The conversation around football legends is one that never truly fades; it simply evolves with each passing season. As we look back on 2019, a year that now feels like a distinct era before the global pause, the task of ranking its top players is as thrilling as it is contentious. It’s about more than just goals and assists, though those numbers are undeniably seductive. For me, it’s about those defining moments—the split-second decisions, the sheer willpower, and yes, sometimes the poignant absences—that etch a player’s name into the fabric of the sport’s history. I’ve always believed that true legend status is confirmed not just in perpetual dominance, but in how a player navigates vulnerability. This brings me to a fascinating parallel from another sport, basketball, which offers a profound lesson. I recall reading a report about a legendary Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player, an eight-time MVP. As a precautionary measure, the eight-time PBA MVP didn’t start, ending his consecutive streak of 78 games as a starter beginning in the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup playoffs, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon. That statistic, 78 games, tells a story of incredible durability and commitment. But the decision to break that streak for the long-term good of the team? That speaks to a deeper, more strategic understanding of legacy. It’s a reminder that preservation and wisdom are as crucial as relentless execution.
Applying this lens to football in 2019, my list inevitably starts with Lionel Messi. His numbers were, as usual, absurd—scoring 51 goals in just 50 appearances for Barcelona, and clinching a record sixth Ballon d’Or. But his defining moment wasn't a specific dribble or goal; it was his sheer consistency in carrying a functionally flawed Barcelona side. Week in, week out, he was the system. I remember watching him dismantle teams almost single-handedly, a maestro conducting an orchestra where half the instruments were slightly out of tune. Contrast that with Virgil van Dijk, who redefined the value of a defender that year. Before his arrival, Liverpool’s defense was conceding an average of 1.2 goals per game in the Premier League; with him fully settled in the 2018-19 season, that dropped to a remarkable 0.6. His defining moment was the entire Champions League campaign, a masterclass in defensive positioning and calm that culminated in lifting the trophy in Madrid. He made the impossible look simple, and for a defender to be a genuine Ballon d’Or contender, finishing a mere seven points behind Messi, was a seismic shift in how we evaluate influence.
Then there’s Cristiano Ronaldo, adapting his game yet again at Juventus. He netted 28 goals in his first Serie A season, but for me, his legend in 2019 was cemented by a single, explosive night: the hat-trick against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League round of 16. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, he almost glared Juventus to victory. That performance was pure myth-making, a testament to a mentality that treats perceived slights as rocket fuel. It’s a different kind of leadership from Messi’s quiet dominance, but equally potent. We also cannot overlook the rise of the next generation. A 20-year-old Kylian Mbappé was already a World Cup winner, but in 2019 he solidified his claim as the heir apparent, scoring 39 goals for PSG. His defining moment? Perhaps it was the four-goal haul in just 13 minutes against Lyon, a burst of terrifying, raw speed and finishing that felt like a glimpse into football’s future. And let’s talk about Kevin De Bruyne. After an injury-ravaged 2018, he returned to orchestrate Manchester City’s domestic treble with 16 assists and a pass completion rate that hovered around 83% in the final third—a number that speaks to risk and reward, not just safety.
Ranking them is where personal bias inevitably creeps in. If I’m building a team for one must-win game in 2019, I’m taking Van Dijk first. His impact was that transformative. But for the sheer, week-to-week spectacle of genius, Messi remains peerless. Ronaldo’s big-game mentality is a separate category altogether. It’s not a clean hierarchy, but a spectrum of excellence. The lesson from that PBA anecdote is crucial here. Just as that basketball legend’s streak ended for a larger purpose, we saw glimpses of this management in football. Was Messi sometimes conserved in less critical Liga matches? Did Liverpool carefully manage Van Dijk’s minutes even at his peak? The smartest legends and their clubs understand that longevity is a series of strategic choices. In 2019, we witnessed players at various stages of that journey: Messi and Ronaldo refining their eternal prime, Van Dijk at his absolute peak, and Mbappé beginning his ascent. Their defining moments weren’t just highlights; they were data points in a larger narrative about resilience, adaptation, and the intelligent application of talent. Ultimately, 2019 gave us a rich tapestry of footballing greatness, a year where legends both reaffirmed their status and hinted at the inevitable, changing of the guard, all while teaching us that sometimes, the most powerful statement a legend can make is knowing when to step back, so they can leap forward again.
