The conversation around football legends is one that never truly fades; it simply evolves with each passing season. As we look back on 2019, a year that now feels like a distinct era before the world shifted, ranking the top players involves more than just tallying goals and assists. It’s about those defining moments—the split-second decisions, the sheer willpower in a crucial match, or sometimes, the profound impact of an absence—that cement a player’s legacy. I’ve always been fascinated by how a single game, or even a single strategic decision by a coach, can illuminate a player’s true value to their team and the sport’s history. It reminds me of a parallel I observed recently in basketball, a different sport but one governed by the same principles of legacy and durability. As a precautionary measure, the eight-time PBA MVP didn’t start, ending his consecutive streak of 78 games as a starter beginning in the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup playoffs, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon. That snippet of news, though from another arena, struck a chord. It underscores a universal truth in sports: the moments that define legends aren't always about heroic performance on the field. Sometimes, they're about the resilience built over 78 consecutive starts, or the strategic wisdom in preserving a great asset for the battles ahead. This lens helps us appreciate the 2019 football icons not just for their peaks, but for their consistency and the intelligent management of their careers.

When I think of 2019, Lionel Messi’s name inevitably leads the conversation, and for good reason. He wasn't just playing football; he was composing it. Winning his record sixth Ballon d’Or that year was the exclamation point on a season where he scored 51 goals for club and country. But the defining moment for me wasn't just a goal—it was his masterclass in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Liverpool at the Camp Nou. That breathtaking free-kick, his 600th goal for Barcelona, was a moment of pure, unadulterated genius. It was a statement. You could see the absolute certainty in his eyes as he set the ball down. The wall jumped, the keeper scrambled, and the ball curled into that top corner with a physics-defying elegance. That goal, in a high-stakes match, encapsulated his entire era at Barcelona. It was technical perfection meeting immense pressure. Yet, the narrative twist that followed—Barcelona’s catastrophic collapse at Anfield—also became part of his story, a poignant reminder that even the greatest are subject to the collective fortunes of their team. It’s a complexity that makes his legend richer, more human.

Virgil van Dijk’s 2019 presents a different archetype of legend: the transformative defender. His ascent to finishing second in the Ballon d’Or voting, the highest for a defender in over a decade, was historic. My defining moment for him is actually an aggregate of moments: the entire 2018-19 Premier League season where Liverpool conceded only 22 goals, and his imperious performance in the Champions League final against Tottenham. He wasn't just defending; he was controlling the entire defensive half of the pitch with an aura of invincibility. I remember watching him and thinking he had solved defending. His pace, positioning, and calmness under pressure were a masterclass. He made the extraordinary look routine, which is perhaps the highest compliment. He was the bedrock upon which Liverpool’s modern success was built, proving that a defender’s influence could be as palpable and award-worthy as a prolific striker’s.

Then there’s Cristiano Ronaldo, whose legend is built on an insatiable appetite for the biggest stages. 2019 saw him adapting to Serie A with Juventus, but his defining moment that year was unquestionably the hat-trick for Portugal against Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals. At 34, he dragged his nation single-handedly into a final they would go on to win. That performance was pure Ronaldo theater: the focused stare before each free-kick, the explosive power in his finishes, the sheer theatricality of it all. It was a testament to his relentless self-reinvention and physical conditioning. I have a personal preference for more collaborative, playmaking genius, but you cannot deny the awe-inspiring spectacle of Ronaldo deciding a crucial international tie on his own terms. It’s a different kind of greatness, one built on monumental willpower.

Beyond these titans, players like Sadio Mané and Kylian Mbappé were scripting their own legendary chapters. Mané’s shared Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah and his crucial goals throughout Liverpool’s Champions League run showcased a blend of electrifying pace and icy composure. Mbappé, still so young in 2019, continued to shatter expectations, his speed and finishing a glimpse into football’s future. His hat-trick against Club Brugge in the Champions League that October was a declaration. But to tie this back to our opening thought, the legends of 2019 are also defined by their continuity and presence. We remember Messi’s free-kick, Van Dijk’s dominance, Ronaldo’s hat-trick—moments made possible by their consistent availability and peak conditioning. Just as the ending of an 78-game starting streak in basketball highlights the value of that relentless presence, these footballers built their annual legacy one start, one minute, one decisive action at a time.

In conclusion, ranking the football legends of 2019 is an exercise in appreciating diverse forms of excellence. From Messi’s artistic sovereignty and Van Dijk’s defensive revolution to Ronaldo’s relentless clutch performances, each player carved their name into history with distinct, unforgettable moments. These moments, however, were underpinned by the less glamorous, daily grind of fitness and mental fortitude that allowed them to be on the pitch when it mattered most. As fans and analysts, we celebrate the spectacular goals and trophies, but perhaps we should also reserve admiration for the consistent readiness that makes those highlights possible. The legends of 2019 taught us that greatness is a mosaic—a combination of peak brilliance, strategic career management, and an unwavering ability to deliver when the world is watching. Their stories, much like that streak of 78 consecutive starts, remind us that legacy is built not in a day, but across a relentless series of commitments to the game.