The 100 best players in the world... Sportsmail counts down the greatest footballers on the planet: Nos 100-81

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It is the conversation that dominates pubs, internet forums and the office space. Who is the greatest footballer on the planet?

This week Sportsmail will be counting down the top 100 players in world football.

From Nos 100-81 the Premier League is well represented and there is space for an English teenager who only made his professional debut earlier this year...

100 Petr Cech

Age: 34, Team: Arsenal, Position: Goalkeeper

Cech is rightly regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation. His vast experience of almost 700 top-level club matches is testament to his bravery, agility and shot-stopping. 

At Chelsea, Cech won every honour available and because of his high standing at Stamford Bridge, he was even able to make the switch to rivals Arsenal without losing the respect of the fans.

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech is regarded as one of the finest shot-stoppers of his generation

99 Son Heung-min

24, Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea, Striker

The English Premier League is only starting to see the best of a man who doesn’t know any other way but to play the game at full throttle. 

The Korean striker is renowned for his superhuman stamina and, in the early stages of this season, Son has started to rediscover the scoring touch that made him such a smash hit in the Bundesliga and when in national team colours.

The Premier League is only starting to see the best of Spurs forward Son Heung-min

98 William Carvalho

24, Sporting Lisbon and Portugal; Defensive Midfielder

Perennially linked with the biggest clubs in Europe anyway, Carvalho only enhanced his reputation this summer by helping Portugal to a famous European Championship success. 

He played in all Portugal’s matches apart from the semi-finals, demonstrating his poise and presence in front of a defence, and you suspect that big-money move isn’t far away.

William Carvalho enhanced his reputation as Portugal triumphed at Euro 2016

97 Marcus Rashford

20, Manchester United and England, Striker

One of football’s brightest prospects. Apparently blessed with brilliant talent and the mature head to handle the burdensome expectations, Rashford is a man who saw his chance and seized it. 

A light in the darkness of the Louis van Gaal era at Manchester United, he continues to impress now. To continue to do so, he needs to think in the one currency that matters - goals, goals, goals.

Marcus Rashford has risen through the ranks at Manchester United and with England this year

96 Miralem Pjanic

26, Juventus and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Midfielder

It may be his free-kicks from range that steal the show, but there’s more to Pjanic than just the spectacular. 

The Bosnian has a quick mind and quick feet to match, essential for midfield battles, and his summer move to Juventus should start to see him begin to collect the trophies his talent deserves.

Miralem Pjanic's free-kick expertise steals the show for Juventus and Bosnia-Herzegovina

95 Samir Handanovic

32, Inter Milan, Goalkeeper

Handanovic is the one goalkeeper strikers don’t want staring back at them from 12 yards.

The Slovenian has a fine reputation as a penalty-saving specialist, but his athleticism and sheer physicality are the fundamentals behind a sterling career.

Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic has built a fine reputation during his sterling career

94 Stephan Lichtsteiner

32, Juventus and Switzerland, Right-back

Lichtsteiner is not nicknamed ‘Forrest Gump’ for nothing. The sight of the Swiss storming down the right flank before swinging in yet another inviting cross has become a regular treat for the Juve faithful and he has certainly played an integral part in their recent dominance of the Italian league. 

While not the most prominent member of this hugely successful side, he is certainly one of the most consistent.

Stephan Lichtsteiner has played an integral part in Juventus' dominance of Serie A

93 Grzegorz Krychowiak

26, Paris Saint-Germain and Poland, Defensive midfielder

Krychowiak’s warrior spirit is perhaps best illustrated by the time he played 120 minutes of the UEFA Super Cup final against Barcelona despite suffering a broken rib.

It’s this kind of never-say-die attitude that commended the Pole to Sevilla fans and also to PSG, who fought off interest from English clubs to sign him over the summer.

Poland midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak's never-say-die spirit enamoured him to Sevilla fans

92 Ezequiel Lavezzi

31, Hebei China Fortune and Argentina, Forward/Winger

Another classy Argentine, although one who found a £10million-a-year contract in the Chinese Super League far too tempting. 

Not that it should detract from his impressive performances and scoring returns for Napoli and then Paris Saint-Germain in Europe. Aided by his versatility as a forward or a winger, Lavezzi’s creativity, ball control and speed made him a handful for even the toughest defence.

Ezequiel Lavezzi's creativity, ball control and speed make him a handful for defences

91 Carlos Bacca

30, Milan and Colombia, Striker

These are hardly the greatest times for Milan, but the prolific scoring record of Bacca has at least been a beacon in the darkness. 

Having rejected the opportunity to play in the Champions League with Sevilla, the busybody Colombian made it his mission to restore this ailing Italian giant to the pinnacle. We’ll see if he succeeds.

Carlos Bacca's prolific scoring record has been a beacon in the darkness for Milan fans

90 Carlos Tevez

32, Boca Juniors and Argentina, Striker

He may no longer be terrorising European defences, but Tevez retains the razor-sharp scoring instinct that has served him so well in a goal-and-trophy-laden career. 

While it seems an element of controversy was never too far away, Tevez showed brilliance and a fierce work ethic for West Ham, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus before rejecting the big bucks to make an emotional homecoming to Boca Juniors.

Carlos Tevez (left) retains the razor-sharp scoring instinct that served him well in Europe

89 Ander Herrera

27, Manchester United, Midfielder

Like a lubricating oil in an engine, Manchester United just seem to run better when Herrera is in the team. It took Louis van Gaal far too long to realise this and, despite a number of convincing performances, the Spaniard never quite held down a place. 

Before that, Herrera was a real class act at Athletic Bilbao and, at last, it appears he might get his opportunity with the Spain team.

Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera often improves Manchester United when he plays

88 Mauro Icardi

23, Inter Milan and Argentina, Striker

Now, at the age of 23, there is a sense that Icardi is beginning to move away from being a gossip column favourite - he is married to Wanda Nara, ex-wife of Icardi’s former team-mate Maxi Lopez - to a class footballer. 

His scoring record for Inter stands up to scrutiny and he was the youngest to win the Serie A capocannoniere for top goalscorer since Paolo Rossi in 1978.

Argentina striker Mauro Icardi's goalscoring record for Inter Milan is breaking records

87 Kurt Zouma

21, Chelsea and France, Centre-back

Yes, Zouma remains very young and has plenty more development ahead, but all agree that the Frenchman is shaping up nicely into a top quality defender. Chelsea’s back line looks noticeably more secure for his presence and even leadership abilities. 

Having made his breakthrough for the France national team, he was unfortunate that injury forced him to miss Euro 2016, but good times surely lie ahead for both club and country.

Kurt Zouma has plenty more development ahead but is shaping into a top quality defender

86 Javier Pastore

27, Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina, Attacking midfielder

The Argentine playmaker has undoubtedly been one of the main factors behind PSG’s absolute domination of the domestic league in France. 

This creative tour de force is capable wherever he is deployed in the midfield and, as with all his PSG colleagues, the next challenge is to ‘crack’ the Champions League.

Javier Pastore is the creative tour de force behind PSG's domination of Ligue 1 in France

85 Xabi Alonso

34, Bayern Munich, Midfielder

The Spaniard falls into the veteran category now but continues to have that knack of dictating a match from his deep-lying ‘quarterback’ midfield position. 

Though Bayern are less reliant on Alonso than they were a few years back, he continues to possess the sharpness of mind and scarily accurate pass that mark him out as one of his generation’s finest.

Even at 34, Xabi Alonso continues to dictate the way Bayern Munich play their football

84 Jordi Alba

27, Barcelona and Spain, Left-back

There are few attack-minded wing-backs who can tie an opponent in knots quite like Alba. Blessed with electric pace, craft and skills to rival his team-mates, he has been an integral part of the Barcelona machine for five seasons now. 

Few 27-year-old players can boast his CV either…

Spanish left back Jordi Alba is blessed with electric pace, craft and skills at Barcelona

83 Jamie Vardy

29, Leicester City and England, Striker

If you don’t know the Jamie Vardy fairytale by now, then I’m afraid you’re on the wrong website. 

Mind you, plenty more people will know all about the port-swilling, Skittles-loving Leicester talisman when the motion picture biopic comes out. His career is a rags-to-riches epic worthy of Hollywood and his part in City’s astonishing Premier League title triumph will never ever be forgotten.

Jamie Vardy's rise to fame is well known and he inspired Leicester to a remarkable league title

82 Eric Bailly

22, Manchester United and Ivory Coast, Centre-back

Having spent £30million to sign him from Villarreal, there is hope at Manchester United that young defender Bailly can blossom into the next Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand. 

The Ivorian certainly has the presence and technical qualities needed to be a top-class centre-back, now he needs to add the leadership.

Eric Bailly has the presence and technical quality to be a top-class centre-back

81 Ilkay Gundogan

25, Manchester City and Germany, Midfielder

Gundogan’s energy, application and creative strengths will provide the thrust that helps Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City thrive. 

Well, that’s the idea anyway. Gundogan came on leaps and bounds under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund and there should be plenty more to come. 

Especially at international level, where injury forced Gundogan to miss Germany’s 2014 World Cup glory and their Euro 2016 campaign too.

Ilkay Gundogan has the energy, application and creative strength to thrive at Manchester City