TOP 5 PLAYERS ABOUT WORLD SOCCER PLAYERS 2006/2007

1. Kaka

Kaka's World Cup ended early in disappointment as Brazil failed to live up to their early billing and failed to reach the final for the first time since 1990. Personally the young playmaker was under pressure in the following months at both club level, where he was expected to fill the void left at AC Milan by Andriy Shevchenko's departure to Chelsea, and for Brazil where new coach Dunga began his reign by dropping Kaka to the bench in the friendly against Argentina. In both cases Kaka delivered the perfect answer by firing AC Milan to the Champion's League final and by regaining his Brazil starting spot in style.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo
No longer is the young Portuguese winger known as "the other Ronaldo" in world footballing circles as his performances for Manchester United, in both domestic and European competition, have catapulted him into the upper echelon of world soccer's greats. Skilful with either foot and deceptively strong in the air, Ronaldo has taken his game to an all new level this season, mixing the skilful showboating with plenty of end product in terms of goals and assists as Manchester United look set for the Premiership title and a possible league and cup double. Double Player of the Year awards haven't flattered him at all.

3. Steven Gerrard
While we usually clamour more for the skilful artists and big goalscorers when it comes to handing out awards, it would be completely remiss to leave Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard out of any list of the world's top players over the past season. Strength and skill personified, Gerrard is the engine room of a hard working Liverpool side that has now made it's way to a second European Cup final in three years and stand on the verge of bringing a 6th European Cup back to Anfield. If one player espouses all that is good about English football over the years, it is Steven Gerrard.

4. Ronaldinho
Unarguably one of the major disappointments at last summer's World Cup was the lacklustre performance of Barcelona's Brazilian star Ronaldinho. Long touted as the world's finest player he seemed slow and tired when given the chance to prove his worth on the biggest international soccer stage after a gruelling season winning La Liga and the Champion's League with Barcelona. 2006/2007 again saw his detractors aim digs at his weight and apparent disinterest in the game but 24 goals in 53 games tells a different story as the puppet master again has lit up world soccer at the most vital of moments.

5. Lionel Messi
It's been a tough year for Argentinian wonderkid Lionel Messi as injury robbed him of a lot of the 2006 part of the season for both club and country as he tries to establish himself in one of club football's most entertaining strikeforces at Barcelona and take on the international mantle of legend Diego Maradona, which is no small feat in itself! Messi has responded by firing in an average of a goal every other game for Barcelona and Argentina this season and with an unending bag of tricks is really my number one young player to watch over the next few years. "The new Maradona"-maybe not but then who ever could be?