Club versus country is a battle which rages from time to time, particularly during the domestic season when an international weekend crops up as they do with regularity.
Players suffer “mysterious” injuries, just as the call from their country comes and managers make anxious phone calls to their international counterparts imploring them to protect their prize assets.
Over the past few years, Spurs fans winced every time Harry Kane set off on his travels with England. Elsewhere in the Premier League, the Manchester United faithful would constantly wonder why their midfield star Paul Pogba could play so magnificently for France and struggle to find consistency at Old Trafford.
Until recently, Argentina fans would regularly question the commitment of Lionel Messi to his national side as he collected silverware by the cartload at Barcelona but nothing for Argentina.
Long awaited success at the 2021 Copa America has helped to stifle that debate, but Italy’s triumph at Euro 2020 did little to challenge the perception that Ciro Immobile is a far better striker for Lazio than he is for the Azzurri.
But for every inconsistent performer there is a player who delivers with impeccable reliability whichever shirt he pulls on, and here are five of the best.
N’Golo Kante: Chelsea and France
Ever since he burst onto the scene as the man who ran Leicester City’s midfield in the Foxes’ spectacular 2016 Premier League campaign, N’Golo Kante has become globally appreciated as one of the very best holding midfielders in world football.
The reason Pogba plays so well for France is that he’s surrounded by world-class players and Kante is the best of the bunch.
He made his France debut in 2016 and has since made 50 appearances, playing a pivotal role in Les Bleus’ World Cup 2018 winning side. He has also been the mastermind on the pitch behind Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League success.
Kante is every manager’s dream player with his boundless energy, snapping tackles, and incisive passing, and that’s why he is the first of our bunch.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus and Portugal
The second in this list is none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. CR7’s worth to Juventus is priceless as it has been for Manchester United and Real Madrid previously.
The Serie A betting odds are right behind I Bianconeri in the chase for the 2021/22 Scudetto and Ronaldo’s presence is a big reason why.
He’s been a record-breaker at every club he has graced. And with 109 goals in 179 appearances, Ronaldo is Portugal’s finest player of all time.
Kevin De Bruyne: Manchester City and Belgium
The Sky Blues’ master of midfield is the most influential player at both club and country, which says something as he represents the best team in England and the highest-ranked nation in world football.
The Red Devils lost out to eventual champions Italy in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals but they pushed the Azzurri to the limit and were unlucky to go out. Belgium will start the 2022 World Cup as one of the favourites again.
Here at SBOTOP, we are backing Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to win a fourth Premier League title in five years and a midfield of Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, and the newly-arrived Jack Grealish is one big reason why.
With 67 goals in 262 games for Manchester City and 21 in 81 for Belgium, De Bruyne one of the best attacking midfielders on the planet.
Casemiro: Real Madrid and Brazil
Defencive midfielder Casemiro has played a similar role for both Los Blancos and the Selecao. He is tasked to protect the back four, break up play, and launch attacks for his more creative teammates to develop.
With four goals in 56 appearances for Brazil, he has been a steady influence behind the likes of Neymar and Gabriel Jesus while Real Madrid’s “Mr. Reliable” allows the players alongside him like Federico Valverde and Toni Kroos to thrive.
He may not dominate the La Liga highlights week after week but he rarely fails to make an important contribution for Los Blancos or Brazil.
Thomas Muller: Bayern Munich and Germany
New Germany head coach Hansi Flick has recently said that he will continue to pick Muller in his international squads and he knows exactly what he’ll get having seen him close during his time at Bayern Munich.
Muller has scored 39 goals in 106 appearances for Germany. He won the Silver Boot at the 2014 World Cup with five goals, and at Bayern Munich he has been a brilliant foil to the prolific Robert Lewandowski.
He has made the most assists in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons and ended up with 18 last term – which is four ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic.
Flick needs to move Germany through a period of transition but he knows he can rely on Thomas Muller to help him all the way.
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