anfield, notching more than 20 goals in each of his five seasons. Its remarkable to reflect on what Mbappe has already achieved in his short career so far - and consider what might still be to come. Heres how it works. The 'Little Master' had it all. Greene hasnt played in the AFL since 2018 but could be a valuable addition for the Hawks, who meet Essendon in round one. When you consider Franklin has kicked 944 goals as a key forward in an era where goals have never been harder to kick, its a truly remarkable feat. 2000-2020 stats: 138 games, 140 goals, 82 Brownlow votes, averaged 24.5 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Norm Smith Medallist, Brownlow Medallist, three-time All-Australian, two-time best and fairest. Voss presence within the midfield lifted those around him, making some of the greatest onballers within the league better, perhaps producing the 'fab four' himself. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 60-41. Source: FOX SPORTS David Zita from Fox Sports @DavidZita1 May 10th, 2020 6:57 pm The 100 best players of the 21st Century: the greatest Ballon d'Or hoggers, serial winners and cult heroes since the turn of the millennium. Michael Barlow looked composed beyond his years against the Crows to start 2010 as he effortlessly chalked up 33 touches, becoming a Freo fan favourite from day one.