Kicker's Player Rankings

[nudge+]

Kicker just released the rankings of players for all positions (based on the performances in the second half of the 2018/19 season).

Goalkeepers:

World Class: 
None. 

International Class: 
1. Peter Gulacsi, RB Leipzig 
2. Yann Sommer, Gladbach 
3. Jiri Pavlenka, Werder Bremen 
4. Koen Casteels, VfL Wolfsburg 
5. Roman Bürki, Borussia Dortmund 
6. Kevin Trapp, Eintracht Frankfurt 

In the Wider Circle: 
7. Manuel Neuer, Bayern München 
8. Rune Jarstein, Hertha BSC 
9. Christian Mathenia, FC Nürnberg 
10. Michael Esser, Hannover 96 
11. Alexander Schwolow, SC Freiburg 

Coming into focus (ranked alphabetically): 
Alexander Nübel, Schalke 04 

 

Center backs:

World Class: 
None. 

International Class: 
1. Mats Hummels, Bayern München 
2. Jonathan Tah, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 
3. Willi Orban, RB Leipzig 
4. Niklas Süle, Bayern München 
5. Makoto Hasebe, Eintracht Frankfurt 
6. Ibrahima Konaté, RB Leipzig 

In the Wider Circle: 
7. Martin Hinteregger, Eintracht Frankfurt 
8. Niklas Stark, Hertha BSC 
9. Niklas Moisander, Werder Bremen 
10. Nordi Mukiele, RB Leipzig 

Coming into focus (ranked alphabetically): 
Kaan Ayhan, Fortuna Düsseldorf 
Sven Bender, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 
Jerome Boateng, Bayern München 
John Anthony Brooks, VfL Wolfsburg 
Nico Elvedi, Gladbach 
Ewerton, FC Nürnberg 
Matthias Ginter, Gladbach 
Dominique Heintz, Freiburg 
Ozan Kabak, VfB Stuttgart 
Rani Khedira, FC Augsburg 
Robin Knoche, VfL Wolfsburg 
Kevin Vogt, Hoffenheim 
Julian Weigl, Borussia Dortmund 

 

Full backs:

World Class: 
None. 

International Class: 
1. Joshua Kimmich, Bayern München 
2. Filip Kostic, Eintracht Frankfurt 
3. David Alaba, Bayern München 
4. Jerome Roussillon, VfL Wolfsburg 
5. Nico Schulz, Hoffenheim 

In the Wider Circle: 
6. Marcel Halstenberg, RB Leipzig 
7. Lukas Klostermann, RB Leipzig 

Coming into focus (ranked alphabetically): 
Aaron, Mainz 05 
Danny da Costa, Eintracht Frankfurt 
Christian Günter, SC Freiburg 
Pavel Kaderabek, Hoffenheim 
Wendell, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 

 

Defensive midfielders:

World Class: 
None. 

International Class: 
1. Thiago Alcantara, Bayern München 
2. Charles Aranguiz, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 
3. Sebastian Rode, Eintracht Frankfurt 

In the Wider Circle: 
4. Julian Baumgartlinger, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 
5. Javi Martinez, Bayern München 
6. Kevin Stöger, Fortuna Düsseldorf 
7. Josuha Guilavogui, VfL Wolfsburg 
8. Axel Witsel, Borussia Dortmund 
9. Tyler Adams, RB Leipzig 
10. Thomas Delaney, Borussia Dortmund 
11. Florian Grillitsch, TSG Hoffenheim 
12. Kevin Kampl, RB Leipzig 
13. Denis Zakaria, Borussia Mönchengladbach 
14. Maximilian Arnold, VfL Wolfsburg 

Coming into focus (ranked alphabetically): 
Diego Demme, RB Leipzig 
Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Mainz 05 
Marko Grujic, Hertha BSC 
Christoph Kramer, Borussia Mönchengladbach 
Konrad Laimer, RB Leipzig 
Danny Latza, Mainz 05 

 

Offensive midfielders:

World Class: 
None. 

International Class: 
1. Kai Havertz, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 
2. Julian Brandt, Bayer 04 Leverkusen (now Borussia Dortmund) 

In the Wider Circle: 
3. Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund 
4. Thomas Müller, Bayern München 
5. James Rodriguez, Bayern München 
6. Leon Goretzka, Bayern München 
7. Maximilian Eggestein, Werder Bremen 
8. Kerem Demirbay, TSG Hoffenheim (now Leverkusen) 
9. Andrej Kramaric, TSG Hoffenheim 
10. Jean-Paul Boetius, Mainz 05 
11. Davy Klaassen, Werder Bremen 
12. Admir Mehmedi, VfL Wolfsburg 
13. Marcel Sabitzer, RB Leipzig 

Coming into focus (ranked alphabetically): 
Nadiem Amiri, TSG Hoffenheim 
Ondrej Duda, Hertha BSC 
Oliver Fink, Fortuna Düsseldorf 
Emil Forsberg, RB Leipzig 

 

Wingers:

World Class: 
None. 

International Class: 
1. Serge Gnabry, Bayern München 
2. Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund 
3. Kingsley Coman, Bayern München 

In the Wider Circle: 
4. Benito Raman, Fortuna Düsseldorf 
5. Vincenzo Grifo, SC Freiburg 
6. Raphael Guerreiro, Borussia Dortmund 

Coming into focus (ranked alphabetically): 
Leon Bailey, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 
Salomon Kalou, Hertha BSC 
Dodi Lukebakio, Fortuna Düsseldorf 
Marco Richter, FC Augsburg 

 

Strikers:

World Class: 
None. 

International Class: 
1. Robert Lewandowski, Bayern München 
2. Kevin Volland, Bayer Leverkusen 
3. Max Kruse, Werder Bremen 
4. Wout Weghorst, VfL Wolfsburg 
5. Sebastien Haller, Eintracht Frankfurt 
6. Luka Jovic, Eintracht Frankfurt 
7. Milot Rashica, Werder Bremen 
8. Ishak Belfodil, TSG Hoffenheim 

In the Wider Circle: 
9. Mario Götze, Borussia Dortmund 
10. Jean-Philippe Mateta, Mainz 05 
11. Yussuf Poulsen, RB Leipzig 
12. Timo Werner, RB Leipzig 
13. Nils Petersen, SC Freiburg 
14. Karim Onisiwo, Mainz 05 

Coming into focus (ranked alphabetically): 
Rouwen Hennings, Fortuna Düsseldorf 
Paco Alcacer, Borussia Dortmund 
Ante Rebic, Eintracht Frankfurt 

[SchalkeUK]

Can't disagree with most of that!  I Hope someone sends it to Tedesco - young Nubel is the only 04 player just on the list and the rest in the bin where their performances under him deserve to be.  Domination by players from a few sides, but nice to see Tommy's men recognised. 2019/20 can only get better!  Ok so I know we have very few local guys in the team, but for a club which has produced so many International great talents in recent years it is very, very sad!

[Inverted]

By world class do they mean "single best player in the world in their position"? Because otherwise I'd say there's some odd decisions here. I'm sure by most people's standards you could say that Lewandowski, Sancho and Havertz have been world class, particularly considering the ages of the latter two. 

Quite harsh on Reus too, when he was arguably the best player for the title runners-up.

[Tommy]

My boy Oli Fink coming into focus at the age of 37

[Viva la FCB+]

Interesting. Pretty fair list for the most part, only thing Id argue is what Inverted said; all three of Havertz, Lewy and Sancho had pretty significant years. Im definitely bias but I also think Thiago should be up there too