Top 12 most underrated soccer players in the world in the 21st century

Football fans worldwide are familiar with legends like Maradona, Pele, Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo. They have had illustrious and dazzling careers. World-class football stars are universally recognized by everyone. However, alongside them, there are also many cases of underrated players. Of course, they are not necessarily playing poorly, quite the contrary. Nevertheless, the overall achievements of these players are not particularly outstanding. If you’re not familiar with who Wintips mentions, let’s take a look at 12 most underrated soccer players in the world right below.

The most underrated soccer players all of time

1/ Wissam Ben Yedder

Wissam Ben Yedder (born August 12, 1990) is a French footballer currently playing as a forward for the Ligue 1 club AS Monaco and the French national team. Starting his career at the amateur club UJA Alfortville, he joined Toulouse in 2010. He scored a total of 71 goals in 174 appearances for them, surpassing André-Pierre Gignac to become the club’s greatest goal scorer of the 21st century.

He moved to Sevilla for €10 million in 2016 and scored 70 goals in 138 games over three seasons. A €40 million transfer to Monaco in 2019 saw him become the top scorer of Ligue 1 in his first season back. On the international stage, Ben Yedder has represented France at the U-21 level and in futsal. He made his senior international debut for France in March 2018.

2/ Davor Šuker – Underrated soccer players

Davor Šuker’s legacy in Croatian football is truly remarkable, yet somewhat overlooked. Despite his undeniable talent and significant contributions to the sport, his name often doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves among the pantheon of Croatian football legends.

One of Šuker’s crowning achievements came during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where he captivated the world with his exceptional performances. He played a pivotal role in guiding Croatia to the tournament’s final, a historic achievement for the young nation. Throughout the tournament, Šuker showcased his incredible skill, scoring goals with finesse and precision.

3/ Gheorghe Hagi – Underrated soccer players

Hagi is an iconic figure in Romanian football, widely regarded as one of the country’s greatest players to have ever graced the sport. His influence and impact extended far beyond the borders of Romania, earning him recognition as one of the world’s finest footballers during the 1980s and 90s.

Known affectionately as “The King” by Romanian fans, Hagi’s reputation was built upon his exceptional skillset and mesmerizing performances on the pitch. His style of play was characterized by creativity, flair, and an innate ability to control and dictate the tempo of the game. One of Hagi’s most distinctive attributes was his dribbling prowess. With remarkable close control and agility, he had a knack for weaving through opposition defenses with apparent ease.

4/ Luis Muriel

Since joining Atlanta in 2019, Colombian player Muriel has scored an astounding 51 goals in 110 appearances for the Serie A club. This is a remarkable statistic, considering the competitive nature of the Italian league. His agility, vision, goal-scoring ability, and dribbling prowess around defenders have earned him regular starting berths in the team.

However, if you were to ask most football fans to name the top players in the Italian Serie A, Muriel’s name might not immediately come to mind. Despite his impressive performances and goal-scoring record, he often flies under the radar compared to some of the more high-profile stars in the league. Nevertheless, his impact on the pitch and his importance to Atlanta’s success cannot be understated, making him a valuable asset to the team.

5/ Georginio Wijnaldum – Underrated soccer players

During his time at Liverpool, Wijnaldum was one of the midfield anchors for the club and made significant contributions to its success. However, he remained one of the most underrated midfielders.

His achievements were often overshadowed by the worldwide famous duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. This trend continued at PSG. Despite Wijnaldum’s significant contributions, his name is rarely mentioned in a team that includes Neymar, Mbappé, and Lionel Messi.

6/ Keylor Navas – Underrated soccer players

For many years, Navas has been a player who hasn’t received the highest acclaim but consistently delivered outstanding performances for both club and country. The Costa Rican player first made a name for himself at Levante before joining Real Madrid.

At Real Madrid, the Costa Rican goalkeeper won three UEFA Champions League titles and was twice named CONCACAF Player of the Year, becoming the first Costa Rican to achieve such accolades. Despite all these achievements, Keylor’s market value is estimated at a modest $11 million.

7/ Gerard Moreno

Gerard Moreno’s journey in football is a testament to resilience, talent, and determination. Despite being one of the most underrated players in 2022, Moreno’s impact on the pitch and his ability to deliver crucial performances for Villarreal and the Spanish national team cannot be overlooked.

Born in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Spain, Moreno began his professional career at the youth academy of RCD Espanyol. He made his debut for the senior team in 2010 and gradually established himself as a key player for the club. However, it was during his time at Villarreal that Moreno truly flourished and showcased his exceptional abilities.

8/ Danny Ings – Underrated soccer players

Danny Ings’ impact on both Burnley and Southampton showcases his ability to make a significant difference for his teams. His journey from helping Burnley gain promotion to the Premier League in 2014 to becoming a key player at Southampton highlights his consistency and goal-scoring prowess.

In 2014, Ings played a pivotal role in Burnley’s promotion campaign, contributing crucial goals that helped the club secure a place in the Premier League. His ability to find the back of the net under pressure and in important moments earned him recognition as one of the standout performers in the Championship that season.

9/ Tomáš Souček – Underrated soccer players

Tomáš Souček stands out as one of the most dedicated and outstanding players for both West Ham United and his national team, the Czech Republic. Despite being primarily a defensive midfielder, his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively has elevated him to one of the most complete box-to-box midfielders.

Souček’s versatility allows him to excel in various aspects of the game. He not only provides defensive stability and solidity in midfield but also possesses a keen eye for goal-scoring opportunities and contributes effectively to his team’s attacking play. His tireless work rate, aerial prowess, and ability to win duels make him a valuable asset in both defensive and offensive phases of the game.

10/ Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, honored as the Netherlands Football Talent of the Year for 2003-2004, is perhaps best known for his performances in the Eredivisie. However, his improvements in international play with the Dutch national team are also noteworthy: with 42 goals in 78 appearances and 48 wins against various opponents in the UEFA Nations League.

He has scored 400 goals in his career, placing him close to the list of the world’s top 10 strikers. While he may not have become a global footballing superstar, the importance of his role for the national team and Ajax cannot be overstated, as both have been crucial stages in his striker career.

11/ Raphael Guerreiro – Underrated soccer players

Raphael Guerreiro’s versatility and skill make him a standout player not only for Portugal but also in European football. His contributions to the Portugal national team’s triumph at EURO 2016 showcased his ability to perform under pressure on the international stage. Guerreiro’s ability to play multiple positions, including left-back, left midfielder, or left wing-back, adds immense value to any team he represents.

One of Guerreiro’s notable traits is his well-rounded skill set. He possesses strength, balance, and speed, making him effective both defensively and offensively. Whether he’s tracking back to defend or making attacking runs down the flank, Guerreiro consistently demonstrates his athleticism and tactical awareness on the field.

12/ Olivier Giroud – Underrated soccer players

Returning to Olivier Giroud, despite not always being highly rated throughout his career, the French striker has played a crucial role in the success of every team he has represented. The 36-year-old forward has scored 258 goals for club teams in 640 appearances and has won over 10 league titles.

Giroud showcased his value once again against Poland on Sunday, scoring his 52nd goal to become France’s all-time leading scorer. This remarkable achievement saw him surpass the record previously held by Thierry Henry, the legendary striker who made his mark at clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona.

Conclude

Most of the players on this list underrated soccer players are either retired or no longer at their peak performance. There aren’t many current players featured in this article. Simply put, in today’s era, the number of players underrated compared to their abilities is extremely low. So, you should just view this article as interesting content for reference purposes. The football betting site will continue to post other content daily, thank you.

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