Nine Brazilian players have been voted into newspaper The Guardian’s list of the world’s best footballers in 2014.
The order is chosen by a select group of 73 current and former international players, International journalists and broadcasters and Guardian reporters, correspondents and editors.
Amongst those who voted was 2002 FIFA World Cup winner Gilberto Silva, Brazilian football writer Paulo Vinicius Coelho and The Guardian’s Brazilian football correspondent Fernando Duarte.
Of the nine Brazilian players selected, Barcelona forward Neymar was placed highest. The 22 year-old came 7th – one position lower than he was voted last year.
The only other Brazilian who made the top 20 was Chelsea’s Diego Costa. The forward, who represents Spain at international level, was 12th.
After Costa, Thiago Silva was next in 31st. The Paris Saint-Germain centre-back had finished 17th last year, but a lack of form and fitness has seemingly scuppered his chances of retaining a place in the top 20.
Silva is still however, 15 positions above Oscar, who finished 46th, while Luiz Adriano (78), Daniel Alves (81), Miranda (87), David Luiz (95) and Rogério Ceni (98) complete the Brazilian contingent.
The vote was won by Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal international pushed Lionel Messi back into 2nd, with Manuel Neuer, Arjen Robben and Thomas Müller (all Bayern Munich) completing the top five.
