In this Pulse List 2017 piece, we look at the world's best players in every position in 2017.
This Pulse List article is on the best world XI of the year.
The game of football is played by 11 on this same team; 11 men who are all equally responsible for the team’s success and failure.
Individual awards often focus on the more snazzy players leaving the rest deserving teammates overlooked.
In this Pulse List 2017 piece, we look at the best players in every position in 2017.
Formation: 4:3:3
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy and Juventus)
At the age of 39, Gianluigi Buffon is Pulse Sports goalkeeper of the year. He impressed with Juventus where a Serie A and Coppa Italia double.
Despite a loss in the Champions League final with Juventus and Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Buffon’s well-storied career had more glows than pallor in 2017.
Right-back: Dani Alves (Brazil/Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain)
Dani Alves over the years has owned the claim as the best right-back in world football and in 2017 he didn’t give it up. The 34-year-old in 2017 continued to add to his insane trophy cabinet helping Juventus to win a Serie A and Coppa Italia double.
He was also part of the Brazilian team that qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with ease.
After missing out on another Champions League title, Alves joined Paris Saint-Germain where he has continued to impress.
At 34, he has started to lose a bit of his pace and energy down the right wing, but Alves seems to have more to keep dominating in this position.
Centre-defence: Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid)
Spanish defender Sergio Ramos was massive in defence for both club and country in 2017. He won an impressive La Liga and Champions League double with Real Madrid and has since added a series of trophies including the FIFA World Club Cup title.
He also impressed for Spain in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Centre-defence: Giorgio Chiellini (Italy and Juventus)
Giorgio Chiellini’s contribution to the Juventus in 2017 has often times been underrated. He was overlooked for the UEFA Team of the 2016/2017 Season and 2017 FIFA Pro Xi for his former teammates Leonardo Bonucci.
While Bonucci looks to have now been exposed at AC Milan, Chiellini continues to impressively lead Juventus defence this season.
In 2017, he won the Serie A and Coppa Italia double with Juventus before the loss in the Champions League final.
Left-back: Marcelo (Brazil/Real Madrid)
2017 has been the best year yet to for Real Madrid left-back Marcelo who played a critical role in their La Liga and Champions League double.
In the La Liga last season, Marcelo had 10 assists and created 43 chances, it’s hard to think about a defender with similar numbers.
His influence wasn’t just in attack, in defence he was also impressive.
He was also part of the Brazilian squad that had an impressive 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Defensive midfielder: N'Golo Kanté (France/Chelsea)
After an impressive 2016 winning the Premier League with Leicester City, N'Golo Kanté continued to be a crucial player for Chelsea as they won the title in 2017.
Kante was imperious for Chelsea in their title-winning season, forming the base of the team that defended so well in Antonio Conte’s three-man defence system.
He ended up with the PFA Player of the Year and Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year awards for his brilliant year.
Midfield: Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid)
Real Madrid played the best in the world in the whole of 2017, scoring goals for fun and dominating teams with some fantastic passing and style of play.
At the heart of this team was midfield purist Toni Kroos who spent his time on the field stringing Real Madrid together with his precise passing.
He finished last season as one of the top assisters with 12 assists in the Real Madrid title-winning La Liga season.
Midfield: Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid)
Luka Modric in 2017 continued to prove to be one of the best players in the world helping Real Madrid dominate Spain and the whole of Europe.
The midfielder was one of Real Madrid’s most consistent performer in a year that they won five trophies.
He also led Croatia to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid)
The first name on this list, Cristiano Ronaldo in 2017 continued with his insane goalscoring form to help Real Madrid to five trophies.
In 2017, Ronaldo scored 53 goals for both club and country. For Real Madrid, he scored some very important goals including his brace in the Champions League final win over Juventus and also his solitary strike in the FIFA World Club Cup final.
The Portuguese star also won both the FIFA Best Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or to crown a brilliant year.
Forward: Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona)
No player had a better year individually than Lionel Messi as he continues to lay his claim as the greatest footballer of all time. Messi only lost the top individual awards to rival Ronaldo because of the number of trophies the latter won in 2017.
Messi led Barcelona to Copa del Rey glory and is also responsible for taking Argentina to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Forward: Neymar (Brazil/Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)
Considered to be the best player after Ronaldo and Messi for years, Neymar in 2017 continued to be the third best player in world football.
After winning the Copa del Rey with Barcelona, Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain in a world record transfer deal where he has continued to impress.
He was also part of the Brazil national team that had a superb 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.