Turkish player placed in "Best 50 football players of world"

ANKARA

Turkish football player Burak Yilmaz of Galatasaray placed 20th in worlwide Goal.com's 'Best 50 football players of the world (Goal 50)' list.

Having decided by more than 500 Goal editors from 36 countries, a football player, playing in Turkey, entered the list for the first time, Goal.com stated.

Yilmaz left several world players behind and became the second Turk after Nuri Sahin who entered the list. Borussia Dortmund's Turkish rooted player Ilkay Gundogan placed 35th in the list.

"Burak Yilmaz from Galatasaray, who placed himself amongst UEFA Champions League last season, took first step to Goal 50. Turkish centre-forward at the age of 28 became the surprising name amongst the list of stars such as Christiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi, getting one of the finisher players of European football," the statement said.

On top of the list was Barcelona's Argentinian Messi, who became first for the 3rd time in Goal 50, leaving Christiano Ronaldo behind, who held 2 championships before.

2012-13 season's Goal 50 list is as following:

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

2. Franck Ribery (Bayern Munchen)

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

4. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munchen)

5. Arjen Robben (Bayern Munchen)

6. Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

7. Philip Lahm (Bayern Munchen)

8. Thiago Silva (Paris Saint Germain)

9. Arturo Vidal (Juventus)

10. Robin Van Persie (Manchester United)

11. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munchen)

12. Paulinho (Tottenham)

13. Fred (Fluminense)

14. Neymar (Barcelona)

15. Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund)

16. Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain)

17. Radamel Falcao (Monaco)

18. Dante (Bayern Munchen)

19. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)

20. Burak Yılmaz (Galatasaray)

21. Ignacio Scocco (Internacional)

22. Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munchen)

23. Javi Martinez (Bayern Munchen)

24. Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers)

25. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint Germain)

26. Mario Götze (Bayern Münih)

27. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munchen)

28. Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid)

29. Muhammed Ebuterike (Al Ahli Kahire)

30. Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moskova)

31. Luis Suarez (Liverpool)

32. Juan Mata (Chelsea)

33. Jackson Martinez (Porto)

34. Paolo Guerrero (Corinthians)

35. Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund)

36. Isco (Real Madrid)

37. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

38. Willian (Anji Mahackala)

39. Omer Abdül Rahman (Al Ain)

40. James Rodriguez (Monaco)

41. Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund)

42. Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)

43. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund)

44. Victor Wanyama (Southampton)

45. Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)

46. Fernandinho (Manchester City)

47. Hisati Sato (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)

48. Robbie Keane (Los Angeles Galaxy)

49. Lee Keun-Ho (Ulsan Hyundai)

50. Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

englishnews@aa.com.tr