The respected international football magazine, four-four-two, publishes a list of the 100 best players in the world. It has just released the 2009 list, which sees Ghana�s Michael Essien improve from 22nd best (2008) to 18th this year.
Some players have their reputation enhanced when they are missing through injury, as their team-mates struggle without them. While Essien�s six-month absence with a knee injury was undoubtedly a factor in Chelsea�s lack of dynamism under Scolari, he wasted little time in showing his worth once fit again. Goals against Juventus and dramatically, Barcelona, lifted Chelsea in Europe and a fully fit season ahead should see Essien break into next year�s top 10.
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