9 of the Most Underrated Football Players in Today’s Football!

In football, national tournaments, league titles, and even world championships are often won by teams full of star players. However, not every footballer on these winning teams receives the recognition they deserve.

Many talented players remain in the shadows, away from the spotlight. Yet their contributions are crucial, and in many cases, they quietly define the outcome of matches.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most underrated football players in the world today! While there are many more deserving of recognition, I believe this list highlights those who often go unnoticed but play pivotal roles.

Thomas Müller

All soccer fans remember the devastating match between Brazil and Germany in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, which the Teutonic team won 7-1. 

Thomas Müller was part of the Germany that destroyed Brazil that day. Still, despite being one of the most important players on the world champions team, Thomas Müller was often overshadowed by legendary players, such as Toni Kross, Miroslav Klose, and Bastian Schweinsteiger. However, Müller is equally good, with great skills, and a crucial player for the club he plays for.

At first glance, Thomas Müller does not look as physically impressive as Klose, for example, or perhaps he is not as effective or precise as other forwards. However, he still has impressive conditions that differentiate him from the typical football player.

For example, Thomas Müller is the youngest scorer in history in a World Cup (South Africa 2010), the player with the highest number of assists in the history of the Bundesliga, and the German with the most goals in the Champions League. He is also the player with the most victories in the Bayern Munich shirt and the footballer with the most victories in the Champions League, only behind Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo!  

Thomas Müller is probably the most underrated footballer in football today. Since he was a young player, Müller has surprised the fields and football fans with a talent that often goes unnoticed.

Olivier Giroud

When discussing the French team winning the 2018 World Cup or being a finalist in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, we often remember Kylian Mbappé, Antonie Griezmann, or Ousmane Dembelé. Still, we forget someone equally important: Olivier Giroud!

Olivier Giroud is a player who often goes under the spotlight. Because of this, he is not as recognizable on a football field full of football stars, especially when playing for France. He may not be as fast as Mbappé or as technically advanced as Griezmann, but Giroud is a striker like few others. He is the top scorer of the French national team, above other forwards, such as Thierry Henry, Kylian Mbappé, and Michel Platini, scoring a total of 57 goals in 131 games.

Olivier Giroud has a unique ability to score important goals in crucial situations, which undoubtedly sets him apart from other players who crash at essential moments in matches. This way, Giroud has allowed his teams to advance to crucial stages of the Europa League and the Champions League, with Chelsea F.C., and the World Cup with France, in 2018 and 2022. 

Giroud played for crucial teams, such as Chelsea, AC Milan, Arsenal FC, and Los Angeles FC, and he is an important player regardless of the league. With the English team, he scored over one hundred goals, and with Milan, forty-nine goals.

Julián Álvarez

Julián Álvarez is one of the most talented forwards of his generation. However, it has been challenging for him to fully shine due to the presence of other big stars in both the Premier League and the national team—players like Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.

At Manchester City, Álvarez has had to compete with Haaland for the forward position, a battle in which the Argentine came up short—not due to a lack of skill, but because of the Norwegian’s exceptional abilities.

With the Argentine national team, Álvarez has faced similar competition, contending with stars like Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, and Paulo Dybala. As a result, he has been somewhat underestimated. Nevertheless, Álvarez is still young, with plenty of time ahead to showcase his remarkable talent, whether in the Champions League, La Liga EA Sports, or with the Argentine national team.

Alvarez now plays for Atlético de Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in Spain. Soccer fans know that “La Araña” is an incredible forward who had a lot to give to the Madrid club, improving the team’s success and its number of tournaments.

Romelu Lukaku

Inter Milan fans, like myself, know the crucial role Romelu Lukaku played during successful campaigns in Italy’s Serie A when, in combination with Lautaro Martínez and Alexis Sánchez, he won the Scudetto after a ten-year drought.

Romelu Lukaku is a magnificent forward. Not in vain, has he played in powerful teams, such as Chelsea and Napoli, in addition to F.C. Internazionale. However, journalists, fans, and football specialists have criticized the Belgian for missing crucial goals when he was alone in front of the goalkeeper. Without going any further, in the 2022-23 Champions League final between F.C. Internazionale and Manchester City, Lukaku missed three clear chances.

Romelu Lukaku is often remembered for missing key opportunities in decisive matches, but, to be fair, this reputation is somewhat unjust. Lukaku is a powerful striker—a true force in front of goal. He combines impressive speed with a strong physique, making him a formidable athlete. In short, he’s a football machine and can be a game-changer when performing at his peak.

Marc Cucurella

Marc Cucurella is one of the most popular players on the Spanish national team, yet remains one of the most underrated footballers in the world today. It’s hard to understand why, as Cucurella is an outstanding defender and defensive midfielder.

Currently a key player for Chelsea, Cucurella has played an instrumental role in helping the team progress in major tournaments in both England and Europe. He is also an essential figure in the Spanish national team, even if he’s not widely recognized for his position or his distinctive appearance. At first glance, Cucurella might not seem like a typical footballer. Still, his contributions on the field, particularly his assists, have been decisive in winning games against top clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool and even against European powerhouses like England at UEFA EURO 2024.

Despite this, Cucurella often goes unappreciated by referees, fellow players, and fans. Nevertheless, his work on the pitch is far more valuable than many realize, making him a crucial player for success—whether at FC Barcelona, Getafe, or Chelsea.

Fernando Torres

The Spanish national team has been full of stars and majestic forwards who have broken the goal on hundreds of occasions. It is the case of Fernando Torres, a legend both in his beloved Atlético de Madrid and in the Spanish national team.

Fernando Torres surprised the entire world when he was 17 years old, helping Atlético Madrid be promoted to the first division of Spanish football. After seven seasons as captain and striker, Torres was loaned to Liverpool and Chelsea. He reached his peak and became one of the best players in the world, according to FIFA. Torres appeared on the dream team for the 2008-2009 season.

But that’s not all! Torres was always a magnificent teammate and assistant, feeding other forwards and helping his teams to victory.

Unfortunately, time seems to have forgotten Fernando Torres’s great achievements and career as new spectacular players, such as Lamine Yamal, have taken charge of Spanish teams and the national team. However, the indelible mark of Fernando Torres with his national team is eternal since he won three major tournaments: Euro 2008 and 2012 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Mesut Özil

The last decade of football has seen a wave of German talent dominating major tournaments across Europe and the world. Among these stars is Mesut Özil, a standout midfielder for Germany during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Özil, a gifted left-footed player, left a lasting impression with his remarkable talent, speed, and creativity. He was known for his exceptional ability to evade defenders, make dangerous runs to the byline, and deliver pinpoint passes to forwards inside the box. In addition to his playmaking, The German player also scored some stunning goals, often after skillfully navigating through the midfield and outwitting opponents.

The German was a beast in midfield, whether playing for Real Madrid, Arsenal, or the German national team, making him a crucial player who built up the attacking play of those teams. Even so, Özil is sometimes underestimated, as he was under the command of other players such as Bastian Schweinsteiger or Toni Kroos. 

Özil is also a magnificent player when it comes to executing set pieces and creating unique plays that seem impossible for other players. In this way, Özil became one of the most surprising playmakers of the last decade. Unfortunately, he is retired even though he is only thirty-five years old.

Alexis Mac Allister

Alexis Mac Allister is one of the last World Cup champions and the last two Copa América winners with Argentine. He is a player of great importance who makes a difference in the central zone of the pitch, touching the ball like few midfielders in the world.

I stilll feel that Alexis Mac Allister is an underrated player, which is a bit unfair since he has been key in the victories at Anfield.

Firstly, he made more tackles than any other player on the team and also ranked second in interceptions, with 35. He is also first in possession in midfield and third in the attacking third.

Mac Allister has also stood out in the European Cup, the Premier League, and the World Cup, becoming one of the best midfielders in the world and one of the bigger names on the Argentina national team. Mac Allister is a key player in Argentina and Liverpool’s attack, reaching high ranks in terms of technical and athletic conditions.

Harry Maguire

Among the most underrated players in today’s football, Harry Maguire cannot be missing. The Englishman is commonly a scapegoat, unfairly attacked for poor performance of the whole team or defensive line. Of course, it happens that Maguire commits an unforced error or makes a poorly executed pass. Still, the defender has great qualities that, on more than one occasion, have saved his team, Manchester United FC, and the English national team from a clear defeat.

Harry Maguire has been an important player in the English national team’s recent triumphs, playing important matches (and in great fashion) in the decisive phases of the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA EURO.

Despite being a defender, Maguire has scored many important goals throughout his career. Not going further, during Euro 2020, Maguire scored a goal against Ukraine. This way, his national team advanced to the semifinals with a score of 4-0, where it defeated Denmark. England advanced to the final but lost to Italy.

Maguire may have made a couple of evident mistakes with the ball at his foot, but he is a great defender and a secret weapon who can both score and defend.

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