Updated: 15 June 2022
Despite the fact that most great players in today’s game have busy seasons in club football, the vast majority of them are routinely called upon to represent their countries at the international level; some even do so with distinction as leaders of their respective national teams.
These players are often seen in both club and international football, and their performances are well-known. They must be very healthy and capable to be able to combine their club and national team duties with such grace and ease.
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In contrast to other sports, a football captain may not always be the center of attention. However, just like in any other professional team sport, a football captain must also give inspiration when the chips are down, rally his soldiers, and act as a leader on the field when the game is on the line.
A football captain does not have to be the greatest player in his team in order to be effective. However, in order to perform well in the job, the player must be heard and respected in the dressing room, as well as have the strength of character to take the initiative and lead his team from the front. These are characteristics that some players are born with, while others learn them over time via practice and hard work.
Ranking The Top 5 International Football Team Captains In The World Right Now.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Ronaldo has had a great club and international career, during which he has scored goals and won trophies on a constant basis. In addition to being the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history, he has also scored more goals for Real Madrid and Portugal than any other player.
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Ronaldo’s missed out on silverware as a youngster when Portugal was defeated by Greece in the 2004 European Championship final at home. Ronaldo’s however secured a victory in the 2016 euros when Portugal defeated Germany in the final.
Taking the initiative and leading his side to victory, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in four separate editions of the European Championship, as Portugal claimed their first major championship.
A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick in the semi-finals three years later spurred Portugal to victory in the first edition of the UEFA Nations League, which they won 3-0.
Earlier this year, Ronaldo scored his 100th goal for Portugal, marking a personal milestone. In the process, the great attacker became just the second player in history to attain the milestone and the first from Europe to do so.
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2. Sergio Ramos (Spain)
Defender Sergio Ramos is widely regarded as one of the best goal-scoring defenders in the contemporary era. A giant at the back, the former Real Madrid and Spain captain is also a menace on the other end of the field, despite his mixed career in terms of discipline.
As well as being Spain’s most capped player, he is also the country’s most prolific scorer as a defender. Ramos’ total of 23 goals for La Furia Roja, which is a remarkable feat for a defender, positions him ninth all-time on Spain’s all-time goalscoring record.
RAMOS, a three-time European Championships and FIFA World Cup champion for Spain, scored four goals in his team’s victorious Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. Ramos has won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup for his country.
The player’s amazing ability to take the initiative and inspire his teammates when the chips are down made him a vital member of both Real Madrid and Spain’s squads.
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3. Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Manuel Neuer, the German goalkeeper, is largely recognised as one of the finest in the world of football. He has been a regular for Bayern Munich and the German national team for quite some time now.
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who has preserved an astounding 41 clean sheets in 94 appearances for Germany, was a key player in the team’s fourth World Cup victory in Brazil in the 2014 edition of the championship.
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper, who is considered to be one of the best examples of a ball-playing keeper, delivered an assist to compatriot Miroslav Klose during a game against England at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. That made him the first goalkeeper to produce an assist in a World Cup game in more than four decades.
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Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is a vital member of the national team, which he has led with distinction since the retirement of Phillip Lahm in 2017. Neuer’s excellent reflexes, shot-stopping ability, agility, and uncanny knack for taking penalties in penalty shootouts make him a valuable member of the national team.
4. Hugo Lloris (France)
Hugo Lloris has been a star performer for France since making his international debut in a goalless draw against Uruguay in 2008.
The goalkeeper, who won over fans and opponents alike with his shot-stopping abilities and calmness in the box, was given the opportunity to lead France for a brief while in 2010. But it didn’t take long for Lloris to take over as the regular captain of Les Bleus’ national team.
Thierry Henry represented France in the 2012 European Championships and at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014. Lloris, who also captained his country in the 2016 European Championships held on home soil, was denied a trophy as France lost in the final to a Portugal side headed by Cristiano Ronaldo.
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A year later, Lloris passed his renowned colleague Fabian Barthez to become France’s all-time leading goalkeeper, and he went on to lead his country to victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Lloris is France’s third-most-capped player and was instrumental in guiding his team to their first win in the quadrennial event in 12 years. Despite making an uncharacteristic error in the final against Croatia, which resulted in Mario Mandzukic’s goal, Lloris lifted France’s second World Cup trophy to the sky to finish off a spectacular season for the country.
5. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Lionel Messi is widely considered to be one of the greatest players to ever play the game of football. The small Argentinian, who is the all-time leading scorer for both Barcelona and Argentina, is sometimes blamed for failing to perform for his country’s national team, which is often unjust.
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In his defense, it should be noted that Messi has benefited from the presence of players like Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, as well as more recently, Neymar and Luis Suarez, who has given him the flexibility to be creative and express himself in the offensive third. When a player represents his country at the highest level, this is seldom the case.
Yet, throughout his time with the Albiceleste, Messi has had his share of memorable performances. Most recently, he scored a hat-trick against Ecuador on the last day of qualification to send Argentina to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The two-time champions were defeated 3-4 by France in the Round of 16 of that tournament, but Messi contributed two assists in that match.
His most notable achievement came in 2021 when he guided Argentina to victory in the Copa America 2021 title and was named the Player Of The Tournament.